SFNext: Fixing Our City en San Francisco Chronicle Like any big city, San Francisco has big problems. Rampant homelessness, an opioid epidemic, widening income equality and deep political divisions. What’s stopping the city from fixing itself? Where are the creative solutions? And what happens when one person’s solution is another’s root of the problem? Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out, one San Francisco story at a time. SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext project. Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod. Twitter: @sfnext Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/d80c5d4c-cb3a-11ec-9178-bb13ac3a20bc/image/SFNext_FixingOurCity_3000_showcard_feb_2023.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress SFNext: Fixing Our City no episodic The SFNext Podcast San Francisco Chronicle Like any big city, San Francisco has big problems. Rampant homelessness, an opioid epidemic, widening income equality and deep political divisions. What’s stopping the city from fixing itself? Where are the creative solutions? And what happens when one person’s solution is another’s root of the problem? Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out, one San Francisco story at a time. SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext project. Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod. Twitter: @sfnext Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Like any big city, San Francisco has big problems. Rampant homelessness, an opioid epidemic, widening income equality and deep political divisions. What’s stopping the city from fixing itself? Where are the creative solutions? And what happens when one person’s solution is another’s root of the problem? Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out, one San Francisco story at a time.

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]]> San Francisco Chronicle podcasts@sfchronicle.com ‘No Moderate or Progressive Potholes’: Board President Aaron Peskin Says Now is the Time to Come Together Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, has spent the majority of the last 23 years in office in San Francisco, representing District 3. His district includes North Beach, Chinatown and the Financial District, but the role of president means he must broker compromises between his colleagues and the mayor. On complex crises like the coronavirus pandemic, fentanyl use, and homelessness, he says he also helps coordinate siloed city departments. And with so many crises at hand, Peskin says, this is no time for divisive politicking — which is why he collaborated with Mayor London Breed on legislation easing restrictions on building use downtown. “There are no moderate or progressive potholes,” he says. “There are potholes and they need to be filled.” | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing our City is coming to a close, but we’re not done pursuing solutions and having important conversations about San Francisco’s future! To keep listening, follow the Chronicle’s flagship news podcast, Fifth & Mission. The SFNext initiative is also continuing! Find more reporting on how San Francisco can tackle its toughest challenges at sfchronicle.com/sfnext Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000 ‘No Moderate or Progressive Potholes’: Board President Aaron Peskin Says Now is the Time to Come Together full San Francisco Chronicle Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, has spent the majority of the last 23 years in office in San Francisco, representing District 3. His district includes North Beach, Chinatown and the Financial District, but the role of president means he must broker compromises between his colleagues and the mayor. On complex crises like the coronavirus pandemic, fentanyl use and homelessness, he says he also helps coordinate siloed city departments. And with so many crises at hand, Peskin says, this is no time for divisive politicking — which is why he collaborated with Mayor London Breed on legislation easing restrictions on building use downtown. “There are no moderate or progressive potholes,” he says. “There are potholes and they need to be filled.” Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, has spent the majority of the last 23 years in office in San Francisco, representing District 3. His district includes North Beach, Chinatown and the Financial District, but the role of president means he must broker compromises between his colleagues and the mayor. On complex crises like the coronavirus pandemic, fentanyl use, and homelessness, he says he also helps coordinate siloed city departments. And with so many crises at hand, Peskin says, this is no time for divisive politicking — which is why he collaborated with Mayor London Breed on legislation easing restrictions on building use downtown. “There are no moderate or progressive potholes,” he says. “There are potholes and they need to be filled.” | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing our City is coming to a close, but we’re not done pursuing solutions and having important conversations about San Francisco’s future! To keep listening, follow the Chronicle’s flagship news podcast, Fifth & Mission. The SFNext initiative is also continuing! Find more reporting on how San Francisco can tackle its toughest challenges at sfchronicle.com/sfnext Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, has spent the majority of the last 23 years in office in San Francisco, representing District 3. His district includes North Beach, Chinatown and the Financial District, but the role of president means he must broker compromises between his colleagues and the mayor. On complex crises like the coronavirus pandemic, fentanyl use, and homelessness, he says he also helps coordinate siloed city departments. And with so many crises at hand, Peskin says, this is no time for divisive politicking — which is why he collaborated with Mayor London Breed on legislation easing restrictions on building use downtown. “There are no moderate or progressive potholes,” he says. “There are potholes and they need to be filled.” | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing our City is coming to a close, but we’re not done pursuing solutions and having important conversations about San Francisco’s future! To keep listening, follow the Chronicle’s flagship news podcast, Fifth & Mission. The SFNext initiative is also continuing! Find more reporting on how San Francisco can tackle its toughest challenges at sfchronicle.com/sfnext

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]]> 1532 no Soup With the Supes: Ronen Says Local Solutions Ignore Root Causes Supervisor Hillary Ronen represents the Mission, the Portola and Bernal Heights, but she has been trying to tackle problems in those neighborhoods since before she was elected. Now, she’s termed out, and she says she’s conflicted about trying to address the fallout of national issues with a municipal toolkit. While San Francisco’s government has its shortcomings, she says, it’s grappling with effects of poverty and inequality around the country — from homelessness to drug dealing to the housing crunch — that are more visible than ever. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 13 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Ronen Says Local Solutions Ignore Root Causes full San Francisco Chronicle Supervisor Hillary Ronen represents the Mission, the Portola and Bernal Heights, but she has been trying to tackle problems in those neighborhoods since before she was elected. Now, she’s termed out, and she says she’s conflicted about trying to address the fallout of national issues with a municipal toolkit. While San Francisco’s government has its shortcomings, she says, it’s grappling with effects of poverty and inequality around the country — from homelessness to drug dealing to the housing crunch — that are more visible than ever. Supervisor Hillary Ronen represents the Mission, the Portola and Bernal Heights, but she has been trying to tackle problems in those neighborhoods since before she was elected. Now, she’s termed out, and she says she’s conflicted about trying to address the fallout of national issues with a municipal toolkit. While San Francisco’s government has its shortcomings, she says, it’s grappling with effects of poverty and inequality around the country — from homelessness to drug dealing to the housing crunch — that are more visible than ever. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Supervisor Hillary Ronen represents the Mission, the Portola and Bernal Heights, but she has been trying to tackle problems in those neighborhoods since before she was elected. Now, she’s termed out, and she says she’s conflicted about trying to address the fallout of national issues with a municipal toolkit. While San Francisco’s government has its shortcomings, she says, it’s grappling with effects of poverty and inequality around the country — from homelessness to drug dealing to the housing crunch — that are more visible than ever. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1661 no Soup With the Supes: Catherine Stefani on Police and Public Safety Supervisor Catherine Stefani represents a part of San Francisco that does not have a reputation for violent crime — District 2 includes the Marina, Pacific Heights, Cathedral Hill, Laurel Village and NoPa. But shortly before SFNext: Fixing Our City interviewed her, a violent assault in the Marina made headlines, though it wasn't yet apparent that there was allegedly more to that story. Stefani describes how she would like to handle challenges with hiring cops, what we expect police officers to do, and why public safety is such a critical issue for San Francisco. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 06 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Catherine Stefani on Police and Public Safety full San Francisco Chronicle Supervisor Catherine Stefani represents a part of San Francisco that does not have a reputation for violent crime — District 2 includes the Marina, Pacific Heights, Cathedral Hill, Laurel Village and NoPa. But shortly before SFNext: Fixing Our City interviewed her, a violent assault in the Marina made headlines, though it wasn't yet apparent that there was allegedly more to that story. Stefani describes how she would like to handle challenges with hiring cops, what we expect police officers to do, and why public safety is such a critical issue for San Francisco. Supervisor Catherine Stefani represents a part of San Francisco that does not have a reputation for violent crime — District 2 includes the Marina, Pacific Heights, Cathedral Hill, Laurel Village and NoPa. But shortly before SFNext: Fixing Our City interviewed her, a violent assault in the Marina made headlines, though it wasn't yet apparent that there was allegedly more to that story. Stefani describes how she would like to handle challenges with hiring cops, what we expect police officers to do, and why public safety is such a critical issue for San Francisco. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Supervisor Catherine Stefani represents a part of San Francisco that does not have a reputation for violent crime — District 2 includes the Marina, Pacific Heights, Cathedral Hill, Laurel Village and NoPa. But shortly before SFNext: Fixing Our City interviewed her, a violent assault in the Marina made headlines, though it wasn't yet apparent that there was allegedly more to that story. Stefani describes how she would like to handle challenges with hiring cops, what we expect police officers to do, and why public safety is such a critical issue for San Francisco. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1550 no Soup With the Supes: Matt Dorsey Lays Out His Drug Policy District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who lives in the Mid-Market area and represents downtown as well as SoMa, Mission Bay and Treasure Island, expresses some hope that the city’s economic engine is coming back to life. The former police spokesperson has experience with drug and alcohol abuse and talks about his own setbacks during the pandemic. One reason he ran for office was to represent people in recovery. Now, he has ambitious plans for the police department and its role in addressing drug dealing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Matt Dorsey Lays Out His Drug Policy full San Francisco Chronicle District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who lives in the Mid-Market area and represents downtown as well as SoMa, Mission Bay and Treasure Island, expresses some hope that the city’s economic engine is coming back to life. The former police spokesperson has experience with drug and alcohol abuse and talks about his own setbacks during the pandemic. One reason he ran for office was to represent people in recovery. Now, he has ambitious plans for the police department and its role in addressing drug dealing. District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who lives in the Mid-Market area and represents downtown as well as SoMa, Mission Bay and Treasure Island, expresses some hope that the city’s economic engine is coming back to life. The former police spokesperson has experience with drug and alcohol abuse and talks about his own setbacks during the pandemic. One reason he ran for office was to represent people in recovery. Now, he has ambitious plans for the police department and its role in addressing drug dealing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who lives in the Mid-Market area and represents downtown as well as SoMa, Mission Bay and Treasure Island, expresses some hope that the city’s economic engine is coming back to life. The former police spokesperson has experience with drug and alcohol abuse and talks about his own setbacks during the pandemic. One reason he ran for office was to represent people in recovery. Now, he has ambitious plans for the police department and its role in addressing drug dealing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1514 no Soup With the Supes: Connie Chan Is a Budget Wonk and Chowder Enthusiast Supervisor Connie Chan keeps a decorative sign in her office that says “I’ll be nicer, if you’ll be smarter.” She is chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and has made it a point to call for hearings about department overspending or inefficient spending. As part of our Soup With the Supes series, Chan tells the story of how she was introduced to clam chowder in a bread bowl and shares her vision of San Francisco’s economic future. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Connie Chan Is a Budget Wonk and Chowder Enthusiast full San Francisco Chronicle Supervisor Connie Chan keeps a decorative sign in her office that says “I’ll be nicer, if you’ll be smarter.” She is chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and has made it a point to call for hearings about department overspending or inefficient spending. As part of our Soup With the Supes series, Chan tells the story of how she was introduced to clam chowder in a bread bowl and shares her vision of San Francisco’s economic future. Supervisor Connie Chan keeps a decorative sign in her office that says “I’ll be nicer, if you’ll be smarter.” She is chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and has made it a point to call for hearings about department overspending or inefficient spending. As part of our Soup With the Supes series, Chan tells the story of how she was introduced to clam chowder in a bread bowl and shares her vision of San Francisco’s economic future. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Supervisor Connie Chan keeps a decorative sign in her office that says “I’ll be nicer, if you’ll be smarter.” She is chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and has made it a point to call for hearings about department overspending or inefficient spending. As part of our Soup With the Supes series, Chan tells the story of how she was introduced to clam chowder in a bread bowl and shares her vision of San Francisco’s economic future. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project

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]]> 1458 no Overdoses Have Spiked. How Will San Francisco Respond? San Francisco has consistently seen more than 600 overdose deaths a year, and the rate of fatal overdoses has recently spiked. Dr. Jeffrey Hom, director of the city’s Office of Overdose Prevention, is optimistic that the city can turn the tide on overdoses, but acknowledges a long road ahead. The health department released a plan last year to reduce fatal overdoses, which calls for expansions in medication treatment and Narcan distribution as well as establishing safe consumption sites. Despite opposition in some quarters, opening safe consumption sites has broad support in city government, but they are against federal law. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 16 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Overdoses Have Spiked. How Will San Francisco Respond? full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco has consistently seen more than 600 overdose deaths a year, and the rate of fatal overdoses has recently spiked. Dr. Jeffrey Hom, director of the city’s Office of Overdose Prevention, is optimistic that the city can turn the tide on overdoses, but acknowledges a long road ahead. The health department released a plan last year to reduce fatal overdoses, which calls for expansions in medication treatment and Narcan distribution as well as establishing safe consumption sites. Despite opposition in some quarters, opening safe consumption sites has broad support in city government, but they are against federal law. San Francisco has consistently seen more than 600 overdose deaths a year, and the rate of fatal overdoses has recently spiked. Dr. Jeffrey Hom, director of the city’s Office of Overdose Prevention, is optimistic that the city can turn the tide on overdoses, but acknowledges a long road ahead. The health department released a plan last year to reduce fatal overdoses, which calls for expansions in medication treatment and Narcan distribution as well as establishing safe consumption sites. Despite opposition in some quarters, opening safe consumption sites has broad support in city government, but they are against federal law. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices San Francisco has consistently seen more than 600 overdose deaths a year, and the rate of fatal overdoses has recently spiked. Dr. Jeffrey Hom, director of the city’s Office of Overdose Prevention, is optimistic that the city can turn the tide on overdoses, but acknowledges a long road ahead. The health department released a plan last year to reduce fatal overdoses, which calls for expansions in medication treatment and Narcan distribution as well as establishing safe consumption sites. Despite opposition in some quarters, opening safe consumption sites has broad support in city government, but they are against federal law. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project

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]]> 1725 no The Cases For and Against Safe Consumption Sites Hundreds of people are dying from drug overdoses every year in San Francisco, and the rate of deaths has spiked. In the same time frame, thousands more overdoses are reversed. Public health and harm reduction workers battling the opioid crisis are calling for the creation of safe consumption sites, which offer a place to use while trained staff are on duty to intervene if someone overdoses. Critics fear they would attract crime and open drug use and enable addiction, but city leaders have almost universally supported establishing a site in San Francisco. Despite that support, plans to establish them appear stalled. In this episode, we explore why that is. Advocates Madeleine Sweet, an overdose survivor in recovery, and Ellen Grantz, with the group Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Death, delve into the controversy around safe consumption sites. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 09 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000 The Cases For and Against Safe Consumption Sites full San Francisco Chronicle Hundreds of people are dying from drug overdoses every year in San Francisco, and the rate of deaths has spiked. In the same time frame, thousands more overdoses are reversed. Public health and harm reduction workers battling the opioid crisis are calling for the creation of safe consumption sites, which offer a place to use while trained staff are on duty to intervene if someone overdoses. Critics fear they would attract crime and open drug use and enable addiction, but city leaders have almost universally supported establishing a site in San Francisco. Despite that support, plans to establish them appear stalled. In this episode, we explore why that is. Advocates Madeleine Sweet, an overdose survivor in recovery, and Ellen Grantz, with the group Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Death, delve into the controversy around safe consumption sites. Hundreds of people are dying from drug overdoses every year in San Francisco, and the rate of deaths has spiked. In the same time frame, thousands more overdoses are reversed. Public health and harm reduction workers battling the opioid crisis are calling for the creation of safe consumption sites, which offer a place to use while trained staff are on duty to intervene if someone overdoses. Critics fear they would attract crime and open drug use and enable addiction, but city leaders have almost universally supported establishing a site in San Francisco. Despite that support, plans to establish them appear stalled. In this episode, we explore why that is. Advocates Madeleine Sweet, an overdose survivor in recovery, and Ellen Grantz, with the group Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Death, delve into the controversy around safe consumption sites. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hundreds of people are dying from drug overdoses every year in San Francisco, and the rate of deaths has spiked. In the same time frame, thousands more overdoses are reversed. Public health and harm reduction workers battling the opioid crisis are calling for the creation of safe consumption sites, which offer a place to use while trained staff are on duty to intervene if someone overdoses. Critics fear they would attract crime and open drug use and enable addiction, but city leaders have almost universally supported establishing a site in San Francisco. Despite that support, plans to establish them appear stalled. In this episode, we explore why that is. Advocates Madeleine Sweet, an overdose survivor in recovery, and Ellen Grantz, with the group Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Death, delve into the controversy around safe consumption sites. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project

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]]> 1483 yes Housing Wonks on a Mission to Shorten S.F.'s Permitting Process San Francisco has a unique system of “discretionary review,” and YIMBY advocate Bilal Mahmood (with the pro-development Yes In My Back Yard group) and California Assemblymember Matt Haney see this process as a major roadblock to new housing. Mahmood went down the rabbit hole to suss out exactly how tangled this bureaucracy is for a Chronicle opinion piece. Haney has crafted two pieces of state legislation intended to make the process of getting new housing or office conversions approved a little more predictable, and thus faster. They explain how that could spur housing construction and how all this could help reshape downtown. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 02 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Housing Wonks on a Mission to Shorten S.F.'s Permitting Process full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco has a unique system of “discretionary review,” and YIMBY advocate Bilal Mahmood (with the pro-development Yes In My Back Yard group) and California Assemblymember Matt Haney see this process as a major roadblock to new housing. Mahmood went down the rabbit hole to suss out exactly how tangled this bureaucracy is for a Chronicle opinion piece. Haney has crafted two pieces of state legislation intended to make the process of getting new housing or office conversions approved a little more predictable, and thus faster. They explain how that could spur housing construction and how all this could help reshape downtown. San Francisco has a unique system of “discretionary review,” and YIMBY advocate Bilal Mahmood (with the pro-development Yes In My Back Yard group) and California Assemblymember Matt Haney see this process as a major roadblock to new housing. Mahmood went down the rabbit hole to suss out exactly how tangled this bureaucracy is for a Chronicle opinion piece. Haney has crafted two pieces of state legislation intended to make the process of getting new housing or office conversions approved a little more predictable, and thus faster. They explain how that could spur housing construction and how all this could help reshape downtown. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices San Francisco has a unique system of “discretionary review,” and YIMBY advocate Bilal Mahmood (with the pro-development Yes In My Back Yard group) and California Assemblymember Matt Haney see this process as a major roadblock to new housing. Mahmood went down the rabbit hole to suss out exactly how tangled this bureaucracy is for a Chronicle opinion piece. Haney has crafted two pieces of state legislation intended to make the process of getting new housing or office conversions approved a little more predictable, and thus faster. They explain how that could spur housing construction and how all this could help reshape downtown. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project

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]]> 1637 no How to Help Homeless People? Outreach Worker Uses “Radical Hospitality” When Castro neighbors see Erica McGary doing outreach, they sometimes assume she’s a volunteer. But McGary works for the Department of Public Health, and it’s her job to get to know people in the neighborhood — whether they’re unhoused, working or have a home or apartment there. Building relationships with chronically homeless people and newcomers alike helps foster trust in city services, which can be a major obstacle to accessing services. The approach has already helped several people find a path to housing, shelter or treatment, and the city intends to replicate it in other neighborhoods. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 25 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000 How to Help Homeless People? Outreach Worker Uses “Radical Hospitality” full San Francisco Chronicle When Castro neighbors see Erica McGary doing outreach, they sometimes assume she’s a volunteer. But McGary works for the Department of Public Health, and it’s her job to get to know people in the neighborhood — whether they’re unhoused, working or have a home or apartment there. Building relationships with chronically homeless people and newcomers alike helps foster trust in city services, which can be a major obstacle to accessing services. The approach has already helped several people find a path to housing, shelter or treatment, and the city intends to replicate it in other neighborhoods. When Castro neighbors see Erica McGary doing outreach, they sometimes assume she’s a volunteer. But McGary works for the Department of Public Health, and it’s her job to get to know people in the neighborhood — whether they’re unhoused, working or have a home or apartment there. Building relationships with chronically homeless people and newcomers alike helps foster trust in city services, which can be a major obstacle to accessing services. The approach has already helped several people find a path to housing, shelter or treatment, and the city intends to replicate it in other neighborhoods. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices When Castro neighbors see Erica McGary doing outreach, they sometimes assume she’s a volunteer. But McGary works for the Department of Public Health, and it’s her job to get to know people in the neighborhood — whether they’re unhoused, working or have a home or apartment there. Building relationships with chronically homeless people and newcomers alike helps foster trust in city services, which can be a major obstacle to accessing services. The approach has already helped several people find a path to housing, shelter or treatment, and the city intends to replicate it in other neighborhoods. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project

