Like you, we also thought our Sunday was going to be a quiet one. But then we were jostled awake by the news of President Joe Biden dropping out of the November race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, an Oakland native with deep roots in the Bay Area.

A former top cop for San Francisco and California, Harris quickly got the nod from a large swath of electeds, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor London Breed, state Sen. Scott Wiener, Supervisor Matt Dorsey and a long list of others.

“[Biden] wishes the country to be better off and he wishes us to beat Trump. The best way to do that is with Kamala Harris,” said former Mayor Willie Brown, who dated Harris in the 1990s, outside of John’s Grill on Sunday before a scrum of reporters. 

Just as notable were the holdouts that didn’t explicitly endorse Harris. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi offered “love and gratitude” to Biden, but has not endorsed the vice president as of Sunday evening. A source familiar with Pelosi’s thinking said to “not read between the lines” with her statement, but the former house speaker has reportedly voiced support for an open nomination process. Likewise, former President Barack Obama praised Biden but didn’t mention Harris.

Now, San Francisco Democrats are quickly marshaling the troops to support one of their own. Breed, City Attorney David Chiu, DCCC Chair Nancy Tung and Vice Chair Emma Heiken plan to rally outside City Hall Monday morning to cheer on Harris’ bid. At least two delegates who are headed to the national party’s convention in August told The Standard they are standing behind the VP.

“The choice is obvious,” said Controller Malia Cohen, a former member of the Board of Supervisors. “A tried and true prosecutor would light up Donald Trump. And really give him a run for his money.”

— Reporter George Kelly contributed reporting

ANOTHER RECALL? The sleepy Sunset district may soon be the subject of a major political fight. Supervisor Joel Engardio is facing growing pushback due to his proposed ballot measure to close the Great Highway. Opponents of the closure have created a plan with steps to pressure him to withdraw the measure, even though it has garnered support from Breed and most supervisors. 

The ultimatum to Engardio states that if he doesn’t cancel the measure, the opponents will launch a recall campaign against him. They have purchased the website recallengardio.com, which redirects to the Open the Great Highway campaign site. The opponents also plan a rally Tuesday in front of City Hall. 

In an interview Thursday, Engardio said it’s “not likely” that he and other supervisors will agree to pull the measure off the ballot. But Friday afternoon, he appeared to soften his tones, stating he would make a final decision Monday morning. Sources within the Chinese community revealed some merchants might even boycott the upcoming night market.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Great Highway closure are readying a messaging blitz to highlight the positives of an open space they’re rebranding as Ocean Beach Park. Demographic trends are likely in their favor. Proposition I in 2022, which would have reopened Great Highway to traffic at all times, lost overwhelmingly, and the general election this November is expected to draw out young, progressive voters happy to rubber-stamp a new beach park. 

HEALTHCARE HAVOC: Health insurance policies don’t usually make for exciting news. But that’s not the case this month in San Francisco.

A nonprofit advocating for city retiree benefits alleges that the Health Service Board, responsible in part for overseeing healthcare plans for former employees, broke the law in getting a Blue Shield of California health insurance contract approved.

In June, Dr. Stephen Follansbee, a mayoral appointee to the board, was the deciding vote against changing from UnitedHealthcare, telling The Standard he was concerned about Blue Shield’s quality of care and access to services. Shortly after his decision, Follansbee got news that he’d been yanked from the board — and that another vote would take place with the newly appointed Dr. Fiona Wilson, who went on to approve the Blue Shield contract. The contract, which still needs the approval of the Board of Supervisors, promises to save the city money during a gloomy budgetary moment. 

The change in insurance plans will affect more than 17,000 people.

However, a letter from Protect Our Benefits, dated July 16, alleges that procedural rules were violated in getting Blue Shield approved — and retirees worry that the new plan could be disruptive for them. The City Attorney’s Office confirmed that it received the nonprofit’s letter Friday but brushed off the suggestion of improprieties.

“The Health Service Board’s decision to approve the change in health plans was within its legal authority,” a spokesperson for the office wrote. 

The nonprofit thinks otherwise.

“It’s an illegal vote,” said Fred Sanchez, president of Protect Our Benefits.

KISSING THE RING: The five mayoral candidates met at the firefighter union’s HQ this week in a bid to secure the best endorsement in town: Local 798. Sparks were flying between Breed and former Supervisor Mark Farrell, who appeared to have the best shot at getting the nod from the firefighters.

GREAT HIGHWAY HOUSING: An affordable housing project slated for 1234 Great Highway in the city’s sleepy Outer Sunset neighborhood is drawing the ire of neighbors who take issue with everything from its proposed height to the inclusion of formerly homeless residents.

TECH EYES KAMALA: Harris has relied on Silicon Valley money in her previous local and state bids for office. On Sunday, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman came out in support of the vice president being the Democratic Party’s nominee.