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San Francisco nature alliance wants to paint the city green

Reimagining San Francisco wants 30% of the city to be biologically diverse green space by 2030.

News

The Californians who speak a non-English language at home

Over 1 in 4 people in the state are foreign-born, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

San Francisco urges 911 and 311 calls for people in crisis

San Francisco is on track to record the most overdose deaths since 2020.

California rolls out pilot for digital driver's license program

The pilot program, currently authorized in limited capacities, aims to speed up ID checks in a quick and secure manner.

Nearly a third of San Francisco workers worked from home in 2022

Workers in America's biggest, most competitive cities aren't giving up the flexibility and savings of working from home.

Almost a third of San Francisco&#x27;s metro-area workers were working from home as of 2022, per recent Census figures.The big picture: Workers in America&#x27;s biggest, most competitive cities aren&#x27;t giving up the flexibility and savings of working from home — both in time and gas money, Axios&#x27; Sam Baker and Simran Parwani report.

New business openings on the rise in Bay Area

New business openings are a good measure of economic sentiment.

More than 1,200 new businesses were registered on Yelp across the San Francisco Bay Area in July, according to the company, up 4.7% year over year.Why it matters: New business openings are a good measure of economic sentiment — people generally don&#x27;t take the risk of spinning up a new venture if they foresee economic peril ahead.

Ikea's San Francisco location is small but much needed

San Francisco's long-awaited Ikea store is a much-needed addition to what's accessible to city-dwellers.

San Francisco&#x27;s long-awaited Ikea store is a much-needed addition to what&#x27;s accessible to city dwellers, though its smaller configuration does limit the shopping a bit.Driving the news: Swedish meatballs officially arrived within San Francisco city limits Wednesday.Zoom in: If you&#x27;re familiar with the Emeryville and Palo Alto stores, this one is quite different.<ul><li>It has three floors, with the main showroom located on the lower level and the cafe (and food market) on the top floor.</li><li>There&#x27;s no area to pick up larger furniture items, though they can be ordered for home delivery. The products are organized by room and category, spread among the three floors.</li><li>The checkout area seems to be entirely self-service, with staff helping customers get the hang of the tech. There are self-service registers upstairs as well, though they were not available for use when I went.</li></ul>Plot twist: I didn&#x27;t need to purchase anything, so I thought I would at least have some classic meatballs — as did everyone else at the store.<ul><li>There was a line into the cafe, but I spotted the food market right next to it.</li><li>Though the company also offers chicken and plant-based meatballs, I opted to pick up a bag of the traditional style, and grabbed a packet of gravy as well.</li><li>I also noticed some silicon food covers I&#x27;d been meaning to replace, so I grabbed a pack a well.</li></ul>My thought bubble on safety: The store isn&#x27;t in my favorite location – but it&#x27;s not in the worst either, especially in the daytime.<ul><li>It&#x27;s just half a block west of Westfield Mall and the Powell station, so I&#x27;m expecting most people will feel comfortable enough. And it&#x27;s much more convenient than the trek to Emeryville or Palo Alto, especially if you don&#x27;t own a car.</li><li>I&#x27;m also intrigued to find out what other retailers will open in the same mall!</li></ul>The bottom line: The food was easy enough to cook and quite tasty, though be careful to not let the gravy get clumpy when stirring in the powder! My purchases came to a total of $20.21 (with some discounts).

Biden's AI Bill of Rights to guide California Legislature's tech policies

The state Legislature has passed a resolution affirming its commitment to the principles outlined by the White House.

Politics

A resolution passed by the California Legislature aims to affirm lawmakers&#x27; commitment to the principles outlined in President Biden&#x27;s AI Bill of Rights and vows to prioritize them in their own legislation and policies.Why it matters: Lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="have levied concerns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/white-house-ai-firms-safety-pledge" data-vars-content-id="cda01985-8c3a-459e-9283-284c4d267781" data-vars-headline="Biden&#x27;s AI Bill of Rights to guide California Legislature&#x27;s tech policies" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/white-house-ai-firms-safety-pledge" target="_self">have levied concerns</a> about the ways AI models like ChatGPT can be leveraged <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="without adequate safeguards" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/women-warnings-ai-danger-risk-before-chatgpt-1234804367/" data-vars-content-id="cda01985-8c3a-459e-9283-284c4d267781" data-vars-headline="Biden&#x27;s AI Bill of Rights to guide California Legislature&#x27;s tech policies" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/women-warnings-ai-danger-risk-before-chatgpt-1234804367/" target="_blank">without adequate safeguards</a> in place.

Photo of a phone screen showing a host of AI apps including ChatGPT and ChatBot

Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership

The gap in homeownership rates between white and Black people is at its highest in 10 years, per the National Association of Realtors.

