Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lady-gaga-tony-bennett-0d026fac9c3f8d55240faee90b59b091" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“I Left My Heart In San Francisco”</a>&nbsp;graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.

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Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lady-gaga-tony-bennett-0d026fac9c3f8d55240faee90b59b091" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“I Left My Heart In San Francisco”</a>&nbsp;graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.

Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-bennett-alzheimers-5327e8d2a5be35005a4cb7535bd9e2b3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with Alzheimer’s disease</a>&nbsp;in 2016.

Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-bennett-alzheimers-5327e8d2a5be35005a4cb7535bd9e2b3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with Alzheimer’s disease</a>&nbsp;in 2016.

The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalog rather than hit records.” He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys — all but two after he reached his 60s — and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists.

The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalog rather than hit records.” He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys — all but two after he reached his 60s — and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists.

&#8220;Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco, and so many San Franciscans’ hearts broke this morning when we learned of his passing,&#8221; state senator Scott Wiener said in a statement. &#8220;Bennett created intense beauty, and he captured San Francisco’s essence. Rest in peace.&#8221;

"Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco, and so many San Franciscans’ hearts broke this morning when we learned of his passing," state senator Scott Wiener said in a statement. "Bennett created intense beauty, and he captured San Francisco’s essence. Rest in peace."

&#8220;Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco, and so many San Franciscans’ hearts broke this morning when we learned of his passing,&#8221; state senator Scott Wiener said in a statement. &#8220;Bennett created intense beauty, and he captured San Francisco’s essence. Rest in peace.&#8221;

Bennett didn’t tell his own story when performing; he let the music speak instead — the Gershwins and Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. Unlike his friend and mentor Sinatra, he would interpret a song rather than embody it. If his singing and public life lacked the high drama of Sinatra’s, Bennett appealed with an easy, courtly manner and an uncommonly rich and durable voice — “A tenor who sings like a baritone,” he called himself — that made him a master of caressing a ballad or brightening an up-tempo number.

Bennett didn’t tell his own story when performing; he let the music speak instead — the Gershwins and Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. Unlike his friend and mentor Sinatra, he would interpret a song rather than embody it. If his singing and public life lacked the high drama of Sinatra’s, Bennett appealed with an easy, courtly manner and an uncommonly rich and durable voice — “A tenor who sings like a baritone,” he called himself — that made him a master of caressing a ballad or brightening an up-tempo number.

“I enjoy entertaining the audience, making them forget their problems,” he told The Associated Press in 2006. “I think people &#8230; are touched if they hear something that’s sincere and honest and maybe has a little sense of humor. &#8230; I just like to make people feel good when I perform.”

“I enjoy entertaining the audience, making them forget their problems,” he told The Associated Press in 2006. “I think people ... are touched if they hear something that’s sincere and honest and maybe has a little sense of humor. ... I just like to make people feel good when I perform.”

“I enjoy entertaining the audience, making them forget their problems,” he told The Associated Press in 2006. “I think people &#8230; are touched if they hear something that’s sincere and honest and maybe has a little sense of humor. &#8230; I just like to make people feel good when I perform.”

Bennett was praised often by his peers, but never more meaningfully than by what Sinatra said in a 1965 Life magazine interview: “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more.”

Bennett was praised often by his peers, but never more meaningfully than by what Sinatra said in a 1965 Life magazine interview: “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more.”

He not only survived the rise of rock music but endured so long and so well that he gained new fans and collaborators, some young enough to be his grandchildren. In 2014, at age 88, Bennett broke his own record as the oldest living performer with a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/-----51ae6f97ae704a899e33a4176a7bd98a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for “Cheek to Cheek,”</a>&nbsp;his duets project with Lady Gaga. Three years earlier, he topped the charts with “Duets II,” featuring such contemporary stars as Gaga, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse, in her last studio recording. His rapport with Winehouse was captured in the Oscar-nominated documentary “Amy,” which showed Bennett patiently encouraging the insecure young singer through a performance of “Body and Soul.”

He not only survived the rise of rock music but endured so long and so well that he gained new fans and collaborators, some young enough to be his grandchildren. In 2014, at age 88, Bennett broke his own record as the oldest living performer with a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/-----51ae6f97ae704a899e33a4176a7bd98a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for “Cheek to Cheek,”</a>&nbsp;his duets project with Lady Gaga. Three years earlier, he topped the charts with “Duets II,” featuring such contemporary stars as Gaga, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse, in her last studio recording. His rapport with Winehouse was captured in the Oscar-nominated documentary “Amy,” which showed Bennett patiently encouraging the insecure young singer through a performance of “Body and Soul.”

His final album, the 2021 release “Love for Sale,” featured duets with Lady Gaga on the title track, “Night and Day” and other Porter songs.

His final album, the 2021 release “Love for Sale,” featured duets with Lady Gaga on the title track, “Night and Day” and other Porter songs.

For Bennett, one of the few performers to move easily between pop and jazz, such collaborations were part of his crusade to expose new audiences to what he called the Great American Songbook.

For Bennett, one of the few performers to move easily between pop and jazz, such collaborations were part of his crusade to expose new audiences to what he called the Great American Songbook.

“No country has given the world such great music,” Bennett said in a 2015 interview with Downbeat Magazine. “Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern. Those songs will never die.”

“No country has given the world such great music,” Bennett said in a 2015 interview with Downbeat Magazine. “Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern. Those songs will never die.”

Ironically, his most famous contribution came through two unknowns, George Cory and Douglass Cross, who in the early ’60s provided Bennett with his signature song at a time his career was in a lull. They gave Bennett’s musical director, pianist Ralph Sharon, some sheet music that he stuck in a dresser drawer and forgot about until he was packing for a tour that included a stop in San Francisco.

Ironically, his most famous contribution came through two unknowns, George Cory and Douglass Cross, who in the early ’60s provided Bennett with his signature song at a time his career was in a lull. They gave Bennett’s musical director, pianist Ralph Sharon, some sheet music that he stuck in a dresser drawer and forgot about until he was packing for a tour that included a stop in San Francisco.

“Ralph saw some sheet music in his shirt drawer &#8230; and on top of the pile was a song called ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco.’ Ralph thought it would be good material for San Francisco,” Bennett said. “We were rehearsing and the bartender in the club in Little Rock, Arkansas, said, ‘If you record that song, I’m going to be the first to buy it.’”

“Ralph saw some sheet music in his shirt drawer ... and on top of the pile was a song called ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco.’ Ralph thought it would be good material for San Francisco,” Bennett said. “We were rehearsing and the bartender in the club in Little Rock, Arkansas, said, ‘If you record that song, I’m going to be the first to buy it.’”

“Ralph saw some sheet music in his shirt drawer &#8230; and on top of the pile was a song called ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco.’ Ralph thought it would be good material for San Francisco,” Bennett said. “We were rehearsing and the bartender in the club in Little Rock, Arkansas, said, ‘If you record that song, I’m going to be the first to buy it.’”

