Kevin Truong

Nick Veronin

Most local music fans will be familiar with Bill Graham on some level, even if only subconsciously. Reminders of his influence and monuments to his life’s work—which was devoted to harnessing the countercultural ethos of rock &amp; roll and molding it into a mainstream economic engine—are all over the city and the broader Bay Area.

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Most local music fans will be familiar with Bill Graham on some level, even if only subconsciously. Reminders of his influence and monuments to his life’s work—which was devoted to harnessing the countercultural ethos of rock &amp; roll and molding it into a mainstream economic engine—are all over the city and the broader Bay Area.

Dedicated concertgoers have almost certainly spent time in one of the many venues where he made his name as San Francisco’s larger-than-life concert impresario. The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, just a stone’s throw from City Hall, is the most conspicuous monument to the man.

Dedicated concertgoers have almost certainly spent time in one of the many venues where he made his name as San Francisco’s larger-than-life concert impresario. The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, just a stone’s throw from City Hall, is the most conspicuous monument to the man.

But in his time he also helped transform the Fillmore into a nationally recognized venue and built Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View from the ground up. And that is to say nothing of all the many local halls, theaters and arenas he used as vessels for the thousands of concerts he organized in his lifetime.

But in his time he also helped transform the Fillmore into a nationally recognized venue and built Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View from the ground up. And that is to say nothing of all the many local halls, theaters and arenas he used as vessels for the thousands of concerts he organized in his lifetime.

The Grateful Dead photographed at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA May 23, 1982. | Jay Blakesberg

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0016_052382_ss_02.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49001"/><figcaption>The Grateful Dead at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, May 23, 1982. | Jay Blakesberg/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0016_052382_ss_02.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49001"/><figcaption>The Grateful Dead at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, May 23, 1982. | Jay Blakesberg/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

The legendary promoter’s presence looms large over Into the Mystic: A Visual History of Bay Area Rock Palaces. The exhibition of photographs—either owned or taken by local concert photographer and historian Jay Blakesberg—is now on display and available to view by appointment on the ground-floor warehouse of The Standard’s headquarters in the Mission District. It features images of rock &amp; roll icons performing at Bay Area venues either owned, managed or booked by Graham.

The legendary promoter’s presence looms large over Into the Mystic: A Visual History of Bay Area Rock Palaces. The exhibition of photographs—either owned or taken by local concert photographer and historian Jay Blakesberg—is now on display and available to view by appointment on the ground-floor warehouse of The Standard’s headquarters in the Mission District. It features images of rock &amp; roll icons performing at Bay Area venues either owned, managed or booked by Graham.

“All these venues were so important,” Blakesberg said on Wednesday night, at the opening reception for Into the Mystic.

“All these venues were so important,” Blakesberg said on Wednesday night, at the opening reception for Into the Mystic.

In a conversation with Jerry Pompili, a former house manager of the Fillmore and the Winterland Ballroom, and Ben Fong-Torres, a former editor and writer at Rolling Stone, Blakesberg noted that long before San Francisco became known as a hub for tech, he and his friends in New Jersey thought of the city as a rock &amp; roll mecca. Eventually, Blakesberg noted, he would come to understand that while the beats and the hippies each deserved credit for transforming this seven-square-mile peninsula into a magnet for creative musical expression, it was Graham that stitched it all together into a cohesive whole in the 1970s and ’80s.

In a conversation with Jerry Pompili, a former house manager of the Fillmore and the Winterland Ballroom, and Ben Fong-Torres, a former editor and writer at Rolling Stone, Blakesberg noted that long before San Francisco became known as a hub for tech, he and his friends in New Jersey thought of the city as a rock &amp; roll mecca. Eventually, Blakesberg noted, he would come to understand that while the beats and the hippies each deserved credit for transforming this seven-square-mile peninsula into a magnet for creative musical expression, it was Graham that stitched it all together into a cohesive whole in the 1970s and ’80s.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0091_091697_ss_05.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49016"/><figcaption>David Bowie at The Warfield on Sept. 16, 1997. | Jay Blakesberg/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

Pompili, who eventually worked his way up to a leadership position within Graham’s empire, repeatedly underscored his old boss’ holistic approach to concert promotion and management. He fretted over the details, Pompili said, striving to ensure that every aspect of the concert experience was comfortable, enjoyable and memorable for both the fans and the talent.

Pompili, who eventually worked his way up to a leadership position within Graham’s empire, repeatedly underscored his old boss’ holistic approach to concert promotion and management. He fretted over the details, Pompili said, striving to ensure that every aspect of the concert experience was comfortable, enjoyable and memorable for both the fans and the talent.

“Bill used to say, ‘If we piss them off in the parking lot, they weren’t going to have a good time at the show,’” Pompili remarked.

“Bill used to say, ‘If we piss them off in the parking lot, they weren’t going to have a good time at the show,’” Pompili remarked.

In an interview after the panel discussion, Fong-Torres—who wrote about Graham and the shows he organized for Rolling Stone—said that it was not an exaggeration to say that he was one of the most important concert promoters to have ever lived.

In an interview after the panel discussion, Fong-Torres—who wrote about Graham and the shows he organized for Rolling Stone—said that it was not an exaggeration to say that he was one of the most important concert promoters to have ever lived.

“In his time he was as big as even he himself might have said he was,” Fong-Torres said. “There’s no question that when he died”—tragically, in a helicopter crash in 1991—“it was the death of one of a kind.”

“In his time he was as big as even he himself might have said he was,” Fong-Torres said. “There’s no question that when he died”—tragically, in a helicopter crash in 1991—“it was the death of one of a kind.”

But Graham’s influence on the rock &amp; roll industry stretches well beyond concert promotion and venue ownership and into far less obvious corners of the concertgoing experience.

But Graham’s influence on the rock &amp; roll industry stretches well beyond concert promotion and venue ownership and into far less obvious corners of the concertgoing experience.

In fact, a case could be made that everything from the state-of-the-art soundsystem at the Chase Center to the security team working door at The Warfield wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for Graham. Even that ratty T-shirt with your favorite band’s name silkscreened across the front can be traced back to a decision Graham made half a century ago at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom.

