UPDATE: Thank you to all the supporters who donated to see these stories published! The report was published in the Winter 2011 edition of the Public Press. Read more: https://www.sfpublicpress.org/news/healthy-sf __________________ Could San Francisco have figured out a model for providing universal health care on a tight budget? The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships at USC Annenberg is helping […]
Monthly Archives: October 2011
Posted inSocial Justice
Behind the protest signs: The voices of Occupy San Francisco
Those drawn to the movement are thinking big, and broad
Beyond the slogans and chants, what is this occupation movement about and why is it catching like wildfire? What do the growing ranks of Occupy Wall Street/San Francisco/fill-in-the-blank hope comes of this tempest of progressivism? In an emerging movement where everyone and no one is a spokesperson, and where centralized demands and hierarchy are eschewed, there is no single, or simple, answer. But there are plenty willing to express their varied hopes for the ultimate outcome to the protests.
READERS HELPED FUND THIS REPORTING THROUGH A MICRO-FUNDING CAMPAIGN ON SPOT.US
Posted inMedia, Neighborhoods, Public Safety
Gunz and Bunz: Sexy or offensive?
Mike’s Deli hadn´t been doing well for a while, and its owner, Mike Jweinat, thought it was time to give the spot a sexier look. He created some new sandwiches, colorful signs, and a brand-new name: Gunz and Bunz. But residents in a neighborhood where shootings aren’t uncommon failed to see the humor.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Immigration, Public Safety
San Francisco police say Special Victims Unit to investigate more cases for evidence of human trafficking
The need to focus investigations on cases of suspected human trafficking was one of the key reasons for the reorganization of the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victims Unit starting this week, the captain in charge of the new office said. The move places three full-time human trafficking investigators, including the police department’s acknowledged expert, in the same office space as more than 40 colleagues working in disparate areas such as sex crimes, domestic violence and financial crimes. Until now, no investigator worked full time on trafficking cases. The change will accompany increased coordination with federal law enforcement officials this week.
Posted inEducation, Government & Politics, News
Saving the UC — but at what cost?
In the University of California system, officials are considering raising fees as much as 16 percent a year through 2015. To learn more about what this means for students, and for public education in California, KALW’s Holly Kernan spoke with UC’s student liaison to the Regents, Jonathan Stein. Stein is a graduate student in public policy and law at UC Berkeley, and he’s one of two students represented in the University’s decision-making body.
Posted inBack Issues, News
Issue 4: Fall 2011
San Francisco’s budgeting process is broken. In a time of fiscal austerity, many city departments ignore audits that could save millions of dollars. Includes a take on the “participatory budgeting” trend.
Posted inNews
Most San Francisco mayor candidates answer detailed U.C. / Public Press / Newsdesk survey
The majority of the results are in for a questionnaire San Francisco Public Press distributed to all of this year’s candidates in San Francisco’s mayoral election. The Public Press worked in collaboration with U.C. Hastings College of the Law and U.C. Davis political science professors to create a survey asking candidates to answer questions on […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Public Safety
San Francisco Police Department overhauls Special Victims Unit
San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr is consolidating four sections of the Special Victims Unit scattered in offices throughout the city and combining them with human trafficking investigations, which were previously handled by the Vice Crimes Unit. The newly constituted Special Victims Unit will open for business Monday, Oct. 17, in a new office on the fifth floor of the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St.
Posted inNews
Friday S.F. mayoral forum at U.C. Hastings to probe candidates’ ideologies
To candidates of the 2011 San Francisco race for mayor, part of campaigning means answering countless public interest groups’ surveys and attending numerous debates so voters can determine their positions in the political spectrum. But candidates are typically asked such general questions that they can mold their answers to better appeal to whatever group is […]
Posted inMedia, News
On College Radio Day, KUSF staff fight (and spin) on
Hundreds of college radio stations around the country came together this week to proclaim College Radio Day. The celebration of stations that often have a cult following came amidst a particularly trying time for the format. One by one, universities are selling off stations to raise cash. FM licenses in major markets are worth millions. Recent sales include KUSF at the University of San Francisco. The January sale of KUSF to the Classical Public Radio Network, just one transaction in a multi-station radio shake-up of the Bay Area dial, set off strenuous protests by the station’s staff and fans. Many of the DJs and programmers moved to the online-only KUSF in Exile.