All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

San Francisco

San Francisco Members

San Francisco Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting San Francisco.

Axios San Francisco Thought Bubble

Axios San Francisco

Data: FBI; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals

California had the second lowest percentage of law enforcement agencies turn over crime data to the FBI last year.

The big picture: The estimated number of violent crimes in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2021 from 2020, according to the FBI — but the data is incomplete because 40% of law enforcement agencies nationwide failed to report their crime statistics. 

Experts say the data gap makes it harder to analyze crime trends and fact check claims politicians make about crime, the Marshall Project's Weihua Li reports.

Context: The FBI's annual data set is the foremost way to understand how crime is changing across the U.S., measuring trends like how many murders or rapes took place last year or total people arrested on an annual basis.

By the numbers: An Axios analysis of FBI data released earlier this year found that 2% of California's law enforcement agencies turned in crime data.

Zoom in: None of San Francisco’s seven law enforcement agencies reported crime data to the FBI in 2021.

Yes, but: 100% of law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Delaware, North Dakota and Vermont submitted their crime data to the FBI.

The intrigue: Art Acevedo, a former Houston and Miami police chief, told Axios the lack of reporting is likely a technological challenge for local agencies to get on a new reporting system the FBI introduced in January 2021. 

Lenore Anderson, founder and president of the Alliance for Safety and Justice, said many agencies still use pen and paper to track crime and input data.

The bottom line: Unless states require police and sheriff's departments to submit crime data to the FBI at higher rates, the country won't be able to recognize crime-related trends and set policies accordingly.

California is second worst in nation on FBI crime reporting

None of San Francisco's seven law enforcement agencies reported crime data to the FBI in 2021.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

California had the second lowest percentage of law enforcement agencies turn over crime data to the FBI last year.The big picture: The estimated number of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="violent crimes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/10/homicides-down-midyear-overall-violent-crime-up" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/10/homicides-down-midyear-overall-violent-crime-up" target="_self">violent crimes</a> in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2021 from 2020, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the FBI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/press-releases/fbi-releases-2021-crime-in-the-nation-statistics-10052022" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/press-releases/fbi-releases-2021-crime-in-the-nation-statistics-10052022" target="_blank">the FBI</a> — but the data is incomplete because 40% of law enforcement agencies nationwide failed to report their crime statistics.

News

Politics

The city's Central Subway soft-opened last weekend to connect Chinatown to downtown and SoMa.

Why it matters: Chinatown has been relatively disconnected from San Francisco's city center since the 1989 earthquake led to the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway.

"The Central Subway was and is a demand for transit justice," Malcolm Yeung, executive director of the Chinese Community Development Council, said at a press event in September. "Chinatown needs this lifeline."

When the Central Subway fully opens in January, commuters will have an easier time getting from the Caltrain station at 4th and King streets to downtown.

What's happening: During the soft opening, which runs through December, passengers can ride the Central Subway for free between the Chinatown Rose Pak station and 4th and Brannan streets. 

The station's namesake was a political activist who fought to bring transit to Chinatown.

The train operates every 12 minutes, 8-12am on Saturdays and Sundays. 

State of play: Construction on the Central Subway project started in 2013 and was originally set to be finished by 2018.

The delay was due to several factors including contract disputes and a June fire at the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. Before the fire, the SFMTA said service would start in October.

The project cost nearly $2 billion, and received almost $1 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The big picture: This has been a major year for transit in San Francisco. 

In April, the SFMTA completed the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit project, which has helped to drastically increase ridership along one of the city's busiest stretches. 

And, after voting down a Muni bond measure in June, residents this month overwhelmingly passed Prop. L, reauthorizing a transportation sales tax that brings the department an estimated $100 million annually. 

Yes, but: Some details on the Central Subway project are still being worked out, including red Solo cups on exterior walls that are doubling as drainage pipes until more permanent solutions are put in place. 

SFMTA spokesperson Erica Kato acknowledging the cups, emphasized that it's a "soft launch" and the department is "finalizing any changes or construction fixes" on weekdays.  

