iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 01/10/2026

My last rides of transit month: Caltrain and SF Muni 38R Geary Rapid

Two Caltrains at the San Francisco station

Picture of the San Francisco Muni 38R Geary Rapid bus

Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 08/09/2026

I found a fix for a problem I hate: video playback controls for Instagram for desktop. I can't believe this isn't built into Instagram already. chromewebstore.google.com/detail/bette...

screenshot of "better videos for Instagram" page

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 10/08/2026

#SanFrancisco ballot measure letters were drawn today A: Charter cleanup B: Public bank C: Housing fund D: Ballot measure qual. E: City contracts F: Executive mgmt G: Great Highway H: Parcel tax for Muni I: Transfer tax for housing J: Tax foreclosures RTM: Regional transit measure

Table of letters assigned to ballot measures in San Francisco

The measures were printed on slips of paper and palced in front of jars to do the random drawing

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 07/08/2026

In #TN05 Chaz Molder, mayor of Columbia (Nashville suburb) has spent over $1m and holds a big (but not yet definitive) edge over Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, Memphis councilmember who hasn't filed any FEC spending reports. The district is gerrymandered between the two candidates' strongholds.

Chaz Molder with 42% of the vote. Yolanda Cooper-Sutton with 32% of the vote.

TN-05 congressional district is very long and gerrymandered, like a bow shape between Memphis and the Nashville suburbs

Chaz Molder has spent over a million dollars. Yolanda Cooper-Sutton hasn't filed any reports.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 07/08/2026

Today is primary election day in Tennessee. In the #TN04 Democratic primary, there's a poss. upset. Mike Cortese and Victoria Broderick. Cortese was Nashville Metro Councilmember and raised $700k. Broderick is chair of Lincoln County Democrats and is active on social media.

Associated Press partial results. 54% of vote counted. Victoria Broderick leads with 35.4% of the vote. Mike Cortese is second with 29.5% of the vote.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 12/06/2026

Nearly all ballots have been counted in San Francisco. Turnout is 50.6%, higher than 2022 (46%), lower than the "blue wave" of 2018 (53%). 269,836 counted 1,800 ballots left to count (mostly provisional ballots) 533,546 voter registration

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 05/06/2026

Past midterm primary election turnout: 2026 at least 50.2% 2022 46% 2018 53% 2014 30% 2010 35% 2006 37% 2002 34% 1998 46% 1994 32% 1990 42%

chart of San Francisco Midterm Primary Turnout

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 04/06/2026

Funny to see these headlines side by side

Guardian article: Tech industry wins big in California after millions spent on primary election

San Francisco Chronicle article: Billionaires go bust in California: Wealthy candidates and donors had a rough night

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 29/05/2026

Marin and San Mateo counties - here's the chart in question

Chart from a report of counts of two-wheeled devices at a sample of middle and high schools from Marin and San Mateo counties. Of the electric devices, 88% are not legally e-bikes.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 29/05/2026

California Governor election: ⁨⁨Berkeley IGS poll. 25 Becerra 21 Hilton 19 Steyer 11 Bianco 07 Porter 07 Undecided 04 Mahan 5,472 likely voters, 2%p margin of error Source: LA Times www.latimes.com/california/s...

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 26/05/2026

How hot is San Francisco's rental market? Hot enough that people are offering finder's fees.

Flyer (processed image) of 4 friends seeking a 4BR apartment with a $400 finder's fee. Area is San Francisco near Divisadero and Oak.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 24/03/2026

Chart of San Francisco Muni average weekday ridership by route (each transfer counts as one trip) - 49 Mission/Van Nesshas the highest single route ridership at 35,000 - However, after combining local and rapid, two corridors have higher: 38/38R Geary and 14/14R Mission with 45,000 weekday riders

Chart of San Francisco Muni transit ridership by route in the month of February 2026

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 25/02/2026

Partisan registration of athletes by sports league (source @votehub.com) votehub.com/2026/01/20/t...

