Independent news coverage of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the Bay Area. https://sanfranciscodownload.com en-us Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:29:17 GMT Copyright 2026 San Francisco Download tips@sanfranciscodownload.com (San Francisco Download) tips@sanfranciscodownload.com (San Francisco Download) 60 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/drew-chapin-calls-bs-on-popular-seo-tools https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/drew-chapin-calls-bs-on-popular-seo-tools Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT The online reputation firm founder just released a free toolkit and says the subscription model is about to collapse. Marcus Reed Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/designops-tools-creative-teams-2026 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/designops-tools-creative-teams-2026 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT A wave of startups is betting that designers need operations software, not more creative tools. The category barely existed two years ago. Now it has real money behind it. Marcus Reed Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/lost-decade-2000s-ai-disruption-laurence-allen https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/lost-decade-2000s-ai-disruption-laurence-allen Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT A veteran asset manager draws unsettling parallels between the dot-com bubble's aftermath and today's AI-driven market -- and the data backs him up. San Francisco Download Staff Business https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/antoine-watson-sentenced-in-grandpa-vicha-killing https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/antoine-watson-sentenced-in-grandpa-vicha-killing Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:03:34 GMT Antoine Watson faces up to eight years in prison as a San Francisco judge sentences him for the 2021 killing of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/oakland-woman-pulled-over-after-thieves-swapped-her-license https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/oakland-woman-pulled-over-after-thieves-swapped-her-license Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:02:35 GMT Ann Nomura was stopped at gunpoint after thieves placed stolen license plates on her car, exposing a growing crime tactic called cold-plating. Nina Alvarez News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/insanity-plea-entered-in-kimberly-wong-murder-case https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/insanity-plea-entered-in-kimberly-wong-murder-case Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:01:34 GMT Scott Fisher entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea days before his trial was set to begin in the 2023 murder of SF tech worker Kimberly Wong. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/man-killed-two-suspects-arrested-in-soma-shooting-2026 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/man-killed-two-suspects-arrested-in-soma-shooting-2026 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:33 GMT A man was fatally shot in San Francisco's SoMa district late Friday. Two suspects were arrested, marking the city's 13th homicide of 2026. Nina Alvarez News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/san-jose-reviews-cesar-chavez-sites-to-honor-all-farmworkers https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/san-jose-reviews-cesar-chavez-sites-to-honor-all-farmworkers Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:03:45 GMT San Jose leaders voted unanimously to review public sites bearing Cesar Chavez's name, aiming to broaden recognition of the farmworker movement. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sheriff-bianco-seizes-650000-ballots-in-riverside-county https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sheriff-bianco-seizes-650000-ballots-in-riverside-county Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:02:47 GMT Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 November 2025 ballots, alarming state officials who say the move is baseless and politically motivated. San Francisco Download Staff Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/trump-orders-tsa-back-pay-as-government-shutdown-continues https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/trump-orders-tsa-back-pay-as-government-shutdown-continues Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:01:34 GMT Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA officers back wages as shutdown absentee rates hit a record 11.83%, threatening airport security nationwide. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-supervisor-jackie-fielder-to-resign-amid-health-crisis https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-supervisor-jackie-fielder-to-resign-amid-health-crisis Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:00:34 GMT District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, San Francisco's most progressive board member, announced her resignation from a hospital bed citing a personal health crisis. San Francisco Download Staff Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/set-your-watches-elizabeth-holmes-is-leaving-prison-in-december-2028 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/set-your-watches-elizabeth-holmes-is-leaving-prison-in-december-2028 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT A federal judge just shaved a year off Elizabeth Holmes's sentence. With good-time credits factored in, the woman who defrauded investors of $450 million could walk into a halfway house by Christmas 2028. Marcus Reed News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/biden-staffer-arrested-in-sf-sunset-district-shooting https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/biden-staffer-arrested-in-sf-sunset-district-shooting Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:03:54 GMT A former Biden White House staffer was arrested in the Sunset District shooting death of Samantha Emge, as SF eyes federal agent ID laws. