THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Last night was very busy at the United Irish Cultural Center, that beacon of civic buzz at the end of the earth the extreme southwest corner of the city. Meeting inside the center’s warren of function rooms were Alcoholics Anonymous, the local Republican Party central committee, as well as the main event, yet another forum featuring candidates for District 4 Supervisor, this time convened by the United Democratic Club, the Westside Families Democratic Club, the Alice B. Tolkas LGBTQ Democratic Club and the Sunset Merchants.
The event featured all five contenders: ppointed incumbent Alan Wong, business owner Albert Chow, Shamann Walton aide Natalie Gee, education worker Jeremy Greco, and educator and nonprofit head David Lee. The event drew a standing-only crowd ranging from residents to political operatives from across town, and even the district’s recently-recalled supervisor, Joel Engardio, was in attendance. KQED’s Sydney Johnson was moderator.
The event had a lot of highlights, which will be featured in a future write-up, but some were just too good not to share early:
• Gee wants to empower parking enforcement officers. “I would love to be able to expand the ticketing power of our MTA folks, the folks that you see at the street cleaning day that come by to ticket your car. I want them to have the power to be able to stop cars that are speeding down our neighborhood.” One might ask if SFPD cops can’t just pull over sideshow speeders, what are they going to do?
• Johnson hit Chow with a zinger about how he had failed to file some tax returns for his neighborhood non-profit. Chow said, “Thanks for asking a little bit of a tough question,” as he reassured the audience that “I have since filed with a specialist CPA that deals with non-profits, and I’m getting everything filed, right?” and that he had caught up on his paperwork.
• Johnson also highlighted Greco as the only contender who actually supported Sunset Dunes, the ersatz park built from the closed Great Highway. Discussion of the subject caused the audience to literally fulminate, with most seemingly wanting to see a return to the compromise brokered by the previous supervisor, Gordon Mar.
• Finally, asked about who they supported in the fractious Congressional race, Chow, Gee, and Greco all supported Connie Chan, while Lee and Wong had yet to support anyone.
Meanwhile, we have received word that a certain Friedenbach Family Farms LLC filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on Feb. 17. According to the report, “The company currently faces liquidity challenges, with public records from 2024 and 2025 indicating tax-default notices on various agricultural parcels. As of September 2025, the entity had over $200,000 in outstanding tax and assessment defaults across more than 15 properties in Fresno County. The operation currently employs an estimated staff of 1 to 10 individuals.”
As it turns out, California’s almond industry has had some shocking setbacks in recent years, ranging from Trump Tarriffs to larger-than-normal roof rat infestations. But Friedenbach’s LLC likely protects the family’s still considerable wealth.
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Top News
LAW AND ORDER
EXCLUSIVE: Voice of San Francisco report on parole agent’s failure to supervise Troy McAlister leads to suit
Abe family attorneys say McAlister was free to kill Hanako due to direct order from parole supervisor.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
In an Dec. 10, 2025 exclusive, The Voice of San Francisco revealed documents showing that the Dec. 31, 2020 crash that killed 60-year-old Elizabeth Platt and 27-year-old Hanako Abe in San Francisco was one of several incidents over six months that should have prompted agents and supervisors of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO), and San Francisco Parole Unit 1 to issue a parole hold on parolee Troy McAlister. Three months after that report, Phoong Law Corporation, led by attorneys Anh Phoong and Diana Thomas, has filed a government claim against the State of California on behalf of the Abe family.
CITY HALL
Supes grill Waymo: Safety, congestion, and jobs
Hearing, ostensibly over blackout failures, showcased more basic issues in the background
by Mike Ege
TRANSPORTATION
SFMTA board approves $612 million Potrero Yard overhaul with scaled-back housing
Transit officials greenlight a major renovation of the Muni Potrero Yard, but tensions linger over a scaled-back housing vision tied to the project.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“The gulf between the 30 seconds that the law requires and the 50 minutes that we heard about today is massive”
—Supervisor Bilal Mahmood on the challenges faced by robotaxi provider Waymo in complying with new state safety legislation, in “Supes grill Waymo: Safety, congestion, and jobs”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
POLITICS
SF Dems show no surprises in its latest endorsements
Last Monday, Feb. 23, the DCCC hosted interviews with June 2 Special Election candidates and ballot measure proponents and opponents.
by Griffin Lee
POLITICS
Blinking red warning light
Americans say our democracy is under serious threat; the solution from some on the right and the left is less democracy.
by John Zipperer
REYNOLDS RAP
Judge who says family of four killer shouldn’t get jail time set to retire this year
‘Judge Bruce Chan escapes voters’ chance to be heard when his term ends in 2029.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
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EVENTS
Out and about March 5–11, 2026
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
eems like a safe bet we’re all looking forward to the next few days as we slide into the weekend. If you’re in need of some ideas for how to enjoy, read on.
Thursday, March 5
The Tony Award-winning M. Butterfly is nearing the end of its run. Inspired by the real-life trial and intriguing story of French diplomat Bernard Boursicot, the play reimagines Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly, through the story of a French diplomat’s 20-year affair with a Chinese opera singer. Through March 14 at the San Francisco Playhouse. Tickets from $52.
ODC/Dance will present ODC Dance Downtown, “[a]n exhilarating program of adventuresome works,” featuring the world premiere of After the Deluge from Founding Artistic Director Brenda Way, Theories of Time by Co-Artistic Director Mia J. Chong, and Caught in the Act, a world premiere from guest choreographer Gypsy Snider, cofounder of The 7 Fingers and Dear San Francisco. Through Sunday at the Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA. Tickets from $30.
Expand your understanding of sound in Sound Maze, an interactive installation where you can explore your musical creativity and experiment with unique large-scale instruments and sound sculptures. Through Saturday at SFMOMA. Free with museum admission ($15).
Friday, March 6
The Sound Healing Symphony, a melodic group of the West Coast’s meditative musicians, has sold out shows of over 1,400 people across the country. The title of this concert is Send Out Energy for Peace. Tickets from $30.
Saturday, March 7
Enjoy Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming, family photo ops with giant puppets, dragons, and more, including over 120 vendor booths and concessions at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair. Through Sunday on Grant Street (California to Broadway streets and Washington, Jackson, and Pacific streets between Stockton and Kearny streets). Free admission.
Parade (1).jpg (library)
Gung Hay Fat Choy! The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade is the largest of its kind outside of Asia and has been held since the mid 1800s. Highlights include lion dancing, Chinese acrobats, and of course, the Golden Dragon. Don’t miss the grand finale drone light show, which will depict Lunar New Year images (8 p.m.-ish). Parade starts at 5:15 at Second and Market streets. p.m. Free; bleacher seating from $45.
Taste hundreds of award-winning wines at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting. This year offers a variety of tasting experiences for casual sippers to enthusiasts. 1:30 p.m. at Fort Mason Center. Tickets from $100.
Listen to our podcasts
- Potrero building, the impact on Muni, “affordable” housing again and the race for Governor!!
- Lurie says we need to cut 500 jobs, the Unions are not so sure, a teacher on leave at Lowell and much more!!!
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- S.F. Ballet does the right thing! The Great Highway issue is growing, the Santa Cruz wharf is on the mend and more!!!!
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