That’s when thieves shattered part of a glass window at Gai Chicken and Rice around 3 a.m.

The thieves then entered the restaurant and stole $650 in cash and $1,500 of equipment.

The queer-owned business says the attack during Pride Month feels “personal,” but they won’t let it shake their spirits.

“In the spirit of Pride, I don’t think you’re going to be able to break our spirit,” said an employee. “I think we were able to get everything up and running in one day, we closed for a day, but what goes around comes around.”

Three weeks ago, vandals shattered another window at the restaurant, and in April, someone broke through the restaurant’s door.

Mehrdad Mostafavi said he once considered his third floor Millennium Tower condo his sanctuary – even posting a sign near his kitchen proclaiming: “THIS IS OUR HAPPY PLACE.”

But that changed as the luxury rise continued to sink and tilt over the last decade, he says, and he started getting recurring flooding problems from overflowing drain pipes. He pointed to repairs he has had to make in his ceiling and walls as well as around his washing machine and his toilet. He says wastewater has even mysteriously bubbled up and filled his kitchen sink.

But, he said, all that was nothing like what he said he faced when he came home late on Sunday, June 11. The next day, he took us up to show us what happened.

“When I came home last night, the water … it was up to here,” said Mostafavi, a 58-year-old network engineer – pointing to the black and brown muck that had filled his kitchen sink and overflowed onto his countertop, cabinets, flooring and even his oven and his nearby office.

Millennium Tower Jun 9

SF's Millennium Tower now tilting more than ever to the west after early recovery

INVESTIGATIVE Apr 24

SF High-Rise Blames Millennium Tower for Its Recent Shattered Windows

Mostafavi says he fears he will end up having to replace all his cabinets as well as the entire hardwood floor in the two-bedroom unit he bought back in 2012 for $865,000.

But Mostafavi is not alone in suffering plumbing problems. A renter on the third floor who didn’t want to be named provided NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit photos and videos of problems that she says left her entry hall hardwood floor damaged and carpets around her washing machine stained. The problems started soon after she moved there in 2021, when she had trouble with her toilet.

Millennium Tower staff blamed wipes – that she says were flushable – for clogging her system. But the problems continued, she said, after she stopped using the wipes. Crews now snake out her kitchen drain line twice a month, she says, showing us the records of their visits.

“They said that they do this to prevent clogging. And then even though they’re still doing this and we’re still having things foaming up from the kitchen, from the kitchen sink regularly,” she said.

In August of the year she moved into her third floor unit, the lead engineer in charge of the ongoing fix project, Ron Hamburger, briefed city officials about “Functionality Issues” associated with the building. He pointed to one potential problem with the 1/8th inch downward slope per foot required by code to ensure proper drain operation. Drains tilting to the south and east, he said, will be most vulnerable to the building’s northwest sinking and tilting.

“Sewers sloping to the south and east will experience decreased slope and may become a problem,” he said, adding that the “drain line from the (second floor) kitchen has become problematic and is being maintained with periodic chemical flushing. It may be necessary to adjust this and other lines to re-establish slope.”

Millennium Tower officials didn’t answer questions about Mostafavi’s flooding issues. But they sent us a statement saying that all the water problems in the building are limited to just two third-floor units. They blame the backups on wipes and other non-flushable items, not tilting.

They cite a building engineer’s report dated in January 2022, five months after Hamburger’s assessment, recounting that tower staff was “running into issues regarding educating tenants on their habits regarding sanitary wipes and other non-flushable products that are causing backups in these lines.”

Tower officials stressed that Hamburger had “merely stated that it was possible” for such backups to happen when he gave that earlier assessment. They added that drain line slopes have “always remained within code standards.” However, monitoring data shows the tower’s tilt has gone from 19 inches at the time of Hamburger’s report to 29 inches now.

“We cannot expect this to be a one off – It’s a systemic issue that requires attention,” said Mark Savel, an architect and contractor who studies building failures like the Berkeley balcony collapse that killed six people back in 2015.

He says that while wipes flushed down toilets can obviously be a problem, tilting is the most likely cause of the backups being reported by the two tower residents. The only permanent solution, he says, is to adjust the drain lines to make sure the pipes are properly sloped downward, despite the tilt.

The time to do that, he says, may be now. “This is undoubtedly a health concern,” Savel said. “It’s a potential for property damage and it’s going to continue, if not worsen, over time.”

Mostafavi recalled the initial joy he felt when he bought his unit in 2012.

“I was so happy, a beautiful apartment,” he said. “I was so happy coming here, moving here.”

Now, he says, he just feels trapped in his once-beloved condo, unable to sell.

“There’s so many problems happening here now, it is more than bothersome,” he said as he stood next the sign proclaiming it to be his “happy place.”

“It is not manageable anymore moneywise and time wise, I don’t know what to do,’” he said, adding that he should change the sign outside his kitchen to reflect his current nightmare. “I have to put ‘UN-‘ here — ‘UN-HAPPY PLACE.'”

The victims were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following the collision, which happened about 5:10 p.m. at the corner of 22nd and Valencia streets, near the Mission Campus of City College of San Francisco.

Officers had been patrolling in the 2600 block of Mission Street when they spotted a car that was possibly involved in a violent crime, according to a release from San Francisco police.

While traveling through the intersection of 22nd and Valencia, the police vehicle hit a building on the southwest corner.

The officers weren’t injured, and the suspect’s car hasn’t been found.

The wreck is under investigation, police said.

The arrest comes at the same time international law enforcement agencies are warning about a big increase in pot smuggling through California airports.

According to federal court documents, the two baggage handlers are accused of running a ring of airline employees who would bust into passenger’s bags.

FBI agents accuse Joel Lamont Dunn of being the ring leader and Adrian Webb of being his right hand man.

The criminal complaint filed earlier this month only names Lamont and Webb, but mentions other employees.

NBC Bay Area reached out to United Airlines for comment on their employees’ charges but has not heard back. 

According to court documents, agents first picked up the trail of Dunn and Webb when they reported being robbed at gunpoint at an employee parking lot at SFO in June of 2021.

Agents started scouring security cameras and noticed the two were hauling trash bags to their cars.

Agents eventually made contact with another employee, who turned into their informant, and described to them how the operation worked.

Then last October, Dunn and Webb were stopped leaving the Terminal G garage with two large boxes and a garbage bag which contained about 30 pounds of pot in vacuum sealed packages.

NBC Bay Area Aviation Analyst Mike McCarran says the baggage handling areas at SFO are usually pretty secure.

Employees have to go through background checks and other measures to get clearance to be there.        

“You can find people who pass the background checks but still aren’t honest. And this is apparently what has happened,” he said. “But even if that happens, there are backups in the system, there are cameras, and other ways, so they can monitor what’s going on, and I think that’s how they eventually caught up with these people.”

These arrests come as law enforcement agents in the United Kingdom are stepping up their scrutiny of California flights bound for London — specifically flights originating from SFO and LAX.

