THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
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Change is not easy
by Mike Ege
Editor in chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Is the honeymoon over for Mayor Daniel Lurie? Is SFMTA high on their own supply? Can Democrats unify on message against the Chaos Agent Presidency in time for the midterms? Will fiscal moves in Washington make it even harder for SFUSD to stay afloat? The answers to these questions are far from clear, but at least you’ll be able to grab a to-go cup from The Bus Stop soon. Until that happens, we’re still deciphering those answers.
Susan Dyer Reynolds continues her look at a criminal case very close to the heart of people at The Voice: a terrifying and unprovoked attack on managing editor Lynette Majer’s husband, Ken Majer, and how the outcome of the case, involving a mentally ill defendant, placed the burden of protection on the victim. She also looks at how oblivious judges and current obstacles to conservatorship reform make the intersection between mental illness, substance abuse, and violence even more damaging.
Next, Jerrold Chinn discusses how the Municipal Transportation Agency’s roadmap to an increasingly car-free future may have reached a dead end in terms of political support and, most importantly, funding. Meanwhile, the closure of the Upper Great Highway steamrolls ahead.
Publisher John Zipperer assesses East Bay Rep. Lateefah Simon’s “prebuttal” to President Donald Trump’s speech before Congress this week, and her jabs at Democratic moderates. Was she keeping the struggle honest or feeding the circular firing squad? You decide.
John Trasviña reports on how the Ides of March could turn out to be a day of destiny for San Francisco public schools, as the deadline to notice district layoffs and possible passage of federal legislation against sanctuary city policies converge. Was the fault that brought us to this juncture in our stars, or in ourselves? Again, you decide.
Oh and the mayor’s honeymoon? We’ll talk more about that next week, including on our (now regular) Sunday Brunch Space on X, formerly Twitter. (In case you missed it, here’s a link to last week’s.)
Stay Tuned.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
REYNOLDS RAP
How violent criminals fall through the cracks of mental instability
Zavein Blue Wright was declared unfit to stand trial, leaving his victim vulnerable and afraid. Part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?”
- Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
On Feb. 25, 2025, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that her office secured the conviction of 45-year-old Danic Vaivai by jury trial for viciously assaulting a 69-year-old woman in an unprovoked attack on Dec. 7, 2022. Vaivai was convicted of elder abuse and inflicted great bodily injury on the victim. “The jury’s verdict delivers justice to the victim in this case who was viciously assaulted in an unprovoked attack,” Jenkins said. “I hope that the jury’s verdict brings the victim some closure as she heals from this assault. My office will continue to do everything we can to keep our seniors and other vulnerable communities safe.”
TRANSPORTATION
SFMTA adopts bold bike plan that could take 20 years to complete
The bike plan would connect residents to bike lanes within a quarter mile.
by Jerold Chinn
NEWS
Sherill proposes latest entertainment zone on Union Street
Concept to reinvigorate downtown districts moves west
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
““We are in this sort of Alice in Wonderland space where nothing is as it should be,” Mandelman told me in a phone interview. “Fixing it would require a major overhaul. A fair number of people you could make an argument for conservatorship — 50 people in jail a year could probably be conserved. But we don’t have anywhere to put them. State hospitals went from around 40,000 beds at their height to 5,000 today. Everything is closed down.”.”
— Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman on challenges to conservatorship reform, in How violent criminals fall through the cracks of mental instability
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
OPINION
With friends like these . . .
California congresswoman takes aim at moderates before her “prebuttal” to the president’s congressional speech.
by John Zipperer
EDUCATION
Ides of March are upon Mayor Lurie and school Superintendent Su
Mid-month congressional decisions have big impact on S.F. budget fate.
by John Trasviña
STREETS
Upper Great Highway to permanently close to vehicles March 14 for new oceanfront park
The new park will officially open April 12 with the public deciding its name.
by Jerold Chinn
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EVENTS
Out and about March 6–12, 2025
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Looking forward to the weekend? Aren’t we always, and especially after this week, but we’ve got you covered. We’re a little arts-heavy, but not only do our museums need your visits, the arts soothe our souls (or mine anyway), and we all need distractions right now. But if that’s not how you roll, there’s some comedy (although also an art ), a protest, some crab crawling, a tiny boat regatta — and more. Read on.
Thursday, March 6
There are only a few days left to see the acclaimed exhibition Amy Sherald: American Sublime in her first major retrospective featuring nearly 50 life-size paintings, including her iconic portraits of Michelle Obama and Brianna Taylor. Read The Voice’s coverage here — and don’t miss this exhibition. (If you go today, free First Thursday, you can also see the entire SFMOMA collection.) Through Sunday. Tickets from $33.
At the Superfine Art Fair, billed as the art fair for the people, and as fun, not stuffy, you can view and purchase art from over 150 artists. With complimentary bubbly beverages, live entertainment, and more, like a live competitive art experience, it sounds like a great party. Check out the programming here, and don’t forget to buy some art after all those bubbles. Through Sunday. Tickets (check the Fort Mason listing for discount code) $45 today and $22 through the weekend.
Friday, March 7
Hear Brandee Younger, a spiritual jazz harpist and SFJAZZ’s artistic director perform compositions from her forthcoming album along with acclaimed pianist Courtney Bryan, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, flutist Anne Drummond, bassist Rashaan Carter, and drummer Allen Mednard. Through Sunday. Tickets from $25.
With themes of otherness and belonging, the world premiere opera, The Pigeon Keeper tells the story of a young girl and her fisherman father who find a refugee boy adrift at sea. As they look to find him a home, they encounter a mysterious village outcast, Pigeon Keeper, and discover the power and kindness of strangers and a shared connection to humanity. Through Sunday. Tickets from $46 and change.
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