In fact, a case could be made that everything from the state-of-the-art soundsystem at the Chase Center to the security team working door at The Warfield wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for Graham. Even that ratty T-shirt with your favorite band’s name silkscreened across the front can be traced back to a decision Graham made half a century ago at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom.

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading" id="h-mixing-business-pleasure">Mixing Business &amp; Pleasure</h2>

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<h2 class="has-medium-font-size" id="h-mixing-business-pleasure">Mixing Business &amp; Pleasure</h2>

It was sometime in the early 1970s. Graham was managing a Grateful Dead concert at Winterland—a former ice skating rink turned rock &amp; roll venue at the corner of Post and Steiner streets on the edge of Japantown—when a member of the band’s coterie asked him who she should see about selling T-shirts during the show.

It was sometime in the early 1970s. Graham was managing a Grateful Dead concert at Winterland—a former ice skating rink turned rock &amp; roll venue at the corner of Post and Steiner streets on the edge of Japantown—when a member of the band’s coterie asked him who she should see about selling T-shirts during the show.

Graham, in directing her to one of his employees, took the first step toward the creation of Winterland Productions, which would go on to become the leading merchandising and licensing company in the early days of the rock industry. In its heyday, Winterland Productions produced shirts for artists like the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Madonna. In the process, it turned what had previously been an amateur side hustle into a big money enterprise.

Graham, in directing her to one of his employees, took the first step toward the creation of Winterland Productions, which would go on to become the leading merchandising and licensing company in the early days of the rock industry. In its heyday, Winterland Productions produced shirts for artists like the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Madonna. In the process, it turned what had previously been an amateur side hustle into a big money enterprise.

Another of Graham’s lesser-known contributions was the professionalization of security services and crowd management at live shows. These days, many large venues and permitted outdoor concerts follow best practices developed in part by Graham and his team.

Another of Graham’s lesser-known contributions was the professionalization of security services and crowd management at live shows. These days, many large venues and permitted outdoor concerts follow best practices developed in part by Graham and his team.

But it wasn’t always that way. According to his autobiography, Graham was an outside advisor to the organizers of the ill-fated <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-altamont-festival-brings-the-1960s-to-a-violent-end">Altamont Free Festival in 1969</a>. In his book, Graham writes that he at first advised the organizers to give up on the show due to safety concerns, but ultimately lent them some stage hands. By the night’s end, a concertgoer had been stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club—who, according to legend, were paid in beer to provide security for the Rolling Stones.

But it wasn’t always that way. According to his autobiography, Graham was an outside advisor to the organizers of the ill-fated <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-altamont-festival-brings-the-1960s-to-a-violent-end">Altamont Free Festival in 1969</a>. In his book, Graham writes that he at first advised the organizers to give up on the show due to safety concerns, but ultimately lent them some stage hands. By the night’s end, a concertgoer had been stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club—who, according to legend, were paid in beer to provide security for the Rolling Stones.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0016_032375_1337_33.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48998"/><figcaption>Kezar Stadium, March 23, 1975. | Alvan Meyerowitz/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

Pompili, who served as the company’s security chief at a number of different venues said Graham had a maniacal focus on safety, which resulted in a number of innovations. One, according to Pompili, was the idea of rock show medicine. Graham, a longtime supporter of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, linked up with the facility to staff up the company’s major outdoor festival events like the annual Day on the Green at the Oakland Coliseum.&nbsp;

Pompili, who served as the company’s security chief at a number of different venues said Graham had a maniacal focus on safety, which resulted in a number of innovations. One, according to Pompili, was the idea of rock show medicine. Graham, a longtime supporter of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, linked up with the facility to staff up the company’s major outdoor festival events like the annual Day on the Green at the Oakland Coliseum.&nbsp;

“Based on the types of shows we were doing, we knew there was going to be drunks and overdoses, we realized that unless we did something someone was going to die,” Pompili said.&nbsp;

“Based on the types of shows we were doing, we knew there was going to be drunks and overdoses, we realized that unless we did something someone was going to die,” Pompili said.&nbsp;

When Graham recounts the stories of his earliest shows in his autobiography, the groovy psychedelic scenes make an appearance, but so do the pages and pages of notes he made on&nbsp; access and egress for the audience.

When Graham recounts the stories of his earliest shows in his autobiography, the groovy psychedelic scenes make an appearance, but so do the pages and pages of notes he made on&nbsp; access and egress for the audience.

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-the-dots">Connecting the Dots</h2>

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size" id="h-connecting-the-dots">Connecting the Dots</h2>

Back in the early days of rock &amp; roll, national tours were organized in a piecemeal fashion. It was a game of connect-the-dots with numerous promoters running individual fiefdoms in markets across the country. Graham turned that model on its head when he started promoting major national tours for stars like Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young, George Harrison and the Rolling Stones.

Back in the early days of rock &amp; roll, national tours were organized in a piecemeal fashion. It was a game of connect-the-dots with numerous promoters running individual fiefdoms in markets across the country. Graham turned that model on its head when he started promoting major national tours for stars like Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young, George Harrison and the Rolling Stones.

Graham’s approach—which some in the industry applauded but others disdained—involved cutting out talent agencies and booking shows directly with promoters in individual markets.&nbsp;

Graham’s approach—which some in the industry applauded but others disdained—involved cutting out talent agencies and booking shows directly with promoters in individual markets.&nbsp;

As rock music migrated from sweaty underground clubs to the mainstream through massive stadium tours, a technological shift was also necessary to amplify the music in a way that could be appreciated by fans in the nosebleeds. It’s widely recounted that the Beatles, who quit performing live at the end of their 1966 U.S. tour, did so in part because they couldn’t hear themselves over the incessant screaming of fans. The truth is that their fans were loud, but the soundsystems they played through were often woeully insufficient. The way Pompili tells it, at their final concert at Candlestick Park, the Fab Four were piped through the ballpark’s public announcement system, which was designed to tell fans it was time for the seventh inning stretch, not to faithfully render boundary-breaking sonic explorations of Revolver.

As rock music migrated from sweaty underground clubs to the mainstream through massive stadium tours, a technological shift was also necessary to amplify the music in a way that could be appreciated by fans in the nosebleeds. It’s widely recounted that the Beatles, who quit performing live at the end of their 1966 U.S. tour, did so in part because they couldn’t hear themselves over the incessant screaming of fans. The truth is that their fans were loud, but the soundsystems they played through were often woeully insufficient. The way Pompili tells it, at their final concert at Candlestick Park, the Fab Four were piped through the ballpark’s public announcement system, which was designed to tell fans it was time for the seventh inning stretch, not to faithfully render boundary-breaking sonic explorations of Revolver.

“In the old days the concert promoter just booked the venue and transported the band,” Fong-Torres explained. “It was perfunctory. It was disrespectful of both the artists and the fans.”

“In the old days the concert promoter just booked the venue and transported the band,” Fong-Torres explained. “It was perfunctory. It was disrespectful of both the artists and the fans.”

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0339_101076_01_05.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49031"/><figcaption>The Who at the Oakland Coliseum on Oct. 10, 1976. | Greg Gaar/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

To help usher in a new era of large, live rock shows, Graham launched FM Productions, which was one of the first companies dedicated to lighting, staging, sound and production for rock concerts.&nbsp;

To help usher in a new era of large, live rock shows, Graham launched FM Productions, which was one of the first companies dedicated to lighting, staging, sound and production for rock concerts.&nbsp;

It was at the Fillmore during this era where some of the earliest psychedelic light shows were developed and forever influenced how rock concerts were staged and presented.&nbsp;

It was at the Fillmore during this era where some of the earliest psychedelic light shows were developed and forever influenced how rock concerts were staged and presented.&nbsp;

Graham eventually controlled the entire concert promotions business in the Bay Area; the one piece that was missing was owning his own venue, which would give him extra leverage over the concert scene. His team eventually settled on the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, which they built on the site of a former landfill on the edge of the Bay by securing a loan from the city of Mountain View and cobbling together contributions from socialite Ann Getty and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.&nbsp;

Graham eventually controlled the entire concert promotions business in the Bay Area; the one piece that was missing was owning his own venue, which would give him extra leverage over the concert scene. His team eventually settled on the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, which they built on the site of a former landfill on the edge of the Bay by securing a loan from the city of Mountain View and cobbling together contributions from socialite Ann Getty and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.&nbsp;

By the 1980s, Bill Graham Enterprises had developed into a precursor of the major entertainment conglomerates live music fans will recognize today. There was Bill Graham Presents, which was focused on booking shows, but also a development arm and an artist management company. They even had a catering division called Fillmore Fingers and an internal marketing agency called Chutzpah Advertising.

By the 1980s, Bill Graham Enterprises had developed into a precursor of the major entertainment conglomerates live music fans will recognize today. There was Bill Graham Presents, which was focused on booking shows, but also a development arm and an artist management company. They even had a catering division called Fillmore Fingers and an internal marketing agency called Chutzpah Advertising.

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading" id="h-a-lasting-legacy">A Lasting Legacy</h2>

<h2 class="has-medium-font-size" id="h-a-lasting-legacy">A Lasting Legacy</h2>

And of course, there was Graham himself, who became the prototype for the hard-charging rock businessman. With a brash New York sensibility and a flair for the theatrical, he brought his unique persona to all of his productions. Graham, it is said, always wanted to be an actor.&nbsp;

And of course, there was Graham himself, who became the prototype for the hard-charging rock businessman. With a brash New York sensibility and a flair for the theatrical, he brought his unique persona to all of his productions. Graham, it is said, always wanted to be an actor.&nbsp;

He threatened, he cajoled, he convinced, he ball-busted, he exploded, he performed.

He threatened, he cajoled, he convinced, he ball-busted, he exploded, he performed.

He was noted for spending a portion of his profits in upgrading bands’ dressing rooms, wining and dining and entertaining the acts, and endearing himself to the artists he promoted, which allowed him to drive harder bargains.

He was noted for spending a portion of his profits in upgrading bands’ dressing rooms, wining and dining and entertaining the acts, and endearing himself to the artists he promoted, which allowed him to drive harder bargains.

“When Bill walked into a room he had a presence that was pretty heavy-duty,” said Rita Gentry, who spent two decades working at Bill Graham Presents. “He could be on the phone screaming ‘fuck you, fuck that’ and everything else in the world, but open the sliding door and ask really sweetly for me to do something.”

“When Bill walked into a room he had a presence that was pretty heavy-duty,” said Rita Gentry, who spent two decades working at Bill Graham Presents. “He could be on the phone screaming ‘fuck you, fuck that’ and everything else in the world, but open the sliding door and ask really sweetly for me to do something.”

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/0236_111100_03_35.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49019"/><figcaption>Wide shot of The Warfield, Nov. 11, 2000. | Jay Blakesberg/Retro Photo Archive</figcaption></figure>

There was a side of his personality formed by his childhood as an orphan who fled Nazi Germany. Friends and colleagues say Graham had a profound sense of fairness that bled into his desire to use his talents and business to do good. In fact, some of the first concerts he produced in San Francisco were meant to raise funds for the radical performance company, the San Francisco Mime Troupe.

There was a side of his personality formed by his childhood as an orphan who fled Nazi Germany. Friends and colleagues say Graham had a profound sense of fairness that bled into his desire to use his talents and business to do good. In fact, some of the first concerts he produced in San Francisco were meant to raise funds for the radical performance company, the San Francisco Mime Troupe.

As his production company began to take off, his ambitions became grander. Take 1975’s S.N.A.C.K. Sunday for example. After hearing that afterschool and sports programs at San Francisco Unified School District were being threatened by budget cuts, he quickly organized a benefit show at Kezar Stadium that featured musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joan Baez and Santana.

As his production company began to take off, his ambitions became grander. Take 1975’s S.N.A.C.K. Sunday for example. After hearing that afterschool and sports programs at San Francisco Unified School District were being threatened by budget cuts, he quickly organized a benefit show at Kezar Stadium that featured musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joan Baez and Santana.

Some three decades after his death, the people that knew Graham still speak of the gravitational pull of such a singular figure.

Some three decades after his death, the people that knew Graham still speak of the gravitational pull of such a singular figure.

“You know Bill has been dead for 30 years, but we still have a community of people who either worked directly in Bill’s companies or were touched by him in some way,” Bonnie Simmons said. “It could sometimes have its loud moments and its fractious moments, but we knew if Bill trusted you, he totally had your back.”

“You know Bill has been dead for 30 years, but we still have a community of people who either worked directly in Bill’s companies or were touched by him in some way,” Bonnie Simmons said. “It could sometimes have its loud moments and its fractious moments, but we knew if Bill trusted you, he totally had your back.”

‘Into The Mystic: A Visual History of Bay Area Rock Palaces’ can be viewed by appointment at The Standard’s event space. Contact <a href="mailto:meaghan@sfstandard.com">meaghan@sfstandard.com</a> to arrange a viewing.

‘Into The Mystic: A Visual History of Bay Area Rock Palaces’ can be viewed by appointment at The Standard’s event space. Contact <a href="mailto:meaghan@sfstandard.com">meaghan@sfstandard.com</a> to arrange a viewing.

Photos: How SF promoter Bill Graham built a rock & roll empire and changed the music industry in the process

Annie Gaus

Enrollment in San Francisco public schools hit the skids this year, raising concerns that the district&#8217;s funding will shrink as pandemic-related federal and state funding dries up. 

Enrollment in San Francisco public schools hit the skids this year, raising concerns that the district's funding will shrink as pandemic-related federal and state funding dries up.

Enrollment in San Francisco public schools hit the skids this year, raising concerns that the district&#8217;s funding will shrink as pandemic-related federal and state funding dries up.

At a budget meeting on Tuesday, district officials said that San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) lost 700 students during this school year, in addition to a decline of 1,000 recorded at the beginning of the year. Those students represent a drop of 3.2 percent year-over-year, and a notably larger reduction compared to prior years. By comparison, enrollment was roughly flat between 2018 and 2020, according to district data.&nbsp;

At a budget meeting on Tuesday, district officials said that San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) lost 700 students during this school year, in addition to a decline of 1,000 recorded at the beginning of the year. Those students represent a drop of 3.2 percent year-over-year, and a notably larger reduction compared to prior years. By comparison, enrollment was roughly flat between 2018 and 2020, according to district data.&nbsp;

Perhaps more striking was a nearly 10 percent drop in kindergarten enrollment, a change that “will carry over into future years,” said Lauren Koehler, a placement director at SFUSD.&nbsp;

Perhaps more striking was a nearly 10 percent drop in kindergarten enrollment, a change that “will carry over into future years,” said Lauren Koehler, a placement director at SFUSD.&nbsp;

The decline was most pronounced among white students, said Koehler, with a 55 percent <a href="https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/C3L3HT06FFC9/$file/21%20-%2006.02%20BBS%20Committee_Item%202%20Student%20Enrollment%20Trends_final.pdf">drop in enrollment</a> in that cohort. The zip codes with the largest declines in applications were the Excelsior, the Sunset, Twin Peaks and Glen Park. For kindergarten, those zip codes were in the Mission and Inner Richmond.

The decline was most pronounced among white students, said Koehler, with a 55 percent <a href="https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/C3L3HT06FFC9/$file/21%20-%2006.02%20BBS%20Committee_Item%202%20Student%20Enrollment%20Trends_final.pdf">drop in enrollment</a> in that cohort. The zip codes with the largest declines in applications were the Excelsior, the Sunset, Twin Peaks and Glen Park. For kindergarten, those zip codes were in the Mission and Inner Richmond.

“If we don’t bring our kids back and reach those original levels of enrollment, we do run the risk of seeing declining revenue for the 2022 and 2023 budgets,” said Meghan Wallace, chief financial officer at SFUSD. “We need to make sure we’re bringing students back, and monitoring enrollment trends.”&nbsp;

“If we don’t bring our kids back and reach those original levels of enrollment, we do run the risk of seeing declining revenue for the 2022 and 2023 budgets,” said Meghan Wallace, chief financial officer at SFUSD. “We need to make sure we’re bringing students back, and monitoring enrollment trends.”&nbsp;

Prior to the pandemic, SFUSD had forecast growth in enrollment <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GVnFHp3wJKv8gx74u6BydA3OiG0JKTb5/view">over the next decade</a>, with analysts projecting 5,000 additional students by 2030.&nbsp;

Prior to the pandemic, SFUSD had forecast growth in enrollment <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GVnFHp3wJKv8gx74u6BydA3OiG0JKTb5/view">over the next decade</a>, with analysts projecting 5,000 additional students by 2030.&nbsp;

However, a combination of general pandemic-related upheaval and deep frustration with SFUSD’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-school-reopening-plan-unions-stalled-vaccine/">slow reopening</a> appears to have driven a significant number of families out of the district, and perhaps in some cases out of San Francisco entirely. District officials said they hope to gather more data on housing, birth trends and private school enrollment to assess the likelihood of an enrollment recovery.&nbsp;

However, a combination of general pandemic-related upheaval and deep frustration with SFUSD’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-school-reopening-plan-unions-stalled-vaccine/">slow reopening</a> appears to have driven a significant number of families out of the district, and perhaps in some cases out of San Francisco entirely. District officials said they hope to gather more data on housing, birth trends and private school enrollment to assess the likelihood of an enrollment recovery.&nbsp;

One parent, who left the district in March, <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferSey/status/1397612121152704515">wrote on Twitter</a> that she moved her family 1,000 miles away to Denver so that her kindergartener could “access school, make friends &amp; enjoy learning.”&nbsp;

One parent, who left the district in March, <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferSey/status/1397612121152704515">wrote on Twitter</a> that she moved her family 1,000 miles away to Denver so that her kindergartener could “access school, make friends &amp; enjoy learning.”&nbsp;

Enrollment in SFUSD carries high stakes as the district stares down a budget deficit that is expected to widen in coming years.&nbsp;

