‘Knife fight’ politics take a mental health toll on SF leaders

Janice Li was riding high in November 2018, freshly elected to the BART board of directors after years of advocacy work for safer streets at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Her victory was decisive, with a 12-point win over her nearest rival. She had earned the right to celebrate. But Li couldn’t bring herself to leave her apartment. The following weeks were marred by panic attacks and anxiety. “There’s no feeling quite like being in elected office and the loneliness that you face,” Li said. Local officials are opening up about how holding office has affected their mental health after Supervisor Jackie Fielder checked into a hospital amid a mental health crisis that led her to publicly consider resignation. Her tenure on the Board of Supervisors has been brief but intense. For just over a year, Fielder has represented a heavily Latino community amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, dealt with a drug crisis that has moved into the heart of her district, and weathered a recent investigation into the leak of a confidential memo that has put her office in the city attorney’s sights. San Francisco politics are often described as a “knife fight in a phone booth,” a phrase coined by David Chiu, now the city attorney. The city’s unique brutality has for decades sharpened politicians — from the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Gov. Gavin Newsom — preparing them for higher office. But some say there’s a painful personal cost to San Francisco’s unrelenting gladiatorial politics. It bloodies as many people as it hones. Li has for years spoken frankly about her mental health struggles, while the stigma has held others back. Women, people of color, and queer politicians can face more scrutiny, Li said, especially when they’re young and new to office. But she was determined to not let the pressure end her career. She found solace in a tight-knit friend group of early-career LGBTQ+ Asian politicos, including Board of Education Commissioner Phil Kim and Entertainment Commission member Cyn Wang. That support, therapy, and Li’s own acumen bolstered her continued success on the BART board, where she has served as vice president and president. Now Li reaches out to freshman politicians to ensure that they too enjoy peer support; among them is Ruth Ferguson, 31, whom Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed in January to the City College of San Francisco board of trustees. Ferguson weathered harassment working in the state Legislature in the 2020s, which she reported in formal complaints and called out publicly. But it left her with diagnosed PTSD, which has flared in the San Francisco political fray. In a city proud of its self-described acceptance of people of all backgrounds, and at a time of unprecedented awareness of social inequities, Ferguson experienced even more vitriol, particularly against herself and other women. There’s the everyday condescension, and then there’s the rage. Last month, a local political gadfly wrote to her in a Facebook message calling her a “skank bitch” for backing a ballot measure to institute stricter Board of Supervisors term limits. Comments on Fielder’s mental health crisis and leave from office took a similar disturbing tone. Online trolls accused her of hiding a sexually transmitted disease, and more. “I don’t think it needs to be this way,” Ferguson said. Rigel Robinson was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 2018 and soon faced a similar kind of hate. He was stalked, threatened, and harassed over his support for a housing development near People’s Park. The pressure led him to resign in 2024. He’s now a consultant for the Bay Area Council, working remotely from Paris, where his wife pursues her dream career as a bioengineer. “I treasured my time in elected office and am deeply proud of the work I got done for my city,” he said by text message. “But I am also proud to have left when I did.” Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, who is running to be state insurance commissioner, said she has seen the city’s hard-knuckle politics drum out good public servants, especially young women. Even the regular practice of updating constituents via social media can make you feel exposed, Kim said. “Whenever I’ve run for office, whenever I’ve been in office, the sensation is you feel raw all the time, like all your skin is peeled off, so the wind is just blowing into your body without any form of protection,” she said. Running a campaign for statewide office is not nearly as stressful as a local race in San Francisco, Kim said, where politicians have far more face time with opponents and critics. San Francisco’s dense, 7x7-mile peninsula means running into opponents three times a night and having lobbyists accost you at restaurants. There’s no escape. Two years after leaving San Francisco public office in 2019, Kim had bloodwork done. Every metric showed that she was far healthier than she had been in years. “Clearly, my body kept receipts,” she said.

‘The biggest scam’: This hated business fee might help protect SF’s budget from Trump

Businesses hate it. Restaurant customers are bewildered by it. Employees benefit from it.



Now, come budget time, an often-reviled city fee may help protect the city.



The San Francisco City Option program provides medical reimbursement accounts to help thousands of employees pay for health coverage every year. The fees that small businesses — in particular, restaurants — contribute to the program are so high, it’s akin to doubling their rent. Restaurants often pass some of that to customers, in the form of an “SF mandate” or “health fee” tacked onto the bill.