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/trump-targets-san-francisco-again-amid-oreilly-special https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/trump-targets-san-francisco-again-amid-oreilly-special Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:02:29 GMT Trump criticized San Francisco's pace of recovery at a Cabinet meeting, possibly influenced by Bill O'Reilly's prime-time special on the city's decline. San Francisco Download Staff Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/yolo-county-officials-ignored-illegal-fireworks-site-before https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/yolo-county-officials-ignored-illegal-fireworks-site-before Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:01:30 GMT A civil grand jury report finds Yolo County officials knew about an illegal fireworks operation in Esparto for years before an explosion killed seven men. Marcus Reed News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/new-izakaya-northern-thai-more-sf-restaurant-news https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/new-izakaya-northern-thai-more-sf-restaurant-news Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:30 GMT San Francisco's dining scene expands with TBD izakaya in Union Square, Ka Kai Northern Thai in the Castro, and new dishes at Izzy's Steaks. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/opinion/netflixs-mlb-opening-night-broadcast-was-a-disaster https://sanfranciscodownload.com/opinion/netflixs-mlb-opening-night-broadcast-was-a-disaster Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:42:36 GMT Netflix's first major MLB showcase turned into a three-hour mess of celebrity segments, tiny scorebugs, and fog-blinded cameras at Oracle Park. Marcus Reed Opinion https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sunset-district-shooting-suspect-and-victim-identified https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sunset-district-shooting-suspect-and-victim-identified Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:02:56 GMT San Francisco police identified the suspect and victim in a fatal Sunset District shooting, investigating whether the gun was fired accidentally. Marcus Reed News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/sacramento-bees-ai-earthquake-and-wildfire-bots-spread https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/sacramento-bees-ai-earthquake-and-wildfire-bots-spread Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:01:46 GMT The Sacramento Bee's AI-powered bots are publishing false earthquake and wildfire reports, raising serious questions about automated journalism accuracy. San Francisco Download Staff Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sf-downtown-safety-ambassador-program-expands-with-5m-grant https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sf-downtown-safety-ambassador-program-expands-with-5m-grant Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:00:41 GMT The SF Downtown Development Corporation commits $5 million to expand safety ambassador programs across Union Square, Yerba Buena, and downtown BART stations. Marcus Reed News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/humanoid-robot-makes-history-walking-at-the-white-house https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/humanoid-robot-makes-history-walking-at-the-white-house Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:02:43 GMT Figure AI's Figure 03 robot walked alongside Melania Trump at a White House education summit, marking the first humanoid robot appearance there. Nina Alvarez Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/two-homicides-strike-san-francisco-in-one-night https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/two-homicides-strike-san-francisco-in-one-night Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:01:41 GMT Two unrelated shootings killed a man and a woman in San Francisco's Ingleside and Sunset districts Tuesday night, marking the city's 11th and 12th homicides of the year. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/dave-eggers-opens-art-water-at-pier-29-this-fall https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/dave-eggers-opens-art-water-at-pier-29-this-fall Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:36 GMT Dave Eggers and JD Beltran will open Art + Water, a 100,000-sq-ft tuition-free arts space at San Francisco's Pier 29 this fall. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/frank-glassner-ai-integrity-executive-compensation-governance https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/frank-glassner-ai-integrity-executive-compensation-governance Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT As AI tools reshape how companies design executive pay packages and conduct governance reviews, veteran compensation consultant Frank Glassner warns that boards are trading rigor for convenience — and shareholders will eventually pay the price. San Francisco Download Staff Business https://sanfranciscodownload.com/arts-culture/east-bay-arts-week-live-music-theater-more https://sanfranciscodownload.com/arts-culture/east-bay-arts-week-live-music-theater-more Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:02:34 GMT From bluegrass at the Cornerstone to Ngozi Anyanwu's The Monsters at Berkeley Rep, the East Bay is