After a long, contentious battle in which both sides walked away numerous times, a deal to build two new hospitals in San Francisco has been brokered, marking a win for everyone in The City. Read More

A little more than a year ago, Bevan Dufty took what may be one of the least enviable jobs in San Francisco — working as the point person in City Hall on homelessness. Among the top 10 complaints in San Francisco, aggressive panhandling and homeless people living on the streets typically rank as high as Muni service. But in speaking with Dufty, you would be hard-pressed to conclude that he has anything but enthusiasm for his job. Read More

The “war on drugs” is one of the greatest ongoing governmental failures of our lifetime. This policy with roots in the Nixon administration has swollen U.S. prison populations without decreasing criminal activity. It is long past time to reform the prosecution and sentencing of low-level drug offenses. In California, state Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco has introduced legislation that would give district attorneys greater flexibility when it comes to charging people for possession for personal use of a small amount of drugs other than marijuana. Read More

Supervisor Harvey Milk’s name to San Francisco International Airport, his proposal hit strong headwinds of opposition. Some have suggested that the idea be grounded before San Franciscans have a chance to formally weigh in on it. In fact, the best outcome would be for the full Board of Supervisors to submit the measure to the voters of San Francisco, who could then hear the arguments for themselves and make an informed decision. After all, it’s not like this largely symbolic proposal would deprive anyone of their rights or infringe on their civil liberties. Read More