THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
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It’s very debatable
by John Zipperer
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
It’s fall, the time for weather to cool, school to restart, galas to be held, and politicians to debate, sometimes civilly and sometimes not. This week an estimated 67 million people watched the first (and only?) debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Chock full of apocryphal stories about people eating Spot and Fluffy were flashes of policy talk, but you needed to parse them from the surrounding noise.
It’s unlikely that these national debates, despite their huge viewerships, will change much in this very polarized nation. But here at home, we have many (many!) opportunities to see candidates for local office questioned by moderators, audience members, and each other. Mike Ege reports on these forums regularly at The Voice, and down below in this newsletter our managing editor, Lynette Majer, includes a calendar of supervisor candidate forums in the next week. Mark your calendar for your opportunity to show up and meet the candidates and hear what they have to say.
There are also mayoral debates and forums taking place, but — as we found out ourselves — it’s proving difficult to get all of the leading candidates together on stage. So when you do show up for a forum, or watch one on YouTube, you’re seeing the people who have cleared some time in their very busy schedules to answer questions from you. Again, some of those questions they are probably very eager to answer so they can talk about their proposals or track records. Other questions they would probably like to avoid. But they showed up, and good for them. And as voters, it’s our job to show up, inform ourselves, and vote.
Keep Fluffy and Spot safe at home.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
ELECTION 2024
Finally, District 5 hopefuls have their say in Japantown
Candidates cut through dense questions to stand apart from incumbent Preston.
by Mike Ege
While other supervisorial races have featured multiple forums and debates, District 5, incorporating the Haight, Western Addition, and Tenderloin, is getting started late. Voters got a first hearing of the candidates at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California on Tuesday.
District 5 encompasses some of San Francisco’s most left-leaning neighborhoods, which have also figured prominently in the city’s political history […]
RIGHT STUFF
Comedy Day in San Francisco and one of the funny humans who keeps it going
Meet the executive producer of Comedy Day and funny lady, Debi Durst.
by Ixchel Acosta
ELECTION 2024
Breed’s rivals debate in Corona Heights
Standing-room-only crowd hears candidates, minus incumbent, repeatedly pivot to crime, housing issues .
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
“I believe that the only reparations Black people need is the reparations of respect. This [$5 million per Black resident proposal] is not realistic. When people talk about the $5 million figure, do the math. Who’s going to be able to afford to put this together?”
—Allen Jones, District 5 supervisor candidate
Nomi toon
ICYMI
ELECTION 2024
Breed’s rivals debate in Corona Heights
Standing-room-only crowd hears candidates, minus incumbent, repeatedly pivot to crime, housing issues
by Mike Ege
NEWS
City targets corruption in new efforts
Conflicts of interest and political activity by grantees of public funds targeted in new rules.
by John Zipperer
A&E
Scare and scare alike
When it comes to the current profusion of horror movies, ticket buyers are shrieking with glee — and are eager to shriek again.
by John Rothmann
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EVENTS
Out and About
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Here are my picks to consider for your weekend adventures, including some supervisor election forums for next week.
Friday, Sept.13
Flower Piano is of my all-time favorites, when the Botanical Garden places pianos throughout its 55 acres and schedules performances throughout the day at each location, and during the unscheduled times the public is invited to play. The event has expanded over the years and now includes special events in the Flower Piano Lounge and other venues, so be sure to check those out, too. Daily through Sept. 22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free admission for S.F. residents (excluding select special events); tickets for others here.
Attention art lovers: the Art Explosion Fall Open Studios will feature over 100 artists exhibiting their creations from photographs and sculpture to paintings and jewelry and more in their individual studios. Through Sunday, noon–5 p.m. Free admission.
Saturday, Sept. 14
Here’s another Autumn Moon Festival to enjoy for entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, mooncakes, lion dancing, and more, including a dumpling eating contest (preregistration required to participate). A short description of the origin of moon festivals is here. Through Sunday in Chinatown (between Grant and Sacramento), 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission.
See more weekend events online.
Notable next week
Here are the supervisor candidate forums and panels scheduled for next week.
Monday, Sept. 16
District 1: Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue, 6–8 p.m. Reserve here.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
District 3: Club Fugazi Experiences, 678 Green Street, 6–8 p.m. Reserve here.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
District 7: San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 Ninth Avenue, 6–8 p.m. Reserve here.
District 9: El Toro Nightclub, 2470 San Bruno Avenue, 6–8:30 p.m. (in-person only). Reserve here.
Thursday, Sept. 19
District 11: Italian American Social Club, 25 Russia Avenue, 6–8 p.m. Reserve here.
Enjoy your weekend and let the supervisor candidates in your district know what matters.
Listen up! Our podcasts
- John Rothmann: There must be no place for hatred in the SFUSD
- John Rothmann: In the mayor’s race, do endorsements matter?
- The future of public education in San Francisco
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- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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