The Bay Agenda: District 17 Town Hall with Assemblymember Matt Haney

San Francisco is at a crossroads, which is visible in the challenges and opportunities facing District 17. Encompassing the city's eastern side, including Downtown, the Tenderloin, North Beach, the Mission, Bayview, Castro, SoMa, Hayes Valley, Potrero Hill, Excelsior, and Chinatown, this part of the city sits at the heart of San Francisco’s economic, cultural, and civic identity.

Assemblymember Haney will join KALW Executive Producer Ben Trefny for a wide-ranging discussion about the future of these communities — from housing and small business recovery to public safety, neighborhood identity, and the role of civic media in shaping local change.

This event is part of KALW’s ongoing Bay Agenda series, connecting residents directly with the leaders and changemakers shaping the Bay Area’s future. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and share perspectives on the issues that matter most to their neighborhoods.

Assemblymember Matt Haney represents California’s 17th Assembly District, which covers the eastern side of San Francisco, including Downtown, the Tenderloin, North Beach, the Mission, Bayview, Castro, SoMa, Hayes Valley, Potrero Hill, Excelsior, and Chinatown. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, the Legislative Renters’ Caucus and the Committee on Downtown Recovery.

In the Assembly, Haney has made housing affordability, workers’ rights, health care access, and addressing the fentanyl crisis his top priorities. He has authored legislation to accelerate housing construction and enforcement, improve workplace fairness and safety, expand access to lifesaving addiction treatment, and strengthen California’s downtowns as cultural and economic hubs.

Before joining the Assembly, Haney served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he led efforts to expand tenant protections, build thousands of new homes, and support small businesses. He also served two terms on the San Francisco Board of Education, where as President he expanded access to technology, supported educators, and strengthened services for students with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness. A Bay Area native, Haney lives in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood and holds degrees from UC Berkeley, the National University of Ireland, and Stanford University.

Ben Trefny has been part of the KALW family since 2003, where he currently serves as Executive Producer. As Executive News Editor, News Director, and Interim Executive Director, he helped the news department win numerous regional and national awards for long- and short-form journalism. He also helped create numerous training programs — for teenagers, incarcerated people, and early-career journalists — and has taught hundreds of audio producers. His current work focuses on journalism, live events, and partnerships.

There is a $10 - $20 sliding scale suggested donation for this event. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Please become a KALW member today and receive your first drink on us at all 220 Montgomery events.

📍 220 Montgomery St., San Francisco, 2 blocks from BART/MUNI

🚪 Reception doors open at 6:00

🗣️ Program begins at 7:00

🆓 The event is free with an RSVP — and you are welcome to donate what you want

Please note:

• The event space is just to the left of the main entrance to the Mills Building at 220 Montgomery Street
• We recommend taking BART/MUNI, exiting at Montgomery, and walking two blocks north
• Ride-shares can drop off and pick up directly in front of the venue
• If you drive, there are several garages within two blocks of the event location; free street parking is available across from the venue at 7:00 pm

Title image by King of Hearts, Creative Commons use:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Francisco_from_Pier_7_September_2013_panorama_edit.jpg