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]]> 1110 no Soup With the Supes: Rafael Mandelman Supervisor Rafael Mandelman wonders whether a local government needs a system of checks and balances and, over matzo ball soup, explains why he thinks certain controversies have been exaggerated. Mandelman represents District 8, which includes the Castro, Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks. He says San Francisco government has too many checks and balances for its size. He describes the huge fight over “killer robots” as blown out of proportion and says San Francisco is not failing to solve homelessness, but rather, is failing to manage public spaces. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 18 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Rafael Mandelman full San Francisco Chronicle Supervisor Rafael Mandelman wonders whether a local government needs a system of checks and balances and, over matzo ball soup, explains why he thinks certain controversies have been exaggerated. Mandelman represents District 8, which includes the Castro, Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks. He says San Francisco government has too many checks and balances for its size. He describes the huge fight over “killer robots” as blown out of proportion and says San Francisco is not failing to solve homelessness, but rather, is failing to manage public spaces. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman wonders whether a local government needs a system of checks and balances and, over matzo ball soup, explains why he thinks certain controversies have been exaggerated. Mandelman represents District 8, which includes the Castro, Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks. He says San Francisco government has too many checks and balances for its size. He describes the huge fight over “killer robots” as blown out of proportion and says San Francisco is not failing to solve homelessness, but rather, is failing to manage public spaces. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Supervisor Rafael Mandelman wonders whether a local government needs a system of checks and balances and, over matzo ball soup, explains why he thinks certain controversies have been exaggerated. Mandelman represents District 8, which includes the Castro, Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks. He says San Francisco government has too many checks and balances for its size. He describes the huge fight over “killer robots” as blown out of proportion and says San Francisco is not failing to solve homelessness, but rather, is failing to manage public spaces. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1608 no These Teens Love San Francisco, but They’re Leaving Three local high school students who are active in their communities share their concerns and hopes for San Francisco: They’re frustrated with the high cost of living, lack of support for educators, distant politicians and persistent damaging narratives about race. We take a hard look at the city from their perspectives and hear why all three plan to leave. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000 These Teens Love San Francisco, but They’re Leaving full San Francisco Chronicle Three local high school students who are active in their communities share their concerns and hopes for San Francisco: They’re frustrated with the high cost of living, lack of support for educators, distant politicians and persistent damaging narratives about race. We take a hard look at the city from their perspectives and hear why all three plan to leave. Three local high school students who are active in their communities share their concerns and hopes for San Francisco: They’re frustrated with the high cost of living, lack of support for educators, distant politicians and persistent damaging narratives about race. We take a hard look at the city from their perspectives and hear why all three plan to leave. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Three local high school students who are active in their communities share their concerns and hopes for San Francisco: They’re frustrated with the high cost of living, lack of support for educators, distant politicians and persistent damaging narratives about race. We take a hard look at the city from their perspectives and hear why all three plan to leave. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1463 no How Could San Francisco Defy a Doom Loop? We’ve painted a grim picture of the future if Downtown doesn’t bounce back and San Francisco doesn’t reinvent itself. So we got some smart people together to come up with ideas to save the city. Panelists Desi Danganan from Kultivate Labs, Ixchel Acosta from Avenue Greenlight and Sujata Srivastava from SPUR share ideas for policies and personal civic engagement. The crowd at Manny’s chimes in with their own creative proposals. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 04 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000 How Could San Francisco Defy a Doom Loop? full San Francisco Chronicle We’ve painted a grim picture of the future if Downtown doesn’t bounce and San Francisco doesn’t reinvent itself. So we got some smart people together to come up with ideas to save the city. Panelists Desi Danganan from Kultivate Labs, Ixchel Acosta from Avenue Greenlight and Sujata Srivastava from SPUR share ideas for policies and personal civic engagement. The crowd at Manny’s chimes in with their own creative proposals. We’ve painted a grim picture of the future if Downtown doesn’t bounce back and San Francisco doesn’t reinvent itself. So we got some smart people together to come up with ideas to save the city. Panelists Desi Danganan from Kultivate Labs, Ixchel Acosta from Avenue Greenlight and Sujata Srivastava from SPUR share ideas for policies and personal civic engagement. The crowd at Manny’s chimes in with their own creative proposals. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices We’ve painted a grim picture of the future if Downtown doesn’t bounce back and San Francisco doesn’t reinvent itself. So we got some smart people together to come up with ideas to save the city. Panelists Desi Danganan from Kultivate Labs, Ixchel Acosta from Avenue Greenlight and Sujata Srivastava from SPUR share ideas for policies and personal civic engagement. The crowd at Manny’s chimes in with their own creative proposals. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1786 yes Why You Should Care About Downtown Office Buildings Losing Value The move to remote work has created a self-reinforcing phenomenon of empty downtowns and sluggish recovery. It has also led to office building depreciation. A group of New York economists are warning that this could spell disaster. The economic activity that office workers fuel, and the tax revenue their activities yield, are essential to the city’s budget. But cutting services may drive out even more workers, and the city could get caught in a “doom loop.” Arpit Gupta of the NYU Stern School of Business explains why it’s worse here than on the East Coast, and what might help steer us clear of the death spiral. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Why You Should Care About Downtown Office Buildings Losing Value full San Francisco Chronicle The move to remote work has created a self-reinforcing phenomenon of empty downtowns and sluggish recovery. It has also led to office building depreciation. A group of New York economists are warning that this could spell disaster. The economic activity that office workers fuel, and the tax revenue their activities yield, are essential to the city’s budget. But cutting services may drive out even more workers, and the city could get caught in a “doom loop.” Arpit Gupta of the NYU Stern School of Business explains why it’s worse here than on the East Coast, and what might help steer us clear of the death spiral. The move to remote work has created a self-reinforcing phenomenon of empty downtowns and sluggish recovery. It has also led to office building depreciation. A group of New York economists are warning that this could spell disaster. The economic activity that office workers fuel, and the tax revenue their activities yield, are essential to the city’s budget. But cutting services may drive out even more workers, and the city could get caught in a “doom loop.” Arpit Gupta of the NYU Stern School of Business explains why it’s worse here than on the East Coast, and what might help steer us clear of the death spiral. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The move to remote work has created a self-reinforcing phenomenon of empty downtowns and sluggish recovery. It has also led to office building depreciation. A group of New York economists are warning that this could spell disaster. The economic activity that office workers fuel, and the tax revenue their activities yield, are essential to the city’s budget. But cutting services may drive out even more workers, and the city could get caught in a “doom loop.” Arpit Gupta of the NYU Stern School of Business explains why it’s worse here than on the East Coast, and what might help steer us clear of the death spiral. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1696 no Soup With the Supes: Dean Preston You know him for being a Democratic Socialist who is passionate about affordable housing. Did you also know his office has pored over the police budget item by item, and that he says he could cut millions out of it without any effect on public safety? The District 5 supervisor, who represents a diverse set of neighborhoods in the city’s center, digs into some phở and the details of his stances on development, public safety and a disconnect between the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 21 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Dean Preston full San Francisco Chronicle You know him for being a Democratic Socialist who is passionate about affordable housing. Did you also know his office has pored over the police budget item by item, and that he says he could cut millions out of it without any effect on public safety? The District 5 supervisor, who represents a diverse set of neighborhoods in the city’s center, digs into some phở and the details of his stances on development, public safety and a disconnect between the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed. You know him for being a Democratic Socialist who is passionate about affordable housing. Did you also know his office has pored over the police budget item by item, and that he says he could cut millions out of it without any effect on public safety? The District 5 supervisor, who represents a diverse set of neighborhoods in the city’s center, digs into some phở and the details of his stances on development, public safety and a disconnect between the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices You know him for being a Democratic Socialist who is passionate about affordable housing. Did you also know his office has pored over the police budget item by item, and that he says he could cut millions out of it without any effect on public safety? The District 5 supervisor, who represents a diverse set of neighborhoods in the city’s center, digs into some phở and the details of his stances on development, public safety and a disconnect between the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1780 no Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Ahsha Safaí In October, San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí was the victim of a home burglary. Thieves made off with his stove, of all things. What he took from that incident features prominently in this entry in our Soup With the Supes miniseries. Over tortilla soup, the representative for District 11 in the southern part of the city talks about what the task force dedicated to addressing retail theft has accomplished, how he handled constituents’ fierce opposition to a parking site for vehicle dwellers near Balboa Park, and what keeps him up at night. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 14 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Ahsha Safaí full San Francisco Chronicle In October, San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí was the victim of a home burglary. Thieves made off with his stove, of all things. What he took from that incident features prominently in this entry in our Soup With the Supes miniseries. Over tortilla soup, the representative for District 11 in the southern part of the city talks about what the task force dedicated to addressing retail theft has accomplished, how he handled constituents’ fierce opposition to a parking site for vehicle dwellers near Balboa Park, and what keeps him up at night. In October, San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí was the victim of a home burglary. Thieves made off with his stove, of all things. What he took from that incident features prominently in this entry in our Soup With the Supes miniseries. Over tortilla soup, the representative for District 11 in the southern part of the city talks about what the task force dedicated to addressing retail theft has accomplished, how he handled constituents’ fierce opposition to a parking site for vehicle dwellers near Balboa Park, and what keeps him up at night. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices In October, San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safaí was the victim of a home burglary. Thieves made off with his stove, of all things. What he took from that incident features prominently in this entry in our Soup With the Supes miniseries. Over tortilla soup, the representative for District 11 in the southern part of the city talks about what the task force dedicated to addressing retail theft has accomplished, how he handled constituents’ fierce opposition to a parking site for vehicle dwellers near Balboa Park, and what keeps him up at night. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1600 no Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Joel Engardio Joel Engardio was elected in November to represent District 4, which consists of a chunk of the west side: The Sunset, Parkside, and Outer Sunset. A moderate, he unseated progressive incumbent Gordon Mar. Over stewed lemongrass coconut chicken soup, he lays out his case for increasing the police department’s budget to help hire officers, critiques the city’s district supervisor system, and talks about how he would cut red tape to foster small businesses. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Joel Engardio full San Francisco Chronicle Joel Engardio was elected in November to represent District 4, which consists of a chunk of the west side: The Sunset, Parkside, and Outer Sunset. A moderate, he unseated progressive incumbent Gordon Mar. Over stewed lemongrass coconut chicken soup, he lays out his case for increasing the police department’s budget to help hire officers, critiques the city’s district supervisor system, and talks about how he would cut red tape to foster small businesses. Joel Engardio was elected in November to represent District 4, which consists of a chunk of the west side: The Sunset, Parkside, and Outer Sunset. A moderate, he unseated progressive incumbent Gordon Mar. Over stewed lemongrass coconut chicken soup, he lays out his case for increasing the police department’s budget to help hire officers, critiques the city’s district supervisor system, and talks about how he would cut red tape to foster small businesses. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod SFNext: Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Joel Engardio was elected in November to represent District 4, which consists of a chunk of the west side: The Sunset, Parkside, and Outer Sunset. A moderate, he unseated progressive incumbent Gordon Mar. Over stewed lemongrass coconut chicken soup, he lays out his case for increasing the police department’s budget to help hire officers, critiques the city’s district supervisor system, and talks about how he would cut red tape to foster small businesses. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1556 no Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Myrna Melgar What would San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar do if she were queen of San Francisco for a day? In this episode of SFNext: Fixing Our City, we kick off a new feature — Soup With the Supes. Members of the board talk about local issues while eating soup with host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez. Over pozole, Melgar explains why she wouldn’t put a safe consumption site in her district even though she supports them, how she’s working to get the certification of Laguna Honda Hospital sorted out, and whether she thinks San Francisco will actually reach its target of building 82,000 housing units in a decade. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Soup With the Supes: Supervisor Myrna Melgar full San Francisco Chronicle What would San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar do if she were queen of San Francisco for a day? In this episode of SFNext: Fixing Our City, we kick off a new feature — Soup With the Supes. Members of the board talk about local issues while eating soup with host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez. Over pozole, Melgar shares her thoughts on some of the city's most pressing issues. What would San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar do if she were queen of San Francisco for a day? In this episode of SFNext: Fixing Our City, we kick off a new feature — Soup With the Supes. Members of the board talk about local issues while eating soup with host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez. Over pozole, Melgar explains why she wouldn’t put a safe consumption site in her district even though she supports them, how she’s working to get the certification of Laguna Honda Hospital sorted out, and whether she thinks San Francisco will actually reach its target of building 82,000 housing units in a decade. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices What would San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar do if she were queen of San Francisco for a day? In this episode of SFNext: Fixing Our City, we kick off a new feature — Soup With the Supes. Members of the board talk about local issues while eating soup with host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez. Over pozole, Melgar explains why she wouldn’t put a safe consumption site in her district even though she supports them, how she’s working to get the certification of Laguna Honda Hospital sorted out, and whether she thinks San Francisco will actually reach its target of building 82,000 housing units in a decade. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1660 no At This Stanford Lab, Government Interventions Are the Experiments Stanford’s RegLab designs real-world scientific experiments to test the outcomes of government interventions, figuring out what works — and what doesn't. Derek Ouyang is a research manager there and he also co-founded City Systems, an organization that explores potential fixes to municipal problems. From deploying Spanish-speaking contact tracers to developing a low-cost kit to turn garages into apartments, Ouyang is exploring equitable solutions to local cities’ most intractable challenges. And he has some ideas about how to fix San Francisco’s problems, too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000 At This Stanford Lab, Government Interventions Are the Experiments full San Francisco Chronicle Stanford’s RegLab designs real-world scientific experiments to test the outcomes of government interventions. Derek Ouyang is a research manager there and he also co-founded City Systems, an organization that explores potential fixes to municipal problems. Ouyang is exploring equitable solutions to local cities’ most intractable challenges. And he has some ideas about how to fix San Francisco’s problems, toontific experiments to test the outcomes of government interventions. Derek Ouyang is a research manager there and he also co-founded City Systems, an organization that explores potential fixes to municipal problems. Ouyang is exploring equitable solutions to local cities’ most intractable challenges. And he has some ideas about how to fix San Francisco’s problems, too Stanford’s RegLab designs real-world scientific experiments to test the outcomes of government interventions, figuring out what works — and what doesn't. Derek Ouyang is a research manager there and he also co-founded City Systems, an organization that explores potential fixes to municipal problems. From deploying Spanish-speaking contact tracers to developing a low-cost kit to turn garages into apartments, Ouyang is exploring equitable solutions to local cities’ most intractable challenges. And he has some ideas about how to fix San Francisco’s problems, too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Stanford’s RegLab designs real-world scientific experiments to test the outcomes of government interventions, figuring out what works — and what doesn't. Derek Ouyang is a research manager there and he also co-founded City Systems, an organization that explores potential fixes to municipal problems. From deploying Spanish-speaking contact tracers to developing a low-cost kit to turn garages into apartments, Ouyang is exploring equitable solutions to local cities’ most intractable challenges. And he has some ideas about how to fix San Francisco’s problems, too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1563 no Privacy for Safety Is a Bad Trade, Camera Foes Say Last week, Fixing Our City probed whether giving police greater access to live monitoring of private security cameras has been a useful crime-fighting strategy. Now, we hear from privacy advocates who warn that any new surveillance capacity has the potential to be abused, and who also hold that it doesn’t actually work to reduce crime. A former beat cop cautions that cameras aren’t perfect witnesses. But those closest to the camera networks in question emphasize that the equipment does a good job capturing evidence, and the footage is in high demand. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 14 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Privacy for Safety Is a Bad Trade, Camera Foes Say full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco is experimenting with expanding police access to live monitoring of third-party security cameras. Privacy advocates warn that any new surveillance capacity has the potential to be abused, and hold that it doesn’t actually work to reduce crime. Second of two parts. Last week, Fixing Our City probed whether giving police greater access to live monitoring of private security cameras has been a useful crime-fighting strategy. Now, we hear from privacy advocates who warn that any new surveillance capacity has the potential to be abused, and who also hold that it doesn’t actually work to reduce crime. A former beat cop cautions that cameras aren’t perfect witnesses. But those closest to the camera networks in question emphasize that the equipment does a good job capturing evidence, and the footage is in high demand. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Last week, Fixing Our City probed whether giving police greater access to live monitoring of private security cameras has been a useful crime-fighting strategy. Now, we hear from privacy advocates who warn that any new surveillance capacity has the potential to be abused, and who also hold that it doesn’t actually work to reduce crime. A former beat cop cautions that cameras aren’t perfect witnesses. But those closest to the camera networks in question emphasize that the equipment does a good job capturing evidence, and the footage is in high demand. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1399 no Can SFPD Access to More Security Cameras Help Stop Crime? A security camera mounted on a pole captured damning evidence of the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. San Francisco is blanketed by security cameras too. But unlike in other cities, police aren’t monitoring them around the clock. The network they once used is defunct, so law enforcement here often relies on privately owned cameras for footage. Their ability to monitor private feeds live was recently expanded. Will that work to curb crimes like theft and drug dealing? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Can SFPD Access to More Security Cameras Help Stop Crime? full San Francisco Chronicle A security camera mounted on a pole captured damning evidence of the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. San Francisco is blanketed by security cameras too. But unlike in other cities, police aren’t monitoring them around the clock. Their ability to monitor private feeds live was recently expanded, but will that work to curb crimes like theft and drug dealing? A security camera mounted on a pole captured damning evidence of the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. San Francisco is blanketed by security cameras too. But unlike in other cities, police aren’t monitoring them around the clock. The network they once used is defunct, so law enforcement here often relies on privately owned cameras for footage. Their ability to monitor private feeds live was recently expanded. Will that work to curb crimes like theft and drug dealing? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A security camera mounted on a pole captured damning evidence of the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. San Francisco is blanketed by security cameras too. But unlike in other cities, police aren’t monitoring them around the clock. The network they once used is defunct, so law enforcement here often relies on privately owned cameras for footage. Their ability to monitor private feeds live was recently expanded. Will that work to curb crimes like theft and drug dealing? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1286 yes Be Angry at Systems, Not People, Says Organizer Vinny Eng He was once a prominent sommelier at San Francisco’s Tartine Manufactory. Now, as the director of policy and advocacy for Safer Together, Vinny Eng’s job is to demand better health equity from our institutions. Even in the face of fear and uncertainty — Eng is a native of Monterey Park and experienced a grueling wait for news from his family as the recent mass shooting there unfolded — he insists we have more in common than what divides us. He has some recipes for getting action from systems that fail to deliver results: Channel the urgency, make a precise diagnosis, and be adaptable. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 31 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Be Angry at Systems, Not People, Says Organizer Vinny Eng full San Francisco Chronicle Once a prominent sommelier at San Francisco’s Tartine Manufactory, Vinny Eng’s job now is to demand better health equity from our institutions. Even in the face of fear, he insists we have more in common than what divides us, and he has a recipe for solving problems collectively. He was once a prominent sommelier at San Francisco’s Tartine Manufactory. Now, as the director of policy and advocacy for Safer Together, Vinny Eng’s job is to demand better health equity from our institutions. Even in the face of fear and uncertainty — Eng is a native of Monterey Park and experienced a grueling wait for news from his family as the recent mass shooting there unfolded — he insists we have more in common than what divides us. He has some recipes for getting action from systems that fail to deliver results: Channel the urgency, make a precise diagnosis, and be adaptable. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices He was once a prominent sommelier at San Francisco’s Tartine Manufactory. Now, as the director of policy and advocacy for Safer Together, Vinny Eng’s job is to demand better health equity from our institutions. Even in the face of fear and uncertainty — Eng is a native of Monterey Park and experienced a grueling wait for news from his family as the recent mass shooting there unfolded — he insists we have more in common than what divides us. He has some recipes for getting action from systems that fail to deliver results: Channel the urgency, make a precise diagnosis, and be adaptable. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1433 yes What San Diego Got Right About Housing Vouchers While the name of the federal Emergency Housing Vouchers rental subsidy program underscores how urgent finding housing is for at-risk groups, only a little more than half of the vouchers are in use in California. San Francisco has used 51% of its vouchers. But San Diego is seen as a standout success, having put more than 100% of its allotment to use on new leases. How did San Diego — the state’s second-biggest city — manage this, and can other cities take a page out of its book? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 24 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000 What San Diego Got Right About Housing Vouchers full San Francisco Chronicle While the name of the federal Emergency Housing Vouchers rental subsidy program underscores how urgent finding housing is for at-risk groups, only a little more than half of the vouchers are in use in California. San Francisco has used 51% of its vouchers. But San Diego is seen as a standout success, having put more than 100% of its allotment to use on new leases. How did San Diego — the state’s second-biggest city — manage this, and can other cities take a page out of its book? While the name of the federal Emergency Housing Vouchers rental subsidy program underscores how urgent finding housing is for at-risk groups, only a little more than half of the vouchers are in use in California. San Francisco has used 51% of its vouchers. But San Diego is seen as a standout success, having put more than 100% of its allotment to use on new leases. How did San Diego — the state’s second-biggest city — manage this, and can other cities take a page out of its book? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices While the name of the federal Emergency Housing Vouchers rental subsidy program underscores how urgent finding housing is for at-risk groups, only a little more than half of the vouchers are in use in California. San Francisco has used 51% of its vouchers. But San Diego is seen as a standout success, having put more than 100% of its allotment to use on new leases. How did San Diego — the state’s second-biggest city — manage this, and can other cities take a page out of its book? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1673 no SFUSD Is in Trouble. What’s the New Superintendent’s Plan? The San Francisco Unified School District has gone from one crisis to another, frustrating parents. Many were furious schools didn’t return to in-person instruction sooner, while others felt their kids were being pushed back into underprepared schools. Attendance, academic achievement, students’ mental health and overall enrollment were all battered by the pandemic, while longstanding racial inequalities in student achievement worsened. Dr. Matt Wayne, the new superintendent, lays out his plans for the district and mending what he calls broken trust with parents. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 17 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000 SFUSD Is in Trouble. What’s the New Superintendent’s Plan? full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco’s new schools chief is starting the job with several crises to juggle, from a payment system meltdown to lagging literacy rates. The San Francisco Unified School District has gone from one crisis to another, frustrating parents. Many were furious schools didn’t return to in-person instruction sooner, while others felt their kids were being pushed back into underprepared schools. Attendance, academic achievement, students’ mental health and overall enrollment were all battered by the pandemic, while longstanding racial inequalities in student achievement worsened. Dr. Matt Wayne, the new superintendent, lays out his plans for the district and mending what he calls broken trust with parents. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The San Francisco Unified School District has gone from one crisis to another, frustrating parents. Many were furious schools didn’t return to in-person instruction sooner, while others felt their kids were being pushed back into underprepared schools. Attendance, academic achievement, students’ mental health and overall enrollment were all battered by the pandemic, while longstanding racial inequalities in student achievement worsened. Dr. Matt Wayne, the new superintendent, lays out his plans for the district and mending what he calls broken trust with parents. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1616 no Formerly Homeless Nonprofit Director Offers Solutions to the Crisis As the executive director of Hospitality House, which serves primarily adults struggling with homelessness and other socioeconomic challenges, Joe Wilson has a front row seat to the situation unfolding on San Francisco’s streets. While a biennial snapshot of homelessness does show a drop in the number of unsheltered people, many residents feel the problem is not improving. Wilson says an insistence on quick solutions to problems that have vexed society for centuries is part of what’s holding us back. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 10 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Formerly Homeless Nonprofit Director Offers Solutions to the Crisis full San Francisco Chronicle Joe Wilson experienced homelessness himself. Nearly 40 years later, he runs Hospitality House, the nonprofit that helped him, and he can pinpoint some specific problems holding us back from long-term solutions. As the executive director of Hospitality House, which serves primarily adults struggling with homelessness and other socioeconomic challenges, Joe Wilson has a front row seat to the situation unfolding on San Francisco’s streets. While a biennial snapshot of homelessness does show a drop in the number of unsheltered people, many residents feel the problem is not improving. Wilson says an insistence on quick solutions to problems that have vexed society for centuries is part of what’s holding us back. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices As the executive director of Hospitality House, which serves primarily adults struggling with homelessness and other socioeconomic challenges, Joe Wilson has a front row seat to the situation unfolding on San Francisco’s streets. While a biennial snapshot of homelessness does show a drop in the number of unsheltered people, many residents feel the problem is not improving. Wilson says an insistence on quick solutions to problems that have vexed society for centuries is part of what’s holding us back. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod


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]]> 2358 no Best of FOC: How S.F. Keeps Poop Off Streets Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod This episode of Fixing Our City first published in August. We're taking a holiday break and will return with a new episode next week. Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 03 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000 Best of FOC: How S.F. Keeps Poop Off Streets full San Francisco Chronicle Everyone in San Francisco has dealt with feces in the streets and on the sidewalks. In 2014, city officials heard loud and clear from a group of Tenderloin high school students that they wanted cleaner streets. A look at the Pit Stop program. We'll return with a new episode next week. Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod This episode of Fixing Our City first published in August. We're taking a holiday break and will return with a new episode next week. Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

This episode of Fixing Our City first published in August. We're taking a holiday break and will return with a new episode next week.

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]]> 1477 no Best of FOC: Why a Hole in the Ground Is “The Death in the Mission” A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. Host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez search for solutions. This debut episode of Fixing Our City first published in June. We're taking a holiday break and will return with new episodes in the new year. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 27 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Best of FOC: Why a Hole in the Ground Is “The Death in the Mission” full San Francisco Chronicle A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. In the midst of a severe housing crisis, why has nothing been built to replace it, and what can we learn from this hole in the ground? Fixing Our City is taking a holiday break. This is a replay of our first episode. We'll return with new episodes in the new year. A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. Host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez search for solutions. This debut episode of Fixing Our City first published in June. We're taking a holiday break and will return with new episodes in the new year. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. Host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez search for solutions.

This debut episode of Fixing Our City first published in June. We're taking a holiday break and will return with new episodes in the new year. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1576 no Institutionalize Innovation? This Former NYC Staffer Has Ideas To the average citizen, government processes can seem rigid and impenetrable. In her work across finance, municipal government, and the arts world, Sara Fenske Bahat has picked up some ideas about incorporating creativity into policy. Her experience as a New York City municipal staffer bridged the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations, giving her insight into radically different approaches to local governance. Now, she’s interim CEO of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Fenske Bahat says leaders should be willing to experiment and listen to constituents about their needs. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Institutionalize Innovation? This Former NYC Staffer Has Ideas full San Francisco Chronicle Can city policy incorporate creativity? Sara Fenske Bahat, the interim CEO of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, says leaders should be willing to experiment, and that local governments can think outside the box. To the average citizen, government processes can seem rigid and impenetrable. In her work across finance, municipal government, and the arts world, Sara Fenske Bahat has picked up some ideas about incorporating creativity into policy. Her experience as a New York City municipal staffer bridged the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations, giving her insight into radically different approaches to local governance. Now, she’s interim CEO of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Fenske Bahat says leaders should be willing to experiment and listen to constituents about their needs. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices To the average citizen, government processes can seem rigid and impenetrable. In her work across finance, municipal government, and the arts world, Sara Fenske Bahat has picked up some ideas about incorporating creativity into policy. Her experience as a New York City municipal staffer bridged the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations, giving her insight into radically different approaches to local governance. Now, she’s interim CEO of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Fenske Bahat says leaders should be willing to experiment and listen to constituents about their needs. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 2799 no Why Can’t San Francisco Build Housing More Cheaply? Housing is too expensive in San Francisco, and there’s heated disagreement about how to tackle the cost of building it. Construction and labor costs are through the roof. San Francisco has experimented with lowering the cost by having individual apartments constructed in a factory, then assembled on-site. At the SFNext Solutions Conference in October, this turned out to be a hot-button issue. John Doherty of the electrical workers union IBEW Local 6 and Jay Bradshaw of the NorCal Carpenters Union debate the merits of modular housing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Why Can’t San Francisco Build Housing More Cheaply? full San Francisco Chronicle Why Can’t San Francisco Build Housing More Cheaply? Modular housing — creating units in a factory and assembling them on site — has been floated as a method to lower costs. Labor is split on whether it can work in San Francisco. Jay Bradshaw of the carpenters union and John Doherty of the electrical workers union hash it out at an SFNext panel. Housing is too expensive in San Francisco, and there’s heated disagreement about how to tackle the cost of building it. Construction and labor costs are through the roof. San Francisco has experimented with lowering the cost by having individual apartments constructed in a factory, then assembled on-site. At the SFNext Solutions Conference in October, this turned out to be a hot-button issue. John Doherty of the electrical workers union IBEW Local 6 and Jay Bradshaw of the NorCal Carpenters Union debate the merits of modular housing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Housing is too expensive in San Francisco, and there’s heated disagreement about how to tackle the cost of building it. Construction and labor costs are through the roof. San Francisco has experimented with lowering the cost by having individual apartments constructed in a factory, then assembled on-site. At the SFNext Solutions Conference in October, this turned out to be a hot-button issue. John Doherty of the electrical workers union IBEW Local 6 and Jay Bradshaw of the NorCal Carpenters Union debate the merits of modular housing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1951 no Pandemic Over? Not for San Francisco Restaurants Bruce Hill, owner of the Italian restaurant Zero Zero, did his best to weather the uncertainty of the coronavirus. He secured PPP loans, applied for federal relief money, downsized his staff, and provided takeout and delivery. Still, he was forced to close. Hill says he isn’t sure what else San Francisco could do to keep ailing restaurants downtown afloat. Laurie Thomas, head of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, has some ideas — and says far from giving up, now is the time for urgent collaborative action. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Pandemic Over? Not for San Francisco Restaurants full San Francisco Chronicle The persistent lack of foot traffic in the city’s economic core spelled the end for Zero Zero, an Italian restaurant in SoMa that had been hanging on. Eateries in residential areas are faring better. What’s the next move for San Francisco’s food scene? Bruce Hill, owner of the Italian restaurant Zero Zero, did his best to weather the uncertainty of the coronavirus. He secured PPP loans, applied for federal relief money, downsized his staff, and provided takeout and delivery. Still, he was forced to close. Hill says he isn’t sure what else San Francisco could do to keep ailing restaurants downtown afloat. Laurie Thomas, head of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, has some ideas — and says far from giving up, now is the time for urgent collaborative action. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Bruce Hill, owner of the Italian restaurant Zero Zero, did his best to weather the uncertainty of the coronavirus. He secured PPP loans, applied for federal relief money, downsized his staff, and provided takeout and delivery. Still, he was forced to close. Hill says he isn’t sure what else San Francisco could do to keep ailing restaurants downtown afloat. Laurie Thomas, head of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, has some ideas — and says far from giving up, now is the time for urgent collaborative action. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1380 no Shelter Expansion: Proponents Are Hopeful, Critics Doubtful New York City’s shelter mandate, requiring the city to offer a placement to everyone who needs it without forcing anyone to accept it, is often cited as a model. Now San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is developing a plan to offer some kind of shelter — ranging from a safe place to pitch a tent to a more permanent solution — to everyone willing to take it. While temporary shelter alone will not solve homelessness, advocates for shelter expansion see it as a crucial step. But critics worry a major investment in shelter will come at the cost of longer-term interventions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com The homelessness department's strategic planning town hall will be held on Monday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Details: https://hsh.sfgov.org/events/strategic-planning-town-hall/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Shelter Expansion: Proponents Are Hopeful, Critics Doubtful full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco is developing a plan to offer some kind of placement to every homeless person on the street willing to accept it. What this would cost, and how much housing would need to be built to transition residents out of temporary shelter, remains to be seen. New York City’s shelter mandate, requiring the city to offer a placement to everyone who needs it without forcing anyone to accept it, is often cited as a model. Now San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is developing a plan to offer some kind of shelter — ranging from a safe place to pitch a tent to a more permanent solution — to everyone willing to take it. While temporary shelter alone will not solve homelessness, advocates for shelter expansion see it as a crucial step. But critics worry a major investment in shelter will come at the cost of longer-term interventions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com The homelessness department's strategic planning town hall will be held on Monday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Details: https://hsh.sfgov.org/events/strategic-planning-town-hall/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices New York City’s shelter mandate, requiring the city to offer a placement to everyone who needs it without forcing anyone to accept it, is often cited as a model. Now San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is developing a plan to offer some kind of shelter — ranging from a safe place to pitch a tent to a more permanent solution — to everyone willing to take it. While temporary shelter alone will not solve homelessness, advocates for shelter expansion see it as a crucial step. But critics worry a major investment in shelter will come at the cost of longer-term interventions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1856 no Best of FOC: Elect a Mayor for Nightlife? Why Amsterdam Did It There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. (First published July12, 2022) | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Best of FOC: Elect a Mayor for Nightlife? Why Amsterdam Did It full San Francisco Chronicle What if it were someone’s job to make sure a city’s cultural scene stayed engaging, lively and safe after hours? In Amsterdam, there’s the night mayor. (First published July12, 2022) There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. (First published July12, 2022) | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. (First published July12, 2022) | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1856 no Cooking Up an On-ramp to Employment When you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, the hurdles that stand between you and a job that can provide some stability can seem never-ending. Meanwhile, San Francisco is grappling with a shortage of restaurant workers. Farming Hope guides and pays people as they learn the ropes of working in the short-staffed food industry. Whether they’re experienced cooks or have never worked in a kitchen, by the end of the program they’ll have connections that could lead to a good job and skills that will serve them in the food industry. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000 Cooking Up an On-ramp to Employment full San Francisco Chronicle Getting a job can be the first step to stability, but for someone who’s been outside the workforce for a long time, it can be hard to get hired. An employment social enterprise called Farming Hope provides food-industry job training for transitional youth, the housing insecure and the formerly incarcerated. When you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, the hurdles that stand between you and a job that can provide some stability can seem never-ending. Meanwhile, San Francisco is grappling with a shortage of restaurant workers. Farming Hope guides and pays people as they learn the ropes of working in the short-staffed food industry. Whether they’re experienced cooks or have never worked in a kitchen, by the end of the program they’ll have connections that could lead to a good job and skills that will serve them in the food industry. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices When you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, the hurdles that stand between you and a job that can provide some stability can seem never-ending. Meanwhile, San Francisco is grappling with a shortage of restaurant workers. Farming Hope guides and pays people as they learn the ropes of working in the short-staffed food industry. Whether they’re experienced cooks or have never worked in a kitchen, by the end of the program they’ll have connections that could lead to a good job and skills that will serve them in the food industry. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1328 no What San Francisco Can Learn From Portugal Decriminalizing Drugs Portugal’s decision to decriminalize drug possession as of 2001 garnered international attention. But that move was just part of the nation’s broader public health strategy to curb the devastating effects of an opioid epidemic. At the time, on average, Portugal had an overdose death every day. Today, it’s dramatically reduced the number of overdose deaths, HIV infections associated with drug use, and problematic heroin use. Meanwhile in San Francisco, overdose deaths have exploded. Dr. João Goulão, Portugal’s national coordinator for drugs and drug addiction, explains how the country’s approach was shaped and what the results have been. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 08 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000 What San Francisco Can Learn From Portugal Decriminalizing Drugs full San Francisco Chronicle In the 1990s, Portugal was facing a heroin crisis so widespread that it was almost impossible to find a family unaffected by the opioid. The government responded by aggressively adding health and social services, and by decriminalizing drug possession. Are there takeaways for San Francisco? Portugal’s decision to decriminalize drug possession as of 2001 garnered international attention. But that move was just part of the nation’s broader public health strategy to curb the devastating effects of an opioid epidemic. At the time, on average, Portugal had an overdose death every day. Today, it’s dramatically reduced the number of overdose deaths, HIV infections associated with drug use, and problematic heroin use. Meanwhile in San Francisco, overdose deaths have exploded. Dr. João Goulão, Portugal’s national coordinator for drugs and drug addiction, explains how the country’s approach was shaped and what the results have been. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Portugal’s decision to decriminalize drug possession as of 2001 garnered international attention. But that move was just part of the nation’s broader public health strategy to curb the devastating effects of an opioid epidemic. At the time, on average, Portugal had an overdose death every day. Today, it’s dramatically reduced the number of overdose deaths, HIV infections associated with drug use, and problematic heroin use. Meanwhile in San Francisco, overdose deaths have exploded. Dr. João Goulão, Portugal’s national coordinator for drugs and drug addiction, explains how the country’s approach was shaped and what the results have been. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1705 no Why Does Speeding Up Housing Construction Take So Long? San Francisco is under pressure to pick up the snail-like pace of new housing construction. One research paper suggests the problem is local agencies having so much discretion over the process. Officials have tried to pare down the system to speed up production, especially of affordable housing, but things are still slow. Now two warring ballot measures — only one can become law — claim they’ll kickstart development by letting certain projects skip some steps. Experts lay out how we got here and why the need to streamline persists, and reporter Noah Arroyo gives an overview of what voters will have to consider. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 01 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Why Does Speeding Up Housing Construction Take So Long? full San Francisco Chronicle After many attempts over decades to streamline San Francisco’s initial permitting process for housing, two proposals claiming to finally get it right are competing on the November ballot.Only one can win. Will either work? San Francisco is under pressure to pick up the snail-like pace of new housing construction. One research paper suggests the problem is local agencies having so much discretion over the process. Officials have tried to pare down the system to speed up production, especially of affordable housing, but things are still slow. Now two warring ballot measures — only one can become law — claim they’ll kickstart development by letting certain projects skip some steps. Experts lay out how we got here and why the need to streamline persists, and reporter Noah Arroyo gives an overview of what voters will have to consider. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices San Francisco is under pressure to pick up the snail-like pace of new housing construction. One research paper suggests the problem is local agencies having so much discretion over the process. Officials have tried to pare down the system to speed up production, especially of affordable housing, but things are still slow. Now two warring ballot measures — only one can become law — claim they’ll kickstart development by letting certain projects skip some steps. Experts lay out how we got here and why the need to streamline persists, and reporter Noah Arroyo gives an overview of what voters will have to consider. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1750 no 175 People Get In a Room to Fix San Francisco For a whole day, nearly 200 San Francisco residents examined the top three local problems on our collective minds: Homelessness, crime and housing. They quizzed panelists and discussed among themselves. Meanwhile, a cohort of small groups participated in a structured brainstorming exercise to address specific elements of the three overarching topics. They presented their ideas to the crowd for scrutiny: Pilot programs for housing development. Staffing police precincts like firehouses. A “supervisor exchange program.” Now the Chronicle’s SFNext team — including this podcast — will look for ways to dive deeper into these proposals and continue the conversation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000 175 People Get In a Room to Fix San Francisco full San Francisco Chronicle The Chronicle’s SFNext poll showed what San Francisco residents’ top priorities are. So what do we do about it? We gathered a big crowd to come up with some fresh ideas — and they delivered. For a whole day, nearly 200 San Francisco residents examined the top three local problems on our collective minds: Homelessness, crime and housing. They quizzed panelists and discussed among themselves. Meanwhile, a cohort of small groups participated in a structured brainstorming exercise to address specific elements of the three overarching topics. They presented their ideas to the crowd for scrutiny: Pilot programs for housing development. Staffing police precincts like firehouses. A “supervisor exchange program.” Now the Chronicle’s SFNext team — including this podcast — will look for ways to dive deeper into these proposals and continue the conversation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For a whole day, nearly 200 San Francisco residents examined the top three local problems on our collective minds: Homelessness, crime and housing. They quizzed panelists and discussed among themselves. Meanwhile, a cohort of small groups participated in a structured brainstorming exercise to address specific elements of the three overarching topics. They presented their ideas to the crowd for scrutiny: Pilot programs for housing development. Staffing police precincts like firehouses. A “supervisor exchange program.” Now the Chronicle’s SFNext team — including this podcast — will look for ways to dive deeper into these proposals and continue the conversation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1442 no Understaffed, Overburdened City Workers “Just Need Help” San Francisco’s top human resources official acknowledges the need for workers and the calls for reforms to a lengthy recruitment and hiring process. The money is in the budget to fill the open jobs, but the rules that govern how that happens are enshrined in the city charter, and they exist to guard against favoritism and other corruption. Meanwhile, most city employees do not live in San Francisco. Human resources director Carol Isen, Labor Council leader Kim Tavaglione and 911 dispatcher Burt Wilson lay out the consequences of the worker shortage and what is being done about it. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod   Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Understaffed, Overburdened City Workers “Just Need Help” full San Francisco Chronicle When the city is short staffed, the work piles up. San Francisco’s street cleaners, service providers, accountants, laborers, nurses and other civil servants have been clamoring for relief. The money is in the budget to hire. Why can’t the city staff up? San Francisco’s top human resources official acknowledges the need for workers and the calls for reforms to a lengthy recruitment and hiring process. The money is in the budget to fill the open jobs, but the rules that govern how that happens are enshrined in the city charter, and they exist to guard against favoritism and other corruption. Meanwhile, most city employees do not live in San Francisco. Human resources director Carol Isen, Labor Council leader Kim Tavaglione and 911 dispatcher Burt Wilson lay out the consequences of the worker shortage and what is being done about it. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod   Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices San Francisco’s top human resources official acknowledges the need for workers and the calls for reforms to a lengthy recruitment and hiring process. The money is in the budget to fill the open jobs, but the rules that govern how that happens are enshrined in the city charter, and they exist to guard against favoritism and other corruption. Meanwhile, most city employees do not live in San Francisco. Human resources director Carol Isen, Labor Council leader Kim Tavaglione and 911 dispatcher Burt Wilson lay out the consequences of the worker shortage and what is being done about it. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod  