What's next: Daily service for the Central Subway will begin on Jan. 7, 2023. 

When it does start, the T Third line will run between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station to Sunnydale.

San Francisco's long-awaited Central Subway is up and running

After decades of planning and $2 billion spent, the Central Subway soft launched this weekend.

Outside the Rose Pak Muni station in Chinatown. Photo: Courtesy of SFMTA

The city&#x27;s Central Subway soft-opened last weekend to connect Chinatown to downtown and SoMa.Why it matters: Chinatown has been relatively disconnected from San Francisco&#x27;s city center since the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1989 earthquake " data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/the-loma-prieta-earthquake-and-the-freeway-wars/1948520/" data-vars-content-id="36b421e1-a382-416f-9d2c-4dceb2409b5d" data-vars-headline="San Francisco&#x27;s long-awaited Central Subway is up and running" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/the-loma-prieta-earthquake-and-the-freeway-wars/1948520/" target="_blank">1989 earthquake </a>led to the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway.

Data: Axios research; Table: Simran Parwani/Axios

The Golden State Warriors are off to a shaky start this season, but let's keep hope alive that our defending champs can get their act together.

Driving the news: We're taking a page out of Axios Salt Lake City's playbook and tracking how the Dubs are doing versus the rest of Axios Locals.

Axios Local currently has daily newsletters in 24 U.S. cities. Of those markets, 14 have an NBA team.

The chart above shows all the teams in our markets and the Warriors' record against them. We'll update it every few weeks.

What we're watching: If the Warriors can climb their way to the top of Western Conference, where we belong.

What's happening: The Warriors have so far played eight games against teams in other Axios Local markets, having gone 2-6 in those matchups.

Golden State have done much better at home, losing just one of their first eight games at the Chase Center. Against other Axios teams at home, the Warriors have gone 1-1. 

What's next: The Warriors are playing against the Utah Jazz on Friday in San Francisco. 

Ya girl Megan will be there if her flight from Iowa lands on time ... which it probably won't. 

Home Court: Golden State Warriors vs. Axios Local

Axios Local has daily newsletters in 24 U.S. cities. Of those markets, 14 have an NBA team.

Sports

Chart showing how the Warriors compare to other Axios Locals

The Golden State Warriors are off to a shaky start this season, but let&#x27;s keep hope alive that our defending champs can get their act together.Driving the news: We&#x27;re taking a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="page out of Axios Salt Lake City&#x27;s playbook" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/11/18/home-court-utah-jazz-versus-axios-local" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/11/18/home-court-utah-jazz-versus-axios-local" target="_self">page out of Axios Salt Lake City&#x27;s playbook</a> and tracking how the Dubs are doing versus the rest of Axios Locals.

The International Indian Treaty Council is hosting its annual Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island, a.k.a. "The Rock," Thursday in commemoration of the 1969-1971 occupation by the Indians of All Tribes.

What's happening: The event, first held in 1975, is designed to provide a space for healing and giving thanks for the survival, resistance and resilience of Indigenous peoples in California.

The program will feature Pomo and Aztec dancers, prayer, music by the All Nations Drum group and other cultural activities.

The big picture: Thanksgiving is typically a day of mourning for Indigenous peoples, and "carries this very painful history," Morning Star Gali, the community liaison coordinator for the IITC, told Axios.

Some Indigenous activists, scholars and artists use the term "Thankstaking" to describe an alternative history around the holiday with a focus on land theft and Indigenous voices.

Context: Richard Oakes, alongside other Indigenous activists, began a 19-month occupation of Alcatraz in November 1969, after a fire destroyed San Francisco's American Indian Center.

 About 100 Indigenous activists occupied the island. They elected officials, established a school, housing, daycare and a new American Indian center. 

Indigenous activists used the occupation to speak out against the U.S. government's Termination Policy and other challenges they were facing. 

In June 1971, armed federal law enforcement members arrived at the island to end the occupation.