Released in 1962 as the B-side of the single “Once Upon a Time,” the reflective ballad became a grassroots phenomenon staying on the charts for more than two years and earning Bennett his first two Grammys, including record of the year.

Released in 1962 as the B-side of the single “Once Upon a Time,” the reflective ballad became a grassroots phenomenon staying on the charts for more than two years and earning Bennett his first two Grammys, including record of the year.

&#8220;Tony was a true New Yorker but he was also an adopted son of San Francisco,&#8221; said Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a statement. &#8220;From riding the cable cars to celebrate their renovation to uplifting us by leading a city-wide singing of ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ during the pandemic, Tony’s love and support for San Francisco have been felt for decades.&#8221;

"Tony was a true New Yorker but he was also an adopted son of San Francisco," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a statement. "From riding the cable cars to celebrate their renovation to uplifting us by leading a city-wide singing of ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ during the pandemic, Tony’s love and support for San Francisco have been felt for decades."

&#8220;Tony was a true New Yorker but he was also an adopted son of San Francisco,&#8221; said Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a statement. &#8220;From riding the cable cars to celebrate their renovation to uplifting us by leading a city-wide singing of ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ during the pandemic, Tony’s love and support for San Francisco have been felt for decades.&#8221;

Mayor Dianne Feinstein, Tony Bennett and Muni General Manager Harold Geissenheimer on Cable Car 58 on May 2, 1984. 

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/840501A_04.jpg?w=2400" alt="" class="wp-image-157622"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Dianne Feinstein, Tony Bennett and Muni General Manager Harold Geissenheimer on Cable Car 58 on May 2, 1984. </figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/840501A_04.jpg?w=2400" alt="" class="wp-image-157622"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Dianne Feinstein, Tony Bennett and Muni General Manager Harold Geissenheimer on Cable Car 58 on May 2, 1984. </figcaption></figure>

&#8220;In fact, a painting of us riding the cable cars together still hangs in my Senate office,&#8221; Feinstein said. &#8220;I cherish the friendship I’ve shared for decades with Tony and his wife Susan, a fellow San Franciscan.&#8221;

"In fact, a painting of us riding the cable cars together still hangs in my Senate office," Feinstein said. "I cherish the friendship I’ve shared for decades with Tony and his wife Susan, a fellow San Franciscan."

&#8220;In fact, a painting of us riding the cable cars together still hangs in my Senate office,&#8221; Feinstein said. &#8220;I cherish the friendship I’ve shared for decades with Tony and his wife Susan, a fellow San Franciscan.&#8221;

San Francisco Mayor London Breed ordered the city&#8217;s flags to lowered to half-mast in honor of Bennett&#8217;s legacy and his love for San Francisco.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed ordered the city's flags to lowered to half-mast in honor of Bennett's legacy and his love for San Francisco.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed ordered the city&#8217;s flags to lowered to half-mast in honor of Bennett&#8217;s legacy and his love for San Francisco.

“Tony Bennett provided us with a song, a spirit, and a magic that is intertwined with the history of this City and who we are,&#8221; Breed said in a statement. &#8220;His contributions to this City go far beyond words on a page or melodies in the air.&#8221;

“Tony Bennett provided us with a song, a spirit, and a magic that is intertwined with the history of this City and who we are," Breed said in a statement. "His contributions to this City go far beyond words on a page or melodies in the air."

“Tony Bennett provided us with a song, a spirit, and a magic that is intertwined with the history of this City and who we are,&#8221; Breed said in a statement. &#8220;His contributions to this City go far beyond words on a page or melodies in the air.&#8221;

By his early 40s, he was seemingly out of fashion. But after turning 60, an age when even the most popular artists often settle for just pleasing their older fans, Bennett and his son and manager, Danny, found creative ways to market the singer to the MTV Generation. He made guest appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman” and became a celebrity guest artist on “The Simpsons.” He wore a black T-shirt and sunglasses as a presenter with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the 1993 MTV Music Video Awards, and his own video of “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” from his Grammy-winning Fred Astaire tribute album ended up on MTV’s hip “Buzz Bin.”

By his early 40s, he was seemingly out of fashion. But after turning 60, an age when even the most popular artists often settle for just pleasing their older fans, Bennett and his son and manager, Danny, found creative ways to market the singer to the MTV Generation. He made guest appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman” and became a celebrity guest artist on “The Simpsons.” He wore a black T-shirt and sunglasses as a presenter with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the 1993 MTV Music Video Awards, and his own video of “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” from his Grammy-winning Fred Astaire tribute album ended up on MTV’s hip “Buzz Bin.”

That led to an offer in 1994 to do an episode of “MTV Unplugged” with special guests Elvis Costello and k.d. lang. The evening’s performance resulted in the album, “Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged,” which won two Grammys, including album of the year.

That led to an offer in 1994 to do an episode of “MTV Unplugged” with special guests Elvis Costello and k.d. lang. The evening’s performance resulted in the album, “Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged,” which won two Grammys, including album of the year.

Bennett would win Grammys for his tributes to female vocalists (“Here’s to the Ladies”), Billie Holiday (“Tony Bennett on Holiday”), and Duke Ellington (“Bennett Sings Ellington — Hot &amp; Cool”). He also won Grammys for his collaborations with other singers: “Playin’ With My Friends — Bennett Sings the Blues,” and his Louis Armstrong tribute, “A Wonderful World” with lang, the first full album he had ever recorded with another singer. He celebrated his 80th birthday with “Duets: An American Classic,” featuring Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder among others.

Bennett would win Grammys for his tributes to female vocalists (“Here’s to the Ladies”), Billie Holiday (“Tony Bennett on Holiday”), and Duke Ellington (“Bennett Sings Ellington — Hot &amp; Cool”). He also won Grammys for his collaborations with other singers: “Playin’ With My Friends — Bennett Sings the Blues,” and his Louis Armstrong tribute, “A Wonderful World” with lang, the first full album he had ever recorded with another singer. He celebrated his 80th birthday with “Duets: An American Classic,” featuring Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder among others.

“They’re all giants in the industry, and all of a sudden they’re saying to me ‘You’re the master,’” Bennett told the AP in 2006.

“They’re all giants in the industry, and all of a sudden they’re saying to me ‘You’re the master,’” Bennett told the AP in 2006.

Long associated with San Francisco, Bennett would note that his true home was Astoria, the working-class community in the New York City borough of Queens, where he grew up during the Great Depression. The singer chose his old neighborhood as the site for the “Fame”-style public high school, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, that he and his third wife, Susan Crow Benedetto, a former teacher, helped found in 2001.

Long associated with San Francisco, Bennett would note that his true home was Astoria, the working-class community in the New York City borough of Queens, where he grew up during the Great Depression. The singer chose his old neighborhood as the site for the “Fame”-style public high school, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, that he and his third wife, Susan Crow Benedetto, a former teacher, helped found in 2001.

The school is not far from the birthplace of the man who was once Anthony Dominick Benedetto. His father was an Italian immigrant who inspired his love of singing, but he died when Anthony was 10. Bennett credited his mother, Anna, with teaching him a valuable lesson as he watched her working at home, supporting her three children as a seamstress doing piecework after his father died.

The school is not far from the birthplace of the man who was once Anthony Dominick Benedetto. His father was an Italian immigrant who inspired his love of singing, but he died when Anthony was 10. Bennett credited his mother, Anna, with teaching him a valuable lesson as he watched her working at home, supporting her three children as a seamstress doing piecework after his father died.

“We were very impoverished,” Bennett said in a 2016 AP interview. “I saw her working and every once in a while she’d take a dress and throw it over her shoulder and she’d say, ‘Don’t have me work on a bad dress. I’ll only work on good dresses.’”

“We were very impoverished,” Bennett said in a 2016 AP interview. “I saw her working and every once in a while she’d take a dress and throw it over her shoulder and she’d say, ‘Don’t have me work on a bad dress. I’ll only work on good dresses.’”

He studied commercial art in high school, but had to drop out to help support his family. The teenager got a job as a copy boy for the AP, performed as a singing waiter and competed in amateur shows. A combat infantryman during World War II, he served as a librarian for the Armed Forces Network after the war and sang with an army big band in occupied Germany. His earliest recording is a 1946 air check from Armed Forces Radio of the blues “St. James Infirmary.”

He studied commercial art in high school, but had to drop out to help support his family. The teenager got a job as a copy boy for the AP, performed as a singing waiter and competed in amateur shows. A combat infantryman during World War II, he served as a librarian for the Armed Forces Network after the war and sang with an army big band in occupied Germany. His earliest recording is a 1946 air check from Armed Forces Radio of the blues “St. James Infirmary.”

Bennett took advantage of the GI Bill to attend the American Theater Wing, which later became The Actors Studio. His acting lessons helped him develop his phrasing and learn how to tell a story. He learned the more intimate Bel Canto vocal technique which helped him sustain and extend the expressive range of his voice. And he took to heart the advice of his vocal coach, Miriam Spier.

Bennett took advantage of the GI Bill to attend the American Theater Wing, which later became The Actors Studio. His acting lessons helped him develop his phrasing and learn how to tell a story. He learned the more intimate Bel Canto vocal technique which helped him sustain and extend the expressive range of his voice. And he took to heart the advice of his vocal coach, Miriam Spier.

“She said please don’t imitate other singers because you’ll just be one of the chorus whoever you imitate whether it’s Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra and won’t develop an original sound,” Bennett recalled in the 2006 AP interview. “She said imitate musicians that you like, find out how they phrase. I was particularly influenced by the jazz musicians like (pianist) Art Tatum and (saxophonists) Lester Young and Stan Getz.”

“She said please don’t imitate other singers because you’ll just be one of the chorus whoever you imitate whether it’s Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra and won’t develop an original sound,” Bennett recalled in the 2006 AP interview. “She said imitate musicians that you like, find out how they phrase. I was particularly influenced by the jazz musicians like (pianist) Art Tatum and (saxophonists) Lester Young and Stan Getz.”

In 1947, Bennett made his first recording, the Gershwins’ standard “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” for a small label under the stage name Joe Bari. The following year he gained notice when he finished behind Rosemary Clooney on the radio show “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.” Bennett’s big break came in 1949 when singer Pearl Bailey invited him to join her revue at a Greenwich Village club. Bob Hope dropped by one night and was so impressed that he offered the young singer a spot opening his shows at the famed Paramount Theater, where teens had swooned for Sinatra. But the comedian didn’t care for his stage name and thought his real name was too long for the marquee.

In 1947, Bennett made his first recording, the Gershwins’ standard “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” for a small label under the stage name Joe Bari. The following year he gained notice when he finished behind Rosemary Clooney on the radio show “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.” Bennett’s big break came in 1949 when singer Pearl Bailey invited him to join her revue at a Greenwich Village club. Bob Hope dropped by one night and was so impressed that he offered the young singer a spot opening his shows at the famed Paramount Theater, where teens had swooned for Sinatra. But the comedian didn’t care for his stage name and thought his real name was too long for the marquee.

“He thought for a moment, then he said, ‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett,’” the singer wrote in his autobiography, “The Good Life,” published in 1998.

“He thought for a moment, then he said, ‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett,’” the singer wrote in his autobiography, “The Good Life,” published in 1998.

In 1950, Mitch Miller, the head of Columbia Records’ pop singles division, signed Bennett and released the single, “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” a semi-hit. Bennett was on the verge of being dropped from the label in 1951 when he had his first No. 1 on the pop charts with “Because of You.” More hits followed, including “Rags to Riches,” “Blue Velvet,” and Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart,” the first country song to become an international pop hit.

In 1950, Mitch Miller, the head of Columbia Records’ pop singles division, signed Bennett and released the single, “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” a semi-hit. Bennett was on the verge of being dropped from the label in 1951 when he had his first No. 1 on the pop charts with “Because of You.” More hits followed, including “Rags to Riches,” “Blue Velvet,” and Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart,” the first country song to become an international pop hit.

Bennett found himself frequently clashing with Miller, who pushed him to sing Sinatra-style ballads and gimmicky novelty songs. But Bennett took advantage of the young LP album format, starting in 1955 with “Cloud 7,” featuring a small jazz combo led by guitarist Chuck Wayne. Bennett reached out to the jazz audience with such innovative albums as the 1957 “The Beat of My Heart,” an album of standards that paired him with such jazz percussion masters as Chico Hamilton, and Art Blakey. He also became the first white male singer to record with the Count Basie Orchestra, releasing two albums in 1958. Sinatra would later do the same.

Bennett found himself frequently clashing with Miller, who pushed him to sing Sinatra-style ballads and gimmicky novelty songs. But Bennett took advantage of the young LP album format, starting in 1955 with “Cloud 7,” featuring a small jazz combo led by guitarist Chuck Wayne. Bennett reached out to the jazz audience with such innovative albums as the 1957 “The Beat of My Heart,” an album of standards that paired him with such jazz percussion masters as Chico Hamilton, and Art Blakey. He also became the first white male singer to record with the Count Basie Orchestra, releasing two albums in 1958. Sinatra would later do the same.

Bennett’s friendship with Black musicians and his disgust at the racial prejudice he encountered in the Army led him to become an active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. He answered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-belafonte-dead-2d8cbdf0043e4383a6c4a85c862cdbe1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harry Belafonte’s call</a>&nbsp;to join Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-belafonte-legacy-civil-rights-activism-bb0c61cc9e25eb166a8a77a7f06c67e8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perform for the protesters.</a>

Bennett’s friendship with Black musicians and his disgust at the racial prejudice he encountered in the Army led him to become an active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. He answered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-belafonte-dead-2d8cbdf0043e4383a6c4a85c862cdbe1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harry Belafonte’s call</a>&nbsp;to join Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harry-belafonte-legacy-civil-rights-activism-bb0c61cc9e25eb166a8a77a7f06c67e8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perform for the protesters.</a>

Bennett’s early career peaked in the 1960s as he topped the charts with “San Francisco” and became the first male pop solo performer to headline at Carnegie Hall, releasing a live album of the 1962 concert.

Bennett’s early career peaked in the 1960s as he topped the charts with “San Francisco” and became the first male pop solo performer to headline at Carnegie Hall, releasing a live album of the 1962 concert.

In 1966, he released “The Movie Song Album,” a personal favorite which featured Johnny Mandel’s Oscar-winning song “The Shadow of Your Smile” and “Maybe September,” the theme from the epic flop “The Oscar,” noteworthy because it marked Bennett’s first and only big-screen acting role.

In 1966, he released “The Movie Song Album,” a personal favorite which featured Johnny Mandel’s Oscar-winning song “The Shadow of Your Smile” and “Maybe September,” the theme from the epic flop “The Oscar,” noteworthy because it marked Bennett’s first and only big-screen acting role.

But as rock continued to overtake traditional pop, he clashed with Columbia label head Clive Davis, who insisted that the singer do the 1970 album “Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today,” with such songs as “MacArthur Park” and “Little Green Apples.” Bennett left Columbia in 1972, and went on to form his own record label, Improv, which in 1975-76 produced two duet albums with the impressionistic pianist Bill Evans now considered jazz classics.

But as rock continued to overtake traditional pop, he clashed with Columbia label head Clive Davis, who insisted that the singer do the 1970 album “Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today,” with such songs as “MacArthur Park” and “Little Green Apples.” Bennett left Columbia in 1972, and went on to form his own record label, Improv, which in 1975-76 produced two duet albums with the impressionistic pianist Bill Evans now considered jazz classics.

Despite artistic successes, Improv proved a financial disaster for Bennett, who also faced difficulties in his personal life. His marriage to artist Patricia Beech collapsed in 1971. He wed actress Sandra Grant the same year, but that marriage ended in 1984. With no recording deals, his debts brought him close to bankruptcy and the IRS was trying to seize his house in Los Angeles. After a near-fatal drug overdose in 1979, he turned to his son, Danny, who eventually signed on as his manager. Bennett kicked his drug habit and got his finances in order, moved back to New York and resumed doing more than 200 shows a year.

Despite artistic successes, Improv proved a financial disaster for Bennett, who also faced difficulties in his personal life. His marriage to artist Patricia Beech collapsed in 1971. He wed actress Sandra Grant the same year, but that marriage ended in 1984. With no recording deals, his debts brought him close to bankruptcy and the IRS was trying to seize his house in Los Angeles. After a near-fatal drug overdose in 1979, he turned to his son, Danny, who eventually signed on as his manager. Bennett kicked his drug habit and got his finances in order, moved back to New York and resumed doing more than 200 shows a year.

He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Johanna and Antonia, sons Danny and Dae and nine grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Johanna and Antonia, sons Danny and Dae and nine grandchildren.

Bennett was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005 and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006. He also won two Emmy Awards — for “Tony Bennett Live By Request: A Valentine Special” (1996) and “Tony Bennett: An American Classic” (2007).

Bennett was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005 and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006. He also won two Emmy Awards — for “Tony Bennett Live By Request: A Valentine Special” (1996) and “Tony Bennett: An American Classic” (2007).

Besides singing, Bennett pursued his lifelong passion for painting by taking art lessons and bringing his sketchbook on the road. His paintings, signed with his family name Benedetto — including portraits of his musician friends and Central Park landscapes — were displayed in public and private collections, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.

Besides singing, Bennett pursued his lifelong passion for painting by taking art lessons and bringing his sketchbook on the road. His paintings, signed with his family name Benedetto — including portraits of his musician friends and Central Park landscapes — were displayed in public and private collections, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.

“I love to paint as much as I love to sing,” Bennett told the AP in 2006. “It worked out to be such a blessing in my life because if I started getting burnt-out singing &#8230; I would go to my painting and that’s a big lift. &#8230; So I stay in this creative zone all the time.”

“I love to paint as much as I love to sing,” Bennett told the AP in 2006. “It worked out to be such a blessing in my life because if I started getting burnt-out singing ... I would go to my painting and that’s a big lift. ... So I stay in this creative zone all the time.”

“I love to paint as much as I love to sing,” Bennett told the AP in 2006. “It worked out to be such a blessing in my life because if I started getting burnt-out singing &#8230; I would go to my painting and that’s a big lift. &#8230; So I stay in this creative zone all the time.”

Tony Bennett, ‘I left my heart in San Francisco’ singer, dies at 96

Mike Ege

The political forces that drove this week’s recall of DA Chesa Boudin and the February recall of three SF Board of Education members could yet claim another victim: Gordon Mar, the progressive-leaning Supervisor who represents the Sunset district.

The political forces that drove this week’s recall of DA Chesa Boudin and the February recall of three SF Board of Education members could yet claim another victim: Gordon Mar, the progressive-leaning Supervisor who represents the Sunset district.

Two high-profile recall supporters, Joel Engardio and Leanna Louie, will run against Mar in November. Both hope to capitalize on the fact that Mar opposed the two recalls, which were widely popular in Mar’s heavily Asian American District 4. And with the two expected to team up to maximize their chances in the ranked-choice voting process, Mar could be in real danger, political observers say.

Two high-profile recall supporters, Joel Engardio and Leanna Louie, will run against Mar in November. Both hope to capitalize on the fact that Mar opposed the two recalls, which were widely popular in Mar’s heavily Asian American District 4. And with the two expected to team up to maximize their chances in the ranked-choice voting process, Mar could be in real danger, political observers say.

Engardio, a media executive by trade, is a known quantity in San Francisco politics: he’s served as executive director of <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/interactive-map-san-franciscos-uneven-burglary-spikes-by-neighborhood/">Stop Crime SF</a>, a public safety advocacy group, and was an early supporter of the Boudin recall. He ran for District 7 Supervisor in 2020 and garnered the top share of first round votes, but lost out to nonprofit director Myrna Melgar in the ranked choice balloting process.&nbsp;

Engardio, a media executive by trade, is a known quantity in San Francisco politics: he’s served as executive director of <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/interactive-map-san-franciscos-uneven-burglary-spikes-by-neighborhood/">Stop Crime SF</a>, a public safety advocacy group, and was an early supporter of the Boudin recall. He ran for District 7 Supervisor in 2020 and garnered the top share of first round votes, but lost out to nonprofit director Myrna Melgar in the ranked choice balloting process.&nbsp;

Thanks to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/miserable-together-happy-apart-why-redistricting-has-grown-so-heated/">the recent redistricting</a>, Engardio, a longtime resident of Lakeshore, is now part of District 4—along with his politically supportive neighbors in that neighborhood and the adjacent Merced Manor. According to <a href="https://electionmapsf.com/?county=SFO&amp;election=11-2020">Election Map SF</a>, Engardio in 2020 was the top vote-getter in the core neighborhoods that got shifted to D4 even after the ranked-choice elimination, averaging 58% of the vote.&nbsp;

