Props A–D: Four Decisions That Define San Francisco’s Future
A Westside Observer Special Election Feature
Four ballot measures. Billions in consequences. And sharply divided political coalitions battling for control of San Francisco’s future.
$3.4 Billion Gamble: SF’s Power Grab Could Slam Ratepayers
A Multi-Billion Dollar Bet With Unknown Costs
City’s bid to seize infrastructure collides with rising costs—and a public left holding the bill.
Recently San Francisco has effectively offered $3.4 billion for PG&E’s local electrical facilities. This is in furtherance of taking over control of distributing electricity within the city. SFPUC would then take charge. Previously, $2.5 billion had been offered, but that was some years ago. In constant dollar terms, the recent offer is a bit more than a 5% increase. PG&E says the offer is billions too low. Its number will come in October. PG&E claims that SF’s proposal is not in customers’ interests, and electricity would be too expensive.
Coastal Commission Opens Ocean Beach to High-Rise Development.
A 10–1 vote clears the way for taller market-rate housing near San Francisco’s western shoreline — and raises a blunt question: who is the coast being protected for?
A Coastal Vote That Redraws the Westside Skyline
In an abandonment of their responsibility to protect the coast, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted 10 to 1 to approve high-rise, market-rate, residential buildings on the coast in the Outer Richmond and Outer Sunset. Eleven commissioners voted, but there was only one — Ray Jackson — who questioned the assumptions made by the City and the CCC staff.
Californians in the Slow Boil
Rising costs for housing, insurance, fuel, utilities, healthcare and taxes are squeezing residents one increase at a time.
The “boiling frog” fable is a metaphor warning against complacency. It suggests that if a frog is placed in tepid water that is slowly heated, it will fail to recognize the danger and die—unlike if it were dropped into boiling water and immediately jumped out.
SFUSD’s Puzzeling Attendance Strategy: Cut What Works
The district sets audacious academic goals — while reducing the staff and resources aimed at getting students into classrooms.
San Francisco Unified School District has set audacious goals to improve reading and math. But missing from the equation is a time-proven strategy: Make sure kids come to school.
Opinion | San Francisco Politics
Billionaire Ballot Blitz: Big Money Targets June Election
Money Goes In. Favors Come Out
San Francisco’s June 2 election is drawing heavy spending from billionaires funding “independent” committees like GrowSF and Neighbors for a Better San Francisco. Voters should remain wary: money in often means favors out.
City Hall’s North Beach Demolition Rush Hits a Wall
Board of Permit Appeals delays action after residents challenge an emergency permit, developer promises and the future of rent-controlled housing.
The Verdi Building in North Beach tells a story of neglect, greed, trampling of residents’ rights, and the political connections of an owner and his paid lobbyists and lawyers, who met with elected officials while the community was shut out.
The “Tar Baby” at Hunters Point: Radiation Findings Deepen Shipyard Cleanup Crisis
New contamination detections entangle regulators, residents and trust in a Superfund controversy that keeps getting harder to escape.
Officials again cite “lab error” as five radionuclides exceed cleanup goals near San Francisco neighborhoods
At the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a troubling pattern is tightening its grip.
Twin Peaks Showdown: Save the Land — or Watch as It is Built Over
Clock Ticks on Twin Peaks Land as Owner Pushes Preservation Deal
A quiet stretch of undeveloped land at the gateway to Twin Peaks has become the focus of an urgent neighborhood preservation campaign: donate the property for open space — or risk losing it to development. Midtown Terrace swings into action to secure rare open-space donation as developer sale looms.
Residents say SFCTA’s Brotherhood Way plan raises big questions about traffic, spending and who City Hall is really planning for.
Sparks Fly Over SFCTA’s Brotherhood Way Plan — Especially Traffic Lanes, Project Priorities
Neighborhood residents question Alemany Boulevard lane reductions, a proposed bridge and whether the plan reflects local priorities.
Governors, City Hall, schools, SFO — and the train that still has no track.
As we reach the May pinnacle of California’s June 2, 2026 primary election — early voting by mail starts May 4 — 62 candidates have presented themselves as worthy of serving four years as our next governor. They include 24 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 19 “No Party Preference” candidates — meaning they are Independents like me — one Libertarian, and one Peace and Freedom candidate.”
