THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
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Law and disorder
by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
(Editor’s note: this is a re-send of this morning’s newsletter as we’ve been advised that some of our subscribers had technical issues opening the browser version.)
If you go by the statistics, San Francisco is becoming safer. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott noted a 34 percent decrease in overall crime over this time last year at last night’s Police Commission meeting.
But as always, it depends on where you are. As Susan Dyer Reynolds highlights, your local Walgreens is still being looted by organized retail theft crews. Plus: next week will set off a chain of further actions on policing policy at City Hall.
Unless a last-minute shuffle is made in the agenda, next Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting will feature both approval of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s newest appointment to the Police Commission, former federal prosecutor W.S. Wilson Leung, and a hearing on whether to boot that body’s most controversial member and vice president, Max Carter-Oberstone.
Last night’s commission meeting also kicked off a 90-day process for reviewing and approving a new map of police station district boundaries. The supervisors and various stakeholder groups will be reviewing them with much interest.
Supervisor Shamann Walton, always a favorite subject here at The Voice, has requested a hearing on a recent audit of police overtime practices.
Over here at The Voice, Jerold Chinn covered the low-key changing of the guard at SFMTA, and new state legislation to lubricate downtown. John Trasviña reviews new oversight for spending new school district bond money, and John Zipperer explores a new trend of buying homes with bitcoin. Leading off our podcasts, our own Voice of the Voice, former KGO radio host and GOP operative John Rothman goes on the warpath against the Trump Administration’s moves to defund the Presidio Trust.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
SOTTO VOCE
Walgreens looted again
Walgreens looters connected to two incidents. Jackie Fielder says cutting budget means stepping in more poop. SFMTA new boss same as the old boss. Celebrity chef Tyler Florence walks away from Union Square eateries.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
San Francisco leaders are banking on proposed state legislation to help boost downtown’s economy by attracting more bars and restaurants to open in that area of the city.
TRANSPORTATION
Acting director Julie Kirschbaum gets permanent job to lead S.F. transit agency
SFMTA board approved Kirschbaum’s appointment after a closed-session meeting.
by Jerold Chinn
DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
S.F. leaders back liquor license bill to revitalize downtown
San Francisco leaders are banking on proposed state legislation to help boost downtown’s economy by attracting more bars and restaurants to open in that area of the city.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“I watched as the Presidio developed into the most visited national park in the country, and I must tell you without any hesitation or doubt that the people of San Francisco must unify and unite to oppose this action. We are all affected.
We need to go to court, and let me tell you, I believe the Republican county committee in San Francisco, and the Republican county committee of Marin County must unite to file a lawsuit to stop Donald Trump’s actions in abolishing the Presidio Trust.
That’s right. Let the Republic stand up. Let them be the lead, let them utter the cry of resistance to this absolutely absurd action by the President of the United States.”
— VOSF Podcaster John Rothman on President Donald Trump’s attack on the Presidio Trust
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
EDUCATION
‘All eyes’ on school district spending must include how it spends new bond money
School district is quietly committing $400 million with little current public input.
by John Trasviña
A&E
Screen gems amid the dross
The midwinter movie doldrums are enlivened by two surprisingly good releases: The Gorge and Companion.
by Michael Snyder
HOUSING
The house that crypto built
With bitcoin hitting $100,000, there are patient bitcoin owners who have some serious coin to spend on a new home.
by John Zipperer
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EVENTS
Out and about Feb. 20–26, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
It’s tough times, so it’s important we have some distractions. We’re to help this week from dance viewing to dance participating, music, a Broadway stage production, and more, including a great new exhibition at the Exploratorium. Read on!
Thursday, Feb. 20
Noise Pop Festival, which celebrates independent music and arts with several nightly events in multiple venues throughout the city, has been around since 1993. Up tonight is D.J. DāM-FunK at Cal Academy’s NightLife and Pagoto; Highwinds; Forest Lawn; and Theya, all playing at Kilowatt. Festival continues through March 2. Tickets tonight from $20.
Friday, Feb. 21
San Francisco Beer Week kicks off at 11 a.m. with events in Silicon Valley, noon in San Francisco, and continues with over a dozen daily events throughout the Bay Area, including the Beer Week Fest 2025 at Salesforce Park. Through March 2. Free–$162.
Did you know the Exploratorium was named one of the best science museums in the United States? Revisit one of our city’s treasures at their new exhibition, Look Up: Eclipse, Moon, and Mars, where you can see large-scale sculptures of the Moon and Mars, in addition to the Mars rovers and orbiters on loan from NASA, an immersive solar eclipse experience, and more. And when your done with that, there are over 700 more immersive experiences to explore. Through April 27. Tickets from $30.
Listen to our podcasts
- The Presidio Trust … We must fight to save the Presidio!!!
- John Rothmann: The Race for Governor is on!
- Genuine issues confronting San Francisco need to be addressed
- The debate over murals and history comes to Palo Alto
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
Support our newsroom
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