News Columnists

Residents line up outside the Latino Task Force's Mission Resource Hub for COVID-19 testing. (Courtesy Mike Chen)

As COVID spikes, neighborhood testing sites near capacity

Temporary closure of city facility highlights lack of sufficient testing resources

Residents line up outside the Latino Task Force's Mission Resource Hub for COVID-19 testing. (Courtesy Mike Chen)
With voters supporting ride-hail drivers working for Uber and Lyft, the future of the cab industry is in serious doubt. (Shutterstock photo)

The SF taxi industry is doomed

Prop. 22 passing means no one will be taking cabs

With voters supporting ride-hail drivers working for Uber and Lyft, the future of the cab industry is in serious doubt. (Shutterstock photo)
Clockwise, from top left, Manny Yekutiel and candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock appeared in a virtual event dedicated to electing green Democrats to Georgia’s seats in the U.S. Senate. (Screenshot)

A green Georgia on our minds

San Franciscans can mobilize to help elect Democrats Warnock, Ossoff to Senate

Clockwise, from top left, Manny Yekutiel and candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock appeared in a virtual event dedicated to electing green Democrats to Georgia’s seats in the U.S. Senate. (Screenshot)
The Coca-Cola Company decided not to renew the lease on its iconic sign at Fifth and Bryant streets, pictured on Oct. 27, shortly before it was torn down. (Samantha Laurey/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Every good sign has its time

Some of us are sentimental about the Enjoy Coca Cola billboard

The Coca-Cola Company decided not to renew the lease on its iconic sign at Fifth and Bryant streets, pictured on Oct. 27, shortly before it was torn down. (Samantha Laurey/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Democratic stalwarts including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are failing our country by avoiding progressive policies and candidates. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Lesson for Dems: Don’t preach social justice without delivering economic justice

Trumpism won’t go away until Democratic Party changes course

Democratic stalwarts including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are failing our country by avoiding progressive policies and candidates. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Despite the lack of a decisive victory, there were some positive results in Tuesday’s election. <ins>(Peter Kane/Special to the S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Everything good that happened in America last night

Words of hope for the bleary-eyed and anxious

Despite the lack of a decisive victory, there were some positive results in Tuesday’s election. <ins>(Peter Kane/Special to the S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Pandemic-era measures to ease stresses in The City’s rental market may not be helpful to small landlords in the long run.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

San Francisco supes save the day — with a catch

Rent relief funding has strings attached in form of Proposition I

Pandemic-era measures to ease stresses in The City’s rental market may not be helpful to small landlords in the long run.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
A study published in the December 2016 Scientific Reports journal reveals that brain activity increases when people’s political beliefs are challenged. <ins>(Screenshot Scientific Reports)</ins>

Now is the time to make friends with enemies

We can be civil to others who have different political beliefs

A study published in the December 2016 Scientific Reports journal reveals that brain activity increases when people’s political beliefs are challenged. <ins>(Screenshot Scientific Reports)</ins>
Toilet (Shutterstock)

Table salt and poop: Testing for COVID-19 in S.F. sewage

The City’s sewers could provide an early warning of fresh outbreaks

Toilet (Shutterstock)
Thankfully, playgrounds that were closed due to the pandemic during the summer have reopened.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

The perils of parenting, COVID-style

At long last, it’s OK to take your little one out to play

Thankfully, playgrounds that were closed due to the pandemic during the summer have reopened.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Tenderloin residents are finding benefits to having roads closed in the neighborhood. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Should there be fewer cars in the Tenderloin’s future?

The pandemic has opened San Franciscans’ eyes to new uses of urban streets

Tenderloin residents are finding benefits to having roads closed in the neighborhood. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Roots & Tings build community through music

Lateef the Truthspeaker, Jah Yzer and Winstrong call for voting as a form of healing

San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
On Oct. 13, people lined up to vote early for the presidential election in Southlake, Texas. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins> <ins></ins>

Five things to watch for in the run-up to Nov. 3

Down-ballot races, as much as the presidency, will determine the future course of this nation

On Oct. 13, people lined up to vote early for the presidential election in Southlake, Texas. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins> <ins></ins>
The main entrance to Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Voting rights of seniors, disabled must be protected

Coronavirus pandemic adds new challenges for accessing the polls

The main entrance to Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
During the pandemic and other current world crises, many artists have lost their inspiration. (Courtesy Alice Dietrich/Creative Commons)

I’m terrified that 2020 has killed my creativity

Some of us need time to process the year’s traumas before making art

During the pandemic and other current world crises, many artists have lost their inspiration. (Courtesy Alice Dietrich/Creative Commons)
Doorstead, a new tech firm, is finding success serving people who want to rent their property. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

COVID winners — but for how long?

Real estate tech firm promises guaranteed income for landlords

Doorstead, a new tech firm, is finding success serving people who want to rent their property. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
False information on Twitter and other platforms can be manipulative and destructive.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

Social media can turn us against each other

Only empathy can alleviate the hate spread by misinformation

False information on Twitter and other platforms can be manipulative and destructive.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
It’s wrong to think that Uber and Lyft, which are behind Proposition 22, value public interest over shareholders’ profits. (Courtesy photo)

When did we start trusting corporations to draft laws?

Prop. 22 ads do not accurately portray the lives of full-time ride-hail drivers

It’s wrong to think that Uber and Lyft, which are behind Proposition 22, value public interest over shareholders’ profits. (Courtesy photo)
Environmentalists are studying how the breakdown of a green mineral called olivine positively affects carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>

Let’s keep the climate restoration movement growing

Innovators’ and policymakers’ efforts to restore balance should be encouraged

Environmentalists are studying how the breakdown of a green mineral called olivine positively affects carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>
Shelly Ruiz, who rents a chair at Bubble Pop Electric Salon, is back at work doing hair indoors, taking all of the necessary pandemic-era precautions.

Hair stylist, colorist is optimistic about the return of The City’s salon services

Shelly Ruiz is happily back to work cutting and coloring men’s and…

Shelly Ruiz, who rents a chair at Bubble Pop Electric Salon, is back at work doing hair indoors, taking all of the necessary pandemic-era precautions.