Sign in

Joe Eskenazi

@esksf.bsky.social
1.1K followers 109 following 40 posts

Editor + columnist @missionlocal.org joinsubtext.com/joe missionlocal.org/author/joee/ Joe.Eskenazi AT MissionLocal DOT com 2019 SPJ NorCal journalist of the year "Made it Ma! Top of the world!"

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 3h
Breaking: The FBI today cracked the giant antique safe left behind at San Francisco fixer Walter Wong's former HQ, now the offices of adult film company Kink dot Com. And within it: missionlocal.org/2026/09/fbi-...
missionlocal.org
FBI cracks giant safe discovered at San Francisco fixer Walter Wong's former HQ
Antique safe, discovered after a tip from Mission Local, is popped open in 15 minutes by ‘certified master safe-cracker’ as federal agents look on.
86920
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 28/09/2026
“We have a cult of radicalized billionaires who believe it is their destiny to rule the 21st century…They know our system is for sale…not only in San Francisco but in Washington.” Read @esksf.bsky.social on how tech oligarchs bought San Francisco. missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco's wealthiest have unprecedented control of city politics
Our city fathers (if you like them) or oligarchs (if you don’t) have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker opposition
1255104
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 28/09/2026
San Francisco's richest have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker political opposition — going back to the Gold Rush. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco's wealthiest have unprecedented control of city politics
Our city fathers (if you like them) or oligarchs (if you don’t) have never been richer, more brazen or faced weaker opposition
42814
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 28/09/2026
Eligible Hong Kongers are protected from deportation by presidential directive. But ICE detained Ho Yin Mo anyway — puzzling and terrifying his fellow Hong Kong immigrants. missionlocal.org/2026/09/ho-y...
missionlocal.org
Ho Yin Mo’s ICE detention puzzles, frightens Hong Kong community in the U.S.
A presidential directive protects Hong Kongers from deportation. Mo’s arrest has left others fearing it won’t keep them out of ICE detention.
38849
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 27/09/2026
Christine Pelosi says she will never run against Connie Chan for Congress. She dismissed speculation that her mother, Nancy Pelosi, is backing Chan to keep the seat warm for her. missionlocal.org/2026/09/chri...
missionlocal.org
Christine Pelosi vows not to ‘ever’ run against Connie Chan, quashing rumors
Christine Pelosi says she is running for state senate, not against Connie Chan, and disputes rumors about Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement.
573
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Martha Bridegam @mbridegam.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
In which @esksf.bsky.social conducts an exploration worthy of Joe Mitchell through a vortex of uniquely San Francisco batshit.
077
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 25/09/2026
San Francisco has, at long last, revealed two potential successor names for Cesar Chavez St. Here they are: missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco unveils two new names for Cesar Chavez Street
Cesar Chavez Street in San Francisco could become either "Sí Se Puede" or "Las Campesinas" after sexual assault allegations.
6183
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 24/09/2026
The San Francisco Unified School District confirmed that its executive director for labor relations, a former middle school principal, was indicted in New Mexico over allegations of criminal sexual contact with a minor. missionlocal.org/2026/09/sfus...
missionlocal.org
SFUSD exec indicted in New Mexico for alleged criminal sexual activity with child
District labor head is on leave — previously served as principal and assistant principal in San Francisco middle schools
31412
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 23/09/2026
The entire San Francisco Board of Supervisors signed a letter demanding Ho Yin Mo's release. ICE detained Mo, an aide to Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani and former London Breed campaign staffer, at a Las Vegas airport last week. missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco elected officials call for feds to release Ho Yin Mo, detained assembly legislative aide
Former Chinese-language TV anchor, detained last week at Vegas airport, works for Assemblymember Catherine Stefanie and previously served as field organizer for Mayor London Breed
26335
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Michael @scottgoblue314.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I don't think San Francisco has ever produced a journalist-subject combo as must-read as @esksf.bsky.social on Department of Building Inspection/fixer shenanigans. This mystery tour is at least 14 years in the making
missionlocal.org
Uncle Walter's Mystery House: Mission Local's exclusive tour
Secret passageways, a secret floor — the former inner sanctum of deposed fixer Walter Wong is full of strange and terrible surprises
172
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Shivvy 🎃 @shivvy.blacksky.app · 22/09/2026
This story has everything including @esksf.bsky.social being john malcovich
163
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
not the first time Nat Ford was flirting with a death spiral. it's shameful that so much of the reporting from the San Francisco press -- like this longform feature on 2010 Muni's state of crisis by @esksf.bsky.social -- can only be found on Wayback Machine web.archive.org/web/20100903...
