The GrowSF Report: Voters are ready to tackle crime with Prop 36
The GrowSF Report: Voters are ready to tackle crime with Prop 36
PLUS: SFUSD postpones school closure announcement by one month
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of September 15, 2024:
- Voters are ready to tackle crime with Prop 36
- SFUSD postpones school closure announcement by one month
- Just 55 homeless people have accepted a free bus ticket home
- Dreamforce returns — but Benioff's concerns remain
- Zoox robotaxi gears up for SF launch, but when?
Recent & upcoming openings:
- New khao soi pop-up hits Japantown’s Nari restaurant
Voters are ready to tackle crime with Prop 36
It looks like Californians are ready to make a statement this November on theft and drug crimes.
Proposition 36 is seeing overwhelming support from voters across California, with 71 percent saying they’ll vote yes. Prop 36 will increase penalties for repeat theft and certain drug offenses, like fentanyl dealing, by rolling back parts of Prop 47, which reduced penalties for the same crimes. This would allow prosecutors to hold repeat offenders accountable and disrupt the deadly fentanyl trade.
Support for this measure cuts across party lines, with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, all on board. And while Governor Newsom opposes it, Democratic mayors are pledging their support: Mayor Breed, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria are all asking voters to vote yes.
We also recommend a Yes on Prop 36 - read our full argument in our voter guide.
SFUSD postpones school closure announcement by one month
We’re still waiting to learn the fate of several San Francisco schools as SFUSD has delayed its school closure announcement. Originally set for mid-September, the decision has been pushed to October as the district reviews the impact on after-school programs, transportation, and funding.
While some were surprised at the delay, it was clear a short delay was coming: at the August 27 meeting, Board member Phil Kim said that “if the district isn't prepared to answer all questions on Sept. 18, it shouldn't roll out the announcements.” Indeed, the district wasn’t quite ready to answer every question.
The stakes for kids, parents, and teachers are high, and the district needs to get this right the first time, so a short delay is understandable.
With declining enrollment, half-empty buildings, and a $400 million budget shortfall, the district must merge schools to save money and avoid massive layoffs. Though the closure will temporarily increase costs due to moving equipment and communicating the changes, the savings will start accruing immediately. The long-term fiscal health of the district relies on these closures.
Just 55 homeless people have accepted a free bus ticket home
On August 1st, San Francisco rebooted its program to give homeless people free bus tickets to another city. Originally called “Homeward Bound” before it was merged into the Department of Homlessness and Supportive Housing in 2022, Mayor Breed’s very similar ”Journey Home” program provides voluntary relocation for people on the streets. Since Mayor London Breed's executive order to reboot the program, 55 people have taken a ticket home; They are offered bus tickets to other cities or states where they have family, friends, or potential support networks.
It’s great that people are being given a lifeline to reconnect with friends and family who can offer support. But with a homeless population exceeding 8,000 people, there’s still a lot of work to do.
Volunteers have taken tickets to 13 states since the program began, but it’s important to remember these relocations aren’t forced: people can simply decline the offer—and, in fact, many do. San Francisco still needs to build more shelters, expand drug treatment facilities, and increase mental health services.
Dreamforce returns — but Benioff's concerns remain
Dreamforce 2024 has landed, bringing in its annual thousands of visitors and tech innovation. But San Francisco is still proving itself to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, whose concerns over crime and homelessness made him consider moving the conference out of SF not long ago.
This year feels better, with visitors saying they don’t see the doom loop that headlines constantly warn them about. “I don’t see the doom spiral. It’s still safe enough to have this kind of large-scale event,” Ryan Goss, who flew in from Dallas for the conference, told the SF Standard.
Benioff is still watching closely, noting that SF never looked better at his speech on Tuesday. Estimates put Dreamforce at pulling in more 45,000 visitors this week, making it the largest turnout since the pandemic hit. Let’s keep this momentum going!
Zoox robotaxi gears up for SF launch, but when?
Move over, Waymo — Zoox could be the next robotaxi on San Francisco streets. The Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle has gone all-in on a fully custom design—no steering wheels, no pedals, just a futuristic square-shaped design. Testing is well underway in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Foster City, with expansions planned for Miami and Austin.