Ben Bleiman, a bar owner and president of the Entertainment Commission, said he pays roughly $350 per employee per month. For a restaurant or shop with a staff of 20, that’s $7,000 monthly — though most businesses enrolled in the program have far more workers than that.



“Don&#8217;t get me started, man. It&#8217;s just the biggest scam perpetrated on small businesses in the city,” Bleiman said. “It&#8217;s a massive expense.”



Roughly $200 million of that fund has gone unused by workers, according to a city report published at the end of March, and the excess will roll over into San Francisco’s general fund in April 2026. That’s just in time to serve as a cushion against the city’s budget deficit, as federal cuts loom.



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But amid complaints from business owners about the fees, city leaders are divided on how to use the money, if at all.



“We cannot paper over a $1 billion budget deficit with one-time funds, especially not funds that rightfully belong to San Franciscans,” Charles Lutvak, Mayor Daniel Lurie’s spokesperson, said in a statement. “Our administration is prepared to make the structural changes needed to close this $1 billion deficit, stabilize our city’s finances, and get back to investing in the workers and businesses of San Francisco again.”



The deficit, estimated at $820 million, could mean cuts in agencies citywide: street cleaning crews, homeless shelter staffers, pro-bono legal aid for low-income residents, and more. If President Donald Trump continues swinging a scythe at funding for healthcare, education, and other services, the deficit could <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/10/san-francisco-lurie-budget-trump-2-billion/">more than double,</a> officials estimate.



The San Francisco Board of Supervisors negotiates with the mayor’s office to approve the budget, giving them a say in how funding is used. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the board president, said the City Option dollars may come in handy at a time of great uncertainty.



“In that kind of environment, you&#8217;re looking for additional sources of reserve dollars,” Mandelman said. “But I think we&#8217;re not there yet, and there&#8217;s all these other elements of the conversation we have to have.”



However, the amount of unspent City Option money has led small business groups to question whether the program is needed. It was created two decades ago, long before the Affordable Care Act helped insure more San Franciscans, according to Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.



“Many additional healthcare options are now available,” Thomas wrote. “Given the amount of unused funds paid into the city&#8217;s [medical reimbursement] account, we believe it is prudent to look to repeal this ordinance.”



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Small-business owners are pushing the city to repeal the program. Conversations to reform it are underway.



Many entities can make strong claims to the unspent dollars: the employers who paid fees to make it possible, the workers whom the fund was created to help, and unions looking to prevent layoffs.



Insiders said it may be easier politically to spend the spare funds on public health, instead of on general city costs. The federal government’s potential Medicare or Medicaid reductions, for instance, could cost the city roughly $900 million, according to the mayor’s office.



The city doesn’t have its hands on the money just yet. It sits in a $900 million Department of Public Health reimbursement account as part of Healthy San Francisco, the 2006 <a href="https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Healthy_San_Francisco">brainchild of progressive Democrats</a> aimed at helping uninsured San Franciscans with medical care. The city anticipates the bulk of those funds will be used by workers.



Supervisor Connie Chan, the board&#8217;s budget chair and a leading progressive, said the healthcare fund should be reserved for workers.



&#8220;At a moment when Trump is attacking our sanctuary state where many, including immigrant workers, have taken roots and contributed for generations, it is unthinkable for anyone wanting to take away their health care, especially because this is not funded by any business but all San Franciscans who dine out and&nbsp;support our restaurants,&#8221; Chan said.



Chan said the current system should become more accessible to workers. She said she will demand that the city use a separate pot of money called the Health Security Fund as a bulwark against Medicaid cuts. That fund has about $240 million accessible.



Roughly 5,225 employers have opted into the San Francisco City Option program, which houses the healthcare reimbursement account. More than $500 million has been paid out in claims to workers since 2021, according to the Department of Public Health.



The city’s ability to reclaim unspent dollars is fairly recent. In 2022, the Health Commission approved a tweak to the healthcare reimbursement fund to bring it in line with state law. From then on, funds unclaimed in a three-year period would roll over to the city’s general fund.



“Closing accounts is the last resort,” a Public Health spokesperson said.



Mandelman said shrinking or eliminating the healthcare fee could “provide relief for some small-business owners,” and he’s taken part in meetings to figure out its future.



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City records show various meetings aimed at reforming the healthcare fund: a Feb. 26 meeting between Supervisors Danny Sauter, Joel Engardio, and Mandelman, as well as mayor’s office and city department staff. On March 27, a team from the mayor’s office met with the San Francisco Labor Council, and on Friday they are due to meet with the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.



