San Francisco Zoo says panda plans are still on track

Driving the news: The zoo eliminated three positions this week in a "strategic reorganization," but it will not impact plans to host giant pandas, CEO and executive director Cassandra Costello told Axios via email.

• A local activist group had recently alleged that the deal was dead, but those claims are "not grounded in fact," said Costello, who stepped into her role last month following predecessor Tanya Peterson's retirement.
• Costello declined to provide an updated timeline on when the pandas will arrive.

The big picture: The restructuring comes as the organization prepares for a "pivotal year," per an internal email obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

• Increased operational costs and declining attendance contributed to the decision to do layoffs, the letter noted.
• Zoo leaders appeared optimistic last year that the giant pandas would arrive by this April if all went according to plan.