Our in-depth independent reporting and cultural coverage continue to be of utmost importance, as more billionaires launch their own media and conservatives take over popular sites. Besides breaking news, offering vital commentary and analysis, and hosting one of our best Best of the Bays ever, we continued to offer stories of the community that other publications wouldn’t touch, as well as the most robust and engaged alternative arts coverage in the city.
Revisit 2022’s ups and downs with a selection of our biggest stories below, and please donate or sign up to become a sustaining member to help us continue to grow! PS Sign up for our daily newsletter to get more in your inbox, and tell your friends.
NEWS + POLITICS
TENANTS GO TO LANDLORD’S HOUSE AND ASK THEM TO CALL OFF ELLIS ACT EVICTION
Residents want Pierre and Tracy Malak to sell the 19th Street apartment building to a city-backed nonprofit so they won’t lose their longtime homes.
SLEEPWALKING TOWARD COVID DISASTER
In the interest of returning to ‘normal,’ the US is ignoring the crisis of Long COVID.
WHAT THE BOUDIN RECALL DOES—AND DOESN’T—MEAN FOR SF POLITICS
Low turnout, a deeply warped media narrative, and right-wing billionaire money framed a very conservative outcome. That’s the real story.
THE GOLDEN GOOSE IS DEAD
For decades, the city’s elite touted downtown development as the savior of SF economy. That era is now officially over.
WHY SF’S DOWNTOWN IS NOT COMING BACK
For more than 50 years, SF mayors and their allies have pushed highrise office space, destroying anything in its path. They were wrong, and now we are paying the price.
SFUSD’S BIG ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Teachers are getting laid off—but the district has a bigger administrative staff than most in the state.
TWO UNHOUSED MEN WERE FIGHTING. THE COPS KILLED THEM BOTH. WHY?
SFPD finally provides some data on May 19 shooting—and it raises more questions than answers.
IN STUNNING LATE-NIGHT MOVE, REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE SWITCHES TO MAP COMMUNITY OPPOSES
A version of supes lines that has nearly zero visible public support—but would help the Mayor’s Agenda—is now moving forward.
WHAT THE BIG MONEY BEHIND THE SCHOOL BOARD RECALL MEANS
The very rich who are pouring more than $1 million into getting rid of three board members have an agenda that goes far beyond the San Francisco schools.
A HOUSELESS WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY IN A PORTA-POTTY IN OAKLAND—AND THE BABY LIVES
No pre-natal care. Nowhere to go. And yet, thanks to community action, mama and child are OK.
FETISH FAIR PLANS FOR MONKEYPOX SAFETY AS THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES COME TO SF
The huge Up Your Alley fair is happening. Here’s how organizers are handling the public health issue.
TEN PERCENT OF HOUSING IS VACANT, NEW REPORT SHOWS
The number of condos that are sold but never occupied has soared in the past five years, suggesting that letting developers build freely doesn’t really help the crisis.
PRIDE ISN’T A SAFE SPACE WITH LONDON BREED AND THE SFPD
My hometown celebration now feels dangerous to me, with a cop-loving mayor who disregards her own COVID protocols.
FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS BUY A TESLA
Should we encourage Elon Musk’s Twitter behavior by continuing to fund his major source of income and wealth?
ARTS + CULTURE
GOOD TASTE: SF’S BEST GARLIC NOODLES COULD BE IN YOUR KITCHEN
Break out the mints! Learn a recipe for the iconic local dish (or just order a plate).
AT AMERICAN STEEL, TRAILBLAZING ARTIST COMMUNITY IS DISPLACED FOR REDEVELOPMENT
Tight-knit Burning Man clan reckons with moving—but may have itself paved the way for West Oakland industrial hub’s gentrification.
3 LOCAL WAYS TO KEEP JAMMING, AS DEAD & CO. CALL IT QUITS
Dead night at Ashkenaz, rare concert film at Balboa Theatre, and other ways to get that fix.
SCREEN GRABS: IT’S A MIRACLE—A NEW CINEMA OPENS IN SF
The Cut Outdoor Cinema at the Crossing is ‘the Bay’s first year-round outdoor cinema in the heart of downtown SF.’
THE RADICAL DRAG QUEEN AT THE HEART OF NIGHTLIFE HARM REDUCTION
Punk rock party princess Kochina Rude on her mission to educate about safer drug use—and why it’s deeply personal.
GOOD TASTE: SUPPORT SAN FRANCISCO’S ONLY UKRAINIAN RESTAURANT
Pushkin delights with vereniki and pelmeni dumplings—plus, where to donate for Ukrainian food aid.
BURNING MAN IS BACK—BUT A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2019
Black Rock City returns after two years of pandemic cancellations, DIY experiments and financial hardships.
PARTY RADAR: RIVETING ‘RAVER GIRL’ FLASHES BACK TO ’90S UNDERGROUND SCENE
Author Samantha Durbin follows the map points of her party life.
IN BERYL LANDAU’S PAINTINGS, A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF SF CHANGING LANDSCAPE
‘I am especially interested in the juxtaposition of technology against nature and the constant changes within an urban environment.’
LIVE SHOTS: 21ST EDWARDIAN BALL BROUGHT GRAND WHIMSY BACK TO SF
Feathers, wigs, codpieces, corsets, and plague masks filled the Regency Ballroom for steampunk-Victoriana fun.
‘IT WAS MORE THAN ROCK ‘N ROLL’: BEN FONG-TORRES ON SF’S MUSICAL HEYDAY AND ‘LIKE A ROLLING STONE’
A new doc spotlights the iconic rock journalist’s experience with legends—and being an Asian American reporter in the ’60s and ’70s.
TRAILBLAZING LESBIAN PUBLISHER KIM CORSARIO WAS ‘WONDROUS, DETERMINED’
Remembering the larger-than-life leader of the Bay Times, who radicalized local gay journalism and famously got a police chief fired.
AT NEW MISSION BOOKSTORE ‘MEDICINE FOR NIGHTMARES’ THE REMEDY FOR STRUGGLE IS FAMILIA
‘A lotus blossoming in mud’: Rare POC-owned bookstore rows against the tides of late capitalism with poetry, music, art.
WILD RIDE: SF RAPPER RYMEEZEE BREAKS DOWN CITY LIFE ON LATEST ALBUM ‘TURBULENCE’
Multitalented wordsmith speaks about love and hate in Frisco (including all those smashed car windows).
REVIEW: THE ART OF BANKSY IS PURE BOURGEOIS COMFORT FOOD
Come for the promise of political provocation—stay for a ‘Kissing Coppers’ cocktail?
PHAROAH SANDERS IS GONE. TAKE FLIGHT ON HIS ASTRAL JAZZ LEGACY
Featuring essential entry points to his work, from a masterpiece Alice Coltrane collaboration to the epic longform ‘Black Unity.’
‘LEAR’ COMES TO THE FILLMORE: A BAY TAKE ON SHAKESPEARE’S GREAT TRAGEDY
Cal Shakes’ production centers Blackness, and features live accompaniment by jazz favorite Marcus Shelby.
AMID COMMUNITY TRAUMA, ‘ELEGIES’ AT MOAD HOLDS SPACE FOR BEAUTY
Everyday objects take on meaning beyond the ordinary, bridging art history and contemporary culture to heal loss.
