THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024
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Let the voting begin
by John Zipperer
Publisher The Voice of San Francisco
Political nerds often talk about an “October surprise”—some late-in-the-campaign bombshell scandal (real or faked) that threatens to derail a candidate. But that will need to eventually be changed to September surprises, because day by day as we go through the month of October, people are already casting their votes, so the percentage of voters whose choices are still available to be affected is smaller each day.
So — whatever your choices on the candidates and the ballot measures this fall — we encourage you to inform yourself and vote. This week, the San Francisco Department of Elections began shipping out more than half a million vote-by-mail packets.
if you’re like me (that is to say, one of those nerds who talks about October surprises and watches way too much post-debate analysis), then you probably fill out and mail your ballot within 24–48 hours after receiving it. I’ve known San Francisco veteran political journalists who still love to go to a polling place to cast their ballots, soaking in the atmosphere of the democratic experiment. And plenty of others will show up for in-person early voting; the city has opened up its early Voting Center for daily voting; check the Department of Elections’ website for times and location.
I’m also nerdy enough to be earnest about the importance of voting. I interviewed a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who was arrested within days of the interview. I’ve met immigrants who were so looking forward to earning their citizenship because they actually wanted to fulfill their responsibility for things like jury duty. Democracy might be under attack around the globe, but it’s still a draw for people who know it’s the best way of running our society, correcting our errors, and ensuring freedoms.
So take it from this nerd: Please vote.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
REYNOLDS RAP
Mayoral candidate and self-proclaimed ‘outsider’ Daniel Lurie has a long history with City Hall
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
If you have a television, a computer, or a cell phone, you’ve no doubt seen mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie attacking his competitors for being “City Hall insiders.” Well, it turns out Lurie isn’t as much of an outsider as he claims. In August, the Levi Strauss heir launched his first commercial featuring “former first California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris,” who discusses Lurie’s nonprofit Tipping Point investing early in her ideas. […]
DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
Macy’s Union Square: Loss prevention agents speak out
More police and agents are needed to curb theft, drug use, violence, and problematic behavior.
by Erica Sandberg
OPINION
Crime, perception management, and the doom loop
Yes, serious crime rates are down. Yes, City Hall has made changes to police policy. That doesn’t justify continued contempt for public fears stoked by continuing problems.
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
“By the time they reach high school, children need to experience a kind of radical truthfulness about their work quality and results. They not only need this to make academic progress; they also need this experientially as a signal that they are approaching the end of their childhood learning runway. ”
—Elizabeth Statmore, “Grading for reality”
Nomi toon
ICYMI
NEWS
Banking on San Francisco
Five Star Bank Opens First Bay Area Branch in the Financial District
by Erica Sandberg
EDUCATION
Grading for reality
We need SFUSD teachers to give teens feedback that is clear, consistent, and noncoercive to help them master the life skills they’ll need as adults.
by Elizabeth Statmore
A&E
Three daughters and a rebel net acclaim for Netflix
Two new movies financed and distributed by the streaming pioneer are among the best of the year.
by Michael Snyder
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EVENTS
Out and About
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
There are more than enough upcoming events for your enjoyment this weekend and into next week, from films, to live theater and music performances, to a not-to-miss art exhibition, and more, including an Oktoberfest actually held in October. Here are my picks.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Get a head start on the weekend with Market Street Live, a block-long interactive arts experience on mid-Market. Enjoy all kinds of music from hip-hop to Afro-Cuban jazz and salsa to Kat Robichaud’s Misfit Cabaret, dancing, inflatable art, a vertical performance on a building by Bandaloop, and much more. Between Fifth and Sixth streets, 4–7 p.m. Free admission; register here.
Five-time Grammy winners Snarky Puppy return to Miner Auditorium at S.F. Jazz for a highly anticipated run of performances, with a different show each night. But some are almost sold out, so act fast. Through Sunday. Tickets: from $60
Saturday, Oct. 15
Sláinte! Prost! It’s no secret the Irish and German know how to party, so Oktoberfest by the Beach at the Irish Cultural Center will surely not disappoint. Enjoy music and dancing by Alpine Sound and fun in the large bier hall and biergarten, stein holding contests, and more. 4 p.m. Tickets: $44 and change.
This is just a sampling of events; see more weekend events online.
Listen up! Our podcasts
- John Rothmann is proud and thrilled to live in San Francisco!
- Good news, bad news and advice for the thoughtful voter with John Rothmann
- John Rothmann interviews Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, author of “Boxes in the Attic – An Immigrant’s Story”
- 57 years of baseball in Oakland is over with John Rothmann
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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