Latest news with #Jacobson
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco arts agencies to unite in historic realignment
San Francisco's three big arts agencies — Grants for the Arts, the San Francisco Arts Commission and the San Francisco Film Commission —will be under one roof starting in January. As part of Mayor Daniel Lurie's budget proposal, expected to be unveiled Friday, May 30, the three will operate side by side under a new super-agency with a newly created position leading the entire operation. 'Our arts community brings people from across the world to San Francisco — keeping them strong and vibrant is critical to our economic recovery,' Lurie said in a statement. 'But our current structure simply isn't doing enough to support them.' He shared hopes that the new structure would 'ensure San Francisco's arts and culture are set up to be resilient and drive our comeback.' The next step is for the Board of Supervisors to revise Lurie's proposal in June, with a finalized budget passed Aug. 1. Kristen Jacobson, director of Grants for the Arts, announced the move in a letter to grantees on Thursday, May 29. She clarified to the Chronicle that the move isn't about shrinking staff but 'a desire to connect the dots more.' She did say, however, that the change would further Lurie's goal of 'making government smaller,' but that it was too early to elaborate on what that meant. Jacobson added that current grants to the city's museums and theater, dance, opera and music companies will not be affected. Leaders of the SFAC, which supports individual artists, cultural equity initiatives and public art projects, and the film commission, which handles permits and incentives for filming in San Francisco, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The idea of uniting the agencies has been around for years. In 2022, Ralph Remington, director of cultural affairs at SFAC, told the Chronicle he brought it up when he was interviewing for his position. But past conversations about combining the agencies have been complicated by law. The SFAC is part of the city charter dating back to 1932, with its leader reporting directly to the mayor, while Proposition E, passed in 2018, solidified GFTA's place in the City Administrator's Office. Jacobson told the Chronicle that the new structure works around that hurdle by keeping GFTA's budget in the City Administrator's Office. Artists and arts leaders have also historically been divided on the proposal. On the one hand, having a centralized agency could make logistical sense and, one day, streamline multiple burdensome grant applications. On the other hand, it could concentrate power in an arena — deciding which art to support — which particularly benefits from an array of perspectives. Z Space Executive Director Shafer Mazow said while he wanted to be optimistic and believe in leaders' good intentions, 'we've seen too many pivots in GFTA in the past few years for me to feel confident that this latest plan can give the beleaguered SF arts community the support it needs,' he wrote via email. The agency's troubled leadership, under former director Vallie Brown, had already abruptly cut off many longtime grantees. Artists and producers worry particularly about the loss of general operating support, which has always been the revered purpose of GFTA. While many funders are keen to underwrite particular projects — a world-premiere play or opera, a new exhibit or initiative — it's much harder for nonprofits to garner support for less glamorous but still essential budget items such as the electric bill or administrative salaries. GFTA helps fill that gap. Jacobson said that while she could not predict the future, she vowed that under the super-agency, "I'll do everything I can within my power, and I know the whole GFTA team will as well, to advocate for how important and how critical and how precious general operating support is.' She also pointed out that the new structure isn't eliminating leadership perspectives. 'The thought process is having a side-by-side agency to hopefully keep strong voices at the head of the Film Commission, at the Head of GFTA, at the head of SFAC,' she explained. Margaret Jenkins, of Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, was among those who in the past told the Chronicle that she worried about centralizing authority. But now she said she trusts Jacobson. 'As long as it doesn't mean less money and a smaller pot that everyone will be fighting over, I think an ongoing conversation among these three organizations could yield more diverse funding in multiple arenas to a variety of artists,' she said Thursday. The change comes at a volatile time in arts funding. Earlier this month, the National Endowment for the Arts terminated a slew of grants to Bay Area arts organizations at the same time that President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the federal agency entirely. Weeks later, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed gutting the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund that would have helped small arts organizations comply with state law requiring them to treat their workers as employees instead of independent contractors. The previous month, multiple city arts organizations were among those affected when the Human Rights Commission canceled $14 million in grant agreements
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This River North restaurant is serving $1 fro-yo all summer long
