San Francisco, CA local news

San Francisco supervisor bill would legalize home-kitchen food sales

San Francisco Rule Changes Nearly 8-Year Push to Bring Home Kitchens to SF

San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to let residents cook and sell food from their home kitchens, opting the city into a state law that took effect in 2019. The ordinance from District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder creates a city permit costing $828 a year.

Why it matters: If the bill passes, San Francisco home cooks can sell meals legally without a $1,000-a-month commissary rental, opening food businesses to low-income vendors.

San Francisco Unified plans to move Bernal Heights early education classrooms; parents call it a closure

San Francisco Built World 6-Month Dispute

About 80 preschool and transitional kindergarten students at Junipero Serra Annex in Bernal Heights will have different classrooms next fall. The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) told families in September that the program will move to Mission Education Center and John McLaren Early Education School in fall 2027.

Why it matters: A repair bill can move a school without the formal closure review California requires, leaving families to fight over labels.

Bay Area voters approve sales taxes to fund transit

San Francisco Rule Changes 8 days

Bay Area voters approved the five-county Regional Transit Measure by a wider margin than early counts showed, with 63% support across about 1.7 million ballots as of Nov. 9. The 0.5% sales tax in four counties and 1% in San Francisco is expected to raise about $980 million a year for 14 years, starting in 2027.

Why it matters: The taxes head off planned station closures and route cuts, but the agencies still cannot cover their operating costs.

Nordstrom Rack announces Union Square return three years after closing downtown stores

San Francisco Money Moves Three-and-a-half-year retail reversal

Nordstrom will open a 51,500-square-foot Nordstrom Rack at 2 Stockton St. in fall 2027, returning to Union Square three years after closing its downtown San Francisco stores. The building is owned by Invesco Real Estate. Other retailers are moving the same way: Uniqlo reopened on Market Street on Oct. 9, and SFMade opened a shop for 105 local makers on Geary Street on Nov. 10.

Why it matters: A Union Square rebound restores the foot traffic and sales tax base that anchor San Francisco's downtown economy.

SFMade opens permanent Union Square store for local makers

San Francisco Built World Ongoing

SFMade had run temporary pop-up markets before. On Nov. 10, the nonprofit opened a permanent storefront at 373 Geary St. in Union Square, giving more than 100 Bay Area makers a downtown place to sell without running their own shop.

Why it matters: If the store works, it gives San Francisco makers a downtown sales channel without the overhead of their own shops.

San Francisco's 'Fab 4' freeway rebuild brings weekend closures through 2028

San Francisco Built World Multi-year freeway rehabilitation

Caltrans finished the last southbound repaving weekend for Highway 101's Hospital Curve on Nov. 9 and lists the repaving as complete. Northbound lanes stayed open throughout the shutdown.

Why it matters: The worst of the Hospital Curve shutdowns is over, but Fab 4 construction will keep squeezing San Francisco traffic into 2028.

Westbound I-80 through San Francisco closes for weekend repairs

San Francisco Built World Ongoing rehabilitation program

Westbound I-80 reopened at 3:32 a.m. Oct. 26, several hours ahead of schedule, after Caltrans laid a polyester concrete overlay on the 71-year-old Bayshore Freeway viaducts. The closure between Fifth and 15th streets had backed up traffic about 45 minutes from the Bay Bridge toll plaza on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Why it matters: Drivers into San Francisco face weekend detours and overnight Bay Bridge lane closures through mid-December as Caltrans repairs four major freeways.

San Francisco voters split on two affordable-housing measures

San Francisco Rule Changes Election night through Nov. 9 count

San Francisco voters approved Proposition C, which will expand the city's affordable housing trust fund, with about 82% support. They rejected Proposition I, which would have sent half the transfer tax on $10 million-plus property sales to housing, 52% to 48%.

Why it matters: Prop. C gives affordable housing a larger, steadier stream; Prop. I's defeat leaves the transfer tax open to cuts developers have sought.

Thousands of SF mail-in ballots arrive in torn envelopes after USPS machine error

San Francisco Built World Election-mail incident, from Oct. 7 mailing through the post-election count

San Francisco's Nov. 3 election is over, and the count is nearly finished. As of Nov. 9, the Department of Elections had about 1,800 ballots left to process, including roughly 900 vote-by-mail and 900 provisional ballots, which are cast at polling places and checked before counting. The department counted 5,094 more ballots that day and planned another results update at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Why it matters: Torn envelopes tested confidence in mail voting, but San Francisco's count shows most returned ballots were accepted.

CEO of Lurie-aligned downtown nonprofit departs after a year

San Francisco Money Moves 18 months

Shola Olatoye was hired as the first CEO of the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation to scale up Mayor Daniel Lurie's private fundraising vehicle for downtown. A little more than a year later, she is out, and the organization has not said why.

