Michael Barba
@michaelbarba.bsky.social
Reporter on the City Hall desk at the San Francisco Chronicle. I cover government accountability and public safety. Find me on Signal: michaelbarba.42
NEW: We obtained surveillance footage of the alleged hit-and-run by SF Sheriff Miyamoto’s then-chief of staff, Rich Jue. It revealed far more than we expected. @meganrcassidy.bsky.social and I dug in. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s...
Exclusive: Video of S.F. sheriff official crashing into parked car exposes gaps in investigation
Richard Jue, formerly chief of staff to Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, is avoiding a criminal conviction for leaving the scene of an accident and then lying about it.
www.sfchronicle.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
NEW: We obtained surveillance footage of the alleged hit-and-run by SF Sheriff Miyamoto’s then-chief of staff, Rich Jue. It revealed far more than we expected. @meganrcassidy.bsky.social and I dug in. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s...
An SF city worker who got put on leave by his boss after he filed a whistleblower complaint against her is now facing a new challenge: Mayor Lurie wants to eliminate his job.
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
S.F. Mayor Lurie moves to eliminate job of whistleblower in City Hall scandal
Joe Macaluso alleges that the administration is using the budget cuts as a pretext to get rid of him for blowing the whistle on Kimberly Ellis, the former director of the department.
www.sfchronicle.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
An SF city worker who got put on leave by his boss after he filed a whistleblower complaint against her is now facing a new challenge: Mayor Lurie wants to eliminate his job.
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...
Reposted by Michael Barba
Protesters formed a human banner at Ocean Beach during the "No Kings" protests in San Francisco on Saturday. The protest is among nationwide demonstrations against President Donald Trump.
📸: Santiago Mejia
📸: Santiago Mejia
June 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Protesters formed a human banner at Ocean Beach during the "No Kings" protests in San Francisco on Saturday. The protest is among nationwide demonstrations against President Donald Trump.
📸: Santiago Mejia
📸: Santiago Mejia
Kimberly Ellis, who bills herself as the “most powerful unelected person in California Democratic politics,” routinely mixed her political interests with her role as a city official, raising questions about her spending of city funds. She is now on leave www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/t...
Top San Francisco official who failed to disclose side job placed on leave
Kimberly Ellis was put on leave from her job as the director of San Francisco’s Department on the Status of Women.
www.sfchronicle.com
March 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Kimberly Ellis, who bills herself as the “most powerful unelected person in California Democratic politics,” routinely mixed her political interests with her role as a city official, raising questions about her spending of city funds. She is now on leave www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/t...
the Sheryl Davis portrait saga continues: a city report finds the gift from nonprofit Urban Ed cost $5,500, created "at least the appearance of a bribe." w/ @stjbs.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
‘Appearance of a bribe’: $5,500 portrait given to former S.F. official flagged in city report
’Appearance of a bribe’: $5,500 portrait given to former S.F. official Sheryl Davis flagged in city report
www.sfchronicle.com
March 11, 2025 at 10:38 PM
the Sheryl Davis portrait saga continues: a city report finds the gift from nonprofit Urban Ed cost $5,500, created "at least the appearance of a bribe." w/ @stjbs.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Ex-SF official Sheryl Davis got a portrait of herself from a nonprofit that was seeking a $270K contract from her.
She called it a “beautiful gift” in an Instagram post showing the art hanging in her city office.
Now Davis is saying she never accepted the gift.
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
She called it a “beautiful gift” in an Instagram post showing the art hanging in her city office.
Now Davis is saying she never accepted the gift.
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Exclusive: Gift portrait of disgraced S.F. official prompts more questions about influence peddling
Exclusive: Gift portrait of disgraced S.F. official prompts more questions about influence peddling
www.sfchronicle.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Ex-SF official Sheryl Davis got a portrait of herself from a nonprofit that was seeking a $270K contract from her.
She called it a “beautiful gift” in an Instagram post showing the art hanging in her city office.
Now Davis is saying she never accepted the gift.
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
She called it a “beautiful gift” in an Instagram post showing the art hanging in her city office.
Now Davis is saying she never accepted the gift.
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Reposted by Michael Barba
EXCLUSIVE: Maximilian Snyder, accused of killing Vallejo landlord Curtis Lind in slaying linked to Zizian fringe group, dictates letter to @sfchronicle.com reporter from jail
With @meganrcassidy.bsky.social @michaelbarba.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
With @meganrcassidy.bsky.social @michaelbarba.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
‘Death upon death’: Defendant in killing tied to cult-like ‘Zizian’ group dictates 1,500-word letter over jail phone
‘Death upon death’: Defendant in killing tied to cult-like ‘Zizian’ group dictates 1,500-word letter over jail phone
www.sfchronicle.com
February 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Maximilian Snyder, accused of killing Vallejo landlord Curtis Lind in slaying linked to Zizian fringe group, dictates letter to @sfchronicle.com reporter from jail
With @meganrcassidy.bsky.social @michaelbarba.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
With @meganrcassidy.bsky.social @michaelbarba.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
We traced the origin story of the 'Zizians' back to a 94-foot tugboat called Caleb, which sunk in a harbor near Half Moon Bay. The WWII-era vessel is still there today, partially submerged near the Mavericks surf spot. www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
‘Rationalist Fleet’: Before killings linked to fringe group, ‘Ziz’ led fateful tugboat voyage to California
‘Rationalist Fleet’: Before string of killings linked to fringe group, Jack ‘Ziz’ LaSota led fateful tugboat voyage from Alaska to California
www.sfchronicle.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
We traced the origin story of the 'Zizians' back to a 94-foot tugboat called Caleb, which sunk in a harbor near Half Moon Bay. The WWII-era vessel is still there today, partially submerged near the Mavericks surf spot. www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
DEEP DIVE: Six deaths, a fake drowning and fears of an AI apocalypse: Who is the 'Ziz' behind a mysterious group with ties to violence around the nation?
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Who is ‘Ziz’? How a mysterious group with roots in the Bay Area is linked to six deaths
Six killings across the country, a fake drowning in San Francisco Bay and fear of an AI apocalypse: Who is the mysterious ‘Ziz’?
www.sfchronicle.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
DEEP DIVE: Six deaths, a fake drowning and fears of an AI apocalypse: Who is the 'Ziz' behind a mysterious group with ties to violence around the nation?
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
I profiled Davin Cole, a well-liked San Francisco cop who did a good job hiding his addiction to prescription painkillers — until he got desperate. Cole dropped his daughter at cheer practice, then took a gun into a drugstore. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/p...
A San Francisco police officer saw the drug crisis up close. But he was carrying a dark secret
He was a cop who saw the drug crisis up close on S.F.’s streets. Then his addiction nearly killed him
www.sfchronicle.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I profiled Davin Cole, a well-liked San Francisco cop who did a good job hiding his addiction to prescription painkillers — until he got desperate. Cole dropped his daughter at cheer practice, then took a gun into a drugstore. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/p...