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Mayor Lurie Appoints City Hall Outsider Jake Berliner to Lead New Office of Management and Budget

Mayor Lurie Appoints City Hall Outsider Jake Berliner to Lead New Office of Management and Budget

Mayor Daniel Lurie has appointed Jake Berliner, a partner at the consulting firm McKinsey and Company, to head San Francisco's new Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This new office replaces the Mayor’s Budget Office. Berliner, who is considered a City Hall outsider, faces the immediate challenge of mastering the city's intricate budget processes to deliver an updated financial projection by the end of the year and a balanced budget by June 1, 2027. He replaces Sophia Kittler, a City Hall insider and a holdover from Mayor London Breed’s administration. Mayor Lurie stated that Berliner's 'outsider’s perspective' will be valuable in 'redesigning the budget process.' Berliner's background includes 13 years at McKinsey, where he focused on complex financial and operational change for education providers, state governments, and philanthropies. He has also served on the Board of Trustees at Gateway, a public school, and previously worked for former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former US Senator Di...

San Francisco City Hall Hosts Inaugural Diwali Celebration with Mayor Daniel Lurie

San Francisco City Hall Hosts Inaugural Diwali Celebration with Mayor Daniel Lurie

San Francisco City Hall Hosts Inaugural Diwali Celebration with Mayor Daniel Lurie

Film 'Being Heumann' to Depict Landmark Disability Rights Activism in the U.S.

Film 'Being Heumann' to Depict Landmark Disability Rights Activism in the U.S.

The film 'Being Heumann,' directed and co-written by Academy Award-winning Sian Heder, is set for a limited theatrical release on November 6th and will stream exclusively on Apple TV starting November 13th. The movie is based on the memoir of Judith Heumann, an internationally recognized American Disability Rights activist often referred to as 'The mother of the disability rights movement.' The narrative centers on Heumann's efforts to ensure the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a pivotal provision that explicitly prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program or activity receiving federal funding. The film recounts the 1977 occupation of a federal building by a coalition of disabled individuals, which became the longest such occupation in American history, ultimately leading to action from bureaucrat Joseph Califano to sign the bill.

Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien Film 'Being Heumann' Released to Critical Acclaim

Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien Film 'Being Heumann' Released to Critical Acclaim

Mark Ruffalo and Dylan O'Brien Film 'Being Heumann' Released to Critical Acclaim

Mark Ruffalo Portrays Bureaucrat in 'Being Heumann,' a Film on Disability Rights Occupation

Mark Ruffalo Portrays Bureaucrat in 'Being Heumann,' a Film on Disability Rights Occupation

Mark Ruffalo Portrays Bureaucrat in 'Being Heumann,' a Film on Disability Rights Occupation

Bryan Stevenson Curates Films for Inaugural 'Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party' Festival Highlighting Global Justice Issues

Bryan Stevenson Curates Films for Inaugural 'Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party' Festival Highlighting Global Justice Issues

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and a law professor at New York University, is serving as a guest film curator for the inaugural 'Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party' festival. The two-day event, co-hosted by filmmaker Spike Lee and New York Liberty/Brooklyn Nets owner Clara Wu Tsai, will take place from November 6-7 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Stevenson has selected films such as Mira Nair’s 'Salaam Bombay!' (1988) and Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s 'City of God' (2002) for screening. His choices aim to draw connections between global storytelling and the challenges within the U.S. criminal legal system, particularly focusing on systemic poverty, street violence, and the experiences of marginalized children. Stevenson, known for his civil rights work defending children prosecuted as adults, fighting mass incarceration, and challenging the death penalty, emphasizes that these films explore the humanity of individuals beyond their worst mistakes.

