Notices by Mission Local (mlnow@sfba.social)

In dark times, SF’s Caribbean culture festival presents art as a beacon

The 19th annual CubaCaribe Festival of Dance & Music opens March 28 at ODC Theater, and runs through April 4 at various locations throughout the Mission.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/03/in-dark-times-sfs-caribbean-culture-festival-presents-art-as-a-beacon/

Refracted

At Bernal Hill. Photo by Scott Forman.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/03/sf-photos-refracted/

S.F. city attorney shuts down ‘brazen’ illegal nightclub, gambling dens

Three illegal gambling dens and two illegal nightclubs, including one that kept Mission Street neighbors up at night for weeks, were closed.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/03/s-f-city-attorney-shuts-down-brazen-illegal-nightclub-gambling-dens/

An author turns tales of her Chinese family into an historical novel

Red Altar weaves together author's family’s history with the early development of Monterey’s fishing industry.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/02/red-altar-nancy-wang-and-historical-novel-on-chinese-immigration/

Fires, squatting, scandal: S.F.’s last public housing gets new management

After years of scandals managing San Francisco’s last two public housing projects, Eugene Burger Management Corporation has been replaced.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/02/sf-public-housing-bell-properties-eugene-burger/

On Mayor Lurie’s first day, stalled Waymos disrupt Chinatown inauguration party

At least two Waymo vehicles stalled during Mayor Daniel Lurie’s crowded inaugural night market in Chinatown yesterday — with one blocking a bus. The event was otherwise a success, with thousands of young people from both in and out of town thronging Chinatown to kick off Lurie’s first day on the job. At around 6:40 p.m., the first Waymo got stuck at Sacramento Street and Grant Avenue, facing westward.

https://missionlocal.org/2025/01/on-mayor-luries-first-day-stalled-waymos-disrupt-chinatown-inauguration-party/

California Academy of Sciences cuts youth program after teens show solidarity with union

The California Academy of Sciences abruptly dissolved a youth group for climate change and terminated its staff coordinator earlier this fall, after several teenage members distributed flyers in solidarity with the museum workers’ union. The museum created Youth Action for the Planet in October 2023 as “an environmental action hub” for young people who care about the natural world to sharpen leadership and advocacy skills.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/11/california-academy-of-sciences-cuts-youth-program-after-teens-show-solidarity-with-union/

Election 2024: Which S.F. voter guides got what they wanted?

Despite a narrative that San Francisco is moving into a more conservative era, organized labor and progressive voter guides aligned best with the choices made by San Francisco voters in the November races. That was a shift from the pattern in the March primary, when more conservative political groups like GrowSF, TogetherSF and the San Francisco Republican Party were the most successful endorsers.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/11/sf-election-endorsement-success/

SF immigration advocates prepare for ‘emboldened’ Trump administration 

San Francisco’s status as a sanctuary city places it in the bullseye for an attack from an emboldened Donald Trump administration. This time, however, lawyers and community advocates have seen the playbook, and have already begun steeling themselves. “This is the second time around … and he’s got more ideas, apparently,” said Bill Hing, the founding director of the University of San Francisco’s Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/11/sf-immigration-advocates-prepare-for-trump-administration/

Aaron Peskin didn’t win the election — but his ballot measures sure did

Board of Supervisors president, mayoral candidate, and wildly prolific legislator Aaron Peskin lost the election to Daniel Lurie, a wealthy candidate with zero legislative experience. But his three main ballot initiatives are winning and will, barring unforeseen lunacy, pass into legislation. Here’s the story of how they made it.  Prop. C Creating a position for an inspector general with the power to investigate government and city contractor fraud, waste, abuse or misconduct…

https://missionlocal.org/2024/11/aaron-peskin-didnt-win-the-election-but-his-ballot-measures-sure-did/

S.F. ethics commission fines Mark Farrell $108K for campaign violations

The San Francisco Ethics Commission has fined mayoral candidate Mark Farrell some $108,000 for commingling funds between his campaign committees, a practice that his rivals had long criticized as an effective end-run around the city’s campaign finance limits. Farrell and ethics commission staff signed a settlement agreement on Oct. 25, and Farrell acknowledged responsibility for the violations and agreed to pay the fine.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/11/s-f-ethics-commission-fines-mark-farrell-108k-for-campaign-violations/

Banko Brown’s family crushed as AG backs DA decision not to charge shooter

In a terse, one-page letter, the California Attorney General confirmed that DA Brooke Jenkins’ office did not abuse its discretion in declining to file charges against the Walgreens security guard who last year shot Banko Brown to death. Brown was on April 27, 2023 stopped as he was leaving the Walgreens on Market Street near Fourth Street. Brown had allegedly shoplifted some $14.64 worth of snacks; he was beaten and pinned to the ground by security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/06/banko-browns-family-crushed-as-ag-backs-da-decision-not-to-charge-shooter/

Josephine Zhao, who earlier fought against trans rights, is embraced by San Francisco establishment once again

It’s no exaggeration to say that the crowd at a Chinatown banquet hall Saturday night included the bulk of San Francisco’s existing and aspiring political power players. There was Mayor London Breed and her opponents Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie, and Ahsha Safaí, as well as Sen. Scott Wiener, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, City Attorney David Chiu, Supervisors Catherine Stefani and Matt Dorsey, and a host of others.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/06/josephine-zhao-who-earlier-fought-against-trans-rights-is-embraced-by-san-francisco-establishment-once-again/

Could the guerilla action at the Wiggle permanently slow autos?

It’s been over a day and the five “Yield to Peds & Bikes” signs on the Wiggle remain. No government official or motorist has taken them down. Instead, they are doing their job. The speeding motorists who often overtake bicyclists, now slowly and calmly follow behind, just as the signs instruct. It’s a win for Safe Street Rebel, a San Francisco “anti-car dominance” and pro-cycling, walking and transit advocacy group that installed the signs.

https://missionlocal.org/2024/04/could-the-guerilla-action-at-the-wiggle-permanently-slow-autos/

Ending cash payments to get drug users into treatment won’t work, experts say

Mayor London Breed and three moderate supervisors said on Tuesday that a proposal to drug test San Francisco welfare recipients would keep individuals “accountable” and help shepherd those struggling with addiction into treatment. But more than half a dozen addiction experts and political figures told Mission Local that, if the goal of the measure is to address people’s addictions, the plan is likely to backfire.

https://missionlocal.org/2023/09/sf-wont-succeed-at-forcing-drug-users-into-treatment-experts-say/

BREAKING: Mission Local has learned that San Francisco police this morning traveled to Emeryville to make an arrest in the April 4 killing of tech exec Bob Lee.

The alleged killer also works in tech and purportedly knew Lee.

https://missionlocal.org/2023/04/bob-lee-killing-arrest-made-san-francisco/

#SanFrancisco #BobLee

Rodrigo Santos, the former president of the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 federal counts including bank fraud, falsifying records to the FBI, and tax evasion.

The prosecution is part of a larger federal investigation into a web of corruption in San Francisco that involved former San Francisco Public Works director Mohammed Nuru.

#sfba #SanFrancisco #SFNews #SFPol

https://missionlocal.org/2023/01/rodrigo-santos-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges/