The Sunset Connection: People, Property & Policy in the Bay Area
If you live in the SF Bay Area, or are planning to, you probably have questions. Who lives here, what do people care about, and why? How do you find a home, open a business, plan for your family’s future, or understand what’s changing in your neighborhood?I’m Jessica Ho, an insatiably curious person whose work has taken me through healthcare, government, community advocacy, consulting, and real estate. Across these fields, I keep asking how things connect. I bring those experiences and insights to this podcast to help you understand the bigger picture and make better decisions.On The...
Estate Planning and Death Over Dim Sum
Send us Fan Mail
We talk about finding a home, but less about what happens when life changes, and often avoid talking about death altogether.
In this episode, Liz Wong and Holly Chan of Death Over Dim Sum and estate-planning attorney Kendra Bowen of HERA join me to share personal stories and practical steps for expressing our wishes, choosing someone we trust to speak for us, and protecting the people we love.
Building on my conversation with San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres about family homes and legacies, we explore the relationships that make a...
What's Next for The Sunset Connection?
Send us Fan Mail
In this short update and Season 2 finale, I’m catching you up on where I’ve been and what I’m planning next for The Sunset Connection: People, Property, and Policy.
With a new tagline and cover art, the show will explore the questions and decisions that come with buying a home, opening a business, and navigating everyday life in the Bay Area.
Next up is a fresh start with Season 3. Coming soon: estate planning, family legacy, and the conversations that help us prepare for the future.
The Su...
Beers, Burgers, and Baseball: How Tommy and Max Created A Sunset Destination
Send us Fan Mail
The Sunset is changing, and few businesses have captured the neighborhood's attention quite like Two Pitchers Brewing Company and Maillards.
In this special episode, Jessica is joined by guest co-host Ted Manahan, a Sunset resident and longtime supporter of local businesses, to sit down with Tommy Hester and Max Ponzurick, the founders behind the popular Noriega Street destination.
Together, they discuss the journeys that brought them from college baseball, homebrewing, and farmers market pop-ups to craft beer, smash burgers, and one of the most talked-about new businesses on San...
SF June Ballot Guide: What Is the “CEO Tax” Really? With Ryan Blake
Send us Fan Mail
San Francisco voters are being asked to weigh in on earthquake preparedness, term limits, and two competing business tax measures that could shape the city’s economic future.
In this episode, Jessica Ho is joined by Ryan Blake of Platinum Advisors to break down Propositions A through D in plain English, including the debate behind the so-called “CEO tax,” downtown recovery, city budget pressures, and how competing ballot measures actually work.
Whether you already vote in every election or are just trying to make sense of the voter pamphlet, this e...
How to Navigate Affordable, Low-Income, and Senior Housing in San Francisco - with Manson Leong
Send us Fan Mail
Most people in San Francisco think “affordable housing” is for someone else.
But the reality is more complicated.
In this episode, I sit down with Manson Leong from Self-Help for the Elderly to break down how the system actually works and who it really serves.
We talk about:
the difference between low-income and affordable housing how federal and city programs work Self-Help’s role in senior housing and how difficult it can be for seniors, especially those who do not speak English, to navigate the systemWe also talk...
District 4 Candidate Series Finale: A Conversation with Supervisor Alan Wong
Send us Fan Mail
Disclosure: My husband, Christian Kropff, is Supervisor Alan Wong's campaign manager. Every candidate in this series was made aware of this connection before recording. The questions in this episode are the same ones asked of every candidate throughout the series.
This is the final episode of The Sunset Connection's District 4 Candidate Series.
Over the past several weeks, I've spoken with every candidate running for District 4 Supervisor - asking the same questions, in the same format, each time. The goal has always been the same: to give Sunset...
Is There Really a “War on Cars”? Emma Hare Explains!
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, I talk with Emma Hare, legislative aide to Supervisor Myrna Melgar, about the Inner Sunset and transportation policy in San Francisco. If you've ever wondered what a legislative aide actually does, what makes the Inner Sunset unique, and the so-called “war on cars," this episode is for you.
We also talk about including two transit funding measures expected on the November 2026 ballot that could shape public transit funding.
Whether you take transit, drive, bike, or walk, these upcoming measures will influence how the Bay Area moves and...
Who Gets to Stay? Inside the Starship House of the Sunset
Send us Fan Mail
What happens when a home becomes more than real estate?
Welcome to the home of Jim Kirk (yes, that’s really his name), who lives in a house that has become memory, identity, and community all at once.
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, I record on location inside one of the most unusual homes in San Francisco’s Sunset District, known by neighbors as the “Starship House.”
Jim grew up in the Sunset and never really left. Over decades, he transformed his family home into somethin...
District 4 Candidate Series: Meet Jeremy Julian Greco
Send us Fan Mail
This episode continues The Sunset Connection’s District 4 Candidate Series, where each candidate for Supervisor is asked the same questions in the same format.
In this conversation, Jeremy Julian Greco - a longtime District 4 resident, educator, artist, and former worker-owner at Other Avenues Food Co-op - shares his personal connection to the Sunset, what led him to run for Supervisor, and how his background shapes his approach to leadership.
Topics include community care, support for working families and seniors, small businesses, and the role of art and culture in San...
District 4 Candidate Series: David Lee on Leadership in the Sunset
Send us Fan Mail
This episode continues The Sunset Connection’s District 4 candidate interview series.
I’m speaking with every candidate running for Supervisor and asking the same questions, in the same order, to give Sunset residents a clear look at how each candidate thinks and approaches decision-making - before campaigns get condensed into slogans.
In this episode, I’m joined by David Lee, a Sunset homeowner, lifelong Westside San Franciscan, and educator. David previously served as a San Francisco Recreation and Park Commissioner, where he worked on neighborhood projects including Sava P...
District 4 Candidate Series: Natalie Gee on Leadership, Community, and City Hall
Send us Fan Mail
This episode continues the District 4 candidate mini-series on The Sunset Connection.
I’m speaking with every candidate who agrees to participate, using the same questions and the same format each time. The goal is simple: to give Sunset residents the opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for their vote.
In this conversation, I’m joined by Natalie Gee, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Shamann Walton and a candidate for District 4 Supervisor. Natalie discusses her priorities, her approach to problem-solving, and what she hopes to accomplish for the dist...
District 4 Candidate Series: A Conversation with Albert Chow
Send us Fan Mail
This episode marks the start of a District 4 candidate mini-series on The Sunset Connection.
I’ll be speaking with every candidate who agrees to come on the podcast, using the same questions and the same format each time. The goal is simple: give Sunset residents the chance to hear directly from the people asking for their vote.
To kick things off, I’m joined by Albert Chow, a San Francisco native, longtime Sunset resident, and small business owner. We talk about what led him to run, how his...
Getting to Know Supervisor Alan Wong
Send us Fan Mail
As we close out the year, I’m sharing a conversation that feels especially fitting for this moment.
In this episode, I sit down with Alan Wong, the newly appointed Supervisor for San Francisco’s District 4, to talk about his roots in the Sunset, his family’s immigration story, and the experiences that shaped his path into public service.
Before policy positions and headlines, this conversation focuses on the human side - growing up in the neighborhood, learning to serve through student government, protecting language access and educat...
Part II: Pat Maguire on Love, Loss, and a Life Beyond
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Pat Maguire opens up about the moments that shaped his new book, All Things Beautiful. He talks about the night that changed everything for his family, what grief taught him, and the unexpected place where he rediscovered purpose. This is a vulnerable, grounded conversation about loss, love, sobriety, and the work of becoming whole again.
We also touch on Conor’s unforgettable senior night - the 63-point game that sparked media attention and reminded Pat of the legacy Kevin left behind.
Episode artwork photo credit: Courtesy of...
The Fights That Bound Us: Pat Maguire on Growing Up Irish Catholic in the Sunset
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, I talk with Pat Maguire, who opened and runs Java Beach Café with his wife, Buffy Maguire. Both Pat and Buffy are San Francisco natives with deep ties in the Outer Sunset.
We talk about what it was really like to grow up in an Irish-Catholic family in the Outer Sunset - when the neighborhood was close-knit, rough, and far from the calm place most people know today. Pat shares what it was like coming of age here in the ’80s and ’90s: why fights...
Assessing How SF’s Assessor-Recorder, Joaquin Torres, Works For You
Send us Fan Mail
In this conversation, Joaquin shares how his upbringing inspired his work in public service and what the new SMART Property System means for homeowners, professionals, and the city’s future. Plus, a few of his favorite Sunset hangouts.
Stay Connected
🎧 Listen on Buzzsprout
📷 Follow on Instagram
📘 Connect on Facebook
▶️ Watch on YouTube
✉️ Email: [email protected]
Have a question or a story to share? I’d...
SarangHello, Sunset!
Send us Fan Mail
There’s a K-Pop store in the Sunset District.
Yeah, you read that right.
In a neighborhood better known for dimsum than fandom, SarangHello has become a magnet for teens, stans, and anyone chasing joy. Jessica talks with owner Kevin Roger Teng about how he and his business partners, Pip and Ches, built a community hub out of pure love for K-Pop, and what it means when new energy moves into old neighborhoods.