Enrollment in SFUSD carries high stakes as the district stares down a budget deficit that is expected to widen in coming years.&nbsp;

For fiscal 2022, which ends in June of next year, the district expects a deficit of $100 million, which it described as “moderate.” That immediate deficit will likely be wiped out by one-time federal stimulus funds approved during the pandemic, but in subsequent years, the deficit will balloon to $122 million by 2024. The budget estimates do not account for any drop in enrollment.&nbsp;

For fiscal 2022, which ends in June of next year, the district expects a deficit of $100 million, which it described as “moderate.” That immediate deficit will likely be wiped out by one-time federal stimulus funds approved during the pandemic, but in subsequent years, the deficit will balloon to $122 million by 2024. The budget estimates do not account for any drop in enrollment.&nbsp;

“The moderate deficit is not moderate, that’s 10 percent of your budget,” said Elizabeth Kelly, a SFUSD parent who called into the meeting. “That’s pretty grim.”&nbsp;

“The moderate deficit is not moderate, that’s 10 percent of your budget,” said Elizabeth Kelly, a SFUSD parent who called into the meeting. “That’s pretty grim.”&nbsp;

Through a state system called the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), school district funding is determined by average daily attendance. The state opted to hold districts temporarily harmless for pandemic-related drops in enrollment, but will begin taking daily attendance into account in funding calculations in 2022.&nbsp;

Through a state system called the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), school district funding is determined by average daily attendance. The state opted to hold districts temporarily harmless for pandemic-related drops in enrollment, but will begin taking daily attendance into account in funding calculations in 2022.&nbsp;

For now, the district aims to boost enrollment by “rebuilding trust” in the system, according to Orla O’Keefe, head of policy and operations at SFUSD.&nbsp;The district plans to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-schools-full-return-fall-plan-new-start-times/">fully reopen schools </a>in the fall, albeit with new start times and a possible continuation of mask requirements.

For now, the district aims to boost enrollment by “rebuilding trust” in the system, according to Orla O’Keefe, head of policy and operations at SFUSD.&nbsp;The district plans to <a href="https://sfstandard.com/san-francisco-schools-full-return-fall-plan-new-start-times/">fully reopen schools </a>in the fall, albeit with new start times and a possible continuation of mask requirements.

On June 8, the district will present its budget proposal and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), or a documentation of spending plans required by the state, to the <a href="https://www.sfusd.edu/about-sfusd/board-education/board-education-meetings">Board of Education</a>. The Board of Education will review the budget on June 22, and the plan must then be submitted to the California Board of Education by July 1.

On June 8, the district will present its budget proposal and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), or a documentation of spending plans required by the state, to the <a href="https://www.sfusd.edu/about-sfusd/board-education/board-education-meetings">Board of Education</a>. The Board of Education will review the budget on June 22, and the plan must then be submitted to the California Board of Education by July 1.

SFUSD enrollment drops, exacerbating budget woes

Jesse Rogala

Ask the average person to name quintessential San Franciscan things off the top of their head and the list might look something like this—the Golden Gate bridge, ever-present fog, top-tier sourdough bread and that row of houses from the Full House intro.

Ask the average person to name quintessential San Franciscan things off the top of their head and the list might look something like this—the Golden Gate bridge, ever-present fog, top-tier sourdough bread and that row of houses from the Full House intro.

Ask a local, however, and the list might look a little different—heated arguments over the best burrito spot, Dolores Park on a sunny day, a fondly remembered game at Candlestick&#8230;and a man named David Miles Jr.

Ask a local, however, and the list might look a little different—heated arguments over the best burrito spot, Dolores Park on a sunny day, a fondly remembered game at Candlestick...and a man named David Miles Jr.

Ask a local, however, and the list might look a little different—heated arguments over the best burrito spot, Dolores Park on a sunny day, a fondly remembered game at Candlestick&#8230;and a man named David Miles Jr.

Admittedly, most might not know Miles by name, but San Francisco’s “Godfather of Skate” has been a beloved fixture of the city and the wider Bay Area for over 40 years. His deep-seated love for roller skating has seen him sweep down the steps inside City Hall, skate from San Francisco to Los Angeles more than 15 times for charity and create safe spaces for communal skating all over the city.&nbsp;

Admittedly, most might not know Miles by name, but San Francisco’s “Godfather of Skate” has been a beloved fixture of the city and the wider Bay Area for over 40 years. His deep-seated love for roller skating has seen him sweep down the steps inside City Hall, skate from San Francisco to Los Angeles more than 15 times for charity and create safe spaces for communal skating all over the city.&nbsp;

“Every time something’s going on with skating, I’m doing it,” Miles told Hear/Say. And the Godfather moniker? “I think it had to do with James Brown—people thought that I was the hardest-working man in roller skating and so they started calling me ‘The Godfather.’”

“Every time something’s going on with skating, I’m doing it,” Miles told Hear/Say. And the Godfather moniker? “I think it had to do with James Brown—people thought that I was the hardest-working man in roller skating and so they started calling me ‘The Godfather.’”

Miles’ hard work normalizing roller skating in San Francisco is on display every Friday night and Sunday afternoon when crowds converge at Skatin’ Place, an unassuming asphalt lot nestled between JFK Drive and Fulton St., opposite the Music Concourse. Roller skaters of all ages, backgrounds and abilities gather to glide in infinite counter-clockwise circles or attempt choreographed dances to music pumping from the P.A. system Miles provides. Other visitors to Skatin’ Place line the grassy slopes around the lot, watching the colorful show and sharing snacks and drinks.

Miles’ hard work normalizing roller skating in San Francisco is on display every Friday night and Sunday afternoon when crowds converge at Skatin’ Place, an unassuming asphalt lot nestled between JFK Drive and Fulton St., opposite the Music Concourse. Roller skaters of all ages, backgrounds and abilities gather to glide in infinite counter-clockwise circles or attempt choreographed dances to music pumping from the P.A. system Miles provides. Other visitors to Skatin’ Place line the grassy slopes around the lot, watching the colorful show and sharing snacks and drinks.

