THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
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Interesting times
by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
The invocation “may you live in interesting times” has been described in the past as an ancient Chinese curse. In reality, rather like the fortune cookie, the phrase is neither ancient nor Chinese in origin. Nevertheless it continues to describe the state of affairs in our hallowed halls of government, whether at Goodlett Place, 10th Street, or Pennsylvania Avenue.
Mayor Daniel Lurie has scored a legislative victory with Board of Supervisors’ approval of his Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance (albeit with some concessions to the Supes on oversight depending on spending level), and has turned to setting up a new triage center in SoMa — this time run by police, and a new Hospitality Zone Task Force, following up on campaign promises. But as Susan Dyer Reynolds asks this week, can he keep drug dealers in jail? We’ll see.
Lurie’s new triage center is located at the site of another political fight — over building new housing. And now the city is facing a new big housing fight in a new venue, as the city’s now unchained preservationist principal, former supervisor Aaron Peskin, has been pushing a stealth campaign to declare the whole of North Beach as a historic district, which has housing champion and state Senator Scott Wiener spinning in his chair.
When not spinning in his chair, Wiener is helping Lurie with the city’s stubborn public order problems, this time with rogue street fences in the Mission.
Meanwhile our public services continue to struggle though equally interesting times. John Trasviña warns that the school district needs to maintain transparency if it wants to restore public confidence as it navigates a challenging budget. And Jerold Chinn chronicles more hard financial choices for Muni.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
NEWS
Peskin’s preservationist monster
A plan to make all of North Beach into a federal historic district, which some say is a Trojan Horse to block housing, may be at bay — for now
by Mike Ege
Former Supervisor and mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin may be gone from City Hall, but he and his allies are still trying to impose their vision of development policy on San Francisco. Together with some longtime supporters, he’s been pushing an effort to turn almost the whole of North Beach into a monster historic district to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Property owners and housing advocates argue that this is another oblique move to block housing development and that supporters have been playing hide-the-ball with inadequate outreach.
SOTTO VOCE
The good, the bad, and the ugly at ‘the new’ City Hall, Part 2
Lurie refuses to say the quiet part out loud in defense of sanctuary city law. Part 2 of a two-part series
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
EDUCATION
Hard choices for San Francisco schools require district transparency
To restore public confidence, parents, community need real information and data.
by John Trasviña
Quote of the week
“It’s not all just the rich getting richer and everyone below that suffering. The long-term problem the state created for itself by not driving higher amounts of new housing production is also hurting buyers.”
— John Zipperer looks at housing predictions for 2025
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
TRANSIT
Transit officials seek options to avoid ‘painful’ Muni service cuts
The SFMTA board requested staff to return with options to preserve Muni service.
by Jerold Chinn
NEWS
San Francisco turns to Sacramento again to combat Mission Street fences
SAFE Street Act will give supervisors the ability to ban sale of stolen goods, allow police involvement i
by Mike Ege
A&E
Mostly, memorably, and marvelously British
The Mostly British Film Festival is back with a schedule of prestige movies reflecting the annual festival’s stylish, global sensibilities.
by Michael Snyder
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EVENTS
Out and About Feb. 6–12, 2025
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Looking for something to do this weekend and for the next several days to calm and distract your mind? Here are my picks for a variety of events from film and performance to community gatherings, cultural celebrations of the Lunar New Year and Black History Month, and more.
Thursday, Feb. 6
The Mostly British Film Festival kicks off today with The Penguin Lessons, starring Steve Coogan alongside Papa and Richard, the two penguins who alternately costar as his rescued penguin Juan Salvador in the true-life tale of an English teacher during Argentina’s 1976 repressive dictatorship. Read The Voice’s coverage of the festival here. Through Feb. 13. Opening night tickets from $50.
Friday, Feb. 7
Blues lovers will want to check out the 30th anniversary of Blues Fest at Biscuits and Blues featuring award-winning artists JC Smith, Kid Andersen, Joce Reyome, Alabama Mike, and quite a few others. Through Saturday. Tickets: $55
Listen to our podcasts
- Daniel Lurie is now on the spot. His success or failure will be judged by his actions
- The start of the impact of Muni cutbacks on San Francisco
- In the Sunset District all politics is local!
- Mayor Lurie needs to declare a State Of Emergency when it comes to Muni
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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