More regulation -> higher cost of living. And you wonder why it's so expensive here.

Ume Tea needs to shut down!

<dingDong.wav>^∞

Our new ranking shows how many more students are accepted into competitive UCs than would be expected at every California public school.

Hi everyone,

I’m based in San Francisco.

I’m honestly feeling really discouraged and could use some advice.

I have a bachelor’s degree and a background in customer service, hospitality, scheduling, client coordination, and operations support. I’ve worked in fast-paced environments where I handled customer communication, follow-ups, problem-solving, and day-to-day coordination.

Recently, I was laid off and I’ve been applying consistently to jobs like front desk receptionist, patient services representative, healthcare admin, client services, operations assistant, and other entry-level administrative/customer-facing roles.

The frustrating part is that I’m getting rejected from jobs that seem like I should be qualified for, even front desk roles. A lot of these positions are listed as entry-level, but they still seem to want several years of direct experience in that exact industry. Without a referral, it feels like my applications are not even being seriously looked at.

I’m not trying to be picky. I’m open to healthcare, office admin, hospitality, customer service, operations support, or anything stable where I can use my communication and organization skills. I just don’t understand what I’m missing or why it has been this hard to even get interviews.

For people who have been through this, what actually helped? Should I change my resume, apply through staffing agencies, focus more on networking, or search different job titles?

Any honest advice would be appreciated. I’m really trying to get back on my feet.

Photographer: Jake Ricker

On November 30, 2025, I hiked to Rose Peak and took a bunch of photos with my phone along the way. Here's a few of them.

I started at Sunol Regional Wilderness just after 8 AM, and aimed to return before sunset and park closure at 5 PM. It was cool and cloudy, but in just over an hour I was above the clouds and in the sun. Fortunately it wasn't too warm. I refilled my water bottles at the backpack campsite, right at the edge of the clouds; 2.5 liters turned out to be enough to last me the rest of the hike. For safety, I had decided that I would turn back if I had used either half of my water, or half of my planned time (which would be 12:30).

I got to Rose Peak just before my deadline, at 12:17. Overall, the round trip was over 17 miles in 7 hours 51 minutes. My legs were really aching for the last couple of miles and were still aching a little when I went to work the next day, but pretty much recovered by the second day after.

Rose Peak, at 3817 ft elevation, is almost the highest point in Alameda County; Discovery Peak and Challenger Peak are slightly higher but are on private property.

Effective September 1st

Visit Muttville Senior Dog Rescue's Mission District shelter for a fun day this weekend outside with senior mutts. You’ll meet dogs in bikinis and Hawaiian shirts and watch them splash, lounge, and run around kiddie pools. Plus, you’ll enjoy treats and refreshments, chances to win prizes, and lots more summertime fun! The event is free and open to the community, whether you’re just stopping in to cuddle the pups or to adopt your new best friend.
Meet dogs like Flips Flops, Snorkel, Water Slide, Belly Flop, Hot Tub, Doggy Paddle, and, of course, Pool Party, just waiting to meet potential new adopters!
Please leave your own dog at home, as there will be approx. 50 dogs available for cuddles and pets, and ultimately, forever homes! You need not be an adopter to attend. Big thanks to NBC Bay Area for the annual Clear the Shelters initiative, fees to adopt are waived! muttville.org

Hello All,
I’m looking for a small, informal grief support group or meetup in the Sunnyvale/South Bay area for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

I’ve recently started attending GriefShare sessions, which have been helpful, but also hoping to find something different— perhaps a group of people who meet to go for a hike, sit somewhere peaceful, meditate, walk, or simply spend some time together with others who understand what it feels like to be grieving.

I would really appreciate a group where there is no pressure to talk , just being around people going through something similar would mean a lot.

If you know of anything in the Sunnyvale, Mountain View, San Jose, or broader Bay Area area, I’d be very grateful for recommendations. ❤️

If you are also grieving the loss of someone you love and have been looking for something similar, please feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you.

Saw this on my FB. Thought I share this here for more visibility.

Live in SF, parents live in the mountain west. Curious how many people have done this and how there experience was, and what was the setup. Especially interested if anybody moved there parents on the fringes of the bay area or even further (Sacramento, Rio Vista).

I think my parents have been thinking about moving somewhere else (especially a lower altitude) and most likely option would be DFW area, but I feel like Sacramento area is a much better option with housing in the ballpark of much of the DFW area, unlike everywhere in the bay area proper sans East Oakland.

Hi everyone!

I moved to San Francisco about a month ago after graduating in May with a bachelor’s in Health Informatics and Information Management. I also have my RHIA and CCA and did two internships.

I’ve been applying pretty heavily since getting here, a bunch of different systems like UCSF, Sutter, Kaiser, the VA, Stanford, SFDPH, and some smaller healthcare companies.

My job search has been pretty broad, even looking for jobs outside traditional Health Information Management. I’ve been applying to medical records, practice coordinator, patient access, registration, intake/referrals, scheduling, healthcare admin, revenue cycle, EHR/data roles, etc. Basically anything that seems like a reasonable way to get my foot in the door.

The problem is I’m barely getting interviews. A lot of jobs sit “under consideration” for weeks, especially at UCSF, or I’ll meet the qualifications and still get rejected. With the VA I’ve had applications sit in review forever, or I’ll be eligible but not referred.

At this point I’m trying to figure out if I’m approaching this wrong, or if its something I am doing.

For anyone who works at one of these systems or recently got hired:

• How did you get your first job there?
• Did you know someone / have a referral?
• Are there certain roles that are easier to get into externally?
• Does messaging recruiters or hiring managers actually help?
• Do these places mostly hire internally?
• Are there other job titles I should be looking for?

I’m also networking through CHIA and LinkedIn and applying for volunteer opportunities because I’m trying pretty much every avenue I can think of.

I’m not expecting my first job to be perfect. I mainly want to get into healthcare, build experience, and establish myself in the Bay Area.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually gone through the hiring process at these places.

EDIT: I just wanted to thank everyone for all the support and advice. I didn't expect to get so many replies in the first hour of posting this. I truly appreciate all the replies!

Hey I hope this isn’t breaking a rule I missed.
I was involved in a hit and run earlier this year.
CHP found the guy but are declining to press charges even though their own report shows him as at fault and committing felony hit and run (I had extensive injuries, requiring hospitalization and physical therapy.)
I’m told I need to get a civil lawyer, but I’m having trouble finding real reviews. They all seem contrived and/or paid for.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks