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Axios San Francisco
SF civil rights activist Cecil Williams' legacy to remain preserved in library archives
As the Bay Area mourns the late civil rights activist Cecil Williams, the San Francisco Public Library is inviting people to learn more about his work and legacy through the GLIDE Historical Records.The big picture: Williams, the longtime pastor of Glide Memorial Church in the Tenderloin, died in late April at age 94. He played a key role in spearheading community outreach programs to assist impoverished residents and was an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.He served in his position for 60 years before retiring last year. A celebration of life is planned for 1pm Sunday at Glide.State of play:...
Bay Area could get new funds for freeway lid projects aimed at rectifying displacement
Attempts to stitch back together communities of color that were torn apart by freeways could get a serious boost under a new bill in the California Legislature.Why it matters: Communities have for years pursued freeway lids — decks over the interstate that enable park or commercial development to reverse decades-old damage — only to hit a wall over price.San Diego Assemblymember David Alvarez's AB 2945 would fund the projects from property tax revenue in the immediately surrounding area.How it works: The legislation would allow communities to form new agencies, with state approval, that could issue bonds to help build those...
Valencia Street merchants want city to ditch center-running bike lane
Valencia Street merchants are asking the city's transportation department to replace the center-running bike lane with a protected curbside one.Why it matters: The center-running bike lane has prompted outcry from business owners who say it's resulted in people avoiding Valencia Street and from transportation activists who argue the lane — which is in the middle of the road— has created confusion and safety hazards among cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.State of play: This week, the Valencia Corridor Merchants Corridor Association sent recommendations to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, outlining businesses' desire to replace the lane with protected bike lanes alongside...
San Francisco's tent count hits five-year low but there's "more to do," mayor says
San Francisco's quarterly count of tents used for sleeping outside hit a five-year low after dropping 41% since July, Mayor London Breed announced Monday.Why it matters: San Francisco has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, per a July report from the city's controller office. The tent count is one way to assess the city's efforts to clear homeless encampments and place people in shelters.State of play: The count, conducted at the end of April, recorded 361 tents and structures across the city.That's down from 609 in July last year, which was the last count before the...
Meet your WNBA team's new general manager
The Bay Area's WNBA team isn't sharing its name yet but the franchise did announce one bit of news Monday: Ohemaa Nyanin as general manager.Why it matters: Nyanin, the former assistant general manager of the New York Liberty, will be responsible for building the team's roster and hiring a head coach.When the season tips off next year, Golden State's WNBA team will mark the first league expansion since 2008, and it's coming at a time when there's been increased interest in women's basketball.What they're saying: As people continue to watch the team and its latest developments, Nyanin said she wants...
Muni fare increases are looming
Muni fares are on track to increase for the first time since before the pandemic.Why it matters: The proposed fare increases, along with other increases, come as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency seeks to crack down on fare evasion and is beefing up enforcement of illegal parking, including on sidewalks.Officials say that the rate increases, part of a proposed $1.4 billion operating budget submitted to the mayor's office last week, are among efforts to reduce the agency's $12.7 million budget deficit.Zoom in: The budget proposes raising single-ride Clipper and Muni mobile app fares from $2.50 to $2.75 next year...
2 San Francisco bars land spots on North America's 50 best bars
Two establishments of our own have snagged spots on the list of North America's 50 Best Bars.Why it matters: True Laurel and Pacific Cocktail Haven are the only San Francisco bars named in the annual ranking of bar experiences, which are selected based on votes by anonymous bar industry experts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.Driving the news: True Laurel, based in the Mission District, came in at No. 30 with a range of drinks that incorporate local flora and more.Pacific Cocktail Haven, located near Union Square was listed at No. 38 and is known for its use...
