When former President Donald J. Trump said at a news conference this month that he once nearly died in a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, the former mayor of San Francisco, Heather Knight immediately picked up the phone and dialed Mr. Brown.
“Luckily, he answered on the first ring,” Ms. Knight, the San Francisco bureau chief for The New York Times, said in an interview. “He was like: ‘No, I’m 90. I never rode in a helicopter with Donald Trump. And I definitely didn’t almost die. Don’t you think you would have heard about that?’”
The conversation with the former mayor — and a resulting article about Mr. Trump’s jaw-dropping tale — offer a small glimpse into Ms. Knight’s expansive role. She joined The Times in September 2023 from The San Francisco Chronicle, where she spent 24 years writing about issues affecting the city, including homelessness and the fentanyl epidemic.
Despite its reputation for post-pandemic office vacancies and homeless tent encampments, San Francisco is not all doom and gloom.
“In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful city in America,” said Ms. Knight, who has called the city by the bay her home for the last 25 years. “It has the best food, great culture, diversity. We can’t forget about that as the city struggles to solve bigger problems.”
In a phone conversation from her home in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco, Ms. Knight discussed the challenges of writing about a transforming city and the feedback she receives from readers. These are edited excerpts.
What was your earliest journalism experience?
I wrote for my high school’s newspaper, The Hub, in Davis. I was definitely better at writing than reporting. I was extremely shy growing up and had a hard time asking questions, let alone tough questions. I got over that. At my wedding, my dad said during his toast that he couldn’t believe I badgered the mayor of San Francisco on a regular basis as a journalist.
What has been the most surprising part of working for The Times?
The Times’s audience is huge. I’ve also been surprised that I get to write about a real range of things. I’ve covered hard news, breaking news, politics; fun and serious stuff. I’m making an effort to show a wide range of stories about San Francisco. The city has suffered a lot, and I know San Franciscans feel beaten down. So I’m happy that I get to show not only the hard realities — like homelessness, the drug crisis and the extreme cost of housing — but also the positive side.
I recently wrote about 2,000 sea lions coming to Pier 39, an all-time record. I wrote about Grace Cathedral, this old Gothic cathedral that’s getting people in the doors with concerts, yoga and sound baths.
What kind of feedback do you receive from readers?
I get a lot of emails from San Franciscans saying, “I’m so glad you’re at The Times and sharing the ups and the downs of our city with a national audience.” I also get a lot of emails from people who used to live in San Francisco. It’s one of those cities that people love to live in during their 20s and 30s, and then they move away when they have kids or get a new job. A lot of people love reading about San Francisco, even if they aren’t there anymore. I think it’s a city that captures people’s imaginations and stays with you.
Why do you think that is?
It’s really beautiful. People love coming here to ride the cable cars, take a ferry on the bay, eat at famous restaurants, have a drink at the Top of the Mark. But the politics here make it a very easy target for conservative media. So I think people who care about the city are happy to see national coverage that isn’t describing it as some hellscape or apocalyptic zombieland.
If you could choose another beat, what would it be?
I don’t want another beat.
Why not?
Because San Francisco is so fascinating. The gods of journalism have blessed me with an endless story list. Funny, serious, tragic, crazy — it’s all here.
What does a perfect day in San Francisco look like for you?
I would ride a Muni bus to Golden Gate Park, with a stop in the Inner Sunset for breakfast and coffee. Then I’d walk along John F. Kennedy Drive. One positive of the pandemic was that a couple of streets — including that one — went car-free in San Francisco. Then I’d walk to the ocean and spend a little time on the beach with my kids. In the afternoon, I’d go shopping in the Mission and have lunch at one of the famous taquerias. I’d eventually meet up with friends and go to a drag show at Oasis.
Sounds fun. What’s Oasis like?
It’s a cabaret owned by D’Arcy Drollinger, who is the city’s drag laureate. This is also on my story list. Every Christmas, four drag queens play the Golden Girls and re-enact Christmas episodes and D’Arcy plays Rose. My birthday’s just before Christmas, so it’s become tradition.
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