Hey there, San Francisco. Happy Friday. 

The closure of JFK Drive to car traffic has been a hotly debated topic over the past year or so. Some believe it cuts down on access to Golden Gate Park for those who don’t live in the area, while others think it creates a much-needed outdoor path for people to enjoy. 

One group I didn’t think about in all this​​—the Dahlia Garden volunteers! 

On Thursday, the Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon reported that the roadway closure has been a major pain point for the group, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s. 

“Everybody had to go out and buy little wagons, and we find parking clear out by the AIDS grove or someplace and have to hike in,” volunteer Deborah Dietz said. “That’s problematic.” 

The fix, Dietz said, is to give them a “pass for six seconds,” which is all the time it would take to cross JFK Drive and park their cars near the Dahlia Garden, “but no one is willing to even entertain that.” 

The Rec and Parks Department said the road directly behind the garden (Conservatory Drive West) has been open since October. They’ve also offered the group, among other things, a “valet service for people and supplies with 24 hours notice” and “usage of an electric vehicle they could use onsite.” 

But it’s road access that the volunteers really want. 

“If (the core group of elderly Dahlia Society members) were kidnapped by aliens tomorrow and the rest of us had to be in charge, the dell would never be the same,” another volunteer said. “Those people are vital and their knowledge is vital and their energy is vital. We have to keep their morale up.” 

The JFK Drive saga continues.

And with that…onto the news… 

Quick bits: Bite-sized news stories from across the city

• 🎓 This week, the City College of San Francisco “laid off 67 employees and dismissed two high-ranking administrators…in a bid to tackle an ongoing budget crisis,” Ingleside Light reporter Alex Mullaney writes. “This decision was not easy nor was it made lightly,” Chancellor David Martin said. “But I truly believe it was in the best interest of our institution.” (Ingleside Light) 

• 🌊 On Thursday, the San Francisco Planning Commission held an informational meeting about a one-mile stretch of the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline Boulevards that may shut down to cars due to erosion concerns. Hoodline reports that the project, dubbed the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project, could move forward regardless of what comes of the car-free, Great Highway debate between Sloat and Lincoln Way. (Hoodline) 

• 👀 On Wednesday, a Golden Gate Heights resident noticed a robbery taking place on his street and ran outside with his cell phone in hand to take a video. As the SFist writes: “the thieves got into the waiting vehicle and took off—but not without firing a warning shot back at the vigilant neighbor.” Another neighbor who witnessed the situation said, “He wasn’t chasing them really hard, just following them. Then I heard a loud pop." (SFist) 

Food news: News about food and drink from across the city

• 🍹 After nearly two years (and a fancy renovation), the 16th Street Mission bar Dalva is reopening on Friday. “The old Dalva was a dark bar,” said longtime owner Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud. “But with the way it lights up now, it’s not bright, it’s not dark — it’s warm. There’s a great kind of glow to it.” Also, as Eater notes, The Hideout, Dalva’s “back bar-within-a-bar,” is scheduled to reopen sometime this spring. (Eater) 

• 🥖 There’s a new banh mi shop on Divisadero called Banh Mi Viet that “quietly opened” in a former beauty salon, Hoodline reported on Friday. FWIW, I went the other day for lunch and had the tofu banh mi. It was good! And reasonably priced at $8. (Hoodline) 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse at your leisure

SF’s Chinese Community Struggles to Save Cantonese as Mandarin Takes Over (SF Standard) 

The Leaning Tower of Soma is a mess—but everyone’s ducking responsibility (48 Hills) 

Why one SFUSD teacher skipped school to join the ‘sick out’ (Examiner) 

Did you know The SF Minute now has memberships? Plans start at $5 per month and give you full access to everything we produce. They also go a long way in making The SF Minute happen. Learn more about becoming a member here. 🙏

ICYMI: Here were the most popular stories (by clicks) this week

Monday: Willie Brown on Crime and Street Conditions in San Francisco (New York Times) 

Tuesday: An unusually tall avocado tree in San Francisco is bearing free fruit in more ways than one (Chronicle) 

Wednesday: Where to Eat and Drink on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco (Eater) 

Thursday: 2022 will be the year of splashy tableside dining carts, S.F. restaurateurs predict (Chronicle) 

And finally…

On Friday, Chronicle reporters Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub released a good episode of their Total SF podcast entitled “14 things you must do in San Francisco in 2022.” It’s worth a listen, especially if you’re looking for some new, fun things to do in the city. 

Some of my favorite ideas included taking the new ferry to Treasure Island (when it opens sometime soon), doing outdoor yoga in the Botanical Garden, hiking to the water tower in McClaren Park, watching the sunset at the top of Grandview Park, and catching a movie (and listening to the organist play) at the historic, Castro Theater. 

Alright, that’s all for today! Hope you all have a great weekend y’all and see you back here on Monday. Talk soon! - Nick B.