It has the easy feeling of a birthday party that happens to occur every weekend, or perhaps a family reunion that everyone is invited to—but Miles says it wasn’t always this way.

It has the easy feeling of a birthday party that happens to occur every weekend, or perhaps a family reunion that everyone is invited to—but Miles says it wasn’t always this way.

“We were not in their good graces,” Miles says, reflecting on city officials’ reactions to the early days of skating in the park. “You can say ‘prejudice’ and all, but that wasn’t it. It was more of a class thing.” In the beginning, roller skating, like most sports created without formal rules or designated practice areas, was considered the pastime of social outsiders and the rebellious youth—a far cry from the family-friendly sport it has evolved into. Earlier this year, Skatin’ Place even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmfcc50Xb-c&amp;ab_channel=DavidMilesJr.">welcomed Mayor London Breed</a> on a Sunday afternoon to help spread “rolligion,” as Miles calls it. “Now, the city basically accepts us. We’re an asset.”

“We were not in their good graces,” Miles says, reflecting on city officials’ reactions to the early days of skating in the park. “You can say ‘prejudice’ and all, but that wasn’t it. It was more of a class thing.” In the beginning, roller skating, like most sports created without formal rules or designated practice areas, was considered the pastime of social outsiders and the rebellious youth—a far cry from the family-friendly sport it has evolved into. Earlier this year, Skatin’ Place even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmfcc50Xb-c&amp;ab_channel=DavidMilesJr.">welcomed Mayor London Breed</a> on a Sunday afternoon to help spread “rolligion,” as Miles calls it. “Now, the city basically accepts us. We’re an asset.”

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SP_1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3351"/><figcaption>Skatin&#8217; Place in Golden Gate Park. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SP_1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3351"/><figcaption>Skatin' Place in Golden Gate Park. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SP_1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3351"/><figcaption>Skatin&#8217; Place in Golden Gate Park. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

Miles’ San Francisco journey actually starts in Kansas City, where he was working as a bricklayer in the 1970s, making good money but caught in a bad relationship and searching for a way to begin a new life. His mother had recently moved to San Francisco, and after hearing her descriptions of the West Coast, Miles followed her without looking back.&nbsp;

Miles’ San Francisco journey actually starts in Kansas City, where he was working as a bricklayer in the 1970s, making good money but caught in a bad relationship and searching for a way to begin a new life. His mother had recently moved to San Francisco, and after hearing her descriptions of the West Coast, Miles followed her without looking back.&nbsp;

“I caught the bus, came out here, [and] they dropped me off on 6th and Market,” Miles says with a laugh. “You ever been down 6th and Market? Put it this way—I wasn’t impressed. At all.”

“I caught the bus, came out here, [and] they dropped me off on 6th and Market,” Miles says with a laugh. “You ever been down 6th and Market? Put it this way—I wasn’t impressed. At all.”

Soon enough though, Miles found his way to Golden Gate Park. “I saw four people go by on roller skates and said, ‘Wow. They let people skate out here?’” Miles remembers. “And they go, “Oh yeah, there’s lots of roller skaters, every Sunday the park’s closed to car traffic.’ I’m like, ‘Wow, okay cool, I’ll come check it out.’”&nbsp;

Soon enough though, Miles found his way to Golden Gate Park. “I saw four people go by on roller skates and said, ‘Wow. They let people skate out here?’” Miles remembers. “And they go, “Oh yeah, there’s lots of roller skaters, every Sunday the park’s closed to car traffic.’ I’m like, ‘Wow, okay cool, I’ll come check it out.’”&nbsp;

“It’s been 42 years. I might have missed 20 [Sundays] in that whole time. But from that moment on, I was hooked.”

“It’s been 42 years. I might have missed 20 [Sundays] in that whole time. But from that moment on, I was hooked.”

Miles had found his new life and a brand new family that came with it. Every day after work, Miles would strap on his wheels and meet other skaters at the Bandshell on the western edge of the Museum Concourse. The scene drew a certain type of person, according to Miles: folks looking to find a safe space to express themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin. But not everyone appreciated the gaggle of skaters practicing moves or sharing a beer or two in the park. The “museum people,” as Miles calls them, (specifically the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum) felt that the boisterous skaters were disruptive to the area. They wanted to remove them.

Miles had found his new life and a brand new family that came with it. Every day after work, Miles would strap on his wheels and meet other skaters at the Bandshell on the western edge of the Museum Concourse. The scene drew a certain type of person, according to Miles: folks looking to find a safe space to express themselves and feel comfortable in their own skin. But not everyone appreciated the gaggle of skaters practicing moves or sharing a beer or two in the park. The “museum people,” as Miles calls them, (specifically the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum) felt that the boisterous skaters were disruptive to the area. They wanted to remove them.

But then, something surprising happened. Instead of a brute force eviction, the museums teamed up with the San Francisco Recreation &amp; Parks Department to encourage Miles and his friends to join the first ever <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/oursf/article/The-legend-of-the-Skate-Patrol-guardians-of-14086452.php">Skate Patrol</a>. Enforcing no-skate areas, keeping the peace and administering first aid, the Skate Patrol, Rec and Parks promised, would help the general public accept skaters and prevent a blanket ban on skating. Miles became the group’s de facto leader after an impromptu election at a nearby bar on Geary St.—and the Godfather of Skate was born.

But then, something surprising happened. Instead of a brute force eviction, the museums teamed up with the San Francisco Recreation &amp; Parks Department to encourage Miles and his friends to join the first ever <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/oursf/article/The-legend-of-the-Skate-Patrol-guardians-of-14086452.php">Skate Patrol</a>. Enforcing no-skate areas, keeping the peace and administering first aid, the Skate Patrol, Rec and Parks promised, would help the general public accept skaters and prevent a blanket ban on skating. Miles became the group’s de facto leader after an impromptu election at a nearby bar on Geary St.—and the Godfather of Skate was born.

“I’m a military guy. I’m going to put you into squads,” Miles remembers thinking. “We’re going to get trained in first aid, certified in CPR, and we’re going to be a real force. Not just a motley crew running around roller skating. And from there, we started representing.”