Small businesses pay the smallest portion of the fund; groups that represent them argue that this is a reason to exempt them. Roughly 4% of contributions come from companies with 20-49 employees, but a whopping 79% comes from companies employing more than 500.



Even Democrats are pushing for change. Eric Kingsbury, a member of the San Francisco Democratic Party board, said he’s writing a resolution to put Democrats on record seeking to repeal the healthcare fund.



“It was a great initiative that did its work and no longer serves its purpose,” Kingsbury said.



The Department of Public Health has recognized the need to reach more workers so funds don’t go unspent. In September, the agency kicked off a splashy ad campaign on BART, Muni, and billboards to direct San Franciscans to an online tool where they could look up their healthcare reimbursement accounts.



This summer, the Public Health Department aims to issue debit cards so San Franciscans can more easily pay for medical expenses upfront, instead of seeking reimbursements later.



Bleiman, the bar owner, thinks most small-business owners want the fund scrapped. He said he hears from restaurateurs and bar owners who hate the fee “every goddamn day, dude. Every single day.”



“It&#8217;s so offensively unfair that it&#8217;s infuriating,” Bleiman added. “It&#8217;s exactly why San Francisco has a reputation of being the most unfair to small businesses in America.”

San Francisco entertainment commissioner enters crowded race to represent the Mission District

Stephen Torres, an LGBTQ+ community activist, bartender and <a href="https://sf.gov/profile/stephen-torres">member of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission</a>, will file Tuesday to run for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, hoping to replace the termed-out Hillary Ronen next year.



A native Angeleno who serves as executive co-chair of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, Torres has lived in San Francisco since 1999, apart from a brief period in Mexico City. Torres is also a bartender at Twin Peaks, a well-known queer bar in the Castro. If elected in November 2024, he would be among the board’s progressive wing.



“Having lived here in District 9 for almost two decades, I feel like I know very much what the average constituent knows and feels about all the amazing, wonderful parts of it,” Torres told The Standard. “The challenges, too.”



In a statement to his supporters over the weekend, Torres emphasized the importance of the city’s neighborhoods to its overall economic and civic health, adding that “without community, it’s just real estate.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="7416" height="4928" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man with a mustache stands by a graffiti-covered wall near &quot;Osaka Sushi&quot; sign on a sunny street." class="wp-image-214500" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg 7416w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?resize=2500,1661 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?resize=1536,1021 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-03.jpg?resize=2048,1361 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 7416px) 100vw, 7416px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Torres lives in the Mission but largely works in the Castro—as a bartender at Twin Peaks and as the executive co-chair for the advisory board of the Castro LGBTQ+ Cultural District.</figcaption></figure>



Torres will face a crowded field of contenders hoping to represent District 9, which covers the Mission District, Bernal Heights and much of the Portola District. Among the serious competitors for the seat are public banking advocate and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/10/race-to-represent-san-francisco-mission-district-heats-up/">2020 state Senate candidate Jackie Fielder,</a> <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/10/race-to-represent-san-francisco-mission-district-heats-up/">Carnaval San Francisco CEO Roberto Hernandez</a> and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/04/18/an-ex-employee-of-citizen-the-public-safety-app-is-running-for-sf-supervisor/">former Citizen app employee Trevor Chandler</a>. Rafael Gutierrez, Julian Bermudez, Jaime Gutierrez and perennial candidate Michael Petrelis have declared their candidacies as well.&nbsp;



District 9 is a focal point for the city’s struggles with poverty, unlawful vending and perceptions about a decline in public safety. Recently, Ronen proposed a controversial, <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/24/san-francisco-mission-street-vendor-ban/">90-day ban on sidewalk vendors along Mission Street</a>, the neighborhood’s main commercial corridor. Torres believes his involvement with the city’s nightlife community during and after Covid, plus his familiarity with the mechanics of city governance, distinguish him from his rivals.



“There&#8217;s a lot of well-intended gestures to the challenges that San Franciscans face,” he said. “But then, when it comes down to the actual implementation, they still fall short of helping people. Everything from public safety to wellness to resources to housing.”