Chart showing partisan registration of athletes by sports league. WNBA (women's basketball) is the most Democratic at 68%, followed by NBA (men's basketball) 43%, NFL (football) 34%. The NHL (hockey) and MLB (baseball) are the most Republican at 44% and 54%.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 09/01/2026

Saving folks a click: Spencer Pratt's statement on his voter registration

X/Twitter post from Spencer Pratt says: I’ve been in the public eye most of my life and there isn’t any dirt you can find on me that hasn’t already been aired. Seems like the only thing people don’t know is my voter registration, so here go: I registered Republican in 2020 and never changed it. And I wasn’t going to change it now just to check a different box. This is a non-partisan race - there will be no D or R next to my name. As Mayor, I will not serve either party. I will work with anyone who wants to help the City. No labels necessary.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 05/01/2026

The first video was from a few weeks ago, but I did sweep some drains tonight

Picture of a storm drain covered in dirt and leaves, before being swept

Mike Chen in a bike helmet and scarf holding up a red metal rake

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 05/01/2026

Clear storm drains if you can before storms to prevent flooding. #SanFrancisco

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 27/11/2025

This San Francisco legislation seems good to give nonprofit housing builders more flexibility and faster approvals on ground-floor and interim uses. The city would save money, housing would be built sooner, and projects would spend less time as underused space. #yimby www.msn.com/en-us/money/...

Headline: S.F. pushes planning code changes to speed up affordable housing development

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 26/11/2025

I guess both hardware and software. From the staff report: www.sfmta.com/media/43898/...

Next Generation Transit Lane Enforcement System Advantages

Modern transit lane and bus stop enforcement systems integrate advanced technologies that offer immediate, measurable improvements in efficiency and coverage. These systems address the
limitations of the current TOLE program by automating key functions and reducing manual workload. Key features include:

• Real-Time Data Transmission: Cellular connectivity eliminates the need for manual video retrieval from each bus, enabling faster and more efficient data access.
• Automated Violation Detection: Intelligent onboard systems identify potential parking violations in real time, removing the need for staff to manually review thousands of hours of footage annually.
• Integrated GPS and ALPR: Global Positioning Systems and Automated License Plate Readers automatically capture vehicle and location data, streamlining the citation process and reducing human error.
• Automated Evidence Packages: The system generates complete, review-ready evidence packages, allowing enforcement staff to process up to five times more violations with existing staffing levels.
• Enhanced Imaging Capabilities: High-resolution cameras with low-light functionality ensure accurate violation capture in a variety of lighting and weather conditions.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 14/10/2025

Gov Gavin Newsom signed #SB720 allowing for automated red light camera enforcement! This will help hold drivers accountable for dangerous behaviors and keep our streets safe. #VisionZero @governor.ca.gov @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am signing Senate Bill 720.

This bill would allow local governments to establish an alternative automated traffic enforcement program that uses automated equipment to detect violations of traffic control signals, with violations issued to the vehicle's registered owner and subject to escalating civil penalties ranging from $100 for a first offense to $500 for repeat offenses.

Preventing accidents and saving lives is a critical priority, and this measure provides another tool to advance that goal. Its success, however, will depend on thoughtful implementation at the local level and ongoing evaluation, with a willingness Io make adjustments to guard against unintended consequences. Civil penalties alone may not always provide sufficient deterrence, particularly for those able to easily absorb the cost. To be effective, the program must also remain a safety-focused tool rather than drifting into a revenue-driven exercise.

As this program moves forward continued vigilance will be essential to ensure it fulfills its promise — safer streets, stronger accountability, and genuine deterrence of dangerous driving behaviors.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 05/06/2025

Maybe use these from IBM Design Library Color Palette #ffb000 #fe6100 #dc267f #785ef0 #648fff davidmathlogic.com/colorblind/#... www.color-hex.com/color-palett...

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 31/05/2025

Land use pattern of Anaheim: I would think better use of land would be mixed use mid to high rise around a transit hub. But it's office buildings. A few mid-rise buildings here and there.

One-story office buildings with parking next to the Anaheim Transportation Center

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 31/05/2025

Anaheim Transportation Center is beautiful. Not a lot around it unfortunately.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 31/05/2025

I took transit from Los Angeles International Airport to the Anaheim Convention Center for the California Democratic Convention Party: - LAX Flyaway Shuttle bus to LA Union Station - MetroLink OC Line to Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center - OC Transit bus 553 to W Katella/Harbor.

Anaheim Transportation Center in the interior with glass

Interior of Orange County Transit (OC Transit) bus

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 05/05/2025

Nice weather ahead in #SanFrancisco. San Francisco weather forecast for the coming week: sunny, with highs in mid to high 60s.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 02/05/2025

Bike ride in the Marina near Marina Green #SanFrancisco

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 16/04/2025

What's going on today downtown? Heavy traffic? #SanFrancisco

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 08/04/2025

A person drove a car over the seawall in the Marina #SanFrancisco Source: www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancis...

a heavy car fallen from the road and crashed onto rocks, a foot above water

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 08/04/2025

This is how the project timeline stood on 2025-02-28. Working on: testing, fare gates, ticket vending machines, mobile phones, field testing. Next up if all goes well: pilot test, then customer transition over a period of months. Source: mtc.legistar.com/gateway.aspx...

