THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Yesterday, Politico began putting the pieces together on the possibility of District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan running to represent San Francisco in Congress, possibly with the open support of incumbent and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In the last couple of years, the conventional wisdom was that Chan, the remaining brick in the progressives’ west side wall after the defenestration of District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar, would go for a seat in Sacramento after terming out at the board.
But there were some clues that Chan set her sights higher — notably, more meet and greets and fundraisers outside of the city, even as far south as Los Angeles. Then at the height of her reelection campaign, she got an endorsement from then Los Angeles representative and now Senator Adam Schiff.
So now, if Pelosi does decide to pass the torch, a decision she will announce within weeks, San Franciscans could have three high-profile contenders for her seat — Chan, state Senator Scott Wiener, and “lefto techbro” Saikat Chakrabarti.
Should Chan win, it would give Mayor Daniel Lurie another brick to lay in his own west side wall, assuming whoever he appoints to represent District 4 survives their own election.
Finally, as this newsletter goes to press, we have word that the Trump Administration has at least postponed its planned immigration enforcement surge in San Francisco. Susan Dyer Reynolds and Erica Sandberg will be discussing what may be next on X.com during our Sunday Brunch Space this weekend at 11 a.m. If you haven’t checked out our Sunday Spaces this is the time!
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
CRIME
Former S.F. D.A. Boudin sent hundreds of violent offenders to diversion and never tracked a single one
“If the programs were failing, Boudin didn’t want to know about it, and he didn’t want the public to know about it either.”
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
This is part 4 of a multipart series on the failure of diversion programs in San Francisco’s criminal justice system.
On March 4, 2022, under pressure from pro-recall advocates and the press, then San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin released data on his “charging rates and case outcomes” directly to Susie Neilson, then a data reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Neilson said the numbers showed Boudin “sent a greater percentage of defendants in robbery, assault, and drug cases to diversion programs than his predecessor [George Gascón], while obtaining convictions in a smaller share of those cases.” What Neilson neglected to mention is the reason for the lack of convictions: Boudin granted dismissals even to those who reoffended, meaning cases languished for months, even years, while defendants were given multiple diversion program referrals.
HOUSING
Supes ensure vetting of Lurie zoning plan will be long, complicated; meanwhile, politics remain
Process will continue well into year-end, with lots of political posturing in and out of City Hall in the meantime.
by Mike Ege
RIGHT STUFF
SF10X: A rising civic engine
A new coalition of tech founders and entrepreneurs charts a different course to make San Francisco a better place.
by Liz Le
Quote of the week
“We pretty much have everything a city could want, except for parking, and the one thing we desire most. Which is: A view of us.”
— Will Durst proposes a new city landmark in The Bay Mirror Project
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
CULTURE
Wings over the bay
If you missed San Francisco Fleet Week 2025, we’ve compiled a video tribute capturing three days of aerial spectacle.
by Liz Le
A&E
First major Jim Melchert retrospective to debut at di Rosa San Francisco
Exhibition highlights 60 works from the ceramicist’s 60-year career
by Sharon Anderson
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EVENTS
Out and about Oct. 23–29, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Welcome to our Halloween edition of Out and About, which has picks for the younger, some for older, some for both. And for the Halloween uninterested, there are also a few options for you, too, including some park events, a discussion about our schools, some music, dance, opera, and more.
Thursday, Oct. 23
Although the Sundown Cinema paused operations earlier this year due to financial reasons, the San Francisco Standard stepped in to relaunch the final two films of the season. The last screening tonight is Tim Burton’s classic, Edward Scissorhands, a modern-day gothic fairytale about a young man who has (long) scissor blades for fingers, which sounds truly dreadful but is actually quite sweet. 6 p.m. at the Presidio Main Parade Ground. Free, RSVP here.
Celebrate life and how death leads to energy for the living, enjoy the colorful altars in honor of Día de los Muertos, and more at After Dark: Death and Life. Ages 18 and up. Tickets: $23.
San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, will discuss “What’s Next for San Francisco’s Public Schools?” tonight at Manny’s. Hear what she has to say about guiding the district through a transformational time. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: from $12 and change.
Friday, Oct. 24
SuperNatural will haunt the California Academy with trick-or-treat stations, a silent disco, crafts, face painting, a festive Halloween ride, and more. Tickets from $45.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Leap Arts in Education will host the largest sandcastle competition in Northern California, the 43rd Annual Sandcastle Classic. The event features teams of Bay Area students from over 25 schools who work together to build giant sand sculptures; funds raised by the students and sponsors help to provide arts programs to Bay Area students. So grab a blanket and chairs, enjoy the live music and your food truck favorites, and watch those kids do more than play in the sand to create incredible sandcastles. 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Ocean Beach near the Cliff House. Free admission.
Spooky Square will feature a magic show (spooky, of course), a kids’ costume parade, a dog costume contest, a pumpkin patch fountain photo, and lots of fun. 1 to 4 p.m. at Ghirardelli Square. Free admission.
Giordano Dance Chicago, America’s original jazz dance company, now in its 63rd season, continues to redefine and expand the meaning of jazz dance to preserve and promote the Giordano Technique, which emphasizes a deep plié, rhythmic complexity, and an elegant style with kinetic urgency. The company performs tonight at the Presidio Theatre. Tickets from $55.
Hello, Star, commissioned by Opera Parallèle and based on the book by Stephanie S. V. Lucianovic, tells the story of a young girl who is captivated by a call from a bright dying star, and questions her ability to meet the star before it dies. The opera explores whether she can overcome her self-doubts and expectations about what should happen or whether she will achieve her goal and “see possibilities beyond her wildest dreams.” Through Sunday (weekend tickets are limited). Tickets: $30
My mind’s image of this event was just too cute: A Pumpkin Giveaway (one per kiddo while supplies last, plus a photo) and a free carousel ride. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Yerba Buena Gardens. Free.
It’s a fun-filled full day at Hayes Valley Halloween with a Pet Parade (noon to 2 p.m.), a Jazz Jam (2 to 4 p.m.), the Trick or Treat Trail (4 to 6 p.m.), an outdoor movie screening of Wicked (6:45 to 9:30 p.m.), and more, like a big bubble event. Hayes and Octavia streets. Free admission; donations welcome.
The Haunt: An Artistically Haunted House is described as “spooky yet campy, scrappy but full of wonder, DIY and open to everyone.” Visitors will visit a labyrinth of salvaged materials from “bat’s wool, eye of newt, and a lot of hot glue,” which has to make anyone laugh. Beyond the maze, you can explore the graveyard with libations and dance, and otherworldly delights (whatever those may be). Afternoon shows are for the kiddos, and costumes are encouraged, of course, because it’s Halloween time. Through Saturday. Tickets from $15.
Listen to our podcasts
- In this moment of crisis we are all waiting and watching
- Three cheers for our City Attorney David Chiu who is going to court on behalf of all of us who love this city and freedom
- Mayor Lurie never mentioned Trump’s name and more
- How do we respond to Donald Trump’s threats against San Francisco?
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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