Chris Roberts

SF Weekly Letters

SF Weekly Letters

SF Weekly Letters

SF Weekly Letters

SF Weekly Letters

Obama Arrives in Oakland, Protesters Waste No Time Making Him Feel Unwelcome (Update)

Update (5:10 p.m.): Some 400 protesters took over downtown Oakland, with the crowds extending for more than a city block in anticipation of the president's arrival. SF Weekly writer Chris Roberts was at the scene and tells us that protesters had giant posters emblazoned with the faces of Obama, Atto ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Update (5:10 p.m.): Some 400 protesters took over downtown Oakland, with the crowds extending for more than a city block in anticipation of the president's arrival. SF Weekly writer Chris Roberts was at the scene and tells us that protesters had giant posters emblazoned with the faces of Obama, Atto ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Update (5:10 p.m.): Some 400 protesters took over downtown Oakland, with the crowds extending for more than a city block in anticipation of the president's arrival. SF Weekly writer Chris Roberts was at the scene and tells us that protesters had giant posters emblazoned with the faces of Obama, Atto ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Update (5:10 p.m.): Some 400 protesters took over downtown Oakland, with the crowds extending for more than a city block in anticipation of the president's arrival. SF Weekly writer Chris Roberts was at the scene and tells us that protesters had giant posters emblazoned with the faces of Obama, Atto ... More >>

4/20 Brings Out Marijuana Lovers and Haters

Well, we thought 4/20 was supposed to be a holiday about consuming all things marijuana. But alas, in this tense time of heated debate over pot clubs, it wasn't too surprising that we came across anti-pot people on the high holiday killing everyone's buzz.At least the weather was amazing. 

SF Weekly Letters

Well, we thought 4/20 was supposed to be a holiday about consuming all things marijuana. But alas, in this tense time of heated debate over pot clubs, it wasn't too surprising that we came across anti-pot people on the high holiday killing everyone's buzz.At least the weather was amazing. 

The Toilet Economy of San Francisco

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts' piece in today's print edition was yet another testimony to the high cost of doing business in San Francisco. "Business," of course, being a euphemism. Roberts noted that, with only two public toilets available in the Tenderloin, city workers were dispatched 2,500 times in 2010 to cle ... More >>

Obama's New Marijuana Policies Also Target Alt-Weeklies and the Bill of Rights

Say, is that hemp? Kill it!​​In their unrelenting quest to kill legal medical marijuana dead, President Barack Obama and the United States Department of Justice appear content to incur collateral damage. Last week, property owners who rent to dispensaries were informed that the federal governmen ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Say, is that hemp? Kill it!​​In their unrelenting quest to kill legal medical marijuana dead, President Barack Obama and the United States Department of Justice appear content to incur collateral damage. Last week, property owners who rent to dispensaries were informed that the federal governmen ... More >>

Medical Cannabis Movement Becoming Less Gay

Chris RobertsHot. But gay unfriendly?​Like Sarah Palin recounting the tale of Paul Revere's ride to warn the British (of their own impending arrival), we Americans often have a fuzzy grasp of our history. This extends to the medical cannabis movement, which was birthed in San Francisco in the 1980 ... More >>

Mayor Ed Lee Drops by Chris Daly's Dive for a Nonalcoholic Beer

Was Mayor Ed Lee entertained or did he do the entertaining at Daly's dive?​Anyone who even sits on the sidelines at City Hall knows that Buck Tavern is where you go to sniff out good stories. Political stories, that is. That's one reason why reporters flock to former Supervisor Chris Daly's bar on ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Was Mayor Ed Lee entertained or did he do the entertaining at Daly's dive?​Anyone who even sits on the sidelines at City Hall knows that Buck Tavern is where you go to sniff out good stories. Political stories, that is. That's one reason why reporters flock to former Supervisor Chris Daly's bar on ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Was Mayor Ed Lee entertained or did he do the entertaining at Daly's dive?​Anyone who even sits on the sidelines at City Hall knows that Buck Tavern is where you go to sniff out good stories. Political stories, that is. That's one reason why reporters flock to former Supervisor Chris Daly's bar on ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Was Mayor Ed Lee entertained or did he do the entertaining at Daly's dive?​Anyone who even sits on the sidelines at City Hall knows that Buck Tavern is where you go to sniff out good stories. Political stories, that is. That's one reason why reporters flock to former Supervisor Chris Daly's bar on ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Was Mayor Ed Lee entertained or did he do the entertaining at Daly's dive?​Anyone who even sits on the sidelines at City Hall knows that Buck Tavern is where you go to sniff out good stories. Political stories, that is. That's one reason why reporters flock to former Supervisor Chris Daly's bar on ... More >>

Tom Ammiano: 'No Way, No How' I Want to Be Mayor

Chris RobertsTom Ammiano took the Sherman -- he says he won't be our next mayor​In a move reminiscent of the crew members of the Bounty bellowing "Take us with you!" to the escaped-to-a-better-place Mr. Christian, progressive supervisors are imploring Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to enter the mayoral f ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsTom Ammiano took the Sherman -- he says he won't be our next mayor​In a move reminiscent of the crew members of the Bounty bellowing "Take us with you!" to the escaped-to-a-better-place Mr. Christian, progressive supervisors are imploring Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to enter the mayoral f ... More >>

