Newsom is MIA in schools shutdown. Plus: Where do SF electeds send their kids?

<p>You’re reading Power Play, The Standard’s twice-weekly newsletter about City Hall and San Francisco politics. To receive Power Play directly in your inbox,  sign up here .  Got tips? Send to us at  powerplay@sfstandard.com .  Are school strikes the new wildfires? If San Francisco parents can take one consolation from their days-long scramble for child care, it’s this — they won’t be alone for long.  While the City by the Bay makes headlines for its striking educators,  unions in eight other California school districts  have voted to approve strikes, including Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Bernardino.  So, where is Gov.  Gavin Newsom  in all this?  Well, Friday he’s  flying to Munich  with a bevy of heavy-hitter national Democrats, like Rep.  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , to court European leaders and upstage President  Donald Trump , all while parents back home are tearing their hair out over school closures. He hasn’t done nothing — Newsom has a major reform in his budget this year to move authority of the California Department of Education under the governor’s office, winnowing the role of the state superintendent and adding some funding for the next two years. There’s also a $46 million funding increase for schools, though that’s a drop in the bucket compared with SFUSD’s needs alone.  When Power Play asked SFUSD boss  Maria Su  on Tuesday if she’d heard from Newsom or other state leaders on the district’s request for financial support, she said simply, “We have not heard back.” Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Despite the radio silence, it seemed the cavalry was on the way Tuesday, when state Superintendent of Public Instruction  Tony Thurmond  stepped into negotiations to mediate between the district and union, upstairs in the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. There were hopes that Thurmond, who is a gubernatorial candidate, could provide insight into how SFUSD could meet the teachers’ demands while still satisfying state oversight of the district’s dire finances — wiggle room, in other words. And there were whispers among union members picketing the War Memorial that Thurmond was about to take their side in talks and push the district over the hump on the sticking points: salary increases, fully funded dependent healthcare, and special-education staffing.  Instead, insiders tell us, Thurmond reaffirmed that SFUSD has to make “financially responsive” offers. And he was out of the War Memorial almost as quickly as he arrived. On Wednesday morning, Su was diplomatic, saying, “State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said to both parties, ‘Get this done.’” Asked if he offered specific help, Su shook her head. Thurmond’s office did not respond to a request for comment.  It looks like each California school district will need to deal with labor issues on its own — without the governor or a state education honcho to back them up. —  J.F.R. and G.G. Public officials, private schools: Part 1 We all know the SFUSD does not have the best reputation, but city leaders have never shied away from expressing their support for teachers and public schools. But no matter how publicly supportive they may be, their decision on where to send their children speaks volumes. Start with Superintendent Su, who identified herself as a “former SFUSD parent” in her  inaugural press release  in 2024 but rarely discusses the details of that title. In a 2025  interview with KALW , Su said her two sons attended SFUSD elementary and middle schools in the Ingleside area, “and then for high school, we chose a different route.” Sources say Su’s older son graduated from a local private high school, where the younger son is currently enrolled. Mayor  Daniel Lurie , heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, went to private schools, and his two children  attend private schools in the city . Of the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors, only four are parents of school-age children:  Myrna Melgar ,  Connie Chan ,  Stephen Sherrill,  and  Chyanne Chen . Of those, Melgar and Chen are SFUSD parents. Chan’s son is in private school, but she emphasizes that she’s “a proud graduate of Galileo High School,” and her son attended Lafayette Elementary School. Sherrill said he’s “currently navigating the kindergarten process for the first time and looking at all available options.” Shamann Walton  and Melgar’s older children graduated from SFUSD schools. Supervisor  Danny Sauter  has a newborn, and the remaining supervisors do not have children. Power Play is taking classroom attendance for other SF politicos’ children; we’ll share more of our findings in a future email.  — H.L. and J.F.R. Correction: A version of this story in Wednesday’s Power Play newsletter did not include information about Melgar’s child attending an SFUSD school. Big money backs Lurie — again A new independent expenditure committee linked to Lurie’s web of well-heeled donors could bring in lots of dough to this year’s supervisor candidates and ballot measures. “SF Believes,” filed Feb. 5, is being run by the same people behind the “Believe in SF, Lurie for Mayor 2024" committee that brought in $6.7 million from contributors like the mayor’s mother,  Miriam Haas , and former WhatsApp CEO  Jan Koum .  SF Believes was registered by Lurie’s pal  Alec Perkins , CEO of Hunter Capital Management and a board member of the mayor’s Tipping Point Community, along with  Adam Clammer , founder of True Wind Capital. It is also getting help from the consultancy and communications firm The Media Company and its veteran consultant  Dan Newman , who worked on Lurie’s 2024 committee.  “San Francisco has made remarkable progress over the past year, and this past [Super Bowl] weekend was a powerful reminder of the energy and optimism people are feeling about the city,” said  Emily Matthews , a spokesperson for The Media Company. “SF Believes is focused on building on that momentum by supporting initiatives and candidates that sustain San Francisco’s success.” No donors or expenses have been filed yet, but the committee will be supporting Lurie’s allies and initiatives, which could include Supervisor Sherrill’s D2 race and the Muni parcel tax measure.  — G.G. PG&E to face grilling Considering the anger toward Pacific Gas & Electric during December’s blackouts, a hearing Thursday in front of the Board of Supervisors’ public safety committee could get charged.  The committee has summoned PG&E CEO  Sumeet Singh , Senior VP and Chief Customer Officer  Vincent Davis , and Bay Area local government affairs manager  Sarah Chavez-Yoell . “PG&E looks forward to sharing with the Board of Supervisors information about the Mission Substation outage in December as well as the progress we’re making operationally and in improving our communication with customers and officials,” the company said in a statement. The committee will be asking how the failure of one of the utility’s substations caused a daylong blackout in large swaths of the city, about coordination between the company and emergency services, and about why some neighborhoods got power back and others didn’t and what PG&E is doing to prevent another incident, according to Supervisor  Bilal Mahmood . “The priority is accountability,” he said. “Understanding their context on what went wrong during the blackout.”  — G.G. Socialists to supes: You failed The Democratic Socialists of America’s San Francisco chapter just released a report card on the city’s 11 supervisors — and it’s brutal. The DSA laid out  20 key issues  and compared how each supervisor voted, blasting the “moderate supermajority” for backing what they view as increased mayoral power, corporate interests, and punitive responses to social crises over the needs of working-class residents. Not surprisingly, outspoken progressive Supervisor  Jackie Fielder  got an A. The only issue in which she broke with the DSA was in backing Lurie’s fentanyl state of emergency. Walton got a B after voting to support the mayor’s budget. Chan, often seen as unapologetically progressive, earned a C. She’s at odds with the DSA on multiple issues, including the police budget. Chen also received a C, and Melgar got a D. The other five supervisors, generally considered more moderate, all received Fs. Supervisor  Alan Wong  was not rated because he doesn’t have a full year of voting records. Chan, who is running for Congress, released a statement through her campaign striking a conciliatory tone. “We look forward to continuing to work with DSA-SF to support working people in our city,” said campaign spokesperson  Julie Edwards . “Connie understands San Franciscans won’t agree 100% of the time and she values open-dialogue with the community.”  — H.L. In case you missed it MAHAN’S RUN : The Standard interviewed gubernatorial candidate  Matt Mahan  on our “Pacific Standard Time” podcast. Here are four  takeaways . GARRY’S LIST : Outspoken techie  Garry Tan  isn’t leaving California like other Silicon Valley moguls. Instead,  he’s starting a nonprofit  for voter education. ETHICS VIOLATION : Planning commissioner  Kathrin Moore   has been fined $12,000  for approving projects involving an architecture firm from which she receives income.</p>

