Heather Smith

Oakland

Writer and Editor at Sierra Magazine

Science writer and editor. Uncommonly fond of insects, bison, queer bars, questions that lead to more questions.

Articles

How did Waymo get onto Market Street?

1 week ago | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

On April 10, the office of Mayor Daniel Lurie made an announcement: Waymo — the autonomous taxi company once known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project — will soon be driverlessly driving down Market Street. “Market Street runs through the heart of our city, and we’re making sure it continues to evolve with the times,” said Lurie in the release.
S.F. Drag queen Heklina’s cause of death is still a mystery, and the show goes on

3 weeks ago | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

“I’m just going to read this,” says Bobby Barber, a solid, bearded man standing in front of the glittery backdrop of the stage at The Stud, before the drag show protesting London’s Metropolitan Police Service begins. It’s 6:30 p.m. on Monday in San Francisco, and London is a long ways off. “So many people have so many questions,” Barber continues.
SoEx sends an SOS

1 month ago | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Southern Exposure, the 50 year-old gallery and arts nonprofit that is known for its ambitious exhibitions, support of local artists, and youth education programs, is in trouble.
Aaron Peskin didn’t win the election — but his ballot measures sure did

Nov 9, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Board of Supervisors president, mayoral candidate, and wildly prolific legislator Aaron Peskin lost the election to Daniel Lurie, a wealthy candidate with zero legislative experience. But his three main ballot initiatives are winning and will, barring unforeseen lunacy, pass into legislation. Here’s the story of how they made it. Prop.
BART is on the verge of going kaput. How do we save it?

Nov 4, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Whoever wins the District 9 BART Board race has a hell of a job ahead. Emergency pandemic funds are running out. Ridership isn’t back. In July of 2025, when the next fiscal year starts, the agency will be facing a deficit of $35 million.. The year after that? $385 million.
BART 命懸一線兩位候選人尝试拯救它

Nov 4, 2024 | missionlocal.org | Heather Smith

Read in English 無論誰當選第九區 BART 董事，都將面臨一項艱鉅任務。疫情緊急援助資金即將耗盡，乘客量遲遲未見起色。至2025年7月新財年開始時，營運赤字將達3,500萬美元。到下一個財年，赤字更將飆升至3.85億美元。自2018年起擔任第八區BART董事的 Janice Li 坦言：「我無法保證 BART 能存活到2027年。」面對這場迫在眉睫的財政危機，Li 屬意讓前市參事 Gordon Mar 幕僚長、現任三藩市交通局交通策略與傳訊顧問 Edward Wright 加入董事會。而現任第九區 BART 董事兼董事會主席 Bevan Dufty，則支持另一位候選人、California YIMBY 發展總監 Joe Sangirardi。儘管如此，Dufty 也認為 Wright 同樣優秀，「能有這兩位傑出人選參選，實在可喜可賀。」 Wright 是個不折不扣的公交迷。其競選網站特別闢出專門版面詳述當選後的施政計劃。在還住不起三藩市時，Wright 就靠搭乘 BART...
Aaron Peskin encabeza la lista en las recientes donaciones, si se excluye el autofinanciamiento de Lurie

Oct 28, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Read in English / 閱讀中文版La intensa agenda de campaña de Aaron Peskin para la alcaldía, que ha abarcado desde reuniones en hogares, mercados de agricultores y hasta galas, parece estar rindiendo frutos. Peskin vuelve a encabezar la lista en las donaciones individuales. Su campaña recaudó $121,363 dólares desde mediados de septiembre hasta mediados de octubre, dichos recursos provienen de contribuciones que están dentro del límite de $500 que establece la ciudad.
若不計入羅偉的自籌資金，佩斯金在最新募款中領先

Oct 27, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Read in English 市長候選人佩斯金（Aaron Peskin）馬不停蹄的競選行程，從家庭聚會、農夫市集到晚宴活動，已初見成效。最新數據顯示，佩斯金再次在個人捐款方面領先，其競選團隊在 9 月中至 10 月中期間，籌得符合三藩市 500 美元限額規定的捐款達 121,363 美元。按規定，各競選團隊必須於週四前申報 9 月 22 日至 10 月 19 日期間的募支總額。前市長麥法恩（Mark Farrell）籌得 100,999 美元，現任市長布里德（London Breed）籌得 65,815 美元。羅偉（Daniel Lurie）則籌得 2,715,300 美元，但其中大部分為其個人投入。根據三藩市道德委員會規定，候選人對自己競選活動的捐款不受 500 美元的限制。距離選舉日僅剩兩週，且投票已經展開，各陣營正加緊消耗競選資金——任何選舉日剩餘資金都必須捐出、保留作未來競選之用，若為公共資金則需歸還市府。然而，候選人並非總是嚴格遵守——2016 年，麥法恩即曾挪用剩餘的競選資金，在當選後招待賓客享用逾 30...
Dolores Huerta稱後悔為布里德背書，改挺佩斯金為首選

Oct 27, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Read in English 在今日下午的視訊記者會上，傳奇工運領袖、全美農工工會共同創辦人 Dolores Huerta 表示，她對九月時決定為現任市長布里德（London Breed）參選三藩市市長背書感到遺憾。上週，Huerta 發表聲明，出人意料地給予第二個背書：支持布里德的競選對手、市參事會主席佩斯金（Aaron Peskin）。週四的記者會是對上週聲明的跟進，出席者包括 Huerta、佩斯金和全國醫護工作者工會（NUHW）榮譽主席 Sal Rosselli。會上，Huerta 表示，她此前是在拉美裔社區友人的極力游說下，看在布里德於新冠疫情期間展現出良好領導力，才給予支持。 Huerta 說，即便在背書布里德之前，她和 Dolores Huerta 基金會的其他董事會成員就心存疑慮。「我們本來很猶豫，」Huerta 說，「因為市長在某些議題上頗具爭議，對弱勢群體的支持也不夠。但三藩市的許多朋友一直催促說『你必須支持市長』。」得知 Huerta 背書布里德後，Sal Rosselli 立即致電詢問究竟。「我和 Dolores 的交情可以追溯到 80...
Dolores Huerta expresa su arrepentimiento por haber respaldado a London Breed y ahora posiciona a Aaron Peskin como su candidato principal

Oct 26, 2024 | missionlocal.org | H.R. Smith |Heather Smith

Read in EnglishEsta tarde, durante una conferencia de prensa virtual, Dolores Huerta; reconocida organizadora laboral y cofundadora de Trabajadores Unidos del Campo, manifestó su arrepentimiento por haber decidido respaldar a la actual alcaldesa London Breed en la contienda por la alcaldía de San Francisco, el pasado mes de septiembre.