THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
This week, we introduce a relatively new political term occasionally thrown about on the Sunday shows. “Kayfabe,” a term borrowed from professional wrestling, is about maintaining narrative. Apologies if you were unaware, but professional wrestling matches, enriched with character narratives about the wrestlers, are staged, and while everyone knows this, “breaking kayfabe” is just not done, especially under the glare of the public eye. That makes it a suitable term for a similar phenomenon in politics. Last week, Supervisor Connie Chan revealed her mastery of maintaining kayfabe at a Democratic Central Committee meeting, and you can read the whole story linked below.
It looks to be a busy year for the Richmond District supervisor and budget chair, as she also appears to have a charter amendment in the works dealing with commissions. Voters approved a task force last year to look into streamlining the arcane and (some say) bloated commission system, and Chan submitted a copy of another planned charter amendment to the task force for review at their last meeting April 16. The ballot measure appears to equally split appointing authorities between the mayor and the Board of Supervisors, and also gives appointment power for one seat on most or all commissions to the City Administrator.
Meanwhile, the family of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, an Anza Vista resident whose senseless killing helped to rally a national movement against hate crimes, has been denied swift justice yet again. John Trasviña details how another trial may cause the case against Ratanapakdee’s killer to be delayed until August.
Finally, opinion contributor Marc Joffe details how the city should take action to find a buyer for the dormant San Francisco Centre on Market Street to help revive downtown.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
CRIME
Another delay in the trial in Grandpa Vicha’s murder
Street killing of 84-year-old Asian elder not forgotten over four years later
by John Trasviña
The long wait for the family of Vicha Ratanapakdee continues. Ratanapakdee, commonly and affectionately known as Grandpa Vicha, died on Jan. 28, 2021 at the age of 84 as a result of injuries sustained when he was violently pushed to the ground on his daily walk two days earlier.
POLITICS
Connie Chan’s budget kayfabe at the Democratic Central Committee
Richmond District supervisor’s outburst upholds dual political loyalties as budget chair
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
“The so-called “crookedest street in the world” is not even the crookedest street in the city.
The San Francisco Mime Troupe … talks.
And don’t bother honking at the little white cars without any drivers. They won’t respond.”
— Will Durst’s observations on San Francisco as a Confusing City
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
STREETS
San Francisco launches first curbside EV charging stations
City officials unveil a new pilot project to expand access to electric vehicle charging, with plans to grow the program citywide.
by Jerold Chinn
OPINION
City needs to attract a new owner for San Francisco Centre
The mall can only begin to turn around once it is in the hands of a sophisticated, well-capitalized owner who can make radical changes.
by Marc Joffe
A&E
Horror with smarts and heart
It’s valid to question why each week seems to bring the release of at least one horror movie and to wonder what that says about contemporary society.
by Michael Snyder
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EVENTS
Out and about May 1–May 7
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Happy May Day, which doesn’t seem about leaving flowers for your friends or swinging around a maypole anymore, but a day of marches and rallies. I haven’t listed any here, but a simple Internet search of “May Day San Francisco” will produce lots of ways to participate if that’s of interest.
And you can still and always leave flowers for your neighbors.
There’s also a country twist on the First Thursdays block party downtown today, and for the rest of the week, a fundraiser or two, performances, including comedy, music and dance, and more.
Thursday, May 1
Downtown Hoedown is a new addition to Downtown First Thursdays at the Front Street Entertainment Zone. Don your cowboy boots and have fun with line dancing, live bluegrass and country music, a mechanical bull, and more. Free; RSVP here.
We’re all familiar with Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein story, but the San Francisco Ballet’s production of Frankenstein Encore puts a new twist on the tale. It’s billed as being designed for those who loved Poor Things, who like goth and steampunk, are true crime junkies, those wanting to escape reality (that could be everyone right now), and where “eerie meets the edgy.” Through Sunday. Tickets from $75.
Get your yucks for a good cause at the Ninth Annual Comedy Night presented by Immigrant Rights Immigration Institute of the Bay Area hosted by Jenny Yang and featuring Mohanad Elshieky, Sabrina Jalees, and Sheng Wang. Proceeds support immigrant communities by providing affordable legal services. Tickets from $50
Friday, May 2
There are only a few days left to see Smuin’s Dance Series 2 in the city. I know you will enjoy Rex Wheeler’s Sinfonietta inspired by his grandmother, a watercolor painter, and set to Boris Tchaikovsky’s arrangement for strings by the same name — the piece is beautiful and delicate and truly invokes a watercolor painting in blues and greens. Michael Smuin’s Eternal Idol, inspired by Rodin’s The Kiss and Eternal Idol is a gorgeous and sensuous pas de deux set to Chopin. Amy Seiwert’s lovely I Remember Now is a personal work with the theme of revealing vulnerability; and Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, with music from Queen to Mendelssohn to The Partridge Family about a woman’s search for love is playful, funny, infinitely relatable, and will have you wanting to sing along. Through Sunday (visit website for additional Bay Area performances through June 8). Tickets from $25
Explore human color perception at Science of Cocktails with late-night bites, science-themed cocktails and demonstrations, dancing, and other fun. Tickets from $175
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