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The site highlights hundreds of events in San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area every week.

Business

Five holiday markets to visit in San Francisco

There are spots all over the city to get your festivities on.

Things to Do

Idyllic lake in Golden Gate Park gets new name options

The popular destination is currently named after an antisemitic politician from the 19th century.

News

APEC yields mixed results with local businesses

Local officials call it a success for San Francisco's image, but questions remain over long-term maintenance of city streets.

Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises

Almost 1.3 million of California's veteran population served during wartime, according to 2020 data.

​​Veterans are increasingly embracing the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bay Area&#x27;s biotech hub" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/08/03/silicon-valley-biotech-growth-economy" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/08/03/silicon-valley-biotech-growth-economy" target="_self">Bay Area&#x27;s biotech hub</a> in a bid for new solutions as former military personnel <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="continue to face challenges" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/10/veterans-day-suicide-mental-health-homelessness" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/10/veterans-day-suicide-mental-health-homelessness" target="_self">continue to face challenges</a> with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mental health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/14/veterans-affairs-suicide-health-care" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/14/veterans-affairs-suicide-health-care" target="_self">mental health</a>, homelessness and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="employment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2019/11/05/veterans-employment-underemployed-military-jobs" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2019/11/05/veterans-employment-underemployed-military-jobs" target="_self">employment</a> after leaving service.By the numbers: Veterans comprise over 4% of California&#x27;s adult civilian population, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="almost 20,900" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanfranciscocitycalifornia,sanfranciscocountycalifornia/PST045222" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanfranciscocitycalifornia,sanfranciscocountycalifornia/PST045222" target="_blank">almost 20,900</a> in San Francisco and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="around 270,000" data-vars-click-url="https://www.va.gov/san-francisco-health-care/programs/va-alameda-point-development/" data-vars-content-id="c831f2e1-cb70-486a-9c46-538c5a32f0bc" data-vars-headline="Veterans turn to biotech to tackle longtime health crises" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.va.gov/san-francisco-health-care/programs/va-alameda-point-development/" target="_blank">around 270,000</a> spread out across the Bay Area.

Photo of military service members standing at attention next to American and Californian flags

California's food insecurity rates are increasing again

In San Francisco, 1 in 4 residents is at risk of hunger due to low income.

Despite hovering beneath national averages for nearly a decade, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rates of food insecurity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/06/08/san-francisco-food-bank-budget" data-vars-content-id="63efe4d5-56d9-4a53-8ebd-ff431faa5f7b" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s food insecurity rates are increasing again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/06/08/san-francisco-food-bank-budget" target="_self">rates of food insecurity</a> in California are on the rise again, new government data shows.Driving the news: In California, 10.3% of households were food insecure on average from 2020 to 2022, according to the report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture&#x27;s economic research service.

Bay Area's striking Kaiser workers to decide on new tentative deal

The terms, announced Friday, include across-the-board wage increases and the establishment of a $25/hour minimum wage.

Health

Union leaders representing tens of thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kaiser Permanente" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/kaiser-permanente-union-strike-health-care-workers" data-vars-content-id="27ebe141-f426-4dfb-bc58-f72e7223f86f" data-vars-headline="Bay Area&#x27;s striking Kaiser workers to decide on new tentative deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/kaiser-permanente-union-strike-health-care-workers" target="_self">Kaiser Permanente</a> health care workers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/unioncoalition/posts/pfbid031YaRVcpZu3ef6fZbcTfMRmFAr9H8c1HL4srpeeVv7N9vqdusrLce2pW1KScCXzkl" data-vars-content-id="27ebe141-f426-4dfb-bc58-f72e7223f86f" data-vars-headline="Bay Area&#x27;s striking Kaiser workers to decide on new tentative deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/unioncoalition/posts/pfbid031YaRVcpZu3ef6fZbcTfMRmFAr9H8c1HL4srpeeVv7N9vqdusrLce2pW1KScCXzkl" target="_blank">said</a> Friday that they&#x27;d reached a tentative labor agreement with the health system.Why it matters: The tentative deal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="averts another strike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/13/kaiser-union-labor-deal-strike-health-care-workers" data-vars-content-id="27ebe141-f426-4dfb-bc58-f72e7223f86f" data-vars-headline="Bay Area&#x27;s striking Kaiser workers to decide on new tentative deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/13/kaiser-union-labor-deal-strike-health-care-workers" target="_self">averts another strike</a> by Kaiser workers; their three-day work stoppage this month was the largest ever in the U.S. health care industry.