“I’m a military guy. I’m going to put you into squads,” Miles remembers thinking. “We’re going to get trained in first aid, certified in CPR, and we’re going to be a real force. Not just a motley crew running around roller skating. And from there, we started representing.”

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GFS_5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3374"/><figcaption>David Miles, Jr. at Skatin&#8217; Place on a Friday evening. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GFS_5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3374"/><figcaption>David Miles, Jr. at Skatin' Place on a Friday evening. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GFS_5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3374"/><figcaption>David Miles, Jr. at Skatin&#8217; Place on a Friday evening. | Photo by Jesse Rogala</figcaption></figure>

The rest is history. Miles and the growing roller skate community championed a variety of causes they believed aligned with their 8-wheel ideals, like multiple skating events for charity, mobile roller rinks that traveled to Burning Man and the Electric Daisy Carnival and a decades-long campaign to make JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgqszgQdidE&amp;ab_channel=HereSayMedia">permanently car-free</a>. They even had a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0niuQjJmGM">public access show</a> chronicling their Sunday skating at Skatin’ Place.

The rest is history. Miles and the growing roller skate community championed a variety of causes they believed aligned with their 8-wheel ideals, like multiple skating events for charity, mobile roller rinks that traveled to Burning Man and the Electric Daisy Carnival and a decades-long campaign to make JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgqszgQdidE&amp;ab_channel=HereSayMedia">permanently car-free</a>. They even had a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0niuQjJmGM">public access show</a> chronicling their Sunday skating at Skatin’ Place.

“My whole thing is—let’s show them skating’s good,” Miles says. “I’ve basically been doing that ever since—trying to show the power that they’ve got nothing to fear from us. We just want to have a good time.”

“My whole thing is—let’s show them skating’s good,” Miles says. “I’ve basically been doing that ever since—trying to show the power that they’ve got nothing to fear from us. We just want to have a good time.”

Today, Miles and the roller skating community are seen as an asset and a uniquely San Franciscan feature, embraced by both city government and residents alike. When MIles isn’t running his current venture, a renovated church-turned-roller rink in the Lower Haight called, unsurprisingly, the <a href="http://www.churchof8wheels.com/">Church of 8 Wheels</a>, every Friday night and Sunday afternoon you can find him at Skatin’ Place, meeting old friends and sharing his love of roller skating with a new generation. Just look for the man dressed in bright colors and a top hat, waving a microphone like a drum major for a neon-colored circular parade.

Today, Miles and the roller skating community are seen as an asset and a uniquely San Franciscan feature, embraced by both city government and residents alike. When MIles isn’t running his current venture, a renovated church-turned-roller rink in the Lower Haight called, unsurprisingly, the <a href="http://www.churchof8wheels.com/">Church of 8 Wheels</a>, every Friday night and Sunday afternoon you can find him at Skatin’ Place, meeting old friends and sharing his love of roller skating with a new generation. Just look for the man dressed in bright colors and a top hat, waving a microphone like a drum major for a neon-colored circular parade.

“Get out there and live life,” Miles asserts when asked about his personal roller skating philosophy. “It might not be skating for you, maybe it’s something else. But it’s that special energy that you need to survive, that makes your life feel worthwhile. You’ve got to find it. I found it in skating, and I’m going to stick with it forever. It’s the key to my life.”

“Get out there and live life,” Miles asserts when asked about his personal roller skating philosophy. “It might not be skating for you, maybe it’s something else. But it’s that special energy that you need to survive, that makes your life feel worthwhile. You’ve got to find it. I found it in skating, and I’m going to stick with it forever. It’s the key to my life.”

The hardest-working man in roller skating: Meet San Francisco’s ‘Godfather of Skate’

Sarah Wright

Students approach Daniela Oropeza every day, asking her for advice, comfort and to share their stories of being sexually assaulted or harassed during or after school. But she’s not a trained therapist or Title IX officer. She’s a 12th grader at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.&nbsp;

Students approach Daniela Oropeza every day, asking her for advice, comfort and to share their stories of being sexually assaulted or harassed during or after school. But she’s not a trained therapist or Title IX officer. She’s a 12th grader at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.&nbsp;

Oropeza, who organized a school walkout to protest the way the district handles sexual assault and harassment cases this month, said her peers trust her far more than they do the school’s teachers or administration with their stories, and with their search for closure and justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oropeza, who organized a school walkout to protest the way the district handles sexual assault and harassment cases this month, said her peers trust her far more than they do the school’s teachers or administration with their stories, and with their search for closure and justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She’s one of dozens of students calling attention to sexual assault and harassment on local high school campuses, and who say school administrators haven’t done enough to keep kids safe at school.&nbsp;

She’s one of dozens of students calling attention to sexual assault and harassment on local high school campuses, and who say school administrators haven’t done enough to keep kids safe at school.&nbsp;

Oropeza said she alerted the San Francisco Unified School District Student Advisory Council, a panel that represents student interests to the school district, and other student leaders about her plans to protest earlier this month. Word got out at other campuses, setting off a chain reaction of protests and letter-writing campaigns among student organizers across the city.&nbsp;

Oropeza said she alerted the San Francisco Unified School District Student Advisory Council, a panel that represents student interests to the school district, and other student leaders about her plans to protest earlier this month. Word got out at other campuses, setting off a chain reaction of protests and letter-writing campaigns among student organizers across the city.&nbsp;

The students say at every step of the way, the onus has been on them to advocate for their own safety. Even the district’s Title IX policy, which instructs students to file a formal complaint in cases of sexual assault, leaves victims on their own in the reporting process. Once an investigation culminates in a report, all parties can respond before a final decision is made. Students say this process can be retraumatizing, especially if they are asked to sit with their attacker or rehash the details of their assault. Instead, students are opting to take photos of their own sexual assault reports and gather their own evidence instead of engaging with the district’s case system, student leaders said.&nbsp;

The students say at every step of the way, the onus has been on them to advocate for their own safety. Even the district’s Title IX policy, which instructs students to file a formal complaint in cases of sexual assault, leaves victims on their own in the reporting process. Once an investigation culminates in a report, all parties can respond before a final decision is made. Students say this process can be retraumatizing, especially if they are asked to sit with their attacker or rehash the details of their assault. Instead, students are opting to take photos of their own sexual assault reports and gather their own evidence instead of engaging with the district’s case system, student leaders said.&nbsp;

Now, they’re organizing walkouts at school, calling meetings with administrators and even launching an effort to design new curricula for health classes. So far, the students say none of it has been enough to elicit a real response or any tangible action from adults.

Now, they’re organizing walkouts at school, calling meetings with administrators and even launching an effort to design new curricula for health classes. So far, the students say none of it has been enough to elicit a real response or any tangible action from adults.

“We’re students,” said Lowell senior Adrianna Zhang. “We’re not supposed to be doing this. This isn’t our job.”

“We’re students,” said Lowell senior Adrianna Zhang. “We’re not supposed to be doing this. This isn’t our job.”

SFUSD did not provide information on sexual assaults or Title IX cases in the district and pointed to a copy of its Title IX policy when reached for comment. Student activists say they haven’t seen any data either, but also speculate that many cases likely go unreported. Zhang, who serves as chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission, said schools’ mandatory reporting rules—meaning staff are required by law to report any suspected or actual child abuse to law enforcement—can serve as a deterrent. Instead, students turn to social media, to their friends or to student leaders like Oropeza to share their stories.&nbsp;

SFUSD did not provide information on sexual assaults or Title IX cases in the district and pointed to a copy of its Title IX policy when reached for comment. Student activists say they haven’t seen any data either, but also speculate that many cases likely go unreported. Zhang, who serves as chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission, said schools’ mandatory reporting rules—meaning staff are required by law to report any suspected or actual child abuse to law enforcement—can serve as a deterrent. Instead, students turn to social media, to their friends or to student leaders like Oropeza to share their stories.&nbsp;

Oropeza says she is a survivor of sexual assault since middle school—although she didn’t realize it at the time of the incident—and describes her and her classmates’ experiences as part of a larger “rape culture” across local campuses. According to student leaders, changes to Title IX under former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, which enshrined the presumption that perpetrators are innocent, exacerbated the problem.&nbsp;

Oropeza says she is a survivor of sexual assault since middle school—although she didn’t realize it at the time of the incident—and describes her and her classmates’ experiences as part of a larger “rape culture” across local campuses. According to student leaders, changes to Title IX under former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, which enshrined the presumption that perpetrators are innocent, exacerbated the problem.&nbsp;

The student walkouts have renewed an effort among students to push tangible changes to city and district policies. Oropeza is working to organize a district-wide protest in early December, while the San Francisco Youth Commission and SFUSD Student Advisory Council are working on specific Title IX reforms while calling city leaders to action.

The student walkouts have renewed an effort among students to push tangible changes to city and district policies. Oropeza is working to organize a district-wide protest in early December, while the San Francisco Youth Commission and SFUSD Student Advisory Council are working on specific Title IX reforms while calling city leaders to action.

Rhea Iyer, President, SFUSD Student Advisory Council; Joanna Lam, Student Delegate to the Board of Education, SFUSD Student Advisory Council; Adrianna Zhang, Chair, San Francisco Youth Commission; and Ewan Barker Plummer, Commissioner, San Francisco Youth Commission, pose in Lakeside Landing in Ingleside District on November 23, 2021. | Camille Cohen

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Student-leaders-COLOR-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16844"/><figcaption>Rhea Iyer, President, SFUSD Student Advisory Council;&nbsp;Joanna Lam, Student Delegate to the Board of Education, SFUSD Student Advisory Council;&nbsp;Adrianna Zhang, Chair, San Francisco Youth Commission;&nbsp;and Ewan Barker Plummer, Commissioner, San Francisco Youth Commission, pose in Lakeside Landing in Ingleside District on November 23, 2021. | Camille Cohen</figcaption></figure>

One of the groups’ first initiatives was to draft a letter to the superintendent, the school district and the Board of Education that demands greater transparency and changes to the way Title IX cases are executed at local schools. In the letter, the students call for more support for students filing incidents that occur off campus, and for rules that bar those accused from interacting with victims in class, extracurriculars or otherwise.&nbsp;

One of the groups’ first initiatives was to draft a letter to the superintendent, the school district and the Board of Education that demands greater transparency and changes to the way Title IX cases are executed at local schools. In the letter, the students call for more support for students filing incidents that occur off campus, and for rules that bar those accused from interacting with victims in class, extracurriculars or otherwise.&nbsp;

On Monday, the Youth Commission passed a resolution echoing the letter’s stances and calling on city leaders to exercise their departmental duties to help youth survivors. The group is also asking the Board of Supervisors to restart the Safer Schools Sexual Assault Task Force, a team of experts and researchers that operated for two years in 2016 and 2017, but this time with greater input from youth.&nbsp;

On Monday, the Youth Commission passed a resolution echoing the letter’s stances and calling on city leaders to exercise their departmental duties to help youth survivors. The group is also asking the Board of Supervisors to restart the Safer Schools Sexual Assault Task Force, a team of experts and researchers that operated for two years in 2016 and 2017, but this time with greater input from youth.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the SFUSD Student Advisory Council is asking the district to reform its health curriculum to deter sexual assault and boost support for survivors.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the SFUSD Student Advisory Council is asking the district to reform its health curriculum to deter sexual assault and boost support for survivors.&nbsp;

Photos: How SF promoter Bill Graham built a rock & roll empire and changed the music industry in the process

SFUSD enrollment drops, exacerbating budget woes

The hardest-working man in roller skating: Meet San Francisco’s ‘Godfather of Skate’

SF high school students sound the alarm on sexual assault, harassment on campus

New SF domestic worker law could lay the groundwork for a new type of employee benefits

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Photos: How SF promoter Bill Graham built a rock & roll empire and changed the music industry in the process

SFUSD enrollment drops, exacerbating budget woes

The hardest-working man in roller skating: Meet San Francisco’s ‘Godfather of Skate’

SF high school students sound the alarm on sexual assault, harassment on campus

New SF domestic worker law could lay the groundwork for a new type of employee benefits