As of February 28, working on: testing, fare gates, ticket vending machines, mobile phones, field testing. Next up if all goes well: pilot test, then customer transition over a period of months.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 07/04/2025

If all goes well, start of transition could be this month, lasting multiple months. mtc.legistar.com/LegislationD...

The schedule critical path continues to run through system integration testing, mobile wallet integration, and VenTek ticket vending machine deployment. These items continue to be the tasks driving our schedule risks. We have started field testing and will expand this to more users in Pilot. However, if during field testing or Pilot we find issues requiring application changes there will be a material impact to the schedule. We are still targeting the end of April to start Customer Transition; however, since these remaining risks are still open, and we want to preserve the current customer experience, at this time we cannot provide a date certain for the Start of Customer Transition.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 01/04/2025

I don't see Russian text often on the street. Seen at UCSF Mt. Zion. #SanFrancisco

Sign that says "private parking physicians only" in English and Russian

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 30/03/2025

Federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics on January 2025 bikeshare trips: * New York Citibike: 2.24 million (+19% y/y) * Bay Wheels (incl. outside San Francisco): 260,000 (+61% y/y) www.bts.gov/newsroom/doc...

Today, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released docked bikeshare trips for January 2025.
From January 2024 to January 2025, docked bikeshare trips starting and ending at a docking station on six of the largest systems grew 17.1%.

By area served and system (six largest), the number of docked bikeshare trips in January 2025 and the percentage change from January 2024:

New York, NY (CitiBike): 2.24 million (up 19.2%)
Washington, DC Metro (Capital Bikeshare): 0.17 million (down 8.4%)
San Francisco, CA (Bay Wheels): 0.26 million (up 61.1%)
Chicago, IL (Divvy): 0.10 million (down 9.1%)
Boston Metro, MA (Blue Bikes): 0.16 million (down 1.1%)
Jersey City, NJ (CitiBike): 0.05 million (up 2.6%)

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 30/03/2025

San Francisco Bay Wheels Bikeshare trips exceeded 3,000,000 in 2024, up from ~2,300,000 in 2023. #SanFrancisco @baywheels.bsky.social @sfmta.com Source: www.sfmta.com/media/41971/...

Summary of bikeshare with chart showing trips over time. Bullets: more than 330 stations citywide. 3,000 total bikes, including non-electric and e-bikes. Working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on future of bikeshare.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 06/03/2025

Updated proposal for summer service cuts at SFMTA Muni @sfmta.com #SanFrancisco - turn back the 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, & 31 Balboa at Market St, requiring a transfer for trips downtown - combine the 6 Haight/Parnassus and 21 Hayes into a single Hayes/Parnassus line.

Map of transfer points at Market Street under proposed service changes

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 04/03/2025

Tomorrow the SFMTA Board of Directors will consider approval of the Biking and Rolling Plan, an update to the city's general plan to encourage walking, biking and rolling. The meeting starts at 1pm but the item might not be called until 2pm. @sfmta.com #SanFrancisco www.sfmta.com/calendar/boa...

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 23/02/2025

Bob's Donuts new location at 1720 Polk, which will operate at more limited hours alongside old location 1621 Polk (24 hours) for the time being. The opening day saw a line out the door, and staff handed out free donuts. #SanFrancisco

Storefront with a "grand opening" sign and balloons

Inside a store with a crowd in the back. There are tables and chairs in the foreground, and a counter to the right with a line.

The outside of the store has a line going back 15 people

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 19/02/2025

I believe the methodology of the fare compliance v. fare evasion w/ walk-away in discussion at the 2024-10-15 board meeting on item 15. sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.... Presentation at: www.sfmta.com/calendar/boa... And mentioned in blog here: www.sfmta.com/blog/paying-...

Since 2019, fare compliance has fallen from
~88% to ~80%.
At the same time, Muni expanded ways to pay:
• Muni Mobile
• Universal pass programs for Chase, Outside Lands, etc.
• Expanded monthly discount programs
Expanding payment methods that don't require tagging
have contributed to the perception that more people are
fare evading, even when most people are paying proper
fare.