packed with live performances this week. San Francisco Download Staff Arts Culture https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/french-laundry-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-labor https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/french-laundry-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-labor Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:01:35 GMT A former dishwasher has filed a class-action suit against Thomas Keller's French Laundry, alleging wage theft, denied breaks, and poor working conditions. Nina Alvarez Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/false-earthquake-alerts-hit-northern-california-again-in https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/false-earthquake-alerts-hit-northern-california-again-in Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:00:36 GMT The USGS earthquake detection system triggered multiple false alerts across Northern California, the second such misfire in four months. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/raw-meat-left-in-sun-goes-viral-hamburger-project-responds https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/raw-meat-left-in-sun-goes-viral-hamburger-project-responds Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:02:43 GMT A photo of raw ground beef and mayo baking on a San Francisco sidewalk went viral, prompting Hamburger Project to blame a delivery driver. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/lafayette-homicide-christopher-jaber-identified-as-victim https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/lafayette-homicide-christopher-jaber-identified-as-victim Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:41 GMT Christopher Jaber, 34, was fatally stabbed in Lafayette, marking the city's first homicide since 2022. Suspect David Prince arrested on $1 million bail. Marcus Reed Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/murder-suicide-home-in-sfs-westwood-highlands-lists-for-15m https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/murder-suicide-home-in-sfs-westwood-highlands-lists-for-15m Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:00:41 GMT A San Francisco home where a family of four died in a murder-suicide is now listed at $1,499,950. Will buyers compete for the stigmatized property? San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/oakland-celebrates-alysa-lius-olympic-gold-with-kehlani https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/oakland-celebrates-alysa-lius-olympic-gold-with-kehlani Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:02:39 GMT Oakland packed Frank Ogawa Plaza to honor figure skater Alysa Liu's 2026 Olympic gold medal, with a surprise performance by R&B artist Kehlani. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sfs-475m-north-beach-home-faces-illegal-conversion-battle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sfs-475m-north-beach-home-faces-illegal-conversion-battle Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:01:38 GMT The Board of Supervisors will decide if a $4.75M North Beach home can remain a single-family property or must be restored to four rental units. Nina Alvarez Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/annie-altman-lawsuit-dismissed-sam-altman-case-update https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/annie-altman-lawsuit-dismissed-sam-altman-case-update Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:00:38 GMT A federal judge dismissed Annie Altman's abuse lawsuit against Sam Altman on procedural grounds, while approving his defamation countersuit against her. Marcus Reed Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/oakland-officers-laughed-after-fatal-ghost-chase-crash https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/oakland-officers-laughed-after-fatal-ghost-chase-crash Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:02:18 GMT Body camera footage shows two former Oakland officers laughing after an illegal high-speed ghost chase killed 28-year-old Lolomanaia Soakai in 2022. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-group-caught-paying-5-per-signature-for-fake-petitions https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-group-caught-paying-5-per-signature-for-fake-petitions Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:01:27 GMT A video shows paid signature collectors at Sixth and Mission directing people to sign ballot petitions using fake names and addresses for $5 each. Nina Alvarez Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/people/friends-remember-joe-kukura-sfist-editor-and-singular-soul https://sanfranciscodownload.com/people/friends-remember-joe-kukura-sfist-editor-and-singular-soul Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:30 GMT Friends and colleagues share memories of Joe Kukura, SFist associate editor and beloved San Francisco writer, following his death last week. San Francisco Download Staff People https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/union-square-tulip-day-2026-get-80000-free-tulips-saturday https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/union-square-tulip-day-2026-get-80000-free-tulips-saturday Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:00:33 GMT Union Square's annual Tulip Day returns this Saturday with 80,000 free tulips, 8 per person. Gates open at 1 p.m. but lines form as early as 9 a.m. Marcus Reed Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/west-portal-crash-vigil-held-as-lurie-safety-deadline-nears https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/west-portal-crash-vigil-held-as-lurie-safety-deadline-nears Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:01:29 GMT Dozens