San Francisco supervisors took decisive action on Tuesday, voting unanimously to change the name of Cesar Chavez Street to Las Campesinas. The measure, which will move to a final vote next week, stems from a city‑wide effort launched earlier this year by Mayor Daniel Lurie’s working group after a New York Times report of sexual‑assault allegations linked to the original namesake.
Renaming reflects community values
The proposed name, Las Campesinas, honors the women farmworkers whose labor has long sustained the region’s agricultural heritage. By foregrounding these often‑overlooked contributors, the city aligns the street’s identity with the values of family, faith, and individual liberty that many Mission residents hold dear.
Radio Habana pivots to daytime café
At the same time, the beloved Radio Habana Social Club, a surrealist‑Cuban bar and restaurant that opened in 1998, will transform part of its space into a café during the day. Founded by self‑described Dalista Victor Navarrete and Leila Mansur, Radio Habana has long been a gathering spot for Mission District locals seeking Cuban food, sangria, wine, beer, and live music.
Longtime regulars Aziz Saeed and Sarah Zeidat, a Yemeni‑American and a Palestinian‑American, will now share the venue and operate Radio Habana Café. In addition to coffee and tea, they plan to serve pastries, a Middle Eastern flatbread topped with vegetables, cheese or meat, and a special coffee drink infused with dates. “We’re hoping to introduce that and then see how the community responds to it,” Zeidat said.
The soft opening is slated for later this month, with plans to serve seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other Mission District updates
The Mission Center for the Latino Arts will hold a rummage sale on Saturday, Nov. 14, featuring items ranging from refrigerators to a “laser‑etching printery.” The center, which closed earlier this year after a financial crisis left it with only $400, is preparing to relocate by mid‑December while its current city‑owned building undergoes a two‑year renovation. A community meeting on Nov. 17, 6–8 p.m., will provide residents with an update on the search for a temporary home.
The Drawing Room is returning to Mission Street, now at 2401 Mission St. near 21st St., with signage announcing its January arrival. Owner Renée DeCarlo declined to give a specific opening date.
Square recently vacated the former home of Lucca Ravioli at 1100 Valencia St., near 22nd St., after a short‑term lease that began in May of last year. The tech‑backed company did not respond to a request for comment.
After 28 years of service, Lahore Karahi & Pizza closed on Saturday. Owners Aijaz Ghani and Mehjabeen Sheikh are retiring, according to their son Shaheer Sheikh. The restaurant, originally opened as Al Hamra in 1998 and renamed about a decade ago, had become a beloved spot for Pakistani and Indian cuisine at the corner of 16th and Mission.
These developments underscore the Mission District’s ongoing evolution, balancing preservation of cultural landmarks with new entrepreneurial ventures that serve the community’s diverse families.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
