Thursday, December 5, 2019
Thursday's Briefing: PG&E near $13.5 billion deal to pay victims of wildfires; Oakland eyes ban on nighttime camping in parks, plazas
Bernie Sanders leads new California presidential poll
Thu, Dec 5, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Dec. 5:
1. PG&E is close to finalizing a deal that would pay $13.5 billion to victims of the Northern California wildfires that its equipment started in recent years, the Los Angeles Times reports. The payments would include both cash, paid immediately, and stocks, paid over 18 months. $$
2. Two PG&E power shut-offs last month in San Leandro, cost the city $15,000 in overtime for its police department, the East Bay Times reports. The shut-offs were primarily located in the city's hilly eastside. $$
3. Oakland officials are proposing a pilot program to prohibit overnight camping in parks, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The item was heard in an Oakland City Council committee on Tuesday. The city already has a similar ban on its books, but it's typically not enforced by the Public Works Department because of staff limitations. $$
4. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration is purposefully holding up the release of point-in-time data for the number of homeless individuals in the state, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The data is used to determined how the $500 million in federal funding for homelessness is split among California cities. $$
5. Skiing, seafood buffets, and gambling will have to wait for another week. A major snowstorm is forecast to hit the Tahoe Basin starting Friday through Sunday, SFGate reports. Driving to the Sierras during those days is discouraged. Seven inches of snow has fallen on the region in recent weeks.
6. Sen. Bernie Sanders is the new front runner in California's March presidential primary, according to a new poll, SFGate reports. Sanders received support from 24 percent of respondents, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 22 percent. But Warren's support dropped seven points from polling in September. Joe Biden registered 14 percent, followed by South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 12 percent.
7. "Kamala Harrris' backers are up-for-grabs," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. With a tight California primary ahead, Democratic presidential candidates have a number of high-profile official to woo. In Oakland, for example, Mayor Libby Schaaf and Assemblymember Rob Bonta endorsed Harris for president. $$
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Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Wednesday’s Briefing: Former Coliseum JPA charged with felony conflict of interest; Kamala Harris drops out
Oakland Zoo's African elephant dies
Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don’t want to miss for Dec. 4:
1. Alameda County prosecutors charged former Coliseum Joint Powers Authority CEO Scott McKibben with felony conflict of interest, KPIX reports. McKibben allegedly sought a $50,000 fee from RingCentral to negotiate naming-rights for the Oakland Coliseum.
2. Sen. Kamala Harris ended her bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination on Tuesday, Politico reports. Citing dwindling campaign finances and a belief she no longer had a path to the nomination, Harris pulled the plug on her campaign.
3. Electric and hybrid cars costing more than $60,000 will no longer qualify for state rebates, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The rebates for lower-priced models will drop to $500. $$
4. D'Munda, the Oakland Zoo's 50-year-old African elephant died unexpectedly Tuesday, SFGate reports. She lived at the zoo for 26 years.
5. Former Oakland Raider George Atkinson III, whose father was a team legend also of the same name, died Tuesday, Yahoo Sports reports. Atkinson III, who played for the Raiders for two seasons battled depression following his twin brother’s suicide in January.
6. The Oakland Roots’ success at the turnstiles did not necessarily translate to the field during their inaugural season. In advance of their Spring 2020, the team elevated assistant coach Jordan Ferrell to head coach, SFGate reports.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Tuesday's Briefing: Judge's ruling could give housing approval authority back to charter cities; Ghost Ship three-year anniversary
Walnut Creek referenced in 'The Irishman'
Tue, Dec 3, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Dec. 3:
1. In a development that could reverberate all over Alameda County and potentially limit new housing in areas typically opposed to density, a judge ruled that San Mateo could retain local control from the state for approving new housing projects because it is a charter city, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A majority of the cities in Alameda County are charter cities and a few hold strong local control streaks. $$
2. On the three-year anniversary of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire that killed 36 people, the Mercury News looks at how the tragedy continues to affect the survivors and loved ones. $$
3. The Alameda Police Department is offering potential new recruits from other local agencies a $30,000 bonus to join its ranks, the East Bay Times reports. Alameda has nine vacancies availbale. In addition, a large number are also eligible for retirement next year. $$
4. Walnut Creek is name-dropped in Director Martin Scorsese's gangster film, "The Irishman," SFGate reports. The movie, which opened in theaters last month and released on Netflix last week, references a mob hit that was to occur in the now tony Contra Costa County city.
