There are many steps to go through before San Francisco gets its prized pandas, but Bay Area politicians, including those who have tried it before, remain hopeful. New story from me and Michael Barba

sfchronicle.com/sf/article/san…

It may seem like Mayor Breed’s plans to bring pandas to San Francisco are a done deal. But past efforts to get the beloved bears show she’s likely at the start of a long—and costly—journey that could ultimately come up short. My latest with Tara Duggan

sfchronicle.com/sf/article/san…

San Francisco is expecting to get giant pandas next year. But will it really happen? Will the benefits outweigh the costs? And what's the deal with bamboo? sfchronicle.com/sf/article/san… Tara Duggan Michael Barba

'Yes, you’re doing the math correctly: For not quite six years, while under federal indictment, Robert Chun kept his job at DBI. More than that: He remained a supervisor, managing teams of both women and men. He even got a raise.'

By Joe Eskenazi missionlocal.org/2024/04/feds-b…

A patient smoked fentanyl and died in San Francisco General Hospital.

In the days before, his mom told nurses where he hid his drugs—in a red box around his neck.

When he overdosed, the hospital gave her the red box.

The fentanyl was still inside.

sfstandard.com/2024/04/22/dru…

Long dominated by progressives, SF's Democratic Party board is now under moderate rule. Its members plan to set a new 'drama free' tone for the party. My first piece San Francisco Chronicle sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-…

Frank Chiu left his job as Department of Building Inspection director ~20 years ago. Since then, he has worked as a permit consultant on construction projects his family members later inspected as city building inspectors. The San Francisco Standard from me & Michael Barba sfstandard.com/2024/03/22/san…

Once San Francisco’s top building inspection official, Frank Chiu now gets paid to consult on construction projects. Then his nephews inspect them for the city, The San Francisco Standard found. My latest with Noah Baustin sfstandard.com/2024/03/22/san…

From my daughter... My name is Olivia and I am Juny Gow-Smith's sister. I am creating a GoFundMe because Juny was hit on 03/11 riding her bike. A car hit her hard enough to inflict severe brain injury, and she hasn't awakened yet.... gofund.me/9c13be6e

Key moments from our recent panel on policing in SF, moderated by Michael Barba👇

First up, ACLU of Northern CA’s Yoel Haile argued that Prop. E will endanger city residents.

SFPD Chief Scott Bill Scott disagreed, but admitted it could “potentially” lead to more crashes. 🧵 (1/4)

Update! Tonight's panel at Manny’s! will now feature Police Chief Bill Scott and Police Commission member Kevin Benedicto, in addition to Matt Dorsey and the ACLU's Yoel Haile. Moderated by The Standard's Michael Barba eventbrite.com/e/policing-in-…

Willie Brown is among the many coming out in support of Harlan Kelly as the ex-utilities boss awaits sentencing in a corruption case. “If I were still in government, I would do my utmost to provide Harlan Kelly with a second chance,” Brown writes the judge sfstandard.com/2024/03/13/har…

NEW: Richard Parina, the political activist reported dead last month, told Josh Koehn that he is alive and cooling his heels in Mexico

He blamed the death hoax on an “adopted nephew”—“It’s crazy, man”

sfstandard.com/2024/03/08/san…

Nick Bovis, the restaurateur who funneled bribes from Recology through his kids charity so Mohammed Nuru could throw holiday parties, gets 9 months in prison. “You are the face of private corruption in San Francisco for this scandal,' judge tells him. sfstandard.com/2024/03/07/san…

👀

After San Francisco activist Rick Parina—known to friends as a hardworking war hero—was reported dead last month, condolences poured in.

Now, people are raising doubts about his life—and wondering if he's even dead at all.

sfstandard.com/2024/02/29/san…

✍️ me and Josh Koehn

🚨 NEW: An The San Francisco Standard investigation into the reported death of San Francisco political activist Richard Parina—who claimed to be a war hero with multiple Purple Hearts & a Silver Star medal—could not turn up records that he actually died.

A thread 🧵

sfstandard.com/2024/02/29/san…

I’m with former SF SAFE staffers at City Hall, where some plan to file complaints seeking pay they lost when the nonprofit abruptly collapsed amid questions of misspending. My story: sfstandard.com/2024/02/29/san…