Walk SF's stairway challenge returns on Saturday
San Francisco has a plethora of breathtaking stairways, and nonprofit organization Walk San Francisco wants to be your guide to finding them.Driving the news: Walk SF is hosting a stairway challenge Saturday that loops through the neighborhoods of Diamond Heights and Noe Valley.Proceeds from ticket sales go toward Walk SF, which advocates for safer, more walkable streets in the city.What they're saying: The walk seeks to offer the "best of walking in San Francisco: the off-the-charts views, the off-the-beaten-path surprises, and the unique neighborhoods," Walk SF spokesperson Marta Lindsey told Axios via email."Oh yeah, and some stairs! Giving your butt...
San Francisco Chinatown gets slower internet for same price, study alleges
Residents of Chinatown — where almost 33% of people live below the poverty line — still struggle to access affordable and reliable internet, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: Almost half of Chinatown's households don't have an internet broadband subscription — and those that do report "slow and unreliable" service, according to an analysis of 105 San Francisco addresses by the advocacy group Chinese for Affirmative Action.Context: Anisha Hingorani, policy manager at CAA, tells Axios that the issue of digital equity landed on the group's radar during the pandemic amid an influx of clients trying to apply for unemployment benefits."It...
Throwback Thursday: The beginning of roller-skating in Golden Gate Park
There are few things as "totally San Francisco" as Skatin' Place on the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park.Driving the news: The city recently began renting roller skates at Skatin' Place so that folks without their own pair of skates can still take part in this very San Francisco activity.Flashback: Skatin' Place was established in the mid-1980s, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.Leading up to its creation, David Miles Jr. had become the de facto leader in 1979 of the Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol, a group of skaters that fought against a parkwide ban on roller-skating,...
8 weekend ideas in SF
The weekend is almost here. This is what's on tap:Thursday🥳 Check out the new monthly block party, Downtown First Thursdays, in SoMa.Features DJs, live music, drag, martial arts, food trucks and more.Second and Howard streets. 5-10pm.🪩 Once the block party wraps, head over to Storek for an after-party with music from artist Aluna.9pm-2am. $25.Friday🎻 Get dressed up and head to the SF Symphony for a special screening of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" with a live orchestra. 7:30pm. Tickets start at $98.⌚️ Wind Up Watch Fair at Fort Mason features more than 60 watch brands, discussion panels, food trucks...
Your guide to free museum days in San Francisco this month
It's time to take advantage of San Francisco's free museum days.The big picture: SF is home to a vibrant collection of museums, from abstract and contemporary art to hands-on science exhibits geared for children. Whether you're a Bay Area native or just moved here, you'll learn something new.Make sure to arrive early — free admission days are typically crowded.Free admission daysAsian Art Museum: Sunday, May 5Legion of Honor: Every Saturday for Bay Area residents and Tuesday, May 7, for everyonede Young Museum: Every Saturday for Bay Area residents and Tuesday, May 7, for everyoneMuseum of Craft and Design: Every WednesdayMuseum of the African Diaspora: Thursday, May 2 Oakland Museum of California: Sunday, May 5 Contemporary Jewish Museum: Friday, May 3SFMOMA: Thursday, May 2, for Bay Area residentsGLBT Historical Society Museum: Wednesday, May 1The Exploratorium: Sunday, May 12Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Sunday, May 12, and Sunday, May 26Sign up for Axios San Francisco for free.
What's happening with West Portal
Following backlash from community members and local businesses, city officials are holding off on implementing a plan that sought to make major traffic design changes to the West Portal area.Why it matters: Following a crash that killed a family of four waiting at a West Portal bus stop in March, city officials in April unveiled a plan that would prevent cars from driving through the intersection of Ulloa Street and West Portal Avenue.But some residents and business owners quickly opposed the plan, arguing the city was "undermining" the thriving business district.Driving the news: Supervisor Myrna Melgar, whose district includes West...
The "Fillmore Eclipse" immersive theater exhibit on display through May 12
There's a new immersive theater exhibit in the Fillmore that explores the 1950s jazz scene and subsequent Urban Renewal in the neighborhood, once known as the Harlem of the West.Driving the news: The show, "Fillmore Eclipse," opened last week and runs through May 12 at Honey Art Studio.The show explores redevelopment through the experience of regulars at the Eclipse, modeled after historical after-hours jazz spot Bop City, the night before it's about to be destroyed."Fillmore Eclipse" is styled after immersive experiences like "Sleep No More" and "The Nest," according to its creators.Tickets start at $30.What they're saying: The show, San Francisco Chronicle critic Lily Janiak writes, offers "a too-rare occasion to ponder one of history's eternal dilemmas: Back then, which side would you have been on, and which side are you on now?"Sign up for Axios San Francisco for free.