The commander of the National Crime Agency Heathrow Branch issued a public warning which reads, “I’m making a direct appeal to anyone considering getting involved in transporting drugs to the U.K. think very carefully about the consequences.”

More than 25 passengers arriving there from California have been arrested or convicted for drug possession of marijuana since the start of the year.  

That includes Southern California resident Akintude Akinwande who told U.K. officials he was instructed to pick up a couple bags in Burbank. From Burbank, he traveled to San Francisco International then flew to London-Heathrow.

As he continued on to Belfast-Ireland, local authorities moved in and made their arrest. Authorities found more than 70 pounds of marijuana in his luggage.

Authorities say legally-grown pot in California is very valuable in the U.K. but it’s still illegal there — especially in large amounts.

The exhibit is called Fleurs de Villes PRIDE and runs at the San Francisco Mint until July 4. It is sponsored by the Fleurs de Ville, a self-described luxury brand from Vancouver that produces floral exhibits around the world. 

The floral arrangements feature figures like San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man elected to office in California, Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Heklina, the San Francisco-based drag queen who died suddenly in early April. The arrangements were all made by local florists.

“Their artistry celebrates the indomitable strength, resilience, and love shaping our history,” Suzanne Ford, Executive Director of San Francisco Pride, said in a press release about the exhibit. “With each petal and bloom, we honor those who paved the way for equality, reminding us that our collective journey towards acceptance is a blossoming tapestry of diversity and unity.” 

Tickets to Fleurs de Villes PRIDE cost $35 for adults, $28 for seniors and $15 for children.

He posted an ad on Twitter showing himself standing in what he calls the “once great city” and blasting liberal policies that he claims have now ruined it.

The video appears to show DeSantis standing at Geary and Hyde streets with a pile of trash in the background. It’s unclear exactly when the video was filmed.

“You look around, the city is not vibrant anymore,” DeSantis says. “It’s really collapsed because of leftist policies.”

In responding to the ad, San Francisco Mayor London Breed noted the efforts of President Joe Biden and partnerships with state and federal officials to clean up the problems, adding that the latest effort to crack down on the city’s issues has netted nearly 400 arrests for open air drug dealing and led to the seizure of 61 kilograms of fentanyl.

“We need to focus on all the great things that we’re trying to do to combat this problem because that’s the hard part,” Breed said.

NBC Bay Area political analyst Larry Gerston said the ad is political strategy.

“He thinks it’s going to attract some attention to him, first of all,” Gerston said. “He’s hoping, as long as he’s there, that it will also raise him money. He has good reasons to hope for both.”

politics Jun 19

Inside the Deepening Rivalry Between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom

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DeSantis dares Newsom to challenge Biden in 2024 presidential race

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This event is part of Presidio’s Second Sundays Series and is hosted by NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48. RSVPs are not required for this event, but they’re appreciated as they help gauge capacity.  

WHEN: Sunday, July 9^th, 2023, 1-5 PM 

Where: Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco (103 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94129)

To learn more and RSVP, please click here 

Officials said the man and dogs will be OK after the incident.

INVESTIGATIVE Jun 20

Troubled Millennium Tower fix reaches key milestone

San Francisco Jun 20

Arrest made in Embarcadero shootout

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The completion of work along Fremont Street last week comes as the tower is listing 29 inches at the northwest corner, monitoring data shows that much of that tilt happened during digging and other activities surrounding the fix project that began early in 2021.

The Fremont Street work involved tying the tower to an extended foundation supported by 12 piles sunk to bedrock on the tower’s west side. The four-day load transfer operation was completed on June 14, monitoring records show.

The work came as engineers had already supported the north side of the tower to six piles sunk to bedrock along Mission Street.

The total of 18 perimeter piles currently handle about 500,000 pounds of building load apiece. The plan is for them to take on twice that load, with a goal of arresting settlement and reversing some of the current tilt by shifting more of the load to the east and south.

Millennium Tower Jun 9

SF's Millennium Tower now tilting more than ever to the west after early recovery

INVESTIGATIVE Mar 21

Mission Street Closed After Windows Fail at Salesforce Building, Millennium Tower in High Winds

Millennium fix officials indicated in a statement that the building is now starting to recover some of its tilt. That’s backed up by newly released rooftop monitoring data, showing that the newly supported tower is leaning about a quarter inch less at the northwest corner that it was just days before.

But David Williams, an expert in deep foundations, says its simply too soon to make any pronouncements of success.

He recalled that back in January, fix engineers were quick to hail the Mission Street operation a successful based on similar early data. But subsequent monitoring results showed that didn’t last and the tower’s westward tilt eventually got worse, not better. At the time of last week’s operation, in fact, the tower was tilting more than ever to the west.

“They have claimed early success before – that was premature,” Williams said. “So right now, we’ll have to wait and see how it responds.”

Police said 33-year-old Lee Haywood of Pittsburg has been arrested in the shooting described by witnesses as a rolling gunbattle that erupted Sunday near Pier 39.

Haywood, 23, and a woman were inside a black SUV that was involved in a shootout with a white sedan, police said, adding both were shot during the incident. Haywood is being treated at a hospital for life-threatening injuries and the woman was treated and later released for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police allege they found a semi-automatic firearm and several spent shell casings inside the SUV.

Haywood was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, being a wanted felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded, concealed firearm in a vehicle and on an outstanding warrant out of Antioch, police said.

The white sedan involved in the shootout left the scene after the black SUV Haywood was in crashed at the intersection of the Embarcadero and Howard Street. Police said while an arrest has been made, the case is still part of an open investigation.

San Francisco Jun 16

‘Felt like a fighter pilot experience': Alaska Airlines passenger describes landing at SFO

San Francisco Jun 18

6 injured in rolling gunbattle near Pier 39 in San Francisco

The shooting on Father’s Day at a popular tourist area comes after several shootings the weekend before left at least a dozen injured. The string of violence has left city leaders working to calm a nervous public.

Police have been collecting security camera video at multiple locations along the Embarcadero as they continue to investigate Sunday’s shooting.

Just before 7 p.m., officers responded to the area of Beach and Stockton streets for a report of a shooting.

The gunbattle involved a white sedan and a dark SUV, with the occupants of the SUV firing first, according to witnesses. The occupants of the sedan returned fire, with a chase following.

The chase then continued down the Embarcadero, with witnesses describing a rolling gunbattle between the vehicles. The vehicles sped and weaved between traffic for more than a mile and half before the SUV crashed at Howard Street and the Embarcadero.

Police said two bicyclists were hit, one of whom was a child. Both bicyclists suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Police were still trying to track down the occupants of the white sedan that sped away after the SUV crashed at Howard Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact San Francisco police at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

The president gathered for an artificial intelligence forum with tech leaders in San Francisco and in his opening remarks said “AI brings both risks and promises.”

NBC Bay Area’s Scott Budman breaks down what the White House hopes to see and what local companies are doing about it. View his report in the video above.

