SF's $4.75M North Beach Home Faces Illegal Conversion Battle
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
Opinion & Culture Writer
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About Nina
Nina Alvarez is a former essayist for The Atlantic and opinion contributor to the Los Angeles Times. Her writing on urban issues and cultural change in California has sparked conversations across the political spectrum. At San Francisco Download, she provides commentary that challenges assumptions and encourages readers to think deeper about the forces shaping the Bay Area. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Mills College.
Articles by Nina
SF Group Caught Paying $5 Per Signature for Fake Petitions
A video shows paid signature collectors at Sixth and Mission directing people to sign ballot petitions using fake names and addresses for $5 each.
Meta Plans to Lay Off 16,000 Employees in 2026
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.
SF Ethics Audit: Farrell Campaign Violations, Probe Ongoing
San Francisco's Ethics Commission found Mark Farrell's 2024 mayoral campaign committed significant reporting violations but still substantially complied with law.
Two Homes Catch Fire in SF's Sunset District on 25th Ave
Two homes on the 1400 block of 25th Avenue in San Francisco's Outer Sunset District caught fire Thursday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
Lucky Grocery on Fulton Street in NoPa Closing This Fall
The Lucky supermarket at 1750 Fulton Street in San Francisco's NoPa neighborhood will permanently close on September 11, leaving residents with fewer affordable options.
Residents Protest Astroturf Plan at Crocker Amazon Park
Keep Crocker Real protests SF Giants and Rec and Park's $45M plan to install 20 acres of artificial turf at Crocker Amazon Park, removing 128 trees.
Silicon Valley's Semiconductor Supply Chain Has a Palladium Problem. The Answer May Be in Greenland.
A NASDAQ-listed company just acquired control of the western hemisphere's largest palladium deposit. For Bay Area semiconductor and clean energy supply chains, the timing could not be more relevant.
Where Are the Italian Families Behind SF's Italian Food Scene?
Eater SF's list of top Italian restaurants shows how few family-owned establishments remain as longtime Italian families have been priced out of SF neighborhoods.
West Oakland BART Development Breaks Ground After Years of Delays
A 400-unit mixed-use development next to West Oakland BART station begins construction after years of community meetings and revisions to address affordability concerns.
Mission forum presses congressional hopefuls on progressive creds
Five congressional candidates faced tough questions from Mission residents about housing, immigration, and who would truly fight for working families in D.C.
Prubechu Brings Rare Chamorro Flavors to Mission District
Prubechu in the Mission District serves rare Chamorro cuisine from Guam, offering family-style dishes like ko'ko wings and coconut-braised beef to Bay Area diners.
Governor hopefuls blur together at Bayview debate
Five gubernatorial candidates struggled to differentiate themselves at a Bayview community debate, leaving Southeast SF residents frustrated with similar talking points.
Lyft to End Job Candidates' Access to Interview Feedback
Lyft is ending its practice of offering written feedback to candidates after job interviews, the company confirmed this week. The change was first shared in an internal Slack message from Lyft's