Things to do on San Francisco’s west side in May 2026.
Announcements: 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.
Letter to the Editor: The Sunset Should Be an Energized Community Providing Functional Input
Change is inevitable. The Sunset will continue to evolve. The challenge for the residents lies in campaigning to advance positive evolution, such that the neighborhood is not dethroned from its standing as among the finest of San Francisco. Citizen outrage can and should be channeled positively with eyes upon the future, as opposed to clinging to the past.
Cartoon: Ralph Lane
Political cartoon by Ralph Lane.
From a Reader: Remembering Freddy’s
The owner, whose name I will assume was Freddy, converted his garage into a small shop where he served French fries in a brown paper bag for just 25 cents. They were amazingly good. He also sold half-pint containers of Sun Valley Dairy frozen chocolate milk and frozen orange drink for only 10 cents.
Press Release: 100-Year Anniversary Celebration of the Dahlia
The Dahlia Society of California (DSC) celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the dahlia as the official flower of San Francisco. The DSC is commemorating this milestone with a series of local events open to the public, including our dahlia tuber sale, tours of the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park, and expert talks on dahlia cultivation in our Bay Area climate.
Letter to the Editor: Closure of UGH Has Increased Safety
The closure of the UGH and the creation of Sunset Dunes Park has been a great boon to the Sunset and our City, enriching and protecting our residents and our coastline.
