San Francisco, CA
Hotel workers flood San Francisco City Hall amid strike
Hundreds of hotel workers at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. They have been on strike for several weeks (Unite Here Local 2 Union via Bay City News
SAN FRANCISCO – Hundreds of hotel workers showed up to a San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, urging the board to push their hotel management to negotiate a fair contract after several weeks of being on strike.
From Honolulu to Boston, thousands of hotel employees across the country have been picketing since last month as major hotel corporations, including Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt, negotiate with the Unite Here union that represents the majority of those chains’ hotel workers. The Unite Here Local 2 chapter, which represents over 15,000 hospitality workers in San Francisco, is leading the strike that started Sept. 22.
Workers with three major hotels in the city, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Grand Hyatt San Francisco and Marriott’s Westin St. Francis, say that the higher-ups of the hotels are cutting costs at the expense of employees and hotel guests and want to remove their health insurance.
Board president Aaron Peskin called for a special hearing that took place at Tuesday’s board meeting so hotel workers could explain why they are on strike and describe their working conditions.
“For the past two weeks, hotel workers have been protesting against painful workloads and wages that aren’t enough to afford the cost of living and affordable health care,” Peskin said.
Anand Singh, a negotiator for the union, explained what led to the strike.
Dozens of hotel workers at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. They have been on strike for several weeks. (Unite Here Local 2 Union via Bay City News)
Since April, the union has been trying to make a deal with the hotels on a new contract that expired at the end of August. With no progress made, workers have walked off the job in the fight for a fair contract that includes better wages, health insurance, a reversal of COVID-19 pandemic-era job cuts and restoring fair staffing minimums to resolve being overworked, Singh said.
“The typical Local 2 member earns about $53,000 per year. But combine that salary with comprehensive health care coverage, retirement benefits and workplace protections and that’s been the basis for sustaining thousands of families in San Francisco for many years,” Singh said. “All of that is at stake right now in this moment.”
Many San Francisco hotel workers are demanding higher salaries in order to live where they work, saying that they can barely afford to live in the city.
“Hotels grow their profits and every few years, the industry’s deal with hotel employees in this city comes up for renegotiation,” said Lizzy Tapia, president of the union. “The big hotel companies, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt in particular, are taking advantage of that moment to lock in wages that are very far below the cost of living.”
Micheal D’Angelo, head of labor relations for the Americas region of Hyatt, denied the allegations that Hyatt is negotiating an unfair contract.
“We have offered competitive wages, health care and retirement benefits at the hotel that is on strike at this time,” he said in a statement.
“We are disappointed that Unite Here Local 2 continues to strike while Hyatt remains willing to continue bargaining in good faith,” D’Angelo said. “Colleague benefits and wages remain unchanged as we negotiate a new agreement. We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.”
Dozens of hotel workers on strike spoke at Tuesday’s meeting to describe why they are on strike, asking for support from the board. The majority of them were immigrants who have worked at the hotels for multiple decades.
Hotel workers from the Grand Hyatt Union Square hotel on strike in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Unite Here Local 2 Union via Bay City News)
Jennifer Huang has been working at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel for almost 30 years. She is a member of the union and joined the strike to demand a pay raise and good health care coverage in the new contract.
“The land, the living costs and the significant inflation has increased over years, so I need a wage increase so that my family can continue (to) stay in stay in San Francisco,” she said at the board meeting. “Sometimes I think I might need to leave the city because I can barely afford it.”
Another primary grievance from the hotel workers is that upper management from the three major hotel corporations does not want to commit to providing quality health insurance in the contract.
“I’m on strike because I will not let the Hilton take away our health care,” said John Elrod, a bartender at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. “They play games with the insurance we rely on. Even though I worked enough hours to qualify, I recently went five consecutive months without health care coverage because the employer did not make the contribution to the fund. I was forced to cut my pills, my medication, in half, so I could make it until my health insurance got restored. It was a very harrowing experience.”
When the pandemic hit, hotel corporations cut staffing levels. However, these cuts have continued and staffing minimums never returned to pre-pandemic levels, leading to remaining employees being overworked and lower quality service to guests, Tapia said.
“Every time there’s a downturn, we’ve seen hotel owners get more and more aggressive about trying to lock in the reduced staffing levels,” Singh said. “Even when business comes back, they reduce service levels and try to persuade customers to accept less cleaning, fewer amenities, less of everything, all while continuing to pay high room prices. The short-term profit that they seek threatens the reputation of hotels with their own customers over the long term.”
Bill Fung has been working as a carpet cleaner at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel for about 30 years. As the only carpet cleaner, he has been tasked to shampoo all of the carpets in each of the hotel’s three buildings, a job that was previously divided between three cleaners.
Hotel workers from the Grand Hyatt Union Square hotel on strike in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Unite Here Local 2 Union via Bay City News)
“Our hotel has three buildings, almost 2,000 rooms. Before the pandemic, they had three shampoo persons to take care of the carpets. But after the pandemic, they cut two people and forced me to clean the entire hotel: rooms, hallways, offices and public areas all by myself.”
Supervisor Myrna Melgar agreed that service at hotels has been lackluster while recounting her experience staying at a hotel in Napa Valley.
“About three months ago, my husband and I went to Napa. We stayed at a hotel and paid so much money for one night,” she said. “When we got there, the spa was closed and the things that were advertised on the website for all of the money we paid for were not quite there. I was so enraged … our industry has cut all these corners during the pandemic at the expense of the workers but also at the expense of consumers.”
In July 2020, the board unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to establish minimum cleaning standards for hotels to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, Singh said that this requirement has not been sufficiently met.
“In the years that these rules have been in existence, it’s been very hard to enforce them,” Singh said. “Because enforcement is very rare, the law doesn’t mean anything if there’s no way to hold employers accountable for that. We’re especially seeing that with the cutting of staff after the pandemic. Hotels are not clean the way they should be. They’re not clean the way they used to be.”
The dozens of speeches of the hotel workers appeared to resonate with multiple members of the Board of Supervisors. Some of them have also joined them on the ground to participate in the strikes and show their support.
“Hotel owners, listen up, these workers and this Board of Supervisors are standing hand in hand,” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “You’re not going to continue to operate in San Francisco if you don’t respect our laws and respect our workers.”
Several supervisors committed to fully supporting the strike until a fair contract is accepted by the hotels.
“The major hotel corporations absolutely need to just come to the table,” Supervisor Dean Preston said. “Do right by your workers. Stop whining. We will be out there supporting the workers as long as it takes.”
San Francisco, CA
Going to San Francisco Pride 2026? Parade Times, Maps, Street Closures and Safety Advice | KQED
Pride weekend comes at a time when LGBTQ+ organizations nationwide are continuing to push back against policies from President Donald Trump’s administration targeting transgender and nonbinary people.
Earlier this month, White House officials proposed new rules that would block federal agencies from funding anything related to transgender people — a move the administration has called “ending government sponsorship of gender ideology.”
“We want allies to come out in the street and show their support for trans people,” Ford said of SF Pride.
And all over the Bay Area, there are protests, parties and workshops scheduled throughout the weekend. As you make your Pride plans, keep this guide handy to know what’s happening in downtown San Francisco and elsewhere — and see what public health officials are recommending to stay safe while having fun this weekend.
When is SF Pride 2026?
This year, SF Pride falls on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.
What’s happening when? The SF Pride Celebration is a free two-day event in the city’s Civic Center that includes several block parties and musical performances from noon–6 p.m. on both days. On Sunday, the main stage will be hosted by political activist and drag performer Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and will feature performances by Oakland rapper Kamaiyah, the pop duo Aly & AJ and the ballroom collective Oakland to All.
SF Pride’s legendary Pride Parade takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and will move through Market Street. The parade starts at the intersection of Beale and Market streets and ends at Civic Center Plaza. Community members can also be part of the parade by joining SF Pride’s “Resistance in Action!” contingent.
Organizers have also planned a “VIP Party” on Sunday inside the Asian Art Museum, right in front of Civic Center.
