THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
By the time you read this, Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Family Zoning Plan to increase potential density across the city to build more housing will be running its first major heat at City Hall.
The Planning Commission will hear and likely vote on Planning Code, Zoning Map and General Plan amendments related to the legislation at today’s regularly scheduled meeting at 12PM; expect a long parade of public comment for and against the plan making for a long meeting.
Meanwhile, this past Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting provides some hints for the future evolution of the bill.
Tuesday was the Mayor’s policy discussion day at the Board, and Lurie fielded questions from District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar about addressing issues such as potential displacement of neighborhood businesses and tenants in rent-controlled buildings that may face demolition in order to build higher capacity projects, as well as funding for subsidy housing which is currently rare on the West side.
In response, Lurie expressed support for additional legislation from Melgar, including a financing district for affordable housing and a small business rezoning construction relief fund. Additionally, District 11 colleague Cheyanne Chen introduced legislation that would require landlords to provide six months’ notice and offer relocation assistance to tenants of buildings slated for demolition due to upzoning.
So far, the road for the plan inside City Hall might look relatively smooth if convoluted at first, but don’t count on it. A particular former supervisor and his allies are already wielding their monkey wrenches and looking for openings to insert them between now and the next few months, including a possible ballot initiative.
“When is land use anything in San Francisco able to run smoothly?” Melgar told yours truly this morning. But she also sees a difference between the land use politics of the past and now.
“I think the mistake that we always make around land use in the city is that there’s a progressive position against housing and a moderate position for housing… for some politicians, it’s a very selfish way to preserve the coalition that brought them to power… I’m having none of that… the West side has changed.”
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Top News
EDUCATION
Who is in charge of the San Francisco Unified School District?
City Hall holds up Maria Su agreement while deputy superintendent position remains vacant.
by John Trasviña
fter almost 11 months of Maria Su’s service as superintendent of schools, the agreement making it possible lacks the required approval from the Board of Supervisors. Meanwhile, the school district has no deputy superintendent despite the position’s crucial importance to key members of the school board who hired her.
HOUSING
Upzoning opponents mobilize in the Sunset
Neighborhoods United musters faces old and new to San Francisco’s housing wars.
by Mike Ege
DRUGS
Industry activists fret about growing demonization.
by Erica Sandberg
Quote of the week
“I thought the loan was dead over the weekend. I think we may have put it back onto life support.”
—State Sen. Scott Wiener on rescuing short-term aid for regional transit, in “Newsom pledges support for Bay Area transit, but details still pending”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
NEWS
New SFPD program aims at guns in crisis homes
Agency will store voluntarily removed firearms at no cost for up to a year.
by Mike Ege
HOUSING
Senator Weiner’s SB 79 inches closer to life
The bill to increase housing density near transit sites clears a major hurdle.
by John Zipperer
OPINION
P.C. city
San Francisco did not birth or raise political correctness, but we may have acted as an inadvertent midwife.
by Will Durst
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EVENTS
Out and about Sept.11–18, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Mike Henderson: Truth, Love & Curiosity opens tonight at the Haines Gallery, the 16th solo exhibition with the Bay Area painter, musician, and filmmaker. Following the opening reception (5–7:30 p.m.), there will be a live blues performance by Mike Henderson & Cabin Fever. (Tonight is also the Fort Mason Art Walk.) Henderson exhibition through Oct. 25. Free.
Claude, Cal Academy’s famous albino alligator, is turning 30. Celebrate his hatchday at NightLife (21+), featuring Claude-themed craft stations, music, giveaways, Piña Claude-as, and more, culminating with a swamp-side celebration with cake and a sing-along. 6 p.m. Tickets: $25
Friday, Sept. 12
Flower Piano is one of my all-time favorites when the Botanical Garden places pianos throughout its 55 acres and schedules performances throughout the day at each location. During the unscheduled times, the public is invited to play. The event has expanded over the years and now includes special music events in the Flower Piano Lounge, so be sure to check those out, too. Daily through Sept. 21, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free admission for S.F. residents (excluding the lounge performances); tickets for others here.
Muni’s Summer Vintage Streetcar Service is currently underway, so don’t miss free riding of one of the historic streetcars on the F-line, which travels from the Castro along Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf. There are four cars in rotation: the popular 1934 Blackpool Boat Tram, Melbourne Tram, Milan Tram, Zurich/Brussels Tram, and Muni’s first streetcar, Car No. 1 from 1912. A live map of what cars are currently running is here. Adventurists can ride a car into service from the Cameron Beach Yard, which will travel the scenic J-Church line before connecting to the F-line. Friday–Saturday through Oct. 13. Free.
Saturday, Sept. 13
The de Young is hosting a daylong community event for you, featuring talks, performances, and artists’ demonstrations to celebrate the reimagined Arts of Indigenous America galleries and the special exhibition Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON. Read The Voice’s coverage here. Free.
Who doesn’t love Asian noodles? I spent my 20s eating the Japanese Top Ramen, as I’m sure many college students did and maybe still do. But get the real deal and a less soupy take at the Chinatown Noodle Festival, where you can taste noodley goodness from four booths and have fun with Labubu events, and more. Tickets: $23 and change.
If you missed the last few weekend performances of Shakespeare in the Park’s Two Gentlemen from Verona, you can catch it this weekend and next at Sue Bierman Park (Washington and Drum streets for those of us who didn’t know where that is), conveniently located to grab your picnic lunch across the street at the Ferry Building. Weekends through Sept. 21. 2 p.m. Free.urday. Tickets from $49.
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