Oakland Woman Pulled Over After Thieves Swapped Her License Plates
Ann Nomura was stopped at gunpoint after thieves placed stolen license plates on her car, exposing a growing crime tactic called cold-plating.
Nina Alvarez
Opinion & Culture Writer
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About Nina
Nina Alvarez is a former essayist for a national magazine and opinion contributor to the a major daily newspaper. Her writing on urban issues and cultural change in California has sparked conversations across the political spectrum. At San Francisco Download, she provides commentary that challenges assumptions and encourages readers to think deeper about the forces shaping the Bay Area. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Mills College.
Articles by Nina
Man Killed, Two Suspects Arrested in SoMa Shooting 2026
A man was fatally shot in San Francisco's SoMa district late Friday. Two suspects were arrested, marking the city's 13th homicide of 2026.
Humanoid Robot Makes History Walking at the White House
Figure AI's Figure 03 robot walked alongside Melania Trump at a White House education summit, marking the first humanoid robot appearance there.
French Laundry Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Labor Violations
A former dishwasher has filed a class-action suit against Thomas Keller's French Laundry, alleging wage theft, denied breaks, and poor working conditions.
SF's $4.75M North Beach Home Faces Illegal Conversion Battle
The Board of Supervisors will decide if a $4.75M North Beach home can remain a single-family property or must be restored to four rental units.
SF Group Caught Paying $5 Per Signature for Fake Petitions
A video shows paid signature collectors at Sixth and Mission directing people to sign ballot petitions using fake names and addresses for $5 each.
Meta Plans to Lay Off 16,000 Employees in 2026
Meta is planning to cut roughly 16,000 jobs—about 20% of its workforce—to offset rising costs tied to its massive artificial intelligence investments.
SF Ethics Audit: Farrell Campaign Violations, Probe Ongoing
San Francisco's Ethics Commission found Mark Farrell's 2024 mayoral campaign committed significant reporting violations but still substantially complied with law.
Two Homes Catch Fire in SF's Sunset District on 25th Ave
Two homes on the 1400 block of 25th Avenue in San Francisco's Outer Sunset District caught fire Thursday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
Lucky Grocery on Fulton Street in NoPa Closing This Fall
The Lucky supermarket at 1750 Fulton Street in San Francisco's NoPa neighborhood will permanently close on September 11, leaving residents with fewer affordable options.
Residents Protest Astroturf Plan at Crocker Amazon Park
Keep Crocker Real protests SF Giants and Rec and Park's $45M plan to install 20 acres of artificial turf at Crocker Amazon Park, removing 128 trees.
Silicon Valley's Semiconductor Supply Chain Has a Palladium Problem. The Answer May Be in Greenland.
A NASDAQ-listed company just acquired control of the western hemisphere's largest palladium deposit. For Bay Area semiconductor and clean energy supply chains, the timing could not be more relevant.