The GrowSF Report: Autumn Looijen files to run against Dean Preston
The GrowSF Report: Autumn Looijen files to run against Dean Preston
PLUS: Man who stabbed 94-year-old sentenced to probation, not prison
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of March 11, 2024:
- Autumn Looijen, who ran the School Board recall, files to run against Dean Preston
- Man who stabbed 94-year-old sentenced to probation, not prison
- Why has Lombardi Sports been vacant for a decade?
- Mayor Breed vetoes Peskin’s downzoning
- BFF.fm will be SF’s newest radio station
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Soul-satisfying, Detroit-style pizza arrives in the Mission!
- A “friendly” wine shop opens in North Beach
Autumn Looijen, who ran the School Board recall, files to run against Dean Preston
School Board recall leader, Autumn Looijen, just filed to run for District 5 Supervisor against Dean Preston. She joins Bilal Mahmood in a growing field of candidates.
According to Jill Tucker at the Chronicle, Autumn’s motivations are simple: “she wants to enforce the law, specifically in the Tenderloin, while maintaining compassion for those who need help...She also wants to make sure money going to nonprofits is “delivering results,” and that the “little things” are taken care of, whether it’s the dying tree outside a house or the need for a fence around a dog park.”
At first glance, her platform is similar to Bilal Mahmood, who just won a seat on the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC). Mahmood came in 3rd out of 30 candidates, behind only Matt Dorsey and Nancy Tung.
Man who stabbed 94-year-old sentenced to probation, not prison
A man who was found guilty of stabbing a 94-year-old woman, Ang “Peng” Taylor, was sentenced to five years of probation. Taylor was “stabbed multiple times in the city’s Lower Nob Hill neighborhood in broad daylight when she was walking down the street,” according to Han Li at the Standard.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins sought a 12 year prison sentence for the unprovoked attack.
Despite pleading guilty to charges of attempted murder, elder abuse, assault, and burglary charges, Daniel Cauich was given probation by Judge Kay Tsenin rather than prison time, saying “I am giving you one last chance to stay out of state prison.”
Why has Lombardi Sports been vacant for a decade?
A 32,000 square foot space at the corner of Polk and Jackson Streets has stood vacant for a decade. With many potential tenants and a great location, why is it still vacant? Three words: Supervisor Aaron Peskin.
Numerous plans have passed Peskin’s desk, but he opposed all of them: Peskin led neighborhood opposition to Target filling the space; Whole Foods was blocked from opening in the space due to legislation Peskin championed; and Mollie Stones and Gus’s didn’t receive support for leasing the space, either.
“It would be a fabulous location for a full-service gym. It’s also a great grocery store location,” one of the owners, Rob Isackson, shared with Garrett Leahy of the Standard.
With Peskin likely running for Mayor we’re left asking: if he wins, will San Francisco ever thrive again?
Mayor Breed vetoes Peskin’s downzoning
Mayor Bree vetoed Aaron Peskin’s latest attempt to block homebuilding in his district. Under the guise of “historic preservation,” Peskin rolled back recent changes that made it easier and more affordable to build new homes in Peskin’s neighborhood.
Peskin is widely known as one of the most anti-growth politicians in San Francisco, so his attempt to stop more families from moving near him is unsurprising. We applaud Mayor Breed for her veto, and Supervisors Dorsey, Engardio, and Melgar for opposing Peskin’s legislation. We hope that the rest of the Board comes to its senses and doesn’t overturn the veto – we’ll find out next week!
BFF.fm will be SF’s newest radio station
Everything old is new again. After a decade, the Federal Communications Commission allowed applications for FM licenses, and a San Francisco-based non-profit snatched up the only available one: 104.9 FM. Best Frequencies Forever (BFF.fm), which claimed the frequency, has been playing its music and podcasts online and through its mobile app since 2013.
The station will broadcast to approximately 100,000 San Franciscans from a tower near SF State. And, programming for 104.9 is now underway, “What we’re going to do is going to be very unique to the area and to San Francisco,” station director Amanda Guest shared with Timothy Karoff of SF Gate.
