Opinion

Artist Agnieszka Pilat, pictured with Spot the Robot Dog from Boston Robotics, has a gallery show opening at Modernism. (Courtesy Agnieszka Pilat)

Screenshots of VCs, Kanye and tech parties by the Bay

In this week’s roundup, Ben Horowitz’s surprising hip-hop knowledge and the chic tech crowd at Shack15

  • Sep 17, 2021
Firefighters extinguish burning material near Lake Tahoe on Sept. 3 in the wake of the Caldor Fire; environmental scientists say the huge fire is bringing to light deficiencies in forest management. <ins>(Max Whittaker/New York Times)</ins>

Cal Fire, timber industry must face an inconvenient truth

We are logging further into the wildfire and climate crisis

  • Sep 17, 2021
The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel in Japantown could become permanent supportive housing if The City can overcome neighborhood pushback. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

San Francisco leaders must reject NIMBY discrimination against homeless housing

By San Francisco Examiner Editorial Board “We support supportive housing. But just…

  • Sep 17, 2021
In 2018, there were 124,111 single family homes in The City. If one in 10 of those homes became a duplex, the result would be 12,000 new apartments. (Shutterstock)

Multiplying San Francisco’s housing stock through duplexes

The passage of Senate Bill 9 is a win for the future of The City

  • Sep 16, 2021
In 2018, there were 124,111 single family homes in The City. If one in 10 of those homes became a duplex, the result would be 12,000 new apartments. (Shutterstock)
If he secured a full term in the Senate, Newsom would become the most powerful Californian Democrat since Phil Burton at the height of his career, or maybe ever. <ins>(Kevin Hume/The Examiner)</ins>

What’s next for Gavin Newsom?

U.S. Senate in 2024

  • Sep 17, 2021
If he secured a full term in the Senate, Newsom would become the most powerful Californian Democrat since Phil Burton at the height of his career, or maybe ever. <ins>(Kevin Hume/The Examiner)</ins>
Representatives of Student Researchers United-UAW rallied in efforts to get the University of California to recognize the union.<ins> (Courtesy Student Researchers United-UAW)</ins>

Why UC student researchers will keep fighting for a union

12,000 student researchers, from UCSF to UCLA, are aiming to join the UAW

  • Sep 16, 2021
Representatives of Student Researchers United-UAW rallied in efforts to get the University of California to recognize the union.<ins> (Courtesy Student Researchers United-UAW)</ins>
It’s not uncommon to find a plastic tampon applicator washed up on the beach. (Courtesy Eva Holman)

The environmental toll of disposable feminine products

Uninhibited feedback by cisgender women is key

It’s not uncommon to find a plastic tampon applicator washed up on the beach. (Courtesy Eva Holman)
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the U.S. (Shutterstock)

Why California teens need mental illness education

SB 224 calls for in-school mental health instruction as depression and suicide rates rise

  • Sep 15, 2021
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the U.S. (Shutterstock)
How much disorder is tolerable in a city that sees itself as a progressive beacon, but where the housing crunch leaves thousands homeless? (Image courtesy of Creative Outlet)

Order and disorder in San Francisco

The homeless and addiction crises may be better understood as disorder, not crime

  • Sep 16, 2021
How much disorder is tolerable in a city that sees itself as a progressive beacon, but where the housing crunch leaves thousands homeless? (Image courtesy of Creative Outlet)
Gov. Gavin Newsom waves as he departs a visit at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 headquarters on Recall Election Day on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Lessons from a landslide: Key takeaways from California’s recall circus

After a summer of half-baked polls and overheated press coverage, the race wasn’t even close

  • Sep 14, 2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom waves as he departs a visit at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6 headquarters on Recall Election Day on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
At Berkeley, 27% of undergraduates receive federal Pell Grants, aimed at helping low- and moderate-income students pay for college. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

Why Cal (not Harvard) is America’s top college

Forbes’ #1 ranking underscores that private universities are often engines of wealth inequality

  • Sep 13, 2021
At Berkeley, 27% of undergraduates receive federal Pell Grants, aimed at helping low- and moderate-income students pay for college. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
Thousands rallied in support of women’s rights, including abortion access, at the Jan. 19, 2019 Women’s March in San Francisco. (Shutterstock)

If Roe falls, California will have an outsized role in providing abortions

Texas law won’t undo abortion rights here, but the ripple effects will be large

  • Sep 13, 2021
Thousands rallied in support of women’s rights, including abortion access, at the Jan. 19, 2019 Women’s March in San Francisco. (Shutterstock)
Representatives of the insurance industry say that availability and affordability of property insurance in California won’t likely change until there are demonstrable results in reducing the number and severity of wildfires in the state. (iStock)

California wildfires ignite an insurance crisis

As blazes increase, insurers are canceling policies or doubling premiums

  • Sep 13, 2021
Representatives of the insurance industry say that availability and affordability of property insurance in California won’t likely change until there are demonstrable results in reducing the number and severity of wildfires in the state. (iStock)
Waymo’s exhibit drew a crowd at The Exploratorium. <ins>(Jeff Elder/The Examiner)</ins>

Apple HQ moving to Texas? Bogus to the core

Waymo after dark, Theranos overload and more from Silly Valley’s gossip machine

  • Sep 10, 2021
Waymo’s exhibit drew a crowd at The Exploratorium. <ins>(Jeff Elder/The Examiner)</ins>
Bay Area social programs in which service workers connect with at-risk members of the community have reduced gun violence in neighborhoods. (Shutterstock)

SF is ‘paying criminals not to shoot.’ Here’s what the program is actually about

Homicides cost taxpayers millions; investing a fraction in outreach saves lives, money

  • Sep 10, 2021
Bay Area social programs in which service workers connect with at-risk members of the community have reduced gun violence in neighborhoods. (Shutterstock)
Winning the recall in convincing fashion is hugely important to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions.<ins> (Max Whittaker/New York Times)</ins>

California recall election is an expensive lesson for Gov. Gavin Newsom

By Gil Duran Examiner Opinion Editor The last time I wrote about…

  • Sep 11, 2021
Winning the recall in convincing fashion is hugely important to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions.<ins> (Max Whittaker/New York Times)</ins>
If Assembly Bill 45 passes, smokable hemp could be a new path to introduce youth to smoking. (iStock)

Two cannabis bills detrimental to public health and food safety

‘Legalizing was supposed to be about social justice’

  • Sep 7, 2021
If Assembly Bill 45 passes, smokable hemp could be a new path to introduce youth to smoking. (iStock)
As California attracts higher-educated workers, it is running out of blue-collar labor. (iStock)

California’s post-Labor Day lament: A shortage of workers

By Dan Walters CalMatters An acquaintance had some good news to impart…

  • Sep 7, 2021
As California attracts higher-educated workers, it is running out of blue-collar labor. (iStock)
China recently restricted how long children can play video games, and it’s no wonder. Some experts believe these games are engineered to be addictive. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

Can Bay Area entrepeneurs provide a tech solution to video game addiction?

‘I’m tired of trying to limit my kids’ video game time’

  • Sep 2, 2021
China recently restricted how long children can play video games, and it’s no wonder. Some experts believe these games are engineered to be addictive. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
San Francisco’s true purpose is at the center of every policy debate facing The City today. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/Examiner file)</ins>

What is San Francisco for?

‘We are about our neighborhood politics’

  • Sep 2, 2021
San Francisco’s true purpose is at the center of every policy debate facing The City today. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/Examiner file)</ins>