PST: The SF teachers strike + governor candidate Matt Mahan

Lurie, riding high on Super Bowl, meets his kryptonite: Organized labor

<p>A version of this story appeared in Power Play, The Standard’s twice-weekly political newsletter. To sign up,  click here .  As a mayoral candidate, Daniel Lurie had it all —  unlimited money , an  outsider message that resonated with voters , and a well-run campaign team. But there was something missing from his well-stacked arsenal in 2024: union support.  Now his inexperience with unions is biting him in the Levi’s.  In recent days, Lurie has been getting rolled by the city’s powerful labor interests on multiple fronts:  the teachers strike ,  the city budget , and  dueling tax measures . The labor battles have felt like a sobering slap in the face after the mayor’s  starring performance  as Super Bowl 60 cohost. The most pressing crisis is  the strike  of roughly 6,000 San Francisco Unified School District teachers, counselors, and other staff. After making little headway last week,  Lurie threw a Hail Mary pass Sunday afternoon , pleading with the United Educators of San Francisco to pause their strike plans by committing to three additional days of negotiations with SFUSD.  Alas, the union rejected the idea.  San Francisco teachers  are now picketing for the first time in 47 years , and 50,000 children have no school for the foreseeable future. The next bargaining session between the union and the district was set for noon on Monday. Though Lurie has issued social media pronouncements encouraging the sides to hash out a deal, he has made it clear that he’s more observer than active participant.  “I’m not in the weeds in the negotiations,” Lurie said Monday. “I don’t think that’s my role.” That’s consistent with the role he played in a previous labor dispute. When Lurie was on the cusp of inauguration, in December 2024, he was widely credited with helping to end a hotel workers strike. He  reportedly  did so by calling Marriott leadership, breaking a three-month logjam.  Lurie should be credited for picking up the phone to reach elites who wouldn’t respond to the rank and file, said Mike Casey, president of the San Francisco Labor Council.  But when it came to ending the dispute, “the fact that we were on strike for 97 days had a lot to do with it.” Casey said Lurie has made school district negotiations a priority, despite SFUSD being a state entity outside of the city’s purview. The mayor has said he’s offered support to Superintendent Maria Su.  “He’s not sleeping on this,” Casey said. Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the mayor, said, “Since he ended a three-month hotel strike before even taking office, Mayor Lurie has had an open door and worked productively with unions across the city to make San Francisco work for working families. He’s doing the same thing right now, bringing UESF and SFUSD to the table to support our educators and get school back open for our kids.” He added, “Mayor Lurie was elected because San Franciscans knew it was time to change a system that has only worked for the people who knew how to game it. San Francisco’s working families deserve a government that works hard every day for them, and that’s exactly what Mayor Lurie and his entire administration is doing.” As the prospect of a teachers strike grew, Lurie dispatched his policy chief, Kunal Modi, to help out, to no avail. A source said the mayor’s office has also brought in Steve Kawa, who served as chief of staff to former mayors Gavin Newsom and Ed Lee and deputy chief of staff for Willie Brown, to help with negotiations. Past mayors were personally involved in mediation between the SFUSD and the union, according to former UESF president Susan Solomon. “[London] Breed and Newsom made attempts and were sometimes successful,” she said. Despite an often rocky relationship with the union, Breed even placed a measure on the ballot to secure raises for educators  by introducing new taxes . There’s another reason Lurie may be having a tough time dealing with labor issues: None of his policy chiefs has a deep background in the movement. Modi, for example, has little hands-on experience tussling with unions,  having come from McKinsey & Company , the blue-chip corporate consultancy. Others in Lurie’s top policy circles include Ned Segal, his housing and economic development chief and a former Twitter executive, and Staci Slaughter, his chief of staff and a former Giants executive. Sources say public affairs director Han Zou is usually the link between the Lurie administration and labor — but he is a young up-and-comer at City Hall. He’s no battle-scarred Kawa or Sean Elsbernd, Breed’s former chief of staff. By contrast, some of the labor officials have been sitting at the table with mayors for decades.  Lurie does have some union people in his circle; namely, SEIU 87’s  Olga Miranda  and UFCW5’s  Jim Araby . But the pair aren’t involved in public-sector employee matters. Miranda represents janitors, while Araby represents grocery workers — different worlds entirely. John Logan, a professor of labor studies at San Francisco State University, said some in the labor movement feel Lurie hasn’t offered much to earn their support. “My impression is that Lurie’s pretty clueless” when it comes to dealing with labor, Logan said, adding that the mayor “feels no pressure to understand it because he thinks unions are irrelevant or dinosaurs or both.” “The teachers strike could either serve as a wake-up call or it could just reinforce his views that unions in general, and public-sector unions in particular, have too much power and are an obstacle to his pro-business, anti-regulation agenda,” Logan added. This sentiment is reinforced by the types of allies with which Lurie has surrounded himself. The mayor has pitched himself as a friend to business interests and has pushed for deregulatory policies he believes will make life easier for city residents. His  philanthropic   ventures  aimed at repairing the city’s economy include some of the city’s wealthiest and most powerful corporate figures, worlds that have traditionally clashed with labor unions.  A teachers strike may be a harbinger of more painful labor battles to come.  Lurie will have to navigate painful City Hall layoffs in response to a $936 million budget deficit. That battle  is already causing strife within the labor movement . Last week, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades leader Rudy Gonzalez resigned from the Public Employees Committee as the top public-sector unions, IFPTE 21 and SEIU 1021, are expected to wage a holy war against the possibility of pink slips.  Then there are the union-backed city and state business taxes on the ballot, which stand in stark contrast to the mayor’s corporate-friendly approach to San Francisco’s economic recovery. Last month, Lurie said  he opposed the California Billionaire Tax Act  because it would scare businesses away from the city. On Friday,  Lurie said he would not support the local Overpaid CEO Act  — nor would he back a competing measure from the pro-business camp. He said the labor-versus-business war is bad for everyone. Lurie’s opposition to both measures actually helps the unions’ Overpaid CEO Act — without his support, the business-backed measure plays with a weaker hand. And don’t forget his quest to reform the city charter, which might make it harder to place measures on the ballot. Labor representatives on the charter reform working group have pushed back on this idea,  arguing that it would hinder the ability of working-class interests  to put measures before voters. So far, Lurie has been vexed by unions at every turn. Maybe he should just unionize the mayor’s office and get it over with?</p>

