Sally Stephens

A speech Abraham Lincoln gave in front of an Illinois courthouse in 1868 is remarkably relevant today. (Courtesy photo)

Lincoln’s words can still save our country’s soul

As our national political discourse has coarsened in recent years, some have…

 

My dad, my brother Mark, and me on vacation in Florida in 1960. (Courtesy Sally Stephens)

To all the fathers who encouraged us

Here’s to all the dads out there on this Father’s Day, and…

 

A lazy way to govern

A lazy way to govern

In 43 days, San Franciscans will face a ballot with 25 local…

 

Fans of gaming, comics, fantasy and science fiction gathered at the San Francisco Marriot on Sept. 2 for San Francisco Comic Con. (Aleah Fajardo/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Finding community among the nerds

Doctor Who, Princess Leia and Kylo Ren missed Burning Man last weekend.…

Fans of gaming, comics, fantasy and science fiction gathered at the San Francisco Marriot on Sept. 2 for San Francisco Comic Con. (Aleah Fajardo/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Mount Davidson, one of the few forested areas in The City, will lose 1,600 trees under the Recreation and Park Department’s Natural Areas Program. (Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)

A shady story in San Francisco

Did you know San Francisco originally didn’t have hardly any trees? The…

Mount Davidson, one of the few forested areas in The City, will lose 1,600 trees under the Recreation and Park Department’s Natural Areas Program. (Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)
Red and blue footprints direct voters to polling places at San Francisco City Hall on June 7. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

A tale of two voters

For more than 10 years, my garage served as a precinct polling…

Red and blue footprints direct voters to polling places at San Francisco City Hall on June 7. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
When it comes to residential parking permits, San Francisco must do everything in its power to reduce tensions between neighbors. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

Sowing discord, one block at a time

If you really want to get a neighborhood riled up, bring up…

When it comes to residential parking permits, San Francisco must do everything in its power to reduce tensions between neighbors. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
The problem with thinking things are the worst is that it makes it easier to just give up and give in to despair. (Courtesy photo)

The worst of times?

It’s easy to think we’re in the worst of times. Racism, terrorism,…

The problem with thinking things are the worst is that it makes it easier to just give up and give in to despair. (Courtesy photo)
Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga, pictured in October 2013 speaking at the blocked entrance of the Grand Canyon, has chosen retirement over a transfer after being told the park needed new leadership, months after federal investigators found a longstanding pattern of sexual harassment in the Grand Canyon’s now-former river district. (Matt York/2013 AP file photo)

‘America’s best idea’ is rotting from the top

The National Park Service has been around for 100 years. In that…

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga, pictured in October 2013 speaking at the blocked entrance of the Grand Canyon, has chosen retirement over a transfer after being told the park needed new leadership, months after federal investigators found a longstanding pattern of sexual harassment in the Grand Canyon’s now-former river district. (Matt York/2013 AP file photo)
Former Stanford student and athlete Brock Turner, pictured in a Palo Alto courtroom on Feb. 2, 2015, was sentenced to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. (Karl Mondon/San Jose Mercury News via AP)

Have we really come a long way, baby?

In some ways, women have made huge strides in the last few…

Former Stanford student and athlete Brock Turner, pictured in a Palo Alto courtroom on Feb. 2, 2015, was sentenced to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. (Karl Mondon/San Jose Mercury News via AP)
Buena Vista Park — and the rest of San Francisco’s parks — stands to benefit from additional funding allocated with the approval of Proposition B; however, the measur would reduce The City’s ability to adapt to changing needs over the next 30 years. (Mike Koozmin/S.F. Examiner/S.F. Examiner file photo)

This blank check is not a good idea

Everybody loves parks. In a densely packed city like San Francisco, our…

Buena Vista Park — and the rest of San Francisco’s parks — stands to benefit from additional funding allocated with the approval of Proposition B; however, the measur would reduce The City’s ability to adapt to changing needs over the next 30 years. (Mike Koozmin/S.F. Examiner/S.F. Examiner file photo)
Sergio Klor de Alva, right, is seen with supervisorial candidate Joel Engardio. Klor de Alva died April 25 in a car accident on Highway 1 just south of Devil’s Slide near Pacifica. (Courtesy Joel Engardio)

Dealing with a sudden loss

It’s always hard to deal with death. But when it comes suddenly…

Sergio Klor de Alva, right, is seen with supervisorial candidate Joel Engardio. Klor de Alva died April 25 in a car accident on Highway 1 just south of Devil’s Slide near Pacifica. (Courtesy Joel Engardio)
Oliver, a golden retriever, offers some pet therapy in the shade during Duboce Dogfest. (Courtesy Diana Gaffney/Hoodline)

Duboce Dogfest serves as lesson in progress

Duboce Dogfest, held last weekend, is a unique San Francisco event —…

Oliver, a golden retriever, offers some pet therapy in the shade during Duboce Dogfest. (Courtesy Diana Gaffney/Hoodline)
Bicyclists ride past Crissy Field, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, toward the Golden Gate Bridge. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Stop calling it ‘Golden Gate National Parks’

Congress created the Golden Gate National Recreation Area “to concentrate on serving…

Bicyclists ride past Crissy Field, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, toward the Golden Gate Bridge. (Eric Risberg/AP)
Sidewalk etiquette is an acknowledgment that we share our urban space with others and that we have to consider and accommodate their needs along with our own. (Courtesy photo)

The mean sidewalks of San Francisco

I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately and I’ve been surprised…

Sidewalk etiquette is an acknowledgment that we share our urban space with others and that we have to consider and accommodate their needs along with our own. (Courtesy photo)
The National Park Service last week announced new rules for where dogs can be walked in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and closed parts of Fort Funston to all visitors. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/2011 AP)

A flawed process rigged from the start

I used to think of the National Park Service as good guys.…

The National Park Service last week announced new rules for where dogs can be walked in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and closed parts of Fort Funston to all visitors. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/2011 AP)
Farmer Rudi Mussi and his grandson Lorenzo stand near Mussi’s almond orchard in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Stockton, Calif. The impact of a plan from Gov. Jerry Brown — to divert water from the Sacramento River to Southern California via underground tunnels — on the San Francisco Bay remains unknown thus far. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

Modern pyramid building

Sometimes politicians are stubborn. And sometimes that stubbornness makes them continue to…

Farmer Rudi Mussi and his grandson Lorenzo stand near Mussi’s almond orchard in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Stockton, Calif. The impact of a plan from Gov. Jerry Brown — to divert water from the Sacramento River to Southern California via underground tunnels — on the San Francisco Bay remains unknown thus far. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
(Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)

Animal shelter left out of Lee’s $350M bond proposal

Mayor Ed Lee’s $350 million bond slated for the June ballot has…

(Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)
The Board of Supervisors has approved funding for a much-needed new animal shelter in San Francisco. (Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)

An unprecedented last-minute change

Last Monday, an obscure city committee withdrew proposed funding for a new…

The Board of Supervisors has approved funding for a much-needed new animal shelter in San Francisco. (Mike Koozmin/2011 S.F. Examiner)
Street construction crews have become a headache for residents who feel like The City isn't giving them enough notice before disrupting their daily lives. (Ken Walton/Flickr)

Coming to a street near you

The people in my neighborhood got so sick of looking at piles…

Street construction crews have become a headache for residents who feel like The City isn't giving them enough notice before disrupting their daily lives. (Ken Walton/Flickr)