Josh Koehn

San Francisco

Senior Political Reporter at The San Francisco Standard

Featured in: Favicon

sfstandard.com Favicon

msn.com

sfgate.com Favicon

chron.com

flipboard.com Favicon

sfchronicle.com Favicon

theinformation.com Favicon

eastbayexpress.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

metroactive.com + 9 more

Articles

San Francisco housing permit fraudster referred to prosecutors

4 days ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

The first time Melissa Nieto laid eyes on Kung Yuen Chiu and his work van outside of her home on Crescent Avenue, she had no inkling of how much trouble he would end up causing her. “He just looked like an older guy with money,” she recalled.
Dark times in Disneyland with California Democrats

4 days ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

Elected officials, political consultants, junior legislative staffers and union reps all converged on Anaheim this past weekend, fired up for the California Democratic Party convention. Over the course of three days, they drank, they ate, they went to Disneyland, and they promised over and over to fight. Who are they fighting? President Donald Trump and Republicans. Where? Everywhere. How? No one seems to know.
Mayor Daniel Lurie's budget axes 1,000 city jobs, sources say

1 week ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn |Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez

For the first time in more than a decade, San Francisco government workers may be laid off to shore up a massive city budget deficit, The Standard has learned. In order to close the $782 million gap, sources told The Standard that Lurie intends to permanently eliminate around 1,000 jobs. Most of those positions are currently vacant or, to a lesser extent, filled by employees currently slated for retirement.
Hayes Street could get an entertainment zone. Are cars included?

2 weeks ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is pitching a plan to transform a popular block of Hayes Street into a new entertainment zone and “town square” that — hold on to your britches! — could permanently close the stretch of road to cars. Mahmood’s proposal, which he will unveil during Friday’s weekly evening street party on Hayes Street, would formally designate the restaurant-lined 400 block of Hayes Street between Gough and Octavia into an entertainment zone.
San Francisco Parks Alliance bosses got bonuses as finances imploded

2 weeks ago | sfstandard.com | Gabe Greschler |Josh Koehn

Four former top employees with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the politically connected nonprofit that has funneled millions toward the city’s green spaces, received bonuses last year while the organization was racking up a massive deficit, The Standard has learned.
Democrats play risky game anointing Kamala Harris for governor

3 weeks ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

It’s nearly a foregone conclusion that Democrats will rally around Kamala Harris as their preferred candidate for California governor in the 2026 election. She’ll announce whether she’s running by the end of the summer, and a decision in the affirmative would likely clear a field of relatively meh candidates. Antonio Villaraigosa. Eleni Kounalakis. Katie Porter. Xavier Becerra.
Uber taxis will roll onto Market Street against Lurie's wishes

1 month ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

The company sent an email to the mayor's office saying it intends to deploy taxis onto Market Street in the coming days. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is getting a firsthand lesson in the art of the ordeal. Uber, which threatened legal action against the city after Lurie announced that Waymo robotaxis would receive near-exclusive access to car-free Market Street, now plans to deploy taxis to Market Street in the coming days, according to an email obtained by The Standard.
San Francisco braces for DEI showdown with Donald Trump

1 month ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn |Gabe Greschler

As the president attacks DEI initiatives, San Francisco officials are hunkering down in fear of lawsuits and federal funding cuts. The president’s attacks on DEI could leave San Francisco vulnerable to massive cuts in federal dollars. | Source: Photo illustration by Jim CookeAs the president attacks DEI initiatives, San Francisco officials are hunkering down in fear of lawsuits and federal funding cuts.
San Francisco transit agency lays off staff as budget crisis looms

1 month ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency on Wednesday laid off a dozen employees, including the chief strategy officer, as the agency approaches a fiscal cliff that threatens to decimate public transit services in the city, The Standard has learned. All who were let go were members of the San Francisco Municipal Executive Association, a union for top managers, and they were at-will employees.
Uber threatens lawsuit over Waymo robotaxis on Market Street

1 month ago | sfstandard.com | Josh Koehn

Uber is threatening to sue San Francisco after Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that Waymo robotaxis would be given near-exclusive access to Market Street, according to records obtained by The Standard. The mayor’s April 10 announcement of the Waymo deal was framed as a way to revitalize the downtown core, which has been slow to recover from the pandemic.