Public schools to close Monday as teachers prepare to hit picket lines

<p>After shrugging off responsibility for a looming teachers’ strike when he was  asked about it two weeks ago , Mayor Daniel Lurie has now entered the chat. On Sunday, in an Instagram post, Lurie   stepped into center stage . He requested that the United Educators of San Francisco and the San Francisco Unified School District take a three-day timeout while they continue negotiations and keep schools open this week. His remarks, which were echoed in a statement by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), suggested that “our students and our parents need certainty ahead of tomorrow.” And yet, less than 24 hours before school starts on Monday, there was little certainty being provided on the part of SFUSD. Union representatives have declined to call off the strike. “We need to see serious movement from the District,”  UESF wrote on Facebook  at about 3:15 p.m. “Our team is working hard today to respond to the proposals we received last night.” The district was still saying schools could be open tomorrow if a last-minute agreement is reached as of the afternoon, even after they had been telling parents since Friday, without a caveat, that schools will be  closed indefinitely  starting on Monday. Throughout Sunday, representatives from both the union and SFUSD dodged questions from The Standard on when negotiations would resume on Sunday or Monday or beyond. The union has said both that they were waiting to meet again until they came up with a sufficient proposal for the district, and also that they were waiting to meet again until they got a better proposal from the district. By Sunday evening, it was clear that there would be no school on Monday — with negotiations resuming Monday afternoon. At a brief and vague press conference Sunday afternoon, UESF President Cassondra Curiel reiterated that the union “will be going on strike on Monday, absent a signed tentative agreement with this district.” Union representatives disregarded Lurie and Pelosi’s joint “timeout” suggestion. “We know the district is aware of what we are asking for,” Curiel said. “We need to see there’s serious movement.” Negotiations ramped up on Wednesday after the release of a   neutral fact-finding report  that gave the district the power to   announce a strike Thursday morning . Since then, the district and union have come to an agreement on increased protections for immigrant students but little else.   They remain stuck  on the union’s demands for higher wages, increased capacity for special education professionals, and fully funded family healthcare. After a marathon session dragged on into Saturday night without a new agreement, Superintendent Maria Su said she was “deeply frustrated and disheartened” that the two sides could not reach an agreement.</p>

SFUSD teachers on the brink of strike as fact-finding panel fails to bridge wage gap

