Joe Eskenazi's Avatar

Joe Eskenazi

@esksf.bsky.social

Editor + columnist @missionlocal.org http://joinsubtext.com/joe missionlocal.org/author/joee/ Joe.Eskenazi AT MissionLocal DOT com 2019 SPJ NorCal journalist of the year "Made it Ma! Top of the world!"

966 Followers  |  105 Following  |  32 Posts  |  Joined: 10.12.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Joe Eskenazi (@esksf.bsky.social)

Preview
Mayor Lurie turned the anti-Jewish rantings of a random street loon into a global indictment of San Francisco The mayor’s inaccurate statement allowed gullible rubes and bad-faith trolls to bash this city as a hotbed of organized, political antisemitism

Oof Mayor Lurie really dropped the ball yesterday. More from @esksf.bsky.social in @missionlocal.org

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-d...

26.02.2026 22:45 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hey, thanks for the thoughtful posts, but I don't think a few random loons, even quasi-oganized loons constitute a political movement.

27.02.2026 00:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Mayor Lurie turned the anti-Jewish rantings of a random street loon into a global indictment of San Francisco The mayor’s inaccurate statement allowed gullible rubes and bad-faith trolls to bash this city as a hotbed of organized, political antisemitism

Mayor Daniel Lurie allowed the anti-Jewish rantings of a random street loon to be weaponized as a broadside against San Francisco.

From @esksf.bsky.social

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-d...

26.02.2026 21:16 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 12

This is @esksf.bsky.social at his best: telling an undertold story well, with clear detail on the city’s present and rich learning from the city’s past.

23.02.2026 20:53 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
How 900 feet of rusty metal overtook Millennium Tower as the biggest metaphor for San Francisco Unable to find a shipyard operator or sell its drydocks, Port of SF has allotted $61M to raze them β€” lest they sink and triple the cost

The Port of San Francisco is going to have to spend millions to prevent having to spend even more later if the old dry docks collapse into the Bay via @esksf.bsky.social @missionlocal.org
missionlocal.org/2026/02/port...

23.02.2026 15:51 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
Post image

Come for the story about a sinking, listing 900-foot vessel at the Port of San Francisco. Stay for the amazing drone videos and photography.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/port...

23.02.2026 20:19 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
How 900 feet of rusty metal overtook Millennium Tower as the biggest metaphor for San Francisco Unable to find a shipyard operator or sell its drydocks, Port of SF has allotted $61M to raze them β€” lest they sink and triple the cost

How 900 feet of sinking, leaning, rusting steel overcame Millennium Tower as the biggest metaphor for San Francisco.

From @esksf.bsky.social

missionlocal.org/2026/02/port...

23.02.2026 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
No roses, just red ink: S.F. immigrant students send Valentine’s message to superintendent Teachers and immigrant families surprised SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su with belated Valentine's Day messages.

Immigrant students surprised San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su with a batch of valentines.

But these carried a message beyond "Be Mine."

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-i...

19.02.2026 07:00 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Penalizing people who engage in altruistic behavior and encouraging people to instead turn a cold shoulder to those in need is diabolical, full-stop.

19.02.2026 06:58 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
SFUSD fumbled the teachers strike The district’s write-the-term-paper-in-the-hallway strategy put it on the back foot from the get-go in this week's walkout

Read of the week re: SF teacher strike by @esksf.bsky.social. The union didn't hide how serious it was for months and it wasn't hard to see much of this coming. Will City Hall largely led by relative newcomers, like SFUSD, take note for other contracts this year? missionlocal.org/2026/02/sfus...

14.02.2026 01:12 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
SFUSD fumbled the teachers strike The district’s write-the-term-paper-in-the-hallway strategy put it on the back foot from the get-go in this week's walkout

my wife works in public schools in the Bay Area, so I was following the SF teachers strike very keenly. I think this postmortem from @esksf.bsky.social is the best overview anyone, from diehard labor supporters to those grousing about "greedy teachers", should read
missionlocal.org/2026/02/sfus...

13.02.2026 21:41 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
SFUSD fumbled the teachers strike The district’s write-the-term-paper-in-the-hallway strategy put it on the back foot from the get-go in this week's walkout

No matter what your opinion is of the teachers' contract situation, SFUSD (and the mayor) fumbled the strike and set a bad precedent for other upcoming negotiations missionlocal.org/2026/02/sfus... via @missionlocal.org @esksf.bsky.social

13.02.2026 23:36 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The San Francisco Unified School District fumbled the teachers strike The district’s write-the-term-paper-in-the-hallway strategy put it on the back foot from the get-go in this week's walkout

The San Francisco Unified School District fumbled its teachers strike.

From @esksf.bsky.social

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sfus...

13.02.2026 16:18 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
S.F. tow operator gets 5 years in prison for scheme to torch competitors’ trucks Badillo was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit arson in March of last year.

Jose Vicente Badillo plotted to set fire to his competitors' trucks in a bid to bring more customers into his own towing business.

He was sued, repeatedly, by the city for fraud, welfare schemes, and money laundering.

He got 5 years' prison time today.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-t...

13.02.2026 05:29 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
At S.F. senior home, 100-year-old students meet 1,000-year-old poems The Bethany Center, a Mission District senior housing complex, is an unexpected haven for Cantonese-speaking fans of Tang dynasty poetry.

β€œIt’s good to see how ancient poets deal with this. Sometimes we are overly protective,” she said. If β€œyou’re understanding the historical context of death and dying … you feel you’re not alone.”

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-c...

