Even San Francisco, a liberal bastion and conservative punching bag, has found itself caught up in the nation’s rightward shift.

More than 15% of the city’s voters cast their ballot for Donald Trump in last week’s election, compared with 9.3% when he first ran in 2016, according to data from the California Secretary of State. It was the highest share for a Republican presidential candidate in San Francisco in 20 years.

San Francisco’s Union Square is decked out with the great tree lit up and wreaths decorating the retail store windows. However, it could be the last year it looks like this.

According to Macy’s employees, the fate of the flagship store has yet to be determined.

“It’s all in the hands of what folks outside of what we do in the store day to day, but as long as we’re here and the community continues to support us, that’s what we’re focused on,” said Jonathan Davis, Macy’s Union Square store manager.

Company representatives said there are plans to redevelop the property with several different partners in the future but did not disclose more details.

“I am not worried because we are not going to let that happen. It’s so important, and I think that’s all of that together if we show Macy’s that if we come down, we do our part because if that’s what we want, if we want them to stay, we gotta show them we want them to stay,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance.

However, visitors said they heard it would be the last year the store looked the way it is.

“We’ve been gradually seeing things close, especially in downtown San Francisco, so it’s a little sad,” said Fernando Larranaga.

Mayor London Breed addressed the retail giant’s comment earlier this year when it was announced that it was shuttering 150 stores nationwide. Breed added then that Macy’s was looking to sell its Union Square property.

“It is one of the most spectacular, amazing places anywhere in San Francisco during the holiday season,” she said.

Despite the rumors, visitors are holding on to whatever hope they have.

BERKELEY — A San Francisco man suspected of a half-dozen non injury shootings last month that began in a confrontation with some UC Berkeley students has been charged with nine felonies and a misdemeanor, according to authorities and court records.

The suspect, Jeffrey Hue, 45, has been charged with felonies of assault with a firearm, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, shooting at an unoccupied vehicle, three counts of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a silencer, possession of armor-piercing ammunition and a misdemeanor count of possession of a firearm without identification numbers.

Twelve rifles and pistols were recovered at his home when he was arrested Nov. 7 and police seized more than 15,000 bullets of various calibers, including the armor-piercing rounds.

Hue pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday. He is free on bail, which in earlier jail records was listed at $480,000.

According to court documents, just after 12 a.m. Oct. 26 Hue and an unnamed friend, who was not arrested, got into a confrontation with four UC Berkeley students in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue. Police have not said what the confrontation was about, but according to the documents, Hue allegedly pulled a pistol from his waistband, pointed it at the students and told them to run. As they did, he fired a shot into the air.

The other shootings — which took place in the half-hour following the first confrontation — happened in the 2400 block of Durant Avenue, the 2200 blocks of Bancroft Way and University Avenue, the 2300 block of Fulton Street and the 1100 block of Sutter Street, police said. Police have not said what prompted those shootings.

According to the documents, Hue was captured on video at a bar in the area of the shootings, and his Lexus SUV was seen on video entering and leaving Berkeley and being in the area of the shootings. His cell phone records, later obtained via a warrant, showed him to be in the area of all of the shootings, the documents say.

The UC students also identified him as the suspect. Hue was arrested Nov. 7 at his home and police searched the residence.

Six of the firearms seized at his home were legally registered to him. The others were unregistered or un-serialized and kits were recovered that are commonly used to manufacture so-called ghost guns, the documents say.

Police said that in an interview after his arrest, Hue said he remembered being in Berkeley the night of the shootings and driving his Lexus in the city. But when asked about the shooting incidents and the evidence seized from his home, he asked to speak to an attorney.

Attempts to reach Hue by phone this week were unsuccessful.

Originally Published: November 13, 2024 at 2:53 PM PST