THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
The races for the even-numbered supervisorial seats are more than a year away, but some are already heating up.
The latest was in the Standard’s “Power Play” (I wonder who came up with that name?) politics newsletter last night — Lori Brooke, founder of antidevelopment group Neighborhoods United, let them know she’s “pulled papers” for District 2, where she’d be facing incumbent Stephen Sherrill as well as Immigrant Rights Commissioner Monthanus Ratanapakdee (who is also the daughter of hate crime victim Vicha Ratanapakdee) and Burlingame Deputy City Manager (and Wallenberg Demo Club Treasurer) Jeremy Kirshner.
Meanwhile, District 10 appears to have the most potential candidates so far, with five people having pulled papers (mind you, to be a real candidate you have to return those forms, which entails money, time, and judgment). Former Warriors public affairs chief Theo Ellington appears to lead the pack; also running is Potrero Boosters president and lawyer JR Eppler; Jameel Patterson, associate director of the New Community Leadership Foundation; perennial candidate Percy Bastiani, and self-described “troublemaker” and former “Banksy of trademarks” Mike Lin. Dion J. Brookter, who runs Young Community Developers, the nonprofit where incumbent Shamann Walton was once in charge, Bill Barnes, a former aide to several supervisors, comms advisor to former Mayor Ed Lee and recently housing nonprofit director, and community organizer Cedric Akbar are also rumored to run but do not appear to have pulled papers yet.
One race that is sure to capture attention is in District 8 with Pelosi aide and harm reduction defender Gary McCoy and political salon impresario and former SFMTA commissioner Manny Yekutiel being first to pull papers this month.
The D8 race has generated some grumblings among supporters of D6 incumbent and recovery-based policy champion Matt Dorsey, who has endorsed, perhaps surprisingly, McCoy as top choice for the D8 seat. (“I have great affection for both candidates, and I am endorsing Gary number one and Manny number two,” Dorsey texted us a while back.)
Meanwhile, some of Dorsey’s supporters are asking, “What gives?” Well, as it always is, it’s politics, which is based on relationships and reciprocity.
After being appointed in 2022 by then Mayor London Breed, Dorsey had to run for election in his own right later that year against a popular, high-profile challenger, Honey Mahogany. Support of the queer community, a powerful factor in D6 as in D8, was in play. Dorsey was able to get the powerful endorsement of the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, putting him over the top. McCoy was cochair of the club that year.
Plus, it might be argued that compared to Yekutiel, McCoy would be a known quantity on the board.
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Top News
NEIGHBORHOODS
Columbus statue held in secret storage five years after removal
Despite community pushback, S.F. Arts Commission refuses to release the statue.
by Erica Sandberg
Five years after its expulsion from Pioneer Park, San Francisco’s Christopher Columbus statue remains locked in secret storage as interest in returning it intensifies.
DRUGS
In wake of Newsom sober housing veto, supes play hardball
Dorsey, Mandelman bill bars funds from new ‘harm reduction’ based supportive housing,
by Mike Ege
CITY HALL
District 2 residents weigh in on Family Zoning Plan
Hopes and concerns aired as Sherrill and Tanner manage expectations.
by Susannah Stark
Quote of the week
“I want housing for my grandchildren. I want housing for my sister. I want housing for everyone,” she said. “I’m from the ’60s — I don’t want to discriminate between the rich and the poor. I want us to come together like the Beatles.”
— Marina resident Fran Lucco tries to bring everyone together at a fractious town hall, in “District 2 residents weigh in on Family Zoning Plan.”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
HOUSING
Affordable housing scaled back at Muni Potrero bus yard project
Transportation leaders make major changes to a long-planned bus yard project in the Mission as costs and priorities shift for the city’s transportation agency.
by Jerold Chinn
A&E
‘Art of Manga’ at the de Young
Even though manga is a global phenomenon, this is its first major exhibition survey in North America. The exhibition explores its impact from the 1970s to now, with rarely presented original drawings by major artists.
by Sharon Anderson
HOUSING
Sober living bill gets governor’s veto
A bill with strong San Francisco roots went down in flames last week when Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 255, The Supportive- Recovery Residence Program.
by John Zipperer
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EVENTS
Out and about Oct. 9–15, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Fleet Week continues with daily band concerts across the city and, of course, the airshow, and an event at the Exploratorium where you can meet the Snowbird pilots (and more). There’s also some jazz, a compelling performance of Led Zeppelin music, Litquake, an art walk, a dumpling festival, that big parade in North Beach, and other ways to spend your week. Read on.
Thursday, Oct. 9
After Dark, the Exploratorium’s monthly event for adults 18 and older, has a packed evening planned, featuring Dancing in the Sky, a performance from Earth Circus, a storytelling cabaret with KQED, a meet-and-greet with the Canadian Snowbirds, a short film about starling murmuration, and more. 6–10 p.m. Tickets: $23.
Litquake, the city’s annual literary festival of readings, screenings, discussions, and more, opens tonight with (no so) Guilty Pleasures, and you’re invited to celebrate the books you’d never admit to reading. When you buy your ticket, include your dark literary indulgence, and comedian Natasha Muse will perform a custom set based on your answers. (Daily events are planned through Oct. 25, so be sure to check the festival schedule.) Tickets: $55 and change.
Friday, Oct. 10
The Fleet Week Air Show starts today (11:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.), following the Parade of Ships (10:30/11 a.m. to noon). (Airshow starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.) Free viewing.
Tonight is the last night of the season to enjoy the community spirit and culinary delights of the Chinatown Night Market. Stroll the street under the festive red lanterns while you eat, drink, shop, and support the merchants. 5:30 to 9 p.m. (The 1st Marine Division Band will play from 6 to 7:30 p.m.) Grant Avenue (at Sacramento Street). Free admission.
Rock ’n’ roll meets classic when The San Francisco Conservatory of Music will perform Music of Led Zeppelin with vocalist Justin Sargent in a two-hour, 18-song setlist. 7 p.m. at the Curran Theatre. Tickets from $84 and change.
Saturday, Oct. 11
12th Annual More Than Two Blocks of Art: Site and Sound features over two blocks of art on Market Street from Fifth to Seventh streets with over 20 art exhibitions celebrating creativity, uniting musicians, D.J.s, and radio stations with painters, illustrators, and sculptors. Art walk map here. Free admission, but you may get a free drink ticket if you RSVP. nds through Sept. 21. 2 p.m. Free.urday. Tickets from $49.
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