<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title><![CDATA[petition - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports]]></title><description><![CDATA[SFist is San Francisco's source for fun, witty, & serious news. With updates about restaurants, events, sports, politics & more, SFist reaches millions of users in California.]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/</link><image><url>https://sfist.com/favicon.png</url><title>petition - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, &amp; Sports</title><link>https://sfist.com/</link></image><generator>Ghost 2.12</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:20:52 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://sfist.com/petition/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[SF Ballet Under Pressure to Cancel Kennedy Center Performance, Nearly 7,000 Sign Petition]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the wake of Trump attaching his name to the Kennedy Center and firing several board members — resulting in a cascading stream of cancellations, SF Ballet fans are urging the company to cancel its stop at the center in May during its upcoming 'Mere Mortals' tour.]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2026/02/08/sf-ballet-under-pressure-to-cancel-kennedy-center-performance-nearly-7-000-sign-petition/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6989281fb79f5f2cc46811e0</guid><category><![CDATA[Arts & Entertainment]]></category><category><![CDATA[SF Ballet]]></category><category><![CDATA[Kennedy Center]]></category><category><![CDATA[donald trump]]></category><category><![CDATA[petition]]></category><category><![CDATA[washington dc]]></category><category><![CDATA[Performing Arts]]></category><category><![CDATA[ballet]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Leanne Maxwell]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:22:11 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/2026/02/SF-Ballet-Mere-Mortals-Chris-Hardy.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/2026/02/SF-Ballet-Mere-Mortals-Chris-Hardy.jpg" alt="SF Ballet Under Pressure to Cancel Kennedy Center Performance, Nearly 7,000 Sign Petition"><p>In the wake of Trump attaching his name to the Kennedy Center and firing several board members — resulting in a cascading stream of cancellations, SF Ballet fans are urging the company to cancel its stop at the center in May during its upcoming <em>Mere Mortals </em>tour.</p><p><a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/thousands-sign-petition-for-sf-ballet-to-cancel-kennedy-center-performance/">As KRON4 reports</a>, a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/cancel-the-san-francisco-ballet-performance-at-kennedy-center">petition</a> urging the San Francisco Ballet to cancel its upcoming May performances at the Kennedy Center has received almost 7,000 signatures as of Sunday. As the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/san-francisco-ballet-cancel-kennedy-center-21284309.php">Chronicle reported</a> last month, the petition was created in early January following President Donald Trump’s dismissal of much of the center’s board, to which he made himself chairman, and renaming the center the “Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”</p><p>Per KRON4, groups such as the Washington National Opera, composer Philip Glass, the Martha Graham Dance Company, and Lin-Manuel Miranda have cancelled their performances at the center in recent weeks.</p><p><a href="https://abc7news.com/post/petition-urges-san-francisco-ballet-cancel-kennedy-center-tour-stop-company-opens-2026-season/18406171/">As KGO reports</a>, Daniel Detorie, who’s been an SF Ballet patron for 50 years, began the petition out of concern for the optics surrounding the ballet keeping the tour stop on its schedule in light of recent events.</p><p>"I love the ballet so much. I don't want to see them taint it," Detorie told KGO. "It does make a political statement by us going, and I just don't think it's the time to be there."</p><div align="center" style="width:100%; max-width:100%">
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</div><p></p><p>Per KRON4, Trump announced earlier this week he’ll be closing the center for renovations for two years starting July 4. </p><p>“This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday, per the Chronicle.</p><p>“The San Francisco Ballet, with its global prestige and rich history, deserves a platform that wholly respects and champions its intrinsic values,” states the petition. “We ask supporters and conscious citizens to stand with us in ensuring the performance reflects these ideals, rather than sacrificing them to political influences.”</p><p>SF Ballet supporters added their thoughts to the petition's comments.</p><p>"I’ve attended SF Ballet shows for over five decades, since I was a small child to the devoted supporter I am today," wrote one commenter. "I can’t imagine continuing to support SF Ballet if they tarnish their image by performing at the Kennedy Center under present circumstances." </p><p>"Yes, SF Ballet, art is political," they continued. "It’s past time to make the right choice."</p><p>"As a former SFB dancer and lifelong fan, I would be heartbroken for this beloved company to be associated with this heartless administration," wrote another commenter. "Stand strong in the values that make you a great company and cancel in protest to protect the legacy of this important arts institution!"</p><p><em>Image: Jennifer Stahl and San Francisco Ballet in Aszure Barton and Sam Shepherd's 'Mere Mortals' // © Chris Hardy</em></p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a href="https://sfist.com/2024/02/02/sf-ballet-premieres-mere-mortals-a-must-see-blend-of-mythology-technology-and-choreography/">SF Ballet Premieres ‘Mere Mortals,' a Must-See Blend of Mythology, Technology, and Choreography</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Petition Obama for Secretary of the Arts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Because we demand more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ">Piss Christ</a> in our life, take a moment to sign this online petition, if you will, so Barack Obama will create a Secretary ...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2009/01/09/petition_obama_for_secretary_of_the/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c242af144ad066cdcf63701</guid><category><![CDATA[Arts & Entertainment]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[petition]]></category><category><![CDATA[SF Politics]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brock Keeling]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:40:15 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/01/Serrano Andres, Piss Christ 1987-thumb-640xauto-54390.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/01/Serrano Andres, Piss Christ 1987-thumb-640xauto-54390.jpg" alt="Petition Obama for Secretary of the Arts"><p></p>