web.archive.org
The Muni Death Spiral - Page 1 - News - San Francisco - SF Weekly
In 1912, San Francisco founded its municipal railway as the realization of a radical notion: In an era of private for-profit rail lines, the residents of this city were given a publicly funded transit service formed spe
1294
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 15/09/2026
A judge has dismissed the charges against 18 people arrested in this year's "Stud Alley" party, which took place over San Francisco Pride weekend. The judge said the evidence did not support the charges, & tossed them "in the interest of justice." missionlocal.org/2026/09/char...
missionlocal.org
Judge tosses all charges against Stud Alley partygoers ‘in the interest of justice'
Judge dismisses cases against 18 people accused of failing to leave unpermitted party during pride weekend
716641
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 14/09/2026
If you look at the map of where robotaxi companies have parked their San Francisco fleets, patterns emerge. It makes sense to keep cars close to the people who use them. But, someday, it'd make sense to build housing here. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/09/robo...
1134
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 07/09/2026
Last week, SF moved to require that homeless service providers prove their programs work. Last week, San Francisco also advanced an extension for OpenGov. That’s the struggling permit software unilaterally selected by the mayor’s office. It could give you whiplash missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-...
missionlocal.org
SF homeless service providers must prove their programs work. SF permitting software, not so much…
Homeless service providers will now be contracted via ‘performance-based metrics.' But that's not the case for OpenGov, the struggling permit software system. It's enough to give you whiplash.
2143
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mark Hogan @markasaurus.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
SF homeless service providers must prove their programs work. SF permitting software, not so much… missionlocal.org/2026/09/san-... Via @esksf.bsky.social
missionlocal.org
SF homeless service providers must prove their programs work. SF permitting software, not so much…
Homeless service providers will now be contracted via ‘performance-based metrics.' But that's not the case for OpenGov, the struggling permit software system. It's enough to give you whiplash.
2165
Joe Eskenazi @esksf.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The real question: Will they replace the missing "U"?
364
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 01/09/2026
SF obtained the permitting system OpenGov in a no-bid process. It cost $5.9M Now the city wants to lock it in until 2031, for $33M more Workers say OpenGov is janky and can only do rudimentary tasks. They are still using the archaic system it was meant to replace. missionlocal.org/2026/09/open...
missionlocal.org
S.F. is poised to spend $33M more on OpenGov. It’s still only handling basic permits.
OpenGov is supposed to consolidate the city’s disparate permitting systems. City workers keep using the old system.
194
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mark Hogan @markasaurus.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
"So we’ve established that if you disobey Roberts Rules of Order and sexually assault someone in plain view of multiple witnesses at a Democratic Club meeting or official event — the Code of Conduct has you dead to rights." Via @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco Democrats made a mockery of policing sexual misconduct
Two years after tough talk about confronting sexual assault and harassment in city  political circles, the S.F. Democratic Party’s process has proven to be a farce
2101
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 31/08/2026
San Francisco's Democratic Party has made a mockery of policing sexual misconduct. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco Democrats made a mockery of policing sexual misconduct
Two years after tough talk about confronting sexual assault and harassment in city  political circles, the S.F. Democratic Party’s process has proven to be a farce
296
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Albert Samaha @samaha.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Spoke with Alex Eala’s coaches, teachers, and fans for this @newyorker.com story about how she has risen through a sport dominated by wealthier countries: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
newyorker.com
How Alex Eala Became a Symbol of the Philippines
At only 21, the tennis phenom Alex Eala is likely already the best-ever player from Southeast Asia. Now she is seeking her first Grand Slam title at this summer’s U.S. Open.
011
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
St. John Barned-Smith @stjbs.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
NEW: She said she rented a home from a Berkeley professor. But he’d been dead for months www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
sfchronicle.com
She said she rented a home from a Berkeley professor. But he’d been dead for months
A woman said she paid $30,000 to rent a home that belonged to a UC Berkeley professor. But he had been killed months before in an alleged murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by his ex-wife.
003
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Albert Samaha @samaha.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Wrote about how football coaches are adapting to concerns about CTE: wapo.st/4gJe4uf
021
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Damin Esper @daminesper.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The great Emma Ruthless on San Francisco's extremely janky Rec and Park website. www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisc...
coyotemedia.org
San Francisco’s Parks Are Incredible. Why Is the Rec and Park Website So Bad?
One frustrated parent’s journey into the heart of darkness that is municipal web design.
164
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Emma Silvers @emmaruthless.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
are there bigger problems in the world? yes does it feel good to funnel your rage & fear about those problems into something stupid and wonky for months at a time? also yes
1203
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 24/08/2026
Drive-by shootings: Walter Mackins spent years driving a cab and photographing his native San Francisco. And that was easier to do when there were cabs. And plentiful housing for people like Walter Mackins. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/driv...
missionlocal.org
Drive-by shootings: a cabbie, a camera and a disappearing San Francisco
Walter Mackins spent years driving cabs and photographing San Francisco. That was easier in an era of cabdrivers — and plentiful homes for people like Walter Mackins.
