Trees, solidarity, and Latina artists

Good afternoon! It’s great to see the sun again.

Following the ferocious storm earlier this week, the city received a record 662 reports of fallen trees, according to 311 data. Will Jarrett, our data decoder, is careful to explain that 311 calls are an imperfect way of gauging storm damage, as some trees reported “fallen” may be badly damaged but still standing, some calls may be duplicates, and some downed trees might not have been reported. Still, he says, Tuesday’s storm almost certainly smashed records for the number of trees it felled –and the Mission was the neighborhood with the most reports of downed and broken trees.

Why was the damage so severe? A unexpectedly rapid decrease in air pressure? Climate change? Those controversial ficus trees? Look at our map to learn where trees have fallen or been badly damaged over the last few months of heavy weather in San Francisco. Then get ready: another storm with strong winds is possible next Tuesday.

As the city cleaned up, the 2023 Game Developers Conference saw a moment of labor solidarity. A group of video game workers, most of them members of the Communication Workers of America, delivered a letter to the manager of the Third and Howard Street Starbucks expressing their support for the baristas’ attempts to unionize. “‘The manager accepted our letter, not super hyped about it,” said Autumn Mitchell, a Microsoft employee. “But hopefully there will be some reconsideration and a passing on of the message, which is ‘let workers unionize.’”

The Mission Cultural Center is celebrating its 36th “Solo Mujeres” exhibition, with paintings, photographs, and multimedia pieces from generations of Latina artists. Works include art from Daniela Oropeza, who attended the summer arts program at the Center and graduated from high school this year, and Maria Esther Garcia, 78, a local poet and community leader. This weekend will be packed with events, including a Sunday brunch at 11a.m.

Heads up: In July 2024, the Center will have to move out of the Mission Street building so it can be retrofitted. “This building is huge,” says director Martina Ayala, “and it’s going to be hard for us to find a place for the theater, a gallery, a print shop, and dance and music and art studios,” If anyone has an empty storefront or building, the Center would love to hear from you.

Enjoy the weekend,

Sara