12.02.2026 19:47 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
S.F. city attorney warns: Mayor Lurie’s new β€˜sobering center’ is legally risky The SF city attorney’s office warned officials that Lurie's proposed β€œsobering center” could expose the city to β€œvery high legal risk."

Mayor Lurie's new South of Market "sobering center" is legally risky & could invite a lawsuit, a confidential city attorney's memo found.

The center, where deputies can arrest & hold inebriated people, could be viewed by a court as a "detention facility."

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-s...

11.02.2026 01:18 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
San Francisco teachers striking today: Here's where both sides stand The teachers union and the school district still remain far apart on wages, healthcare, and special education.

San Francisco teachers are on the picket line, striking at schools across the city today.

They bargained with the district over the weekend & late into the night, but are still far apart on major issues.

Here's where both sides stand.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sfus...

09.02.2026 17:52 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 3

It’s somewhat bizarre that the S.F. teachers strike hasn’t become a national, polarizing news story. But also good for people to behave proportionally to news from the 17th largest city in the country.

09.02.2026 18:08 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
San Francisco teachers strike: Check back for coverage all day City's first educator walkout since 1979 commences today. Mission Local will provide all-day coverage from actions throughout San Francisco.

Check back all day for live updates from San Francisco's first teacher strike since 1979

missionlocal.org/2026/02/san-...

09.02.2026 17:47 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Mayor Lurie pleads for 72-hour delay to S.F. teachers strike. Union says no. The San Francisco teachers union said it would proceed with a strike Monday unless it receives an acceptable agreement.

Mayor Daniel Lurie on Sunday made a last-ditch effort to stop the planned San Francisco educators strike tomorrow.

He asked both sides to come to an agreement today. Barring that, he pleaded for a 3-days' delay to the strike.

He was rebuffed.
missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-m...

08.02.2026 22:12 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Super Bowl: Limousine memories of the first 'San Francisco' big game Loud, drunk salesmen, a limo ride to Palo Alto and the artist formerly known as Anthony Benedetto. Also: The Niners won.

A "San Francisco" Super Bowl, a long limo ride with drunk vacuum cleaner salesmen, a drunken sojourn in the South Bay ... AND TONY BENNETT!

The memoir that has it all

missionlocal.org/2026/02/supe...

08.02.2026 16:34 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
San Francisco’s billionaire bacchanal a big bust Only a handful of pro-billionaire agitators actually showed for an apparently earnest β€œMarch for Billionaires” at Alta Plaza Park.

San Francisco's "March for Billionaires" was today.

It was, numbers-wise, a bit of a dud. But not a dull affair: a "We ❀️ you Jeffrey Bezos" sign, at least one polycule, & a participant arguing to "remove" journalists "as a class...just like Germany."

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-m...

08.02.2026 01:06 β€” πŸ‘ 62    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 19
Preview
Teachers, others shocked to get SFUSD β€˜assignments’ for strike day On late Friday, workers were given 'redeployment assignments' to 'Staff Centers' opened because of Monday's school closures. They're confused.

On the eve of Monday's likely San Francisco teacher walkout, San Francisco teachers were jolted to receive "redeployment assignments" for Monday from the school district.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/teac...

07.02.2026 21:44 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
School principals, maintenance workers: If teachers strike, we will too The unions representing principals and administrators as well as unionized maintenance workers vote to show solidarity with teachers

Breaking: San Francisco public school principals and administrators, as well as school maintenance workers, say they will strike in solidarity with teachers in the event of a Monday walkout.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/scho...

06.02.2026 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 5
Preview
The strange and terrible claim that S.F. immigrant students are scared to enroll in immigrant programs Documents obtained by Mission Local β€” along with multiple district sources β€” indicate SFUSD is restricting enrollment to unfavored schools

The strange and terrible claim that San Francisco immigrant students are too scared to enroll in immigrant programs.

Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social

missionlocal.org/2026/02/teac...

06.02.2026 15:20 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
A Bad Bunny look-alike is crowned in S.F., and the crowd goes wild Hundreds gathered for the "Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest" hosted by Mission LoterΓ­a. Only one contestant took home the crown, but all were celebrated.

There's a winner in the Bad Bunny look-alike contest!

And he *deserved* it.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-s...

06.02.2026 08:10 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
Preview
S.F. teachers union to call for Monday strike date The long-brewing San Francisco Unified School District walkout would be the first S.F. teachers strike since the late 1970s

The San Francisco teacher's union has set Monday for a strike date, unless a deal can be reached before then

Via @missionlocal.org @esksf.bsky.social

missionlocal.org/2026/02/s-f-...

05.02.2026 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
S.F. teachers union to call for Monday strike date The long-brewing San Francisco Unified School District walkout would be the first S.F. teachers strike since the late 1970s

San Francisco teachers have set a strike date of Monday, Feb. 9.

Barring a major turnaround at the bargaining table -- and fast -- teachers will on Monday walk off the job for the first time since 1979.

missionlocal.org/2026/02/s-f-...

05.02.2026 14:28 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Are all Patriots fans this soft? Boston radio hosts mock S.F. in idiotic Super Bowl tirade Radio hosts Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti failed the empathy test this week when they took to the airwaves to call San Francisco a β€œzombie apocalypse.”

Thought I was done writing about the bullshit that outside media says about S.F.

But this pair β€” making fun of unhoused people in wheelchairs β€” coaxed me out of retirement.

On loving the city, and the fragility of visiting adult male Patriots fans.

Gift link 🎁

www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf/arti...

05.02.2026 01:58 β€” πŸ‘ 138    πŸ” 45    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 8

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

04.02.2026 06:12 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0