Former legislator, democratic socialist, housing advocate, founder of Tenants Together. He/Him. Opinions my own, reposts not endorsements.
The Cow Palace in Daly City is a treasured cultural institution for the people who loved San Francisco and the Bay Area before AI came to town. It's home to the annual Dickens Christmas Fair a month long community costume party and immersive theater experience providing Victorian delight since 1970.
Mayor Lurie could use his clout to lobby for emergency repeal of Costa Hawkins, followed by immediate control of the offering price of rental units. He could do this and lower rents. He’s choosing not to in order to deliver for the real estate industry, corporate landlords, and his investor friends.
It is political malpractice for Democratic senators to be helping Trump fill judicial vacancies four months before the midterms. Completely unserious people.
I Am Begging Senate Democrats to Do Anything Other Than Help Confirm Trump JudgesFour months before the 2026 midterms, three Democratic lawmakers have decided to give a historically unpopular president a little boost.ballsandstrikes.substack.com"SF leaders have relentlessly promoted the city as the epicenter of the artificial intelligence industry. With local titans OpenAI and Anthropic poised for two of the biggest stock market debuts ever—potentially topping $1 trillion each—how much of that wealth will flow back to the city? Not much"
OpenAI and Anthropic could go public for trillions. Will S.F. cash in?San Francisco leaders have promoted the city as the epicenter of AI. With local titans poised for two of the biggest stock market debuts ever, how much of that wealth will flow back to the city?www.sfchronicle.com“Add to the list of things The City doesn’t need: op-eds written by a machine that has never flinched at the sound of someone saying “San Fran.”
Word on the Street: Baghdad-by-the-BotConsider this your notice: The Examiner’s opinion editor has read one too many AI-generated submissions.www.sfexaminer.com“The official account for Spain’s national football league shared an altered image of the country’s celebration, snipping the US president out of photos after he refused to leave the dais. The FIFA World Cup account also cropped Trump out of the shot, leaving only the president’s shoulder in view”
Spain Humiliates Trump After He Refuses to Get Out of Victory PhotosDonald Trump presented Spain’s World Cup team with the trophy ... and then refused to leave.newrepublic.comBillionaires like Larson could solve homelessness and hunger in San Francisco overnight. Instead, he’s pouring tens of millions into policing, mass surveillance, and buying politicians. San Francisco needs to stand up to Trump-loving tech billionaires before it’s too late
Billionaire Chris Larsen gifts more millions to SF's growing surveillance state - 48 hillsPolice Commission approves another huge donation to SFPD's Real Time Investigation Center, whose operations have not been secure.48hills.org“The best time to start a public bank is 20 years ago,” Misha Steier (Public Bank Coalition) said. “the second best time is now.”
After ten years, advocates finally have a chance to make public bank a reality - 48 hillsJust a vision in 2016, it's now coming before the voters. But will Mayor Lurie stand in the way?48hills.orgThese war criminals are definitely scared of being brought up on charges. “The highest compliment that can be paid to the International Criminal Court is that the Trump administration is terrified of it.”
Trumpworld Is Scared of the International Criminal CourtMarco Rubio says the administration will try to “dismantle” the ICC. Who is he trying to protect?newrepublic.com“Here’s an idea for a media company: don’t give your top prize to a billionaire who bankrupted one media outlet and is funding a machine to harass the rest. Seems easy enough.”
Peter Thiel Snags Top Prize from Politico’s OwnerPolitico’s parent company honors the “Antichrist” lecturer — without mentioning the $50 million he gave the CEO's sonwww.thenerdreich.comAt a time of surging evictions in SF, the Board of Supervisors just voted to increase evictions
San Francisco to Require Drug-Free Living at New Permanent Supportive Housing | KQEDResidents caught using drugs could face eviction or relocation to other housing units and homeless shelters under the city’s controversial new housing policy.www.kqed.org“Trump and his MAGA fascist party have a desperate new strategy for the midterm elections: a fake hysteria over “communists.” “This dangerously unhinged propaganda comes from Unhumans, a genocide-themed 2024 book that depicts liberals as bloodthirsty demons hellbent on murder”
'Unhumans' Playbook Explains Trump's 'Communist' Fixation“It’s important to use ‘communist’ this way as a slur.”www.thenerdreich.comThe market fundamentalists have succeeded in effectively eliminating the requirement that developers include affordable homes in new construction in San Francisco. With this change, new private developments here will be exclusively for millionaires
San Francisco drops affordable housing requirement from 15% to 5%The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to reduce the rate after the city controller warned new housing was too difficult to build.missionlocal.org
Mahmood, who sits on the SF Democratic Party’s official committee on sexual assault, continues to endorse a billionaire-allied candidate despite sexual assault allegations that the Mayor’s office calls credible. The allegations were made public 10 days ago. Other officials have unendorsed.
Bilal Mahmood is reconsidering his Manny Yekutiel endorsementThe District 5 supe’s support of the embattled District 8 candidate rests on the SF Dems’ investigation into sexual assault claimsf.gazetteer.co
ICYMI: New report on swing voters from @dataforprogress.org spells good news for economic populists. Policies that will make swing voters support Dems: - Taxing the rich - Medicare for All - AI regulation More in my story: newrepublic.com/article/2128...
https://newrepublic.com/article/212861/2026-midterms-poll-swing-voters-democratst.coData for ProgressNEW: Our first report on the swing voters of the 2026 midterms finds that when they are asked which policies would make them definitely vote for a Democrat, the most selected option is “raise taxes on the wealthy,” followed by “create a Medicare for All health care system.”