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Axios San Francisco
San Francisco will vote on $390M infrastructure bond and police pay increase
San Francisco voters will decide two key measures this November after the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to advance them to the ballot.The big picture: One would establish a $390 million bond for infrastructure improvements while the other could increase some police officers' annual pay to over $400,000 if they qualify for a new retention program.Driving the news: The bond, spearheaded by Mayor London Breed, would finance health infrastructure upgrades, public space improvements, family and emergency shelter expansions, street safety efforts and road repavings, among other things.Projects would include addressing seismic vulnerabilities in major medical institutions and renovating Harvey Milk...
Liberace & Liza tribute takes over San Francisco this weekend
Liberace and Liza Minnelli have descended on San Francisco … or at least their biggest fans have.Catch up quick: "Liberace & Liza: A Love Letter to San Francisco and Sequins" is playing at Feinstein's at the Nikko in Union Square this weekend.Dig deeper: The show stars classically trained pianist David Saffert and singer and comedian Jillian Snow, channeling their inner divas. Part comedy show, part lounge act, it imagines a fictional friendship between Liberace and Liza Minnelli as they sing their way through the torch song classics.What they're saying: "We're absolutely thrilled by how SF has embraced this over-the-top spectacle we bring to town," said Snow. "Our audiences often come dressed in sequins and fabulous jewelry and we love it because it means they really want to live in our world for a bit.""We truly feel like San Francisco has become our home away from home," she added.Claire's thought bubble: I had the pleasure of seeing "Liberace & Liza" during their residency at Feinstein's last year and it was like a Vegas fever dream come true.Saffert is virtuosic on the piano and Snow absolutely was Liza with a Z, down to the perfect wide-eyed blinks and slurred sibilants.
San Francisco weekend guide: Up Your Alley, SF Marathon and more
It's time to unwind. Here's what the city has in store for you this weekend.Thursday🎨 Kick off the summer at the Divisadero Art Walk.Divisadero from Haight to Ellis streets; 5-8pmFriday👩🏾🎤 Head over to The Lost Church for the night two of the Diva Extravaganza, featuring burlesque and drag performances inspired by nature, animals and fantastical realms.Tickets start at $34.23 (including fees)Saturday🧑🎨 Enjoy local music, art, food and more at artisan market TreasureFest.11am-5pm on Treasure Island; Tickets start at $15Sunday🏃🏾♀️➡️ It's not too late to sign up for the SF Marathon, but if that's too much for you, there's always the 5k on Saturday!🎉 Hit up the release party for "The Dreams I Dreamt: Letters to San Francisco," a new literary magazine.2pm in Jack Kerouac Alley; Free with RSVP🪢 Embrace kink at the annual Up Your Alley festival, featuring music, kink and bondage demos and more.11am-6pm; SoMa
How to fake it: Your guide to 49ers training camp
49ers training camp is underway as the team tries to bounce back from its second Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the past five years.Driving the news: Players reported for camp on Tuesday and Niners fans will have a chance to watch the team beginning Thursday as part of open practices at Levi's Stadium.Zoom in: Here are three major storylines to watch as training camp unfolds.Chasing the gloryThe Niners lost in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII, but if history is any indication, this won't be their year either.Since 1977, only three teams have lost the Super Bowl...
San Francisco literary magazine seeks to counter "doom loop" narrative
Stuart Schuffman, perhaps better known as Broke-Ass Stuart, has heard enough about the "doom loop," so he decided to counteract the narrative by leaning into San Francisco's "wonderful literary tradition," Schuffman told Axios.Why it matters: We deserve something nice every once in a while and Schuffman said he wanted to "just bring something f----ing beautiful to people.""I wanted to make a gift for San Franciscans."Context: The concept of the "doom loop" came into San Franciscans consciousness in March 2023 by way of a San Francisco Chronicle story describing how the city could wind up in an economic death spiral of...