Joe Biden Jun 20

Biden discusses risks and promises of artificial intelligence with tech leaders in SF

Joe Biden Jun 19

Biden plans fundraisers in the Bay Area as he revs up his 2024 campaign

The CHP said the shooting happened at about 10 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 just south of Interstate 280.

Officers found a vehicle riddled with multiple bullet holes, but the person inside the vehicle was not injured, the CHP said.

Further information wasn’t immediately available.

Dozens of longshoremen from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 gathered Monday in San Francisco for a Juneteenth celebration filled with music and performances. Despite the day being recognized as a federal holiday, it’s a date they say they’re still fighting to get recognized as a formal holiday in their union contracts.

“This is a very special day to commemorate because it commemorates freedom and this country is supposed to be about freedom,” ILWU Local 10 business agent Trent Willis said.

Local 10, which has a majority of Black members, decided to schedule a union meeting to allow members to celebrate the day – a celebration that included inducting actor Danny Glover into the union as an honorary member for what they say is his decades of support.

“When young men and women come up here on this podium, come into this hall, they know that business is being taken care of, business about working people, business about building community and business about fighting for justice,” Glover said.

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The shooting on Father’s Day at a popular tourist area comes after several shootings the weekend before left at least a dozen injured. The string of violence has left city leaders working to calm a nervous public.

Police have been collecting security camera video at multiple locations along the Embarcadero as they continue to investigate Sunday’s shooting.

Just before 7 p.m., officers responded to the area of Beach and Stockton streets for a report of a shooting.

The gunbattle involved a white sedan and a dark SUV, with the occupants of the SUV firing first, according to witnesses. The occupants of the sedan returned fire, with a chase following.

San Francisco Jun 16

‘Felt like a fighter pilot experience': Alaska Airlines passenger describes landing at SFO

San Francisco Jun 18

6 injured in rolling gunbattle near Pier 39 in San Francisco

The chase then continued down the Embarcadero, with witnesses describing a rolling gunbattle between the vehicles. The vehicles sped and weaved between traffic for more than a mile and half before the SUV crashed at Howard Street and the Embarcadero.

Police said two bicyclists were hit, one of whom was a child. Both bicyclists suffered minor injuries, officials said. The two most seriously injured were inside the SUV that crashed, with both said to be shot, one critically.

“The individuals who were injured by gunfire, we definitely will be talking to those folks and figure out exactly what their role is, if any, was in this,” San Francisco police Chief Bill Scott said.

Police were still trying to track down the occupants of the white sedan that sped away after the SUV crashed at Howard Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact San Francisco police at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

Organizers were hoping to provide a different perspective after some of the push back that has occurred around the country around drag performances.

Reverend Victor Floyd said it was a first for the church.

“We’re hoping to offer a little balance to all of the hateful rhetoric that is out in the country and especially from churches and politicians, who are using churches and using trans people and drag queens as their props,” he said.

Floyd added that not everyone supported the church hosting the event.

Morgan Hill Jun 12

Controversy surrounds Morgan Hill drag brunches

Pride Month Jun 1

LGBTQ+ Pride Month Kicks Off With Protests, Parades, Parties

Recently, a drag event in the South Bay also drew some pushback online.

Events like the Drag Queen Bible Story Hour comes as lawmakers in states across the country have introduced bills to restrict LGBTQ rights.

Christie Smith has more in the video above.

Just before 7 p.m., officers responded to the area of Beach and Stockton streets for a report of a shooting.

SFPD said its officers found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. As police investigated multiple scenes, they found two more shooting victims and two young girls injured after they were struck by a vehicle while walking their bikes across the street, police said.

All the victims were taken to local hospitals, where at least one was in critical condition and the other victims’ conditions were unknown.

At the scene, officers learned that there were possibly two vehicles involved in a rolling gunbattle that moved along the Embarcadero for nearly a mile, San Francisco police said.

Multiple vehicles were seen with bullet holes, apparently struck by stray bullets, and the incident also reportedly involved at least one of the vehicles crashing at Howard and the Embarcadero, more than a mile and a half from the original shooting.

San Francisco Jun 18

Officers allegedly attacked by suspect in San Francisco

San Francisco Jun 16

‘Felt like a fighter pilot experience': Alaska Airlines passenger describes landing at SFO

No other details were released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact San Francisco police at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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The incident happened Saturday morning near Hickory Street and Van Ness Avenue.

A video was posted on Twitter, and it appeared to show officers approached a man they say had a weapon.

Police said the man wouldn’t drop it, appeared to throw it at officers before they took him down.

Officers arrested the man and he will face several felony charges.

religion Jun 17

Sexual violence survivor hopes to educate church leaders to better combat abuse

San Francisco Jun 16

‘Felt like a fighter pilot experience': Alaska Airlines passenger describes landing at SFO

The memorial commemorated Rep. Nancy Pelosi Saturday at the AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. 

Pelosi was elected to congress in 1987 in the midst of the AIDs crisis. In an era when much of the U.S. turned a blind eye to the epidemic, Pelosi made advocacy for people affected by the crisis a priority. 

San Francisco Jun 16

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“For those of us that remember back, that was a time that our government chose not to respond. So she stood up and had a voice, and has given a voice to those that are in need with regards to HIV and AIDS,” said John Cunningham, the CEO of the National Aids Memorial. 

In 1996, legislation authored by Pelosi was signed into law and turned the Grove into a federal-designated AIDS memorial. It is the only one of its kind.

Pelosi attended the event as a guest speaker, and also helped plant a tree in the park. 

Cunningham said the day wasn’t just about commemorating her support, but was also a reminder of the work left to do. 

“Today, unfortunately, our society has not learned those lessons,” he said. “And we are again recommitting and doubling down to fight, again, for the rights that we have fought for for so long, which are being eroded every day.”

The Juneteenth freedom celebration covered several city blocks with food, vendors and performances.

“It’s been great so far we have been here probably 35, 40 minutes,” said Ronald Brown of Lexington Kentucky.

Pia Harris, one of the organizers and program director of economic development with the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation spoke about the event.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom issues Juneteenth proclamation

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“This neighborhood has been gentrified after redevelopment. We lost a lot of our African American community and businesses. So, we just want to celebrate black people that we are still here,” Harris said.

Organizers said the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans and highlights culture and progress.

There was plenty of food for people to try.

“I grew up here. So to be able to give back to this community means everything. Running into family members, childhood friends, it means a lot,” said Sandy Clark with Sir Hands Street Foodz.

About 10,000 people were expected for rides, vendors, a car show, performances and health information and more. A day that mixed history with the promise of the future.

“I’ve never been in a plane with a trajectory,” said Avery Lieberman. “It felt like a fighter pilot experience.”   

He was returning from Los Angeles Thursday when he said the nose of the plane abruptly jutted upwards and lights went out as the plane was forced to circle back.

“All of a sudden the most abrupt maneuver occurred in which the front of the airplane, the nose of the airplane, just went way up and the jets went full force,” he said. “At that very second that it started the lights went out.” 