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]]> 1600 no How Ranked-Choice Voting Works And Why It’s Used In San Francisco For local elections in San Francisco, voters don’t just choose their favorite single candidate. They ordered them from most to least preferred. Ranked-choice voting hgas eliminated the need for runoff elections since 2004. While some politicians, including former President Donald Trump, inaccurately insist ranked-choice voting favors one party over the other or propels unpopular candidates to victory, experts say that isn’t the case. We explain how the system works and hear some benefits and critiques. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Correction: An earlier version of this episode contained an error about the ranking rules. As of Oct. 12, the episode has been updated to reflect that ranking multiple candidates first will invalidate a ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How Ranked-Choice Voting Works And Why It’s Used In San Francisco full San Francisco Chronicle While San Francisco still has runoff elections for statewide seats, most local offices use ranked-choice voting, eliminating the need for a runoff. Proponents say it also mitigates “vote splitting” and doesn’t propel unpopular candidates to victory. Correction: An earlier version of this episode contained an error about the ranking rules. As of Oct. 12, the episode has been updated to reflect that ranking multiple candidates first will invalidate a ballot. For local elections in San Francisco, voters don’t just choose their favorite single candidate. They ordered them from most to least preferred. Ranked-choice voting hgas eliminated the need for runoff elections since 2004. While some politicians, including former President Donald Trump, inaccurately insist ranked-choice voting favors one party over the other or propels unpopular candidates to victory, experts say that isn’t the case. We explain how the system works and hear some benefits and critiques. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Correction: An earlier version of this episode contained an error about the ranking rules. As of Oct. 12, the episode has been updated to reflect that ranking multiple candidates first will invalidate a ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For local elections in San Francisco, voters don’t just choose their favorite single candidate. They ordered them from most to least preferred. Ranked-choice voting hgas eliminated the need for runoff elections since 2004. While some politicians, including former President Donald Trump, inaccurately insist ranked-choice voting favors one party over the other or propels unpopular candidates to victory, experts say that isn’t the case. We explain how the system works and hear some benefits and critiques. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1959 no Think You Know San Francisco? The Numbers Might Surprise You Simple questions in San Francisco don’t always have easy answers. But even imperfect data can offer insights and a shared set of facts for tackling problems like homelessness and crime. In compiling the SFNext Index, Chronicle data reporter Adriana Rezal and data editor Dan Kopf dig into city records, census results, survey responses and other sources to find answers to reader questions and challenge their own assumptions. What they find is often surprising. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:17:00 -0000 Think You Know San Francisco? The Numbers Might Surprise You full San Francisco Chronicle Simple questions in San Francisco don’t always have easy answers. But even imperfect data can illuminate issues and offer a factual foundation for tackling problems like homelessness and crime. The Chronicle’s data team talks about the work they do and why it matters Simple questions in San Francisco don’t always have easy answers. But even imperfect data can offer insights and a shared set of facts for tackling problems like homelessness and crime. In compiling the SFNext Index, Chronicle data reporter Adriana Rezal and data editor Dan Kopf dig into city records, census results, survey responses and other sources to find answers to reader questions and challenge their own assumptions. What they find is often surprising. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Simple questions in San Francisco don’t always have easy answers. But even imperfect data can offer insights and a shared set of facts for tackling problems like homelessness and crime. In compiling the SFNext Index, Chronicle data reporter Adriana Rezal and data editor Dan Kopf dig into city records, census results, survey responses and other sources to find answers to reader questions and challenge their own assumptions. What they find is often surprising. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1775 no We Put Two People Who Disagree About Housing in a Room and Nobody Died Nadia Rahman with YIMBY Action and Joseph Smooke with the Race and Equity in All Planning Coalition both agree it costs far too much to live in San Francisco and that this lack of affordability has serious consequences for the city’s diversity and equity. What they don’t see eye to eye on is the role of the market in influencing housing affordability. But when we all sat down to talk, it turned out they agree on the urgency of building affordable housing and creating a clear and detailed plan to produce it, while frontloading community input to minimize repetitive and exhausting battles about individual projects. So what would they say we should do about it? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000 We Put Two People Who Disagree About Housing in a Room and Nobody Died full San Francisco Chronicle Housing is the “lightning rod” of San Francisco political discussions, but could solutions to the affordability crisis be found in the common ground between people who disagree? Two housing advocates with very different philosophies sit down to hash out where the city should go from here Nadia Rahman with YIMBY Action and Joseph Smooke with the Race and Equity in All Planning Coalition both agree it costs far too much to live in San Francisco and that this lack of affordability has serious consequences for the city’s diversity and equity. What they don’t see eye to eye on is the role of the market in influencing housing affordability. But when we all sat down to talk, it turned out they agree on the urgency of building affordable housing and creating a clear and detailed plan to produce it, while frontloading community input to minimize repetitive and exhausting battles about individual projects. So what would they say we should do about it? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Nadia Rahman with YIMBY Action and Joseph Smooke with the Race and Equity in All Planning Coalition both agree it costs far too much to live in San Francisco and that this lack of affordability has serious consequences for the city’s diversity and equity. What they don’t see eye to eye on is the role of the market in influencing housing affordability. But when we all sat down to talk, it turned out they agree on the urgency of building affordable housing and creating a clear and detailed plan to produce it, while frontloading community input to minimize repetitive and exhausting battles about individual projects. So what would they say we should do about it? | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod


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]]> 1917 no Tell Me About Your Debt: An Inside Look at S.F.’s Free Financial Coaching Poor financial health can keep people from accessing city services like affordable housing. Even if they otherwise qualify, bad credit can be an obstacle. So San Francisco has developed a program that provides anyone who lives in, works in, or gets services from the city with a financial coach free of charge. The Office of Financial Empowerment established Smart Money Coaching six years ago. Fixing Our City producer Cintia Lopez test-drives the program by talking to a Smart Money Coach about her own finances. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 20 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Tell Me About Your Debt: An Inside Look at S.F.’s Free Financial Coaching full San Francisco Chronicle When a San Francisco family’s credit score kept them from getting into an affordable housing unit, the city stepped in with financial coaching. It worked — the family was housed. Now any San Franciscan can access the service for free. Poor financial health can keep people from accessing city services like affordable housing. Even if they otherwise qualify, bad credit can be an obstacle. So San Francisco has developed a program that provides anyone who lives in, works in, or gets services from the city with a financial coach free of charge. The Office of Financial Empowerment established Smart Money Coaching six years ago. Fixing Our City producer Cintia Lopez test-drives the program by talking to a Smart Money Coach about her own finances. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Poor financial health can keep people from accessing city services like affordable housing. Even if they otherwise qualify, bad credit can be an obstacle. So San Francisco has developed a program that provides anyone who lives in, works in, or gets services from the city with a financial coach free of charge. The Office of Financial Empowerment established Smart Money Coaching six years ago. Fixing Our City producer Cintia Lopez test-drives the program by talking to a Smart Money Coach about her own finances. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod


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]]> 1449 no Poll: What S.F. Residents Really Think of the City The San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project has conducted a scientific poll to find out what residents really think of the city, its government and its problems. Respondents didn’t hold back on what they want solved: Homelessness, crime and affordability. They’re tired of assurances that they’re being heard. They want to see measurable improvements. In open-ended questions about who or what they see as the main obstacle to improvements, a significant number named government. Hear from residents about their concerns and a survey research expert on how reliable and meaningful these results are. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 13 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0000 Poll: What S.F. Residents Really Think of the City full San Francisco Chronicle A scientific opinion survey shows San Franciscans are extraordinarily united in naming their top priorities. No surprises: They’re homelessness, crime and affordability. But there are some surprises within those responses. The San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project has conducted a scientific poll to find out what residents really think of the city, its government and its problems. Respondents didn’t hold back on what they want solved: Homelessness, crime and affordability. They’re tired of assurances that they’re being heard. They want to see measurable improvements. In open-ended questions about who or what they see as the main obstacle to improvements, a significant number named government. Hear from residents about their concerns and a survey research expert on how reliable and meaningful these results are. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project has conducted a scientific poll to find out what residents really think of the city, its government and its problems. Respondents didn’t hold back on what they want solved: Homelessness, crime and affordability. They’re tired of assurances that they’re being heard. They want to see measurable improvements. In open-ended questions about who or what they see as the main obstacle to improvements, a significant number named government. Hear from residents about their concerns and a survey research expert on how reliable and meaningful these results are. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1881 no Why Can't SFPD Hiring Keep Up With Cops Leaving? The San Francisco Police Department says it’s struggling to meet the city's law enforcement needs because it’s so short staffed. While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many officers the SFPD has the budget to hire, the number of applications to its academy has plummeted over the years. San Francisco is not alone in facing waning interest in police careers. Recruiters and marketers say it’s a nationwide challenge. But they also say departments must modernize their approaches, streamline their application processes, and target young people with messages tailored to their generation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod   Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 06 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Why Can't SFPD Hiring Keep Up With Cops Leaving? full San Francisco Chronicle Departments across the country are trying to attract recruits and win over fully trained officers. The San Francisco Police Department says it’s short more than 500 officers, but the number of applicants has fallen dramatically over the years. What’s the solution? The San Francisco Police Department says it’s struggling to meet the city's law enforcement needs because it’s so short staffed. While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many officers the SFPD has the budget to hire, the number of applications to its academy has plummeted over the years. San Francisco is not alone in facing waning interest in police careers. Recruiters and marketers say it’s a nationwide challenge. But they also say departments must modernize their approaches, streamline their application processes, and target young people with messages tailored to their generation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod   Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The San Francisco Police Department says it’s struggling to meet the city's law enforcement needs because it’s so short staffed. While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many officers the SFPD has the budget to hire, the number of applications to its academy has plummeted over the years. San Francisco is not alone in facing waning interest in police careers. Recruiters and marketers say it’s a nationwide challenge. But they also say departments must modernize their approaches, streamline their application processes, and target young people with messages tailored to their generation. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

 

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]]> 1779 no A Chinatown Arts Group Wants to Be an Economic Engine Above the retail-dominated street level that visitors are familiar with, Chinatown is one of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the city, home to many seniors and recent immigrants. It's been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative is establishing a hub called Edge on the Square, where it plans to serve the neighborhood and visitors alike with boundary-pushing art and performances. How can an arts group transform the life of a neighborhood? Co-founder Mabel Teng shares her thoughts with host Laura Wenus. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 30 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000 A Chinatown Arts Group Wants to Be an Economic Engine full San Francisco Chronicle Edge on the Square is transforming a former grocery store at a busy Chinatown intersection into an arts hub that challenges harmful stereotypes and offers a non-retail alternative attraction for visitors. Above the retail-dominated street level that visitors are familiar with, Chinatown is one of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the city, home to many seniors and recent immigrants. It's been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative is establishing a hub called Edge on the Square, where it plans to serve the neighborhood and visitors alike with boundary-pushing art and performances. How can an arts group transform the life of a neighborhood? Co-founder Mabel Teng shares her thoughts with host Laura Wenus. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Above the retail-dominated street level that visitors are familiar with, Chinatown is one of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the city, home to many seniors and recent immigrants. It's been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative is establishing a hub called Edge on the Square, where it plans to serve the neighborhood and visitors alike with boundary-pushing art and performances. How can an arts group transform the life of a neighborhood? Co-founder Mabel Teng shares her thoughts with host Laura Wenus. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1611 no How S.F. Keeps Poop Off Streets Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000 How S.F. Keeps Poop Off Streets full San Francisco Chronicle Everyone in San Francisco has dealt with feces in the streets and on the sidewalks. In 2014, city officials heard loud and clear from a group of Tenderloin high school students that they wanted cleaner streets. A look at the Pit Stop program. Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Opening public toilets to address a public urination and defecation problem may not be revolutionary, but San Francisco’s Pit Stop program adds a crucial element: Attendants who make sure the toilets are used for their intended purpose only, clean up the surrounding area, and connect with visitors seeking relief. While resident reports of poop in the streets citywide have increased steadily over the years, data shows that in the Tenderloin, which has a high concentration of Pit Stops, reports have gone down. Neighbors we spoke with have rave reviews, but they want the toilets open longer. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1543 yes “We Run to the Fire”: Mission Leaders' COVID Response Long description: Early in the pandemic, Latinos were disproportionately affected in San Francisco. When testing sites and other resources weren’t commensurately located in the heavily affected Mission District, community leaders from nonprofits came together to form the Latino Task Force. It ensures community members have access to testing, vaccines, PPE, food, and help accessing government programs. And now it’s preparing to face monkeypox too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000 “We Run to the Fire”: Mission Leaders' COVID Response full San Francisco Chronicle Mission District Latino organizers felt the city’s response to the pandemic wasn’t measuring up to the crisis in that neighborhood. So they pulled together a one-stop resource center for tests, vaccines, food and other services. Long description: Early in the pandemic, Latinos were disproportionately affected in San Francisco. When testing sites and other resources weren’t commensurately located in the heavily affected Mission District, community leaders from nonprofits came together to form the Latino Task Force. It ensures community members have access to testing, vaccines, PPE, food, and help accessing government programs. And now it’s preparing to face monkeypox too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Long description: Early in the pandemic, Latinos were disproportionately affected in San Francisco. When testing sites and other resources weren’t commensurately located in the heavily affected Mission District, community leaders from nonprofits came together to form the Latino Task Force. It ensures community members have access to testing, vaccines, PPE, food, and help accessing government programs. And now it’s preparing to face monkeypox too. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1561 no 8 Arrests Later, He Leads S.F. Police Accountability Before he became the director of San Francisco’s Department of Police Accountability, Paul Henderson had been a top mayoral adviser, a prosecutor and a sought-after lecturer and media guest. He says he’s been detained and arrested eight times for things he didn’t do, and that on his first day in court as an assistant D.A., the judge mistook him for a defendant and lectured him about where to sit. Now, he runs the city agency that audits police practices and issues policy recommendations, and he says the city needs honest conversation and inclusive citizen participation to meaningfully address racism. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 09 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000 8 Arrests Later, He Leads S.F. Police Accountability full San Francisco Chronicle Paul Henderson says he’s been detained and arrested eight times for things he didn’t do. That’s not a coincidence, he says — it was racism. He wants people to recognize the city’s disparate outcomes and talk about them. Before he became the director of San Francisco’s Department of Police Accountability, Paul Henderson had been a top mayoral adviser, a prosecutor and a sought-after lecturer and media guest. He says he’s been detained and arrested eight times for things he didn’t do, and that on his first day in court as an assistant D.A., the judge mistook him for a defendant and lectured him about where to sit. Now, he runs the city agency that audits police practices and issues policy recommendations, and he says the city needs honest conversation and inclusive citizen participation to meaningfully address racism. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Before he became the director of San Francisco’s Department of Police Accountability, Paul Henderson had been a top mayoral adviser, a prosecutor and a sought-after lecturer and media guest. He says he’s been detained and arrested eight times for things he didn’t do, and that on his first day in court as an assistant D.A., the judge mistook him for a defendant and lectured him about where to sit. Now, he runs the city agency that audits police practices and issues policy recommendations, and he says the city needs honest conversation and inclusive citizen participation to meaningfully address racism. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1394 no Could Houston’s Homeless Strategy Work in San Francisco? Has Texas’ largest city found the key to ending chronic homelessness? Houston has drastically reduced the number of homeless people counted every other year, and its collaborative housing-first approach has garnered national attention. SFNext listeners and readers took notice, and told us to find out what Houston’s getting right. So we did. Two Houston homelessness leaders outline their strategy, and San Francisco’s top homelessness official responds with what could be learned and what’s already in progress. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Could Houston’s Homeless Strategy Work in San Francisco? full San Francisco Chronicle Texas' largest city is getting national attention for its approach to homelessness. So what’s the secret? Houston’s Coalition for the Homeless says collaboration. San Francisco is trying to do the same. Has Texas’ largest city found the key to ending chronic homelessness? Houston has drastically reduced the number of homeless people counted every other year, and its collaborative housing-first approach has garnered national attention. SFNext listeners and readers took notice, and told us to find out what Houston’s getting right. So we did. Two Houston homelessness leaders outline their strategy, and San Francisco’s top homelessness official responds with what could be learned and what’s already in progress. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Has Texas’ largest city found the key to ending chronic homelessness? Houston has drastically reduced the number of homeless people counted every other year, and its collaborative housing-first approach has garnered national attention. SFNext listeners and readers took notice, and told us to find out what Houston’s getting right. So we did. Two Houston homelessness leaders outline their strategy, and San Francisco’s top homelessness official responds with what could be learned and what’s already in progress. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 2056 yes Guaranteed Income Combats Poverty With ... Money When the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) gave 125 people $500 a month with no strings attached, researchers found that recipients spent money the same way everyone else does: On food, gas, childcare and bills. The experiment, led by then-Mayor Michael Tubbs, drew criticism from people saying the money would disincentivize work, and that recipients would spend it on alcohol or drugs. Researchers found the opposite: The extra cash reportedly empowered people to get full-time and better paying jobs. San Francisco has launched several guaranteed income pilot programs of its own. In this episode of Fixing Our City, Tubbs and a guaranteed income recipient describe how the payments can help people reach financial stability. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 26 Jul 2022 16:43:43 -0000 Guaranteed Income Combats Poverty With ... Money full San Francisco Chronicle How does giving people money, no strings attached, affect their economic standing? In 2019 Stockton sought to find that out through its SEED program. Now various cities throughout the country are doing the same, including San Francisco. When the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) gave 125 people $500 a month with no strings attached, researchers found that recipients spent money the same way everyone else does: On food, gas, childcare and bills. The experiment, led by then-Mayor Michael Tubbs, drew criticism from people saying the money would disincentivize work, and that recipients would spend it on alcohol or drugs. Researchers found the opposite: The extra cash reportedly empowered people to get full-time and better paying jobs. San Francisco has launched several guaranteed income pilot programs of its own. In this episode of Fixing Our City, Tubbs and a guaranteed income recipient describe how the payments can help people reach financial stability. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices When the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) gave 125 people $500 a month with no strings attached, researchers found that recipients spent money the same way everyone else does: On food, gas, childcare and bills. The experiment, led by then-Mayor Michael Tubbs, drew criticism from people saying the money would disincentivize work, and that recipients would spend it on alcohol or drugs. Researchers found the opposite: The extra cash reportedly empowered people to get full-time and better paying jobs.

