News Columnists

San Francisco workers who are members of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers are calling for The City’s retirement board system to stop investing in Chevron. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

SF should step up efforts to divest from fossil fuels

Retirement fund continues to include big oil companies

Rev. Roland Gordon shows “The Great Cloud of Witnesses” collage mural at the Ingleside Presbyterian Church, which he began building in 1980.<ins> (</ins>

Rev. Roland Gordon preaches love in action

Pastor promotes peace, hope through art and prayer

Disability advocates protested outside the home of San Francisco Health Officer Tomas Aragon. (Courtesy Brooke Anderson)

Vaccine rollout plan for people with disabilities remains deeply flawed

On February 13, disability activists paid a visit to the house of…

It’s great to be in San Francisco, where residents are happy to be and looking forward to days ahead. (Ming Vong/S.F. Examiner)

I’m finally hopeful about the future of San Francisco

For those of us still here, it’s a brand-new day

It’s great to be in San Francisco, where residents are happy to be and looking forward to days ahead. (Ming Vong/S.F. Examiner)
Perceived supply and demand in the Bay Area’s expensive rental market can play a big part in determining what people pay. (Shutterstock)

Bay Area rental market is rebounding — but why?

Hearing about people leaving town can have as big an effect as actual economic factors

Perceived supply and demand in the Bay Area’s expensive rental market can play a big part in determining what people pay. (Shutterstock)
COVID restrictions have prompted a benefit or two, such as empty streets in The City. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Taking the scenic route through a pandemic

Streets of San Francisco are pleasantly free of traffic

COVID restrictions have prompted a benefit or two, such as empty streets in The City. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
In 2017 in McAllen, Texas, immigrant children were separated from their families, to be placed in U.S. homes while their parents faced deportation. (Shutterstock)

A family separated at the border survives

New task force, nonprofits help immigrants traumatized by former Zero Tolerance policy

In 2017 in McAllen, Texas, immigrant children were separated from their families, to be placed in U.S. homes while their parents faced deportation. (Shutterstock)
Embarcadero Plaza near San Francisco’s waterfront previously was named Justin Herman Plaza.<ins> (Sarahbeth Maney/Special to S.F. Examiner file)</ins>

Where the streets have more than one name

Welcome changes on roads, schools reflect goals for diversity, equality

Embarcadero Plaza near San Francisco’s waterfront previously was named Justin Herman Plaza.<ins> (Sarahbeth Maney/Special to S.F. Examiner file)</ins>
While health officials say COVID-19 isn’t spread through the use of bulk foods and reusable containers, there continues to be a reliance on wasteful disposables. (Shutterstock)

Bulk shopping is back, and that’s a good thing

Self-service is safe, but sustainability still elusive during pandemic

While health officials say COVID-19 isn’t spread through the use of bulk foods and reusable containers, there continues to be a reliance on wasteful disposables. (Shutterstock)
Leticia Duarte, left, and Michelle Narrivato appeared in a Creative Corps production of “The Two Fridas” in Washington Square Park.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

For Leticia Duarte, all the world’s a Zoom stage

Actor is optimistic about the future of live theater

Leticia Duarte, left, and Michelle Narrivato appeared in a Creative Corps production of “The Two Fridas” in Washington Square Park.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
The recent great weather had us meeting friends and strangers out and about San Francisco, including a stop in Washington Square. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

This town still has heart

Optimism in the air as The City opens up again

The recent great weather had us meeting friends and strangers out and about San Francisco, including a stop in Washington Square. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
Realtors discussing the local scene on the “Southern Oregon Real Estate Show” podcast (the city of Klamath Falls, Ore. is pictured) describe a “sold-out market.”<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Not everybody is moving from SF to Austin

Pandemic has pushed city dwellers to smaller towns

Realtors discussing the local scene on the “Southern Oregon Real Estate Show” podcast (the city of Klamath Falls, Ore. is pictured) describe a “sold-out market.”<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
hospital nurses healthcare medical (Shutterstock)

City’s contract nurses win fight for emergency sick leave benefits

After months of advocacy with their union and City Hall, hundreds of…

hospital nurses healthcare medical (Shutterstock)
Analysis indicates that tech workers are moving from San Francisco to Texas, Nevada, Washington, or, in California, to Sacramento. (Courtesy sf.citi.org)

Bret Stephens claims San Francisco is a city in decline — here’s why he’s wrong

Tech workers’ exodus offset by immigrants’ arrivals

Analysis indicates that tech workers are moving from San Francisco to Texas, Nevada, Washington, or, in California, to Sacramento. (Courtesy sf.citi.org)
A regular rider provided a cash retainer just at a time when it was needed. (Shutterstock)

An offer in dollars too good to resist

Expenses get covered in what feels like a deal with the devil

A regular rider provided a cash retainer just at a time when it was needed. (Shutterstock)
A drop in salmon in the Tuolumne River in 2020 is cause for concern.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Salmon dwindling while SFPUC fiddling

Decreasing numbers in Tuolumne demand science-based solutions

A drop in salmon in the Tuolumne River in 2020 is cause for concern.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
Love Street owner Graciela Ronconi is doing very well in her shop’s new Richmond District location. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Leaving Haight: Love finds a home on Balboa Street

Vintage apparel pro Graciela Ronconi finds buying, selling therapeutic

Love Street owner Graciela Ronconi is doing very well in her shop’s new Richmond District location. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Reports say that the number of American visitors to Mexico’s Quintana Roo, where Tulum and Cancun are located, increased by 23 percent between 2019 and 2020. (Shutterstock)

Stop going to Mexico

Travel during pandemic is ‘vacation colonialism’

Reports say that the number of American visitors to Mexico’s Quintana Roo, where Tulum and Cancun are located, increased by 23 percent between 2019 and 2020. (Shutterstock)
While reports have indicated people are leaving The City in droves, it appears that those who can afford a single-family home of $3 million or more are staying – or arriving. (Shutterstock)

Not everyone is leaving San Francisco, as home sales soar

Business booming for high- high-end, single-family houses

While reports have indicated people are leaving The City in droves, it appears that those who can afford a single-family home of $3 million or more are staying – or arriving. (Shutterstock)
Methamphetamines (Sophia Valdes/SF Weekly)

New search launched for meth sobering center site

Pandemic put project on pause but gave health officials time to plan a better facility

Methamphetamines (Sophia Valdes/SF Weekly)