This Week's Top Stories

education

West Portal Elementary Turns 100 — and Two New Buildings to Prove It

Phase 1 of the bond-funded modernization project opened for students at the start of the 2026–27 school year, replacing eight aging bungalows; a centennial street celebration follows this Saturday.

West Portal Elementary School opened its doors in 1926, and a century later the campus looks measurably different. Phase 1 of the SFUSD modernization project — a $21 million effort funded in part by state bond reimbursements — removed eight dilapidated portable bungalows and replaced them with two new permanent buildings. According to SFUSD's project page, the new structures welcomed students at the start of the 2026–27 school year, with a Phase 1 ribbon-cutting marking the milestone.

SFSU

SFSU's First Woman President to Step Down Next Summer

Lynn Mahoney announced September 8 that she will retire after eight years leading San Francisco State University, as new student enrollment hits a record high under her tenure.

San Francisco State University President Lynn Mahoney announced on September 8, 2026, that she will retire next summer after eight years as president and nearly two decades of service to the California State University system. Mahoney, who in 2019 became the first woman to serve as SFSU's president in a permanent capacity, will remain in her role while the CSU Board of Trustees conducts a national search for her successor.

transportation

West Portal Safety Overhaul Is Working, SFMTA Data Shows

An SFMTA evaluation published in mid-2026 found that injury crashes in the West Portal station area dropped 60 percent since traffic changes were implemented following the 2024 fatal crash.

Two years after a car plowed into a bus shelter at West Portal Station and killed a family of four, city data shows the neighborhood's safety overhaul is producing results. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency completed an evaluation of the West Portal Station Safety and Community Space Improvements project and published results in its June 2026 report, with findings highlighted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in August.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, October 1

West Portal Library Book Club: For Boys

📍 West Portal Branch Library, 190 Lenox Way · 6:45 PM · Verify · San Francisco Public Library

Thursday, October 1

MPIC Monthly Meeting

📍 MPIC Clubhouse, 350 O'Shaughnessy Blvd, Miraloma Park · 7:00 PM · Verify · Miraloma Park Improvement Club

Friday, October 2

SFSU Wellness Game Night

📍 The Swamp (Bricks), San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave · 6:00–8:00 PM · Verify · SFSU Center for Global Engagement

Saturday, October 3

West Portal Elementary Centennial Celebration

📍 West Portal Avenue (starting at West Portal Library courtyard) · 11:00 AM–3:00 PM · Verify · Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association

Sunday, October 4

Triangle Parks Party

📍 Balceta Triangle Park and Merced Triangle Park, West Portal · 11:30 AM–3:00 PM · Verify · Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association

More from the Community

Miraloma Park Improvement Club Posts Notice of Election

The Miraloma Park Improvement Club has posted a notice of election for officer and board member positions on its website, listed among current announcements alongside the September 2026 issue of its Miraloma…

Parkmerced Development Parcels Pass to New York Firm After Foreclosure

In late July 2026, New York-based Yellowstone Real Estate Investments took control of four land parcels at Parkmerced through foreclosure after originating a $101 million construction loan to developer Maximus Real Estate…

SFSU Student Paper Reports Persistent Accessibility Gaps for Disabled Students

A September 25 investigation by the Golden Gate Xpress, SFSU's student newspaper, found that the university's accessibility features for disabled students have shown "patterns of inconsistency despite promises of dedication." The story…

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