Hunters Point honors 54-year Surfside Liquors as Jane Kim claims win

San Francisco leaders celebrated a half-century neighborhood institution in Bayview Hunters Point this week even as two prominent city politicians prepared for new statewide and federal roles, with Supervisor Shamann Walton honoring 54-year-old Surfside Liquors as a legacy business, former Supervisor Jane Kim declaring victory in the California insurance commissioner race, and Congressman-elect Scott Wiener outlining his legislative agenda ahead of orientation in Washington, D.C.

Surfside Liquors and Owner Bob Pinkard Honored After 54 Years in Hunters Point

In southeastern San Francisco, Supervisor Shamann Walton officially recognized Surfside Liquors as a legacy business — a designation for establishments operating in the district for more than 30 years — honoring 80-year-old owner Bob Pinkard for 54 years of continuous service in Bayview Hunters Point, according to KTVU FOX 2. Beyond retail beverages, Pinkard has stocked fresh fruit, produce, and hot meals while extending credit and cashing checks for local families, earning recognition 20 years ago as a community hero for supplying fresh produce in a food desert.

Local entrepreneur Shaquille Cooper, who launched his own clothing label after observing how Pinkard ran the store over 52 years of peaceful neighborhood service, joined Walton and residents outside the shop to celebrate Pinkard, who has three daughters and two grandchildren and says he has no plans to retire.

Jane Kim Declares Victory Over Ben Allen in California Insurance Commissioner Race

At a Friday press conference in San Francisco, former Supervisor Jane Kim declared victory over state Sen. Ben Allen in the race to succeed term-limited California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, holding 52.7% (4,007,525 votes) to Allen's 47.3% (3,603,450 votes), as reported by The San Francisco Standard. Kim, who became California state director of the Working Families Party in 2022 and was backed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the California Teachers Association, the California Nurses Association, Kim Tavaglione of the San Francisco Labor Council, Catherine Lybarger of the California Federation of Labor Unions, and Theresa Rutherford of SEIU 1021, said Allen called to congratulate her prior to the event, though Allen — endorsed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff — had not publicly conceded.

Introduced by Sonoma County homeowner Amy Robinson, whose insurer canceled coverage five months before the 67,484-acre Glass Fire in 2020 burned her home and nine others, Kim pledged to take on the $3 trillion insurance industry by creating a state-run disaster insurance program separating wildfire coverage from private policies.

Scott Wiener Prepares for Washington Orientation After Winning District 11

Meanwhile, Congressman-elect Scott Wiener — who leads Supervisor Connie Chan 54.6% (119,475 votes) to 45.4% (99,460 votes) to become San Francisco's first freshman representative in nearly 40 years following Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's retirement — is heading to Washington, D.C. on Saturday for orientation, according to NBC Bay Area and KTVU FOX 2. Wiener said his immediate priorities when Congress is sworn in on January 3 include reversing Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts, passing artificial intelligence legislation, enforcing anti-corruption and ethics standards, reviewing immigration policies, and rescinding war powers to draw down U.S. forces in Iran.