Most Muni riders pay their fares. But too many others do not, and fare evasion is on the rise. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 12% of people on Muni who should have paid a fare did not. We believe that number has grown to just over 20% today and are working to confirm that estimate.

Our ridership continues to increase and is up to 76% of pre-pandemic levels, as of March 2024. But we aren’t reaping the full financial benefit of that recovery because of fare evasion. Muni is a public service and a public good. The system is critical to our city’s climate goals and its economic vitality. It also promotes social and racial equity. It isn’t right to let some people choose not to pay their fair share.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

Roughly $20M from 2023 analysis www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...

The projected revenue, once all the changes are deployed, is $18.5 million annually, said Chun. For perspective, parking meter revenue in fiscal year 2002 was $51 million. This year, revenue is projected to be $48 million. These numbers do not include revenue from parking citations.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

Tomorrow’s discussion is info only; no vote, no final decision. Staff will revise proposals based on feedback from Board, the public, and stakeholders. SFMTA Board will continue discussion at the next board meetings Mar 4, Mar 18, Apr 1. Target final decision & approval by April 1. 13/14

Next Steps:
• Feb 18: Initial Board discussion on short -term funding options.
• Mar 4: Review of community feedback on service cut proposals and final Board decision on funding options.
• Mar 18: Detailed review of parking optimization and final decision on service cuts (if relevant).
• April 1: Title VI approval of service cuts (if relevant) and other funding related Board actions.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

The following year’s $320M deficit will be much harder to tackle. The Muni Funding Working Group will present recommendations in Mar 2025. San Francisco is working with regional partners for voter approval for more funding in Nov 2026. Most likely options are sales tax or parcel tax. 12/14

Muni Funding Working Group completed discussing Efficiency improvements, Service cuts, Revenue enhancements, Service enhancements. March 2025: Discuss funding packages and release Controller’s Report.
Regional Revenue Measure:
• Authorizing legislation introduced - January 2025.
• Polling conducted - February 2025
• Regional consensus building underway

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

A fourth option that staff is not currently proposing is extending parking meter hours, which faced significant opposition, including from Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Ahsha Safai, when SFMTA proposed the idea in 2023. 11/14

We have heard citywide concerns about affordability and strong community opposition to extending parking meter hours in the evening and on Sunday, so we are not presenting a scenario that would raise $15 million by doing that.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

Option 2: cut non-transit programs like maintenance, safety, and low-income subsidies Option 3: use the budget reserves, which may be sorely needed for the much larger deficit in FY2027. 10/14

Option 2: program cuts outside transit.
Cancel vintage historic rebuild and delay phase 2 midlife bus overhaul.
Reduce maintenance at joint BART/Muni stations.
Cancel Safety Equity Initiative bus stop lighting program.
Reduce tow subsidies.
Eliminate school crossing guard program or find alternate funding sources.

Option 3: spend from reserves.
Spending $15M of reserve funds will reduce available safety net from $141M to $126M. Reducing reserve in a period of financial instability and large FY26-27 deficit increases risk

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

To solve $15M deficit, staff presents three options: Option 1: cut transit service (discussed Feb 4), by combination of suspending routes, decreasing route frequencies, re-routing routes, or shifting service from local to rapid lines. 9/14 www.sfmta.com/media/41583/...

Option 1: transit service cuts.

Scenario 1: Preserve high ridership routes: Suspend lower ridership routes where there are parallel options.

Scenario 2: Maintain existing connections: Maintain all connections and coverage by reducing frequency on Rapid corridors and connectors service across the system.

Scenario 3: Prioritize equity routes: Prioritize service on Muni Equity routes and access in Muni Equity Neighborhoods by suspending routes and reducing frequencies elsewhere.

Scenario 1: Preserve high ridership routes
Proposed Service Changes
1) Suspend service (maintain parallel service) • 2 Sutter (1, 38, 38R) • 21 Hayes (5, 5R) • 31 Balboa (5, 5R) • 55 Dogpatch (19, 22, 48)
2) Route Modifications • 19 Polk, terminate at Geary • 6 Haight suspend, but extend 52 Excelsior over Sunset Heights and 66 Quintara over Parnassus •
3) Reduce Time Spans • Metro (J, K, L, M, N, T), Reduce to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (currently 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.) Connector Routes (35,36,37,52,56,57,58,66,67), end service at 7 p.m. (currently end at 9 or 10 p.m.)

