What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of October 27, 2024:
- Vote now. Vote for change.
- Where to party on election night
- From delays to gains: Muni’s surprising improvement story
- SF still down 45,000 jobs since COVID
- Paul Pelosi’s attacker sentenced to life in prison
- Chase Center has transformed Mission Bay
- SF approves $700-a-month sleeping pods
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Bon Délire brings Parisian bistro vibes to Embarcadero
Vote now. Vote for change.
Election day is this coming Tuesday, November 5th. You have just four days left, including today, to cast your vote!
With roughly 50 things to vote on, getting informed about everything is hard. But luckily you can use our biggest, most informative, voter guide yet to figure out which candidates and which ballot measures you favor. Our well-researched analysis cuts through the noise and provides the critical information you can trust. We don’t expect you to agree with us on everything, but we do expect you’ll find it useful!
Read the full GrowSF Voter Guide and share it with your friends.
Let’s put San Francisco back on track.
Where to party on election night
Looking for a place to anxiously await the results of Tuesday’s election? Pop some champagne to celebrate, or maybe drown your sorrows, at one of the many parties happening around the city:
Join one of the Mayoral parties
London Breed: Victory Hall at 360 Ritch Street @ 8:30 p.m.
Daniel Lurie: Somewhere in the Mission @ 8-11:30 p.m. — RSVP for location
Mark Farrell: (and Yes on Prop D): Campus in the Marina @ 8-11:30 p.m. — RSVP to attend
Or join your local Supervisor party
Marjan Philhour (District 1): Marjan’s campaign HQ at 5025 Geary, starting @ 8 p.m.
Danny Sauter (District 3): Lillie Coits at 1707 Powell, starting @ 8 p.m.
Bilal Mahmood (District 5): Pride of the Mediterranean restaurant, starting @ 7 p.m. — RSVP to attend
Matt Boschetto (District 7): United Irish Cultural Center at 2700 45th Ave @ 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m — RSVP to attend.
Trevor Chandler (District 9): Shotwell’s Saloon at 3349 20th St, starting @ 8 p.m.
Michael Lai (District 11): Near Mission & Santa Rosa in the Excelsior @ 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. — RSVP to attend
Finally, you can join the official SF Democratic Party watch party at 901 Market Street @ 8pm to 10pm. — RSVP to attend
From delays to gains: Muni’s surprising improvement story
Muni is performing better than you might think. Riders are returning, and the system is more reliable — that’s what SFMTA tells us, and some transit critics recently agreed.
Ridership has climbed by 25 percent over the past year, bringing daily numbers closer to pre-pandemic levels. Thanks to targeted improvements, major subway delays have dropped by 76 percent, and minor delays are down by nearly 90 percent since 2019.
“Twenty years ago, Muni was in a downward spiral, and now Muni appears to be enjoying a virtuous cycle,” wrote transit experts Laura Tolkoff and Jim Chappell in the Standard.
SF still down 45,000 jobs since COVID
San Francisco’s job market hasn’t bounced back as we hoped, new data from the Chronicle shows. Thousands of jobs are still missing since the pandemic, and some industries face steep declines.
Earlier this year, the city’s workforce was 7 percent smaller than it was before the pandemic — leaving San Francisco short by about 45,000 jobs. Sectors like tech, hospitality, and dining have been hit hardest. We’ve seen that with headlines about Michelin-starred Aphotic closing, and the recent announcement that El Faro will shutter due to crime.
It's not all bad, though. New businesses like Holy Stitch and The Function are breathing new life into Mid-Market. SF recently celebrated 11 new additions to its Legacy Business Registry, highlighting the presence of long-standing spots like Da Flora, Fabrix, New India Bazar and more.
Paul Pelosi’s attacker sentenced to life in prison
Paul Pelosi’s attacker has been sentenced to life in prison, marking the end of a case that highlighted the dangers of politically motivated violence.
David DePape broke into the Pelosi home in 2022, intending to confront Nancy Pelosi. Instead, he attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer and caused serious injuries, including a skull fracture that required hospitalization and extensive recovery.
DePape was convicted of federal and state charges in the past year. At sentencing last week, DePape repeated conspiracy claims, reflecting the influence of false information and extremist beliefs that likely fueled his actions.
We’re grateful the Pelosi family should get some closure from this terrible act of violence. The family expressed relief at the verdict, hoping it deters future violence against public officials and their families.
Chase Center has transformed Mission Bay
In five years, Chase Center has become a heartbeat for San Francisco, driving foot traffic, business, and a new energy through Mission Bay.
Local businesses are thriving in the area thanks to billions in spending from Chase Center’s nonstop events. The location opened in October 2019 with state-of-the-art amenities that include an 18,064-seat arena, multiple plazas, and Thrive City—an open-air spot that includes restaurants, retail spaces, and a public gathering space.
Now we see a stream of top-tier concerts at Chase Center likeMadonna, Bruce Springsteen, andP!NK, alongside Warriors games and cultural events. This is exactly the growth we need more of in San Francisco. It shows that well-planned spaces can draw people and dollars back to the heart of our city.