Stay Connected
🎧 Listen on Buzzsprout
📷 Follow on Instagr...
The Return of the Sunset Night Market and Holiday Updates With Angie Petitt
Send us Fan Mail
What happened to the Sunset Night Market? What is Sunset Mercantile? And how did the Outer Sunset Farmers Market and Mercantile get started? Is there anything happening for the holidays in the Sunset?
Tune in to The Sunset Connection, where Jessica Ho talks with Angie Pettit of Sunset Mercantile about upcoming community events - from Diwali (Oct 19) and the Halloween Farmers Market (Oct 26) to the Halloween Night Bazaar (Oct 31), Holiday Mercantile, Light Stroll, and more.
✨ See the full calendar at sunsetmercantilesf.com
Stay Connected...
October Means Movies in McCoppin Park - It's a Tradition!
Send us Fan Mail
A foggy square, a rolling library cart, and a neighborhood ready to gather, this is how a small idea became a 15‑year tradition that now brings 700 people together every Friday in October. We sit down with Albert to tell the full story of Movies in McCoppin, from a merchants association looking for fresh energy to a city‑loved series that unites families across the Sunset and beyond.
We walk through the origin moment sparked by former Supervisor Carmen Chu’s suggestion, the early nights with a DVD player, and the steady evolut...
Education as the Great Equalizer: A Conversation with Parag Gupta
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, Jessica Ho sits down with Parag Gupta - SF Board of Education commissioner, affordable housing leader, and proud SFUSD parent. Education is often called the “great equalizer,” but in San Francisco it collides with housing costs, politics, and questions of trust in public institutions. Parag shares his family’s immigration story, his career in social impact, and why “boring government” might be exactly what our schools need. A wide-ranging, personal, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about schools, homes, and the future of San Francisco.
Stay...
House Hunters: Sunset Edition
Send us Fan Mail
Yes, Redfin and Zillow are great for browsing listings, but will they tell you about the home that hasn’t hit the market yet, the seller quietly desperate to move, or the problems hiding behind perfect staging?
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, we go back to the basics: real estate is complicated, full of legal and financial pitfalls, and finding someone you trust to guide you through it isn’t easy. Host Jessica Ho sits down with Sequoia Real Estate’s Kelvin Kam and Ted Manahan to tackle the myths...
Sunset Commons: A New Kind of Third Space for the Sunset
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Carmen and Steven Lee, the creators of Sunset Commons, a brand-new arts and crafts café in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset. The two high school sweethearts turned small business owners talk about what it takes to launch a small business post-pandemic, the importance of third spaces, and why crocheting in public might just save your soul.
The episode was recorded earlier this summer, but we’re launching it now because Sunset Commons officially opened its doors on August 2nd!
You’ll also hear ab...
Where Do We Go Now? Processing the BBB as Chinese Americans
Send us Fan Mail
What does it mean to be Chinese American in 2025, when a sweeping new federal law - HR 1, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill” - fundamentally changes immigration, enforcement, and who feels like they belong?
NEW! 📝 Transcript and Chinese translation now available on Substack:
🆕📝 訪談文字稿與中文翻譯現已上架 Substack：
https://substack.com/home/post/p-168431500
---
In this episode, we speak first with Jose Ng, Immigrant Rights Program Manager at Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), who breaks down how the BBB impacts mixed-status families, raises...
Behind the Numbers: Han Li on SFUSD’s Budget
Send us Fan Mail
If you live in San Francisco, chances are you either went to public school, have a child in public school, or know someone who does. But even if you don’t, the health of our schools reflects the health of our neighborhoods, our tax dollars, and our shared future.
In this episode, I sit down with Han Li from The San Francisco Standard to unpack SFUSD’s budget crisis, the recent push for stabilization, and why school closures might still be on the horizon.
I hope that this episode will...
When They Come for Us: Dr. Russell Jeung on Being Asian in America Today
Send us Fan Mail
Dr. Russell Jeung is a sociologist, Christian, and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. In this powerful conversation, Russell joins Jessica Ho to talk about what it means to be Asian American in a time of rising hate, surveillance, and silence. As a longtime professor at San Francisco State University, just steps from the Sunset District, Dr. Jeung shares how pandemic-era scapegoating evolved into broader anti-immigrant policies impacting researchers, families, and students.
From ICE raids to the fear of being disappeared, this episode is a call to empathy, courage, and storytelling...
Inside the SFUSD Lottery: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the System
Send us Fan Mail
What happens when your kid’s school assignment isn’t tied to your address, but to a citywide lottery? In this episode of The Sunset Connection, host Jessica Ho sits down with four Sunset District parents to unpack the complexities of San Francisco’s public school system.
