Hey, San Francisco!

Matt Charnock here — The SF Minute's second guest editor. Some of you might know me as the human behind The Bold Italic and SFist (on the weekends). TBH, I’m just glad to be here and for the free snacks.

Now, on to the news! And oof… what a weekend it was re: local journalism.

San Francisco’s long been a national model for how to navigate this pandemic. We were among the seven Bay Area counties to enact last year’s historic shelter-in-place order — the first of its kind anywhere in the country. The city’s residents have been ardent mask wearers, well-skilled at practicing social distancing, and (for the most part) pro-vaccine, happily dismissing any and all Covid-19-related conspiracy theories.

As of right now, over 88% of eligible San Franciscans have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine; at least 81% of the city’s residents able to get the shot have completed a full Covid-19 vaccine series. But yet…
2,706 of SF’s 35,140 City employees haven't gotten vaccinated.

366 of them are police staff. And at least 193 of them have filed for religious exemptions to exclude them from the City's vaccine mandate for workers.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, SF’s Department of Human Resources has said 157 exemptions have been tentatively approved. However, City officials are still reviewing those requests. All requests must be officially approved by October 13 — or risk termination, should they chose to still not get vaccinated

“The only way out of the pandemic and to protect our workers, is to ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated against COVID-19,” Mawuli Tugbenyoh, chief of policy for the Department of Human Resources, said in a statement. “The damage that COVID-19 has done to our communities, health, and livelihoods is now preventable.”

Quick Newsy Bits:

• KTVU’s Frank Somerville was reportedly suspended — “indefinitely” — before the weekend after pressing for the newsroom to acknowledge that tragedies involving white women are usually far more reported than those affecting BIPOC women; Somverille, for context, is the adoptive father of a Black teen. (Mercury News) 

• Two protests broke out in San Francisco over the weekend in the wake of thousands of deportations — which included the release of disturbing media of how Haitian immigrants were cleared from under an overpass in South Texas — and the Bay Area Youth Arts has since been able to raise $5,000 to help build two schools in Haiti. (48hills)

• With the CDC expected to approve the use of the Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on children under 12 years old sometime this month, San Francisco is planning on opening 100 vaccination sites to serve that new eligible cohort; these sites, as well, are expected to help inoculate those who can receive a supplemental dose (a.k.a. a “booster” shot) of an mRNA vaccine. (SFist)

• For those of y’all craving some new eats, Copas on Market Street — the brainchild of two local chefs behind Michelin-starred Saison — is now open for business in the Castro. (Hoodline)

• And as one local eatery opens, another closes: Pane e Vino, a local staple that served Cow Hollow for over three decades, has closed its doors for good amid financial woes spurred by the pandemic. (Eater SF) 

  ---

What Else I’m Reading, ATM:

• This essay from a begrudged San Francisco transplant who’s moving to New York sure is… something.

• I would highly recommend you keep up with Mongabay’s daily pieces to get a good grip on the state of the climate crisis.

• And speaking of the climate crisis: Changes in our local microclimate could very well be contributing to SF’s ever-eroding sidewalks.

• Apparently, there weren’t that many Covid-19 cases tied to this year’s IRL Bottle Rock festival.

• I’m (still probably) combing through an essay I wrote today in The Bold Italic on why religious beliefs have no right in swaying public health mandates… for typos.

  ---

And Finally…

This past Sunday saw the return of an in-person Folsom Street Fair, which for 2021 was called “Megahood2021” — harkening back to the kink festival’s original roots. As I waxed about earlier today: This year’s happening was a true return to form for Folsom.

Though 2020’s event did continue amid the pandemic, it was a largely virtual affair. Conveying the aroma of sweat-soaked leather and VHS cleaner, alas, is an often futile task in lieu of the real things.

It was great to run into friends. Make out with new ones. See the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in their holy drag. To engage in all manner of sex positivity and kink with like-minded ilk.

It was a sublime reminder to myself — and I’d imagine the 40,000 others in attendance — just why San Francisco is so weirdly wonderful.

Have a great evening. See y’all Wednesday! — Matt Charnock

🙌 Your ad here 🙌

Lemme know if you’re interested in advertising with The SF Minute. In the past, we’ve promoted companies, job postings, and other newsletters. I’d love to hear from you! nick@thesfminute.com