<p>A fact-finding panel has recommended that the San Francisco Unified School District provide educators with a 6% total raise over two years, which would be a compromise with the teachers union in a labor dispute that has brought the district to the brink of a crippling strike. However, while  the nonbinding report  released Wednesday suggested a middle-ground agreement, the two sides remain far apart on wages and healthcare contributions, effectively raising the likelihood that SFUSD teachers will strike for the first time since 1979.  “The report does not go far enough — and the recommendations here alone will not solve the stability crisis in our district,” United Educators of San Francisco President Cassondra Curiel said in a statement. “Now is the time for the district to come to the table with real solutions and show the community that they are fully committed to funding the classrooms and schools our students and communities deserve.” Contract negotiations will continue through the week. The union said it will announce its next steps Thursday.  The fact-finding report was led by a panel that comprised an impartial chairperson, an attorney representing the district, and a representative of the union. Now that the report, intended to help the two sides overcome the impasse in negotiations, has been released, teachers can call to strike. The report noted that the recommended 3% annual raises would bring SFUSD in line with expected inflation and cost-of-living increases and stated that the district faces financial constraints, including declining enrollment and a “negative financial certification” status that subjects it to state oversight.  The union-aligned panelist, Angela Su, characterized the raise recommendation as a “step in the right direction” but wrote that it would not be enough to retain key employees.  She echoed statements from the union that the district should use its reserve funds — which she said exceed state recommendations — to meet educators’ demands. District officials project they will move from a “negative” to a “qualified” financial certification by March, but “any budgetary changes must be scrutinized and approved by the state” until a positive certification is achieved. UESF argued that SFUSD “spends a significant amount on contracting out for consultants instead of increasing wages and filling vacancies.”  UESF developed an alternative calculation showing the district would have enough money to adopt the union’s proposals if it spent less on consultants. At a press conference, SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su said the report backed up the district’s assessment of its dire financial situation and its inability to provide the 9 to 14% raises demanded by the union. She said the district’s state oversight requires a more conservative spending approach. Su was recently granted emergency authority by the school board to deploy or redeploy staff and renegotiate contracts in the event of a strike. “We do not want a strike. Our goal continues to be to keep our children in classrooms,” she said. I remain hopeful that our labor partners will return to the bargaining table so that we can review this report and avoid any disruption to student learning.”  A continuing point of contention is the union’s proposal to designate SFUSD as a “sanctuary district” for immigrant families as part of the collective bargaining agreement. The fact-finding report stated that this “would expose the District to significant liability that would misdirect District resources away from District employees.” Instead, it recommended that the district and union express their support for sanctuary status outside of the contract bargaining process.  Another issue is health benefits for dependents. UESF seeks $14 million per year to offer members “fully paid health coverage at the Kaiser family plan.” The district argues that the costs would face state rejection given the ongoing fiscal oversight. The fact-finding report suggested using revenue from parcel taxes to fill the gap, but the union panel member argued that pledging the funds for healthcare contributions should be part of the collective bargaining agreement, rather than a separate deal.  The report’s recommendations are nonbinding, meaning either party can accept or reject them as negotiations continue. UESF’s strike authorization vote means a work stoppage could occur if the parties are unable to reach an agreement. In a  video posted on Instagram , Mayor Daniel Lurie said, “It is crucial that schools remain open,” while noting that he doesn’t directly oversee the SFUSD. He said he has been encouraging both sides to continue discussions toward an agreement.</p>

With strike looming, SF parents’ loyalties are with teachers — for now

<p>On Thursday morning at Marshall Elementary School in the Mission, dropoffs proceeded as usual. Kids shuffled out of school buses and Subarus and hopped off e-bikes and scooters. Parents bantered, coffee in hand, before heading off to work. What was unusual: Parents were learning in real-time that San Francisco teachers had  announced  they intend to strike for the first time in 47 years. Barring an 11th-hour breakthrough in negotiations, school would be canceled for the foreseeable future starting Monday.  The Standard spoke with more than a dozen parents of elementary kids, and all said they support teachers’ decision to strike. Despite the logistical headaches a strike would bring, the parents didn’t direct their frustration at the United Educators of San Francisco. Many clutched flyers offering ways to help the union’s efforts, including details on educators’ demands and a standing offer to join the picket line. When asked about the San Francisco Unified School District’s claims of a financial crisis, Griselda Martinez, a 39-year-old caregiver whose kids are in the second and third grades at Marshall, didn’t buy it. “I think that’s BS, honestly,” she said. “They have a lot of money for other stuff.” The comment was echoed by other parents, many of whom said they believe teachers’ claims of struggling to get by in a city with an extremely high cost of living.  However, those opinions conflict with what the San Francisco Parent Coalition, which bills itself as the city’s largest parent advocacy group, said about Thursday’s strike announcement — describing it as “the wrong call.” “This is not the time to escalate,” said Executive Director Meredith Dodson. “This is the time to come together and do everything we can to avoid disruption for our students. We’re hearing a lot of confusion from parents about why that’s not the focus and why the strike announcement came anyway.” Many parents disagree. “I think there is plenty of money in our government,” said Ty, father of a kindergartener at Clarendon Elementary in Forest Knolls, who declined to give his last name. “Defund the cops, pay the teachers.” Stacy Boyer, mother of a fifth grader at Clarendon, said Mayor Daniel Lurie should step in to take responsibility for resolving the impasse between teachers and the district. “Teachers work so hard,” Boyer said. “Whatever they are asking for, I am completely 100% behind them.” A  neutral fact-finding report , released Wednesday, argued that the district does not have the funding to support raises of 9% or more, as the union has demanded. The report instead recommended raises of 6% over a two-year period. Negotiations between the union and the district were set to continue Thursday evening. Gerry Phung, mom of a Clarendon kindergartner, said the district has been due for a strike for years because of ongoing staffing shortages in special education. “It has to happen,” Phung said. The report agreed that the district needs to switch from a caseload model to a workload model for special education, meaning educators would be assigned tasks based on how much time and effort each student requires, rather than being assigned a certain number of students. Justin Lin, a 47-year-old software engineer whose kids are in the second and fifth grades at Clarendon, said he is most concerned about dependent healthcare costs paid by teachers — another sticking point in the negotiations — which some report can reach $1,400 a month.  At Clarendon, one parent said she’d keep her kid at home in case of a strike, as she works remotely. Another said he’d arrange a playdate with a few of his kids’ friends. But most parents at Marshall are concerned about child care. Nearly 80% of students there qualify for free or reduced lunch, as do 23% at Clarendon.  Rigo Ochoa, a 37-year-old electrician whose kids are in the second and fourth grades at Marshall, said he wants teachers to get the “benefits and rights” they deserve but is concerned that the strike will be bad for his family, since they “are working all of the time.” “If the kids don’t have school, it affects our family,” he said. “If [the strike] takes more than a week, we will have to do something.”</p>