<p>Because we demand more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ">Piss Christ</a> in our life, take a moment to sign this online petition, if you will, so Barack Obama will create a Secretary of the Arts position.</p>

<blockquote>Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts.  While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position.  We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever.  Please take a moment to sign <a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html">this important petition </a>and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.</blockquote>

<p>What's more, maybe with this position created, we will see more arts in our schools, and less flag football. Shudder.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Petition To Get Wendy's (Back) In San Francisco]]></title><description><![CDATA[The <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/05/07/ask_curbed_sf_more_chains_in_the_castro.php">chain</a> over on Market Street closed shop a little around the time <a href="http://www.ktvu.com/new...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2008/05/07/petition_to_get/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c2431ff44ad066cdcf9cea8</guid><category><![CDATA[SF Restaurants, Food & Drink]]></category><category><![CDATA[petition]]></category><category><![CDATA[wendy's]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brock Keeling]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 15:27:17 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/04/entry160582_thumb-thumb-640xauto-204717.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/04/entry160582_thumb-thumb-640xauto-204717.jpg" alt="Petition To Get Wendy's (Back) In San Francisco"><p>The <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/05/07/ask_curbed_sf_more_chains_in_the_castro.php">chain</a> over on Market Street closed shop a little around the time <a href="http://www.ktvu.com/news/4404295/detail.html">chili-gate</a> happened. But Wendy's, at least according to their commercials, has bounced back with quite a diverse and tasty-looking menu. And now people demand a Wendy's back in SF. Do you? If so, go <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wendysinsf/">here</a> to sign the petition.</p>

<p>Oh, we know, insufferable foodies of the Bay Area; it wilts your heart to see us promote such a thing. But, really, the <a href="http://www.grainstormbaking.com/philosophy/">Fresh Food Philosophy movement</a>'s trickle down seems to have stalled. Until <a href="http://www.lesliesbrocco.com/">Leslie Sbrocco</a> starts <a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/food/">asking</a> the ladies who shop at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-lucas-market-san-francisco-2">Casa Lucas</a> for their thoughts on the crispness of the snow peas at Greens or Blue Plate, we want our fast food selection to remain broad.</p>

<p>Also, we want to try Wendy's new spicy chicken wrap thingy.</p>

<p><a href="http://nowseehear.tumblr.com/">Via</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>