Lieberman said that all in all, it was about a minute. But it felt like an eternity.

Back in May, there were a couple of close calls when two airliners aborted landings at SFO after pilots spotted a Southwest Airlines jet, taxing across runways on which the other planes had been cleared to land.

Concerns about close calls led the FAA to announce earlier this year it would invest $100 million in airport improvements – though not at SFO – to reduce the number of “runway incursions.”

In Lieberman’s case, he said the pilot simply said there was an issue with air traffic control and they needed to recircle, or do what’s called a go-around. 

The FAA told NBC Bay Area that a go-around is a safe and routine procedure where the air traffic controller and pilot are working together to prevent an unsafe condition from occurring.

Doug Rice is a retired airline pilot and looked at the public records for this particular Alaska flight.

“The aircraft involved was higher than expected and a little bit faster he got a little too close to a large aircraft that was in front of him and the combination of those two forced the go-around,” he said. “Too close was probably 3 to 3.5 miles away from an aircraft that was landing in front of them and they might have needed 4 miles or something on that order. So you’re not talking about a critical situation.”

In a statement, Alaska Airlines says the go-around was done as a safety precaution because of congestion and added, “At no point was the safety of the flight compromised. We commend our pilots for their quick thinking.”

“I think that’s watered down quite a bit. I think that to say that it was definitely not an ordinary incident,” said Lieberman. “Somebody has to get to the bottom of this before next time before the next incident isn’t just a close call.”

The massive display can be seen for up to 20 miles. 

San Francisco May 21

Organizers Seek Volunteers for Twin Peaks' Annual Pink Triangle

Pride Month Jun 1, 2021

San Francisco Lights Up Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks to Kick Off Pride Month

The symbol originates in Nazi concentration camps, a dark part of history for not only the LGBTQ+ community but also the world at large. Gay people were forced to wear an inverted pink triangle, similar to how Jewish people were forced to wear yellow stars of David. 

Years after World War II, the LGBTQ+ community began to reclaim the symbol as an expression of pride and solidarity. 

Volunteers will return Saturday to finish installing the display, which will be followed by a commemoration ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m.

The installation will remain on display through June and be taken down July 1.

Nancy Pelosi on Friday announced that the Department of Justice has added San Francisco to its Operation Overdrive program.

“I’m so proud of the Biden administration for the leadership role they’re playing and the attorney general for recognizing that violence and drug use in our community needs to come to an end,” Pelosi said.

New numbers show in the midst of the current crackdown the city set a new record for fentanyl deaths. In May, 63 people died, the most deaths in any month since the city’s medical examiner started tracking overdose deaths in January 2020.

Police Chief Bill Scott welcomes the additional federal law enforcement response.

“They have resources and availability,” he said. “Their cases go a different route than our state cases.”

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This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom touted the additional help he dispatched from the California Highway Patrol. CHP officers say they have confiscated 4.2 kilos of fentanyl off the streets and made 92 felony arrests in the past six weeks.

Case worker Joshua Jacobo said he’s seen the increase in people in San Francisco’s jail since the CHP and others arrived. He’s skeptical of stepping up arrests to deal with the city’s overdose problem.

“We’re kind of just putting a band aid on it,” he said. “These community members are going to come back out into the community and they don’t have skills that they learned in there, they don’t have further education, and there’s still the lapse in services in community.”

Last Monday, the Brown family of Brentwood were all celebrating Janet Brown’s retirement from a Bay Area hospital after more than three decades of service.

“I was really excited about everything. The whole day was going well, and then, that news,” she said.

The news came early Tuesday morning. Vannest Brown said he received a call from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. He said he put on his phone on speaker as soon as a woman on the line said she had news about their 30-year-old son.

“She said, ‘I’m sorry to inform you that your son has been shot and has passed away,’” he said.

San Francisco Jun 15

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Vannest then called his sister Ashanti, who came over and then, they called their daughter Chantell to tell her what had happened.

Vannest said he was prepared to head to San Francisco. But before he left, he called the hospital back after something in his heart told him this had to be wrong.

“I said, ‘You never gave me a description. Can you give me a description?’ And she said, ‘Yes, he has dreadlocks.’ I said ‘Stop!’” he said.

After more than an hour in agonizing emotional pain, the Brown family was just beginning to learn the man who came into Zuckerberg SF General that night was not their loved one at all. It was another young man who was four inches taller and weighed 50 pounds more.

Two hours later, they confirmed it was not their son.

“And I just shook her and said, ‘It’s not him,’ because I was already holding her. Because I had been consoling her,” Ashanti Brown said.

“I just got up and just started running around the house,” Janet Brown said.

But the family still was worried. They asked who was this man killed in this shooting? And how did he end their son’s driver’s license. They still couldn’t get ahold their son.

“I kept calling and calling and it just went to voicemail,” said Janet Brown.

In a written statement Thursday, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital said among other things, “it was discovered the deceased did not match the identification information in their possession. Staff immediately followed up and verified this misidentification with the emergency contacts.”

They added: “We deeply regret the situation and apologize for the impacts to those involved. We remain committed to providing lifesaving care to patients in distress.”

The Brown family questions the statement. They said they were the ones who called to make sure the hospital identified the right person and they added they never got a full explanation of how this could happen from anyone at the hospital.

“Whatever protocol they have. What they did was not OK,” Janet Brown said.

Telecommunications company AT&T announced Thursday it was closing its Union Square store on August 1.

A spokesperson said that consumer shopping habits have changed and it must change with them.

San Francisco Jun 14

Cinemark closing theater complex at Westfield San Francisco

San Francisco Jun 12

Westfield leaving downtown San Francisco

All employees affected will be offered jobs at different locations throughout the city

AT&T isn’t the only telecommunications giant making similar moves out of downtown San Francisco.

Last month, T-Mobile closed its store in Union Square.

In all, more than a dozen national retailers have left San Francisco so far this year.

The San Francisco Fire Department tweeted that five kayakers were in the water near Oracle Park around 3 p.m.

At 3:20 p.m., firefighters said all kayakers were located and there were no injuries.

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Last month, Newsom and city officials launched a law enforcement partnership with the CHP and the California National Guard to combat the sale and distribution of fentanyl in key areas of the city, including the Tenderloin neighborhood.

Newsom announced that since their deployment on May 1, CHP officers have seized over 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl in the Tenderloin and surrounding areas, which is enough to kill 2.3 million people.

Officers have also seized a sizable amount of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, and made 92 arrests related to fentanyl possession, illegal firearm possession, driving under the influence and domestic violence.

Six national guard analysts have also worked to support San Francisco’s Fentanyl Task Force and provide analysis and technical support for law enforcement to shut down organized drug dealing operations. Their work includes mapping out crime syndicate networks and reviewing information for agencies to tackle large-scale cases.