But don’t get too excited yet — it may take them three years to obtain all of the necessary licensing and get the broadcast tower up & running.
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Soul-satisfying, Detroit-style pizza arrives in the Mission!
WHERE: 3107 16th Street
WHEN: 7 days a week, 10am - 11pm
Did you know that Detroit is referred to as the birthplace of square-style pizza in the United States? Well you can now get more of that same kind of pizza at Detroit Square Pizza in the Mission. It recently opened right near the Roxie Theater in a little hole-in-the-wall spot that’s been vacant for years. You can choose from a variety of toppings, everything from chili honey to caviar!
A “friendly” wine shop opens in North Beach
WHERE: 705 Columbus Ave.
WHEN: Thursday-Sunday, Noon-7pm
A new wine shop just opened in North Beach, with a fabulous name. “Friend of a Friend” offers natural wine and spirits from around the world, plus perfumes and spices. In conversation with Esther Mobley at the Chronicle, owner Jannea Tschirch shared that “people who like wine like fragrance too — their noses are really sensitive and tuned in.” Owners Christopher Renfro and Jannea Tschirch have been in the news before – they opened an urban vineyard near 280 during the pandemic called the 280 Project. Friend of a Friend will host community tastings in the future and order food from local North Beach businesses.
The Spirit of San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city and the Bay Area. Here’s what makes it great. Brought to you by The Bold Italic.
What we’re doing this week
It’s St. Patrick’s Day — Here’s how to spend it
San Francisco is a bit like Ireland, don’t you think? Snug, surrounded mostly by water, Catholic in memory. Cramped by car, vast by foot. And divided into regions, too, which seem all alike to the tourist but are known to locals as wildly different. So step aside, St. Francis: Here are seven ways to pay proper SF homage to St. Patrick this weekend.
Superfine Art Fair returns March 21 through 24
Superfine! Art Fair in San Francisco is an art fair that aims to make art collecting accessible to a broader audience. It features a curated selection of emerging and established artists, showcasing a range of contemporary artworks including paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media. It returns March 21 through 24 at Gateway Pavillion. The Bold Italic ran a story on its last event, too.
WHEN: March 21 - 24
WHERE: Gateway Pavillion, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco
Beware the Brides of March
It’s like SantaCon, but make it brides. Join in to parade through the heart of North Beach. The party will begin with a gathering in Washington Square Park, followed by a bridal procession up Columbus Avenue, and DIY wedding receptions at the bar and restaurant parklets on Grant Avenue.
All you need for this event is a white wedding dress, the more elaborate, the better. Check your local thrift store for suitable attire.
WHEN: March 16, today, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Washington Square, 600 Columbus Ave.
What we’re writing about
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ dazzles and delights with SF Ballet
The orchestra cued up, the curtain lifted, and we felt instantly swept away to fairyland. Everything was phenomenal at Tuesday’s opening inside the War Memorial Opera House. SF Ballet created a dazzling production with so much beauty that we wanted to watch it again the minute it was over. If new artistic director Tamara Rojo aimed to showcase a stunning production, she accomplished her mission.
Irving Penn exhibit at de Young is a time capsule of fashion and humanity
Irving Penn’s photographic works hold a timeless allure of elegance, and he is the longest contributor at Vogue. His collection on display at the de Young Museum is 175 photographs of celebrities, artists, and everyday people in a simple setup: He’d place a model against a plain backdrop and use natural light, departing from heavily staged photographs that were typical of the 1940s-50s. In 1950, he began a series of “Small Trades” portraits, which depicted workers from various trades in Paris, New York, and London.
Community Music Center gala strikes the right chord with SF music lovers
The stars aligned over San Francisco recently as music aficionados gathered for a night of enchantment at the annual Community Music Center gala. Their soirée on March 8 celebrated the center’s 103-year history and commitment to music education and community engagement. Evening attire was a blend of sophistication and personal style, creating an unexpectedly relaxed energy inside the very ritzy Garden Court.
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