🌱 Patch AM: CA Bill Could Help Renters Lower Utility Bills With Plug-In Solar Systems

Hi there, San Francisco! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• San Francisco lawmaker targets PG&E hurdles for renter plug-in solar
• Could Blue Shield’s denial change health coverage for San Francisco workers?
• Why this Outer Mission hit-and-run is shaking San Francisco

Also on today's calendar: Castro Comedy Cabaret and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 56 and low of 43 degrees.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 57, low: 42.
• Sunday: Times of sun and clouds, with a high of 60 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. CA Bill Could Help Renters Lower Utility Bills With Plug-In Solar Systems (patch.com) — San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener is pushing a new bill to make renter-friendly plug-in solar systems easier to use without complex PG&E interconnection agreements. The proposal could help many Bay Area and San Francisco renters cut rising electricity costs, with potential savings of up to $450 a year. It’s part of a broader package aimed at making home energy cleaner and more affordable statewide.
   

2. S.F. firefighters demand answers after Blue Shield denies cancer coverage (missionlocal.org) — A retired San Francisco firefighter with advanced cancer is fighting Blue Shield of California’s refusal to cover his latest treatment, putting a spotlight on the city’s new health insurance contract. His family, fellow firefighters, and former Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson pressed the San Francisco Health Service Board to intervene, warning that other city workers could face similar denials.
   

3. Son's heartbreaking message to San Francisco driver who killed 80-year-old father (ktvu.com) — An 80-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run while crossing Mission Street in San Francisco’s Outer Mission, and his family is pleading for the unidentified driver to surrender. Relatives are balancing calls for justice with a message of forgiveness, as advocates warn this 16th pedestrian death of the year underscores ongoing safety concerns for seniors walking San Francisco’s streets.
   

4. OpenAI's San Francisco office expansion could soon top 1 million square feet (fresnobee.com) — OpenAI is negotiating a large sublease at 1800 Owens St. in Mission Bay that could push its San Francisco footprint to about 1 million square feet. The talks, alongside another possible Mission Bay lease, underscore how the company is becoming a major force in reshaping the city’s office market after years of high vacancies.
   

5. School board, principals shocked as SFUSD resends rejected budget plan (missionlocal.org) — San Francisco public school principals were stunned to see a previously rejected $102 million budget-cut plan reappear in their inboxes, detailing major staff and program reductions for 2026–27. Despite a unanimous Board of Education vote against it, Superintendent Maria Su’s proposal is still being used as a “starting point,” alarming educators at smaller, high-need schools like Visitacion Valley Middle School as community meetings begin this weekend.
   

📸 Around San Francisco

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in San Francisco

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 10

• Castro Comedy Cabaret
  Beaux, 2344 Market St, SF
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 8

• Joe Block Open Heart Trio
  Black Cat Jazz Supper Club , 400 Eddy St , SF
  7:00 pm
• Dear San Francisco
  Club Fugazi Experiences , 678 Green St , SF
  7:30 pm

Friday January 9

• Morning Coffee Cleanup
  Tastebuds , 600 5th Ave , SF
  8:00 am
• Richmond Neighborly Cleanup
  Fulton Playground Park , 855 27th Ave , SF
  3:00 pm
• Clement Street Happy Hour Cleanup
  Richmond Republic Draught House , 642 Clement St , SF
  4:00 pm
• Dear San Francisco
  Club Fugazi Experiences , 678 Green St , SF
  7:30 pm
• Grin and Bear It
  All Out Comedy Theater-Improv Classes and Comedy Shows , 2550 Telegraph Ave , Oakland
  8:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Everand
  460 Bryant Street, #100, San Francisco, California 94107
  9:00 am

Sunday January 11

• Atlanta Hawks at Golden State Warriors
  Chase Center , 1 Warriors Wy , San Francisco
  5:30 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Show de Invierno/Winter Showcase: Baile/Dance
  Huerta (Dolores) Elementary San Francisco, CA 94131
  8:40 am
• Show de Invierno/Winter Showcase
  Huerta (Dolores) Elementary San Francisco, CA 94131
  8:40 am

📣 San Francisco Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making San Francisco PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters — (510) 548-6888
  Free 20-Minute Photo Coaching Session with Camera or Lens
• Accessibility in Practice — (510) 777-6330
  Are there hidden accessibility barriers on your website?

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Fox Rothschild’s San Francisco Office Joins Forces with Bar Association to Provide Support to Local Children —Alexandra Maimone Read on Patch

• We saw this cat at the corner of Monterey Street and San Benito Avenue in St.
  Francis Woods just now. Just wanted to share it right away in case someone is looking for it. (Nextdoor Saint Francis Wood)
• If you've been around San Francisco's Lake Merced area lately, you might have notice a lot of tree stumps and cut logs lying around.
  And so, in case you wonder why, well wonder no more because here's my report on that for the Sunset Beacon newspaper. https://richmondsunsetnews… (Nextdoor Inner Richmond East)

• San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living posted a job opening for Life Enrichment Coordinator-JHRC in San Francisco. Apply here.
• FedEx posted a job opening for Material Handler - Part Time (Warehouse like) in San Francisco. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near San Francisco here.

Ok San Francisco! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I really dig you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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