Scenario 2: Maintain Existing Connections
Maintain all connections and coverage by rebalancing Rapid corridors and Connector service across the system
Decrease Connector Frequency: decrease service to 30-45 min (currently 20-30 min)
Transfer Service from Local to Rapid on Rapid Corridors:
• 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, 28 19th Avenue suspend local service
• 14 Mission, 38 Geary decrease service to every 16 min (currently every 8 min)
• 5R, 9R, 14R, 28R* increase service to every 8 min (currently every 12 min)

Scenario 3: Prioritize Equity routes
Preserve service on Muni Equity routes and access in Muni Equity Neighborhoods by suspending routes and reducing frequencies elsewhere
Proposed Service Changes
• Suspend service (maintain parallel service): 2 Sutter, 21 Hayes, 55 Dogpatch
Route Modifications:
31 Balboa terminate at Civic Center
Decrease Connector Frequency to 30-45 min (currently 20-30 min)
Rebalance Service on Rapid Corridor: 28, suspend local service. 28R, increase service to 8 min (currently every 12 min)

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

SFMTA staff have closed $35 million of the $50 million deficit through some cost cutting, optimizing parking revenue, and increased General Fund allocations. That leaves $15 million to solve. 8/14

To close the $50M gap, the SFMTA identified $35M of solutions with smaller trade-offs but needs guidance on the remaining options, which require harder trade-offs.
Allocate transit Population Baseline increase to operations (from General Fund): $9.5 million.
Redirect 25% of paint and sign shop employees to capital priorities and fund with increase in streets Population Baseline (from General Fund): $2.5 million.
Optimize existing parking solutions: fill PCO vacancies and optimize enforcement, increase cost of contractor permits, meter and garage rates, minimum times at meters: $18.0 million.
Decrease existing professional service expenditures: $5.0 million.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

The next fiscal year (beginning July 2025) has an estimated $50 million budget shortfall. The following fiscal year (beginning July 2026) has a $320 million budget shortfall, when one-time covid funding runs out. 7/14

Our budget challenges
FY25-26 Budget: ~$50 million need. This budget shortfall starts in July.
FY26-27 Budget: ~$320 million need. This deficit starts when federal and state one-time relief funding are exhausted by June 2026.

Due to declining resources, FY25-26 planned service levels exceed resources by $50M, from hiring necessary maintenance workers, decreases in general fund, closing earlier budget gap, and.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

SFMTA has deferred non-operator hiring as much as possible to save money, but staff strongly advocates for hiring maintenance workers to prevent equipment breakdowns and service interruptions. 6/14

Multi-Year General Fund Reductions
$16M in General Fund reductions over multiple budget cycles have been offset by mandatory vacancies.
• Budgets assume some salary savings due to the time between separation and backfill.
• SFMTA’s budget has high assumption of vacancy savings, in part to absorb unexpected COVID-related revenue cuts.
• With limited resources, SFMTA prioritized hiring transit operators and revenue-generating positions.
• SFMTA held non-operator positions, like track and overhead line workers, vacant to continue to hire operators and maintain service schedules.
• SFMTA is at a tipping point, where further deferred hiring could lead to unreliable service and compromise trust.
• To maintain service quality, SFMTA is pursuing options, like service cuts, to increase non-operator hiring.

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

Future is highly uncertain, as the SFMTA's budget is highly dependent on San Francisco tax revenue, state grants, and federal grants – all sources uncertain. 5/14

• General Fund uncertainty - City’s six-month report emphasizes significant financial instability
- Citywide hiring freeze
- Departments that are not safety critical instructed to reduce expenditures 15%
- Future reductions in General Fund revenue likely
• Other revenue sources, including state and federal funds also expected to fluctuate
• Finance team is continuously forecasting and financial planning to manage risk

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Mike Chen 陳懋華 @mikechensf.com · 18/02/2025

SFMTA is cutting costs by 1. defunding staff positions 2. more efficient expense planning 3. tighter spending controls. 4/14

The SFMTA is actively managing expenditure by:
• Defunded 295 FTE positions in FY24-25 budget (160 more defunded positions than FY23-24 budget)
• Slowed hiring starting July 1, 2024, and froze non-essential hiring October 1, 2024.
• Implemented quarterly planning for purchase of materials, supplies, and professional services.
• Reviewing work orders for financial consistency with operational needs, devolving review to Project Managers for tighter expenditure control, and restructuring certain work orders to facilitate charging to capital projects.

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