THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025
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A Tale of Two Cities
by Mike Ege
Editor in chief, The Voice of San Francisco
If you’ve lived here long enough, you know that San Francisco is, in some ways, two separate cities.
Drive or ride west of Divisadero or south of 280, and the city transforms from one of dense neighborhoods dependent on transit to one of an almost suburban flavor where the automobile continues to dominate. The two cities overlap and coexist, albeit warily, except when policy choices to ameliorate climate change or rebalance affordability push them into inevitable conflict.
Back during the long fight in the 2000s over the Central Freeway, which involved battles both at the ballot box and in court, some folks, including a certain supervisor who went on to Sacramento and then prison, joked about yet another initiative to split San Francisco into two separate cities within the one county.
The latest continuing conflict is over the fate of the Great Highway. Last year a majority of voters citywide approved closing it and (some say ostensibly) turning it into a park, but a substantial majority of Westside communities vehemently opposed it, especially those still dependent on the roadway.
The current fronts over this battle are a new ballot fight to recall Sunset Supervisor Joel Engardio, who supported the closure over the sentiment of his constituents, and now, a lawsuit to overturn the original ballot measure.
Asian-Americans, particularly Chinese-Americans, figure prominently in this debate. Sometimes co-opted, often ignored by competing political factions, they have evolved over generations to develop their own unique and powerful civic voice.
Join us as we welcome a new contributor and new project at The Voice of San Francisco — the Asian Voice of San Francisco, featuring new voices from Asian communities and with community activist Forrest Liu as a regular contributor.
In 2021 Liu founded a nonviolent volunteer foot patrol in San Francisco’s Chinatown, which became part of a larger national movement to stop Asian hate. His efforts combined with that of others to form a nonprofit organization, Dear Community, for which Forrest serves as the organization’s vice president and principal fundraising officer. He’s part of a larger movement of Asian-American voters increasingly calling for political action on issues such as public safety, representation, and community empowerment. His maiden column is linked below, along with this week’s highlights.
Be sure to join us this Sunday morning and meet Forrest at our regular Not-So-Safe Sunday Brunch space on X, formerly Twitter.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
OPINION
San Francisco’s Asian-Americans don’t just live in Chinatown anymore
Forrest Liu is an Asian-American community organizer and activist who works to stop Asian hate. Part 1 of a three-part series amplifying Asian voices in our city.
by Forrest Liu
I love Chinatown but I don’t live there. If you know me, you know I probably spend more time at Red’s Place and Lion’s Den than I should. But I’m not hanging in Chinatown for the food, the drinks, or the knick-knacks. I love Chinatown for what it represents. Chinatown is a place built by us, for us — a testament to our history and our resilience. Now that the Asian community extends far beyond Chinatown, we need our voices and values to reflect that.
EDUCATION
Audit finds S.F. schools out of compliance with measles vaccination law
Repeat violations place S.F. below the rate of Texas county at center of measles outbreak.
by John Trasviña
NEWS
Great Highway closure opponents crank it up a notch with lawsuit
Group sues for injunctive relief against closure, naming city and supervisors
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
“Etched in the bricks of Chinatown is the beginning of San Francisco’s Asian- American story — one that started in oppression but rose through resilience. The city first tried to confine us there like a ghetto, then tried to take it away from us. But every time, we fought back. We organized, we rebuilt, and we carved our own destiny.”
— New contributor Forrest Liu in his maiden story, San Francisco’s Asian- Americans don’t just live in Chinatown anymore
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
OPINION
Honeymoon’s end: Lurie’s press directive may prompt Streisand effect at City Hall
As the mayor imposes new rules on city departments for working with media, get ready for the reactance.
by Mike Ege
TRANSIT
Muni operator Mc ‘Mack’ Allen rallies support for Transit Driver Appreciation Day
Allen calls for Muni passengers to send commendations for Muni operators next Tuesday.
by Jerrold Chin
A&E
Ricardo Mazal’s Pilgrimages at the Haines Gallery
Artist explores spiritual themes in large-scale abstract oil paintings
by Sharon Anderson
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EVENTS
Out and about March 13–18, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
We’ve got something for everyone this week from wine tasting to women musicians, to Pi Day and St. Paddy’s Day, and more including young kids playing Bach, and the French Culture fair. If that sounds like too much, there’s also some flower blooming, moon viewing, and dancing. Read on …
Thursday, March 13
Cheers! Raise a glass of green, white, and orange wines to celebrate at this St. Patrick’s Day Wine Tasting. Tickets: $25.
A total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon” begins tonight around 10 p.m., with totality occurring at 11:26 p.m. and the maximum eclipse, when the moon will be its reddest will occur at 11:59 p.m. and last for 30 minutes. Best viewing is in a dark location with an unobstructed sky view; Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Park are suggested. Earth-sponsored special events are always free.
Friday, March 14
Did you know the now internationally celebrated Pi (π) Day began at the Exploratorium 38 years ago? And that Congress declared it a national holiday in 2009? The celebration commemorates the never-ending ratio that helps describe circles with math-inspired activities and presentations, live music, the favorite Pi Parade, lots of fun, and of course pie! Tickets: free with museum admission.
Robert Moses’ Kin will celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Kennings, an original two-act program that features a world premiere by Moses that explores themes of sensuality, war, race, human rights, and individual freedoms. Through Sunday. Tickets from $15.
Listen to our podcasts
- Leadership is required as we confront growing problems
- Recall Joe Engardio with John Rothmann and Richard Correia
- Restrictions on PTA funds by SFUSD are wrong!
- Mayor Lurie is sending a team to D.C. to lobby for support … is it the right team?
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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