Hey there, San Francisco. 

Happy Tuesday.  My first apartment in the city was near the entrance of Golden Gate Park, about a block from Arguello Market. 

And, like many who lived there before me, I soon became a true believer in Arguello’s “world famous” turkey sandwich. So, I was excited to see SFGATE’s story today on my dear sandwich. 

Apparently, decades ago, Arguello owner Sal Qaqundaht worked at a 24-hour diner in Southern California that drew big crowds for its $1.49 chicken sandwich. 

“Because of the quality, the quantity, the service and the price, they kept coming back,” he said. “It really stuck in my mind.” 

Qaqundah moved north, swapped chicken with turkey, and found similar success. Arguello makes around 150 turkey sandwiches a day (around 70% of all its deli orders), he told SFGATE. And during an average lunch rush, they carve through 12 turkeys weighing 25-pound each. 

“I don’t smell it anymore because I live in it,” Qaqundah said. “I’m here almost every day.”

And with that… onto the news… 

Top Story: 🌳 Tree trouble 

Lakeside’s Ambrosia Bakery is facing more than $4,500 in fines from the city for “illegally pruning” two trees outside its shop, the Chronicle reports.  Ambrosia’s owner said the trees were in the way of a nearby stop sign, so he decided to hire a gardener, who, he admits, “over-trimmed” them. 

• Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon told me on Tuesday that her department inspected the stop sign in question last year and “determined that urgent pruning was not warranted.” 

• Gordon also said the fines can be appealed or reduced, if “the violator agrees to take a tree-care class… [which] goes over proper and improper pruning techniques and the importance of the urban forest.” 

Quick bits: News to know

🌉 The Chronicle reports that with no more human toll collectors on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges, officials plan to start ripping out the toll booths themselves starting late next year. The project will likely take until 2026 to complete, with the Bay Bridge coming last. 

• Interestingly, the Golden Gate Bridge, which the state doesn’t own, will also install automated, overhead mechanisms to charge drivers, but it’ll keep its Art Deco toll booths in place, the Chronicle writes. (Chronicle)

🇩🇪 Condor Airlines, which made headlines recently for its bold, new look, announced its first service out of SFO – a direct flight to Frankfurt, Germany starting on May 19. (SF Business Times) 

📉 San Francisco public schools have seen enrollment numbers decline by 2,552 students this year, a nearly 5% drop off, the Chronicle reported on Tuesday. That’s higher than the 1.8% statewide enrollment decline. (Chronicle) 

⛹️‍♂️ With a win over the Pelicans last weekend, the Warriors secured the 3rd seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the Nuggets in the first round starting on Saturday at the Chase Center. Steph Curry’s status for Game 1 is still unknown. (SFist / SFGATE) 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse 

• Redistricting has been a debacle and a disgrace — and we aren’t nearly done (Mission Local) 

• Fourplexpalooza Continues: Supes Wrestle With Westside Development (SF Standard) 

• Permit issued to demolish The Phoenix on Valencia Street (Mission Local) 

• How Randall Kline turned San Francisco into an international jazz center (Examiner) 

And finally… Blind SF skateboarder

The Chronicle’s ​​Megan Cassidy wrote a good story today about 19-year-old skateboarder Zion Williams, who lost sight in both of his eyes after being shot last September on Haight Street. 

“There’s like three blind skateboarders,” Williams said. “And I’m one of them.”

Williams, whose cane is canvassed in skate stickers, got back on his board about four months ago and said he’s had to relearn old tricks. But that’s not stopping him. 

“He was like, ‘You know what? This is going to be my story. This is my road,’” one of Williams’ skating friends told the Chronicle. “And he’s still doing it. It’s insane.”

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