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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.

Lurie’s ‘Family Zoning’ Proposal Starts Slogging Through City Hall, With Both NIMBY and YIMBY Opposition

Mayor Lurie’s “family zoning” plan could be his signature accomplishment and add 36,000 housing units citywide. Or it could get people pissed enough to recall him. We’ll start learning which this week when it heads to the Planning Commission.

John Burton, ‘Liberal Lion’ and Architect of Famed SF Political Machine, Has Died at 92

A titanic figure in the California Democratic party in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s, and co-architect of the “Willie Brown-John Burton political machine,” former statehouse leader and US Rep. John Burton has died while in hospice care.

Long Live Republican Measles: West Coast States and Florida Go Opposite Directions on Vaccines

On the same day that California, Oregon, and Washington announced a new pro-vaccine coalition, offering a three-state vaccine guidance program in the absence of sane, scientific advice from the CDC, Florida's anti-vaxx surgeon general announced the state would drop all its vaccine mandates.

Deploying National Guard In Los Angeles Was Illegal, Rules Federal Judge In SF

A federal judge has ruled that the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines in Los Angeles in June constituted an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.

SF Dems Deadlock Over Engardio Recall Endorsement, Leaving Him Swinging In the Wind

It probably wouldn't have mattered much at this point, but the SF Democratic County Central Committee is not endorsing for or against the recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio, after a deadlocked vote.

Recall Engardio Race Delves Into Race Drama, Possible Political Dirty Tricks in Final Weeks

Yes, that is a "Simpsons” meme in Supervisor Joel Engardio’s latest campaign video to fight the recall election, as some seemingly race-based messaging and alleged dirty tricks mark the final three-week sprint toward that special election.

California Republicans Already Spending Millions on Mailers to Fight Newsom’s Redistricting Ballot Measure

Your mailbox may already be crammed with mailers from Republicans on a warpath against Gavin Newsom’s California redistricting measure, even though Newsom’s campaign is only five days old.

Trump, Gunning For More Legal and Militaristic Chaos, Doubles Down on Threat to Bring Troops to SF

Whether he's legally permitted to or not, Herr Trump is doubling down on his earlier threat to send National Guard troops to combat "crime" in Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco.

Kamala Harris Is Doing a Book Tour, Coming to San Francisco on October 5

It’s still not clear what Kamala Harris’s next act will be after losing the 2024 election, but for now she’s on a book tour, promoting her apparent behind-the-scenes account of her three-month presidential campaign called “107 Days.”

Elon Musk Getting Sued Over His Sham $1 Million Trump Election ‘Sweepstakes’

While Trump was complaining about a rigged election, his boy Elon Musk was running a rigged sweepstakes for $1 million that people who entered could not actually win, and now he’s facing a class action lawsuit over it.

The Trump Administration Tried to Subpoena Medical Records of Children Seeking Gender-Affirming Care

In one of the most disgusting and fascistic moves by this second Trump administration — which is saying a lot! — a new report details how the Justice Department tried to subpoena the medical records of children seeking gender-affirming care in Philadelphia.

Business & Tech

Bed Bath & Beyond’s Trumper CEO Says the Company Will Refuse to Reopen Any Stores in California

The executive chair of the bankrupt Bed Bath & Beyond claims the company will start reopening its shuttered stores, but will refuse to open any California stores, because he says it’s impossible to do business in the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Former Santa Clara City Manager Sues City, Claiming Harassment Allegedly Orchestrated by 49ers Officials

The fired former City Manager of Santa Clara had long raised eyebrows for her salary and benefits package, but now says some of that criticism was stage-managed by 49ers team brass, who did not appreciate her scrutiny of Levi’s Stadium.

Gavin Newsom Demands Answers on Why ICE Agents Crashed His Press Conference

Masked and armed US Customs and Border Patrol agents showed up to menace a Gavin Newsom event last week, and now Newsom is demanding records explaining why, and whether Fox News somehow had a hand in this.

Sheng Thao’s Lawyer May Try to Move Bribery Trial Out of Oakland, Which Would Further Delay the Trial

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s lawyer is considering a bid to move her bribery trial out of Oakland, and in other news, it seems Sheng Thao may have broken up with the boyfriend whose $95k no-show job is at the heart of this scandal.

Newsom Rallies for Redistricting, But Border Patrol Agents Show Up to Harass Crowd

Governor Gavin Newsom gave a fiery speech Thursday to launch his campaign for a November ballot measure to redistrict the state, just like Texas is doing for Trump. But US Border Patrol agents showed up outside the rally to bully people.

Trump Administration on Spree of Firing Immigration Judges, Even While They’re Trying to Hire More

More than 50 immigration judges, including a number in the Bay Area, have been fired nationwide since Trump took office in January, even while the government is simultaneously hiring more immigration judges, just probably Trumpier ones.

Federal Court Hearing Concludes Regarding Trump's Deployment of National Guard Troops in LA

A federal court case with major implications for Donald Trump's agenda — namely his stated intent to send federal troops into US cities run by Democrats that he perceives to be crime-ridden — had its three-day hearing this week.

Mayor Barbara Lee Reacts to Oakland Being Mentioned In Trump's Crime Speech

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee doesn't take kindly to her city being lumped in to Trump's fear-mongering campaign relating to urban crime, which he is using to justify deploying the National Guard in DC.

Former SF City Hall Official Harlan Kelly Appeals His Corruption Conviction, From Prison

Having served about one year of his four-year prison sentence, former SF Public Utilities Commission general manager Harlan Kelly is appealing his conviction for City Hall fraud and lying on a bank loan application.

AWOL Texas Democrats Huddling With Newsom, Pelosi in Sacramento to Discuss Redistricting

Some of the Texas Democratic elected officials who’ve left their state in hopes of thwarting Trump’s redistricting plans are now in California, talking strategy with Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis Drops Out of Governor's Race, Will Run For Treasurer

Deciding early that she doesn't want to do battle with Xavier Becerra and Katie Porter, Eleni Kounalakis dropped out of the 2026 race for California governor on Friday.

Many Americans Dislike Trump and Newsom, But They Hate Elon Musk More, According to Gallup Poll

It's fairly bad news for California Governor Gavin Newsom that he has quite a bit of ground to make up if he plans to run for president in a couple years, according to a new Gallup poll. But Americans really don't like Elon Musk anymore.

SF Sheriff Gets Blowback Over Puzzling Endorsement of MAGA Crusader for Governor

The registered-Democrat and relatively left-leaning SF Sheriff Paul Miyamoto shocked the political class with his unexpected endorsement of a hard-right MAGA firebrand for governor, but says it’s just because the two of them are friends.

Kamala Harris Says She Won't Run for Governor, Setting Stage For Another Presidential Run

Former Vice President and Bay Area native Kamala Harris will not be throwing her hat in the ring for the California governor's race next year, as she had been widely expected to do. But does that mean she's going to run for president again?