What could an SFUSD teachers strike look like? Here’s how it went down in 1979

<p>Slashed tires. Special-needs students darting into traffic. Principals in hairnets, scooping cafeteria lunches. These are some of the chaotic scenes from the six-week work stoppage known as the Great School Strike of 1979, which unfolded in a San Francisco still reeling from the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk the year before. This week, after educators voted by 97.6% to authorize a work stoppage amid an impasse in labor negotiations, the San Francisco Unified School District is closer to a strike than at any point in half a century. It is unlikely to be as vitriolic or long-lasting as the showdown 47 years ago. But the history is instructive. According to archives of the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner, here is what happened last time — and, critically, what it took to bring the strike to an end. That dispute was triggered by the passage of Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes and gutted school-district budgets statewide. SFUSD responded by announcing layoffs of roughly 1,200 teachers — nearly 30% of its faculty — ahead of the school year. Union leaders refused to sign a contract unless the district permanently rehired all laid-off teachers who wished to return and agreed to a 15.7% wage increase over two years. Two days before school was set to begin, around 2,000 teachers gathered at Kezar Pavilion in Golden Gate Park to vote for a strike. “They say our 15.7% is unrealistic,” union leader Jim Ballard told the San Francisco Chronicle on Sept. 16, 1979. “But they’ve offered zero, and that’s unrealistic too.” Pay and job security remain central issues in the current negotiations. Educators are seeking raises of 9% to 14% over two years, while SFUSD has repeatedly floated the possibility of major layoffs to close what it says is a $100 million-plus budget deficit. The economic backdrop, however, has shifted. The 1979 strike unfolded amid runaway inflation of more than 13%. Today’s labor fight comes in an era when affordability — especially in housing-starved San Francisco — has become a defining political issue. In 1979, all campuses remained closed for the first two weeks of the school year, as staffing shortages made it impossible to open. SFUSD Superintendent Robert Alioto gambled that prolonged picketing — and the threat of missed paychecks — would eventually push teachers back into classrooms. The majority of teachers remained on strike, but 43% returned to work after two weeks of picketing. SFUSD reopened 72 elementary schools and three special-education campuses, arguing that their roughly 17,000 students required the most supervision. Many campuses saw few to no teachers cross the picket lines. By the second day of reopening, roughly two-thirds of the district’s elementary children were back on campus. The kids received lunch and adult supervision — but little instruction — from a mix of teachers and subs, some of whom didn’t have teaching credentials. Some schools offered only two classes a day, each lasting around two hours. Conditions varied dramatically. At Lakeshore School near Lake Merced, principals served lunch when cafeteria workers refused to cross picket lines. At Louise Lombard near Alamo Square, special-education students wandered hallways and ran into the street as just one of the school’s 35 permanent teachers reported for duty. Middle schools reopened next, on the strike’s 15th day, staffed by more than 400 substitute teachers — some recent arrivals to San Francisco; others among those who’d been laid off by the district. High schools began opening three weeks into the strike. As the weeks dragged on, tensions escalated. Verbal confrontations among striking teachers and those who crossed the picket lines gave way to physical fights. Some picketers were arrested. Clothes were reportedly set on fire outside schools. During the fifth week of the strike, 10 cars parked outside Patrick Henry Elementary in Potrero Hill had their tires slashed. Rather than breaking the strike, the chaos hardened teachers’ resolve. The number of educators crossing picket lines declined as the work stoppage continued. A similar dynamic is unlikely today. United Educators of San Francisco has more than 6,000 members, including teachers, substitutes, counselors, and nurses. Large-scale recruitment of replacement staff appears improbable. Meanwhile, the union representing principals and administrators is planning a vote on whether to cross picket lines if teachers strike — and early signs suggest they will support UESF. Four weeks into the 1979 strike, a Superior Court judge ordered teachers back to work, ruling that San Francisco’s 60,000 school-age children were being unlawfully deprived of an education. Union leaders defied the order. Responsibility for resolving the crisis fell to Mayor Dianne Feinstein, newly elevated after Moscone’s killing 10 months earlier. Facing mounting political pressure and a reelection campaign, Feinstein brought in a state mediator and began pushing negotiations forward. She urged SFUSD to permanently rehire laid-off teachers and convened late-night bargaining sessions between union leaders and district officials. Eventually, the district blinked. Alioto agreed to rehire all laid-off teachers permanently — some in part time or substitute roles — and to grant a 7.5% raise beginning in November, followed by an 8% raise the following year. After six weeks of turmoil, students and teachers returned to school. Chronicle columnist Herb Caen noted something unexpected: Children seemed genuinely happy to see their teachers again. “If there had been a teachers strike when I was a kid, back in Sacramento, I think the entire student body would have danced in the streets,” Caen wrote. “Yet here and now, all the evidence is to the contrary.” John Logan, chair of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, predicts that any strike now will be intense but brief. While the late ’70s were marked by unrest in the public sector following the introduction of collective bargaining agreements, the succeeding decades have seen fewer, more abbreviated strikes. “The divisions the [1979] strike caused took years to get over,” Logan said. “Even having a strike that lasted a week or two weeks would cause enormous disruption — more than the mayor would want at this point. It seems so beyond a possibility to me.”</p>

