Sydney Johnson

He’s Painted Thousands of San Francisco’s Iconic Victorian Homes. Meet Dr. Color | KQED Bob Buckter has contributed to the city’s colorful architectural backdrop for decades, and continues to draw people to the City by the Bay.

Yesss! @sydneyfjohnson.bsky.social on Dr. Color 🙌

www.kqed.org/news/1205929...

How San Francisco's Harm Reduction Strategies Are Changing Under Mayor Lurie | KQED San Francisco is expanding a harm reduction program inside permanent supportive housing while cutting back on street-level safe supply distribution.

“We have safe consumption sites all over the place, they’re just not necessarily sanctioned. It is things like neighbors looking out for each other. That is not a new concept.”

Really thorough piece on SF’s shifting position on harm rediction from @sydneyfjohnson.bsky.social

As Overdoses Climb, Lurie Orders Scaling Back Harm Reduction Programs | KQED San Francisco officials are leaning into law enforcement to target outdoor drug markets despite concerns from harm reduction advocates.

WED at 9AM:

Professor Keith Humphreys, @dr-tyler-termeer.bsky.social and reporter @sydneyfjohnson.bsky.social join to talk about how San Francisco's scaling back of its harm reduction policy might impact drug use in the city.

❓ What do you think about SF's new harm reduction policy?

The study places doubt on former Mayor London Breed’s claim last November that law enforcement actions contributed to the 22% reduction in overdoses from 2023 to 2024. Instead, it seems more likely that the drop could be attributed to the city’s increase in naloxone distribution.

SF Supervisors Call for Outside Expert to Lead Drug Market Crackdown | KQED Bilal Mahmood and Matt Dorsey are hoping to put San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s recent expansion of executive powers to use.

San Francisco supervisors hope to use Mayor Daniel Lurie’s recent expansion of executive powers in a new push to combat drug dealing — one that would bring an outside expert’s approach despite a looming $840 million budget deficit. @sydneyfjohnson.bsky.social

www.kqed.org/news/1202778...

A New Triage Center Opened in San Francisco, but Questions Remain | KQED Skepticism surrounds Mayor Daniel Lurie’s pilot triage sites, which aim to create drop-off points for police while also connecting voluntary walk-ins with health and social services.

Mayor Lurie's new triage center was closed all last weekend due to staffing shortages, according to the mayor's spokesperson, and police have not used the site for any arrest processing (a stated goal of the site). Many questions remain.
@kqednews.kqed.org www.kqed.org/news/1202657...

Why Are More Than 200 Beds Empty at This San Francisco Nursing Home? | KQED San Francisco’s largest skilled nursing facility, Laguna Honda, has hundreds of beds available as the city scrambles to open various health care beds across the city.

As one of the city’s remaining nursing homes prepares to close in April, nearly 250 beds are currently sitting empty in San Francisco’s largest public skilled nursing facility. Why?

Latest for @kqednews.kqed.org www.kqed.org/news/1202666...

Signs of rent gouging rise across region in fires' wake, bringing calls for enforcement Tenant advocates — and even some landlord groups — are calling for authorities to crack down on rent gouging in the wake of devastating fires. Some property owners, however, appear unfazed.

Lots of reports of illegal rent-gouging as thousands of Angelenos scramble to find housing in the wake of the fires: www.latimes.com/california/s...

The reporters of @edsource.org are excited to announce the formation of the #EdSourceGuild.

Now SF Mayor, Lurie Unveils Emergency Plans to Tackle Drug, Homelessness Crises | KQED In his inaugural address, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a package of fentanyl emergency ordinances and efforts to expedite City Hall functions.

In his inaugural address on Wednesday, SF Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a package of emergency ordinances to address the overdose crisis. More from
@katiedebe.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1202084...

Live Coverage: San Francisco Mayor Lurie Takes Office, Pledges Unity Amid Challenges | KQED Lurie, who had never held public office, ran the most expensive campaign in San Francisco history to unseat former Mayor London Breed in November.

A look inside San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's first day in office, w/ @katiedebe.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1202042...

Inauguration festivities for San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie are in full swing

Barbara Lee files papers to run for Oakland mayor After weeks of speculation, the retiring congresswoman sent the strongest signal yet that she’s interested in the job.

Barbara Lee files papers to run for Oakland mayor.

A spokesperson for Lee told The Oaklandside she'll be making an announcement later this week.

oaklandside.org/2025/01/06/b...

www.kqed.org/news/1202045...

