The Weekly Digest (January 15, 2023)
Happy Sunday, Brionies! Here’s what you need to know about San Francisco politics this week, and beyond:
City Hall
There will be no full meeting of the Board of Supervisors this week, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Happenings around town
Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 12:30pm, online
District 2 Public Safety Town Hall with Supervisor Catherine Stefani, DA Brooke Jenkins, and SFPD Chief William Scott
Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5:30pm, Marina Middle School auditorium
Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 12:30pm, online
SF Politics 101 with Together SF and Supervisor Joel Engardio
Thursday, January 19 at 5:30pm, 2505 Mariposa St
SOAR D1 presents Where Does the Money Go? Financial Accountability in SF Government
Monday, January 23 at 5:30pm, location TBA
D2 Unite presents Off the Record: A Law and Order Dialogue with SFPD Deputy Chief Ann Mannix
Wednesday, January 25 at 5:30pm, location TBA
What we’re reading
The next time someone says, “we sure need it!” while making small talk about the rain, make that person your friend for life by informing them that California flushed 95 percent of that water into the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, Assembly Republicans are on it and have challenged Governor Newsom to build the water storage projects that voters set aside $2.7 billion for in 2014.
The SF Standard came in hot this week with two big reports about highly questionable city spending: SF Paid $25 Million to Revoked, Suspended, Delinquent Nonprofits and Report: SF Schools Spent Nearly Twice as Much on Central Admin as Peer Districts. We know, you’re shocked.
In other corruption news: Husband of Police Commissioner Cindy Elias Worked on S.F. Cases After Her Appointment
In other other corruption news: The Ethics Commission has opened a case against the former head of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment.
SF Mayor’s Office Renews Promise to Open Safe Consumption Sites Using NYC Model (these Harlem residents aren’t fans)
In light of this sad report out of Marina Middle School, we present this piece, wherein educator Daniel Buck argues that a retreat from punitive punishment has led to a spike in student misbehavior.
San Francisco Police Commission Adopts Policy Against “Pretextual Stops”; relatedly Chesa Boudin was just one part of the problem.
In Shock Vote, Peskin Elected Board President After 17 Ballots
A new dashboard to track downtown’s recovery(?) from the Chamber of Commerce
For a big dose of cute, check out 6yo Brooklyn Jenkins reading a dedication to her mom, DA Brooke Jenkins (at 42:10).
San Franciscans Are Naming Their Storm Drains & It’s Amazing
Tweet(s) of the week
Let it be known that the Briones Society of course welcomes our new robot overlords.