“I’m proud of the CHP and CalGuard’s lifesaving efforts to shut down the Tenderloin’s poison pipeline and hold drug traffickers accountable,” Newsom said. “These early results show promise and serve as a call to action: We must do more to clean up San Francisco’s streets, help those struggling with substance use, and eradicate fentanyl from our neighborhoods.”

The operation builds on Newsom’s plan to address the fentanyl and opioid crisis, which includes funneling $1 billion to CalGuard so it can expand its operations.

Last week, hundreds of teachers, families and child care community advocates gathered to send a clear message to city leaders: Keep Proposition C the way it is.

The voter approved proposition from 2018 allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to the city’s early education department, allowing for teachers’ raises and subsidized child care among other benefits.

It isn’t the first time Prop. C has been challenged after its narrow victory on the 2018 ballot. In 2021, the issue went to court and was upheld. Now, it’s up for yet another challenge.

“This has been such a long fight. Early care and education has notoriously been underpaid and expensive,” said Sarah Hicks-Kilday, director of Early Care Educators of San Francisco.

Changing Prop. C would exempt big businesses making over $1 million in commerical rent from a tax to contribute to child care for all. The proposed change also would reduce the city’s annual investment in child care services, said to be one of the most progressive in the state.

The Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposed changes to Proposition C later this month.

The incident happened in broad daylight at the top of Lombard Street.

Eli Steele and Terrell Allen, the two independent filmmakers told NBC Bay Area that they tried calling 911 to report the smash-and-grab. But they were disconnected multiple times.

“We were parked behind that red truck,” said Steele.

Just after 11 a.m., Steele and his team stepped away from his rental SUV for just 10 minutes to film a scene. They returned to find his car window smashed and his camera equipment stolen.

“We lost $30,000. So, it’s a big hit,” he said.

San Jose Jun 14

Equipment stolen from 15-person band in San Jose

San Francisco Jun 14

Person of interest detained in connection to SF Mission District mass shooting

Minutes later, Allen said he saw people trying to break into another car.

“I run over there say ‘Hey what are you doing? Stop stop!’” Allen said. “Pulls a gun on me. Of course, I stop. They moved three cars down. They didn’t go a block. They didn’t keep going, they didn’t leave. They literally went three cars down.”

NBC Bay Area reached out to San Francisco police for comment Wednesday. They released the following statement Thursday.

“On 06/14/23 a victim went to Central Station to report that his vehicle had been burglarized in the area of Hyde Street and Lombard Street at approximately 1100 hours. Officers took a report of this incident. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.”

No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.

Emma Goss has more in the video above.

According to San Francisco police, Javier Campos is a person of interest and the department was part of “multi-jurisdictional effort” that took him into custody on Wednesday.

The drive-by shooting at a block party on 24th Street and Treat Avenue last Friday left nine people injured. All victims are expected to survive. Police believe the shooting was a “targeted and isolated” attack.

San Francisco Jun 10

San Francisco residents speak out following Mission District shooting

San Francisco Jun 10

Local leaders react to San Francisco's Mission District shooting

Police sources told NBC Bay Area Sunday that following the shooting, a surveillance camera filmed a Mercedes sedan driving at a high rate of speed from the area.

Police later tied the car’s license plate to Campos. Sources described him as a member of the Sureños gang with ties to other gang members throughout the Bay Area.

San Francisco police released the following statement Wednesday night:

“The San Francisco Police Department was part of a multi-jurisdictional effort that took Javier Campos into custody. Campos had several outstanding warrants for his arrest from multiple Bay Area agencies.“

The video shows a first responder yelling at a driverless car from the tech startup Cruise to move out of the way because it is blocking emergency vehicles from reaching the scene of a mass shooting. The taxi in the video — with no people inside — defiantly stays put. 

The witness who recorded the video said the robotaxi was being reckless, an idea that local media outlets and politicians picked up and ran with as another example of Big Tech’s going too far. 

But it turns out the initial perception created by the video may have been wrong, according to the San Francisco police and fire departments. They now say the robotaxi didn’t block emergency responders or otherwise get in anyone’s way after the shooting, which wounded nine people. 

“The autonomous vehicle did not delay police, fire, or other emergency personnel with our arrival or departure from this scene. Furthermore, it did not interfere with our investigation into the shooting incident,” the police department said in an email. The viral video was only 13 seconds, and it didn’t show a wide sweep of the area

Read the full story at NBCNews.com 

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Wednesday’s hearing was a brief status update in his case. Another status update was scheduled for September 13

news Nov 3, 2022

Accused Paul Pelosi Attacker David DePape Could Be Deported After Release From Custody, DHS Says

Paul Pelosi Attacked Nov 1, 2022

Suspect in Paul Pelosi Attack Told Police He Was on ‘Suicide Mission' and Had Other Targets

The hearing was part of the case prosecuted against DePape by the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, which is separate from the federal charges leveled against him. 

A public defender for DePape, Adam Lipson, said the state trial will most likely happen after the federal trial, which he believed would be in October. He added that he hopes the state trial will happen before the end of the year. 

Prosecutors say DePape broke into the Pelosi’s San Francisco home in October 2022. He later told police that he wanted to hold former Speaker Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps.” 

However, only her husband, Paul Pelosi, was home that night, who called 911 after DePape entered. Moments after officers arrived at the home, DePape apparently assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer. 

He has been charged with attempted murder, elder abuse, and burglary by the San Francisco DA’s office. DePape has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The plan would bring annual musical acts to three notable locations downtown beginning in 2024 — Civic Center Plaza, Union Square and Embarcadero Plaza. 

The concert series fits into Mayor London Breed’s goals to transform downtown San Francisco into a stronger global destination, including leading arts and culture events. 

The free concerts are included as part of a permit request by APE to host additional ticketed concerts in Golden Gate Park’s Polo Fields — the location of Outside Lands — for three years beginning in 2024. The ticketed concerts would occur the weekend after Outside Lands in August and use some of its infrastructure. However, the concerts would be separate events from Outside Lands with smaller, headliner-focused performances.

While the downtown concerts would be free, the Polo Fields concerts would be ticketed. Breed said that charging permit fees of $1.4 million for a two-day event and $2.1 million for a three-day event would allow the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to continue to offer programming and care for its facilities. 

The city currently faces a two-year budget deficit of $780 million.    

“The proposed Polo Field concerts would generate crucial funding for our parks and programs,” said Recreation and Park general manager Phil Ginsburg in a press release.

Outside Lands has pumped more than $1 billion into San Francisco’s economy since it began in 2008, according to Breed’s office.

The concert proposals will be tentatively heard by the Board of Supervisors on June 22.

It appears the 10-theater movie house will shut its doors as soon as Thursday.

“Cinemark can confirm it has decided to permanently close the Century San Francisco Centre 9 and XD theater shortly before the conclusion of its lease term following a comprehensive review of local business conditions,” a Cinemark representative said in a statement.

Cinemark’s lease at Westfield San Francisco Centre was due to expire in September, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Canadian tourist Marino Weibe said he’s not surprised given the changes in the way people watch movies these days.

