Editor’s note: Nestor Castillo is an award winning columnist with El Tecolote. Having fled the brutal political persecution of El Salvador’s civil war, pursuing a life in the political realm was likely the last path Nestor Castillo’s parents wanted him to follow. Now running for Hayward City Council, Castillo says his yearning to understand the […]
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Bayview community rallies voters for an important election
With countless issues on the table, residents of the Bayview neighborhood are organizing and educating those in their community to get more people to the polls (or mailboxes) this election, hoping for change this time around. Historically, parts of the Bayview have had lower voter turnout compared to other areas of San Francisco. The Bayview […]
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The struggle to vote and addressing structural issues in East Palo Alto
There’s a common refrain frequently heard in Latino households: “I want my kid to have a better life than me.” That’s what Antonio Lopez, a candidate for East Palo Alto’s (EPA) City Council, reminded me during an interview in a predominantly Latino and tenant neighborhood known as OTR (for “Over the Ramp”). Despite this, EPA, […]
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Photo Essay: No on Prop 22
Hundreds of contract workers including rideshare drivers and contractors blocked off Market Street protesting Prop 22 in front of Uber Headquarters Thursday afternoon, Oct. 15 in San Francisco. Comprised of unions such as Rideshare Drivers United, Mobile Workers Alliance, and We Drive Progress, the statewide Caravan started at Lyft Headquarters and ended at Uber Headquarters. […]
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With 2020 Census ending today, organizers prepare for one last push
With billions of dollars in federal funding for San Francisco on the line, local census organizers expect that the Supreme Court’s decision to effectively end the Census count late Thursday night will shortchange communities who need the city’s resources most. Lower courts had previously extended the count through Oct. 31, but on Tuesday, the higher […]
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Upcoming short film “My Own Mecca” disrupts the white gaze of the Black Man
Imagine a place in which you feel most at home and at peace—free from fear and judgement. Envision a place in which you are welcomed warmly and wholly accepted in all your complexities. Is this an easy place for you to visualize? For some, identifying such a sanctuary can be more difficult than for others. […]
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SF State students analyze how propositions would affect Latino community
The tension continues to build as we prepare for a consequential election of epic proportion on Nov. 3. With so much at stake on the national level, the equally important local and statewide measures don’t garner nearly as much media attention. San Francisco voters will be asked to vote on 13 local and 12 statewide […]
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Rideshare drivers, labor activists organize to pump the brakes on Prop 22
On Oct. 5, the San Francisco Department of Elections sent out its final batch of mail-in ballots. San Franciscans registered to vote by mail received a 232 page packet describing each of the candidates and ballot propositions included in what’s expected to be a historic election. A number of these races will have an immediate […]
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21-year-old climate activist, Harvard student returns to hometown to push for progress
America’s younger generation is getting increasingly involved in local politics, and even without the big-name donors, many are gaining traction through powerful grassroots campaigns. 21-year-old James Coleman’s run for City Council in South San Francisco’s District 4 is no exception. With a childhood-friend-turned campaign manager and community volunteers, Coleman has quickly amassed quite a following […]
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Sex workers and advocates rally to denounce “Earn It Act” in Oakland
Editor’s note: Names were changed in this story to protect the identity of sources. Bay Area sex workers and advocacy groups gathered at Oakland City Hall on Sept. 13 to peacefully protest EARN IT (Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2020), a national bill that will expand liability for digital platforms […]