“Heart of Asian America:” SF Japantown kicks off Peace Plaza renovations
San Francisco's project to renovate Japantown Peace Plaza is officially underway as the city shores up preservation efforts for what officials say is one of three remaining Japantowns in the U.S.Why it matters: Japantown, like San Francisco's Chinatown, struggled to survive the pandemic.The project aims to bolster structural protections and culturally significant features in the plaza, which has served as a central hub for the local Japanese community since it was built in the 1960s.What they're saying: "San Francisco is the heart of Asian America," Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who helped secure funding for the project, said at a...
The latest on SF's sports teams
The San Francisco 49ers prioritized speed and strength in the 2024 NFL draft last week, The Athletic reports.Driving the news: But there were a couple of controversial picks. The first was the first-round selection of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who "seemed to be picked more with 2025 in mind," per The Athletic.Another was the "confusing" second-round selection of cornerback Renardo Green, who was drafted "about two rounds too high," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wrote.The 49ers' overall draft grade, per ESPN: B-minus.Here are some other notable happenings in San Francisco sports:Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry wins awardThe Dubs didn't make...
The rise of extreme weather-related power outages in California
Data: Climate Central via U.S. Department of Energy; Note: Major power outages affect at least 50k customers or interrupt service of 300 megawatts or more; Outage events can cross state lines; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosCalifornia's electric grid could face increasing strain as climate change raises the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, a new study indicates.Why it matters: Outages, and lengthy restore times, can cost the economy billions of dollars and lead to loss of life. Just two months ago, a severe storm left more than 700,000 Bay Area customers without power and was blamed for at least three deaths.By...
The most dangerous intersections in San Francisco, per police
Amid citywide efforts to improve pedestrian and road safety, the San Francisco Police Department plans to increase enforcement at what it's deemed the most dangerous intersections.State of play: The SFPD last week outlined a traffic enforcement plan designed to reduce speeding and crashes at nine intersections in the city, the San Francisco Standard reports.The plan will entail deploying additional police officers to those intersections to monitor speeds, which is "most often the factor that makes a crash fatal," SFPD Traffic Company Cmdr. Nicole Jones said at a Board of Supervisors hearing last week.This year, there have been 12 fatal accidents,...
The best brunch in San Francisco, according to Yelp
If you want some tasty brunch, consider checking out Mr. East Kitchen, Lapisara Eatery or Lokma in San Francisco.State of play: Yelp on Monday released its list of the 100 best brunch spots in the country, featuring those three restaurants in San Francisco.Lokma (No. 80), located in the Richmond, is a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant that one reviewer said has "amazing" papas bravas and a "delightful" Turkish breakfast special.Thai American fusion restaurant Lapisara Eatery (No. 68), located in Lower Nob Hill, is "nothing short of excellent," according to one reviewer.Claiming the top spot in San Francisco was Mr. East Kitchen (No. 10), a Thai and Vietnamese fusion restaurant in SoMa. "Not only is their food aesthetically pleasing, it's also very tasty," a reviewer wrote.Sign up for Axios San Francisco for free.
Renovated 911 dispatch center aims to improve response times
San Francisco's emergency management department recently unveiled its revamped 911 dispatch center as it works to improve emergency response times.Why it matters: Dispatcher response times trended downward over the past few years, as the department hasn't reached its monthly goal of responding to 95% of calls within 15 seconds since June 2020, according to the city's Department of Emergency Management (DEM).By the numbers: The city's 911 dispatch center receives an average of 3,200 calls every day, according to the release.In February, the most recent month in which data is available, 911 dispatchers responded to just 73% of calls within 15...
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