Two additional major events taking place in SF Pride week, which aren’t produced by SF Pride: The Trans March will take place on Friday at Dolores Park, and the Dyke March is scheduled for Saturday and will also start at Dolores Park.
What streets will be closed for the SF Pride Parade and Celebration?
Market Street will be fully closed to vehicles on the day of the parade, Sunday, June 28. But various street closures around the city will start much earlier.
SFMTA has not yet released its official 2026 SF Pride street closures schedule, but in 2025, Civic Center Plaza and the surrounding streets were closed on Saturday and Sunday, with other street closures starting as early as Thursday and lasting into Monday.
Will I be able to find parking at SF Pride?
If you plan to park near Market Street on June 28 for the SF Pride Parade, you may want to rethink that strategy.
Finding a public parking spot in downtown San Francisco is already difficult on any other day of the year and nearly impossible during Pride. If you’re determined to drive into the city that weekend, there are private parking lots downtown, but bear in mind that they can be pricey, usually charging at least $30-$40 per hour, and likely more during big events.
Alternatively, you may need to drive to pretty far-off neighborhoods to find a spot. Or you can reserve a parking spot ahead of time using SpotHero.
Another option is to drive to a BART station outside the city, park there, and take BART to any of the downtown San Francisco stations on Market Street (Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery and Embarcadero). That way, you’ll avoid the weekend traffic coming into the city on the Bay Bridge or Highway 101.
Are there things I can’t bring to San Francisco Pride?
There are usually security checkpoints to get into both the Pride parade and the celebrations at the Civic Center. Event organizers strongly recommend people travel light and bring their ID, cell phone, sunscreen, and an empty reusable water bottle.
SF Pride is discouraging attendees from bringing any kind of bag to speed up entry into the event, but will allow some bags to pass through, including:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
- Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″
- Fanny packs or crossbody bags smaller than 12″ × 6″ × 4″
The following items will not be allowed during Pride weekend:
- Weapons of any kind (regardless of permit)
- Alcoholic beverages or outside food
- Drones or remote-control aircraft
- Bikes or hoverboards
- Chairs of any kind
- Selfie sticks or professional camera equipment without media credentials
- Pets (service animals welcome)
Check out the full list of banned items at SF Pride.
What’s the weather like in San Francisco during Pride weekend?
Keep an eye on the National Weather Service’s predictions for SF Pride weekend — your phone’s weather apps might not be as accurate.
And remember that this is San Francisco, where the weather can change very quickly. Even on a sunny day, it’s normal for the weather to still feel chilly, thanks to the strong winds pushing in from the bay. The city’s microclimates can also mean that while it’s sunny and warm in one neighborhood, another area can be cold and windy by comparison.
What to know about accessibility at SF Pride
The Pride parade has a free accessible viewing area, which organizers say provides an “unobstructed parade viewing at no cost for you and one guest.”
In order to request a spot, you’ll need to complete an online form, but organizers add that space is limited and spots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
SF Pride also offers American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and a special seating platform at the Civic Center celebration on both days. To access this service, you’ll need to pick up a wristband at the SF Pride information booth at Fulton and Larkin streets.
And if you’re taking BART to Pride, all BART stations have accessible elevators, but keep in mind that technical issues with these elevators are unfortunately common. You can sign up for BART alerts to be notified if the elevator at your station breaks down, or you can also call 510-834-LIFT to check the status of the elevator at any station.
Keeping each other safe at SF Pride
For decades, Pride in San Francisco has been a time when LGBTQ+ people have come together to advocate for the health needs of their community. Part of celebrating Pride is honoring that legacy and protecting our own sexual health and that of our partners.
“Talk with your partners and provider about when you last tested for an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and make testing part of your regular health routine,” a spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Public Health told KQED.
If you have insurance, call your health care provider and share that you need to know your status ahead of Pride weekend. And if you are uninsured, multiple clinics and LGBTQ+ community centers around the Bay Area offer free or low-cost STI testing, including:
Residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties can also request at-home HIV tests mailed to the address of their choice for free.