Lurie doesn’t run SF’s school district. Parents could blame him for teachers strike anyway

<p>Frustrated parents. Furious employers. Desperate educators. Bored and listless kids.  A looming teachers strike — the first potential work stoppage by San Francisco educators since 1979 — will stir up a whirlwind of emotions and unleash torrents of blame. And if history is any precedent, it’ll be Mayor Daniel Lurie who takes the most heat — even though he has little to do with running the San Francisco Unified School District and little say over how its negotiations with the United Educators of San Francisco unfold.  “We are seeing and hearing a lot of families saying, ‘Hey, let’s ask the mayor to do something,’” said Meredith Dodson, executive director of the San Francisco Parents Coalition, whose newsletter reaches roughly 10,000 families. When citizens feel helpless, calling the mayor’s office is “the only local solution that makes sense,” she said. SFUSD is a state-funded entity, overseen by an elected Board of Education, a local superintendent, and a state superintendent. On a day-to-day basis, Gov. Gavin Newsom has more to do with the district’s financial woes than the mayor does. This is why the 6,000-member United Educators of San Francisco joined more than a dozen educators unions in a statewide campaign called “ We Can’t Wait ,” demanding more state funding. Yet mayors wield tremendous soft power — especially those, like Lurie, who have stratospheric polling numbers. According to city education and labor experts, San Francisco’s mayor can exercise his influence over the school system at will.  So far, he hasn’t.  In public remarks on the stymied negotiations between SFUSD and the union, Lurie has all but wiped his hands of responsibility.  “We don’t run the schools. It’s a separately elected Board of Education, and [SFUSD Superintendent] Maria Su is an employee of the district,” he  told KQED  Jan. 21. “If the superintendent asks us to come in and talk, we want that to get settled. But we haven’t gotten involved yet.” That stance probably won’t hold water with parents, said John Logan, labor studies chair at San Francisco State University. Other strikes have shown that families often look to their city government for resolution. “It’s just not realistic to say, ‘We’re not involved,’” Logan said. “You haven’t had a school teachers strike in almost 50 years. It’s a huge, huge deal.” Behind the scenes, local officials are lobbying the state to invest more in educators. In a mid-December letter to Newsom, SFUSD’s Su joined leaders of other school districts in asking for funding increases so they could pay teachers more, provide relief for immigrant students, and increase funding for students with special needs. Those issues  top UESF’s list  at the bargaining table. Similarly, Supervisor Myrna Melgar this week introduced a resolution  putting the city on record  in support of the “We Can’t Wait” campaign, demanding that Newsom and the state Legislature increase funding for educators. “There are things the city can do to support the school district and the teachers around their demands for training, sanctuary-city policies, and legal defense, and also on housing and workforce demands,” Melgar said.  However, the supervisor is not just waiting for the state to come to the rescue. “I think the mayor could step in,” she said. He’s done so on behalf of unions before. In December 2024, on the cusp of assuming office, Lurie was  credited  with helping end a hotel workers strike by personally calling Marriott’s owners to help Unite Here Local 2 and hotel management reach a bargaining agreement. His predecessors more readily jumped into the fray on SFUSD issues.  Mayor London Breed, a Galileo High School graduate, placed two propositions on the city ballot to raise teachers’ salaries, including  Proposition J in 2020 . During her tenure, the city built housing for teachers to try to stem the tide of fleeing district workers. More than 20 years ago,  under  Mayor Newsom, the city  established the Public Education Enrichment Fund , which annually disburses roughly $100 million to the school district from city coffers. There’s also precedent for mayors intervening to settle educators strikes.  The late Dianne Feinstein waded into the last strike in 1979. The six-week stoppage grew violent, with substitute teachers being brought in as scabs and educators slashing tires and setting fires. As negotiations dragged on, Feinstein pushed for a seat at the table. She encouraged the district to rehire laid-off teachers and rebutted the claims of her opponent for reelection, Quentin Kopp, who maintained that the district had more money than it was letting on to pay salaries.  Kopp, 97, said there’s ample reason to think today’s San Franciscans will hold their mayor accountable, perhaps even more than in Feinstein’s heyday. “Now, school parents seem to rely more on City Hall than they did more than 40 years ago. Nobody seems to pay attention to the Board of Education,” Kopp said. “I can’t even tell you who’s on it.”</p>

‘No clue, no heads up’: Newsom shocked by CCA’s abrupt closure after $20M state grant

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="flex flex-row gap-x-md"></div><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF"><span>By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/sam-mondros/">Sam Mondros</a></span><time datetime="2026-01-16T14:00:00.000Z">Published Jan. 16, 2026 • 6:00am</time></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Students and faculty of California College of the Arts weren’t the only ones shocked by <a data-post-id="35b15b95-09b9-4e7c-b302-db5376fa0c21" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/13/california-college-arts-close/">the abrupt announcement</a> Tuesday that San Francisco’s oldest art school would be closing and its campus taken over by Vanderbilt University. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Gov. Gavin Newsom, who caught flak from the press and lawmakers last year after securing $20 million in the state budget for CCA, was also caught off guard. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">In text messages reviewed by The Standard, Newsom wrote that he “Had no clue” and was given “no heads up” about the 119-year-old CCA’s dissolution, which was announced in an email to students and faculty by CCA president David Howse.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">In an interview Wednesday, The Standard asked Howse if he had notified the governor about the closure.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“We have been in touch with the governor’s office, and we’ll continue to keep in conversation with him as we go through this transition,” Howse said, adding that he had not spoken directly with Newsom. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">A spokesperson for CCA said Howse notified the governor’s office of the closure Monday, the day before the news was announced publicly, and has a meeting scheduled with Newsom’s office next week.</p></div><div class="w-full bg-warm-gray-50 border border-warm-gray-300 rounded-xl flex flex-col gap-md px-lg py-[20px]"><div class="flex flex-row text-medium leading-[1.1] text-black font-inter gap-xs"><span class="italic font-normal">More about</span><a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/california-college-of-the-arts/"><span class="font-bold underline decoration-highlight decoration-[3.2px]">California College of the Arts</span></a></div><ul class="flex flex-col gap-md"><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/16/cca-president-david-howse-closure-shocked-art-world/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="A bald man wearing round glasses, a navy blue jacket, a blue and white scarf, and a watch poses with his arms crossed, looking confidently ahead." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="666.6666666666666" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_qlih2nuk5l2bv8cuv38f3qp733/-C100.00%25x44.44%25%2C0.00%25%2C4.71%25-S2048x1365-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_qlih2nuk5l2bv8cuv38f3qp733/-C100.00%25x44.44%25%2C0.00%25%2C4.71%25-S1024x683-FPNG 1x, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_qlih2nuk5l2bv8cuv38f3qp733/-C100.00%25x44.44%25%2C0.00%25%2C4.71%25-S2048x1365-FPNG 2x" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:1.5;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 1000 666.6666666666666'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="1000"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/16/cca-president-david-howse-closure-shocked-art-world/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">CCA president David Howse on the closure that shocked SF’s art world</h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/16/stanlee-gatti-influential-cca-board-member-resigned-vanderbilt-sale/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="A man in a dark jacket sits at a cluttered desk filled with papers, books, and a green mug, surrounded by shelves and walls covered with photos, notes, and badges." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2957" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_2mjbpdk61532v32r3sufvsp37o/-S3840x3072-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_2mjbpdk61532v32r3sufvsp37o/-S3840x3072-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 3696 2957'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="3696"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/16/stanlee-gatti-influential-cca-board-member-resigned-vanderbilt-sale/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">Stanlee Gatti, influential CCA board member, resigned over Vanderbilt sale</h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/13/california-college-arts-close/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt='A modern campus setting features a building with large "CCA" letters and students walking across a spacious, tree-lined courtyard under a partly cloudy sky.' class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2752" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_7597er8q2l2qffuue1co5mdk68/-S3840x2560-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_7597er8q2l2qffuue1co5mdk68/-S3840x2560-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 4128 2752'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="4128"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/13/california-college-arts-close/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">Century-old California College of the Arts to close, handing campus to Vanderbilt </h3></a></li></ul></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">When Newsom initially proposed providing $20 million to the private arts college, lawmakers balked because of the state’s precarious budget situation.  CCA was the only private college to receive state funds this year. In California, funding private colleges is not within the state’s scope of responsibility and has been done very rarely.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">All four Democrats on an education finance budget subcommittee voted against the governor’s request. Sen. Scott Wiener backed Newsom’s proposal. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“Given that this was such a tough budget year, it doesn’t make sense to me why we are giving $20 million to a private college,” Assembly Education Chair Al Muratsuchi <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2025/08/07/private-school-bailout-00498831" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told Politico<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a>. “I’m sure the California College of the Arts provides worthwhile educational programs, but our first priority should be to support our public universities, especially when the Trump administration is defunding public higher education.”</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The Student Aid Commission for California’s nonpartisan legislative analyst’s office also recommended rejecting the grant, noting that California State University campuses were also struggling and pointing to recent state grants and private donations. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“Though we recognize CCA’s difficult financial situation, it is not the only campus in the state facing budget challenges,” read the recommendation. “Given supporting private schools is not part of the state’s core mission, we recommend rejecting this proposal.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Prior to the $20 million grant, the state provided $2.5 million from the general fund in the 2024-25 budget to support CCA, which the school used to fund scholarships to aid enrollment growth.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Shortly after Newsom proposed the $20 million grant, $45 million in donations came in — half from the Jen-Hsun &amp; Lori Huang Foundation and the rest matched by private donors. The contribution by the Nvidia CEO’s foundation was the largest donation in the school’s history by $5 million.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Newsom previously defended his decision to include the additional CCA funding in the state budget. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“At a time when Donald Trump is attacking the humanities, this is a simple choice: Let the last remaining nonprofit arts college in San Francisco die, or step in to save it,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Politico in May. “The governor is choosing to save it — and in doing so, protecting what makes California, California: our creative economy.”</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The last time the state gave money to private colleges was $50 million to the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in 2021 to support the construction of a building that is allowing the university to develop and expand a medical school, and $5 million in 2022 to support an effort by the California Indian Nations College to pursue accreditation. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“Both of those appropriations were for specific purposes that have an obvious statewide interest,” stated a committee staff <a href="https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-02/sub-3-march-4-final-agenda.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">report<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a>.</p></div></div>