SF approves $700-a-month sleeping pods
San Francisco’s $700-a-month sleeping pods just got the green light, creating an affordable option in a pricey rental market.
The project at 12 Mint Plaza includes 30 pods that offer basic amenities like mattresses, storage, and access to a shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. After initial setbacks due to building code violations, Brownstone Shared Housing made minor upgrades, allowing the pods to be rented legally.
It’s a low-cost, centrally located alternative to SF’s high rental prices, even if it’s a cramped living situation. The SF housing market needs as much help as it can get; with a mandate to add 82,000 homes over the next eight years, this is a small but innovative step on that path.
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Bon Délire brings Parisian bistro vibes to Embarcadero
Bon Délire, a new bistro and bar inspired by Paris, has opened along San Francisco’s Embarcadero. The space combines classic French bistro fare like steak frites and coq au vin with a wine and cocktail list, offering indoor seating with Bay Bridge views and an outdoor café area.
WHERE: Pier 3, Suite 102, San Francisco, CA 94111
Your Action Plan
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Election day is almost upon us! Use our Voter Guide to navigate the ballot
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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
Louis the Child to debut 360-degree set in Berkeley
Today, Louis the Child will perform at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, marking the venue's first-ever 360-degree "in the round" show. This setup places the duo at the center of the audience, promising an immersive experience for fans.
Part of their "A Day In The Sun Tour," the event will feature performances by Bakermat, Wavedash, and Daniel Allan. Known for their upbeat hits like "Better Not" and "It's Strange," Chicago-based Louis the Child, composed of Robby Hauldren and Freddy Kennett, has made waves in electronic music for their unique sound.
WHEN: Today, November 2, 2024, at 2 PM
WHERE: Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Road, Berkeley, CA 94720
Union Square Ice Rink returns
The ice rink in Union Square returns for its 17th season, offering a cherished San Francisco holiday tradition. From November 6, 2024, through January 20, 2025, skaters of all ages can glide on the outdoor rink amidst the festive ambiance of Union Square. Operating daily from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with a special early closure at 9:30 PM on December 31, the rink provides 60-minute sessions starting every 90 minutes. Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $15 for children 8 and under, including skate rentals.
Special events this season include "Drag on Ice" on December 5, "Silent Skate" on December 12, and the "Polar Bear Skate" on January 1. Additionally, free "Learn to Skate" lessons are available on weekends for beginners, with advance registration required.
WHEN: November 6, 2024, to January 20, 2025; daily from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
WHERE: Union Square, 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
What we’re writing about
The ‘Great Hauntway’ was honestly rather incredible
The Great Hauntway is touted as the city’s largest annual trick-or-treat event, with candy stations, pumpkin decorating, and a bit of music that stretches from Judah to Taraval Street. Along the way we saw many fabulous costumes, team ensembles, and a kid in a tiny Mario Kart vehicle blowing bubbles all along the Great Highway. Mayor London Breed and Sen. Scott Wiener made appearances, too.
Castro Halloween is still a ghost of its legendary history
Wedon’t have high expectations for parties, but they should be more than strolls down the street in costume. Castro Halloween’s legendary block party fell pretty flat on last weekend—leaving us with another quiet comeback. That also feels intentional, but we didn’t hate it either. Everywhere was packed with messy drunks holding beers and vodka crans; the vibe skewed mid 20somethings with huge smiles plastered amid throngs of tacky, but often spectacular costumes.
‘Glow in the Streets’ was a chill half block of neon fun
Wehave heard of Halloween’s great return to Castro for more than a year now, but the insane block parties of yore still remain firmly in the past. Halloween crowds last night felt almost chaste in comparison to Castro Street Fair, and Folsom and Dore festivals.
But size isn’t everything. Take Glow in the Streets, which gave us a perfectly good excuse to don something bright and dance around a bit outside on Halloween weekend. This was the 6th iteration of Comfort & Joy’s soirée that mixes art, community, and touch. I think in most cities you’d stroll by and wonder, “Wow, what the hell is that?” But in San Francisco it was more like: “OK, looks cute.”
SF Oasis seeks big money at its first-ever gala
For those familiar with San Francisco’s nocturnal pulse, SF Oasis is not just a nightclub. We’ve known it as a cultural touchstone for the SF queer community for nearly 10 years, and on the bedazzled platform heels of its big birthday, Oasis will host its first-ever gala.
The soirée on November 23 seeks big dollars to support the next chapter of LGBTQ+ arts in San Francisco, and it is the first major fundraiser since a pandemic telethon brought in nearly $270,000. That was more of an eleventh-hour plea to save the club, though. Now, Oasis is growing in the nonprofit world, and building for the future in its event titled “Creating Legacy.”
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Paid for by Coalition to Grow San Francisco - Grow SF PAC. FPPC # 1433436. Committee major funding from: Jeremy Liew. Not authorized by any candidate, candidate's committee, or committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.