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SF Politics

A city at the center of much political debate, both nationally and internationally, San Francisco has a complex history buried among its deep political roots. S.F. politics, and in fact, the many California policies that effect this city are ever-changing.

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Reporting from across San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Disgraced Former SF DBI Inspector Bernie Curran Gets Sentenced to Two More Years In Prison

Disgraced Former SF DBI Inspector Bernie Curran Gets Sentenced to Two More Years In Prison

The feds already sentenced ex-DBI inspector Bernie Curran to a year and a day in prison back in July for taking bribes to grant permits, and now DA Brooke Jenkins has won another guilty plea on him, and got two more years added to his prison term.

Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court Program Starts Today, Can Force Severely Mentally Ill People Into Treatment

Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court Program Starts Today, Can Force Severely Mentally Ill People Into Treatment

San Francisco is one of seven California counties that begins Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court program today, a new system that can force mentally ill people into conservatorship and involuntary treatment.

Newsom Appoints Laphonza Butler, President of Emily's List, to Fill Feintstein's Senate Seat

Newsom Appoints Laphonza Butler, President of Emily's List, to Fill Feintstein's Senate Seat

Laphonza Butler was set to be sworn in Monday as only the third Black woman ever to serve in the U.S. Senate, and the second openly lesbian senator, after Governor Gavin Newsom moved swiftly to make his choice to fill Dianne Feinstein's seat.

Trump Tries to Win Over California Republicans by Advocating Violence in GOP Convention Speech Friday

Trump Tries to Win Over California Republicans by Advocating Violence in GOP Convention Speech Friday

Republican presidential nominee frontrunner and alleged criminal Donald Trump attacked California for its crime, forests, homelessness, and electric vehicles, while also complaining about Nancy Pelosi and alleged election fraud.

Now Elon Musk Says SF Supervisor Dean Preston ‘Should Go To Prison’

Now Elon Musk Says SF Supervisor Dean Preston ‘Should Go To Prison’

Twitter/X owner Elon Musk continues his obsession with District 5 supervisor Dean Preston, on Friday tweeting that “Dean Preston should go to prison,” prompting the tech PAC in line for Musk’s promised $100k donation to defeat Preston to say they’ll refuse the money.

An 'RGB-Level Disaster'? Or Will Republicans Make Nice and Let Democrats Fill Feinstein's Seat on the Judiciary Committee?

An 'RGB-Level Disaster'? Or Will Republicans Make Nice and Let Democrats Fill Feinstein's Seat on the Judiciary Committee?

While the rumblings shall grow louder in the coming days about Governor Gavin Newsom's potential pick to appoint to Dianne Feinstein's now vacant seat in the Senate, one thing seems certain: Republicans are going to use this vacancy to their advantage however they can.

Will Newsom Appoint Barbara Lee to the Senate? Or Send In Shirley Weber as 'Interim'?

Will Newsom Appoint Barbara Lee to the Senate? Or Send In Shirley Weber as 'Interim'?

Governor Gavin Newsom is now faced with the awkward moment he has not wanted to face, with a second senate seat to fill by appointment, and a two-year-old pledge he may have come to regret.

California Congresswoman Was Among Last to See Feinstein Alive, Says She 'Worked to Her Dying Day'

California Congresswoman Was Among Last to See Feinstein Alive, Says She 'Worked to Her Dying Day'

"I was the lucky one," says former House Rep. Jane Harman of Los Angeles after she revealed that she had a 5 p.m. meeting with Senator Dianne Feinstein at her home in Washington D.C. Thursday.

Oakland Police Chief Search Halted as Police Commissioners Boycott Their Own Meeting

Oakland Police Chief Search Halted as Police Commissioners Boycott Their Own Meeting

Some next-level dysfunction in the search for a new Oakland police chief, as the members of the Oakland Police Commission boycotted their own meeting Thursday, denying the commission quorum or the ability to make a vote.

Dianne Feinstein, Lioness of the Senate and Onetime SF Mayor, Dies at Age 90

Dianne Feinstein, Lioness of the Senate and Onetime SF Mayor, Dies at Age 90

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the first woman to represent California in the Senate and a onetime mayor of San Francisco who led the city through a tragic and tumultuous time, died Thursday night at age 90.

SF Is Among 50 City Governments and Organizations Asking the Supreme Court to Weigh In On Homeless Camping

SF Is Among 50 City Governments and Organizations Asking the Supreme Court to Weigh In On Homeless Camping

Democrats in multiple western states are making strange bedfellows with Republicans in a push to get the conservative-majority Supreme Court to settle the legal dispute over whether homeless people should be allowed to camp on public property without penalty.

Mayor London Breed Proposes Linking Cash Assistance With Compelling Recipients Into Drug Treatment

Mayor London Breed Proposes Linking Cash Assistance With Compelling Recipients Into Drug Treatment

"SF is a city of compassion, but we also need accountability," Mayor London Breed said on Tuesday, announcing a new proposed policy of withholding cash assistance payments to addicts unless they agree to undergo drug treatment.

Daniel Lurie Makes Candidacy Official For SF Mayor, Says There's 'Hunger For Change'

Daniel Lurie Makes Candidacy Official For SF Mayor, Says There's 'Hunger For Change'

Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie is positioning himself as an "outsider" candidate for San Francisco mayor as he makes his 2024 candidacy official today. And he's promising, among other things, to compel more mentally ill people into treatment even if it's against their will.