Decision on Tonga Room Put Off Till Next Year

Zemistor/FlickrTake another hit, dude: You've got plenty of time.​How long did it take to lash the ships' ropes and assemble the thatch for the Tonga Room back in 1945? We bet it was considerably less than the long years it'll take to decide its fate. At our sister blog The Snitch, Chris Rober ... More >>

Tom Ammiano Tells Latinos He Won't Call Meg Whitman A 'Puta'

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsViva Ammiano!​Reiterates His Demand to Governor: "Kiss My Gay Ass!"Leave all the "whore" talk to Jerry Brown. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, always reliable for a comedic zinger, prefers the Spanish equivalent: "puta."We've written about Ammiano's humorous attempts ... More >>

Oscar Grant Riots: 86 Arrested, Downtown Oakland Smashed

Chris RobertsWell, they did...​After relatively non-violent protests devolved into looting and vandalism with nightfall, police in Oakland arrested at least 86 demonstrators in the aftermath of the Johannes Mehserle-Oscar Grant trail. (The former BART officer was found guilty of involuntary mansla ... More >>

Pics From Oscar Grant Demonstration -- and Riot

Thursday's involuntary manslaughter conviction in the Johannes Mehserle trial led to peaceful protests, peaceful posing, not-so-peaceful protests and posing, and, finally, heavy vandalism and looting in city's downtown. Yes, men and women wearing masks of slain Oscar Grant's face were helping themse ... More >>

Pelosi's Visit: Speaker Speaks Softly, Plugs Children, Walks Out Fast

Chris Roberts/The SnitchCares about kids!​Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi provided we miserable media wretches a small spark of excitement Monday morning when she visited San Francisco City Hall for a rare visit. Her focus: "Our children, our children, our children."In between ... More >>

Monday Morning Hangover: Janelle Monae, Cannabis Cup, & Roller Derby

There was no shortage of fun and games last weekend, and our hard-working writers and photographers beat the pavement to bring you news of the fun you missed (or can't remember).Chris Roberts​The city may be losing it over the World Cup, but there was another cup in town this weekend: the first ev ... More >>

49ers' Exit Would Save SF Money

Chris Roberts/SF Appeal.comWhatever​Added to the burgeoning pile of "pros" in a San-Francisco-49ers-departing-San-Francisco pro-con list is this snippet, courtesy of The Examiner: should the football team play its home games in Santa Clara (the city in which the team already spends 340 days a year ... More >>

Gavin Newsom Wants You To Watch the World Cup at Civic Center

Chris Roberts/SF WeeklyBallin. And you could be, too.​Though an ace baseball and basketball player in his glory days at Redwood High School in Marin, Mayor Gavin Newsom is admittedly not much of a soccer player. That's fine: one doesn't need to be a Cristiano Ronaldo or a World Cup-winning Ronaldo ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris Roberts/SF WeeklyBallin. And you could be, too.​Though an ace baseball and basketball player in his glory days at Redwood High School in Marin, Mayor Gavin Newsom is admittedly not much of a soccer player. That's fine: one doesn't need to be a Cristiano Ronaldo or a World Cup-winning Ronaldo ... More >>

San Francisco's Marijuana Arrest Totals Getting Higher

Put out that joint, mister...​What's that smell in the air, wafting from bus stops, parks, and most any street corner? It's evidence of a cavalier attitude regarding open-air cannabis consumption: This is San Francisco, after all -- feel free to puff away freely. Or, maybe not. According to statis ... More >>

Monday Morning Hangover: Cannabis Expo, Red Hots Burlesque, and Bed Races

This weekend offered a plethora of choices for music fans, pot fans, and people who are fans of racing household furniture through the streets. (Fans of all three basically had the best weekend ever.)Marijuana advocates and enthusiasts crowded the International Cannabis and Hemp Expo, that featured ... More >>

High Times at International Pot Expo

Chris RobertsHardcore pot enthusiasts probably didn't even notice the woman in the background of this photo. Right?​VIEW OUR POT EXPO SLIDESHOW HERE California is pot-friendly, but public mass consumption of cannabis is still a feat -- especially when it's on state property. That is partiall ... More >>

SF Weekly Letters

Chris RobertsHardcore pot enthusiasts probably didn't even notice the woman in the background of this photo. Right?​VIEW OUR POT EXPO SLIDESHOW HERE California is pot-friendly, but public mass consumption of cannabis is still a feat -- especially when it's on state property. That is partiall ... More >>

S.F. Cig Fee a Money-Loser: Put *That* In Your Pipe and Smoke it

Not cost productive either...​Kudos to SF Appeal's Chris Roberts for scouring the city controller's six-month budget status report and finding an unfiltered nugget on page 22: Somehow, the city has managed to lose millions on its highly touted cigarette fee. We've written plenty about how this fee ... More >>

MTA Budget Showdown Leads To ... Wait For It ... A COMPROMISE!

Jim HerdThat sound you heard earlier today was every City Hall journalist in San Francisco slapping his palm on the table when the Board of Supervisors vote over the controversial Muni budget was continued. And continued again. And more time went by. And now ... after several hours of behind-the-sce ... More >>

Fandemonium

Idle Worship with KISS, Nancy Sinatra, Camille Paglia, and Chevy Chase