Commentary: Lex Leifheit

San Francisco’s urban conversation tends to focus on downtown nightlife, restaurants, entertainment and major cultural institutions. But each October, the west side reveals another kind of nighttime city: families walking, neighbors gathering, illuminated homes and block parties. The Sunset, Parkside and Richmond neighborhoods come alive, with October traditions like BalBOOa Fright Fest, Movies in McCoppin, ScareGrove and The Great Hauntway. Notably, nearly every event is family-friendly.

Commentary: Quentin L. Kopp

In a speech in Parliament about parliamentary reform on March 2, 1830, Thomas Babington Macaulay declared: “I believe there are societies in which every man may safely be admitted to vote. …I say sir, that there are countries in which the condition of the labouring classes is such that they may safely be entrusted with the right of electing members of the Legislature. …Universal suffrage exists in the United States without producing any very frightful consequences.”

City Hall: Connie Chan

Voters across San Francisco will start to receive their ballots in their mailbox the first week of October. Thankfully, the United States Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s latest attempt at voter suppression. Unfortunately, we can be sure that he will continue to attack our voting rights. That is why we must continue to urge Congress to reaffirm and strengthen the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and to stand up against any attempt to create barriers to voting. And the most important step we must all take to protect our rights is to exercise them and vote.

S.I. Wildcats Find Their Footing After 2025 Championship Win

Last December, the Wildcats capped a season that started 2-6 with seven straight wins, closing it out with a state championship – the first in school history – under first-year head coach JaJuan Lawson. This year’s team has a fast start of its own: 3-0 through non-league play, with wins over San Marin, Marin Catholic and a tighter one over Acalanes, a program St. Ignatius had lost to a year earlier. But almost none of the group responsible for last December is still on the roster.

City Hall: Alan Wong

San Francisco is constantly being asked to take on new responsibilities in pursuit of worthy goals. Many of these proposals are thoughtful and respond to genuine needs. But, the work of governing requires more than identifying a problem and proposing a solution. It requires looking beyond what sounds good on paper and asking what will actually work, what government is equipped to do well, and where limited public resources can do the most good.

Letter to the Editor: Stop Big Real Estate: Vote ‘yes’ on Prop. G!

Neighbors have legitimate concerns regarding the need to use this highway. Detours create more stress and more pollution. There is nothing particularly ecological about Diablo Canyon-powered electric bikes and motorbikes taking over the stretch. Nor are yoga classes, skateboarding or parades activities which can not be staged elsewhere. Given the inhospitable fog and winds that beset the coast, these do not appear to be a great use of public space, profit making or not.