Vol. 50, No. 4
April 2026
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THE NOE VALLEY VOICE Readers Weigh In On Cesar Chavez Street Renaming
From Porch Songs to Music In the Square
Voice Poll Prompts 700 Ideas— Some Serious, Some Not
How Gil Guillermo Is Shaping Noe Valley’s Sound
By Corrie M. Anders and Sally Smith
By Maria Verissimo
O
ne person thought Carlos Santana was the perfect replacement name for Cesar Chavez Street. Another suggested the honor should go to artist Ruth Asawa. But not everyone picked a local icon. Nearly 700 people responded to an informal Noe Valley Voice survey on Facebook. It asked their choices for renaming Cesar Chavez Street. When we began polling March 19, San Francisco seemed ready to erase “Cesar Chavez”—across streets, schools, and parks. The day before, a New York Times story had revealed allegations that the civil rights leader, who co-founded the United Farm Workers in the 1960s, had used his position of power to abuse women, including UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta. “It is inevitable that [Cesar Chavez] street will be renamed,” said District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Mission District SuperCONTINUED ON PAGE 7
After years of acoustic-only performances, the Noe Valley Town Square has a new sound. Thanks to a recently granted amplification permit, music booker Gil Guillermo is expanding the lineup, bringing in diverse performers, and changing the experience for musicians and audiences alike.
W
hen thinking of 2020, the need for social distancing instantly comes to mind as we remember the first days of the pandemic. The distance between neighbors, loved ones, and friends was established: 6 feet. However, times of hardship usually lead to innovation and creativity, and the need for community was a driving force for many in Noe Valley. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Cameras Ready? Street Name Swap? Noe Valley residents were quick to erase “Cesar Chavez” from home addresses last month, after learning disturbing news about the once revered cofounder of the United Farm Workers movement. Photo by Renee Koury
By Corrie M. Anders
T
he Noe Valley Girls Film Festival, now in its 11th year, has set the date for the 2026 event. It’s Saturday, Sept. 12, 4 p.m., at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St. The NVGFF has also started accepting film submissions via the Noe Valley Girls Film Festival page at the site https://filmfreeway.com/NoeValleyGirls FilmFestival. The rules invite girls to submit films in two age groups: 10 and under and 11 to 16. Entries can be comedic or serious
Xela Imports Weathers Uncertain Times Shop Faces Tariffs, Rising Costs, and Shifting Habits By Matthew S. Bajko
S
ince 1984, Xela Imports has been a staple retail store in Noe Valley, selling jewelry, clothing, and handmade goods from around the globe. In 1992, Alessandro Bifulco took over the business and was joined a year later by his sister, Paola Heins. From their store on 24th Street— which began in a “subterranean” space at 3961-1/2 24th St., then moved to 3925 24th St.—the siblings have watched the neighborhood change around them. They remember when the Second Spanish Baptist Church across the street was torn down and replaced with condos over commercial spaces and when the grocery store next door went from being Bell Market to Whole Foods. They’ve said goodbye to fellow small retailers, who closed their doors as younger residents moved into the neighborhood and began to buy online rather than in brick-and-mortar shops. The forced closure of non-essential stores in 2020 due to Covid led to further disruptions to their business. The siblings had just started to CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Girls Film Fest Rolls Into Year 11
A Local Gem: With their eclectic store Xela Imports, Paola Heins and Alessandro Bifulco have spent 34 years adding sparkle to 24th Street. Photo by Sally Smith
but should be G-rated and no longer than 5 minutes. Festival organizers are also seeking volunteers, who are under 18 years old, live in San Francisco, and love seeing or making movies, to join the team that stages the event. Volunteers hold bake sales, review movies, solicit new submissions, find sponsors, and do other planning. (They also decide where to put the popcorn stand.) The festival hands out prizes, including a first-place cash award of $250, second place $150, and third place $50—in each age group. The submission deadline is Aug. 15. Finalists are expected to be announced by Sept. 1, with winners revealed at the festival event. For more information or to volunteer, email info@nvgff.com or the FilmFreeway platform above. 䡲