Hey there, San Francisco. 

I’ve known about Courtney’s Produce, and what a gem it is, for years. 

But lately, with rising prices all around us, I’ve become even more thankful for the low-cost, Duboce-area corner store. 

Fresh-squeezed juices, generously sized, are $3.75. Turkey and avocado sandwiches are $5.00. And their storied PB&J, with fresh cut strawberries on cinnamon bread, $2.50.

“We try to make it affordable for the working people,” manager Paul Xie told me this week. 

How do they do it? Xie said the secret (at least for their juices) lies in negotiation. 

“We go to the fruit markets every day and bargain with [the sellers],” he said. “We work hard to get the lowest prices and sell them cheap.” 

Still, even Courtney’s hasn’t been totally immune to inflation. Xie told me that in March they raised the prices on their sandwiches, but only by a quarter.

With that… onto the news… 

What I’m reading: Links to browse 

• DA Boudin and Fentanyl: Court Data Shows Just 3 Drug Dealing Convictions in 2021 as Immigration Concerns Shaped Policy (SF Standard) 

• S.F. is close to launching new street-cleaning department. Will city turn the corner on dirty sidewalks? (Chronicle) 

• Grandma of Warriors' Juan Toscano-Anderson bought Taqueria La Mejor in 1998. Now it serves Oakland's best burrito. (SFGATE) 

• Closing Laguna Honda Hospital would be like dropping a bomb on San Francisco (Mission Local) 

• Outdoor Movies Are Coming Back to San Francisco, Babes (Bold Italic) 

1 photo to go 

Hello from DC!

This morning, I spent some time walking around our nation’s capital and sightseeing.

Our company-wide retreat for Axios kicks off in a couple of hours, hence the short-and-sweet, early send. Hope things are well back at home, and I’ll see you tomorrow. - Nick B. 🇺🇸