Photo of Kaiser workers holding bullhorns and signs that say "Respect and value health care workers" during a strike

San Francisco Latinos' poverty rate higher than overall population's

The disparity mirrors patterns at the state and national level.

The percentage of Latinos in San Francisco living in poverty has dipped in the past decade, though by a much smaller margin compared to California overall, new census data shows.Driving the news: In San Francisco, 13% of Hispanic residents were living in poverty as of 2022 compared to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="almost 14% in 2010" data-vars-click-url="https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/FileCenter/Documents/45523-BLA.Socioeconomic%20Equity.nav.pdf" data-vars-content-id="26c81562-e956-415a-a4b7-7e99239574fd" data-vars-headline="San Francisco Latinos&#x27; poverty rate higher than overall population&#x27;s" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/FileCenter/Documents/45523-BLA.Socioeconomic%20Equity.nav.pdf" target="_blank">almost 14% in 2010</a>. The city&#x27;s overall poverty rate dropped from just under 12% to around 10% during that same time frame.

Photo of a street intersection with a colorful mural of the word "Mission"

Birthrate on the decline in California, San Francisco

The  state's figure dropped 31% from approximately 15.6 births per 1,000 people in 2007 to 10.7 in 2022, new CDC data shows.

California&#x27;s birthrate fell dramatically between 2007 and 2022 — and San Francisco is mirroring that trend.Driving the news: The state&#x27;s birthrate dropped 31% from approximately 15.6 births per 1,000 people in 2007 to 10.7 in 2022.

Thousands of Kaiser health care workers strike in Bay Area

Kaiser and a coalition of unions representing its workers have failed to reach a deal to renew a contract that expired Sept. 30.

Thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kaiser Permanente health care workers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/09/22/kaiser-permanente-strike-authorization-bay-area" data-vars-content-id="4ca4f20e-bade-46e2-b15f-20fa7df43f7a" data-vars-headline="Thousands of Kaiser health care workers strike in Bay Area" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/09/22/kaiser-permanente-strike-authorization-bay-area" target="_self">Kaiser Permanente health care workers</a> went on strike in the Bay Area on Wednesday morning.What&#x27;s happening: Kaiser and a coalition of unions representing its workers have failed to reach a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deal to renew a contract" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/21/kaiser-permanente-health-care-workers-san-diego-vote-strike" data-vars-content-id="4ca4f20e-bade-46e2-b15f-20fa7df43f7a" data-vars-headline="Thousands of Kaiser health care workers strike in Bay Area" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/21/kaiser-permanente-health-care-workers-san-diego-vote-strike" target="_self">deal to renew a contract</a> that expired Sept. 30.

San Francisco to roll out mental illness court next week

First responders, family members and more will be able to petition the court for treatment for someone with severe mental illness.

Starting in October, San Francisco will implement a new civil court process <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="aimed at helping people" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/03/22/california-mental-health-crisis-gavin-newsom" data-vars-content-id="9278074e-fec4-4db1-b2f0-a1f75958932f" data-vars-headline="San Francisco to roll out mental illness court next week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/03/22/california-mental-health-crisis-gavin-newsom" target="_self">aimed at helping people</a> with untreated schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders get off of the streets.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CARE court" data-vars-click-url="https://sf.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/care-act-court" data-vars-content-id="9278074e-fec4-4db1-b2f0-a1f75958932f" data-vars-headline="San Francisco to roll out mental illness court next week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sf.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-division/care-act-court" target="_blank">CARE court</a> — the result of legislation championed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom — will allow first responders, family members, behavioral health providers and others to directly petition the court for behavioral health services.