President Biden Coming Back to SF and Bay Area This Week, Mostly For Fundraising

President Biden Coming Back to SF and Bay Area This Week, Mostly For Fundraising

Biden’s back in the Bay Area Tuesday, and is scheduled to swing into San Francisco on Wednesday, in what appears to largely be a fundraising swing with a smattering of technology policy thrown in.

SF Will Resume Encampment Clearing For Those Who Refuse Shelter, Breed Says, Based on Court Guidance

SF Will Resume Encampment Clearing For Those Who Refuse Shelter, Breed Says, Based on Court Guidance

Mayor London Breed says that new appeals-court guidance allows SF to resume homeless encampment sweeps, based on language about the meaning of "involuntary" homelessness, and a memo Monday announced plans to restart the sweeps.

Oakland A’s Fans Teaming Up With Nevada Schoolteachers to Block Team's Move in ‘Schools Over Stadiums’ Campaign

Bay Area Sports

Oakland A’s Fans Teaming Up With Nevada Schoolteachers to Block Team's Move in ‘Schools Over Stadiums’ Campaign

An unlikely alliance could be an ace up the sleeve of A’s fans hoping to keep the team in Oakland, as they’re teaming up with the Nevada State Educators Association teachers’ union to push a ballot measure to block the new Las Vegas stadium.

It Sure Looks Like Levi Strauss Heir Daniel Lurie Is Running for Mayor Against London Breed

It Sure Looks Like Levi Strauss Heir Daniel Lurie Is Running for Mayor Against London Breed

Levi Strauss heir and former anti-poverty group Tipping Point Community CEO Daniel Lurie just submitted preliminary filings to run for SF mayor in 2024, and he’s expected to officially announce on Tuesday.

Elon Musk Claims He’ll Spend $100,000 to Beat Dean Preston In 2024 Election

Elon Musk Claims He’ll Spend $100,000 to Beat Dean Preston In 2024 Election

Is it a blessing or a curse when perhaps the most widely loathed and cartoonish CEO in tech vows he’ll spend $100,000 to defeat you in an election? Supervisor Dean Preston will find out, as Elon Musk claimed in a tweet that he’ll pledge a hundred grand to beat the District 5 supervisor.

Pro-49ers Santa Clara Councilmembers File Ethics Charges Against Mayor and 49ers Critic Lisa Gillmor

Pro-49ers Santa Clara Councilmembers File Ethics Charges Against Mayor and 49ers Critic Lisa Gillmor

The mud is flying both ways between Jed York’s critics and allies at Santa Clara City Hall, as York’s supporters just lodged a series of ethics complaints at Mayor Lisa Gillmor, whom Jed spent $2.5 million unsuccessfully trying to defeat.

Bohemian Grove Again Links Clarence Thomas to Likely Ethics Violation, This Time With Koch Brothers

Bohemian Grove Again Links Clarence Thomas to Likely Ethics Violation, This Time With Koch Brothers

ProPublica continues hammering away at investigating Clarence Thomas, and now they've uncovered at least two donor events hosted by the Koch Brothers in recent years that Thomas attended — all while the Kochs and their advocacy group Stand Together have had cases before the Supreme Court.

Supervisor Peskin Proposes Moving the Golden Gate Ferris Wheel to His District, at Fisherman’s Wharf

Supervisor Peskin Proposes Moving the Golden Gate Ferris Wheel to His District, at Fisherman’s Wharf

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who was not a fan of putting the SkyStar Observation Wheel in Golden Gate Park, is now a fan of putting it in his own district in time for November’s APEC Summit.

Sacramento County DA Sues City of Sacramento Over Homeless Encampments

Sacramento County DA Sues City of Sacramento Over Homeless Encampments

The latest homeless encampment lawsuit could be dubbed ‘Sacramento v. Sacramento,’ as the county’s DA has sued the city for not cleaning up homeless encampments.

Hilariously, Russian Hill Residents Banned Street Sweeping Years Ago, But Now They Regret That

Hilariously, Russian Hill Residents Banned Street Sweeping Years Ago, But Now They Regret That

Denizens of Russian Hill made a choice almost 40 years ago to sacrifice well-swept streets in exchange for hassle-free parking. And they still don't have to move their cars on street-sweeping days, but things are kind of a mess and some residents are trying to reverse course, all these years later.

SF Supervisors on Board With Reparations Plan, But Those $5 Million Payments Are Looking Unlikely

SF Supervisors on Board With Reparations Plan, But Those $5 Million Payments Are Looking Unlikely

The SF Board of Supervisors looked ready to approve the recommendations of the local reparations committee for Black San Franciscans on Tuesday, but this seems to be going more in the direction of cultural districts and educational efforts rather than cash payments.

Former Congresswoman Jackie Speier Can't Stay Away From Politics, Will Run For County Supervisor

Former Congresswoman Jackie Speier Can't Stay Away From Politics, Will Run For County Supervisor

Not long after retiring from Congress, former San Mateo County Rep. Jackie Speier is running for office again, this time for the same county supervisor seat she held almost 40 years ago.