The GrowSF Report: Stephen Sherrill appointed to District 2 Supervisor
PLUS: Ned Segal is SF’s new chief of housing and economic development
What You Need To Know
Head’s up! There will be no newsletter next week as we celebrate the holidays with family. See you in the new year!
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of December 15th, 2024:
- Stephen Sherrill appointed to District 2 Supervisor
- Ned Segal is SF’s new chief of housing and economic development
- Mayor-elect Lurie helps end Marriott hotel worker strike
- 175 new mental health treatment beds on the way
- S.F. Great Highway: First details on city’s plan for art installations in new park
Recent & upcoming openings:
- MadLab brings whimsical desserts to the Transamerica Pyramid
- Apna Chulha is very good on Valencia
Stephen Sherrill appointed to District 2 Supervisor
As one of her final acts, Mayor Breed tapped Stephen Sherrill to replace Catherine Stefani in District 2. Stefani just won her race for State Assembly which left a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors. District 2 includes the Marina, Pac Heights, The Presidio, and Presidio Heights.
This is big news that we're happy to see: Sherrill has both deep policy knowledge and a dedication to public service. He’s no stranger to City Hall in his current role as director of the Mayor's Office of Innovation, where he’s worked on solutions for cleaner streets, homelessness, and disaster response.
Sherrill said he was "humbled by the opportunity" in a statement, adding: “We must build on the foundation that Mayor Breed has left and to continue to make housing more affordable, our streets safer and cleaner, and prioritize recovery and treatment to fight the scourge of overdose deaths.”
Ned Segal is SF’s new Chief of Housing and Economic Development
San Francisco’s downtown and housing future will now be guided by Ned Segal — the city’s new Chief of Housing and Economic Development. He steps into a pivotal role managing $3 billion in spending to tackle housing production, downtown revitalization, and economic growth.
Segal was Twitter's CFO from 2017 to 2022 until Elon Musk bought the website and fired many of the organization’s leaders. He is also a former executive at Intuit and Goldman Sachs. In the coming weeks, Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie will reveal new chiefs for public safety; public health and well-being; and infrastructure, climate, and mobility.
“Ned embodies the kind of innovative leadership San Francisco desperately needs to tackle our most pressing challenges,” Lurie said in a statement. “With his strong background in the private sector, a deep love for San Francisco backed by extensive civic engagement, and a track record of delivering results, Ned is uniquely positioned to lead the revitalization of downtown, accelerate housing production, and drive economic growth in our City.”
Mayor-elect Lurie helps end Marriott hotel worker strike
Marriott workers in San Francisco could finally head back to work after a major breakthrough. A tentative deal has been reached between Marriott International and Unite Here Local 2, ending an 89-day strike that saw nearly 2,000 workers walk off the job across seven downtown hotels.
Apparently, Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie helped broker the deal; stepping in to his role as Mayor even before he’s inaugurated on January 8th.
Union leaders say Lurie played a key role in resolving the Marriott strike. Last weekend, he reached out to Marriott owners to “get the ball rolling,” Anand Singh, chief negotiator for Unite Here, the hotel workers union, told me Thursday.
“I thought he did great,” Singh said. “He’s absolutely very earnest. He believes in this city. We are all rooting for him.”
The agreement addresses core demands like higher wages, better healthcare, and fair workloads, giving workers a win just in time for the holiday rush. Union members will vote on the deal this week, with results expected soon. Strikes at other major hotels like Hilton and Hyatt, however, are still ongoing.
175 new mental health treatment beds on the way
The Department of Public Health has applied for State funding for 175 new locked mental health treatment beds. Outgoing Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelmen were crucial to making this happen — with Breed successfully lobbying for some Bond money to be spent on locked beds, and Mandelman continually refining the laws to allow the City to actually get people treatment. Mayor-elect Lurie told The Chronicle that he was “happy to hear that about the application going in.”
If the application is successful, these new treatment facilities will help San Francisco start getting the crisis on its streets under control. Too many people suffer on our streets from delusions, psychiatric crises, and other mental health issues without treatment, in part due to a dearth of places to take them.
The Great Highway’s new public art project begins
Big changes are coming to the much-talked-about Great Highway, with plans underway to fill the 2.5-mile stretch with a lot of art. Think murals at every major intersection, sculptures in the dunes, and interactive pieces like a heart-shaped installation in the sand and a rock that spins.
The project is led by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department and local artists, who aim to make over the area similar to JFK. Murals are planned for eight intersections, with larger works at Judah and Taraval.