Photo of a person sitting on a sidewalk outside a tent in a homeless encampment

Kaiser Permanente strike looms in San Francisco Bay Area

A group of 2,500 Bay Area Kaiser Permanente health care workers this week voted to authorize a strike amid ongoing labor concerns.

A group of 2,500 Bay Area Kaiser Permanente health care workers voted this week voted to authorize a strike amid ongoing concerns about short staffing and unfair labor practices.Driving the news: The workers, part of OPEIU Local 29, are prepared to strike if the coalition of unions they belong to can&#x27;t reach a contract agreement by the end of this month.

Accidental overdoses increased in August in San Francisco

San Francisco is facing a grim reality, as it's on pace to have the deadliest year for accidental overdoses since January 2020.

San Francisco had one of its deadliest months for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="accidental overdoses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/09/06/san-francisco-911-311-campaign-street-crisis" data-vars-content-id="729b7d24-46cb-421d-b8ac-d4930762cb2e" data-vars-headline="Accidental overdoses increased in August in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/09/06/san-francisco-911-311-campaign-street-crisis" target="_self">accidental overdoses</a> in August since 2020, according to data released this week from the city&#x27;s medical examiner.Why it matters: San Francisco is facing a grim reality, as it&#x27;s on pace to have the deadliest year for accidental overdoses since January 2020, when the city began publicly reporting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overdose deaths" data-vars-click-url="https://sf.gov/resource/2020/ocme-accidental-overdose-reports" data-vars-content-id="729b7d24-46cb-421d-b8ac-d4930762cb2e" data-vars-headline="Accidental overdoses increased in August in San Francisco" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sf.gov/resource/2020/ocme-accidental-overdose-reports" target="_blank">overdose deaths</a>.

Startup is developing a pill intended to help large dogs live longer

The drug, referred to as LOY-003, aims to reduce levels of growth hormone in large dogs.

San Francisco-based Loyal is working on a new drug it hopes will help large <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dogs live healthier" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/30/aging-humans-dog-lifespan-methylation" data-vars-content-id="05db668c-bf7e-4571-9920-b66ffd9b21bf" data-vars-headline="Startup is developing a pill intended to help large dogs live longer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/30/aging-humans-dog-lifespan-methylation" target="_self">dogs live healthier</a>, longer lives.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Loyal" data-vars-click-url="https://loyalfordogs.com/" data-vars-content-id="05db668c-bf7e-4571-9920-b66ffd9b21bf" data-vars-headline="Startup is developing a pill intended to help large dogs live longer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://loyalfordogs.com/" target="_blank">Loyal</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently partnered" data-vars-click-url="https://loyalfordogs.com/posts/announcing-our-partnership-with-crinetics-pharmaceuticals" data-vars-content-id="05db668c-bf7e-4571-9920-b66ffd9b21bf" data-vars-headline="Startup is developing a pill intended to help large dogs live longer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://loyalfordogs.com/posts/announcing-our-partnership-with-crinetics-pharmaceuticals" target="_blank">recently partnered</a> with pharmaceutical company <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Crinetics" data-vars-click-url="https://crinetics.com/" data-vars-content-id="05db668c-bf7e-4571-9920-b66ffd9b21bf" data-vars-headline="Startup is developing a pill intended to help large dogs live longer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crinetics.com/" target="_blank">Crinetics</a> to get exclusive veterinary access to its compound that helps humans with acromegaly, a disease that results in increased levels of growth hormone.

California prepares for xylazine influx in illegal drug supply

Xylazine is a powerful veterinary sedative that has contributed to the surge in fatal overdoses in recent years.