Among his accomplishments, Torres cites increasing the availability of naloxone, or Narcan, in the city’s bars and entertainment venues. He’s also proud of the ongoing work that both the cultural district and the commission he sits on have undertaken to gather and analyze city data to assess whether San Francisco’s nightlife industry workers have recovered from the pandemic.&nbsp;



“So many of us that work in nightlife—our lives have completely changed. Our income is a third of what it was,” he said. “Some of us have had to leave this industry because it is just not sustainable. Even for those of us who live in affordable housing.”



As the city stakes its future on a revival of nightlife—<a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/29/first-look-at-san-franciscos-pop-up-bid-to-save-downtown/">Downtown, most prominently</a>, but certainly in neighborhoods like the Mission—questions of public safety rise to the fore. Torres wants to make sure that everyone, patrons and staff alike, can go out, have fun, spend money and enjoy their city without fear.



He hopes to work with grassroots activists across the district and city to create outdoor, Mexico City-style markets that are loosely grouped around certain types of wares, from the fixed mercados to the looser tianguis, which are more like farmers markets.



“A constituent from the Portola, whose family has lived here for a long time, was telling me how his grandmother used to go to the Crystal Palace market,” Torres said, referring to the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/04/12/100-years-ago-sfs-now-closed-whole-foods-was-a-market-popular-enough-for-its-own-transit-line/">long-ago shopping center at Market and Eighth streets</a> where SoMa’s now-closed Whole Foods stands. “We should return to these kinds of things. It’s a way of dealing with illegal peddling.”



While stating that people who commit violent crimes should be held accountable, Torres insists that the city must also work to provide alternatives for economically desperate people around the 16th Street and 24th Street BART stations, where vending is often considered a public nuisance.



“I&#8217;m sorry, but in my entire 25 years of living in San Francisco, neither one of the BART stations have been widely known as gathering places—aside from, you know, illicit things,” he said. “And so how do we change that? It&#8217;s by making them gathering places for other things.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="7416" height="4928" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man stands in front of an ornate theater marquee under a clear blue sky." class="wp-image-214501" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg 7416w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?resize=768,510 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?resize=2500,1661 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?resize=1536,1021 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/StephenTorresD9_10302023-01-1.jpg?resize=2048,1361 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 7416px) 100vw, 7416px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Torres will likely draw support from the city&#8217;s Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities.</figcaption></figure>



Torres’ candidacy will likely draw its support from the Latinx community, which, in spite of the Mission’s advanced state of gentrification, remains a potent political force.&nbsp;



“Stephen’s desire to be a district supervisor is genuine and principled,” said Lito Sandoval, former chair of the San Francisco Latino Democratic Club. “I have known Stephen for years and have seen how he is level-headed and thoughtful. We need supervisors who are willing to do the work and not just grandstand for the cameras.



“His passion for justice and his work in the community aligns with mine,” said Per Sia, a Latinx drag performer and educator. “He has put in the work and will continue to do so as District 9 supervisor. That mustache can conquer it all.”



Connecting people to their neighborhoods sometimes means reimagining those neighborhoods. As the son of a quality-assurance engineer, Torres has warily eyed the city’s Central Freeway for years, and he supports the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/09/01/forget-the-central-subway-whats-happening-with-the-central-freeway/">movement to remove the elevated roadway</a>, much of which marks the northern boundary of District 9.&nbsp;



“That all used to be an estuary. To reclaim some of that and also integrate both housing and public space—it’s just an opportunity that you rarely if ever get in a city this old,” Torres said. “I would love to see that happen. But the thing is, you have to make sure that it happens with the community at the ground floor.”



That way, he said, Division and 13th streets don’t become a wall of five-story, concrete monoliths priced beyond the reach of the neighborhood’s existing residents.&nbsp;



That viewpoint might be a bit rose-tinted, but retaining a sense of optimism is more important than a dogmatic affiliation with this or that political faction.



“There&#8217;s this narrative that this state was like a paradise. But I think that&#8217;s actually a big falsehood,” Torres said. “This is actually rather a cataclysmic state to inhabit. But you can’t help but be optimistic a little bit. Otherwise, you’re insane.”&nbsp;
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Sleepy East Bay city relents on demand to shut down San Francisco’s Portola Music Festival

San Francisco and Alameda city officials met Tuesday to hash out sound issues with <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/30/thousands-attend-san-franciscos-second-annual-portola-music-fest/">the second Portola Music Festival</a>, which the latter city called attention to in a terse Facebook post following the electronic music event.&nbsp;



