The San Francisco General Hospital community came together Sunday night to hold a vigil for a coworker killed on the job.

Alberto Rangel, 51, died Saturday after he was allegedly stabbed by a patient on Thursday afternoon.

“Alberto was there to help and he was failed,” said his coworker Maddy Abule.

Abule worked with Rangel for over two years. He was a social worker and she helped patients with insurance eligibility, but outside of the long-term HIV clinic, they were also friends.

“He was just such a passionate, wonderful person and had so much life to live,” Abule stated.

She went on to explain that he loved fashion, art, and had a great sense of humor. He also loved his job. She says he went above and beyond, even running a support group for those living with HIV and AIDS.

“There are people who are alive today because of him,” Abule said. “For him to lose his life at work when he was there to provide services to patients, it’s not right. It’s not right. It’s a disservice and betrayal.”

Auble was just feet away when Rangel was allegedly stabbed Thursday afternoon. She heard screaming from outside her office.

“I opened my door and Alberto was on the floor,” Abule recalled.

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office arrested 34-year-old Wilfredo Tortolero-Arriechi for the stabbing. The San Francisco Police Department’s homicide detail will now investigate Rangel’s death

Tortolero-Arriechi was still there when Auble walked out. She recognized him as a patient they had seen many times.

“I saw Wilfredo,” Abule said. “I looked him in the eye. He saw me, too. He probably recognized me. I recognized him. And he just stood there and looked at everything and looked at what he had on and then put his shirt over his head. Perhaps to hide his identity, and then voluntarily put his hands behind his back.”

She says during this time, her coworkers were trying to help keep Rangel alive, telling him they loved him and to stay with them. Despite their efforts, on Saturday, he passed away from his injuries.

UPTE union representative Chey Dean stated they are going to make sure the hospital re-evaluates their safety measures.

“What I know is social workers have been raising the alarm about safety issues for years, to have been met with pretty much radio silence,” said Dean. “What I know is our colleague, and our friend, and our loved one deserves more than our grief, they deserve change and I know that we will not stop until we get that.”

The Department of Public Health said in a statement that they will be making improvements.

“Keeping our staff, patients, and community safe is our highest priority,” said the San Francisco Department of Public Health. “DPH and the hospital have already taken steps like adding more security, limiting access points, and speeding up the installation of weapons detection systems. We are also conducting a full investigation and are committed to making both immediate and long-term safety improvements at all our facilities.”

Auble still worries it won’t be enough, saying they raised concerns about the suspect beforehand, including filing reports, and nothing happened.

“We are furious as a community,” Auble explained. “This is unforgivable. And a lot of us don’t want to come back. A lot of us can’t come back.”

The San Francisco 49ers do not play on Sunday in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season.

Norman High alum George Kittle and San Francisco are on a three-game winning streak.

Up next for the 9-4 49ers is a road game against the Tennessee Titans at 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

Here’s everything to know about the 49ers’ schedule:

More: NFL playoff picture Week 14: First place up for grabs in three divisions

No. The 49ers are off on Sunday.

There are four teams on a bye in Week 14, the final bye week of the season. The 49ers, Giants, Panthers and Patriots are on a bye this week.

More: NFL Week 14 picks straight up and against spread: Packers or Bears in NFC North showdown?

All times are Central Standard Time

Record: 9-4

More: 2026 NFL mock draft: QB catastrophe could unfold in first round

San Francisco could soon see a new tax targeting the city’s largest corporations, as a coalition of labor unions launched a signature-gathering drive to qualify the so-called Overpaid CEO Act for next year’s June primary.

Supporters said the measure could help prevent major cuts to city services by adding a small tax on the most profitable companies. Opponents warn it could drive businesses out of the city.

Organizers said the act is designed to take from the ultra-wealthy to help residents in need. Supporters pointed to people like Lester Bruens and his caregiver partner, Julie Fisher, as examples of San Franciscans who could benefit.

“There’s a lot of fear and worry over what might happen if this doesn’t pass and if we do have to face reduced income,” Fisher said.

Fisher is an In-Home Support Services (IHSS) caregiver for Bruens, who suffered a brain aneurysm in 2017. Medicaid currently covers his care, but some fear federal funding could be cut, placing a heavier financial burden on the city.

San Francisco is already projected to face an $800 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

“The uncertainty — not knowing how bad it might get —  casts a shadow over the day,” Fisher said.

Many community groups, unions, and elected leaders argue the only way to protect vital city services is to increase tax revenue. Volunteers are now collecting signatures to get the Overpaid CEO Act on the ballot.

“This is a very, very small percentage — actually, as a percentage, much smaller than what we’re asking them than what we’re asking regular San Franciscans who are going to be maybe paying a little more in a parcel tax or sales taxes,” said State Assemblymember Matt Haney.

Haney said the tax would apply only to corporations where top executives earn more than 100 times the median worker’s pay. It would target companies with over 1,000 employees and more than $1 billion in revenue. Organizers estimate the tax could generate over $200 million a year for San Francisco’s general fund.

“It is not on companies that are headquartered here. It’s not targeted at San Francisco-based companies. These are large companies that do business here, and will continue to do business here, maybe a company like Amazon that’s delivering you packages,” Haney said.

While the measure would affect only the largest corporations, opponents worry it could deter businesses and cost the city future jobs.

“This bill is about fairness, it’s not about just scaring our corporations away,” said Supervisor Chyanne Chen of District 11, who supports the measure.

“Being able to put this measure on the ballot would actually help the community, but also public services that are under attack,” said Sarah Perez, the San Francisco vice president of IFPTE Local 21.

For Bruens and Fisher, the tax represents a potential lifeline for some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents.

“I survived a brain aneurysm, and I’m doing all I can to keep moving forward the way things are. And when you take that away, it scares me,” Bruens said.

“If it passes, then all of us will be feeling a little bit relieved. It’s not going to solve everything, but it will get us over the current financial hump,” Fisher added.

Organizers need approximately 10,500 signatures to qualify the measure for the June primary ballot. They plan to collect signatures over the next two months and aim to submit them by the end of January.