You’ll hear from:
Gabi Wu, a real estate agent and bilingual education advocate who started researching kindergarten options when her daughter was three.Alex Wong, chair of SF Parent Action, who walks us through the school assignment process, from val...The Brisket Bao That Changed Everything
Send us Fan Mail
The aroma hits you first: smoky, rich, unmistakably Texan. But this isn’t Houston. You’re in San Francisco’s Sunset District, where Daniel Ramirez and his wife, Lareina, have built something special at Smoking D’s BBQ.
Daniel, a Houston native, missed the Texas barbecue of his hometown, so he made it himself and his own. What began as casual taste tests for homesick friends turned into a farmers market hustle, and eventually, a brick-and-mortar hit on Irving Street that now sells out almost every weekend. But it w...
More Than Chinatown: Lily Wong on Uplifting Chinese American Stories in the Sunset
Send us Fan Mail
What does it mean to grow up Chinese American? And how do the stories of Chinese families in the Sunset District resonate with communities everywhere?
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Lily Wong, Director of Community Engagement at Wah Mei School and Director of the Sunset Chinese Cultural District, to explore the stories that don’t always make the headlines.
Together, they dive into:
How Wah Mei became a pioneering bilingual, bicultural preschool in the Sunset DistrictHow the Sunset Chinese Cultural District was born during a...Can We Fix Healthcare Without Breaking Ourselves?
Send us Fan Mail
Hi Folks! This week’s episode has a different format, released in response to recent national changes that could reshape healthcare access for millions of Americans. With funding cuts, layoffs, and political uncertainty at the federal level, I wanted to share a timely conversation that explores what else might be possible.
My guest is Barry Hermanson, a longtime Sunset District resident, Green Party advocate, and former small business owner who has spent decades organizing around healthcare access and policy reform. Together, we unpack the real-world consequences of a profit-driven sy...
Let's Talk About Affordability in San Francisco, with Dyanna & Dane Volek
Send us Fan Mail
What does it really take to afford a life in San Francisco - and what happens when plans change?
In this episode, I sit down with Dyanna and Dane Volek to talk about their journey through homeownership, affordable housing programs, and navigating major life transitions.
Dyanna, a public servant and Sunset native, shares how the City’s housing programs helped her build a future in the place she grew up. Dane reflects on the closure of Anchor Brewing - where he rose from keg washer to brewmaster...
Senior Sharp & Sunset Smart: Margaret Graf on Real Estate, Aging, and Community
Send us Fan Mail
In today's episode of The Sunset Connection, host Jessica Ho introduces two exciting new segments: The Realty Rundown and Community Announcements!
We start by exploring the latest real estate trends impacting San Francisco's Sunset District, highlighting key market insights, financial opportunities, and the city's beneficial DALP program for first-time homebuyers.
Our special guest is Margaret Graf, a dedicated advocate for seniors, retired nurse and attorney, and accomplished author. Margaret shares rich stories from over six decades in the Sunset District, reflecting on San Francisco's transformation, her work with seniors...
Revitalizing the Sunset: Katy Tang on Leadership, Small Business, & Legacy
Send us Fan Mail
🍀 Happy Early St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
In this third episode of The Sunset Connection, we sit down with Katy Tang, former San Francisco District 4 Supervisor and current Executive Director of the Office of Small Business. As a lifelong Sunset resident, Katy reflects on her journey in public service, the challenges and triumphs of her time in office, and her ongoing work advocating for small businesses across San Francisco.
Come along as we dive into:
How growing up in the Sunset shaped her leadership styleThe Discover Your District initia...Safety in the Sunset: A Community Conversation
Send us Fan Mail
Dive into the heart of the Sunset District with SFPD Taraval Police Captain Brien Hoo as he explores the intricacies of community safety and policing. Growing up in the area, Captain Hu shares his vibrant memories and insights into how the neighborhood has transformed over the decades. This episode not only highlights the pressing public safety issues facing the community, particularly the rise of scams targeting vulnerable residents, but also emphasizes the vital role of community policing in building trust and cooperation between law enforcement and citizens.
Join us for an e...
Sunset Stories: From Past to Present
Send us Fan Mail
In the inaugural episode of "The Sunset Connection," host Jessica Ho, a Sunset resident, sits down with Albert Chow, esteemed community leader and owner of the historic Great Wall Hardware store in San Francisco's Sunset District. Together, they embark on a journey through time, exploring the neighborhood's transformation from its origins as the "Outside Lands" to the vibrant community it is today.
They reflect on Albert's personal stories, discuss how the neighborhood's changing demographics influence its rich cultural tapestry, and more.
Join us for this enlightening conversation as we...