“I think we turned the conversation around,” San Francisco Entertainment Commission Executive Director Maggie Weiland told The Standard in a phone call. “There will be more outreach and Alameda will get updates on the plan.”&nbsp;



The two parties agreed to continue conversations on ways to mitigate sound from the raucous festival after Alameda complained that the festival generated myriad complaints from residents.&nbsp;



“Our staff will continue to work in partnership with festival organizers and the San Francisco Entertainment Commission to understand what happened and what additional steps can be taken to mitigate this ambient sound in the future,” a spokesperson for the City of Alameda said in an email.&nbsp;



The festival, which is held at Pier 80 and showcases electronic dance music, <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/sfs-portola-music-festival-causes-noise-complaints-in-alameda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generated complaints around the bay last year</a> along with promises by San Francisco and promoter Goldenvoice to keep a handle on the noise this time around.&nbsp;



The spat between San Francisco and Alameda apparently reignited Oct.1 during the second and final day of this year’s festival, when Sunday headliner Skrillex’s <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/skrillex-pulled-over-handcuffed-for-playing-music-too-loud.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heavier-than-usual</a> dubstep beats were sonically bounced across the bay by a drop in temperatures.&nbsp;



And while the Los Angeles-based DJ and performer’s set <a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/skrillex-pauses-primavera-sound-2023-set-after-fire-breaks-out-onstage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">didn’t quite set fire to the stage</a>, it apparently left some Alameda city officials pretty burned up.&nbsp;



Alameda City Manager Jennifer Ott fired off a terse letter to Weiland, formally requesting that San Francisco discontinue the festival, and describing how “the bass, in particular, caused vibrations that shook people’s homes and apartments” and generated “countless complaints.”&nbsp;



Alameda’s <a href="https://library.municode.com/ca/alameda/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CHIVOFPUSA_ARTIINORE#:~:text=Daytime%20(7%3A00%20a.m.%20to,p.m.%20to%207%3A00%20a.m.)&amp;text=*%20For%20example%2C%20this%20means%20the,(1)%20hour%20time%20period." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noise ordinance</a> allows for sound levels of up to 70 decibels at night, and sound monitors there never recorded levels above 61.4 decibels during the festival, according to Weiland. Additionally, the city is in close proximity to two international airports and was once host to a <a href="https://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/BRAC-Bases/California/Former-Naval-Air-Station-Alameda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Naval Air Station</a>.&nbsp;



City of Alameda personnel also posted a notice on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cityofalameda/posts/pfbid02eL77JD7oyJ268RWgz6dYuTs2HDn5qfAn4MB9sFLgNVYePuL1XoeYxD6eH3G52A3cl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its Facebook page</a> announcing the request and encouraged residents to forward their own complaints to San Francisco. However, most comments either supported the festival or made light of the complaints.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1404" height="1546" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-3.36.35-PM.png?w=1404" alt="" class="wp-image-210193" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-3.36.35-PM.png 1404w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-3.36.35-PM.png?resize=272,300 272w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-3.36.35-PM.png?resize=768,846 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-3.36.35-PM.png?resize=1395,1536 1395w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1404px) 100vw, 1404px" /></figure>



“I was triple-shocked,” Entertainment Commissioner Ben Bleiman, speaking on his own behalf, wrote in a text. “First, Alameda put up a Facebook post encouraging residents to complain to San Francisco. Second, that same post gets ratio’d so hard by their own people in FULL SUPPORT of the festival.”&nbsp;



Bleiman noted the irony of the city celebrating the arrival of <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/06/photos-san-francisco-fleet-week-2023-blue-angels/">the Blue Angels</a>, who “blast out everyone’s eardrums with jet engines” in a subsequent post.&nbsp;



“It played out like a lost episode of Parks &amp; Recreation,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Decrying ban on homeless sweeps, San Francisco lawmakers to stage courthouse protest

A group of San Francisco lawmakers, residents and merchants are heading up a rally outside the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals next week, just ahead of a key hearing on an injunction that temporarily bars the city from enforcing laws against sitting and lodging on the street.&nbsp;



Supervisors Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman and Joel Engardio are expected to attend the rally alongside San Francisco residents who are upset with street conditions that they say have grown increasingly untenable. 



On Aug. 23, a Ninth Circuit panel will hear arguments in the city’s appeal of the controversial injunction, which was handed down by <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/12/24/homeless-sweeps-temporarily-banned/">U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu in December 2022</a>. The hearing will take place during a 9:30 a.m. session at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals at 95 Seventh St.



