What I Wanted to Be
Mission Local reporters ask people what they wanted to be, and what they are now.
Alissa Figueroa
Alissa studied everything Latin America in college and later spent a couple years helping homeless folks maneuver New York City's social service bureaucracies. So it's fitting that she now covers city services in the Mission District. She loves community reporting and eating burritos, and is very happy to be doing both here.
Stories by Alissa
Spray of Light: Redemption in Graffiti
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
A 19-year-old Mission resident finds an escape from gang life through aerosol art.
Last Call for the 26-Valencia
By Alissa Figueroa and Deia De Brito, Posted
The 26-Valencia becomes a casualty of Muni budget cuts as it picks up its final passengers today.
The Waste Land
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
A day in the life of Mission's biggest recycling center. En Español
Thousands in Equipment Stolen from Youth Program
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
A plan to move a popular youth program results in theft and leaves some kids without after-school options. En Español
“There is no Tolerance of Any Violent Conduct,” Says New Captain
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
Stabbing not a sign of rising gang violence says new Mission Police Captain.
Stabbing at 16th and Mission
By Alissa Figueroa and Deia de Brito, Posted
The victim was stabbed after exiting a Muni bus. "Without a lot of work, people don't have much to do," said one rider.
When Revolution Brewed on 24th Street
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
La Boheme Cafe has been a mainstay on 24th Street for more than three decades. But as the street has changed, so have the coffeeshop's...
Mission Muralists @ de Young
By Deia de Brito and Alissa Figueroa, Posted
The de Young Museum celebrates Street Art San Francisco: Mission Muralismo with a book signing, music and fun.
FM Pirates Pushed off the Air
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
Mission-based Pirate Cat Radio responds to $10K FCC fine by going off air, but does broadcast radio matter in the Internet age?
For One Night Writers Ruled
By Alissa Figueroa and Nancy López, Posted
Thousands of readers and writers flocked to the Mission for LitCrawl on Saturday.
Proposal Would Add Hours to Mission Meters
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
The commercial corridor decries the plan as bad for business.
SMW 10.11.09
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
It was a chilly day in the Mission, but soccer games, stoop sales and dog walks still happened.
Gangs, Colors and Teen Life
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
Some Mission residents avoid wearing gang colors. For others, it's not an issue.
Cuts Push Families to Edge
By Alissa Figueroa Posted
Families struggle to live off diminishing grants from the state’s welfare to work program.