5. Just one year after dominating the American League and garnering votes for the Cy Young award, the A's released star reliever Blake Treinen, SFGate reports. Treinen struggled with his control last season and was quickly demoted as stopper. He also faced an injury-plagued 2019 season.
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Monday, December 2, 2019
Monday's Briefing: Former inspector alleges another also took bribes; Bay Area meth overdoses on the rise
More evidence that Kamala Harris's campaign is in disarray
Mon, Dec 2, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Dec. 2:
1. A former Oakland police officer and inspector for the Alameda County District Attorney's office testified that he was not the only one who accepted bribes from an informant, but there is another who currently works for the county, the East Bay Times reports. $$
2. The nine counties that make up the Bay Area is experiencing an overdose epidemic attributed to methamphetamine use, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Deaths from fentanyl are also on the rise. $$
3. PG&E told a U.S. District Court judge last Friday that while its widespread power shut-offs have deterred any wildfires from starting, it found 218 instances where damages to its transmission equipment could have ignited fires, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. $$
4. The University of California system outsources to outside vendors $523 million annually in contracts for services such as security guards, custodians and groundskeepers, the Los Angeles Times reports. The arrangement sidesteps union membership and why labor is fighting back. $$
5. When the staff starts turning against each other, that's a telltale sign the campaign is likely irreparably harmed. The New York Times published a scathing portrait of Sen. Kamala Harris's presidential campaign over the weekend. Fingers pointed to the top of the organization and Harris's sister, among other issues. $$
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Friday, November 29, 2019
Friday's Briefing: Animal rights activists protest Whole Foods in Oakland; Black Friday in Fremont interrupted by gunfire
How Oakland's skyline is changing rapidly
Fri, Nov 29, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 29-Dec. 1:
1. Animal rights activists held a "sidewalk fast" outside the Whole Foods in Oakland Thursday to protest alleged animal cruelty by four suppliers used by Amazon, the store's parent company, NBC Bay Area reports.
2. Another violent crime incident came to the bedroom communities of the Tri-Cities last night after shots rang out near a Target in Fremont, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Five suspects were arrested at the Fremont Hub. Earlier this week, two boys were killed by a gunman in Union City. $$
3. With Thanksgiving behind us, it's time to buy a Christmas tree. But you might find the price of Douglas Firs and other types of holiday trees continue to rise. The Associated Press explains the issue is dwindling supply in Oregon. More than 400 fewer suppliers exist in Oregon than 15 years ago.
4. The local Dungeness crab season is being held up for environmental concerns, but in years past it has been delayed by an outbreak of high levels of domoic acid, which is harmful to humans. The San Francisco Chronicle profiles the federal lab in Richmond tasked with making sure our holiday crab cioppino is safe to eat.
5. The ever-present cranes tell the story. New construction in Downtown Oakland is booming. Roland Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle takes a looks at the trend that will reshape the city for decades to come, but could also boost Oakland's lagging tech sector.. $$
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Thursday, November 28, 2019
Thanksgiving Day Briefing: Hard rains coming this weekend; Bankruptcy judge says PG&E still liable for wildfires
Oakland Airport losing some direct flights to Europe
Thu, Nov 28, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 28:
1. Hide the women and children! An "atmospheric river" is on the horizon. Heavy rains in the Bay Area and snow in the Sierras is expected to arrive starting this weekend, SFGate reports. The deluge could continue for most of the next week.