San Francisco has launched several guaranteed income pilot programs of its own. In this episode of Fixing Our City, Tubbs and a guaranteed income recipient describe how the payments can help people reach financial stability. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1838 no He Reads Housing Bills, and He’s Got Memes Robert Fruchtman attends municipal hearings and meetings where the fates of housing developments or policies hang in the balance, and he takes to Twitter. He’s documenting, but he’s also offering commentary, from the succinct “lol” to more elaborate visual jokes. He volunteers his time knowing that these hearings, which often eat up hours in the middle of workdays, tend to exclude the very people who already have fewer opportunities to bend politicians’ ears. To democratize housing policy, he tells host Laura Wenus, public comment is not the answer. But until things change, he’s bringing politics to the people — one tweet at a time. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000 He Reads Housing Bills, and He’s Got Memes full San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco resident @_fruchtose became a housing policy and history wonk when he moved to San Francisco in the midst of a housing crisis. Now he livetweets government proceedings to document and comment on how housing policy is made. Robert Fruchtman attends municipal hearings and meetings where the fates of housing developments or policies hang in the balance, and he takes to Twitter. He’s documenting, but he’s also offering commentary, from the succinct “lol” to more elaborate visual jokes. He volunteers his time knowing that these hearings, which often eat up hours in the middle of workdays, tend to exclude the very people who already have fewer opportunities to bend politicians’ ears. To democratize housing policy, he tells host Laura Wenus, public comment is not the answer. But until things change, he’s bringing politics to the people — one tweet at a time. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Robert Fruchtman attends municipal hearings and meetings where the fates of housing developments or policies hang in the balance, and he takes to Twitter. He’s documenting, but he’s also offering commentary, from the succinct “lol” to more elaborate visual jokes. He volunteers his time knowing that these hearings, which often eat up hours in the middle of workdays, tend to exclude the very people who already have fewer opportunities to bend politicians’ ears. To democratize housing policy, he tells host Laura Wenus, public comment is not the answer. But until things change, he’s bringing politics to the people — one tweet at a time. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 2059 no Elect a Mayor for Nightlife? Here's Why Amsterdam Did It There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 12 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Elect a Mayor for Nightlife? Here's Why Amsterdam Did It full San Francisco Chronicle What if it were someone’s job to make sure a city’s cultural scene stayed engaging, lively and safe after hours? In Amsterdam, there’s the night mayor. There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices There was a time when Amsterdam was sick of losing creative people to Berlin because of its vibrant and diverse round-the-clock cultural scene. Much more appealing than the “open air museum” that residents complained Amsterdam had become. So, the Dutch city tried something new, including electing a new night mayor — a liaison between night culture operators and city government who advocated for policies under which a diverse and varied nightlife scene could flourish. Mirik Milan, former night mayor who currently runs a nightlife consultancy, talks about what worked, the benefits to the city as a whole and what obstacles cities around the world face right now in revitalizing nightlife. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1863 no Community Policing: Can an Old Idea Be an Answer for San Francisco? Calls to improve public safety have covered a spectrum: At one end, moving funds from police to service workers. On the other, beefing up police budgets and getting more officers on the street. But for decades, departments across the country have been working on a strategy called community policing, intended to improve trust in and collaboration between residents and officers. In San Francisco, different neighborhoods have different relationships with the police force. From Chinatown, where officers were embedded in the Ping Yuen apartments, to the Mission, where a local advocate says they do what they can to not call on police, we look at what the SFPD is doing with community policing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 05 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Community Policing: Can an Old Idea Be an Answer for San Francisco? full San Francisco Chronicle In San Francisco, different neighborhoods have different relationships with the police force. From Chinatown, where officers were embedded in the Ping Yuen apartments, to the Mission, where a local advocate says they do what they can to not call on police, we look at what the SFPD is doing with community policing, a strategy where officers build trust by getting to know a neighborhood’s residents. Calls to improve public safety have covered a spectrum: At one end, moving funds from police to service workers. On the other, beefing up police budgets and getting more officers on the street. But for decades, departments across the country have been working on a strategy called community policing, intended to improve trust in and collaboration between residents and officers. In San Francisco, different neighborhoods have different relationships with the police force. From Chinatown, where officers were embedded in the Ping Yuen apartments, to the Mission, where a local advocate says they do what they can to not call on police, we look at what the SFPD is doing with community policing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Calls to improve public safety have covered a spectrum: At one end, moving funds from police to service workers. On the other, beefing up police budgets and getting more officers on the street. But for decades, departments across the country have been working on a strategy called community policing, intended to improve trust in and collaboration between residents and officers. In San Francisco, different neighborhoods have different relationships with the police force. From Chinatown, where officers were embedded in the Ping Yuen apartments, to the Mission, where a local advocate says they do what they can to not call on police, we look at what the SFPD is doing with community policing. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1520 no “Urgent Care” for Preventing Homelessness When you get badly hurt or sick, you know where to go. What if you were in danger of losing your housing? San Francisco and Oakland are developing programs to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, which is cheaper and easier than helping them once they're on the streets. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0000 “Urgent Care” for Preventing Homelessness full San Francisco Chronicle When you get badly hurt or sick, you know where to go. What if you were in danger of losing your housing? San Francisco and Oakland are developing programs to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, which is cheaper and easier than helping them once they're on the streets. When you get badly hurt or sick, you know where to go. What if you were in danger of losing your housing? San Francisco and Oakland are developing programs to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, which is cheaper and easier than helping them once they're on the streets. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices When you get badly hurt or sick, you know where to go. What if you were in danger of losing your housing? San Francisco and Oakland are developing programs to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, which is cheaper and easier than helping them once they're on the streets. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1390 no Why a Hole in the Ground Is “The Death in the Mission” A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. In this debut episode, Fixing Our City host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez begin their search for solutions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0000 Why a Hole in the Ground Is “The Death in the Mission” full San Francisco Chronicle A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the midst of a severe housing crisis, why has nothing been built, and what can we learn from this hole in the ground? A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. In this debut episode, Fixing Our City host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez begin their search for solutions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A 2015 apartment building fire at Mission and 22nd streets killed one person and displaced 50. Seven years later, there’s an empty lot, gathering trash and growing weeds. In the middle of a housing crisis. Why has nothing been built in the years since? The answers to that question are painfully emblematic of some of the biggest problems facing San Francisco. In this debut episode, Fixing Our City host Laura Wenus and producer-reporter Cintia Lopez begin their search for solutions. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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]]> 1605 yes Introducing Fixing Our City Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out why one of the wealthiest and best-educated cities in America, one where most people belong to the same political party and subscribe to the same basic values, has so many intractable problems. And more importantly: Can they be fixed? Join us as we find out, one San Francisco story at a time. Coming June 21 from the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext project. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Tue, 07 Jun 2022 19:40:00 -0000 Introducing Fixing Our City trailer San Francisco Chronicle Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out, one San Francisco story at a time, why one of the wealthiest and best-educated cities in America, one where most people belong to the same political party, has so many intractable problems. And more importantly: Are solutions to any of these problems within our grasp? Coming June 21 from the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext project. Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out why one of the wealthiest and best-educated cities in America, one where most people belong to the same political party and subscribe to the same basic values, has so many intractable problems. And more importantly: Can they be fixed? Join us as we find out, one San Francisco story at a time. Coming June 21 from the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext project. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod. Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at sfnext@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Host Laura Wenus and producer Cintia Lopez are on a quest to find out why one of the wealthiest and best-educated cities in America, one where most people belong to the same political party and subscribe to the same basic values, has so many intractable problems. And more importantly: Can they be fixed? Join us as we find out, one San Francisco story at a time. Coming June 21 from the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFNext project. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod.

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