NEW: Kevin Ortiz is resuming his role as President of the SF Latinx Democratic Club.

Ortiz was temporarily removed last year after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, setting off tough conversations and policy changes in the local Democratic Party.

Story coming.

Lurie Names SF’s First Chief of Public Safety, Tapping Former Police Commander | KQED San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie chose SFPD veteran Paul Yep to direct policy dealing with police, fire and emergency management — filling one of four new policy director roles.

ICYMI: San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie is assembling the top brass for his incoming administration, announcing today that retired Police Department commander Paul Yep will oversee public safety efforts in the mayor’s office. @kqednews.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1202011...

Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots An NPR investigation found Louisiana health officials told staff to stop promoting vaccines for COVID, flu and mpox, holding flu shot events or otherwise encouraging the public to get those vaccines.

Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots

NEW: Mayor London Breed will appoint Stephen Sherrill for D2 Supervisor, replacing Catherine Stefani, who left the seat for the CA State Assembly in November. Sherrill most recently served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Innovation. @kqednews.bsky.social

Lurie Taps Ex-Twitter Exec to Tackle SF’s Housing Shortage and Economic Rebound | KQED Ned Segal, who, like Lurie, has no government experience, was among a group of top executives that Elon Musk ousted shortly after purchasing the social media website in 2022.

ICYMI: SF Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie taps ex-Twitter executive Ned Segal as chief of housing and economic development, a new position Lurie created in his attempt to rework City Hall. @kqednews.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1201861...

SF Jury Convicts Nima Momeni of 2nd-Degree Murder in Killing of Tech Founder Bob Lee | KQED The killing of Cash App founder Bob Lee in downtown San Francisco drew national media attention throughout a six-week trial.

A San Francisco jury on Tuesday found Nima Momeni guilty of second-degree murder for the killing of Cash App founder Bob Lee. By @katiedebe.bsky.social @kqednews.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1201860...

www.kqed.org/news/1201805...

NEW: SF MTA boss @jeffreytumlin.bsky.social plans to step down by the end of the year. Story coming.

A young Black man’s death reflects a shocking racial disparity in police pursuits Across the country, police chases claim nearly 700 lives a year. Black people are far more likely to die from them.

A disproportionate number of Black people are dying in police pursuits across the country, @susien.bsky.social and @jennifergollan.bsky.social found in the latest installment of their investigation into fatal police chases: www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...

At a San Francisco Shelter for Unhoused Families, Cooking Helps Heal Trauma | KQED Buena Vista Horace Mann, a Spanish immersion school in San Francisco’s Mission District, turns into a homeless shelter at night for families with children enrolled in the school district.

Buena Vista Horace Mann is a Spanish immersion school K-8 in SF’s bustling Mission District. But by night, it transforms into a homeless shelter for families with children enrolled in the school district. www.kqed.org/news/1200399... via @kqednews.bsky.social @daisynguyen.bsky.social

Lurie Unveils a Major Shakeup of San Francisco Mayor’s Office | KQED Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie said the city’s 56 agencies will report to four issues-focused policy directors, rather than a single one under the chief of staff.

This is one day after Lurie announced plans to change the reporting structure in the Mayor's office, adding 4 policy directors to oversee areas like housing, infrastructure, public health and safety. www.kqed.org/news/1201769...

SF Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie Taps Former Giants Executive to Lead Staff | KQED San Francisco’s incoming mayor announced three top appointments just after unveiling his plans to change up the governance structure of the mayor’s office.

NEW: SF Mayor-elect @DanielLurie taps former Giants exec Staci Slaughter to serve as chief of staff, Matthew Goudeau as deputy chief of staff, and Han Zou as director of public affairs. @kqednews.bsky.social www.kqed.org/news/1201788...

Is San Francisco a Bellwether for Cryptocurrency Influence on Local Elections? | KQED As tech and crypto investors put money into hyper-local politics in San Francisco, similar efforts are taking root across the state and nation.

Silicon Valley power players have poured 💰 into local elections for decades. But their spending went even further this past election cycle — the most expensive in SF’s history, totaling more than $16 million. www.kqed.org/news/1201755... via @kqednews.bsky.social @sydneyfjohnson.bsky.social

California Bill Would Put Tobacco-Like Warnings on Social Media Apps | KQED Legislation announced Monday in San Francisco would force social media companies to include labels warning of their apps’ “profound risk” for children and teenagers.

Taking a cue from tobacco regulation, California’s attorney general wants to force social media companies to slap warning labels on their apps that clearly state the risks posed to kids and teens.