California&#x27;s Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning health care facilities and providers in the state to brace themselves against the rise of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="powerful sedative in the U.S. illegal drug supply" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/30/xylazine-death-rates-overdose-fentanyl" data-vars-content-id="46be7574-5af3-4893-a9b2-44167e20f89d" data-vars-headline="California prepares for xylazine influx in illegal drug supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/30/xylazine-death-rates-overdose-fentanyl" target="_self">powerful sedative in the U.S. illegal drug supply</a>.Why it matters: Xylazine is a veterinary sedative not intended for humans, but fatal overdoses involving the drug, which CDPH says is almost exclusively combined with fentanyl, have surged nationwide in recent years.

Telehealth abortions are on the rise in California

State and local officials have doubled down on ways to protect abortion patients and providers who rely on telehealth for access.

The share of abortions provided virtually in California increased from 5.3% in April 2022 to 7.9% in March 2023 following a surge in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="abortion pill demand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/18/abortion-pills-mifepristone-misoprostol-demand" data-vars-content-id="92928a77-cc03-4c45-8d84-2785ea5bf5e4" data-vars-headline="Telehealth abortions are on the rise in California" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/18/abortion-pills-mifepristone-misoprostol-demand" target="_self">abortion pill demand</a> in response to GOP-led restrictions in other states, per the latest report from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Society of Family Planning" data-vars-click-url="https://societyfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/WeCount-Release-June-2023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="92928a77-cc03-4c45-8d84-2785ea5bf5e4" data-vars-headline="Telehealth abortions are on the rise in California" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://societyfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/WeCount-Release-June-2023.pdf" target="_blank">Society of Family Planning</a>.Why it matters: A federal appeals court ruling <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="limiting access" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/16/abortion-pill-mifepristone-appeals-court-ruling" data-vars-content-id="92928a77-cc03-4c45-8d84-2785ea5bf5e4" data-vars-headline="Telehealth abortions are on the rise in California" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/16/abortion-pill-mifepristone-appeals-court-ruling" target="_self">limiting access</a> to the abortion pill mifepristone may pave the way for a Supreme Court showdown that puts the future of telehealth abortions at risk.

The price tag for giving birth in California

California ranks among some of the pricier states to give birth.

Having a baby isn&#x27;t cheap anywhere, but California ranks among some of the pricier states to give birth, according to new data provided first to Axios from FAIR Health.Why it matters: FAIR Health&#x27;s new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cost of Giving Birth Tracker" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fairhealth.org/fh-trackers/cost-of-giving-birth" data-vars-content-id="f9ec32fc-4dd8-447a-b573-4cab3c4e790d" data-vars-headline="The price tag for giving birth in California" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fairhealth.org/fh-trackers/cost-of-giving-birth" target="_blank">Cost of Giving Birth Tracker</a> — which uses data from more than 41 billion private health care claim records — offers a glimpse at how much variability there is in the cost of one of the most common health care services.

Silicon Valley's biotech sector is still going strong

The sector has in many ways served as an anchor for the local economy.

Silicon Valley&#x27;s tech companies have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="struggled with mass layoffs in the past year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/06/layoffs-techs-new-normal-amazon-salesforce" data-vars-content-id="48532bba-98d0-427d-a8fc-e93e1f97ed6c" data-vars-headline="Silicon Valley&#x27;s biotech sector is still going strong" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/06/layoffs-techs-new-normal-amazon-salesforce" target="_self">struggled with mass layoffs in the past year</a>, but the biotech industry hasn&#x27;t suffered quite the same fate.Why it matters: The Bay Area&#x27;s biotech hub has been in the national spotlight in recent years amid pandemic-era breakthroughs and cautionary tales like Theranos&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fall from grace" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/05/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-verdict-tech-on-spot" data-vars-content-id="48532bba-98d0-427d-a8fc-e93e1f97ed6c" data-vars-headline="Silicon Valley&#x27;s biotech sector is still going strong" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/05/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-verdict-tech-on-spot" target="_self">fall from grace</a>.

Photo of a sign with a DNA curvature in the middle that says "South San Francisco: The birthplace of biotechnology"

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