Extra food assistance benefits implemented during the pandemic are ending nationwide today, though the final distribution of funds will happen in March.

Why it matters: The change in federal law means a smaller monthly food budget for San Franciscans receiving CalFresh benefits.

Catch up quick: Since March 2020, pandemic emergency allotments have allowed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in San Francisco, as well as nationwide, to receive an extra monthly payment of at least $95.

• Beginning in April, those who rely on CalFresh will stop receiving these extra monthly payments.

By the numbers: About 96,000 people across 70,000 households — about 12% of San Francisco's population — are estimated to collectively lose about $11.5 million a month, according to the San Francisco Human Services Agency.

• Those on CalFresh are estimated to lose between $95 and $517 per month, according to the city.

Threat level: The switch could strain already strapped local food banks amid inflation.

• In January, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank said it and other food banks in the area are "stretched to the limit by inflation, shrinking government support, and declining donations."

What they're saying: "We know this will create hardship for many people—especially seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities—who will then turn to the charitable food system for support," Feeding America chief government relations officer Vince Hall told Axios via email.

• “I hate to see it go," Patricia Carr, a 73-year-old San Francisco resident whose diabetes requires a special diet, told Mission Local of the additional CalFresh benefits. "I do need it. But God bless the USA they gave it to us at all."

Between the lines: Significantly more people came to rely on SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• From January 2020 to December 2022, the number of San Francisco residents receiving aid from CalFresh increased by about 51%, according to the SF Human Services Agency.

What to watch

This story has been corrected to reflect that Vince Hall is the chief government relations officer of Feeding America, not of San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

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With robotaxis becoming more of a reality in San Francisco, Megan and Nick decided to go for a ride themselves.

State of play: Waymo and Cruise are the two autonomous vehicle operators allowed to transport passengers in San Francisco without a human driver in the front seat.

• They are limited to where and when they can offer rides in the city, though both companies have worked to expand their service areas in recent months.
• Waymo is not yet allowed to charge for rides, while Cruise has been able since June to charge for late-night rides.

👋 Nick here. Demand for a car with Cruise was pretty high on a Thursday night just after 10pm – when the service starts in San Francisco. It took around 10 minutes to secure a ride.

• When the car arrived, I unlocked the doors with my phone and a customer service rep talked through the speakers to make sure everything was okay. (This interaction only happened on my first ride.)
• It's spooky to see the steering wheel move on its own, but I felt totally secure as we drove.
• The car navigated obstacles quite well, like a driver who didn't wait their turn at a four-way stop and another car that stopped in our lane with its hazards on.
• The price per trip seemed comparable to a Lyft or Uber, even without a driver.

👋🏾 Megan here. I opted for Waymo and rode in a spacious, comfortable vehicle whose smooth operation made it easy to forget there was no one behind the wheel.

• I went for a ride with a Waymo spokesperson, who used her phone to request and unlock the car.
• It took about five minutes for our ride to show up. When it did, it double-parked in the middle of the street (granted, there was nowhere near the pickup spot for it to pull over) and when we got out of the car, it pulled over into an empty spot to let us out.
• Of note: The car's social skills are definitely lacking, as it didn't respond when I said "Hello" and "Thank you." It also didn't acknowledge me with a light flicker or a honk when I waved at it. Granted, it's not supposed to do that.

Overall, we'd both ride in robotaxis again!

Read more

🏙 A recent study by the local architectural firm Gensler identified 12 downtown office buildings as good candidates to convert to more than 2,700 units of residential housing. (SF Chronicle)

💼 There are nearly 150,000 fewer daily office workers in downtown San Francisco since the start of the pandemic, due in part to the rise in remote work, a report from the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office found. (SF Chronicle)

🚔 District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio said the police staffing crisis is “especially dire in the Sunset” with three or four officers on duty each night for an area that covers 130,000 residents. (SF Standard)

👀 Sixteen people applied to become the city's inaugural drag laureate. The winner is expected to be announced this spring. (Bay Area Reporter)

👋 Nick here.

Two times a year, I am happy to get mail — when my latest issue of The San Franciscan arrives.

Driving the news: The magazine's seventh edition just dropped, and it's another beautiful collection of San Francisco history, humor, and art put together by co-founders Erica Messner and Amanda Legge.

• I love the cable car on the front cover (with its AI vibes) and can't wait to read the story about open-water swimming (I'm a sucker for a good, cold-plunge adventure).

Be smart: You can subscribe to The San Franciscan and have it delivered.

• Or, you can buy it at local bookshops and newsstands across the city.