Opinion

California, which isn’t as liberal a state as you may imagine but is nonetheless considerably more liberal than the nation as a whole, may be about to absent-mindedly acquire a Trumpist governor who could never win a normal election. (Philip Cheung/The New York Times)

The gentrification of blue America

‘The failure to add housing, no matter how high the demand, has collided with the tech boom’

  • Aug 30, 2021
California, which isn’t as liberal a state as you may imagine but is nonetheless considerably more liberal than the nation as a whole, may be about to absent-mindedly acquire a Trumpist governor who could never win a normal election. (Philip Cheung/The New York Times)
New York Giants fans still remember the days of Willie Mays, pictured here during a dust-up with the Pirates in 1955. Many remain fans of the San Francisco Giants because of the team’s New York roots. (Ernie Sisto/New York Times)

Giants bring winning ways, warm memories to New York City

For many, love of Willie Mays has become a family tradition

  • Aug 27, 2021
New York Giants fans still remember the days of Willie Mays, pictured here during a dust-up with the Pirates in 1955. Many remain fans of the San Francisco Giants because of the team’s New York roots. (Ernie Sisto/New York Times)
The Salesforce Tower gondola is back with all its slow-speed thrills, taking riders from Mission Street up to Salesforce Park. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)</ins>

From gondolas to office dogs, a snapshot of San Francisco’s tech scene this week

Editor’s note: This week, we’re launching a new column called Screenshots, in…

  • Aug 27, 2021
The Salesforce Tower gondola is back with all its slow-speed thrills, taking riders from Mission Street up to Salesforce Park. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)</ins>
Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host from Southern California in the mold of Rush Limbaugh, could be California’s next governor. (Courtesy photo)

A right-wing shock jock could become California’s governor

Newsom recall is no longer a Republican longshot

  • Aug 25, 2021
Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host from Southern California in the mold of Rush Limbaugh, could be California’s next governor. (Courtesy photo)
None of the candidates running in the California gubernatorial recall election would be an improvement over Gavin Newsom.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Editorial: Don’t let Donald Trump win in California

‘Californians can’t risk such disaster. They should vote ‘no’ on the recall ballot’s first question.’

  • Aug 20, 2021
None of the candidates running in the California gubernatorial recall election would be an improvement over Gavin Newsom.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
A Taliban elite unit rolled down the streets of Kabul on Aug. 20. <ins>(Victor J. Blue/New York Times)</ins>

Somebody else’s Afghanistan: Guns, money and America’s attempt to change a culture

‘This war cannot really end until we find each other and become one family again’

  • Aug 20, 2021
A Taliban elite unit rolled down the streets of Kabul on Aug. 20. <ins>(Victor J. Blue/New York Times)</ins>
Server Dragos Pintlie dropped off a bay Shrimp Louie salad for Howard Golden at John’s Grill when indoor dining resumed in March. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Why SF restaurants need more federal relief funds

‘They should right the wrongs and tap up the funds’

Server Dragos Pintlie dropped off a bay Shrimp Louie salad for Howard Golden at John’s Grill when indoor dining resumed in March. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
After nearly 15 years of being part of Google, the most successful money machine in internet history, it’s still not clear that YouTube has fulfilled its financial potential both for itself and everyone involved in its vast digital economy. (Dani Choi/The New York Times)

Is YouTube a success? It’s a serious question

By Shira Ovide New York Times This question will sound ridiculous, but…

  • Aug 5, 2021
After nearly 15 years of being part of Google, the most successful money machine in internet history, it’s still not clear that YouTube has fulfilled its financial potential both for itself and everyone involved in its vast digital economy. (Dani Choi/The New York Times)
Unscrupulous, boundary-pushing executives seem to be an inescapable part of the most exciting technology. (Timo Lenzen/The New York Times)

Why tech innovation invites a breed of unscrupulous hucksters

By Shira Ovide New York Times I’m angry about startup founders who…

  • Aug 4, 2021
Unscrupulous, boundary-pushing executives seem to be an inescapable part of the most exciting technology. (Timo Lenzen/The New York Times)
Progressives in California recently and uncharacteristically have been attracting negative attention from liberal writers. <ins>(Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters)</ins> <ins></ins>

Why is California now being criticized from the left?