Business

A new mortgage program aims to close the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" gap in homeownership rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/18/racial-disparities-home-ownership-housing" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/18/racial-disparities-home-ownership-housing" target="_self"> gap in homeownership rates</a> between white and Black Americans, and Oakland is among nearly a dozen pilot markets.Why it matters: Homeownership is considered the No. 1 way to build long-term wealth and the benefits of financial security. But <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="segregation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/01/california-report-black-people-slave-harms" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/01/california-report-black-people-slave-harms" target="_self">segregation</a>,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" systemic racism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/california-reparations-report-17216426.php" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/california-reparations-report-17216426.php" target="_blank"> systemic racism</a> and<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" discriminatory policies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/21/redlining-history-housing-inequality" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/21/redlining-history-housing-inequality" target="_self"> discriminatory policies</a> like<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" redlining" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2020/10/20/corporate-redlining-has-cost-black-neighborhoods-millions" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2020/10/20/corporate-redlining-has-cost-black-neighborhoods-millions" target="_self"> redlining</a> have left many people of color — especially Black people — unable to front the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" costs for a mortgage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/an-analysis-of-financial-institutions-in-black-majority-communities-black-borrowers-and-depositors-face-considerable-challenges-in-accessing-banking-services/" data-vars-content-id="739e3ec3-ecaa-4636-8207-af365ef7792a" data-vars-headline="Oakland among cities targeted in new program to boost Black homeownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/an-analysis-of-financial-institutions-in-black-majority-communities-black-borrowers-and-depositors-face-considerable-challenges-in-accessing-banking-services/" target="_blank"> costs for a mortgage</a>.

Photo of a U.S. Bank sign hanging from the side of a building as two people walk in the distance

San Francisco to serve as IKEA's first Swedish Deli in the U.S.

The new dining options will feature "sustainable, plant-based options" separate from IKEA's traditional food hall.

San Francisco&#x27;s hotly anticipated IKEA, which opens Wednesday, will serve as the company&#x27;s first U.S. location for its Swedish Bite and Swedish Deli stores, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Francisco Chronicle reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/sf-ikea-food-18286214.php" data-vars-content-id="4cecb59d-c52f-4b6c-9921-bc23e0849b27" data-vars-headline="San Francisco to serve as IKEA&#x27;s first Swedish Deli in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/sf-ikea-food-18286214.php" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle reports</a>.Driving the news: Both will offer &quot;sustainable, plant-based options&quot; separate from IKEA&#x27;s traditional food hall, per the Chronicle.

Photo of a man holding plates while walking in IKEA's food hall

Tribal casinos and card rooms set to escalate dispute in Sacramento

A bill under consideration in California's Legislature would give tribal nations a window to sue card rooms over "banked" games.

A longtime conflict between tribal casinos and operators of card rooms, gambling establishments that offer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="card games like poker" data-vars-click-url="https://oag.ca.gov/gambling/card" data-vars-content-id="80934b79-6c3e-4f77-ba8f-96a28fdaa4b3" data-vars-headline="Tribal casinos and card rooms set to escalate dispute in Sacramento" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://oag.ca.gov/gambling/card" target="_blank">card games like poker</a>, is gaining steam again as state legislators return to session.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate Bill 549" data-vars-click-url="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB549" data-vars-content-id="80934b79-6c3e-4f77-ba8f-96a28fdaa4b3" data-vars-headline="Tribal casinos and card rooms set to escalate dispute in Sacramento" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB549" target="_blank">Senate Bill 549</a> would give tribal nations a three-month window in 2024 to take legal action against card rooms in disputes over the kinds of games featured in the latter.

Photo of hands dealing cards on a table with the words "Casino Resort" embroidered in it

What it takes to be among California's top 1% of earners

The top 1% of U.S. families by wealth held more than a third of the country's total wealth in 2019.

You need to make at least $844,266 to be among the top 1% of earners in California, according to a recent SmartAsset <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/top-1-percent-income-2023" data-vars-content-id="4f06e324-30d3-44dc-9865-17345319d0a5" data-vars-headline="What it takes to be among California&#x27;s top 1% of earners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/top-1-percent-income-2023" target="_blank">analysis</a> of IRS tax filer data.Driving the news: That&#x27;s nearly $200,000 more than the national household figure of $652,657.

Top Eats: Mr. Charlie's plant-based "Frowny Meals"

Mr. Charlie's is the antithesis of those well-known golden arches.

Food and Drink

I flew in from Seattle Monday for Axios San Francisco&#x27;s anniversary event and when searching for quick vegan lunch options near my hotel, was happy to find a spot just a few blocks away: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mr. Charlie&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://mrcharlies.co/" data-vars-content-id="37f81e20-1189-4213-ba0e-fdc4d0f058db" data-vars-headline="Top Eats: Mr. Charlie&#x27;s plant-based &quot;Frowny Meals&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mrcharlies.co/" target="_blank">Mr. Charlie&#x27;s</a>.Details: Located across the street from a McDonald&#x27;s on Sutter Street, Mr. Charlie&#x27;s is the antithesis of those golden arches.

Photo of a red to-go fast food box that says "Mr. Charlie's" in yellow at top with a yellow frowny face below and the words "Turn that Frown Upside Down" sitting on a yellow table.

Downtown San Francisco's foot traffic still lags

Foot traffic was at about 32% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels from March through May.

Downtown San Francisco&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pandemic recovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/05/05/downtown-san-francisco-recovery-pandemic-struggles" data-vars-content-id="02a9dba5-2fb0-4f34-8510-bc0ee830fb3f" data-vars-headline="Downtown San Francisco&#x27;s foot traffic still lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/05/05/downtown-san-francisco-recovery-pandemic-struggles" target="_self">pandemic recovery</a> remains dead last among 52 select cities throughout the U.S., new data shows.What&#x27;s happening: Downtown San Francisco foot traffic was at about 32% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels from March through May.

Business 🏦