Why it matters: The DDC is central to Lurie's private-funding plan for downtown; its leadership turnover could affect project timelines.

San Francisco approves public bank framework, rejects housing set-aside

San Francisco Rule Changes Nine-year public bank campaign

San Francisco voters approved Proposition B, authorizing the city to create a municipal finance corporation that can lend for affordable housing, small business and climate projects. The campaign declared victory on Nov. 9, with the measure at 52.3% in the latest count after trailing on election night.

Why it matters: San Francisco is testing whether a city can run a lending institution without deposits, while its affordable-housing money stays subject to annual budget fights.

San Francisco declares emergency to speed El Niño storm prep

San Francisco Rule Changes Seven weeks of storm preparation

San Francisco's El Niño emergency is in its third week, and the water has not finished with the waterfront. The National Weather Service extended a coastal flood advisory through Friday, with Tuesday's high tide forecast at 1.5 feet above normal at the city gauge.

Why it matters: High tides can flood low-lying streets even without rain, and the city's stockpile is the buffer between a wet winter and a repeat of 1998.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky pledges $100 million to San Francisco parks

San Francisco Money Moves Single-Day Pledge

San Francisco's parks department is set to get the first $39 million of a $100 million gift from Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky, the largest single donation the department has received. The money covers five projects, including a South of Market park now due in 2028 instead of 2031 and Sunday hours at the Garfield Square pool.

Why it matters: One donor speeds up five San Francisco park projects, while the city decides where the other $61 million goes.

San Francisco store owner held liable over illegal gambling den

San Francisco Rule Changes 26-Month Case, First Trial

A San Francisco judge has ordered the owner of a shuttered Tenderloin corner store to pay $151,000 in civil penalties for running what the city described as an illegal gambling den and drug-paraphernalia market. The ruling against Mohsen Mused is the first of the city's eight Tenderloin market lawsuits to go to trial.

Why it matters: The ruling gives San Francisco a tested civil route to close stores tied to drug markets, with seven cases still pending.

Second Summit opens used outdoor gear consignment shop in Lower Haight

San Francisco Money Moves First year of operation

For years, Bay Area skiers and climbers who wanted to sell used gear had to drive at least four hours to a consignment shop in Tahoe or seven hours to Bishop. In 2026, Second Summit opened at 583 Haight St. in the Lower Haight, giving San Francisco its first dedicated outdoor gear consignment store.

Why it matters: Bay Area outdoor enthusiasts can now buy and sell used gear locally instead of driving hours to Tahoe or Bishop.

Lawsuit challenges fast-track approval for Marina Safeway housing plan

San Francisco Rule Changes Ongoing Legal Challenge

San Francisco gave final approval on November 6 to an 848-apartment redevelopment of the Marina Safeway, clearing it under a 2022 state law that skips public hearings and environmental review. Developer Align Real Estate would build 22- and 18-story towers above a rebuilt grocery store. Setting aside 86 apartments for low-income households earned a 49.3% density bonus, which let the project exceed the site's 40-foot zoning limit.

Why it matters: This case decides whether California's streamlined housing law can deliver large projects in a city required to build 82,000 homes by 2031.

San Francisco and states sue Toast over subscription fees and cancellation

San Francisco Rule Changes Ongoing litigation

The Federal Trade Commission, California and seven states sued Toast on Oct. 29, 2026, alleging hidden fees, add-ons restaurants did not order, and subscriptions that are hard to cancel. California's claims were filed by Los Angeles County Counsel and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu.

Why it matters: If the FTC wins, restaurant software contracts could face limits on cancellation fees and automatic renewals.

Castro Muni Station's new four-stop elevator opens to riders

San Francisco Built World 10-Year Accessibility Project

The new four-stop elevator at Castro Muni Station opened to riders on November 5, 2026. It links the Market Street sidewalk, Harvey Milk Plaza and the station concourse; the platform-level stop is for maintenance and emergency medical crews, not the public.

Why it matters: A second elevator gives riders with mobility impairments a backup route between Market Street and the station concourse.

San Francisco voters keep Great Highway car-free and expand mayor's power

San Francisco Rule Changes 2026 San Francisco election

San Francisco voters rejected Proposition G 64.8% to 35.2%, keeping the Upper Great Highway closed to cars and Sunset Dunes Park in place. About 241,000 ballots have been counted on the measure.

Why it matters: A car-free coastal park stays put, City Hall shifts more power to the mayor, and San Francisco gets a new member of Congress.

The Office SF Built to Stop the Next Mohammed Nuru Just Got Smaller

San Francisco Rule Changes Nearly 7-Year Corruption Fallout

Six years after FBI agents arrested Public Works chief Mohammed Nuru, the Ethics Commission San Francisco expanded to prevent another scandal is smaller. The city budget cut its operating funds by 12.8%, to about $6.14 million. Over two budget cycles, the city eliminated two of the commission's three senior compliance posts, the Standard reported.