4113
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 17/08/2026
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie last week blasted affordable housing measure Prop. I as an "unaccountable slush fund." Well, that's odd: If it passes, his office would administer the money. Latest column from @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/mayo...
missionlocal.org
Mayor Lurie blasts Prop. I as a 'slush fund.’ His office would control the money.
It's deeply unfortunate that San Francisco's mayor is credibly telling voters there’s a slush fund being run out of his office
4257
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Sara Gaiser @akrazia.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Two San Francisco police officers used excessive force in a 2024 arrest, breaking a car window during a traffic stop and using pepper spray on the driver, according to a report by the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability.
missionlocal.org
San Francisco cops who pepper-sprayed wrong man flagged for excessive force
Police accountability report faults SFPD officers for violent 2024 Tenderloin encounter following a mistaken traffic stop
032
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 10/08/2026
Mayor Daniel Lurie is sending voters dissonant messages heading into November. But here's what's not dissonant: He's likable, popular and backed by tons of money. That may be what matters more. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/dani...
missionlocal.org
Will Mayor Lurie's coat tails remain long in November?
San Francisco's mayor is giving voters discordant messages heading into the next election. But he's likable and popular enough that it may not matter.
112
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 06/08/2026
There are six residential hotels on Mission between 16th and 17th streets. At least half report vacancies of over 50 percent. Why can't the city put people into those rooms? missionlocal.org/2026/08/sf-v...
missionlocal.org
There are dozens of empty rooms near 16th and Mission. Why can’t the city use them to house people?
While the city spent over a year trying to address homelessness at the 16th Street BART plaza, many rooms at SROs in the area remained empty.
183
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
‘If we don’t fight back, we don’t have a future’: the journalist taking on the ‘tech fascists’ of Silicon Valley
As Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and their peers have grown richer and more influential, Gil Durán argues they have all but abandoned democracy – and found the perfect government to enable them
7483180
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 03/08/2026
Who killed housing affordability in San Francisco? Despite what the internet's most vitriolic keyboard warriors would have you believe, this is a complicated question. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/08/san-...
missionlocal.org
Who killed housing affordability in San Francisco?
Despite what the most vitriolic keyboard warriors on the internet would have you believe, this is a complicated question
2137
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 27/07/2026
Art Agnos stepped off a Greyhound bus 60 years ago as a bootblack's son. He went on to be San Francisco's Assemblyman and mayor. Today he got his name on a street sign. The view from "Art Agnos Way" is ever-changing. But he still loves it. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/07/art-...
missionlocal.org
Connecticut and 20th is now ‘Art Agnos Way.’ From this perch, our former mayor oversees a changing city.
‘The same fight that sustains my Dad,’ Agnos’ son says, ‘Is the fight necessary to sustain San Francisco
082
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
the Clint Reilly obit makes for a good two-parter with the Jack Davis obit from earlier this year @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/05/jack...
missionlocal.org
Jack Davis, the most feared and loathed man in San Francisco politics, is dead
How a kid who grew up in a Pennsylvania funeral parlor went from gay rights activist to S.F. political kingmaker
271
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
great obit on the kind of man San Francisco politics was replete with but may be going extinct
1101
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 22/07/2026
Clint Reilly, who died over the weekend at age 79, was the quintessential San Franciscan. For good ... and for ill. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/07/clin...
missionlocal.org
Clint Reilly was the quintessential San Franciscan. For good and ill.
Reilly, who died over weekend at 79, was a consultant, tycoon and a legendarily difficult boss. But he may have been most difficult on himself.
172
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 13/07/2026
The 'self-sufficient kingdom' of disgraced former permit expediter king Walter Wong has been sold to a porn baron. God knows what crazy thing will happen here next. Nothing so wild as what's happened here already. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/07/walt...
missionlocal.org
Walter Wong's 'kingdom' sells to porn baron — a strange and terrible saga
Great and terrible things happened at disgraced former permit expediter’s inner sanctum
141
Joe Eskenazi @esksf.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
@skinnylatte.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy FYI: missionlocal.org/2026/07/san-...
missionlocal.org
Taishanese has been in San Francisco since the 1860s. Now, there's a class for it.
Taishanese has been a dominant language in San Francisco since the Gold Rush. Now, you can learn it at City College.