“It’s really tough to get a good movie experience anywhere without paying a fortune, when you can,” he said. “A lot of the times, the stuff is getting streamed virtually the same day as it’s going into theaters, in Canada as well.”

Cinemark’s announcement comes just days after Westfield announced it is vacating the downtown San Francisco shopping center property and amid several other closures in the area surrounding Mid-Market and Union Square.

Just last month, retailers Nordstrom, Old Navy and Coco Republic announced they would be shuttering their stores in the city’s shopping district.

Many of them have also closed outlets in other cities or moved to smaller spaces in San Francisco in response to a national change in customer’s shopping habits.

Rachel Michelin with the California Retailers’ Association says crime is also a factor in retailer’s decisions to leave the city.

“We have so many folks that will come into our stores, they’re repeat offenders. They steal, they sell all those goods out on the streets,” she said. “They purchase drugs. They go into that store the next day; they continue that cycle.”

She said her group has been trying to make changes to California’s Prop 47, which raised the value of goods that can be stolen before it becomes a felony.

In response to concerns about crime, Mayor London Breed and police Chief Bill Scott have issued recent directives to have San Francisco police arrest repeated drug users and efforts to crack down on open air drug markets in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, San Francisco supervisors approved funding for the mayor’s comprehensive plan to revitalize downtown.

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“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as our crews work to resolve the issue,” the tweet read.

Some flights to SFO were diverted to San Jose Mineta International Airport, and some were canceled.

Among the people stuck in long lines was the Cunningham family of Menlo Park who had plans to fly to their new home in South Carolina.

“My family is here and they’re moving across country tonight. We came to the airport and everything was just shut down and the power was out and fortunately, the power came back on and things are moving but we’re at the point where we’re close to missing our flight,” said Aaron Cunningham of Menlo Park.

The outage was reported around 8:30 p.m. and all power was restored before 10 p.m.

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After a day of fundraising stops, she was the guest of honor at the Giffords Law Center in San Francisco.

The center is a public interest organization promoting gun legislation and litigating against the gun industry.

The center’s namesake, Gabby Giffords, who is a survivor of a mass shooting herself, embraced Dr. Biden as the first lady took the stage to deliver an impassioned speech.

“The number of children we’ve lost to mass shootings in unfathomable,” she said. “The number of parents and siblings, teachers, journalists, police, innocence of every age.”

Dr. Biden called for measures like universal background checks, banning assault weapons and holding gun manufacturers liable for their role in deadly shootings.

From there, the first lady heads to Southern California for more campaign events.

President Joe Biden has plans to visit the Bay Area next week.

The hearing for Nima Momeni took a few minutes and his legal team spoke to reporters after.

“Whatever happened in the past is in the past,” said Saam Zangeneh, Momeni’s new lawyer. “We are fresh eyes, fresh perspectives. And that’s what we’re going to do. We’re not basing anything that happened in the past.”

At one point during the post-hearing news conference, Zangeneh chafed at repeated questions about how his client’s prior attorney handled the case.

Zangeneh and Momeni made it clear they are completely parting from lawyer Paula Canny. Zangeneh said he will not even be asking Canny to turn over the case file and instead will get it from the district attorney’s office.

San Francisco May 30

Defense Attorney for Bob Lee Killing Suspect Withdraws From Case

San Francisco May 24

New Images Released in Bob Lee Murder Case

Zangeneh said he also plans to revisit Momeni being held in jail until trial, adding he will make that motion at some point during the next hearing.

In May, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office successfully argued that Momeni was a danger to the public and should not be allowed bail.

Legal experts said Momeni’s new lawyers have their work cut out for them considering the evidence the DA said they have proving their client violently and repeatedly stabbed Lee and left the Cash App founder to die.

While Momeni now has a new team of lawyers, Tony Brass is the only one that is Bay Area-based, which he said is significant in San Francisco’s relatively small legal community.

“It is unusual and I think that if there’s any sort of deficit in that, it’s made up for by the fact that they have local counsel here,” Brass said.

The District Attorney’s Office did not provide a comment to NBC Bay Area on Tuesday.

The murder case against Momeni will continue with a two-day preliminary hearing starting July 31.

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At about 1:40 a.m., SJPD officers responded to the unit block of Turk Street on a report of a shooting, police said. When they arrived, officers found a male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, police said.

No arrest were made and police had no suspect information.

Anyone with information should call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.

People at the Castro in San Francisco organized a memorial and asked the public to take action to prevent future violence against the LGBTQ community. 

James Ward says came of age in Orlando, and in 2009, Pulse was the place he found safety and community.

“Pulse was my first club, I was a young drag queen and it was the first place that I got to go out in drag, the first place I performed in drag,” he said.

Now, on the seventh anniversary of the shooting, which took the life of one of his close friends, he feels that the places he once felt most safe at — gay clubs and bars like Pulse — are now the places he feels most in danger.

“I get nervous if there are balloons in the bars, because if balloons pop on the dance floor it terrifies me,” said Ward.

LGBTQ community leaders and activists at the Castro echoed Ward’s concerns.

Several San Francisco district supervisors, and state Senator Scott Weiner, shared words of support.

Christopher Vasquez, director of communications for the National Center for Lesbian Rights said, “We have to make sure we’re honoring the 49 people we lost with action.”

Vasquez, an Orlando native who frequented Pulse in the early 2000s, noted that LGBTQ nonprofits need financial support and charitable giving more than ever. He also wants to see more Californians and state leaders push back on out of state governments where trans and queer rights are under attack.

“State legislatures are coming at us on an unseen number of attacks, on all of our rights,” he said. “Now is the time for states like California to say ‘we’re not going to let our fellow Americans or LGBTQ humans deal with that right now.”

Police from the Ingleside station responded at 7:39 p.m. to reports of shots fired. 

The suspects were gone by the time officers arrived, but witnesses said they saw two unknown males shooting at each, before each fled the scene in different sedans. 

Police haven’t found any shooting victims in the area. 

Anyone with information can contact San Francisco police at (415) 575-4444 or text an anonymous tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

Carmignani was attacked by a man with a metal pipe on April 5 as he was leaving his house. He had to be treated in the hospital for injuries sustained during the assault. 

Police later arrested Doty, 24, on suspicion of the assault and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.

San Francisco Apr 27

Defendant Released After Ex-SF Fire Commissioner a No-Show in Court

San Francisco Apr 26

Former SF Fire Commissioner Attack Case: New Videos From Both Sides

A lawyer for Doty has argued the incident was actually self-defense, and said it was Carmignani who first approached Doty with pepper spray in his hand. The lawyer also shared videos in court where a man who they argue fits Carmignani’s description approaches unhoused people on the street and sprays them with what is described as bear spray. 

Although Doty was released from police custody after Carmignani failed to appear in court in April, he has since been re-arrested for failing twice to appear in court. 

The preliminary trial is scheduled to continue Tuesday.

