The GrowSF Report: Mayor Lurie has a plan to fix SF’s permit mess
PLUS: Use this new AI app to submit 311 reports and keep SF clean
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of February 9, 2025:
- Mayor Lurie has a plan to fix SF’s permit mess
- Use this new AI app to submit 311 reports and keep SF clean
- Lurie names Daniel Tsai to lead SF Department of Public Health
- No red curb, no fine: S.F. scraps $40 daylighting tickets—for now
- Union Square gets a basketball makeover with NBA All-Star Alley
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Longtime favorite Piccino is opening in the Presidio
Your Action Plan:
- Stand with Joel Engardio and help stop the recall
Mayor Lurie has a plan to fix SF’s permit mess
Getting a permit in San Francisco takes forever—but Mayor Lurie hopes to change that. His new plan, PermitSF, sets deadlines for approvals, centralizes applications, and sets a goal to move the whole system online to speed things up. Right now, projects can sit in bureaucratic limbo for months or even years, bouncing between departments with no clear timeline. The new system puts a “shot clock” on approvals, forcing agencies to make decisions within a set timeframe instead of letting applications stall.
To make this happen, the city is launching a centralized permit hub, extending service hours, and looking to consolidate permitting responsibilities under one department. By next year, Lurie wants a fully online system with a public tracking tool, so applicants can see exactly where their requests are stuck—no more chasing down city offices for answers.
Past mayors have tried (and failed) to fix the city’s permit issue, but Lurie is betting that stricter deadlines will make a difference.
Use this new AI app to submit 311 reports and keep SF clean
Ever try using the 311 app and get frustrated at how many clicks and how long it takes to submit an issue? We certainly have. But now San Francisco’s own Patrick Mccabe has solved it. His “Solve SF” app makes it infinitely easier to clean up the City: just take a photo and AI handles the rest.
Their AI “automatically categorizes issues, identifies locations, and adds relevant details to your report” so you can file that report without stopping to fill in every small detail yourself.
It currently handles street cleaning, graffiti, illegal parking, and homeless encampment reports.
Lurie names Daniel Tsai to lead SF Department of Public Health
Daniel Tsai, a former Biden administration official, is taking over as San Francisco’s new Director of Public Health, replacing Grant Colfax who left the office with a mixed record.
Tsai comes with impressive experience: He ran Medicaid at the federal level for 80 million people and was Massachusetts’ longest-serving Medicaid director. Tsai also worked on healthcare strategy and policy for McKinsey & Company.
Tsai will oversee a $3 billion budget and lead efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis, expand mental health care, and improve coordination between hospitals and shelters.
No red curb, no fine: SF scraps $40 daylighting tickets—for now
SFMTA just backed off a plan to issue $40 fines for parking in unmarked “daylighting” zones—those no-parking areas near crosswalks meant to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians. MTA had announced they weren’t going to paint the curbs red but were going to write tickets anyway, which we thought was the wrong approach. The City should clearly communicate where parking is and is not allowed, and that means they must paint the curbs.
Now SFMTA will issue warnings while they fast-track painting the curbs properly. The goal is to finish within 18 months, a big improvement from the original 4-5 year timeline. Amazing what can happen when you get your priorities in order.
Union Square gets a basketball makeover with NBA All-Star Alley
As part of the NBA All-Star festivities, Union Square is getting a full basketball takeover with pop-up shops, live performances, and even a custom court right in the middle of it all.
The event—dubbed NBA All-Star Alley—runs from February 13 to 16 and brings in big names like the Warriors, their new Valkyries women’s team, and a lineup of DJs, artists, and streetball-style entertainment. There’s an NBA-themed cable car, a live mural painting, and a Hoops & Heritage showcase spotlighting more than 30 local vendors.
The whole thing is free and open to the public, so if you’re anywhere near Union Square, expect a high-energy mix of basketball culture, music, and Bay Area flavor. Just be wary of rain!
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Longtime favorite Piccino is opening in the Presidio
After nearly two decades in Dogpatch, Piccino is opening a second location in the Presidio, bringing its Italian-influenced, vegetable-forward menu to a new neighborhood. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients, sourcing produce from its own farm and Skywalker Ranch garden, with a wine list featuring California producers. The new space will maintain Piccino’s casual, welcoming feel while offering a fresh setting for its wood-fired pizzas, housemade pastas, and simple, ingredient-driven dishes.
WHERE: 1 Letterman Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
Stand with Joel Engardio and help stop the recall
Supervisor Joel Engardio, who we endorsed in 2022, is facing a recall effort over his support for closing the Great Highway to Cars. If you want to help him defeat the recall, come to his campaign kickoff next week!
You’ll join elected officials, community leaders, and volunteers standing with Joel. You can stop by to grab a window sign, pick up campaign materials, and get volunteer training to help spread the word. Plus, there will be coffee and refreshments.
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
Back to the Future: The Musical
Back to the Future: The Musical is a stage adaptation of the classic 1985 film features original music by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, along with familiar songs from the movie like "The Power of Love" and "Johnny B. Goode." The story follows Marty McFly as he travels back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, inadvertently altering the course of history. The production has received critical acclaim, winning the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
WHEN: February 12–March 9, 2025
WHERE: Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Cool Britannia at SF Ballet
Cool Britannia at SF Ballet brings together works by some of Britain’s most influential choreographers, blending classical and contemporary styles. The program features pieces by Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, and the North American premiere of Akram Khan’s Dust, offering a range of movement and storytelling that highlights the evolution of British ballet.
WHEN: February 13–19, 2025
WHERE: War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Also coming up: Late Night Revelry at Grace Cathedral
The magic of Grace Cathedral’s Carnivale gala doesn’t stop at dinner—The Late Night Revelry brings a whole new vibe. Expect an open bar, live beats from The Chris Clouse Project, and a Vanity Portrait Studio to capture you looking your best—with a masquerade twist, of course.
This is the after-party where the crowd lets loose, and the grandeur of Grace Cathedral transforms into an upscale, after-hours affair. Tickets start at $100 for one to the after party, and $165 for a duo. Every dollar supports the cathedral’s community initiatives—so you can party with a purpose. Read our review of the gala last year.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 8:45 pm – 11:00 pm
WHERE: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco
What we’re writing about
San Francisco’s dandiest night: Villa Albertine’s 2025 season launch
Villa Albertine’s season launch at the Legion of Honor was a night of Champagne, couture, and cultural debate, where dandyism took center stage. From wedding gowns to terrier handbags, San Francisco’s most stylish guests turned out in force—but beneath the glamour was a conversation about history, identity, and fashion as rebellion. With a nod to past cross-dressing bans and the city’s evolving relationship with self-expression, the night proved that what we wear is never just about aesthetics.
Inside Mr. Lobo’s secret horror movie night in San Francisco
We just went to Mr. Lobo’s secret midnight movie party. The cult horror host behind Cinema Insomnia teamed up with Black & White Projects for an invite-only night of B-movie madness, surrealist art, and niche fandom traditions (yes, Chokky Milk Time was involved). With deep Bay Area roots and a love for all things weird, Mr. Lobo proved once again why he’s the patron saint of insomniacs and midnight misfits.
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