“Adding temporary public art to the former Great Highway is an opportunity to merge the beauty of parks with the creativity of San Francisco,” Rec and Park spokesperson Tamara Aparton, told the Chronicle.
The project builds on a pilot program launched in 2022, which turned the highway into a weekend park with events like yoga, concerts, and Friday Jazz Happy Hour—features now expected to continue through 2025.
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
MadLab brings whimsical desserts to the Transamerica Pyramid
MadLab, a dessert shop at the base of the Transamerica Pyramid, opened last week with the promise of over-the-top creations like milkshakes topped with frosted cake, gelato buried under fluffy Japanese shave ice, and bowls adorned with gold flakes, cotton candy, and spicy pickled caramel.
Opened by Soraya Kilgore, formerly of BLT Steak and James Beard-recognized Alter, and her husband Bradley Kilgore, MadLab brings a whimsical, build-your-own concept to San Francisco after originating in Miami. Featuring nearly 30 toppings and a prized Hoshizaki machine for crafting kakigōri (Japanese shave ice), MadLab lets customers turn dessert into an edible work of art.
WHERE: MadLab, 545 Sansome St., Financial District
Apna Chulha is very good on Valencia
We were sad to see West of Pecos close, but couldn’t be happier about its replacement: Apna Chulha. It means “Our Stove” and brings North Indian fare to a cavernous spot on Valencia. We tried it during their soft opening and loved it (we got the Saag Paneer, Punjabi Chicken Curry, Jeera rice, and vegetable pakora, all of which we’d get again), and we’re going again soon.
We hear there’s a $16 all-you-can-eat brunch buffet on Sundays, giving an affordable way to try a lot of their dishes. We’ll see you there!
WHERE: 550 Valencia, at 16th & Valencia
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
Beetlejuice onstage
The Beetlejuice stage production, based on Tim Burton’s cult classic film, is heading to San Francisco for a limited run. Known for its quirky humor, impressive visuals, and an energetic score, the musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a teenager whose life becomes intertwined with a mischievous ghost and a pair of recently deceased spirits. With a blend of sharp wit and over-the-top antics, the show has earned a reputation as a darkly funny theatrical experience.
WHEN: December 24–29, 2024
WHERE: Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Celebrate the holiday season with a special screening of A Charlie Brown Christmas at San Francisco's historic 4-Star Theater. This cherished 1965 animated special follows Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang as they uncover the true meaning of Christmas, accompanied by Vince Guaraldi's timeless jazz score. The 4-Star Theater, known for its eclectic film selections and community-focused events, offers a cozy setting to enjoy this classic tale.
WHEN: December 22, 2024, 10 AM to 7:30 PM
WHERE: 4-Star Theater, 2200 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
What we’re writing about
I thought SantaCon would be a disaster — it was a delightful mess instead
The day started with a phone alert that sounded like the end of the world: San Francisco’s first-ever tornado warning. Tornadoes, in this city? It’s like hearing the Golden Gate Bridge announced its plans to pack up and move to Fresno — absurd, and yet, somehow, today’s reality.
Maybe we had finally reached the point where San Francisco’s weird weather moods would defeat us. But no, it was SantaCon, and we weren’t about to miss it. After so many stories about drunken debauchery, public urination, and bad behavior — SantaCon’s reputation precedes it. We half-expected to hate it, but instead discovered an oddly chill afternoon, even when the weather couldn’t decide its own mood.
The first Taco Bell Triathlon just happened — there were five people
To call it a triathlon is more than a stretch. One day we stumbled on this Partiful event that describes more of a Meetup from 2004, but tl;dr — “Let’s eat tacos and try to not freeze in the Pacific Ocean!” No sponsors. A suggested participation fee at $25. Taco Bell did not endorse this, but it’s also not the first time its poop-inducing crunchy cheese medley has inspired a weird pairing with athletics in San Francisco.
Fun? Sure. Athletic? Debatable. For me, nothing says “endurance” like chasing strangers and tacos in a 12-hour Bay Area fever dream.
This was Santa Skivvies 2024
It all started with a text from my editor: “Want to watch half-naked men don Santa hats and harnesses while they prance through the Castro?”
My immediate response? “Obviously.” Because any day that starts with a promise of leather, red jockstraps, and antler headbands can only end in peppermint schnapps and shame. And also prove once again that San Francisco knows how to do the holidays better — and weirder — than anywhere else.
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