The injunction, requested by the Coalition on Homelessness as part of <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/07/07/san-francisco-illegal-homeless-sweeps/">an ongoing lawsuit,</a> temporarily restricts city workers from removing encampments, except in narrow circumstances such as for street cleaning. It has also inflamed frustrations among residents who feel they have little recourse in addressing troublesome encampments, even in situations that become dangerous.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4006" height="2670" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-189867" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg 4006w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?resize=2500,1666 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINED3_UseForceHomelessness07112023.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4006px) 100vw, 4006px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A man negotiates with city employees over what items could be thrown away during an encampment clearing on April 25, 2023 in the Mission District in San Francisco. | David Sjostedt/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



“I can’t count on two hands the people who&#8217;ve told me, ‘There&#8217;s a tent encampment blocking customers from coming in, that started a fire I had to put out with an extinguisher, and the city said they can’t do anything about the encampment,’” said Ben Bleiman, a bar owner and president of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission. “People are waking up and waking up fast.”&nbsp;



The Coalition on Homelessness requested the injunction after accusing the city of <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/09/28/homeless-advocates-sue-the-city-for-sweeping-encampments-and-destroying-property/">illegally removing encampments and destroying property</a> without maintaining sufficient shelter beds. Attorneys for the coalition argued that the city’s practice of breaking down encampments violates the U.S. Constitution and worsens the homelessness crisis.&nbsp;



As a result of the injunction, city workers <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/02/24/court-order-blocking-homeless-sweeps-leaves-residents-city-workers-in-ambiguity/">are walking a fine line</a> in responding to encampments. The city may not enforce specific ordinances around sitting, lying or lodging on the street; however, workers can ask people occupying encampments to temporarily relocate for street cleaning and enforce health codes and other laws.&nbsp;



Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said she hasn’t seen much of a change in the city’s enforcement of encampments and believes the rally’s organizers are missing the point of the injunction.



“There’s this huge disparity between how they’re talking publicly about their interpretation of the lawsuit and how the city attorney actually interpreted it,” Friedenbach said. “It’s delusional to think that the city is going to change what they’re doing without asserting pressure.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2000" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-192852" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/INLINE01_HomelessProtestPhoto10112022-116.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, speaks at a march outside of San Francisco City Hall on Oct. 11, 2022.</figcaption></figure>



At a press conference last week, the coalition’s attorneys <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/08/10/homelessness-nonprofit-that-sued-san-francisco-over-encampment-sweeps-seeks-settlement/">proposed a settlement that included</a> several specific provisions, such as a requirement that the city fill vacant supportive housing units within 30 days, spend unused funds from two housing-related ballot measures and exclude police from the enforcement of sit/lie laws.&nbsp;



City Attorney David Chiu balked at the public offer, calling it a “political stunt” that discouraged thoughtful settlement discussions. The parties had previously engaged in confidential settlement negotiations under court supervision, Chiu’s office said.&nbsp;



“I think Judge Ryu is acting as a politician; she’s making political judgments about policy and cloaking it in constitutional concerns,” Mandelman said. “She doesn’t have a deep history of engaging with these issues; she&#8217;s stepping into a political role, and that is a problem for the judiciary.”



The coalition’s legal case partly rests on Martin v. Boise, a 2018 Ninth Circuit decision, which held that cities cannot criminalize sleeping on public property if individuals cannot obtain shelter. But that ruling left open questions about the exact scope of that precedent and whether cities can place more targeted restrictions on public camping.&nbsp;



Chiu has argued that the court failed to clarify what it means to be “involuntarily homeless” and whether that applies to people who refuse shelter. Attorneys for the Coalition on Homelessness have pointed out that individuals can’t easily access shelter of their own accord.&nbsp;



As the court case plays out, some increasingly frustrated residents are demanding that the city do more to ameliorate conditions in the streets.&nbsp;



Terry Asten Bennett, who co-owns Cliff’s Variety Store in the Castro neighborhood, said the city should act more quickly to convert unused office spaces into dwellings and to enforce laws that it has the ability to enforce.&nbsp;



Bennett said that fights, drug use, screaming outbursts and other incidents have made her concerned for the safety of her employees and customers, and have discouraged visitors from coming to the world-famous Castro district.&nbsp;



“It’s really important that the residents of the city are aware of the position this judge has put us in … but we also have to hold the city accountable. There are so many things that could be enforced that just aren’t,” Bennett said. “The response from the judge and from the city is not good enough. It’s not OK, it&#8217;s not humane for anybody and it’s putting all of us in a bad position.”