By Dan Walters CalMattters California being what it is — a very…

  • Aug 2, 2021
Progressives in California recently and uncharacteristically have been attracting negative attention from liberal writers. <ins>(Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters)</ins> <ins></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
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)
The tired narrative that people are fleeing San Francisco surfaced again this week. Shouldn’t we focus on those who stayed?<ins></ins>

Let’s stop focusing on ‘the exodus,’ and start focusing on our backyard

Californians are pissed off. Here’s some common sense.

The tired narrative that people are fleeing San Francisco surfaced again this week. Shouldn’t we focus on those who stayed?<ins></ins>
Larkin Street Youth Services Executive Director Sherilyn Adams, pictured at a Youth Advisory Board meeting in 2018, says agencies need to work together toward reaching a common goal.<ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>

Relationships are the most important resource for SF’s homeless youth

‘Change happens at the speed of trust’

  • Jul 9, 2021
Larkin Street Youth Services Executive Director Sherilyn Adams, pictured at a Youth Advisory Board meeting in 2018, says agencies need to work together toward reaching a common goal.<ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>
Many influential thinkers visited the Alan Watts library at Druid Heights in the 1960s-70s. (Courtesy Michael Toivonen)

The hush-hush bohemian enclave that bred San Francisco legends

Druid Heights was ‘a vortex of social and artistic energy that bloomed out of nowhere’

  • Jul 8, 2021
Many influential thinkers visited the Alan Watts library at Druid Heights in the 1960s-70s. (Courtesy Michael Toivonen)
Bishop Robert McElroy, pictured at the Pastoral Center Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is the former pastor of several Bay Area churches. <ins>(Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)</ins> Bishop Robert McElroy, pictured at the Pastoral Center Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is the former pastor of several Bay Area churches. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)

Hunting heretics or seeking converts: Analyzing the split between two California Bishops

San Diego’s McElroy sees things much differently than San Francisco’s Cordileone

  • Jul 7, 2021
Bishop Robert McElroy, pictured at the Pastoral Center Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is the former pastor of several Bay Area churches. <ins>(Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)</ins> Bishop Robert McElroy, pictured at the Pastoral Center Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is the former pastor of several Bay Area churches. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)
Union Square Community Ambassadors are taking part in a city program designed to bring visitors downtown. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner, 2021 )

Downtown’s recovery is The City’s recovery

Public being welcomed back with new businesses, safe nightlife, exciting storefronts

Union Square Community Ambassadors are taking part in a city program designed to bring visitors downtown. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner, 2021 )
Many employees in Pinterest’s San Francisco office are working on a hybrid schedule.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Big Tech goes back to the office, and a worker shares her perspective

‘I thought everyone would be itching to come back. But I was wrong.’

  • Jul 2, 2021
Many employees in Pinterest’s San Francisco office are working on a hybrid schedule.<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
Transgender activist Elle Moxley took a different surname after transitioning, and it had a powerful effect. <ins>(Courtesy Irvin Rivera)</ins>

Changing my name after my transition may seem like a simple act—it was anything but

By Elle Moxley This spring, as new life began to emerge and…

Transgender activist Elle Moxley took a different surname after transitioning, and it had a powerful effect. <ins>(Courtesy Irvin Rivera)</ins>
Pride month is the time for the LGBTQ community to reach out to others and to celebrate who we are.

Pride, pageantry, and the long road to acceptance

‘Maybe it’s a luxury to be able to pick it apart for its faults’

Pride month is the time for the LGBTQ community to reach out to others and to celebrate who we are.