Why it matters: San Franciscans have fewer watchdogs checking officials' financial disclosures for conflicts of interest, just as the city pushes new anti-corruption rules.

San Francisco progressives lose local races as national Democrats surge

San Francisco Rule Changes Post-election count

The Associated Press called the congressional race for state Sen. Scott Wiener on Nov. 6. Wiener had 54.6% to Supervisor Connie Chan’s 45.4%; Chan conceded on Nov. 4. Democrats won seats nationwide, but San Francisco moderates kept their grip on City Hall.

Why it matters: Lurie's charter wins give him more control over city contracts and departments, and fewer checks from the Board of Supervisors.

Lurie's San Francisco charter measures pass

San Francisco Rule Changes Election Week

San Francisco voters approved Mayor Daniel Lurie's three charter measures, giving him more control over city departments and making it harder for residents to put measures on the ballot. Unofficial results showed Proposition D at 57.75%, E at 66.88% and F at 62.86%, with separate Proposition A passing at 70.64%.

Why it matters: If leads hold, San Francisco's mayor gains control over department heads and residents need four times as many signatures for ballot measures.

Crankstart Foundation gives $9.25 million to improve Mission BART plazas

San Francisco Money Moves Ongoing

The Crankstart Foundation is giving $9.25 million to San Francisco to improve conditions at the Mission BART plazas. The money will pay for better lighting, street patrols, and public safety technology at the 16th and 24th Street stations.

Why it matters: Private donors are now funding public safety and infrastructure in San Francisco's transit hubs, a shift that could reshape how the city addresses urban disorder.

Ripple extends free rent for SFPD surveillance hub through 2032

San Francisco Money Moves Ongoing

San Francisco's police surveillance unit has run rent-free out of a downtown office tower for a year and a half. A new resolution would let it stay through March 2032, on a gift from cryptocurrency company Ripple Labs valued at $5.5 million.

Why it matters: A private donor is covering the rent for a police surveillance hub, letting the unit grow without the city budgeting for its space.

San Francisco homeless count shows rise in children as overall numbers fall

San Francisco Rule Changes Two-year count cycle

San Francisco counted 786 homeless children in January, up from 618 two years earlier. The 27% increase came even as the city's overall homeless count fell 4%, from 8,323 to 7,973.

Why it matters: The count guides shelter funding and eviction aid, and it shows family homelessness rising while the city celebrates an overall decline.

Quince & Co. files WARN notice for San Francisco closure

San Francisco Money Moves WARN notice to planned Cotogna closure

Quince & Co. filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice covering 34 employees at 490 Pacific Avenue, the site of its restaurant Cotogna. The notice sets a January 15, 2027 closure, and a spokesperson said Cotogna will shut for a three-month kitchen renovation.

Why it matters: The filing covers Cotogna's renovation, not a Quince shutdown, so 34 workers face a temporary closure rather than a permanent one.

T&T Supermarket opens SF store in City Center space vacant since 2017

San Francisco Built World Ongoing Bay Area Expansion

T&T Supermarket opened its first San Francisco store in the City Center space that had been empty since Best Buy left in 2017. The 50,000-square-foot store at 2675 Geary Blvd. is the Taiwanese Canadian chain's second Bay Area location and its first in the U.S. with a café.

Why it matters: T&T's opening tests whether San Francisco's permitting reform can fill long-vacant storefronts and draw other retailers.

Tim Tung and Autumn Brown Garibay win final San Francisco school board seats

San Francisco Rule Changes 9-Month Election Cycle

Tim Tung and Autumn Brown Garibay won the final two San Francisco school board seats after declaring victory on Thursday, joining reelected board President Phil Kim. The three were backed by GrowSF and the San Francisco Democratic Party, and they took every seat on the ballot.

Why it matters: The new board will decide whether to close schools, redraw enrollment zones and set classroom AI policy for 49,000 students.

The Bird holds active liquor license at 2031 Chestnut St

San Francisco Money Moves Ongoing licensing process

The Bird, a San Francisco fried chicken sandwich chain, now holds an active liquor license and a business registration at 2031 Chestnut Street in the Marina District. The records were filed between October 1 and October 5, 2026.

Why it matters: The Bird has cleared a regulatory hurdle to operate in the Marina, but the records do not confirm an opening date.

Historic San Francisco office building sells at a big discount

San Francisco Money Moves 6-Year Office Market Slump and Recovery

A 1936 office building at 417 Montgomery St. sold for about $25 million at the end of August, 17% below its 2006 price and less than half its $54 million assessed value. The buyers, Kenson Ventures and Wheatley Properties, began renovating the mostly vacant building the day after closing and hope to fill it with tech, architecture and AI tenants within a year.

Why it matters: The sale and a new default show how far San Francisco office values have fallen, and whether AI demand can fill vacant space downtown.