When the temps are just too damn hot, we turn to the best ice cream in Chicago for reprieve from the scorching sun and heavy humidity. There's truly nothing like a cool cup or cone to quell the heat. And this summer in Chicago, one River North restaurant is graciously bringing back a sizzling seasonal special: $1 frozen yogurt Fridays. Walk up to the window of Ēma Rotisserie (74 W Illinois Street)—a fast-casual offshoot of the Mediterranean sit-down restaurant Ēma— for cups of frozen Greek yogurt (delicately dressed in olive oil and sea salt) for just one dollar every Friday, now through August 29. With simple, quality ingredients, this could be the most iconic of cheap eats in Chicago. The delicious deal kicked off over Memorial Day Weekend, available only on Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm. This year, you can upgrade your sweet treat for another buck (totaling a whopping $2) and drench your cup of freshly churned fro-yo in house-made strawberry-rhubarb syrup, or pistachio sauce and crumbled cinnamon phyllo puff pastry. Sadly, supplies are limited to one per person. But if you're feeling lucky, the restaurant group is also running a giveaway on Instagram for free frozen Greek yogurt all summer long, which runs through June 3, according to the restaurant website. Ēma first opened in 2016, helmed by former Intro chef C.J. Jacobson, serving Californian-tinged small plates and regional wines. "The concept is Mediterranean flavors, but seen through my eyes," Jacobson told Time Out. And that's not the only budget-friendly frozen treats you'll find in Chicagoland this week: National ice-cream brand Breyers will be stationed at Maggie Daley Park (337 East Randolph Street) on Friday, May 30 from noon to 6 pm for its first-ever 'Freezerpit,' featuring a giant, firepit-inspired cooler stocked with the company's new Campfire Collection s'mores treats. Breyers' tasty ice cream bars and sandwiches will be free and up-for-grabs throughout the one-day-only pop-up event.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
General Motors makes surprising announcement about the price of its electric vehicles: 'We feel good'
Inside EVs reported that General Motors is not planning to raise prices due to the current administration's tariff policies. "We now expect pricing to be relatively consistent for the remainder of the year." GM CFO Paul Jacobson stated, according to the report. This announcement is surprising. Several of GM's EVs are assembled in Mexico, so the company is bracing for a huge cost impact in the billions of dollars. However, according to the Inside EVs report, GM is currently planning to hold steady on consumer pricing through the rest of the year. The article cites that the Equinox EV is currently the most affordable EV in the U.S. and that GM credits its Mexico build location for keeping costs so low. The low price, coupled with the vehicle's 300-plus mile range, has made Chevrolet the fastest-growing EV brand in the country. GM said it is expecting a $4 billion to $5 billion impact based on the current tariff policy, affecting imports from Korea, Mexico, and Canada. It plans to offset some of the costs with "self-help initiatives" and increased U.S. production of battery components, according to the report. Switching from a gas-powered vehicle to an EV has environmental and financial benefits. EVs do not produce air pollution that contributes to the warming of the planet, so it is a more eco-friendly transportation choice. EV owners can say goodbye to rising, fluctuating gas prices, saving money over time. Some EV skeptics cite the negative environmental effects that are a result of the pollution created during the battery manufacturing and charging process. While there is an environmental impact, the process is getting cleaner over time and has minimal negative effects in comparison to the 16.5 billion tons of fuel required for powering traditional gas vehicles. Roughly 30 million tons of minerals are dug up annually for the more affordable energy transition to EVs, and these minerals can often be reused, further reducing the environmental impact. Jacobson is confident that GM's wide EV lineup – from the $35,000 Equinox EV to the $130,000 Cadillac Escalade IQ – will help the company maintain pricing. "We feel good about where pricing is versus where we started the year, so we've assumed things remain constant from here," Jacobson said, according to Inside EVs. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
General Motors makes surprising announcement about the price of its electric vehicles: 'We feel good'
Inside EVs reported that General Motors is not planning to raise prices due to the current administration's tariff policies. "We now expect pricing to be relatively consistent for the remainder of the year." GM CFO Paul Jacobson stated, according to the report. This announcement is surprising. Several of GM's EVs are assembled in Mexico, so the company is bracing for a huge cost impact in the billions of dollars. However, according to the Inside EVs report, GM is currently planning to hold steady on consumer pricing through the rest of the year. The article cites that the Equinox EV is currently the most affordable EV in the U.S. and that GM credits its Mexico build location for keeping costs so low. The low price, coupled with the vehicle's 300-plus mile range, has made Chevrolet the fastest-growing EV brand in the country. GM said it is expecting a $4 billion to $5 billion impact based on the current tariff policy, affecting imports from Korea, Mexico, and Canada. It plans to offset some of the costs with "self-help initiatives" and increased U.S. production of battery components, according to the report. Switching from a gas-powered vehicle to an EV has environmental and financial benefits. EVs do not produce air pollution that contributes to the warming of the planet, so it is a more eco-friendly transportation choice. EV owners can say goodbye to rising, fluctuating gas prices, saving money over time. Some EV skeptics cite the negative environmental effects that are a result of the pollution created during the battery manufacturing and charging process. While there is an environmental impact, the process is getting cleaner over time and has minimal negative effects in comparison to the 16.5 billion tons of fuel required for powering traditional gas vehicles. Roughly 30 million tons of minerals are dug up annually for the more affordable energy transition to EVs, and these minerals can often be reused, further reducing the environmental impact. Jacobson is confident that GM's wide EV lineup – from the $35,000 Equinox EV to the $130,000 Cadillac Escalade IQ – will help the company maintain pricing. "We feel good about where pricing is versus where we started the year, so we've assumed things remain constant from here," Jacobson said, according to Inside EVs. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Human air traffic controllers keep flyers safe. Should AI have a role?