Public health officials also advise that folks learn about doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis — or doxy-PEP — an antibiotic taken after sex that research has shown to be highly effective at preventing syphilis and chlamydia. As for HIV prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis — or PrEP — can help protect folks from an HIV infection and can be taken as a pill or an injection. Vaccines are also available to help prevent hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) infections.
Preventing a dangerous overdose
Taking party drugs (molly, cocaine, ketamine or 2C-B, also known as tusi or pink cocaine ) has become more dangerous in recent years, as these drugs are now being laced with fentanyl more frequently.
Public health advocates recommend that anyone who plans to consume drugs should test them ahead of time for fentanyl. The nonprofit FentCheck provides a list of bars and other community spaces that offer fentanyl test strips.
Something else to consider bringing with you when going out: Narcan, the brand name for a naloxone nasal spray that is administered to someone when they are experiencing an opioid overdose (including from fentanyl).
Anyone can buy Narcan at a pharmacy without needing a prescription, and you can also get it free of charge at the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Community Behavioral Health Services pharmacy at 1380 Howard St. The pharmacy is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
With San Francisco down three runs,
Police in San Francisco released body camera footage and additional details following a shootout with a robbery suspect that critically wounded an officer.
On Tuesday, the department held a virtual town hall meeting on the incident, which occurred on the night of May 31.
“In the San Francisco Police Department, we recognize that our sworn duty as law enforcement officers is to honor and respect the sanctity of human life. We also know that as police officers, we are sometimes required to use force, including deadly force, in the performance of our duties,” Police Chief Derrick Lew said.
Acting Commander Thomas Harvey delivered a multimedia presentation of the incident. Shortly before 10:30 p.m. that night, a license plate reader alerted officers about a vehicle associated with an armed robbery entering San Francisco on the Bay Bridge.
Officers found the vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry sedan, traveling northbound on Fifth Street from Folsom Street. Drones and other resources were requested as part of a plan to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Around 10:40 p.m. officers attempted to stop the vehicle at Mission and First streets in the city’s South of Market.
In bodycam footage, officers are heard ordering the driver to turn the vehicle off. One of the officers is heard saying, “He’s gonna take off. I think he’s gonna take off.”
The driver led officers on a pursuit, which ended with the driver striking a concrete median on Bayshore Boulevard near Jerrold Avenue.
Harvey said as officers told the suspects inside the vehicle to come out with their hands up, the driver emerged from the vehicle and fired at police, striking an officer. One of the officers, identified as Brittany Taylor, was struck by gunfire.
Several officers returned fire, striking a passenger in the vehicle.
Harvey identified the officers who discharged their weapons as Officer Rachel Carranza, Officer Jeremmy Catiller and Officer Angela Maniego.
Taylor is receiving medical treatment for her injuries at a local hospital.
“I also want to send our best wishes to our officer in her continued success in recovery and also want to thank the public for the overwhelming support that we’ve received,” Lew said at the briefing.
The passenger, later identified as Ariunsanaaa Dolgorsuren, was arrested and is currently receiving medical treatment for his injuries, police said.
The driver of the vehicle left the scene on foot across Bayshore Boulevard, through a Chevron station parking lot and eastbound Jerrold Avenue. Shortly after 12:15 a.m. on June 1, police received a call that the suspect was inside the gate of the Bayshore Navigation Center.
Officers arrested the suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Norris Reed III of Oakland. Video from police showed officers seizing two firearms from Reed, which were determined to be a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun and a 9mm privately manufactured handgun with no serial number.
Reed faces multiple charges, including four counts of attempted murder, assault with a firearm upon a police officer, resisting an executive officer with force or violence, reckless evading, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy.
Jail records show Reed is being held without bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for June 11.
Dolgorsuren is also facing four counts of attempted murder, assault with a firearm upon a police officer, resisting an executive officer with force or violence, conspiracy and shooting from a motor vehicle
The shooting remains under investigation by multiple entities, including the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the police department’s Investigative Services Division and Internal Affairs Division, along with the Department of Police Accountability.
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