Top Stories

Top Stories

The pension fund evictions

State retirement money went to predatory landlords
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news@sfbg.com

In the wake of some big money-losing real estate deals, the California Public Employee's Retirement System, the largest public pension fund in the nation, is reviewing its investment policies. Read more »

Pot pioneers

Legislature dopes out marijuana bill as legalization petition gets passed around
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rebeccab@sfbg.com

Two serious bids to legalize marijuana in California are moving forward simultaneously. And while decisions won't be made for months, both efforts have generated interest from around the world.

"We're on the cover of Newsweek right now. We were on the cover of Fortune magazine a few weeks ago," said Salwa Ibrahim, a spokesperson for Oaksterdam University, based in downtown Oakland. "We've gotten attention from every continent on the planet — well, except Antarctica, I suppose."

Founded in 2007, Oaksterdam — a.k.a. Read more »

Appetite: Tanks to Tractors, Gingerbread Wishes -- food with a purpose

Food-and-drink spots, deals, events and news
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Every week, Virginia Miller of personalized itinerary service and monthly food, drink, and travel newsletter, www.theperfectspotsf.com, shares foodie news, events, and deals. Read more »

6 pop-up lunches

FEAST: Unconventional dining spots for adventurous eaters
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Blame the economy's downturn. Or blame the Tamale Lady's success. Whatever the reason, suddenly mobile food carts seem to be all the rage — and those that serve the midday (rather than midnight) crowd all the more so. But while the idea of the Crème Brulee Man and Magic Curry Cart has gone from experimental to expected, another nontraditional lunch option has bubbled to the surface: pop-ups and dining windows. Read more »

Endorsements

Our endorsements for the Nov. 3, 2009 elections
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CITY ATTORNEY
Dennis Herrera

TREASURER
Jose Cisneros

PROP A: YES

PROP B: YES

PROP C: NO

PROP D: NO

PROP E: YES

View our entire endorsement arguments here

Poor turnout

Global poverty demonstration sets world record, despite lackluster U.S. showing
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news@sfbg.com

The Guinness World Record for the largest mobilization of human beings was recently broken when 173 million people demanded that their governments eradicate extreme poverty around the world. But U.S. media barely noted the call and San Francisco's event had low attendance, suggesting an uphill struggle for the cause in the world's richest nation.

Millions gathered at more than 3,000 Stand Up, Take Action events in 120 countries Oct. Read more »

Sanctuary showdown

Newsom forces a legal stalemate while hundreds of kids face deportation
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sarah@sfbg.com

City Hall echoed with delighted whoops of Si se puede! last week, as a veto-proof majority of the Board of Supervisors voted to give juvenile immigrants their day in court before referring them to federal immigration authorities.

But the battle over the civil rights of immigrant kids is far from over, as Mayor Gavin Newsom, Police Chief George Gascón and U.S. Read more »

Chop from the top

Avalos seeks to pare management to save health care jobs
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rebeccab@sfbg.com

At the Oct. 23 groundbreaking ceremony for the rebuild of San Francisco General Hospital, Mayor Gavin Newsom sang the praises of the public hospital's staff.

"To all the men and women who work in this remarkable place that changes people's lives each and every day ... every time I come here, I realize you're not just saving patients, you're taking care of families," the mayor said. "It's so difficult to see someone in pain. Read more »

Beer here!

Why choosing Bay Area craft brews is good for the earth, the economy, and your palate. Plus: Light beer's plight
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molly@sfbg.com

It all started with Stella.

I'd made my weekly (OK, sometimes twice or thrice-weekly) stop at Amnesia and ordered a pint of the Belgian lager not-so-affectionately known among beer snobs as "British Budweiser." Why Stella? It's light, easy to drink a lot of, and feels classier than PBR. So when I'm not on a $2-a-beer budget, Stella Artois is often what I order.

This time, however, the mustachioed bartender Matthew Harman didn't simply poor me a glass. It was earlier than usual. He had some time. Read more »

Fall Feast 2009

Our seasonal guide to the Bay's best food and drink
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Man (and woman) cannot live on PBR and pasta alone. I should know. I spent the whole summer trying. But now that my leftover Burning Man groceries are gone and the weather's getting colder, I can't help but crave real food again. And what better time and place is there to be really, really hungry for a substantial meal made with fresh ingredients than right now in San Francisco? Despite the struggling economy, innovative restaurants keep popping up — and the old classics are offering better deals. Read more »