Kehlani announces world tour dates, including San Francisco stop
Bay Area native Kehlani is coming home. Driving the news: The Grammy-nominated R&B artist's Crash World Tour will take the stage at San Francisco's Chase Center on Nov. 2.The show will feature tracks from their latest album "Crash," including hit song "After Hours," as well as British girl group FLO and rapper Anycia as special guests.San Francisco will serve as the final stop of the tour, which kicks off in September.They'll also perform in other California cities like Los Angeles, San Diego and Wheatland.The big picture: Kehlani has called "Crash," their fourth studio album, their "most free, most fun, most loud, most fueled so far."The singer-songwriter, who grew up in Oakland, initially rose to prominence as a member of teen pop group and America's Got Talent finalist Poplyfe.They returned to their hometown for a pop-up event in June to celebrate the release of "Crash" and has also paid homage to the Bay in music videos and promotions.What's next: Presale tickets for Citi card members run through Thursday night via the Citi Entertainment program.General sales begin Friday at 10am on Kehlani's website.
San Francisco moves to relax Central SoMa zoning rules to boost housing
San Francisco could relax requirements for housing developments in the Central South of Market neighborhood and Transbay plan areas under new legislation brought by Mayor London Breed.Why it matters: San Francisco's approval process for new housing is notoriously long. The proposal is the city's latest effort to reduce barriers in hopes of meeting the state's mandate to create 82,000 housing units over the next eight years.Driving the news: The legislation, co-sponsored by Supervisor Matt Dorsey (District 6), would eliminate zoning provisions that require a minimum amount of office space in new mixed-use projects on large sites.Currently, these types of projects...
The Bay Area guide to Paris Olympics watch parties
It's the summer of sports, so get your Olympic spirit on.Driving the news: The Paris Olympics kick off Wednesday with soccer and rugby starting the Games. The opening ceremony is Friday, when athletes will parade down the Seine river in boats instead of in a traditional stadium.Over 30 athletes will represent the Bay Area at this year's Games.Here are some local watch parties to get you started.The CrossingJoin Bay FC to watch the USWNT face off against Zambia in the group stage of the Olympics ahead of the opening ceremony.Thursday noon-2pm at The Crossing's Outdoor Cinema in the East CutSantana...
What tacos you should try from East Bay's El Tucan
I visited El Tucan last week, the second restaurant from the much-loved East Bay taco spot in Richmond run by brothers Alfredo and Edgar Padilla.The counter-service restaurant, on the vibey corner of Market and 16th streets near the Lookout, specializes in Tijuana-style tacos and slow-cooked birria.What I tried: The quesabirria is the signature snack here. The handmade tortilla is filled with eight-hour-slow-cooked beef birria and dipped in a mild chili sauce before frying (hence the "red taco" name).It's definitely worth ordering with a side of consommé for dipping — the zingy soup is the perfect counterpoint to the rich beef.The standout: The quesataco adobada — a layer of crispy fried cheese with a second handmade tortilla layer, filled with al pastor pork and cilantro dressing. This was honestly one of the tastiest tacos I've ever had.Go deeper: Check out my full video on Axios SF's Instagram!
San Francisco mayor, other elected officials throw their support behind Kamala Harris
San Francisco elected officials and residents have quickly thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris as she embarks on her campaign to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.Why it matters: Civil rights, the safety of immigrants, women's rights, support for transgender kids and the ability to fund public transportation are all at stake, Ernesto Cuellar, vice president of the San Francisco Young Democrats, said at a rally Monday morning backing Harris."The very fabric of San Francisco is on the ballot," he said.Driving the news: Mayor London Breed, City Attorney David Chiu, members of San Francisco's Democratic Party, community activists and...
What to know about San Francisco's District 3 supervisor race
Six people are running to represent District 3 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors after incumbent Aaron Peskin terms out this year.State of play: District 3 includes North Beach, Chinatown and Russian, Nob and Telegraph hills.Its residents are more likely to live below the poverty line compared to the citywide average.By the numbers: Sharon Lai, whom Peskin has endorsed alongside Moe Jamil, currently leads the fundraising race with over $146,000 raised (about $60,000 in public financing), campaign filings show.Danny Sauter is second with more than $134,000 raised (also $60,000 in public financing).Meet the candidates: Axios San Francisco asked each...
San Francisco's police-free response program shows reason for cautious optimism
Two of San Francisco's non-police alternative response programs have led to fewer police calls and resulted in a large number of residents accepting harm-reduction supplies like naloxone and fentanyl test strips, according to a recent report.Why it matters: Proponents of such programs have argued that they could reduce harmful and sometimes violent interactions with law enforcement, as well as free up 911 dispatchers and police — two departments that are facing staffing shortages.Driving the news: The report, released this month by the New York University School of Law's Policing Project, analyzed the effectiveness of San Francisco's Street Crisis Response Team...