What they're saying: The occupation, Gali said, is known as "the spark that lit the flame of Indigenous resistance."

"The reclaiming of Alcatraz … I call it one of the original 'land back' movements," she said. "Alcatraz represented the lack of housing, the lack of education, the lack of having access to healthy food and clean water. None of that existed on the island."

Of note: Land back efforts by Indigenous people aim to reclaim stolen land.

And for those of us who live in San Francisco, we're on unceded land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people.

Between the lines: Crystal Echo Hawk, founder and executive director of the Indigenous advocacy group IllumiNative, told Axios more people are learning about Alcatraz because Indigenous youth are seeking out this history.

"We definitely have a long way to go, but this is no longer something you only learn about in a Native American Studies class."

What's next: The Sunrise Gathering is tomorrow, 5:30-8am, on Alcatraz. You can buy tickets online or at the Pier 33 ticket booth before the event. 

Boats depart from Pier 33 about every 15 minutes, from 4:15 to 6am.

Remembering the Indigenous occupation of Alcatraz

Richard Oakes, alongside other Indigenous activists, in November 1969 began a 19-month occupation of Alcatraz.

Indigenous peoples' sunrise ceremony on Alcatraz

People gather at Alcatraz Island for the Sunrise Ceremony (or Un-Thanksgiving Day) on Nov. 28, 2019, in San Francisco. Photo: Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Thanksgiving

The International Indian Treaty Council is hosting its annual Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island, a.k.a. &quot;The Rock,&quot; Thursday in commemoration of the 1969-1971 occupation by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Indians of All Tribes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/520.html" data-vars-content-id="be9e8c5b-482b-4b6f-ac0b-e1e3191cbd12" data-vars-headline="Remembering the Indigenous occupation of Alcatraz" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/520.html" target="_blank">Indians of All Tribes</a>.What&#x27;s happening: The event, first held in 1975, is designed to provide a space for healing and giving thanks for the survival, resistance and resilience of Indigenous peoples in California.

Things to Do

Expect to see more ghost-riders, more commonly called self-driving vehicles, on the streets of San Francisco.

Driving the news: Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, announced last week it plans to start offering fully self-driving rides, without anyone in the driver's seat, in the next few weeks.

That's courtesy of the California Public Utilities Commission granting Waymo a Driverless Pilot permit earlier this month.

Yes, but: The permit requires that Waymo offer test rides to the public for free.

The big picture: Waymo will be the second company to offer fully autonomous rides to the public in San Francisco.

In February, Cruise began operating fully driverless, late-night rides throughout SF. It plans to offer daytime rides to members of the public "soon," CEO Kyle Vogt tweeted this month.

Cruise started charging for rides in June, after receiving a Driverless Deployment permit from the CPUC.

What's next: Waymo says the plan is to launch 24/7 driverless rides to members of the public soon. 

More self-driving cars are riding into SF

Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit said last week it plans to start offering fully self-driving rides, without anyone in the driver's seat, in the next few weeks.

Man walking in front of a self-driving car with the bay bridge in the background.

Transportation

Expect to see more ghost-riders, more commonly called self-driving vehicles, on the streets of San Francisco.Driving the news: Waymo, Alphabet&#x27;s autonomous driving unit, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced last week" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1593724812718915589?s=20&amp;t=o_Mz0MQlbND8gnyEc8UOVQ" data-vars-content-id="f38c13d3-3b75-4d55-a086-417775d702d3" data-vars-headline="More self-driving cars are riding into SF" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1593724812718915589?s=20&amp;t=o_Mz0MQlbND8gnyEc8UOVQ" target="_blank">announced last week</a> it plans to start offering fully self-driving rides, without anyone in the driver&#x27;s seat, in the next few weeks.

Megan Rose Dickey

Featured stories

California is second worst in nation on FBI crime reporting

Home Court: Golden State Warriors vs. Axios Local

Remembering the Indigenous occupation of Alcatraz

San Francisco's long-awaited Central Subway is up and running

More self-driving cars are riding into SF