Hey there, San Francisco. 

On Thursday, the Chronicle published a powerful, comprehensive look into our city’s fentanyl crisis. 

Its title: “A disaster in plain sight.” 

“Numerous people are doing lifesaving work on the front lines, but city leaders have not created a clear, urgent and cohesive plan to intervene,” the Chronicle’s Trisha Thandani writes. “The problem worsens and the suffering grows.” 

The piece, which resulted from a year’s worth of reporting, also follows the stories of two men, Anthony and Morgan, who struggle with fentanyl addiction. 

“Anthony isn’t worried about dying from fentanyl,” Thandani writes. “What scares him more is a life forever strangled by it.” 

And with that… onto the news… 

Top story: One thing you should know 

On Wednesday, Police Chief Bill Scott sent a letter to District Attorney Chesa Boudin declaring his intentions to withdraw from a 2019 agreement that gives the DA’s office the lead in investigating officer shootings, in-custody deaths, and uses of force incidents involving the police. 

Scott’s announcement appears to have been prompted by a recent case, in which an SFPD officer faces battery and assault charges for “allegedly beating a man with a baton,” the Chronicle writes. During the hearing for that case, an investigator for the DA’s office said she was told not to share certain information with the police. Scott said he had “very serious concerns” about the investigator's testimony and believed withholding evidence violated the two offices’ agreement. 

The judge overseeing the case “said that no significant evidence appeared to be suppressed,” the Chronicle wrote last week. And during a press conference on Thursday, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said: “There is not one iota of evidence of misconduct under my administration.” 

Regardless, according to Scott’s letter, he and the DA have five business days to schedule a meeting and potentially salvage their agreement.

For more, check out this SF Standard interview with Boudin on Thursday. 

Quick bits: Bite-sized news stories

• 🏠 The Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee voted to advance a proposal for a 250-bed homeless shelter near the Tenderloin to the full board next week. Last month, the committee delayed their decision on the shelter, which drew criticism from Mayor Breed, who said: “We can’t let obstruction and process arguments stop us from helping people in need.” (Chronicle)

• 🚒 A Thursday morning fire damaged 13 housing units and a taqueria near 16th and Mission Street, displacing 22 people from their homes and causing Taqueria Los Coyotes to close for at least a day. (Mission Local) 

• 😔 Oakland restaurant owner and 49ers fan Daniel Luna is in a medically-induced coma after reportedly being assaulted outside last week’s NFC Championship game in Los Angeles. Luna was apparently wearing a 49ers jersey, but as the SFist writes, it’s unclear “whether the attack was related to any rivalry or fan dispute.” (NBC Bay Area / SFist) 

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

Landmark’s Embarcadero Cinema to close after 26 years in S.F. (Datebook) 

'Jeopardy!' champ Schneider to appear in SF (Bay Area Reporter) 

BART Makes a Big To-Doo Over Finally Reopening the Bathrooms at Powell Street Station (SFist) 

Weekend guide: Some things to consider for your weekend ahead 

🖼 Go see NFTs. An “immersive NFT experience” called Verse opened on Thursday in the old San Francisco Mint. While there, event-goers will need to wear HoloLens headsets to view the holographic NFTs, which organizers promise come from “top-selling artists from this burgeoning space.” Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here. 

🎟 Head to the Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet’s 2022 season kicked off this week in what will be the 37th and final year for artistic director and principal choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Program 1 and Program 2 are running now,and you can find tickets here. 

🎥 Watch an IndieFest movie. The 24th San Francisco Independent Film Festival (known as SF IndieFest) starts on Thursday and runs through February 13. This year, can watch the films at the Mission’s Roxie Theater or stream them online. 

🌮 Grab a $2 taco. After a month-long renovation, Seven Stills has reopened its Outer Sunset taproom and to celebrate they’re serving $2, “large street tacos” on Thursday and Friday night from 5pm to 9pm. “Stop by and try one, or five!” they said. 

🤠 Listen to honky-tonk. Geoffrey Miller, “Sacramento's finest honky-tonk and country swing band,” is playing this Friday at 9pm at The Plough and the Stars on Clement Street. The show kicks off the month-long music event called Hillbilly Robot, which features 14 bands over 8 nights in February. Tickets for Friday night's event are $13 and can be purchased here. 

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and apologies for the late send. A long day! See you back here tomorrow! - Nick B.