Josh Brolin Receives Oscar Nomination for Role in Gus Van Sant's 'Milk'

Josh Brolin Receives Oscar Nomination for Role in Gus Van Sant's 'Milk'

Josh Brolin Receives Oscar Nomination for Role in Gus Van Sant's 'Milk'

Kino Lorber to Release 'Soul Patrol' Documentary in Theaters, Highlighting Black Vietnam Veterans' Experiences

Kino Lorber to Release 'Soul Patrol' Documentary in Theaters, Highlighting Black Vietnam Veterans' Experiences

Kino Lorber, an independent film distribution company, is set to release the documentary 'Soul Patrol' in theaters. The film, directed by J.M. Harper, will open at the IFC Center in New York on November 6, with subsequent screenings beginning November 13 in Los Angeles and other markets. 'Soul Patrol' revisits the experiences of Black soldiers who served in a Vietnam War special operations unit, focusing on their service abroad and the racial inequality they encountered upon returning to the United States. The documentary is based on a memoir by veteran Ed Emanuel and features participants such as Jesse Lewis Jr. and Mark Miller. It incorporates interviews with surviving veterans, personal photographs, Super 8 footage, and audio recordings to tell its story. The film has already received recognition, earning the U.S. Documentary Directing Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Its runtime is 100 minutes, offering a comprehensive look into this often-overlooked chapter of military history.

Macklemore Says Nine U.S. Venues Turned Down ‘Free Palestine’ Tour: ‘They Got Me F-cked Up’

Macklemore Says Nine U.S. Venues Turned Down ‘Free Palestine’ Tour: ‘They Got Me F-cked Up’

The rapper performed three sold-out shows in Europe with special guests in support of organizations providing aid to Gaza, but says bringing the tour stateside has been more challenging

The Asia Foundation Announces 2027 Development Fellows Program with U.S. Component

The Asia Foundation Announces 2027 Development Fellows Program with U.S. Component

The Asia Foundation has opened applications for its 2027 Development Fellows Program, a year-long leadership initiative for young professionals and emerging leaders from Asia and the Pacific. This program aims to enhance leadership capabilities, deepen understanding of development challenges, and foster an international network of practitioners. The 2027 cohort, limited to 10 individuals, will participate in intensive leadership training and a study tour in Japan from March 11-20, 2027. A significant component of the fellowship includes a Leadership Dialogue and Exchange Program in the United States, specifically in San Francisco, California, from November 7-18, 2027. Fellows will also receive a professional development award of up to US$2,500 and benefit from coaching and mentorship. The program is designed to allow participants to remain in their current professional roles while attending scheduled activities. The application deadline for the 2027 cohort is December 1, 2026, with selections announced in ...

Pennsylvania Senate Resolution Honors Legacy of Civil Rights and Labor Leader Dolores Clara Fernández Huerta

Pennsylvania Senate Resolution Honors Legacy of Civil Rights and Labor Leader Dolores Clara Fernández Huerta

The Pennsylvania Senate has introduced Senate Resolution 414, recognizing the significant contributions of Dolores Clara Fernández Huerta. Born in 1930 in New Mexico and raised in California, Ms. Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers of America) with César Chávez in 1962. Prior to this, in 1960, she established the Agricultural Workers Association, focusing on voter registration and community improvement. Throughout her career, Ms. Huerta was instrumental in organizing agricultural workers, negotiating labor agreements, and advocating for fair wages, improved working conditions, workplace safety, and the right to collective bargaining. She played a pivotal role in nationwide grape boycotts and other nonviolent campaigns, drawing national attention to the plight of agricultural laborers. Her advocacy extended to civil rights, women's equality, immigrant rights, and educational opportunities, emphasizing the importance of civic participation for underrepresent...

Lincoln Memorial Continues to Symbolize Unity and Equality in U.S. History

Lincoln Memorial Continues to Symbolize Unity and Equality in U.S. History

The Lincoln Memorial, located at the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., remains a prominent symbol of unity, equality, and American democracy. Designed by architect Henry Bacon and completed in 1922, the neoclassical monument draws inspiration from classical Greek architecture, particularly the Parthenon. It features 36 massive Doric columns, representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of President Lincoln’s death in 1865. At its center is a large seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, portraying him in a calm and thoughtful pose. Behind the statue are inscriptions of his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address, both emphasizing national healing and unity. The memorial's design, utilizing white marble and open space, creates a sense of dignity and reflection, with its alignment to the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument enhancing its visual impact. The monument is managed by the National Park Service and attracts millions of visitors annu...