Wiener pitches $23B ‘science bond’ to backfill Trump research cuts

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="flex flex-row gap-x-md"></div><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF"><span>By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/garrett-leahy/">Garrett Leahy</a></span><time datetime="2026-01-16T14:00:00.000Z">Published Jan. 16, 2026 • 6:00am</time></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Sen. Scott Wiener on Friday proposed a $23 billion bond measure to bolster scientific research in California, framing the effort as a response to mass federal funding cuts to universities, government agencies, and research institutions. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The measure, backed by the University of California and the United Auto Workers, would fund research grants, loans, and facilities focused on health, agriculture, pandemic preparedness, and wildfire resilience. If approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the bond will appear on the November 2026 ballot. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Soon after coming into office last January, President Donald Trump ordered a <u><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/M-25-13-Temporary-Pause-to-Review-Agency-Grant-Loan-and-Other-Financial-Assistance-Programs.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">temporary pause<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> on federal spending — including research grants, threatening scientific research <u><a data-post-id="d8563cff-60fc-40a2-837b-e7784f1960c5" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/14/trump-nih-cuts-cost-bay-area-billions/">across the Bay Area</a></u>. Cuts affected projects at the <u><a href="https://www.sfpublicpress.org/effects-of-research-funding-cuts-ripple-through-san-francisco-labs-clinics-and-lives/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco VA Medical Center<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> and UCSF last year, including <u><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/science/article/federal-grants-vaccine-research-20232506.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shingles vaccine research<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u>.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Wiener selected the $23 billion bond amount to match the estimated losses the University of California would face over four years of federal science funding cuts under Trump, according to his spokesperson Erik Mebust.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The bond would create a new California Foundation for Science and Health Research to administer the funding. Researchers and research institutions would be eligible to apply for grants from the new foundation in a competitive process similar to those from the  National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. </p></div><div class="w-full bg-warm-gray-50 border border-warm-gray-300 rounded-xl flex flex-col gap-md px-lg py-[20px]"><div class="flex flex-row text-medium leading-[1.1] text-black font-inter gap-xs"><span class="italic font-normal">More about</span><a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/politics/"><span class="font-bold underline decoration-highlight decoration-[3.2px]">Politics</span></a></div><ul class="flex flex-col gap-md"><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/07/called-terrorist-sympathizer-now-ai-company-valued-3b/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="A smiling bald man with a goatee wears a dark shirt, set against a torn, layered background featuring orange code and a blue-black net pattern." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="1600" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_4e70jhqanh28v7hkicshnrsv1e/-S3840x2560-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_4e70jhqanh28v7hkicshnrsv1e/-S3840x2560-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 2400 1600'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="2400"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/07/called-terrorist-sympathizer-now-ai-company-valued-3b/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">He was called a ‘terrorist sympathizer.’ Now his AI company is valued at $3B</h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/2026/01/07/immigration-citizenship-trump/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="A woman with glasses and long hair stands with clasped hands outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="666.6666666666666" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_9aejf1dvb93ct0o96u7f31a04u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S2048x1365-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_9aejf1dvb93ct0o96u7f31a04u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S1024x683-FPNG 1x, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_9aejf1dvb93ct0o96u7f31a04u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S2048x1365-FPNG 2x" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:1.5;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 1000 666.6666666666666'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="1000"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/2026/01/07/immigration-citizenship-trump/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">The Trump administration is making it harder to become a citizen. She’s trying anyway</h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/01/women-electing-freeze-their-eggs-as-normal-part-life-planning/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="Multiple translucent petri dishes contain clusters of glowing cells, with one dish showing a larger, irregularly shaped glowing mass." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2000" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_uo9vor1tjd4mv62nm8o2kinv7b/-S3840x2560-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_uo9vor1tjd4mv62nm8o2kinv7b/-S3840x2560-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 3000 2000'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="3000"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/01/women-electing-freeze-their-eggs-as-normal-part-life-planning/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">More women are electing to freeze their eggs as a normal part of life planning</h3></a></li></ul></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Funding would be available to both research institutions and independent researchers, but would require proof of research experience and access to research facilities, among other requirements. Funding caps have yet to be determined, Mebust said.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The bill includes provisions aimed at lowering health care costs for Californians. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Pharmaceuticals developed with bond-funded research would be sold at a discount in the state, and the government could recoup a share of licensing and royalty revenue from successful drugs. The measure would also allow the state to manufacture certain drugs through the state-run pharmacy program <u><a href="https://calrx.ca.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CalRx<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> and sell them at cost to residents and at a profit to other states.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Wiener is currently <u><a data-post-id="83e79b3f-e7ab-4355-88e1-d466b32d0876" href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/05/san-francisco-politics-2026-elections/">campaigning for Nancy Pelosi’s</a></u> congressional seat and has made increasing healthcare access a key cornerstone of his argument to voters. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“Science has fueled California’s prosperity for decades. Now, it’s time to spread the benefits of that prosperity to all Californians, preserving our scientific leadership while lowering health care costs for families,” Wiener said in a statement</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The UC received <u><a href="https://ucop.edu/communications/_files/federal-investment-in-uc-research-2025.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$5 billion<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> in total federal research funding in 2024. UCSF is San Francisco’s <u><a href="https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/ACFR_2025.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">second-largest employer<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> with 29,475 employees, according to a 2025 city financial report.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“Reductions in federal funding are already disrupting critical UC research that supports thousands of jobs, drives medical innovation, and leads to life-changing solutions that benefit everyone,” UC President James B. Milliken said in a press release.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The life sciences industry supports about 1.15 million jobs in California and generates nearly $396 billion in economic output, according to <a href="https://www.biocom.org/news/eir/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the <span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a><u><a href="https://www.biocom.org/news/eir/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Life Science Association of California<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u>. </p></div></div>

Asian Art Museum

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Airport

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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

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Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

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Department of Public Health

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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

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Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

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Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

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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

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee