News Columnists

During my 20 years in San Francisco, I’ve enjoyed living in different neighborhoods.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>

How San Francisco changed my life

My devotion to this mystifying city is tied to the way it made me feel when I was in my early 20s

Redfin’s online home-buying service becoming available in S.F. enables people selling and purchasing single-family homesto close a deal without a real estate professional.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>

Virtual home-buying in The City: Not a revolution … yet

Service new to San Francisco another blow in humans vs. technology war

There are resources for domestic violence survivors in increasingly dangerous situations during the pandemic. <ins>(Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach Screenshot)</ins>

COVID-19 has led to fewer options for domestic violence survivors

But Bay Area nonprofits continue to provide crucial service

A woman receives a flu vaccine shot in Lima, Peru. (Shutterstock)

Debate begins over who should get COVID-19 vaccine first

City health officials warn it could be summer or fall before most people can gain access

A woman receives a flu vaccine shot in Lima, Peru. (Shutterstock)
One ride that I thought would be a typical late-night fare had an unexpected impact. (Shutterstock)

When your luck runs wild with a late-night fare

A particularly talkative rider has a surprising proposition

One ride that I thought would be a typical late-night fare had an unexpected impact. (Shutterstock)
Sea turtles and other marine wildlife, sadly, are eating plastic bottles. (Courtesy Rich Carey/Shutterstock)

As plastic pollution wreaks havoc, should SF think bigger?

Newly elected Supervisor Connie Chan is ready to take on plastic industry

Sea turtles and other marine wildlife, sadly, are eating plastic bottles. (Courtesy Rich Carey/Shutterstock)
Alvin Orloff collaborated with colorful San Francisco counterculture figure Bambi Lake in the recently reissued “The Unsinkable Bambi Lake.” <ins>(Samantha Laurey/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Remembering counterculture legend Bambi Lake

Bookseller-writer Alvin Orloff had ‘loads of fun’ working on the performer’s tell-all memoir

Alvin Orloff collaborated with colorful San Francisco counterculture figure Bambi Lake in the recently reissued “The Unsinkable Bambi Lake.” <ins>(Samantha Laurey/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Before the tech industry took over, San Francisco was doing quite well. (Courtesy Michael Vi/Shutterstock)

The audacity of the tech industry is staggering

It’s like colonizers who leave a country when they can’t get what they want anymore

Before the tech industry took over, San Francisco was doing quite well. (Courtesy Michael Vi/Shutterstock)
During the pandemic, online searches for real estate have mushroomed because we’re fantasizing due to boredom. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

Redfin, take me away

COVID has become the golden age of real estate search portals

During the pandemic, online searches for real estate have mushroomed because we’re fantasizing due to boredom. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
Indecline, an art activist collective in San Francisco, transformed a billboard into an editorial with a message blasting immigration policies of Donald Trump’s administration. (Screenshot, Indecline website)

Has immigration fallen off the administration’s radar? Not a chance

Enforced as executive orders, Trump’s hardline policies are proceeding, against will of the people

Indecline, an art activist collective in San Francisco, transformed a billboard into an editorial with a message blasting immigration policies of Donald Trump’s administration. (Screenshot, Indecline website)
Psilocybin magic mushrooms (Shutterstock)

‘Magic mushrooms’ moving into the mainstream

Efforts to decriminalize psychedelics could follow several different paths

Psilocybin magic mushrooms (Shutterstock)
It’s disheartening to see that Bill Graham Civic’s marquee isn’t announcing upcoming concerts. (Screenshot/Bill Graham Civic Twitter)

A cruise through The City with the ghosts of rides past

I take my time and don’t even mind the occasional traffic jams

It’s disheartening to see that Bill Graham Civic’s marquee isn’t announcing upcoming concerts. (Screenshot/Bill Graham Civic Twitter)
Those who stick around San Francisco on long holiday weekends can enjoy a slower pace, uncrowded streets and beloved institutions like cable cars. <ins>(Kevin Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

These empty San Francisco streets: A holiday dream

We’re here because we can be, and because we have nowhere else to be

Those who stick around San Francisco on long holiday weekends can enjoy a slower pace, uncrowded streets and beloved institutions like cable cars. <ins>(Kevin Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite, which supplies water to San Francisco, is among the concerns of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which is undergoing a change of leadership. <ins>(Courtesy SFPUC)</ins>

Changes in leadership at SFPUC spark concern, hope for future water policy

Will agency’s new commissioner continue to support Big Ag?

Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite, which supplies water to San Francisco, is among the concerns of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which is undergoing a change of leadership. <ins>(Courtesy SFPUC)</ins>
Arturo Mendez, co-curator of the Mission Arts Performance Project, invites artists of all types to participate in the free-wheeling community program. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Mission Arts Performance Project could be poised for a comeback

Before the pandemic, the Mission Arts Performance Project, the roving multimedia art…

Arturo Mendez, co-curator of the Mission Arts Performance Project, invites artists of all types to participate in the free-wheeling community program. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
When it comes to giving gifts in 2020, it would do a world of good if people patronized independent artists and sellers rather than the behemoth that is Amazon. <ins>(Courtesy Pxfuel)</ins>

Do not shop on Amazon for the holidays this year

Do support crafters whose brilliant creations are made with love

When it comes to giving gifts in 2020, it would do a world of good if people patronized independent artists and sellers rather than the behemoth that is Amazon. <ins>(Courtesy Pxfuel)</ins>
With the loss of open houses due to the pandemic, home buyers are relying heavily on online real estate sources. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

Lack of open houses brings COVID casualties

Viewing hundreds of properties is out, hyper-targeted online searching is in

With the loss of open houses due to the pandemic, home buyers are relying heavily on online real estate sources. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
John Yang, president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice and a former undocumented immigrant, said the 2020 election outcome felt personally meaningful to him. (Screenshot)

There are very good reasons for liberal optimism

The 2020 election produced the most diverse, enthusiastic electorate in history

John Yang, president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice and a former undocumented immigrant, said the 2020 election outcome felt personally meaningful to him. (Screenshot)
Residents line up outside the Latino Task Force's Mission Resource Hub for COVID-19 testing. (Courtesy Mike Chen)

As COVID spikes, neighborhood testing sites near capacity

Temporary closure of city facility highlights lack of sufficient testing resources

Residents line up outside the Latino Task Force's Mission Resource Hub for COVID-19 testing. (Courtesy Mike Chen)
With voters supporting ride-hail drivers working for Uber and Lyft, the future of the cab industry is in serious doubt. (Shutterstock photo)

The SF taxi industry is doomed

Prop. 22 passing means no one will be taking cabs

With voters supporting ride-hail drivers working for Uber and Lyft, the future of the cab industry is in serious doubt. (Shutterstock photo)