San Francisco’s proposed Family Zoning Plan cleared an important bureaucratic hurdle in April when the California Coastal Commission (CCC), the state’s quasi-judicial agency which has jurisdiction over the coastline, approved it with a 10-1 vote.
Spring Garden Market Plants Seeds for Annual Event
The Gardens of Golden Gate Park held its first Spring Garden Market over two days in April, drawing more than 1,300 visitors to the County Fair Building next to the San Francisco Botanical Garden – despite persistent rain that organizers said kept attendance below expectations.
Sunset Community Responds to N-Judah Renovations Set to Begin Next Year
The N-Judah will likely be getting some upgrades between 2027 and 2031 and the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) is asking riders, neighbors and local businesses to share their experiences. The public input will shape the draft plan that they will share with the SFMTA board at the end of this year.
Police Blotter: Sunset District
Recent police activity in the Sunset District.
The Etruscans Take Center Stage With the Legion of Honor’s Latest Exhibit
The new exhibition at the Legion of Honor Museum, “The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy,” which opened May 2 and continues through Sept. 20, seeks to enlighten curious visitors on the innovative and artistic contributions of the largely overlooked Etruscans, an indigenous society with a one-off language, who thrived in the central Italy peninsula from the ninth century to the first century B.C., in the period preceding the Roman Empire.
Announcements: May 2026
Things to do on San Francisco’s west side in May 2026.
City Hall: Connie Chan
In April, I called a hearing into the denial of healthcare by Blue Shield for our employees, retirees and their families. These denials came to light after a retired firefighter, Ken Jones, shared his story about being denied care as recommended by his oncologist for his Stage IV lung cancer. Firefighter Jones served and protected our City for almost 20 years, and to be denied treatment, particularly at this most critical time of care, is unacceptable. Across our country we are seeing access to healthcare being cut, made unaffordable or inaccessible. We must push back – we cannot allow insurance companies to put profit over people.
Kilduff’s Korner By Paul Kilduff
Cartoon by Paul Kilduff.
Commentary: Quentin L. Kopp
As we reach the pinnacle of our California primary election on June 2 – early voting by mail starts May 4 – the effect of 62 candidates of which 24 are Democrats, 12 are Republican, 19 are “no party preference” (meaning they’re Independents like me!), one Libertarian and one Peace and Freedom who present themselves as worthy of serving four years as our next governor.
SF Zoo in Talks to Receive $8.5 Million Loan Amid Fiscal Emergency
Animal welfare advocates have accused the San Francisco Zoo of scrapping its plan to lease giant pandas from China and purging animal care managers – all while experiencing an internal fiscal crisis. These claims are denied by the zoo, even as city officials move to extend it a loan of up to $8.5 million and the zoo’s own audited financial statements show two consecutive years of losses.
Assembly: Catherine Stefani
For far too many of our neighbors, access to quality, affordable healthcare is not a given. And over the past year, it’s been made painfully clear that it’s something we have to fight for. While the federal government continues to threaten healthcare access and funding, I’ve made it a top priority to advance a legislative package this year that protects patients, closes gaps in care and holds our healthcare system accountable to the people it serves.
State Senate: Scott Wiener
San Francisco’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has defined the heritage of our City for generations. From the oldest Chinatown in the country, to our world class collection of restaurants, to healthcare offerings like acupuncture and massage, to festivals like Lunar New Year and the Cherry Blossom Festival – San Francisco just wouldn’t be as great as it is without our AAPI community’s contributions.
Congressional Candidates Go Head to Head at SFIMC Debate
The San Francisco Independent Media Coalition (SFIMC) hosted a congressional forum on April 15 at the United Irish Cultural Center. The event brought together the three leading candidates seeking to replace former Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in California’s 11th Congressional District.
Letter to the Editor: Cal. Coastal Commission Abandoned Its Responsibility to Protect the Coast
It wasn’t too long ago that former Supervisor Joel Engardio and Sunset Dunes supporters were loudly proclaiming that local zoning laws would protect the Sunset from from high rise development along Sunset Dunes. That protection was gone in a wave of the hand thanks to the collusion between the City and the CCC staff.
Press Release: 19th Avenue Repaving Project Update and Schedule
This repaving is also badly needed. Anyone who drives 19th Avenue regularly knows the corridor has become rough, uneven, and full of potholes in many stretches. Those conditions are not just frustrating—they are also a real safety concern.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 