Thanks to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/miserable-together-happy-apart-why-redistricting-has-grown-so-heated/">the recent redistricting</a>, Engardio, a longtime resident of Lakeshore, is now part of District 4—along with his politically supportive neighbors in that neighborhood and the adjacent Merced Manor. According to <a href="https://electionmapsf.com/?county=SFO&amp;election=11-2020">Election Map SF</a>, Engardio in 2020 was the top vote-getter in the core neighborhoods that got shifted to D4 even after the ranked-choice elimination, averaging 58% of the vote.&nbsp;

“I didn’t move; I’ve lived in this house for eight years and the district lines moved around me,” Engardio says. “And around a few thousand of my neighbors as well.”&nbsp;

“I didn’t move; I’ve lived in this house for eight years and the district lines moved around me,” Engardio says. “And around a few thousand of my neighbors as well.”&nbsp;

The “United Peace Collaborative,” led by Leanna Louie, hand out whistles and check on businesses as they close up  in Chinatown of San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. | Camille Cohen

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/D4Challenger_Inlined3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54114"/><figcaption>The “United Peace Collaborative,” led by Leanna Louie, hand out whistles and check on businesses as they close up in Chinatown of San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. | Camille Cohen</figcaption></figure>

Louie, a small business owner and Army veteran, first came to public notice in 2020 by forming the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/san-francisco-response-to-anti-asian-violence/">United Peace Collaborative</a>, which began patrolling the streets of Chinatown at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as attacks on people of Asian descent spiked. She expects to launch her campaign officially on June 19 and, like Engardio, will emphasize public safety, schools, and small businesses as prime issues.

Louie, a small business owner and Army veteran, first came to public notice in 2020 by forming the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/san-francisco-response-to-anti-asian-violence/">United Peace Collaborative</a>, which began patrolling the streets of Chinatown at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as attacks on people of Asian descent spiked. She expects to launch her campaign officially on June 19 and, like Engardio, will emphasize public safety, schools, and small businesses as prime issues.

“(Mar) opposed the School Board recall when we wanted to recall them for so long,” said Louie. “And then the safety issues we’re facing, and he supports Chesa. So we’re very different candidates in those respects.”

“(Mar) opposed the School Board recall when we wanted to recall them for so long,” said Louie. “And then the safety issues we’re facing, and he supports Chesa. So we’re very different candidates in those respects.”

District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar speaks at a Board of Supervisors meeting in City Hall of San Francisco on May 3, 2022. | Camille Cohen/The Standard

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/D4Challenger_Inlined2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54117"/><figcaption>District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar speaks at a Board of Supervisors meeting in City Hall of San Francisco on May 3, 2022. | Camille Cohen/The Standard</figcaption></figure>

Mar, who is set to file his re-election papers at an event at City Hall on Friday, is expected to run on achievements including instituting the Sunset Chinese Cultural District, championing ethics legislation at City Hall, and recently getting passed <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/board-of-supervisors/supervisor-mar-sf-police-non-english-language-services/">a citywide community policing plan</a>.&nbsp;

Mar, who is set to file his re-election papers at an event at City Hall on Friday, is expected to run on achievements including instituting the Sunset Chinese Cultural District, championing ethics legislation at City Hall, and recently getting passed <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/board-of-supervisors/supervisor-mar-sf-police-non-english-language-services/">a citywide community policing plan</a>.&nbsp;

“I’m proud of my work with my neighbors to improve the Sunset’s quality of life with safer streets, stronger schools, new affordable housing, better transit and more support for families, seniors and small businesses. I look forward to running a community-based campaign on these issues, continuing to listen to my constituents’ ideas and concerns, and earning their support for another term,” Mar said in a statement to the Standard.

“I’m proud of my work with my neighbors to improve the Sunset’s quality of life with safer streets, stronger schools, new affordable housing, better transit and more support for families, seniors and small businesses. I look forward to running a community-based campaign on these issues, continuing to listen to my constituents’ ideas and concerns, and earning their support for another term,” Mar said in a statement to the Standard.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dereliction-of-duty">‘Dereliction of Duty’</h2>

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<h2 id="h-dereliction-of-duty">‘Dereliction of Duty’</h2>

School board recall volunteer Joel Engardio drops off 80,000 petition signatures at the Dept. of Election to qualify the school board recall for the ballot on September 7, 2021. Courtesy Autumn Looijen

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/D4Challengers_INLINED05.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54111"/><figcaption>School board recall volunteer Joel Engardio drops off 80,000 petition signatures at the Dept. of Election to qualify the school board recall for the ballot on September 7, 2021. Courtesy Autumn Looijen</figcaption></figure>

Engardio was harshly critical of Mar for his stance on the two recalls.

Engardio was harshly critical of Mar for his stance on the two recalls.

“It’s dereliction of duty on the two issues residents care about the most,” he told The Standard. “And just look at the voting numbers… even the most progressive parts of the Sunset had majorities for the recalls.

“It’s dereliction of duty on the two issues residents care about the most,” he told The Standard. “And just look at the voting numbers… even the most progressive parts of the Sunset had majorities for the recalls.

Engardio said he’s raised over $20,000 for his campaign, and he’s won an important endorsement from State Senator Scott Wiener. He’s tapped recall campaign veteran <a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/sfpd-investigating-attempted-theft-of-school-board-recall-petitions/">Man Kit Lam</a> to help with aggressive outreach to Chinese-speaking voters, and his husband, Lionel Hsu, will also be involved.

Engardio said he’s raised over $20,000 for his campaign, and he’s won an important endorsement from State Senator Scott Wiener. He’s tapped recall campaign veteran <a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/sfpd-investigating-attempted-theft-of-school-board-recall-petitions/">Man Kit Lam</a> to help with aggressive outreach to Chinese-speaking voters, and his husband, Lionel Hsu, will also be involved.

Despite the adversarial positioning, Engardio sees his main message as a positive one.&nbsp;

Despite the adversarial positioning, Engardio sees his main message as a positive one.&nbsp;

“I&#8217;m running for supervisor because I still believe in San Francisco. It&#8217;s important to have that optimism because there&#8217;s so much about the city that can be good and is good. We just need the political will to change direction, and use some common sense and innovation to fix things.”

“I'm running for supervisor because I still believe in San Francisco. It's important to have that optimism because there's so much about the city that can be good and is good. We just need the political will to change direction, and use some common sense and innovation to fix things.”

“I&#8217;m running for supervisor because I still believe in San Francisco. It&#8217;s important to have that optimism because there&#8217;s so much about the city that can be good and is good. We just need the political will to change direction, and use some common sense and innovation to fix things.”