gathered to remember a family of four killed at a West Portal bus stop as Mayor Lurie's 100-day street safety deadline approaches in San Francisco. Marcus Reed News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/stop-the-ai-race-rally-targets-anthropic-openai-xai https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/stop-the-ai-race-rally-targets-anthropic-openai-xai Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:00:37 GMT Protesters plan to rally outside Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI headquarters in San Francisco, demanding AI CEOs commit to pausing frontier AI development. San Francisco Download Staff Business https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/future-of-agency-fees-outcome-based-pricing https://sanfranciscodownload.com/business/future-of-agency-fees-outcome-based-pricing Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT Survey data from 181 agencies published by professional services platform Productive reveals significant fragmentation in pricing approaches as AI accelerates production, with outcome-based and value-based models emerging as the best-positioned strategies. San Francisco Download Staff Business https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/northern-california-ski-resorts-close-early-due-to-snowmelt https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/northern-california-ski-resorts-close-early-due-to-snowmelt Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:30:51 GMT Several Northern California ski resorts are shutting down early this spring as warm temperatures accelerate snowmelt across the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe region. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/sfo-oakland-airport-on-faas-runway-safety-hot-spot-list https://sanfranciscodownload.com/lifestyle/sfo-oakland-airport-on-faas-runway-safety-hot-spot-list Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:30:02 GMT The FAA flagged SFO, Oakland, and San Jose airports on its hot spot list, identifying ground areas most at risk of runway collisions and near-misses. San Francisco Download Staff Lifestyle https://sanfranciscodownload.com/people/joe-kukura-beloved-sfist-writer-and-sf-voice-dies-at-55 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/people/joe-kukura-beloved-sfist-writer-and-sf-voice-dies-at-55 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:02:53 GMT Joe Kukura, a longtime SFist contributor who covered San Francisco with humor and heart for over two decades, died of gastric cancer complications at 55. San Francisco Download Staff People https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sf-mayor-lurie-responds-to-iranian-attack-threat-warning https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/sf-mayor-lurie-responds-to-iranian-attack-threat-warning Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:01:50 GMT Mayor Daniel Lurie reassures San Franciscans amid FBI warnings of a possible Iranian drone attack, saying there are no imminent threats to the city. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/what-happens-when-your-waymo-gets-attacked https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/what-happens-when-your-waymo-gets-attacked Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:38 GMT A San Francisco rider spent six minutes trapped in a Waymo while a man attacked the car. Here's what Waymo did—and didn't do—to help. San Francisco Download Staff Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/meta-plans-to-lay-off-16000-employees-in-2026 https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/meta-plans-to-lay-off-16000-employees-in-2026 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:02:55 GMT Meta is planning to cut roughly 16,000 jobs—about 20% of its workforce—to offset rising costs tied to its massive artificial intelligence investments. Nina Alvarez Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/norovirus-cases-spike-in-sf-marin-silicon-valley https://sanfranciscodownload.com/technology/norovirus-cases-spike-in-sf-marin-silicon-valley Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:01:48 GMT Wastewater data reveals a regional norovirus surge hitting San Francisco, Marin County, and Silicon Valley. Here's what you need to know to stay safe. San Francisco Download Staff Technology https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/ex-sf-fire-marshal-now-consulting-on-sprinkler-rules-he https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/ex-sf-fire-marshal-now-consulting-on-sprinkler-rules-he Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:37 GMT Former SF Fire Marshal Kenneth Cofflin drafted the city's high-rise sprinkler mandate and now runs a consulting firm helping condo associations navigate it. Marcus Reed Politics https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/four-men-plead-guilty-in-bayview-drive-by-shooting-case https://sanfranciscodownload.com/news/four-men-plead-guilty-in-bayview-drive-by-shooting-case Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:02:38 GMT Four men pleaded guilty in a 2023 Bayview drive-by shooting that injured one person and prompted a multi-agency federal investigation across the Bay Area. San Francisco Download Staff News https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-homelessness-director-shireen-mcspadden-steps-down https://sanfranciscodownload.com/politics/sf-homelessness-director-shireen-mcspadden-steps-down Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:01:42 GMT Shireen McSpadden, San Francisco's homelessness department director, announced she will leave her post on June 30 after five years leading the agency. San Francisco Download Staff Politics