Axios San Francisco

March 10, 2023
Happy Friday, y'all.
- Today's weather: 🌧 Rain with a high of 52 and low of 48.
Today's newsletter is 948 words — a 3½-minute read.
1 big thing: So long, San Francisco
Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
👋 Nick here.
It saddens me to say, so I'll just get this out of the way — today is my last day at Axios and soon, my family and I will be leaving San Francisco.
What's happening: I know you've heard this story before, many times. San Francisco is a transient place, and over the last few years, that's sped up.
- We have our issues as a city and things — like the crazy cost of living — that make this a tough place to live (let alone raise a family).
- Could we have made it work here? Yes. But for now, we're going to try somewhere new.
After 12-plus years of living here, I've learned there are far more magical parts to San Francisco than faults.
- Ingrained in its soul, San Francisco is a land of opportunity, and I'll miss its contagious spirit.
- Its food is world class, its parks are wondrous and its weather is almost always perfect for a sweater.
- The people, especially my friends, are what I'll miss most. We're an interesting and loving bunch, us San Franciscans, and not easily replaceable.
Flashback: Some two years ago, while stuck at home during the pandemic, I started sending an email newsletter to friends and family that covered important and interesting stories about San Francisco.
- The city was changing so quickly at the time, and I felt we needed an easy way to stay on top of local news.
- Other people thought so too, and soon that newsletter (The SF Minute) had thousands of subscribers.
- Later, I joined forces with Axios and together with Megan, launched Axios San Francisco.
The bottom line: Starting The SF Minute (and continuing on with Axios SF) was my small effort to help make this city a better place. And hopefully, by keeping people up to speed with the news, it helped.
- I'm forever grateful that you, dear reader, followed along.
What's next: If there's one thing I've learned, it's that San Francisco is never short on stories.
- I can't wait to keep reading what Megan and our soon-to-be-named second reporter are able to unearth each morning.
Meanwhile, my family and I are headed to the Midwest (where my wife grew up) and kid No. 2 is scheduled for June.
- Please send thoughts, prayers and winter tips my way. Having lived in California my entire life, I'm going to need them!
New jobs to check out
💼 See who's hiring around the city.
- Director of Programming at Manny's.
- Director, Global Customer Success at Olympus.
- Senior Practice Manager at Troutman Pepper.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
2. Rain can't stop, won't stop
A messy commute on Highway 280 in San Francisco on March 9. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Another atmospheric river event has made its way to Northern California, with a flood watch in effect through Sunday morning.
Why it matters: This will be a milder storm than the series of blizzards that have hit the Golden State in recent weeks, delivering rain on top of snow even at mid-to-high elevations. But with a near-record snowpack, there are flood risks, Axios' Andrew Freedman and Sareen Habeshian report.
State of play: Dubbed the "Pineapple Express," the storm is drawing moist air from the subtropics near Hawaii.
- Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow highways of moisture that can travel thousands of miles and are responsible for 30% to 50% of the wet season precipitation along the West Coast of the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- They have been unusually persistent and powerful this winter, with no signs of an impending weather pattern shift to drier conditions.
- South Lake Tahoe yesterday issued a local emergency ahead of the storm, and officials have warned all Tahoe residents to prepare for potential roof collapses and flooding, SFGATE reports.
Be smart: San Francisco's public works department is providing residents with up to 10 free sandbags per address Monday through Saturday from 8am-2pm.
Between the lines: While a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Climate Central found many areas across the country have experienced warmer winters since 1970, San Francisco has seen the opposite — average temperatures have dipped to 52.5 degrees this winter, compared to 53.6 in 1970.

The bottom line: The astonishingly thick snowpack in California has raised hopes of more abundant water supplies and a less active early fire season across the state.
- But so much snow sitting at lower elevations in particular is also a concern this week.
- The dramatic swing from historically dry to very wet conditions in parts of California is consistent with what climate studies show will occur more frequently and sharply in coming decades.
3. The Wiggle: Navigating the news
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
🤑 Tech executive Chris Larsen is giving $2 million in grants to help out retail districts in San Francisco. (SF Chronicle)
🏫 The San Francisco Unified School District said this week it failed to file three quarterly wage reports to the state last year, a mistake that could delay tax returns and refunds to teachers and other district employees. (SFUSD)
🎷 The Armory building could soon house a jazz club if a new project gets approved. The proposed renovations, however, would not change the exterior of the historic building. (SF Yimby)
4. Weekend wildin'
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Word on the street is that it'll be raining this weekend, so here are some ideas for what you can get up to inside.
Explore the implications of artificial intelligence at the Museum of Misalignment, open today from 4-7pm and tomorrow from 2-5pm.
Bring your kids to the second annual de Youngsters Day Out tomorrow, featuring arts and crafts, music and more. Cost: Free. Runs from 8:30am-5:15pm.
Get your fright on and watch "Scream VI" (yes, they're still making those) in theaters. We recommend hitting up the Alamo Drafthouse for its delicious food that they serve directly to your seat.
Cozy up on the couch and watch Muttville's live broadcast of adoptable senior pups from noon-4pm, every day. Or, head over to Muttville and adopt a dog! Megan is personally obsessed with Miguel.
😭 Megan will really miss Nick. She's had such a blast working with him.
❤️ Nick misses Megan (and you all) already. So long!
This newsletter was edited by Rachel La Corte and copy edited by Kathie Bozanich, Matt Piper and Eileen O'Reilly.
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