Outside Dying Breed SF and Mission Skateboards, the organizer of Friday night’s celebration of an artist’s collaboration said he’s devastated by what happened.

“It was really a special moment for anyone from San Francisco to just be able to come and attend that freely,” said Ozzy. “And one sick person had something else in mind for other people.”

He shared a photo of their celebration just a couple minutes before a mass shooting. Nine people were hit in what witnesses say was a spray of gunfire.

Police are searching for a person of interest — Javier Campos.

He’s associated with a Mercedes sedan that was caught on camera speeding out of the area after the shooting.

Ozzy said that as far as he could tell, the shooter didn’t even attend the event.  

San Francisco Jun 11

3 hurt following shooting at San Francisco business

San Francisco Jun 11

Police looking for person of interest in SF Mission District mass shooting, sources say

“It was a drive by. It was a drive by,” he said, adding that the suspect never went in or interacted with anyone.
San Francisco police would not officially confirm any information on the person of interest, but they did confirm the department’s gang task force is part of this investigation.    

“There are several investigative units involved in this case. Gang taskforce, what we call the community violence reduction team, CVRT. They are part of the investigative team,” said Sergeant Adam Lobsinger of SFPD.

Police acknowledge it was a violent weekend in the city. They’re also piecing together details, in a club shooting that injured three people Saturday night.

In security camera video from a church across the street from the Stratos Club Saturday night, police patrol vehicles are seen arriving on scene minutes after shots were fired.

“A fight broke out and an individual pulled out a gun inside the club and started shooting,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai.

Three people were hit and rushed to local hospitals. All with non-life-threatening injuries.

Safai says the Stratos Club has been a trouble spot in the neighborhood for some time now.

He said San Francisco police are still trying to get access to any interior security camera video from the club.

According to San Francisco General Hospital, most of the people injured in both shootings have been released.

One person who was shot in the Mission District incident remains in critical condition — three are in fair condition, five have gone home.

One person injured in the Stratos Club incident remains in serious condition, another has been released.

While this was a violent weekend, a police spokesperson said the number of shootings in the city is at about the same pace as last year.

They’d fallen in love almost a quarter-century before. Now they held hands, stared into one another’s eyes as friends and relatives looked on.  

“Looking out in the people who had assembled in the library to be with us for the wedding,” recalled Gomez, “really brought home to me what being married is really all about.”  

It was a landmark time in San Francisco; just across Civic Center Plaza, city hall had become the symbolic ground zero in the state’s campaign to legalize same-sex marriage. Four years earlier, then-San Francisco Gavin Newsom had famously ordered the city clerk to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples. The State Supreme Court nullified the weddings that had taken place, setting up a legal battle while other states across the U.S. began to grapple with the issue. 

Gomez and Sabin, who first met in 1984 and finally became a couple seven years later, marriage had never even been on the table. They had gotten engaged early on, which served as the ultimate commitment for same-sex couples at the time. Even so, they agreed to become plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the state to force recognition of same-sex unions following the 2004 case. That action paved the way for the state Supreme Court to give its blessing to same-sex marriages in 2008. 

“We became part of the case not because we thought oh everybody should get married,” said Sabin, sitting in the couple’s Oakland home. “People should do what they want to do, we felt they should have the choice.” 

Following the court ruling, San Francisco City Hall became the scene of countless “I dos.” As a San Francisco city commissioner, Gomez had even officiated some of them. But even as hundreds of couples reaped the rewards of what Sabin and Gomez had helped achieve through the lawsuit, they hadn’t yet planned their own nuptials.  

Finally that October, they decided to join in the pomp and circumstance of the historic unions. They picked Halloween weekend and the library wedding setting because it fit with Gomez’ profession as a vampire novelist. They chose a turn-of-the-century bordello theme — Gomez wore a corset and Sabin a satiny vest. 

“It totally took me by surprise,” remembered Sabin. “It was the happiest weekend.” 

In a practical sense, it also entitled them as a married couple to more than a thousand rights they didn’t have before. Gomez related the story of a lesbian whose longtime partner died — and the deceased woman’s family claimed the body excluding the living partner from any contact. That marriage license carried plenty of legal weight.   

“I felt that presence, that urgency as we were getting married,” said Gomez, “that I don’t have to worry about that anymore because it says right on that piece of paper that we legally are joined.”  

It’s now been 14 years since California flung open the chapel doors to same-sex couples including Sabin and Gomez’. A 2015 Supreme Court decision struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalizing it across the country.  

Gomez, Sabin and other same-sex activists worry the current make-up of the Supreme Court could backtrack on that decision, following its decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. They fear foes of same-sex marriage could follow a similar strategy to force the Supreme Court to revisit the issue.  

But Sabin said the thousands of marriages that have taken place since 2008 should stand as proof enough why same-sex marriage should withstand future legal challenges.  

“The bridges haven’t crumbled, the roads haven’t erupted, hell, fire and damnation hasn’t happened,” Sabin said, “in fact a lot of love and joy and delight in each other.” 

The move comes after Nordstrom announced last month it would close both of its stores in downtown San Francisco. Other retailers leaving San Francisco include Whole Foods and Safeway, who announced shutting down operations in the area as the city struggles to refill empty offices downtown and in the Financial District.

“For more than 20 years, Westfield has proudly and successfully operated San Francisco Centre, investing significantly over that time in the vitality of the property,” Westfield said in a statement. “Given the challenging operating conditions in downtown San Francisco, which have led to declines in sales, occupancy and foot traffic, we have made the difficult decision to begin the process to transfer management of the shopping center to our lender to allow them to appoint a receiver to operate the property going forward. San Francisco Centre’s debt is non-recourse and this action has no impact on the rest of URW’s debt.”

Mayor London Breed released the following statement about Westfield on Monday:

“This has been something that has been coming for some time. We’ve had numerous conversations with Westfield about the future of this site, and it’s been clear that they did not have a long-term commitment to San Francisco as they look to withdraw entirely from the United States market. With new management, we will have an opportunity to pursue a new vision for this space that focuses on what the future of Downtown San Francisco can be. Whether that’s attracting new types of business or educational institutions, or creating a totally different experience, we need to be open to what’s possible. Retail is changing, and we will adapt to diversify and better use spaces in our Downtown area. This is at the heart of what we are trying to create in San Francisco as we move forward.

For now, the stores at the mall remain open under the new management. The public safety resources we’ve dedicated to the area, including ambassadors and police officers, remain in place. The stores are still a part of our Downtown experience and we will continue to support this area to make it clean, safe, and inviting for everyone.”

Supervisor Matt Dorsey says the city needs to address the bigger problem first.

“There’s also factors that we can control and they include things like street conditions, homelessness and public drug use and public drug dealing and there’s things that San Francisco has to do a better job of addressing and I think the only way we are going to be able to do that is with a fully staffed police department,” he said. 

Those who have been tracking the problems downtown say other factors playing a role are the area’s reputation, cleanliness and the lack of international travelers.