Louie’s views on what she calls “a more sensible” neighborhood housing policy (meaning less density) as well as “Slow Streets,” where cars are restricted, may offer some differentiation from the more urbanist Engardio. She is opposed to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/war-jfk-drive-de-young-museum-san-francisco-kids-safe-fine-arts-museum/">closing JFK Drive</a> and the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/transportation/three-takeaways-on-the-future-of-the-great-highway/">Great Highwa</a>y to cars, for example, while Engardio’s positions are more nuanced.&nbsp;

Louie’s views on what she calls “a more sensible” neighborhood housing policy (meaning less density) as well as “Slow Streets,” where cars are restricted, may offer some differentiation from the more urbanist Engardio. She is opposed to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/war-jfk-drive-de-young-museum-san-francisco-kids-safe-fine-arts-museum/">closing JFK Drive</a> and the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/transportation/three-takeaways-on-the-future-of-the-great-highway/">Great Highwa</a>y to cars, for example, while Engardio’s positions are more nuanced.&nbsp;

Still, they are closely aligned enough to form a rank-choice voting team.

Still, they are closely aligned enough to form a rank-choice voting team.

“We share a lot of the same ideas about public safety,” she said. “So, yeah, we&#8217;ll be definitely working together and you know, for anybody who is going to vote for me first, I would like to ask them to vote for Joel.”&nbsp;

“We share a lot of the same ideas about public safety,” she said. “So, yeah, we'll be definitely working together and you know, for anybody who is going to vote for me first, I would like to ask them to vote for Joel.”&nbsp;

“We share a lot of the same ideas about public safety,” she said. “So, yeah, we&#8217;ll be definitely working together and you know, for anybody who is going to vote for me first, I would like to ask them to vote for Joel.”&nbsp;

Moderates have had their sights on Mar for a while, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/local-pac-tarfets-mar-chan-over-school-board-recall/">with one group, Grow SF, launching an ad campaign against the supervisor.</a>&nbsp;

Moderates have had their sights on Mar for a while, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/local-pac-tarfets-mar-chan-over-school-board-recall/">with one group, Grow SF, launching an ad campaign against the supervisor.</a>&nbsp;

Mar nevertheless benefits from the powerful advantages provided by incumbency in district supervisorial elections.&nbsp;

Mar nevertheless benefits from the powerful advantages provided by incumbency in district supervisorial elections.&nbsp;

“Incumbents rarely lose; it’s usually an issue of name recognition,” says Jason McDaniel, Professor of Politics at San Francisco State University. “It’s really difficult to overcome, especially when combined with constituent service.”&nbsp;

“Incumbents rarely lose; it’s usually an issue of name recognition,” says Jason McDaniel, Professor of Politics at San Francisco State University. “It’s really difficult to overcome, especially when combined with constituent service.”&nbsp;

McDaniel does think the challengers have a chance.&nbsp;

McDaniel does think the challengers have a chance.&nbsp;

“Incumbents hate the idea of an ‘Anyone But’ campaign. That’s normally hard to pull off, but there does seem to potentially be a space for that in this race.”&nbsp;

“Incumbents hate the idea of an ‘Anyone But’ campaign. That’s normally hard to pull off, but there does seem to potentially be a space for that in this race.”&nbsp;

Supervisor Mar faces stiff reelection fight as two high-profile challengers step up

This week’s Board of Supervisors meeting featured some compelling political theater around housing policy, as it failed to override Mayor London Breed’s veto of a “fourplex” bill and submitted only one of two controversial ballot measures.&nbsp;

This week’s Board of Supervisors meeting featured some compelling political theater around housing policy, as it failed to override Mayor London Breed’s veto of a “fourplex” bill and submitted only one of two controversial ballot measures.&nbsp;

Plus, a new department dedicated to early childhood care and education was approved, and an extension for car-free weekends on the Great Highway is in the works.

Plus, a new department dedicated to early childhood care and education was approved, and an extension for car-free weekends on the Great Highway is in the works.

Fourplex One Falls and Rent Control Reincarnates

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fourplex-one-falls-and-rent-control-reincarnates">Fourplex One Falls and Rent Control Reincarnates</h2>

<h2 id="h-fourplex-one-falls-and-rent-control-reincarnates">Fourplex One Falls and Rent Control Reincarnates</h2>

A move to override <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/mayor-breed-vetoed-the-board-of-supervisors-fourplex-legislation-so-now-what/">the veto of District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s “fourplex” bill</a> failed by one vote.&nbsp;

A move to override <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/mayor-breed-vetoed-the-board-of-supervisors-fourplex-legislation-so-now-what/">the veto of District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s “fourplex” bill</a> failed by one vote.&nbsp;

It marked the end of a legislative saga in which the bill endured almost a year of&nbsp; <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/a-fourplex-on-each-lot-in-debate-over-upzoning-sfs-westside-one-proposal-emerges-as-the-strongest/">development hell</a> in committee and the addition of consensus-breaking amendments before <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/fourplex-bill-passes-but-it-wont-create-much-more-housing/">passing in June</a> with a 6-4 vote on first reading.&nbsp;

It marked the end of a legislative saga in which the bill endured almost a year of&nbsp; <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/a-fourplex-on-each-lot-in-debate-over-upzoning-sfs-westside-one-proposal-emerges-as-the-strongest/">development hell</a> in committee and the addition of consensus-breaking amendments before <a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/fourplex-bill-passes-but-it-wont-create-much-more-housing/">passing in June</a> with a 6-4 vote on first reading.&nbsp;

The bill got an additional vote at a July second reading, but eight votes were required to override Breed’s veto. In the end, the vote to override only got seven.&nbsp;

The bill got an additional vote at a July second reading, but eight votes were required to override Breed’s veto. In the end, the vote to override only got seven.&nbsp;

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The pressure was on for board President Shamann Walton to change his vote to override, but he wouldn’t budge. His reasons for voting against the legislation? That it wasn’t stringent enough on market-rate housing. Fellow supervisors, on the other hand, voted against it because they said it was too stringent.&nbsp;</li><li>Other opponents, including District 11 member Ahsha Safai, reiterated objections over amendments they felt would make building more units too difficult.&nbsp;</li><li>Mandelman, in a speech before the vote, acknowledged the bill wasn’t perfect, but urged his colleagues to give it another chance because it still represented a start to building more housing in the neighborhoods. He said he was “puzzled and dismayed” by Breed’s veto and characterized it as purely political.</li><li>Other supporters voiced similar sentiments. District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, often the board’s point person on housing issues, alleged that Breed didn’t offer any rationale for her veto, and District 5 member Dean Preston called it “political theater.”</li><li>After the vote, Peskin then asked staff from the mayor’s office present at the meeting, perhaps rhetorically, for any “smoke signals” as to what legislation Breed would find acceptable.&nbsp;</li></ul>

