Hey there, San Francisco. 

Happy Monday. 

A looming question since voters recalled the three school board members last month: Who will Mayor Breed pick to replace them? 

The mayor hasn’t named names yet. But one place to look for clues is a list of 11 potential candidates put together by recall organizers. 

Autumn Looijen, co-lead for Recall the SF School Board, told me on Monday: “We’re aware that the Mayor has met or is meeting the top candidates from the list.” 

It’s interesting to see the influence of the recall group beyond the recall itself. 

Looijen said it had been the group’s plan “for a while” to have a hand in recommending replacements, but they had “decided to hold off on executing it until after the election.” 

As for whether Recall the SF School Board will exist beyond Mayor Breed’s upcoming decision, Looijen told me: “We’re literally debating that question in our FB group right now… We’re a grassroots effort so it’s going to be a community decision on our way forward.” 

And with that…onto some news… 

Top story: JFK Drive plan revealed

The SFMTA along with the Rec and Parks department announced a joint recommendation on Monday to permanently keep Golden Gate Park’s JFK Drive car-free. 

The news follows much debate over the roadway’s future, which closed to vehicle traffic in the spring of 2020 to give residents more space to remain active during the pandemic. 

Beyond closing JFK to cars between Transverse and Stanyan streets, the recommendation also calls for an improved, free shuttle service within Golden Gate Park and additional parking spaces for disabled people. 

On Twitter, Mayor Breed touted the plan, saying: “This has been an essential space for our residents and families during this pandemic, and I believe it can be a long-term benefit to this city.” 

• As the Chronicle’s Ricardo Cano noted, Monday marked the first time Mayor Breed took a public stance on JFK Drive. 

Still, the Board of Supervisors have the ultimate say on JFK’s future, and it’s unclear whether they will vote on the SFMTA/Rec and Parks plan or come up with their own. 

And, not all groups are happy about keeping things car-free. 

• In a statement to The SF Minute on Monday, the deYoung museum said it was “disappointed” with the recommendation, claiming it “reduc[ed] access to Golden Gate Park and its attractions for the many residents of San Francisco who do not have the privilege to live within walking or biking distance to the park.” 

Quick bits: News to know 

• 🍌 Another video of a Walgreens theft surfaced recently. This one includes a thief throwing bananas and Chips Ahoy at a customer who tries to intervene. (Chronicle) 

• 😔 Maki, the ring-tailed lemur who was kidnapped and later recovered in 2020, passed away at 22 years old, SF Zoo officials announced late last week. “Maki became a symbol of resilience and bravery,” the SF Zoo’s CEO Tanya Peterson told the SFist. “We are heartbroken for this loss.” (SFist) 

• 🎤 Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica Ball” stadium tour will resume this summer with a stop at San Francisco’s Oracle Park on September 8. (Datebook) 

Food news: Sweet (and savory) updates

• 🍝 Longtime North Beach restaurant Baonecci Ristorante has moved from San Francisco to Frisco, Texas. (SFGATE) 

• 🚚 Off the Grid is bringing back its Friday night event at Fort Mason starting on April 1, and on Monday, Eater published its complete food truck lineup. Staples include Senor Sisig, Johnny Doughnuts, and The Chairman. Newcomers include Vegan Mob, Chick N’ Bros, and El Fuego. (Eater) 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse 

Friends, students mourn traffic victim Abraham Joshua (Mission Local) 

Concerns Grow Over Urban Alchemy Expanding Security Work in Tenderloin (SF Standard) 

Outer Richmond’s Homey New ‘Common Space’ (Richmond Review) 

And finally… “Turning Red” 

Pixar’s latest movie “Turning Red,” which starts streaming on Disney+ on Friday, features a girl named Mei Lee who “transforms into an enormous red panda when stressed or agitated,” Datebook writes. 

And as reporter Todd Inoue notes, the film’s development team and illustrators visited the San Francisco Zoo multiple times to observe three red pandas there (Hillary, Hunter, and Tenzing) and learn more about their behaviors. 

“The red panda is kind of big, kind of hairy, and kind of awkward too — like how you feel during puberty,” director Domee Shi told Datebook. “And, let’s be honest, they are a little stinky … but still so cute at the same time.”

You can watch a trailer for “Turning Red” here. 

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 

- Nick B.