5 things to know about how the Bay Area shaped Kamala Harris' career
Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the most viable option to be the Democrats' presidential nominee following President Joe Biden's exit from the race.Why it matters: It's unclear if the party will fall in line behind the Berkeley native, who has Biden's endorsement, and she won't automatically pick up Biden's delegates at the Democratic National Convention.She said in a statement Sunday that her "intention is to earn and win" the nomination.Here are five things to know about Harris' Bay Area roots as the scramble for a new candidate plays out.Woman of firstsHarris has broken barriers throughout her career.She was...
SFO flights canceled, delayed amid tech outage
Flights at San Francisco International Airport and around the globe were canceled or delayed on Friday due to a major technology outage affecting Microsoft systems.The big picture: There were reports of massive online outages disrupting travel, banking and news outlets on Friday, as CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity company that services multiple industries, went down worldwide.The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that it is "closely monitoring a technical issue impacting IT systems at U.S. airlines" and that several airlines had requested "assistance with ground stops for their fleets."George Kurtz, president and CEO of CrowdStrike, said in a post to X the company...
Urban heat islands are worsening extreme temperatures in SF
Data: Climate Central; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAs dangerously high temperatures hit much of the U.S. this summer, urban "heat islands" are boosting temperatures in San Francisco and other major U.S. metros, a Climate Central analysis finds.Why it matters: Urban heat islands (UHIs) — urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures due to less greenery and more infrastructure — significantly exacerbate extreme weather.Nearly 34 million people live in environments where UHIs could raise average temperatures by at least 8°F.Driving the news: San Francisco ranked second behind New York City for metros with the most drastic UHI effects.Summer temperatures feel 9°F higher on average...
5 things to know about new Warrior guard Buddy Hield
Warriors newcomer Buddy Hield has made his splash in the Bay.State of play: Hield met with reporters ahead of his appearance at the Warriors Basketball Academy on Thursday at San Francisco State University. He spoke about the perception that he'll replace Klay Thompson, the new "Splash Buddies" nickname and what he's most looking forward to living in the Bay Area.Context: Hield joined the Warriors from the Philadelphia 76ers this summer as part of a six-team trade that sent Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks.Hield, one of the NBA's best shooters, has made 40% of his 3-point attempts across his eight-season career....
California has one of the lowest rates of low-wage workers
Data: Oxfam America; Chart: Axios VisualsNearly 16% of California workers earn less than $17 an hour — among the lowest rates in the country — per new data from Oxfam, a global, nonprofit advocacy group for income equality.Why it matters: The state has long been a leader in raising minimum wages, helping lift many Californians above that threshold, which Oxfam defines as a low-wage worker.Context: Oxfam revised that definition this year — from those earning less than $15 an hour to those earning less than $17.In 2022, 17.9% of California workers made less than $15 an hour.The big picture: Nationwide,...
What you need to know about SFUSD's school closures plan
San Francisco's public school district is moving forward with its school closure plans, but there are concerns about what they will look like and how public education in the city will be affected.Why it matters: Public school closures have disproportionately affected communities of color.Meanwhile, students risk losing access to things like library services and after-school activities in their neighborhoods, Vanessa Marrero, the executive director of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco, told Axios.Context: The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) plans to close, merge or relocate a to-be-determined number of schools beginning in the 2025-26 school year.It's part of...
How San Francisco Zoo's Elly became America's oldest black rhino
San Francisco Zoo was home to Elly, the U.S.'s oldest Eastern black rhino, for 42 years.Why it matters: Black rhinos remain critically endangered. Their population in the wild decreased by 96% from about 65,000 in 1970 to only 2,300 in 1993, according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).Flashback: Though born in the wild, Elly called San Francisco home from 1974 until she died in 2016. The 1,800-pound rhino was a favorite at the zoo's annual celebrations in observance of World Rhino Day (Sept. 22).She enjoyed rolling in the mud, smashing pumpkins and eating watermelon, SFGATE notes.Her caretakers loved treating her...
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