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<ul><li>The pressure was on for board President Shamann Walton to change his vote to override, but he wouldn’t budge. His reasons for voting against the legislation? That it wasn’t stringent enough on market-rate housing. Fellow supervisors, on the other hand, voted against it because they said it was too stringent.&nbsp;</li><li>Other opponents, including District 11 member Ahsha Safai, reiterated objections over amendments they felt would make building more units too difficult.&nbsp;</li><li>Mandelman, in a speech before the vote, acknowledged the bill wasn’t perfect, but urged his colleagues to give it another chance because it still represented a start to building more housing in the neighborhoods. He said he was “puzzled and dismayed” by Breed’s veto and characterized it as purely political.</li><li>Other supporters voiced similar sentiments. District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, often the board’s point person on housing issues, alleged that Breed didn’t offer any rationale for her veto, and District 5 member Dean Preston called it “political theater.”</li><li>After the vote, Peskin then asked staff from the mayor’s office present at the meeting, perhaps rhetorically, for any “smoke signals” as to what legislation Breed would find acceptable.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Meanwhile, only one of two controversial charter amendments on housing was approved for the November ballot, as Peskin moved to withdraw <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/rent-control-on-new-units-sped-up-construction-and-new-housing-governance-at-city-hall-promised-by-supes-in-raft-of-fall-ballot-measures/">his measure to expand rent control to new projects</a> built under density bonus or other upzoning incentives. That said, supervisors made a very vocal commitment to expand rent control wherever they could.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, only one of two controversial charter amendments on housing was approved for the November ballot, as Peskin moved to withdraw <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/rent-control-on-new-units-sped-up-construction-and-new-housing-governance-at-city-hall-promised-by-supes-in-raft-of-fall-ballot-measures/">his measure to expand rent control to new projects</a> built under density bonus or other upzoning incentives. That said, supervisors made a very vocal commitment to expand rent control wherever they could.&nbsp;

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The Affordable Housing Production Act, sponsored principally by District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, promises to speed up projects that are 100% affordable or that add more inclusionary affordable units. It was submitted for the ballot in a 7-4 vote, with Mandelman, along with District 6 member Matt Dorsey, District 7 member Myrna Melgar, and District 2 member Catherine Stefani in opposition.  </li><li>Opponents including SF YIMBY and the Housing Action Coalition (HAC) argue that it’s a facile measure that will make building housing harder. HAC also alleges the measure lacks proper review under the California Environmental Quality Act and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/board-of-supervisors/hed-controversial-housing-amendment-heads-to-ballot-lawsuit-likely/">is exploring legal action to block it</a>. </li><li>Peskin moved to pull his rent control measure after an impassioned speech essentially blaming politics for the move. He argued that real estate and pro-housing groups like HAC would bankroll an unbeatable campaign to defeat the measure and alleged that these groups were more concerned with limiting rent control than building more housing. He also argued that many landlords had no issues with the measure. </li><li>He then turned his speech into a call for the board to make it a policy to expand rent control wherever possible in new legislation. </li><li>That new legislation may include “<a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/with-one-fourplex-bill-dead-another-rises-from-the-ashes/">Fourplex Two</a>.” Safai’s version of the measure recently received recommendation from the Planning Commission, and he recently told The Standard that he would consider amendments to apply rent control to some new units built under the legislation. </li></ul>

<ul><li>The Affordable Housing Production Act, sponsored principally by District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, promises to speed up projects that are 100% affordable or that add more inclusionary affordable units. It was submitted for the ballot in a 7-4 vote, with Mandelman, along with District 6 member Matt Dorsey, District 7 member Myrna Melgar, and District 2 member Catherine Stefani in opposition.  </li><li>Opponents including SF YIMBY and the Housing Action Coalition (HAC) argue that it’s a facile measure that will make building housing harder. HAC also alleges the measure lacks proper review under the California Environmental Quality Act and <a href="https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/board-of-supervisors/hed-controversial-housing-amendment-heads-to-ballot-lawsuit-likely/">is exploring legal action to block it</a>. </li><li>Peskin moved to pull his rent control measure after an impassioned speech essentially blaming politics for the move. He argued that real estate and pro-housing groups like HAC would bankroll an unbeatable campaign to defeat the measure and alleged that these groups were more concerned with limiting rent control than building more housing. He also argued that many landlords had no issues with the measure. </li><li>He then turned his speech into a call for the board to make it a policy to expand rent control wherever possible in new legislation. </li><li>That new legislation may include “<a href="https://sfstandard.com/housing-development/with-one-fourplex-bill-dead-another-rises-from-the-ashes/">Fourplex Two</a>.” Safai’s version of the measure recently received recommendation from the Planning Commission, and he recently told The Standard that he would consider amendments to apply rent control to some new units built under the legislation. </li></ul>

Also submitted for the ballot was a measure to create a special fund to help out schools, as well as legislation to create a new department devoted to early childcare.

Also submitted for the ballot was a measure to create a special fund to help out schools, as well as legislation to create a new department devoted to early childcare.

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The “<a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/san-francisco-schools-could-get-up-to-60-million-under-measure-headed-to-fall-ballot/">Student Success Fund</a>” charter amendment from District 9 member Hillary Ronen would use some of the city’s excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds to support academic achievement and student support programs at public schools. It was submitted for the November ballot unanimously.&nbsp;</li><li>Later in the session, the supervisors unanimously approved legislation sponsored by District 7 member Myrna Melgar to consolidate multiple city agencies and initiatives to improve early childhood care and education into a single new city agency, the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/san-francisco-child-care-expensive-early-childhood-families/">Department of Early Childhood</a>. The department will coordinate policies in support of children during their first five years.&nbsp;</li></ul>

<ul><li>The “<a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/san-francisco-schools-could-get-up-to-60-million-under-measure-headed-to-fall-ballot/">Student Success Fund</a>” charter amendment from District 9 member Hillary Ronen would use some of the city’s excess Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds to support academic achievement and student support programs at public schools. It was submitted for the November ballot unanimously.&nbsp;</li><li>Later in the session, the supervisors unanimously approved legislation sponsored by District 7 member Myrna Melgar to consolidate multiple city agencies and initiatives to improve early childhood care and education into a single new city agency, the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/education/san-francisco-child-care-expensive-early-childhood-families/">Department of Early Childhood</a>. The department will coordinate policies in support of children during their first five years.&nbsp;</li></ul>

New Business: Laguna Honda, Great Highway, harsher permit penalties … and Shrooms

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-business-laguna-honda-great-highway-harsher-permit-penalties-and-shrooms">New Business: Laguna Honda, Great Highway, harsher permit penalties … and Shrooms</h2>

<h2 id="h-new-business-laguna-honda-great-highway-harsher-permit-penalties-and-shrooms">New Business: Laguna Honda, Great Highway, harsher permit penalties … and Shrooms</h2>

New legislation included a last-minute resolution urging state and federal agencies to intervene in the ongoing crisis at Laguna Honda Hospital, as well as setting the term for the Great Highway Pilot Project, increasing penalties for unpermitted construction, and decriminalizing psychedelics.&nbsp;

New legislation included a last-minute resolution urging state and federal agencies to intervene in the ongoing crisis at Laguna Honda Hospital, as well as setting the term for the Great Highway Pilot Project, increasing penalties for unpermitted construction, and decriminalizing psychedelics.&nbsp;

