Sponsored link
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Sponsored link

LGBTQIs Catherine Stefani the swing vote on the future of the Castro...

Is Catherine Stefani the swing vote on the future of the Castro Theater?

It sure looks that way after today's vote to delay the decision untIl June 6.

-

Sup. Rafael Mandelman asked for a three-week delay on the final Castro Theater vote today because Sup. Catherine Stefani was absent to take care of her ailing father, an indication that the vote will be close and that Stefani may be the swing.

If Mandelman, who is against landmarking the existing seats and raked floor, had six solid votes, he most likely would not have sought a delay.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani may be the sixth vote to preserve the theater interior, or to allow APE to change it.

At this point, five supes are in favor of the current landmarking plan: Connie Chan, Aaron Peskin, Dean Preston, Hillary Ronen, and Shamann Walton.

Sup. Myrna Melgar dissented in committee, so she’s on the side of Mandelman. Matt Dorsey and Joel Engardio have not made public statements on the issue. Ahsha Safai and Stefani are the wild cards here.

So the lobbying will continue over the next three weeks.

Mandelman told me that “there would not have been six votes for any action today.” That means he couldn’t see six voting with Peskin and Preston, or six voting with him.

Melgar will not be there next week, and the boards doesn’t meet Memorial Day week, so the final vote can’t come before June 6.

It will be pretty wild if the future of the Castro theater is decided by the supervisor from the Marina.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our FacebookTwitter, and Instagram

Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.
Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Featured

Drama Masks: At Z Space, a flashback to the day that was much too much

'The Day the Sky Turned Orange,' plus 'The Reservoir''s ensemble work, and femmes rise in 'Indecent.'

The Engardio recall and the failure of conservative politics in SF

In the first test of the new 'moderates' and their policies, the voters said, 'no thanks.'

BIG WEEK: Artists against Project 2025, Flower Piano, Low Rider Parade, Shakira Tribute Dinner…

...Portola Fest, Ron Carter, Kim Anh, Pauly D, Pino Palladino, Cheryl Dunye's favorite flicks and more to do!

More by this author

Voters recall Engardio, by huge margin

Now it's up to Lurie to appoint a D4 supe—and it won't be an easy choice

We will probably know Tuesday evening if Sup. Joel Engardio keeps his seat

Early results could tell the tale—and if the D4 supe is out, what will Lurie do?

Strange (and maybe inappropriate) actions at the Planning Commission …

... plus an attack on preservation in North Beach, and has the privatized zoo improved enough to get another $3 million? That's The Agenda for Sept. 14 to 21
Sponsored link

You might also likeRELATED