Hey there, San Francisco. 

Happy Thursday. We knew people left the city during the pandemic, resulting in a 6.3% population decline between July 2020 and July 2021. It was the biggest exodus (by percentage) of any major US city. 

But on Thursday, newly released Census data told us more about those who moved away. Hint: They were mostly young people. 

As the SF Standard neatly laid out, of the 58,000 people who left between 2020 and 2021, 69% were between the ages of 20 and 34 years old – an age group that accounted for 28% of the city’s overall population before the pandemic. 

Twenty-two percent of those left were between 35 and 49, and only 1% was over 50. 

Going further into the data, the biggest population change among age groups in San Francisco came for those aged 25-29. They went from 94,078 in April 2020 to 75,226 in July 2021 – a 20% decline. 

The city also saw a 15% drop-off in those aged 20-24 and 14% decline in 30-34 year olds. 

Perhaps, it's not too surprising that young, working-aged people were the ones who mostly left. But still, it’s pretty striking to see. 

And with that… onto the news… 

Quick bits: News to know 

💉 The state Assembly passed a bill on Thursday that authorizes supervised drug consumption sites in Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco. 

• The state Senate and Mayor Gavin Newsom will need to approve the legislation as well, which could happen later this summer. 

• The Chronicle notes that New York City has two consumption sites, which have reversed 263 overdoses from last November to this May. 

• “This is not the one thing that will stop the fentanyl or opioid epidemic in our state,” Assemblymember Matt Haney, who represents San Francisco, said. “But it will help, and it will save lives.” (Chronicle) 

🎇 North Lake Tahoe will replace its fireworks display this year with a light show carried out by some 200 LED-lit drones. 

• As the Chronicle’s Gregory Thomas writes: “The Fourth of July holiday is widely considered the peak of Tahoe’s busy summer season, a night when enthusiasm for fireworks brings in hundreds of thousands of spectators but also locks up the North Shore with traffic and gives way to house parties and all-night revelry.” 

• Apparently, the decision was meant to create an event that “aligns with the long-term well-being of Tahoe’s communities,” Thomas writes. 

• South Lake Tahoe will still have fireworks this year, Thomas reports, but community leaders are considering a switch to drones in the future as well. (Chronicle) 

🍷 Cha Cha Cha’s Mission Street location will close on July 3 after 25 years. But, it will soon reopen under new ownership as “Kuba,” with a similar menu and added brunch.

• Cha Cha Cha’s original Haight Street location will remain open. (SF Business Times / Eater) 

🪴 In other closing news, the other day I noticed that Rare Device’s Plant House is having a 25% off, going-out-of-business sale. 

• Rare Device confirmed the news, saying its Divisadero plant shop, which opened last November, will close its doors on July 18. 

• “My team and I built something beautiful in the plant store,” Rare Device owner Giselle Gyalzen said in a statement. “I know that many hearts will feel this loss deeply.” 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse 

• Kaitlin Armstrong, wanted in the murder of San Francisco cyclist Mo Wilson, arrested in Costa Rica (SFGATE) 

• Feds Decertify Laguna Honda Hospital, Patients Relocated (Richmond Review) 

• Pacifica's WWII Prison Camp Has Largely Been Erased — But It Was There (KQED) 

• ‘A justice of great intellect’: S.F.-born Justice Breyer steps down from Supreme Court (Chronicle) 

And finally… The Rainbow House 

On this final day of June/Pride month, here’s a photo of the “The Rainbow House,” which was taken by local photographer Eddie Hernandez. 

It’s located in Noe Valley, on Clipper Street between Diamond and Douglass. 

That’s all for today! And as a programming alert, I decided to save the Weekend Guide for tomorrow – a special 4th of July edition! 

And, I know the holiday weekend awaits, but don’t sleep on tomorrow’s newsletter. Some big news to announce! 

Have a great night! - Nick B. 🧨