Today from Mission Local

Good morning!

We’ve got a great interview with Blake Benthall, the software engineer behind the drug site Silk Road, who was arrested in the Mission ten years ago. Now Benthall’s got a cryptocurrency startup, and one of the FBI agents who arrested him is an investor. We accompany him as he revisits old SF friends and the scene of the crime.

Money, money, money. In just the last seven days, close to $5 million was raised for SF races, bringing the total so far to an astonishing $32,595,515.ย  Two billionaires re-upped their donations: Former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $1 millionย more to the PAC for Mayorย London Breed, and Michael Moritz, the Together SF backer, gave $1.5 million to Prop D, which would boost mayoral power and cut city commissions. Follow the money to see who else is giving.

Money isn’t the only thing that wins elections. In See how they run, we watch an organizer for mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin as he teaches volunteers how to talk to strangers. Eavesdrop with H.R. Smith to get the basics of doorknocking โ€”and the story about Peskin’s arrest at the garlic fries stand at Oracle Parkย .

More soon,

Sara

The Latest News

A man with short hair leans against a wall outdoors in a residential neighborhood, looking to the right. Cars are parked along the street, and houses and trees are in the background.

Former Silk Road operator revisits the scene of the crimeย 

“Iโ€™m just a tech geek that thought it would be fun to jump into this weird dark net drug lord career.”

Election 2024

Two men are pictured: the one on the left wearing a suit and red tie, and the one on the right in a white shirt standing in front of a backdrop with logos.

Bloomberg drops $1M on Breed, Moritz puts $1.5M into charter reform

And Daniel Lurie gave his own campaign another $850,000.

Canvassers for the Peskin campaign in Rossi Park on Monday September 3, 2024.

See how they run: The Peskin campaign talks to strangers

“When there are two of you, it gives off a Mormon vibe.”

SNAP

Wall painting of a person with green goggles, a respirator mask, headphones, and a scarf. The graffiti background includes geometric and abstract shapes in various colors like purple, blue, and yellow.

What’s up

By Michael Santiago

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Volunteer and author of the daily newsletter. I'm a writer whoโ€™s covered wars, politics, and religion. Iโ€™ve lived in the Mission for over 30 years, and have appreciated the work of Mission Local since it began.