Zoox held an open house recently at Sightglass Coffee in SoMa, where crowds got to peek inside even though the taxi didn’t move. The event was part of a larger effort by Zoox to introduce its tech to the public, though the company remains vague about when it will launch commercially in San Francisco, offering only a hopeful “soon.”
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
New khao soi pop-up hits Japantown’s Nari restaurant
San Francisco’s Michelin-starred chef Pim Techamuanvivit is bringing her curry noodle soup to the masses with the launch of Khao Soi Shop. This pop-up, operating from the mezzanine of her upscale restaurant Nari in Japantown’s Hotel Kabuki, offers a menu centered around the aromatic khao soi, with milder spice levels and customizable proteins like duck confit and short rib. For now, it’s open on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 2:30 p.m., with plans to expand if diners show interest.
WHERE: On the mezzanine at Nari, 1625 Post St., Japantown
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
Read our Voter Guide
Our heavily researched voter guides are your key to voting for positive change in SF. We make it simple to elect results-focused leaders and vote for meaningful policy change. This year’s ballot will decide more than just who sits in the mayor’s office— it will make the difference on fixing our enormous public school budget deficit, whether City College can recover from its budget deficit, and if the Board of Supervisors can get the city back on a track to growth, prosperity, and safety..
Read the full GrowSF Voter Guide here and share it with your friends!
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
Night Market by the Beach
Check out the Taraval Night Market tonight; this music-focused event brings a beach party atmosphere to the neighborhood. Enjoy live performances featuring salsa, Caribbean beats, American rock, and DJ sets by the SF DJ Collective. Whether you're in the mood to dance or just take in the lively scene, this market has something for everyone.
Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to groove!
WHEN: September 21, 2024, 3 PM - 9 PM
WHERE: Great Highway & Taraval, San Francisco, CA
How Weird 2024
How Weird will bring back the iconic weirdness that San Francisco knows and loves, now with an “Autumn Equinox” theme. The faire will take over downtown with nine stages of world-class electronic music, interactive art installations, and a vibrant marketplace full of unique vendors. From jaw-dropping costumes to stunning performances, it’s a celebration of all things weird, attracting revelers from across the Bay Area.
Whether you’re into dancing, art, or simply expressing your weird side, this event has something for everyone.
WHEN: September 21, 2024, 12 PM - 8 PM
WHERE: Howard St. & 2nd St., San Francisco, CA
What we’re writing about
Flower Piano’s whimsical charm brings music and nature together in SF
Walking from street parking in the Inner Sunset through the entrance of Flower Piano feels a little like entering the rabbit hole portal in Alice in Wonderland. The animals don’t talk but seeing 10 baby grands in the middle of a natural park is one of those magical experiences that makes you pinch yourself.
How the F Train became a jazz party on wheels
The first served as a kickoff for the Hotsy Topsy Club, a series of F Train line streetcars that will run in a loop around Market Street between City Hall and the Ferry Building, and then down to Pier 39. It’s like your run-of-the-mill Thursday after-work commute — but really awesome.
Haight Street Fair was a colorful and chaotic kaleidoscope of fun
Another Haight Street Fair has come and gone, and yes, it was every bit as chaotic and magical as you’d expect. The streets were packed with an explosion of color — primarily tie-dye, of course — while the ever-present scent of cannabis swirled in the air.
Even San Francisco’s Patagonia-clad set seemed to take a break and let the city’s original hippies reclaim their stomping grounds. A few folks looked like they’d time-traveled straight from Woodstock, tie-dye shirts and flower crowns in tow.
A new chapter begins for SF’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid didn’t just reopen — it threw itself a party last week. Thursday’s bash came complete with a ribbon cutting, speeches, a light show, and Thievery Corporation. Lord Norman Foster (yes, the Gherkin guy) and Michael Shvo were all smiles as they showed off the newly revamped icon.
Merchant Roots enters a new chapter in a massive SoMa space
Merchant Roots has redefined itself with its August opening in SoMa, giving us a vast 4,500-square-foot space that’s worlds away from its original tiny digs. Now diners experience the seasonal tasting menus across multiple rooms, including an open kitchen, wine room, and ceramics workshop, where much of the tableware is handcrafted. Though the dinners remain intimate with just 12 seats, the new setting allows for even more creativity and culinary storytelling — all backed by Chef Ryan Shelton’s vision.
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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.