THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025
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Choose your battles
by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
It’s 2025, and while Washington is mired in culture wars, San Francisco is mired in policy wars, some of which, due to the level of emotional investment, are fought more like culture wars.
One of the larger conflicts is over the simple question of how to get around the city. Emotions are increasingly inflamed in both camps, just as the Municipal Transportation Agency, which governs transit, streets, and parking, is in serious financial straits.
Despite this, pitched battles are still being fought over access to public streets by cars, and doling out space on those streets to bicycles which in some cases seems to be even more than what pedestrians are getting.
You’d think it would be fairly simple. Enforce transit fares. Enforce lower street speeds. Make more paid parking spaces to gather revenue. Maybe, just maybe, even license bicycles. Yet all of these have varying degrees of opposition.
You would think that in such a time of forced austerity, people would want to stick to the basics instead of continuing to pursue social engineering on the streets.
Our correspondent, Jerold Chinn, has been tracking the moves in this culturally tinged policy war, including a possible crackdown on fare evasion and other revenue-raising strategies. Our podcaster John Rothman also has a lot to say about it. We’re sure you do, too.
Of course, another major culture/policy war is over housing, and Yours Truly offers a couple of half-cents on the issue and how housing and transit issues intertwine this week. John Zipperer also looks at a wider housing problem, the state’s looming insurance crisis.
We know these issues can be exhausting, but they’re important. So reward yourself with a steak at the new Izzy’s.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
HOUSING
Housing is becoming San Francisco’s Forever War
The city’s pro-housing movement faces a precipitous fall.
by Mike Ege
San Francisco now has both a pro-housing mayor and a majority on the Board of Supervisors that shares the same stance, along with an established pro-housing coalition of advocacy groups. The city has come a long way from just over a decade ago, when addressing the issue at City Hall was still radioactive. That said, based on recent developments, housing policy in San Francisco will remain contentious for some time to come.
TRANSPORTATION
SFMTA officials weigh proposals to avoid future Muni service cuts and close $320 million deficit
Proposals include ballot measures, increasing residential permit parking fees, and extending parking meter hours
by Jerold Chinn
DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
More local businesses take over vacant downtown storefronts through Vacant to Vibrant program
New small businesses are opening in downtown San Francisco as part of an effort to occupy vacant storefronts.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“I don’t see three other people pay, why should I pay? And when that kind of consistent message where people see that, we start losing people who want to comply with the rules.”
— SFMTA Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Rewers on Muni’s fare evasion crackdown
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
BITS & BITES
Izzy’s Steaks & Chops: Come for the steak, stay for the crullers
A newly renovated interior and refreshed menu bring a classic back to life.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
TRANSIT
Muni riders can expect to see more fare inspectors as agency cracks down on fare evasion
Officials say riders can see more enforcement during the summer.
by Jerold Chinn
HOUSING
Housing briefs: Insurance blues
Those lower-than-the-national-average insurance rates Newsom touted in June 2024 are likely going to look quaint to California homeowners in years to come.
by John Zipperer
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EVENTS
Out and about April 24–30, 2025
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
There’s a mixed bag of choices to fill your upcoming days from music, dance, film, art, and theater to Sunday in the park or on the bay, and even a furry four-legged fundraiser.
Thursday, April 24
Enjoy your lunch al fresco at Fulton Plaza and enjoy a free concert, Civic Center Soundtrack. Today’s performers are Barb Murphy, Ben Lang, and Pete Kronowitt. Tuesdays and Thursdays through July. Free.
Friday, April 25
Calling all Dead Heads! The Magic Theatre is launching a monthly celebration, Grateful Friday, of the Dead’s musical legacy, which will culminate in the world premiere of Jerry Garcia in the Lower Mission, opening this fall. Tickets: $40
Sundown Cinema is starting a little early this year with the horror classic The Fog, which will be screened at the Parade Ground in the Presidio, and will be presented in conjunction with the 68th annual San Francisco International Film Festival (through April 27). NB: This venue feels like it must surely be the coldest place on the planet when the wind whips off the bay even without any fog, and being cold ruins everything, so have options. Free; RSVP here.
Today starts Bay Area Dance Week, 10 days of free dance events celebrating our diverse dance community, from hip-hop to folk, Bollywood, ballet, West African, and lots more. At the kickoff celebration, Rhythm and Motion will lead One Dance, designed for all participants to perform together. Grab your lunch and join in at Union Square, noon. Free.
Michael Smuin’s The Eternal Idol will be featured in Smuin’s Dance Series 2 Pictured: Smuin artists Erica Felsch and Peter Kurta in a 2018 performance of the ballet. | Keith Sutter
I’ve always been a fan of the Smuin Ballet, which combines all kinds of dance styles with traditional and contemporary ballet. Dance Series 2 features a world premier by their artistic director, Amy Seiwert, a Bay Area premier of Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, set to a medley of artists from Mendelssohn to Queen, and Rex Wheeler’s Sinfonietta. I especially like that each dance series includes a piece by founder Michael Smuin to honor his legacy, and this one features The Eternal Idol, inspired by Rodin, and originally choreographed by the American Ballet Theatre. Through May 4. Tickets from $25. Tickets from $49.
Listen to our podcasts
- Schools in S.F and Oakland, Trump in contempt of Court and Newsom and the Democratic Party
- Muni needs to work for the sake of all of San Francisco
- Open Market Street and our city streets to get things moving in 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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