News Columnists

A coalition of community members dedicated to improving The City’s tree canopy recently planted saplings in the Mission. Courtesy Ben Carlson/Friends of the Urban Forest

Mission residents go out on a limb to welcome 150 new trees

A community greening effort in the Mission is taking root. Last Thursday,…

In his extensive filming of The City during the pandemic, Eric Goodfield said he has been “observing how the environment affects the behavior of people.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Filmmaker Eric Goodfield fixes lens on SF’s COVID days

140 days of shooting in The City made for ‘greatest adventure’

San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on Thursday. (Chris Victorio/Special to The Examiner)

In praise of Johnny Cueto, who confuses, confounds and delivers

I heard his name just as I was leaving the parking lot,…

Demand for housing in San Francisco, despite high prices and economic effects of the pandemic, continues.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner, 2020)</ins>

Talking about inventory in unprecedented times

Traditional market indicators may not always be what they seem

Demand for housing in San Francisco, despite high prices and economic effects of the pandemic, continues.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner, 2020)</ins>
Shek-Woon Ng, 107, who retired at 99 from his acupuncture practice in San Francisco’s Chinatown, got a COVID-19 vaccination in June. <ins>(Courtesy Sky Link TV)</ins>

Lesson from a 107-year-old man who is now fully vaccinated

One in four seniors in S.F.’s Chinatown have not been inoculated

Shek-Woon Ng, 107, who retired at 99 from his acupuncture practice in San Francisco’s Chinatown, got a COVID-19 vaccination in June. <ins>(Courtesy Sky Link TV)</ins>
Penelope Houston, along with guitarist Greg Ingraham, of the Avengers perform in October 2019. Courtesy Deb Frazin

Avengers vs. Blondie: Why the wrong punk band made it big

Sometime in 1983, my good friend Will heard of a record party…

  • Jul 21, 2021
Penelope Houston, along with guitarist Greg Ingraham, of the Avengers perform in October 2019. Courtesy Deb Frazin
Despite Californians’ efforts to stop using plastic, bags, straws and other items continue to pollute the landscape. (Shutterstock)

Time to dump harmful plastic production

Policymakers, legislators must reduce the product at source

Despite Californians’ efforts to stop using plastic, bags, straws and other items continue to pollute the landscape. (Shutterstock)
Daniela Lencioni and her husband Farid Lancien created their charcuterie delivery service Cutty Boards San Francisco to bring people in their community quality cheese and meats at reasonable prices.

Keeping it Cutty: One couple’s cheese boards to go

Daniela Lencioni and Farid Lancien want everyone to enjoy good food at home, work or play

Daniela Lencioni and her husband Farid Lancien created their charcuterie delivery service Cutty Boards San Francisco to bring people in their community quality cheese and meats at reasonable prices.
As President Joe Biden travels the country pitching his plan for spending trillions of dollars to reshape the American economy, he is facing a rhetorical reality that has long plagued many of his predecessors: There’s a vast difference between explaining and inspiring. (Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times)

Krugman: How big spending got its groove back

By Paul Krugman NYTimes News Service The way it was: Some years…

  • Jul 16, 2021
As President Joe Biden travels the country pitching his plan for spending trillions of dollars to reshape the American economy, he is facing a rhetorical reality that has long plagued many of his predecessors: There’s a vast difference between explaining and inspiring. (Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times)
Broke-Ass Stuart has enjoyed comments from Examiner readers who love, and hate, what he’s written. <ins>(Courtesy Bryan Oh)</ins>

Goodbye Examiner, Hello SF Weekly

Six and a half years is a long time to do anything.…

Broke-Ass Stuart has enjoyed comments from Examiner readers who love, and hate, what he’s written. <ins>(Courtesy Bryan Oh)</ins>
A company called Boxabl manufactures modular homes that can be towed on a pickup truck. (Courtesy Boxabl/PRNewsfoto)

Is the future a home that unfolds?

Prefab units may be part of a solution to the affordable housing crisis

A company called Boxabl manufactures modular homes that can be towed on a pickup truck. (Courtesy Boxabl/PRNewsfoto)
Jyra, a recent addition to the household, is rambunctious and amusing. (Courtesy Jaya Padmanabhan)

Why do we pretend that dog parenting is easy?

Adjustments must be made to address needs of the newest family member

Jyra, a recent addition to the household, is rambunctious and amusing. (Courtesy Jaya Padmanabhan)
Rotimi Agbabiaka — who acts, writes, directs and teaches — appears in this summer’s San Francisco Mime Troupe podcast series, “Tales of the Resistance Vol. 2.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Rotimi Agbabiaka: Transforming perceptions onstage and off

Bay Area actor naturally, skillfully embodies varied gender roles, identities

Rotimi Agbabiaka — who acts, writes, directs and teaches — appears in this summer’s San Francisco Mime Troupe podcast series, “Tales of the Resistance Vol. 2.” (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
It’s horrifying, but there are Republicans — the storming of the Capitol in January is pictured — who continue to back Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. <ins>(Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS)</ins>

The world is awful, but at least I’m in a good mood

Happily, it’s not yet Fire Season or Shen Yun season

It’s horrifying, but there are Republicans — the storming of the Capitol in January is pictured — who continue to back Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. <ins>(Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS)</ins>
People who don’t want to take out a loan on their house may opt for co-investment offered by a startup specializing in real estate.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Beware of investment trends that may threaten homeownership

Everybody’s got their hang-ups. Here’s one of mine: I don’t like big…

People who don’t want to take out a loan on their house may opt for co-investment offered by a startup specializing in real estate.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
Data shows that San Francisco’s Chinatown, which has a largely non-white population, has 5 percent tree cover compared to 32.8 percent in Presidio, where more white people reside and incomes are higher. (Shutterstock)

SF has lost thousands of trees—and it affects communities of color

The hottest day recorded in San Francisco was on Sept. 1, 2017…

Data shows that San Francisco’s Chinatown, which has a largely non-white population, has 5 percent tree cover compared to 32.8 percent in Presidio, where more white people reside and incomes are higher. (Shutterstock)
In July 2020, protesters in Fresno gathered signatures to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, supporting former President Donald Trump.<ins> (John Walker/Sacramento Bee/TNS)</ins>

How to reform the recall process and make it work for California

Regardless of whether you think Gov. Newsom should be recalled, we can all agree the process is a mess

  • Jun 25, 2021
In July 2020, protesters in Fresno gathered signatures to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, supporting former President Donald Trump.<ins> (John Walker/Sacramento Bee/TNS)</ins>
It will be interesting to see how many cab drivers are back on the road when state rules about unemployment benefits change. (Kevin Hume/The Examiner

Not everyone is optimistic about the reopening

Despite positive vibes, despair prevails for some of us

It will be interesting to see how many cab drivers are back on the road when state rules about unemployment benefits change. (Kevin Hume/The Examiner
Owners of Levi’s Plaza on The Embarcadero say gas boilers on the property will be replaced by electric and solar sources in the next few years. (Shutterstock)

Big plans for clean power at Levi’s Plaza

Transition to net zero carbon in step with S.F.’s environmental goals

Owners of Levi’s Plaza on The Embarcadero say gas boilers on the property will be replaced by electric and solar sources in the next few years. (Shutterstock)
People walk along Ocean Beach on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

An ocean of emotion

Reflections on daily life along the Great Highway

People walk along Ocean Beach on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)