David Sjostedt contributed to this report.

SF supervisor second-guesses DA on Walgreens shooting case

The president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors said Tuesday that District Attorney Brooke Jenkins should reconsider her decision to not press charges against a security guard <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/downtown-sf-walgreens-shooting-24-year-old-man-killed/">who fatally shot an alleged shoplifter</a>.



Board President Aaron Peskin said he would ask the supervisors to formally request that Jenkins revisit the decision, which she announced Monday as the security guard, Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/walgreens-san-francisco-guard-released-from-jail/">was released from jail</a>. Jenkins said a review of the evidence suggested Anthony acted in self-defense.



Peskin’s comments came after two hours of public comment about the killing of Banko Brown, who died Thursday after the shooting at the Walgreens on Market Street near Fourth Street.



Speakers included Julia Arroyo, a director at the Young Women’s Freedom Center where Brown volunteered; Yulanda Williams, president of the Officers For Justice Peace Officers Association; labor activist Cheryl Thornton; African American Reparations Advisory Committee member Gloria Berry; and Entertainment Commissioner Steven Torres.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-138857" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-800x533.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-740x493.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23073842884531-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors | Jeff Chiu/AP Photo</figcaption></figure>



Speakers repeatedly expressed their anger over Brown being shot to death over an alleged shoplifting incident involving petty merchandise, and how it exemplified continuing issues with inequality and maltreatment of people of color. Brown was Black and transgender.



A source with knowledge of the case, who spoke with The Standard on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the details, said that Anthony questioned Brown, and an altercation ensued. Brown threatened to stab Anthony, who had pulled out his gun but had not yet pointed it, the source said. Anthony told Brown to leave the store. According to the source, that is when Brown approached Anthony, who fired his gun.



Several speakers at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting said Brown was unarmed. On Wednesday, Police Chief Bill Scott said there was no evidence that Brown was armed. Scott said Brown spat and raised one of his arms before being shot. 



Some speakers at Tuesday&#8217;s supervisors meeting made unsubstantiated allegations about details of the case. For example, one speaker alleged that Anthony’s gun permit had expired; a check with the state Bureau of Security and Investigative Services indicated Anthony’s permit is current until May 31.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1366" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BankoBrown05012023-17.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-155768" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BankoBrown05012023-17.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BankoBrown05012023-17.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BankoBrown05012023-17.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BankoBrown05012023-17.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees light candles in honor of shooting victim Banko Brown outside the San Francisco Walgreens where he was shot on Monday. | Morgan Ellis/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



“This is not an anomaly,” said Torres. “Queer and Trans POC people are routinely harassed and targeted by hired security. I myself have been a recipient.”



“I am very disturbed today,” said Williams, a retired San Francisco police captain. “San Francisco is a sanctuary city for everyone who is not Black. The sanctity of life does not exist for Black people. We apparently don’t matter and are still just replaceable property.”&nbsp;



After public comment, Peskin said he was familiar with the details of the case. He said that he was disturbed by Jenkins’ decision not to press “at least manslaughter charges” against Anthony.



“I am inclined to have this board, through formal action, ask the district attorney to reconsider and reexamine that decision that I was struck by,&#8221; he said.&nbsp; &#8220;It is very rare that the legislative branch wades into individual decisions of the district attorney, but if you heard the details that I heard, at a minimum, this appears to be a manslaughter case to this non-attorney.”



On Monday, Jenkins said, &#8220;We reviewed witness statements, statements from the suspect and video footage of the incident, and it does not meet the people’s burden to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that the suspect is guilty of a crime. The evidence clearly shows that the suspect believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense.&#8221;  



Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated with Police Chief Bill Scott&#8217;s comments about whether Brown was armed.



Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Yulanda Williams&#8217; rank and status with the police department. 



Reporter Michael Barba contributed to this report.

The Entertainment Commission regulates nightlife and entertainment venues in San Francisco. It conducts hearings for entertainment permit applications and enforces compliance with relevant laws. The commission makes decisions impacting the city's entertainment industry, ensuring safe and vibrant nightlife.

Entertainment Commission

Anthony Schlander

Maria Davis

Ben Bleiman

Cynthia Wang

Lt. Leonard Poggio

Entertainment Commission Commissioner 3

Entertainment Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee