What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of November 10, 2024:
- Election roundup
- We Dumped Dean Preston
- “Daylighting” coming to an intersection near you
- $175 Million seawall aims to shield Ocean Beach’s coastline
- Contemporary Jewish Museum to close for a year amid financial struggles
- Say hello to the Solar Arch, Golden Gate Park’s latest LED attraction
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Metreon welcomes Dabao Singapore by chef Emily Lim
Election roundup
Now that ballots are (almost) all counted, we can confidently say that we have a moderate GrowSF-aligned majority on the Board of Supervisors. Here’s where each Supervisor stands:
Just elected
District 1: Connie Chan - not aligned. But it’s worth noting that Chan pivoted away from her record to run on a public safety platform. If this is a genuine pivot, we look forward to working together on ensuring the police are fully staffed and small businesses are safe from theft.
District 3: Danny Sauter - aligned. We’ve known Danny for years and trust in his dedication to making San Francisco amazing. Look out for new trash cans in North Beach!
District 5: Bilal Mahmood - aligned. We’re thrilled to see District 5 cast aside four years of dysfunction by replacing Dean Preston with Bilal Mahmood. We know Bilal will work hard to end the fentanyl markets and build more homes.
District 7: Myrna Melgar - partially aligned. We opposed Myrna Melgar over her poor track record on public safety, and her often unreliable votes for more housing. But she campaigned as the strong pro-housing choice, so if she’s serious then we hope to work together to unlock much more housing.
District 9: Jackie Fielder - extremely not aligned. Jackie Fielder is an ideologue in the same mold as Dean Preston. She has repeatedly called to defund the police and opposes building more homes in San Francisco. This seat was previously held by Hillary Ronen, who was sometimes OK on public safety, but always bad on housing.
District 11: Chyanne Chen - unknown. We know very little about Chyanne Chen. She did not fill out our candidate questionnaire and her policy platform is often lacking in details. We hope to build a relationship and work together on some issues.
Mid-term, election in 2026
District 2: Catherine Stefani - aligned. BUT – Stefani just won her race for State Assembly and will be vacating her seat. Her replacement will be picked by Mayor London Breed, not Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie. But from the rumors we’ve heard, Breed is likely to pick someone great.
District 4: Joel Engardio - aligned. Since winning in an historic election in 2022, Joel has prioritized public safety in his district. He is in hot water, though, since his district voted overwhelmingly against Proposition K, which he sponsored.
District 6: Matt Dorsey - aligned. Dorsey is the most dedicated force to improving public safety in the City, and he’s a strong ally for homebuilding in San Francisco.
District 8: Rafael Mandelman - aligned. He’s super dedicated to addressing chaos on the streets, wants SF to build more mental health and drug treatment centers, and supports SFPD. We also expect him to be a reliable vote for housing.
District 10: Shamann Walton - not aligned. Walton has voted against parks, police funding, and housing throughout his tenure on the Board.
In total, that means six aligned, one partially aligned, three not aligned, and one unknown. A majority is just six votes, so common sense is in a really good position!
Here’s what happened with ballot measures
Prop A: School Bond - passed / we endorsed. Improvements to school facilities like bathrooms and kitchens are coming.
Prop B: Healthcare, Streets, and Shelters Bond - passed / we endorsed. Seismic retrofits and other improvements now on the way for a few medical centers.
Prop C: Inspector General - passed / we opposed. Oversight authority already held by the Ethics Commission, District Attorney, City Attorney, City Services Auditor, and the Sheriff's Office of Inspector General have been duplicated into a brand new position. Hopefully there’s trailing legislation to streamline this.
Prop D: Commission reform - failed / we endorsed. Nothing changes, there’s still 1200+ commissioners across over 100 commissions.
Prop E: Commission to study commission reform - passed / we opposed. We have a new commission to study why we have so many commissions. (I think we already know why!)
Prop F: Deferred retirement for SFPD - failed / we endorsed. Police staffing is unchanged, challenges remain.
Prop G: Housing subsidy lock-in - passed / we opposed. SF must fund a dedicated housing subsidy account, on top of hundreds of millions of existing subsidies, even in years with a $250 million deficit.
Prop H: Firefighter retirement benefits - passed / we endorsed. All firefighters now have the same retirement rules, instead of treating those hired after 2012 differently.
Prop I: Nurses retirement benefits - passed / we endorsed. Part-time nurses can now get partial pension credit for time worked when the convert to full-time.
Prop J: Student success accountability - passed / we endorsed. Spending on students will now be coordinated by one entity instead of spread across seven.
Prop K: Great Highway Park - passed / we endorsed. The Great Highway between Lincoln and Sloat will be closed to cars with the intention of converting it into a park.
Prop L: Tax on Uber & Lyft - failed / we opposed. Nothing changes; taxes stay where they are. Technically, this passed but Prop M modified the same section of law and, since M got more votes, it overwrote L’s changes.
Prop M: Business tax reform - passed / we endorsed. Small business tax cut, makes taxes on larger companies more fair.
Prop N: First responder loan forgiveness - passed / we endorsed. New recruits for police, fire, EMTs, and nurses can receive up to $25,000 to pay off student loans.
Prop O: Reproductive freedom - passed / we endorsed. Abortion and other reproductive health clinics are allowed to operate in more areas of the city, fake abortion clinics are required to post public notices that they do not provide abortions, forbids SF from cooperating with out-of-state authorities if abortion becomes illegal federally.
We Dumped Dean Preston
Dean Preston is out. In an Instagram post Sunday, Preston accepted his loss in his bid for re-election in a tight race against our pick for District 5 — Bilal Mahmood. We’re happy voters agreed with our dozens of reasons to Dump Dean: From blocking housing, to defunding the police, to being just plain mean, Preston’s record ultimately spoke for itself.
Now, District 5 can look forward to Mahmood’s fresh perspective. With promises to tackle housing shortages and build a safer community, Mahmood’s leadership marks a long-awaited change.
“Daylighting” coming to an intersection near you
A new “daylighting” law takes effect January 1, 2025, banning cars from parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to give pedestrians and drivers better visibility. This move cuts about 5% of the city’s on-street parking. SFMTA will start by issuing warnings and escalate to fines in March.
This change is due to state law AB 413, by San Jose Assembly member Alex Lee, passed in 2023. Yes, it will make parking an even bigger headache, but daylighting is widely recognized as a big safety improvement for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians.
We think trading parking convenience for fewer deaths and injuries is the right choice.
$175 Million seawall aims to shield Ocean Beach’s coastline
The state Coastal Commission approved on Thursday a $175 million, 3,200-foot-long seawall designed to shield critical infrastructure from rising tides and erosion.
The goal is to protect the vital sewage tunnel beneath without sacrificing the beach’s natural beauty. We’ll get a new trail and a wider beach in the area around San Francisco Zoo.
“The scale is enormous, and it’s on one of California’s highest-energy beaches,” Mandy Sackett, the California policy coordinator for Surfrider Foundation, told the Chronicle about the seawall. Here’s an illustration of the project’s impact:
Contemporary Jewish Museum to close for a year amid financial struggles
San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum is hitting pause, announcing a year-long closure starting December 15, citing financial struggles and declining attendance.
After recent leadership shakeups and some controversy over programming, CJM says it’s taking time to rethink its future. This isn’t just a break—the museum will undergo a major overhaul, with only a small team staying on to reinvent its operating model. Artists and patrons alike have felt the impact of CJM’s recent challenges, but the museum’s goal is to reopen with fresh perspectives and a sustainable vision for engaging audiences.
We’re sad to see this development, but this isn’t the end: CJM is planning to return with new ideas, aiming to bring contemporary Jewish art and culture back to the heart of San Francisco.
Say hello to the Solar Arch, Golden Gate Park’s latest LED attraction
Golden Gate Park has a new glow: the "Solar Arch," a 13-foot-tall, solar-powered LED installation by San Francisco artist fnnch. Originally showcased at Burning Man, the arch now illuminates the JFK Promenade near Conservatory Drive East—the former site of the "Entwined" light-up tree.
The Solar Arch is part of the Golden Mile project, a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the nonprofit arts organization Illuminate. It features two-minute “shows” comprising different patterns of LED light, and solar panels on the outside provide enough energy to keep it glowing all night — even through extended periods of fog and rain.
JFK Promenade has been wildly successful since transforming into a pedestrian-friendly park two years ago. We're excited to check out this dazzling new addition!
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Metreon welcomes Dabao Singapore by chef Emily Lim
Chef Emily Lim, the talent behind San Francisco pop-ups that serve Singapore snacks, is opening her first brick-and-mortar location at the Metreon in San Francisco. Known for her hawker-style dishes like laksa and black pepper crab, Lim brings authentic Singaporean flavors to the heart of the city.
Originally launched as a pandemic pop-up, Dabao Singapore has earned local acclaim and even a James Beard nomination for Lim’s approach to street food. San Francisco diners can now enjoy her creations in a communal setting inspired by Singapore’s bustling food centers.
WHERE: Metreon Food Court, 4th & Mission Streets, San Francisco
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
ISOKNOCK plays at Bill Graham
ISOKNOCK, the dynamic collaboration between electronic artists ISOxo and Knock2, is set to perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. This event is part of their "BAY AREA 4EVR" series, marking their final shows of 2024. Known for blending punk rock aesthetics with underground electronic music, ISOKNOCK delivers performances rich in attitude and energy. The duo's debut album, "4EVR," encapsulates their rebellious spirit and commitment to redefining dance music.
It runs three days next week but only has Wednesday tickets on sale.
WHEN: Friday, November 22, 2024, at 8:00 PM
WHERE: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
West Coast Craft Market
The upcoming West Coast Craft Winter 2024 event is scheduled for November 23 and 24, 2024, at the Festival Pavilion in Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. This indoor, two-day fair will feature over 275 artists and designer craftspeople, showcasing a diverse array of handcrafted goods, including ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and more. The event is free and open to the public, welcoming attendees of all ages. Please note that due to food service inside the venue, only service animals are permitted.
Read our last take on this event earlier this year. Again: West Coast Craft is free.
WHEN: November 23–24, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
WHERE: Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
Also coming up: The Nutcracker with SF Ballet
San Francisco Ballet's 2024 production of "Nutcracker" marks the 20th anniversary of Helgi Tomasson's acclaimed rendition, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century San Francisco during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This cherished holiday tradition features Tchaikovsky's timeless score, brought to life by the company's talented dancers and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. Special performances include school-time matinees on December 10 and 17, a Nutcracker Benefit Luncheon on December 14, and a Sensory Friendly Performance on December 29, designed to accommodate neurodiverse audiences.
WHEN: December 6–29, 2024
WHERE: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
What we’re writing about
How Weird ends its 25-year run
The producers of How Weird Street Faire — San Francisco’s yearly outdoor electronic music festival with many costumes — just announced that they will not be seeking a city permit for 2025 due to skyrocketing costs.
“We created one of the most anticipated and beloved street fairs in San Francisco,” said Brad Olsen, founder and co-producer of the event, which had its first year in 2000, back when it was a small, grassroots block party at the corner of 12th & Howard, hence the wordplay of its name: “How Weird.”
Why I love vintage shopping on Haight Street
Bay Area style is about breaking rules, embracing eccentricity, and celebrating individuality. That’s why it has great secondhand stores, and it’s also why we love the Haight.
Yes, it’s a lot of tie-dye and hippie-flavored apparel, but the Haight’s deeper legacy pulses beneath the surface. As the epicenter of America’s 1960s counterculture, the Haight embraced bohemian fashion and vintage style long before they were trendy.
SF Cider Fest pours the party with crisp sips and fall vibes
San Francisco is a land overflowing with beverage festivals. I wanted coffee at Fort Mason this weekend but that party turned me away at the door. So instead I found cider, and good thing, too.
The San Francisco Fall Cider Fest turned out to be the most adorable salute to autumn — and it didn’t feel like the chaos we heard about at SF Coffee Festival. Just cute people, parties, drinks, plaid fashion and pumpkin vibes.
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