Hey there, San Francisco. 

How about this weather? Currently, as I write this intro at 2pm, it’s 80 degrees outside my apartment near Alamo Square Park. 

And according to the handy, microclimate app Mr. Chilly, it’s about the same throughout the city. 

I hope you all had a chance to soak in some Vitamin D! 

And with that… onto the news… 

Top story: Redistricting takes new turn 

The San Francisco Elections Commission is holding a special meeting Friday to discuss potentially removing the three members it appointed to the city’s Redistricting Task Force amid what’s already been a hotly contested process of redrawing supervisor district lines.

On Thursday, State Senator Scott Wiener called the commission’s move “shocking” and “unprecedented.” 

• Mayor Breed also spoke out against the potential ousting, saying it “undermines and corrupts what is supposed to be a transparent and non-partisan process.” 

Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Dean Preston, meanwhile, applauded the elections commission for scheduling the meeting, the Chronicle reports. 

• Preston, whose District 5 could be greatly transformed, told the Chronicle that the task force has been “completely out of control.”

Regardless of the commission’s decision, new supervisor maps will still be due by April 15. 

Quick bits: News to know 

LendingClub told the SF Business Times that its 550 San Francisco employees are “strongly encouraged” to come into the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

• And, interestingly, employee badges will not let them into the building unless they’ve submitted a negative Covid at the start of the week. (SF Business Times) 

Civil rights attorney John Burris filed a claim against the SFPD earlier this week for racial profiling and illegally detaining a 13-year-old Black student outside his private school on Kearny Street. 

• The boy was reportedly walking towards his tutor’s car when the incident occurred back in March. Police, meanwhile, were looking for a suspect who had been breaking into cars. 

• “There was no legitimate basis to stop this young man — only that he was Black,” Burris said at a press conference on Tuesday. “That in and of itself was not enough.” (Mission Local) 

Food news: Sweet (and savory) updates

🌯 After running up against the city’s “formula retail” rules (which restrict businesses from opening in certain neighborhoods if they have 11 US locations or more), El Farolito’s North Beach taqueria has now been greenlit and is scheduled to open this month. 

• Apparently, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents the area, helped broker the deal with the planning department, which required El Farolito to change some signage at its other locations. 

• “All is well that ends well,” Peskin told the Chronicle. (Chronicle) 

❤️ The Chronicle released its “best day ever” food guide for the Richmond District on Thursday, which included breakfast at Breadbelly, lunch at Hummus Bodega, and dinner at Moku. (Chronicle) 

🍺 Mission District brewery Lupulandia has officially closed its doors after just three years.

• “The thing that nags at me is that we knew it worked,” co-owner Anthony LaVia told SFGATE. “It just never got the chance.” (SFGATE) 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse

• SF Environment Director Resigns as City Hall Corruption Scandal Claims Another Top Official (SF Standard) 

• This new food-delivery app sold the Bay Area’s best pastries. But the bakeries had no clue (Chronicle) 

• Artist Jeremy Fish opens new gallery in North Beach — and hopes other artists will follow suit (Hoodline) 

Weekend guide: Events, ideas, and more

🍿 Watch a movie at the Proxy. The Proxy’s outdoor movie nights returned to Hayes Valley last weekend, and its Spring Series is slated to run through the end of April. This week’s featured film is the animated documentary Flee. 

• It’s free to attend and will start with a panel discussion at 7:30pm, followed by the film at 8pm. 

⚾️ Head to the ballpark. It’s Opening Day for baseball and to kick off the season, the Giants will host the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park on Friday at 1:35pm. The series will continue into the weekend with afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday as well.

🏎 And finally… Witness the soap box derby. Back in 1975, San Francisco artists took to McLaren Park to race homemade carts (some made of bread, others styled in the shape of a No. 2 pencils) down 800-feet of concrete. Now, for the first time in over 40 years, the SFMOMA is bringing the soap box derby back this Sunday! Races begin at 11am. More info here. 

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and see you back here tomorrow. Almost Friday! - Nick B.