110
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Max B @maxburke.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Wonderful article by @esksf.bsky.social for Esquire about the intersection of Mission Dolores and the history of San Francisco and the US. www.esquire.com/news-politic...
esquire.com
The San Francisco Church That Holds America’s Secrets
Mission Dolores was founded by Spanish missionaries the same year the U.S. declared its independence. It has borne witness to its own version of the American story—not the one you learned in school bu...
031
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 07/07/2026
Once again, the words of a random boor have been used to portray San Francisco as a hotbed of organized, political antisemitism. What are we doing here? From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/07/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco doesn’t have an antisemitism problem. It has a self-righteous loudmouth problem.
Once again, random angry boors have been used to portray San Francisco as a hotbed of organized, political antisemitism
344
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Jeffrey Tumlin 🏳️‍🌈 🌁 @jeffreytumlin.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Lost in the excitement of Scarlet the Corpse Flower's brief but odorous bloom is this epic public-private sponsorship Tickets and webcam: gggp.org/corpseflower/
2123
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 15/06/2026
Right-wing loons can't quit Scott Wiener. Reactionary media keeps throwing the San Francisco Congressional candidate in the Briar Patch. It's a toxic relationship. But, also, symbiotic. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/06/scot...
missionlocal.org
Right-wing loons can't quit Scott Wiener
The relationship between San Francisco’s aspirational congressman and reactionary national media is toxic. But, also, symbiotic.
181
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
The San Francisco Standard @sfstandard.com · 09/06/2026
Tonight! Join @fitzthereporter.bsky.social of @sfstandard.com and @esksf.bsky.social of @missionlocal.org, as the two long-time political journo-Joes break down the June primary election results live at Manny's. Grab your ticket and come ready with questions: www.eventbrite.com/e/joe-missio...
142
Joe Eskenazi @esksf.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Basketball game is over! So now you can think about other things. On Tuesday at 6, come hear me (Joe) and @fitzthereporter.bsky.social (also Joe) do an election wrap. We will sift through the wreckage and locate the black box. Information: www.eventbrite.com/e/joe-missio...
eventbrite.com
Joe (Mission Local) & Joe (SF Standard) Discuss the Results of the Primary
Joe Eskenazi and Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez discuss the results of the primary election and what that means for us going into November.
1143
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 03/06/2026
Tuesday's election results may or may not reflect San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie's popularity. But they definitely reflect *why* he is popular. Or as one beaten strategist put it: "We are all living in Daniel Lurie's America." From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/06/dani...
missionlocal.org
'We're living in Daniel Lurie's America' — and most San Franciscans are content
Landslide election results favoring Mayor Daniel Lurie's allies and picks point to a changed San Francisco.
261
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 03/06/2026
"We're living in Daniel Lurie's America." And most San Franciscans are A-OK with that. An analysis of a landslide election and a changed city. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/06/dani...
missionlocal.org
'We're living in Daniel Lurie's America' — and most San Franciscans are pleased
Landslide election results point to a changed San Francisco
132
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 03/06/2026
Polls are CLOSED in San Francisco, & the first election results drop at 8:45PM, then every hour till midnight. Bookmark this page: We'll have live results all night & for the coming days, tracking city & state races, plus the heated congressional contest. missionlocal.org/2026/06/san-...
missionlocal.org
San Francisco election results 2026: Live updates
Stay tuned for live updates on the San Francisco June election results, complete with charts, maps and ranked-choice voting breakdowns.
0105
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 01/06/2026
Mayor Daniel Lurie and much of San Francisco's labor movement are on a collision course. Tuesday's election could determine when that collision comes — and how bad it'll be. From @esksf.bsky.social missionlocal.org/2026/06/san-...
missionlocal.org
Lurie and labor are on a collision course. Tuesday’s election may determine when it comes.
If voters rebuke Lurie on Prop. D and dump one or both of the sitting supervisors, a mayor who has walked on water would have to learn to swim
251
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Albert Samaha @samaha.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Wrote about beach soccer in Cape Verde, which will be playing in the World Cup for the first time this year: www.cntraveler.com/story/to-und...
cntraveler.com
To Understand Cape Verde's Soccer Roots, Head to the Beach
The archipelago of Cape Verde may be small, but the love for beach soccer is mighty—and this World Cup, the country will finally get to show off its skills.
011
Reposted by Joe Eskenazi
Mission Local @missionlocal.org · 26/05/2026
A measure that'd inject some $310M into BART and keep it (and other Bay Area transit agencies) from potentially collapsing has reached its signature-gathering goal. Yes, you'll be voting on this in November. missionlocal.org/2026/05/bart...
missionlocal.org
BART rescue measure easily clears signature hurdle: Next stop, November ballot.
Voters in five counties will have chance to vote on sales tax measure to prevent BART austerity — or shutdown of transit agency altogether
15117