“The small businesses around the centers are not thriving anymore they are not opening in some cases, so I think there has to be a real creative look at how we look the city’s space and for whose benefit, it cannot go back to the same,” said Professor Colin Johnson of San Francisco State University School of Business. 

Supervisor Dorsey said he is working on a charter amendment for the March 2024 ballot that would secure a fully staffed police department within five years.

San Francisco May 2

Nordstrom to Close Both Stores in Downtown San Francisco

San Francisco Jun 11

Police looking for person of interest in SF Mission District mass shooting, sources say

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It started shortly after 7 a.m. with a grueling 1 ½ mile swim from Alcatraz island to Marina Green Beach. The competitors then hopped on bikes for an 18 mile route ending at Golden Gate park. From there, they finished it up with a tricky eight mile run to baker beach. 

Athletes from around the world competed alongside San Francisco locals. 

San Francisco May 21

Annual Bay to Breakers Race Takes Over San Francisco City Streets

San Francisco Jun 11

San Francisco holds inaugural Juneteenth parade

Vittoria Lopes, from Brazil, placed first in the women’s division. 

“I really love the feel of the winning,” she said. “But at the same time I really enjoyed the race. The run was really hard, but fun. It’s always good to win, you know?”

And a first time from Illinois, Marc Dubrick, won in the men’s division. 

“It’s definitely the biggest win of my career,” he said. “Every pro looks forward to this race. Honestly kind of speechless. So happy.”

This year marked the 42nd annual Escape From Alcatraz triathlon. 

Over the years it’s become so popular that only two thousand athletes can join. Competitors are selected through a drawing in a random lottery.

The drive-by shooting at a block party on 24th Street and Treat Avenue left nine people injured. Police believe it was a “targeted and isolated” attack. 

Sources told NBC Bay Area Sunday that police are looking for Javier Campos, who is currently a person of interest.

Following the shooting, a surveillance camera filmed a Mercedes sedan driving at a high rate of speed from the area, according to police sources. The license plate number is “9BPT146.”

San Francisco Jun 11

Surveillance video shows moments after shooting in San Francisco's Mission District

San Francisco Jun 9

9 people hurt after shooting in San Francisco's Mission District: Police

Police later tied the car’s license plate to Campos. Sources describe him as a member of the Sureños gang with ties to other gang members throughout the Bay Area. 

Campos also has an outstanding arrest warrant for a homicide in Oakland, as well as several other firearms warrants from San Mateo County and Alameda County, according to police sources.

San Francisco police haven’t given an official update on the investigation since Friday.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

The main event of the way was the parade, taking off from the Market and Spear streets and heading toward the Civic Center.

Starting at the same time was the Juneteenth SF Freedom Festival in the Fillmore district, which had live music, a fashion show and showcased food and products from black chefs and business owners. 

San Francisco Jun 2

San Francisco Kicks Off Pride Month

AAPI Heritage Month May 20

San Francisco's Chinatown Hosts AAPI Heritage Festival

Mayor London Breed said the event was a chance for people to learn. 

“So when we make investments and we support the black community, it can’t just be a sign posted on your window that says ‘Black Lives Matter,’” Breed said. “It’s ‘What are you doing?’ ‘How are you investing?,’ ‘How are you supporting the investments?,’ and all of the things we’re trying to do to turn the lives of African-Americans in San Francisco and the Bay Area around.”

A separate event called Juneteenth on the Waterfront took place at the Ferry Plaza. The pop-up featured black entrepreneurs showcasing their specialty foods and other goods, as well as cooking demonstrations.

It was an early celebration of Juneteenth, which is actually on June 19. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. 

Although many associate slavery’s end with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, in practice the proclamation was often only enforced by the arrival of the Union Army in Confederate territories. So Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared the 250,000 enslaved black people in the state to be free.

In 2021, President Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Going forward, the San Francisco-based company will no longer sell its beer nationally. Though people will still be able to buy the beer in California.

The brewery also won’t be putting out its signature “Anchor Christmas Ale.” A spokesperson said it wasn’t likely to return next year either.

The change is due to the cost of brewing and packaging. Beer sales dipped by about 3% last year.

The surveillance video from a church on a nearby intersection appears to show people running in the moments after the shooting. Within minutes, the footage shows the light from police sirens as first responders begin to arrive. 

Of the nine people shot Friday, one person has since been released from the hospital. The other eight are still being treated at Zuckerberg SF General, with one in critical condition, officials said.  

San Francisco Jun 10

Local leaders react to San Francisco's Mission District shooting

San Francisco Jun 10

San Francisco residents speak out following Mission District shooting

The shooting happened near the clothing store Dying Breed on 24th Street and Treat Avenue. According to the store’s Instagram account, it was scheduled to celebrate its sixth anniversary Friday night with a block party. 

NBC Bay Area spoke to a woman named Ari, who said she was at that block party. She described the event as “frightening and chaotic.”

“I was right there,” Ari said. “And people were getting shot right next to me.” 

San Francisco Mayor London Breed confirmed Saturday the shooting was a drive-by, though police have not released a description of the car involved or information about the shooters. They believe it was a targeted shooting, not a random one. 

NBC Bay Area spoke to Hope T., the mother of the man who has already been released from the hospital. She said her son continues to improve since he came home, and added that she hopes the police investigate the shooting thoroughly. 

“I don’t want it to just be written off as a gang-related event, because my son is not related to any gangs,” Hope T. said. “And that’s a way people can dismiss violence and not realize that it affects everyone.” 

Former House Speaker and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi tweeted about the shooting Saturday, saying the city is praying for the victims. She added, “We must end the scourge of gun violence.”

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The incident happened just before midnight on the 300 block of Ocean Avenue. 

Officers arrived to find two men and one woman who had been shot. Medical personnel took all three to the hospital. 

No word on their current condition. 

San Francisco Jun 9

9 people hurt after shooting in San Francisco's Mission District: Police

San Francisco Jun 10

Local leaders react to San Francisco's Mission District shooting

SFPD asks anyone with information to call their tip line at (415) 575-4444.

The video of the incident, taken by San Francisco resident Paul Valdez was posted on Twitter. It showed a self-driving car stopping in the middle of the road near 24th and Folsom streets, a short distance from the scene of Friday’s mass shooting.

The shooting in the Mission left nine people hurt. San Francisco police called the incident “targeted and isolated.”

San Francisco Jun 10

San Francisco residents speak out following Mission District shooting

San Francisco Jun 10

Local leaders react to San Francisco's Mission District shooting

San Francisco-based Cruise responded to the Tweet with the following statement Saturday:

“Like all of us in San Francisco, we are saddened by this tragic event in our home city. Our thoughts are with the victims and families and we wish them all a full recovery.

Our car initially stopped as it was approaching an active emergency scene, then proceeded to perform a U-turn and pull over. Throughout this time, all vehicles, including emergency response vehicles, were able to proceed around our car.

We’re thankful to all our first responders for helping to keep us safe during situations like this and are committed to working collaboratively with them.”

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