THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, JAN. 8, 2026
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Happy New Year!
Alan Wong, District 4’s new supervisor, is again in the spotlight — this time over the ongoing dispute about the stretch of Ocean Beach roadway known as the Upper Great Highway or Sunset Dunes Park. At a standing-room-only forum Tuesday night at Black Bird Books & Cafe in the Outer Sunset, Wong held firm amid criticism from park supporters.
After greeting attendees, Wong joined moderator Heidi Moseson of Friends of Sunset Dunes to answer prearranged questions from a crowd largely made up of park advocates, including Joel Engardio, the recalled former supervisor. Wong called it “the friendliest crowd that disagrees with me.” Several speakers shared emotional testimony about the park’s impact, including a cancer survivor and a parent of a child with autism who described it as a rare safe public space.
The discussion was mostly cordial, though occasional heckling followed Wong’s repeated call for a return to the pre-Proposition K compromise — weekday car access with weekend closures — citing increased vehicle miles traveled, idling, and a rise in traffic injuries districtwide. The evening highlighted the tension between personal attachment to Sunset Dunes and broader districtwide transportation concerns.
Ahead of the event, highway supporters complained the audience was skewed toward park advocates. Organizers said more than 500 people RSVP’d, far exceeding the venue’s capacity, and the cold weather didn’t deter all critics: highway supporter Selena Chu listened from next door and spoke with organizers afterward.
Welcome to San Francisco’s new neighborhood politics. Wong is scheduled to hold a press conference today at 3 p.m. at City Hall to outline next steps for the Great Highway.
Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a rain-soaked press conference in San Francisco on Jan. 6, across from the state Employment Development Department, vowing to crack down on what he called massive fraud in California government. Citing pandemic-era losses, Hilton accused Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats of overseeing tens of billions in misused taxpayer funds. A December 2025 Emerson College poll shows Hilton tied with Democrat Eric Swalwell at 12 percent, trailing Republican Chad Bianco at 13 percent.
Standing alongside state controller candidate Herb Morgan, Hilton outlined plans to audit major social service programs, involve federal law enforcement, and pursue asset recovery. Asked about a proposed one-time 5 percent wealth tax on billionaires, Hilton sharply opposed it, arguing California’s high taxes and unemployment already drive out businesses. As heavy rain flooded nearby streets, Hilton and Morgan wrapped up and headed to their next campaign stop.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Erica Sandberg contributed to this report.
Top News
CRIME
Judge Fleming appoints attorney for convicted killer of Grandma Huang
Sentencing put off until the last half of 2026
by John Trasviña
Gathron, who waived his right to an attorney and represented himself at trial, was convicted by a jury and faces two life sentences plus 31 years imprisonment. In addition to Grandma Huang’s murder, Gathron was convicted of multiple carjackings, kidnapping, assault, burglary, and robbery charges. In granting the motion, Fleming acknowledged the pain to be felt by family and victims by delaying further proceedings.
TRANSPORTATION
SFMTA to close 111-year-old Potrero Muni bus yard for major rebuild
San Francisco’s oldest Muni bus yard is about to be temporarily closed for several years to make way for a new, modern yard that includes better bus maintenance facilities.
by Jerold Chinn
NEWS
Is PG&E’s culture of neglect too big to curtail? Alan Wong is going to find out.
“We’ve had six outages in the Sunset just this month. That’s six days out of my first 30 days in office. It’s really ridiculous,” Wong told The Voice and listeners during a Sunday Brunch Space held on X.com this past weekend.
by Mike Ege
Quote of the week
“This makes The Embarcadero our front yard. There is a 45-foot naked woman in our front yard, which most of the public disdains. Of course, in the beginning, no one was a big fan of the Pyramid Building either, and now we all hang tiny replicas as ornaments on our Christmas trees. So let’s give her eminence R-Evolution a couple of decades to catch on. Got to love the Pyramid Building — what other city would provide Ring Toss for aliens?.”
— Will Durst on how the city is one big exhibition where tomorrow starts today, in “Our front door”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
HOT TOPICS
Editor’s picks for 2025: Five stories that cut through the noise this year
These are some of our most-read articles of the year; here’s a shout-out to our contributors for their work!
by Mike Ege
HOUSING
AI to expand its real estate reach in 2026
From growth in back-office operations to questions about impact on housing demand, AI is set for an important year.
by John Zipperer
EDUCATION
California Department of Education strikes back against antisemitism
‘Understanding the CDE’s rulings; Part 2 of a three-part series
by Elizabeth Statmore
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EVENTS
Out and about Jan. 8–14, 2026
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
We hope your new year is off to a good start. Maybe you’re still in recovery mode from the holidays, So, for some lower-key out and about-ing, go listen to some music, catch some exhibitions and stage productions that are closing soon, some opening, and more. Read on.
Thursday, Jan. 8
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just bird curious, NightLife: For the Birds is for you. Enjoy roaming dance performances, hands-on workshops (like the Chirp Lab and a drawing workshop), expert-led talks, and discover how migration, communication, and adaptation shape avian life. Adults 21-plus only. 6 p.m. at California Academy of Sciences. Tickets: $25.
Manny’s is hosting a lecture by Dr. Juanita Darling on Understanding the History of United States Intervention in Latin America. The dialogue will help explain the historical context of recent events in Venezuela and the U.S. military’s long history of involvement in the political affairs of Latin American nations. 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets from $5 and change.
Friday, Jan. 9
Join the adventure of pirate Jack Sparrow and blacksmith Will Turner as they rescue Elizabeth Swann and encounter Captain Barbossa and the cursed Black Pearl crew in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The San Francisco Symphony will perform live musical accompaniment. 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Saturday) at Davies Symphony Hall. Tickets from $120.
Saturday, Jan. 10
This exclusive performance of Venezuelan pianist and composer Edward Simon Trio, featuring bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Adam Cruz, will be augmented by the Del Sol Quartet and special guest saxophonist Chris Potter. Simon and Potter are longtime members of the S.F. Jazz Collective, and Simon, a Guggenheim Fellow, is on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 7:30 p.m. at the Presidio Theatre. Tickets from $49.
Sunday, Jan. 11
Got kids? They’re sure to enjoy the Festa della Bufana to wrap up the holiday season with sweet treats, hot chocolate (bubbly for the big people), arts and crafts, and the enchanting tale of La Bufana (Italy’s version of Santa, who presents as a broom-riding witch-like nonna) — and she may even make a special appearance. 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Museo Italo Americano. Tickets from $25.
Listen to our podcasts
- From the CDC to PG&E and the PUC, to Union Square and the state of the state, we have a lot to discuss
- The proposed changing face of San Francisco needs to be fully discussed and debated NOW
- Our state and local economy, Judge Ross on Proposition K … the battle continues
- Power out again, more restaurants closing down, Marina Safeway: to build or not to build, and more
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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