Human air traffic controllers keep flyers safe. Should AI have a role? Show Caption Hide Caption Why air traffic controllers are under more pressure than ever Inside the growing stress in U.S. air traffic control towers. Outdated technology and staffing shortages at Newark Liberty International Airport have led to ongoing flight delays and cancellations. Experts warn that underfunding the FAA has prevented necessary technological upgrades and hiring of air traffic controllers. The Transportation Secretary proposed a program to modernize the system and incentivize hiring, but Congressional funding is still needed. Old technology is behind the recent ongoing delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, but newer technology will be an important part of the solution. To recap, on April 28, air traffic controllers handling inbound traffic at Newark experienced a brief radar and radio outage. Similar failures have occurred at least three times since then, and in response, the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines have reduced the number of flights operating in and out of the airport. It's the kind of failure experts have been warning was inevitable for years. 'All these issues of staffing, all these issues of using copper wires instead of fiber optics, these have been there for a long time,' Sheldon Jacobson, professor of computer science at the University of Illinois' Grainger College of Engineering, told USA TODAY. Jacobson said the technology in air traffic control towers is largely outdated, but like an old car, it worked well until it started breaking down. 'People are now paying attention," he said. 'They put more airplanes in the sky than the system can absorb, and what's happened is we've reached a tipping point. We have so much volume, and we have pretty much the same air traffic control technology for decades." How did we get here? The FAA's air traffic control issues didn't develop overnight, although the current headaches at Newark did catch many travelers by surprise. Industry watchers have long warned that Congress was under-funding the FAA, preventing the agency from upgrading its technology and limiting its ability to hire and train new air traffic controllers. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the FAA is short about 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide, and continues to rely on outdated technology like floppy disks to perform some crucial functions. Cruising Altitude: Air traffic control keeps planes moving. So why does it cause delays? Still, Jacobson said, that doesn't mean air travel isn't safe. 'The FAA, the airlines, and all of the supporting people have worked diligently to make air travel safer, and it's never been safer," he said. And that's part of the reason there are more delays and cancellations as air traffic control equipment falters. "The only way to ensure the safety is to bring the volume down so we're not at that tipping point," Jacobson said. What solutions have been proposed? Successive administrations from both parties in Washington have promised fixes to the FAA's air traffic control program, but the solutions have been piecemeal so far. Duffy recently announced a sweeping program to upgrade the agency's technology infrastructure, as well as hiring incentives to entice more would-be air traffic controllers. However, a funding commitment from Congress was missing from his announcement. That hurdle has prevented previous administrations from implementing such overhauls. Even if lawmakers fund the Trump administration's proposals, implementing the upgrades will likely take a long time. 'This isn't going to happen in three years. This is going to take several years,' Jacobson said. 'It's expensive and time-consuming.' He also warned that it will add expense, complexity, and time because the upgrades will need to be rolled out without taking the current air traffic control system offline. 'You're trying to update a system while it's still working," he said. Can AI help solve air traffic control issues? Eventually, the FAA will roll out new technology for air traffic control, and while Jacobson said air traffic controllers won't ever be fully replaced by computers, he did acknowledge that new tech has a role to play in optimizing the nation's airspace. 'If we leave that off the table, we're forcing ourselves to use more manpower," he said. Jacobson said that, since the FAA and airlines prioritize safety above all else, it doesn't make sense to remove humans from the air traffic control equation entirely. Pilots' unions have also long advocated the safety importance of having two highly trained aviators in the cockpit of every commercial flight, despite growing calls from some outside groups to explore flight control automation. However, using artificial intelligence and other technology to ease the controllers' burden could actually make the system safer. 'There are a lot of very perfunctory tasks that, working with ATC, an AI system could direct airplanes to," Jacobson said, like issuing initial clearance for pilots to push back from their gates, or guiding them to the start of the taxiway. "You don't compromise safety, that is the most important objective, but you're giving them a little more breathing room or legroom to get their job done." Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
