Empty offices, scarce housing: San Francisco eyes 12 downtown buildings for conversion
A study by the architecture firm Gensler reviewed 36 office buildings downtown and found 12 that are better suited to conversion into housing, World Journal reports. If all 12 were converted, they could hold about 2,775 homes, the study estimates. Turning empty offices into apartments is a main part of the city's effort to revive downtown.
Housing & Land Use
City Hall
4 stories, 4 outletsMayor Lurie, S.F. supervisors drop Manny Yekutiel after new sexual assault claim
Mayor Daniel Lurie and several San Francisco supervisors withdrew their support for District 8 supervisor candidate Manny Yekutiel after a new sexual assault claim against him, Mission Local reports. The outlet is updating a chart of who has dropped him and who has not.
Tenant group urges members to vote Nov. 3, backs Connie Chan and Jane Kim
The Community Tenants Association mailed more than 600 voter guides to members ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Sing Tao Daily reports. The group endorses Connie Chan for Congress and Jane Kim for state insurance commissioner, and recommends yes votes on Propositions C, H and I and a no vote on Proposition D.
San Francisco survey finds residents feel safer but worry about housing costs
In San Francisco's 2026 City Survey, 69% of residents rated the city as safe, up from 50% in 2023, and ratings for city services, public transit and street conditions also rose, World Journal reports. Housing costs and the cost of living are now the main concerns residents named.
San Francisco Congressional Hopefuls Debate AI, Billionaires and, of Course, Housing
State Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan met Thursday night in a debate at KQED in their race for the House seat Nancy Pelosi is leaving. Wiener said self-regulation does not work and pointed to his state AI safety bill. Both candidates support regulating AI but differ on how to do it.
Public Safety
1 story, 1 outletMan shot and killed Thursday at Hunters Point waterfront
A man died Thursday evening after he was shot in Hunters Point, Mission Local reports. He has not been identified.
Education
1 story, 1 outletMaria Su warns SF teachers not to delete student records as DOJ investigation heats up
Superintendent Maria Su warned San Francisco Unified staff not to delete student records as a Justice Department investigation into the district proceeds. Su told staff the department is probing the district over its gender and sexuality instruction, The Standard reports.
Immigration
3 stories, 2 outletsAfter a Year of ICE Detention, Struggles Linger as Family Reunites in San Francisco
Rosa, a single mother of three who lives in San Francisco's Sunnydale neighborhood, was released this spring after nearly 11 months in an immigration detention facility in Tacoma, Washington, KQED reports. Her three daughters looked after themselves for almost a year while she was held. KQED is not using her last name because she fears it could hurt her pending visa application and because she is a domestic violence victim.
Ho Yin Mo, California Assembly aide detained by ICE, is freed
Ho Yin Mo, an aide to a California Assembly member, was freed after being detained by federal immigration agents. "I'm excited to return to my work serving San Franciscans, who have shown time and again what community truly means," Mo said.
Sen. Alex Padilla Makes Surprise Visit to SFO’s ICE Detention Center
Sen. Alex Padilla made an unannounced visit Thursday to the room at San Francisco International Airport where immigration agents hold people, KQED reports. Padilla said the airport has been pulled into the president's mass detention and deportation campaign. The room is a 3,000-square-foot windowless space in the International Terminal, according to a San Francisco Chronicle investigation last month.