News Columnists

Jazz pianist and composer Jon Jang is an instructor at Community Music Center in the Mission District. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Jon Jang composes bittersweet symphonies

Musician-activist’s works are steeped in civil rights history

Despite familiar images of destruction from San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake and fire, most Bay Area homeowners have not opted to purchase earthquake insurance. (Shutterstock)

To (earthquake) insure or not to insure?

Most Bay Area homeowners opt to take a chance rather than pay a high premium

Roberta Bechtel, left, and Carol Dimmick have been instrumental in making improvements in San Francisco’s Triangle Park. (Courtesy photo)

How to win neighborhoods and influence City Hall

There’s a reason Christopher Guest mockumentaries and fictional TV shows like “Schitt’s…

Many garments purchased by Americans are mass produced by low-paid workers in factories in Asia. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

Broken fashion industry needs mending

Your shirts, shoes can help advance environmental justice

Many garments purchased by Americans are mass produced by low-paid workers in factories in Asia. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
The documentary “Seaspiracy” is an exposé about the fishing industry and a call for veganism. <ins>(Courtesy Ali Tabrizi/Netflix)</ins>

‘Seaspiracy’ worth watching, even if its message needs calibration

Documentary’s view of veganism as a war against capitalism, environmental calamities is jolting

The documentary “Seaspiracy” is an exposé about the fishing industry and a call for veganism. <ins>(Courtesy Ali Tabrizi/Netflix)</ins>
People are having widely varied emotional — as well as physical — reactions after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

As safety returns, get ready for a flood of feelings

By Beth Winegarner On Jan. 19, as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice…

People are having widely varied emotional — as well as physical — reactions after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
A recent visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was notably free of crowds. (Ekevara Kitpowsong/SF Examiner file photo)

A modern visit to SFMOMA

Though the area was far from bustling, traffic persisted on the way home

A recent visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was notably free of crowds. (Ekevara Kitpowsong/SF Examiner file photo)
Grace Horikiri, executive director of the Japantown Community Benefit District, says “Japantown is like a city within a city.” <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Grace Horikiri leads Japantown into post-pandemic future

‘The sharing of culture is what makes it special here — it’s what San Francisco is all about’

Grace Horikiri, executive director of the Japantown Community Benefit District, says “Japantown is like a city within a city.” <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Once we can come and go more freely, will people gather the way they did before COVID? <ins>(Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner file photo)</ins>

What happens when the pandemic is over?

After experiencing initial excitement, I wonder just how much I’ll go out

Once we can come and go more freely, will people gather the way they did before COVID? <ins>(Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner file photo)</ins>
Recovery from the pandemic could mean San Francisco’s downtown is more diverse than simply being a financial district.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Commercial real estate in 2021 – it’s time to get creative

Office space doesn’t necessarily need to be used for workers in cubicles

Recovery from the pandemic could mean San Francisco’s downtown is more diverse than simply being a financial district.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
It’s time to break the code of silence and end the stigmatism against infertility, which is fairly common. <ins>(Shuttterstock)</ins>

Struggles with infertility are common

We all can support friends, ask legislators to mandate appropriate insurance

It’s time to break the code of silence and end the stigmatism against infertility, which is fairly common. <ins>(Shuttterstock)</ins>
Tenants’ rights laws are often mysterious and written in language that confuses. (Shutterstock)

It’s not a good time to be a bad landlord

Tenant Relief Act, at last, is one positive thing for renters

Tenants’ rights laws are often mysterious and written in language that confuses. (Shutterstock)
Central City SRO Collective tenant leader Reggie Reed, left, and Eddie Ahn, executive director of Brightline Defense, were among those distributing environmental awareness posters throughout the Tenderloin, Mid-Market and South of Market neighborhoods. (Courtesy Central City SRO Collaborative)

Environmental dangers are connected to racism

Let’s attack problems with better policies, greater awareness

Central City SRO Collective tenant leader Reggie Reed, left, and Eddie Ahn, executive director of Brightline Defense, were among those distributing environmental awareness posters throughout the Tenderloin, Mid-Market and South of Market neighborhoods. (Courtesy Central City SRO Collaborative)
Keith Zwölfer, director of education for SFFILM, stays busy connecting filmmakers and studios with public, private and home schools<ins>. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner) </ins>

Streamlined SF film festival focuses on family features

SFFILM Director of Education Keith Zwölfer finds movies that appeal to kids

Keith Zwölfer, director of education for SFFILM, stays busy connecting filmmakers and studios with public, private and home schools<ins>. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner) </ins>
It would be good for The City’s businesses if a person taking a break in a parklet could legally have a drink. <ins>(S.F. Examiner file photo)</ins>

I love drinking outdoors

Now’s the time to update California’s laws about alcohol consumption

It would be good for The City’s businesses if a person taking a break in a parklet could legally have a drink. <ins>(S.F. Examiner file photo)</ins>
A house in the Berkeley hills with a million-dollar view of the San Francisco Bay – literally – has made news. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

Bay Area real estate offers house (sale) of cards

Here’s how Berkeley hills residence sold for $1 million over asking price

A house in the Berkeley hills with a million-dollar view of the San Francisco Bay – literally – has made news. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
Pedestrian safety will increase by improving streets and dropping the speed limit as well as revising jaywalking laws.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Just what exactly will the Freedom to Walk Act do?

Decriminalizing jaywalking is fine, but pedestrian safety remains an issue

Pedestrian safety will increase by improving streets and dropping the speed limit as well as revising jaywalking laws.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
People have been dining indoors, inside Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Café in North Beach. (Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)

What happens when the pandemic is over?

According to the latest COVID stats, I may have to start regularly…

People have been dining indoors, inside Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Café in North Beach. (Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)
LisaRuth Elliott, co-director of the history project Shaping San Francisco, has been pleased to welcome visitors to Alemany Farm in The City during the pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Farmer, artist and historian LisaRuth Elliott is shaping San Francisco

‘As soon as you start researching, the world opens up beneath you’

LisaRuth Elliott, co-director of the history project Shaping San Francisco, has been pleased to welcome visitors to Alemany Farm in The City during the pandemic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
It’ll be great to be able to dine again at favorite restaurants, like Sotto Mare in North Beach. <ins>(Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>

What I fantasize about doing once I get my vaccine

I’ll be getting married, eating out, hugging friends and traveling, for starters

It’ll be great to be able to dine again at favorite restaurants, like Sotto Mare in North Beach. <ins>(Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>