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The board unanimously approved resolutions urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to suspend the directive by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services forcing Laguna Honda Hospital to relocate patients, and asking Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Health Director Tomas Aragon to halt the transfers.</li><li>The transfers have proved to be <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/undeniably-dangerous-3-patients-died-days-after-transferring-out-of-laguna-honda/">very dangerous for patients</a>—so far, four have died. Additionally, most patients have had to be transferred to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/48-patients-relocated-10-discharged-dead-or-awol-heres-the-latest-on-laguna-hondas-drawn-out-closure/">facilities outside of San Francisco</a>. Federal regulators have made the hospital’s ability to reapply for funding contingent upon the transfers.&nbsp;</li><li>Melgar, sponsor of the resolutions, deemed the situation “a human rights atrocity.”&nbsp;</li><li>District 4 member Gordon Mar introduced legislation to codify the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/transportation/on-the-great-highway-competing-visions-for-san-franciscos-future/">Great Highway Weekend Pilot Project</a>, and extend it beyond the current emergency order for three years. He described the current project, where the road is closed to car traffic on weekends, as “an effective compromise” but one that still needs agreement on exact closure times.&nbsp;</li><li>Ronen introduced legislation to increase penalties for unpermitted residential construction to as high as $1,000 per day. She cited the recent experience with a notorious project on San Bruno Avenue, where a building approved for 10 apartments had another 19 illegally shoehorned into it, with resulting safety and nuisance problems. The developer settled for a $1.2 million fine, which in Ronen’s mind may not be an effective deterrent against similar wrongdoing.</li><li>Finally, Preston submitted a resolution calling for the state and federal governments to decriminalize “entheogenic plants” such as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/pharma-delics-ucsf-kicks-off-first-ever-trial-of-drug-naturally-derived-from-magic-mushrooms/">psychedelic mushrooms</a>. The resolution is parallel with legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener in Sacramento. Public comment was dominated by supporters of the resolution.&nbsp;</li></ul>

<ul><li>The board unanimously approved resolutions urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to suspend the directive by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services forcing Laguna Honda Hospital to relocate patients, and asking Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Health Director Tomas Aragon to halt the transfers.</li><li>The transfers have proved to be <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/undeniably-dangerous-3-patients-died-days-after-transferring-out-of-laguna-honda/">very dangerous for patients</a>—so far, four have died. Additionally, most patients have had to be transferred to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/48-patients-relocated-10-discharged-dead-or-awol-heres-the-latest-on-laguna-hondas-drawn-out-closure/">facilities outside of San Francisco</a>. Federal regulators have made the hospital’s ability to reapply for funding contingent upon the transfers.&nbsp;</li><li>Melgar, sponsor of the resolutions, deemed the situation “a human rights atrocity.”&nbsp;</li><li>District 4 member Gordon Mar introduced legislation to codify the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/transportation/on-the-great-highway-competing-visions-for-san-franciscos-future/">Great Highway Weekend Pilot Project</a>, and extend it beyond the current emergency order for three years. He described the current project, where the road is closed to car traffic on weekends, as “an effective compromise” but one that still needs agreement on exact closure times.&nbsp;</li><li>Ronen introduced legislation to increase penalties for unpermitted residential construction to as high as $1,000 per day. She cited the recent experience with a notorious project on San Bruno Avenue, where a building approved for 10 apartments had another 19 illegally shoehorned into it, with resulting safety and nuisance problems. The developer settled for a $1.2 million fine, which in Ronen’s mind may not be an effective deterrent against similar wrongdoing.</li><li>Finally, Preston submitted a resolution calling for the state and federal governments to decriminalize “entheogenic plants” such as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/public-health/pharma-delics-ucsf-kicks-off-first-ever-trial-of-drug-naturally-derived-from-magic-mushrooms/">psychedelic mushrooms</a>. The resolution is parallel with legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener in Sacramento. Public comment was dominated by supporters of the resolution.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Supes roundup: Long live rent control

Supervisors made major decisions on police procedure and a future training facility for the San Francisco Fire Department at an hour-long Election Day meeting. Meanwhile, lines were drawn in an ongoing fight over homelessness policy.

Supervisors made major decisions on police procedure and a future training facility for the San Francisco Fire Department at an hour-long Election Day meeting. Meanwhile, lines were drawn in an ongoing fight over homelessness policy.

Mandelman Bucks Majority on Shelters, Conservatorship

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading" id="h-mandelman-bucks-majority-on-shelters-conservatorship">Mandelman Bucks Majority on Shelters, Conservatorship</h2>

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size" id="h-mandelman-bucks-majority-on-shelters-conservatorship">Mandelman Bucks Majority on Shelters, Conservatorship</h2>

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman bumped heads with his colleagues over multiple items dealing with behavioral health responses to unhoused persons, including an item that would codify earlier policies regarding eviction from shelters.&nbsp;

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman bumped heads with his colleagues over multiple items dealing with behavioral health responses to unhoused persons, including an item that would codify earlier policies regarding eviction from shelters.&nbsp;

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>In late 2020 the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing attempted to revise the policies, but relented after facing significant opposition from advocates and the Shelter Grievance Advisory Committee. In response, Board President Shamann Walton introduced an ordinance which would codify the original policies and more formally establish the associated Advisory Committee. This item passed Tuesday by a vote of 9-1 with Mandelman opposed (Supervisor Myrna Melgar was absent).</li></ul>

<ul><li>In late 2020 the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing attempted to revise the policies, but relented after facing significant opposition from advocates and the Shelter Grievance Advisory Committee. In response, Board President Shamann Walton introduced an ordinance which would codify the original policies and more formally establish the associated Advisory Committee. This item passed Tuesday by a vote of 9-1 with Mandelman opposed (Supervisor Myrna Melgar was absent).</li></ul>

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>At an April 7 committee meeting, Mandelman voted against the item based on concerns that it would continue to increase wait times for getting people currently on the street into shelter. “While I agree that consistent grievance procedures make sense, I fear that this legislation is unnecessary and redundant, or worse that it could actually make it harder to stand up the new shelter placements (we need) to move those hundreds or perhaps thousands of folks indoors,” Mandelman said at the committee meeting. The committee sent Walton’s ordinance to the full board with recommendation by a vote of 2-1.&nbsp;</li></ul>

<ul><li>At an April 7 committee meeting, Mandelman voted against the item based on concerns that it would continue to increase wait times for getting people currently on the street into shelter. “While I agree that consistent grievance procedures make sense, I fear that this legislation is unnecessary and redundant, or worse that it could actually make it harder to stand up the new shelter placements (we need) to move those hundreds or perhaps thousands of folks indoors,” Mandelman said at the committee meeting. The committee sent Walton’s ordinance to the full board with recommendation by a vote of 2-1.&nbsp;</li></ul>

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Tony Bennett, ‘I left my heart in San Francisco’ singer, dies at 96

Supervisor Mar faces stiff reelection fight as two high-profile challengers step up

Supes roundup: Long live rent control

Board of Supes in 3 mins: A homelessness policy skirmish

Opinion: Let’s topple the housing monuments of our racist past, starting with St. Francis Wood