2. Tuesday night's hard rain was too much for the new $1.4 billion Chase Center in San Francisco. "Light flooding" occurred at the arena in a few rooms because of a broken pipe, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. That noise yesterday was the sound of thousands of Oakland fans snickering. $$
3. A federal bankruptcy judge ruled against PG&E's bid to overturn a state law that puts the utility on the hook for liabilities stemming from the wildfires its equipment started in California, the Associated Press reports. The fires in 2017 and 2018 cost PG&E up to $20 billion in damages.
4. The PG&E bankruptcy case also affects the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland. The San Francisco Chronicle reports families of the victims asked a judge to lift the suspension on lawsuits against PG&E in order to allow for their claims to move forward. $$
5. Oakland International Airport is losing two non-stop summer routes to Denmark and Sweden, SFGate reports. Direct flights on Norwegian Air to Copenhagen and Stockholm will cease next summer. Oakland recently lost non-stop flights to London and Barcelona.
6. High demand and limited space in Bay Area's shelters and warming centers is continuing problem, KQED reports. And when it rains, as one person noted, there's no shelter for those waiting in line to be admitted to the actual shelter.
7. So maybe you burned the turkey or forgot to fully thaw your bird this week. Tofurky, a tofu substitute is becoming more popular this Thanksgiving season, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. But, here's the herb rub: Americans are still consuming considerable amounts of turkey.
8. Meanwhile, don't mess with wild turkeys. They will mess you up. Video here.
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Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Wednesday's Briefing: Oakland will appeal Measure AA ruling; Parents file excessive force claim against OUSD
Coliseum tells MC Hammer, "U Can't Touch This,' cancels tonight's concert
Wed, Nov 27, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 27:
1. Oakland is appealing a ruling last month in Alameda County Superior Court that invalidated Measure AA, the 2018 parcel tax to fund early education, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The measure was purported to need a two-thirds majority to pass, but fell short. $$
2. Nine Oakland parents filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Unified School District alleging its police officers used excessive force during a wild Oct. 23 school board meeting in which protesters attempted to jump a barrier between them and the school board members, EdSource reports. The parents are led by Oakland civil rights attorney Dan Siegel.
3. Last night's heavy rains caused a power outage at the Oakland International Airport, SFGate reports, causing a major disruption on the one of the busiest travel days of the year.
4. Berkeley's year-end budget update is showing the city's coffers have some extra cash lying around, Berkeleyside reports. The city council could use the money to pay down its unfunded liabilities, fortify its general funds, but also use it to address illegal dumping and street safety.
5. The arrest of an African-American man eating a sandwich at the Pleasant Hill BART station may not have been a isolated incident. The San Francisco Examiner reports that out of 55 riders cited for eating and drinking at BART stations since 2014, 80 percent were African-American.
6. A reunion concert scheduled for tonight at the Oakland Coliseum Arena, featuring MC Hammer, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Digital Underground, En Vogue, and Luniz is cancelled, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Coliseum officials pulled the plug on the celebration of Oakland music because the concert's promoters failed to meet unnamed obligations. $$
7. Brandon Rivera, better known as the Contra Costa County rapper, "B-Dawg" was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his involvement in the theft of more than 100 firearms and other items from a warehouse in Concord, Mashrival reports.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Tuesday's Briefing: Lawsuit claims Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. forced some inmates into slavery; Hayward man admits to being an agent for China
Suspect in Orinda shooting pleads not guilty to gun charges
Tue, Nov 26, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 26:
1. A class-action lawsuit filed last week alleges the Alameda County Sheriff's Department forced some pre-trial and immigration prisoners into unlawful involuntary servitude by not paying them for work provided to the Santa Rita Jail's food concession vendor, The Appeal reports. The lawsuit was filed last Wednesday by attorneys on behalf of eight plaintiffs. Sgt. Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the department, confirmed the inmates are not paid for their work.
2. A suspect in the Halloween night shooting in Orinda that claimed the life of five people, plead not guilty on Monday to two counts of felony gun-related charges, KTVU reports.
3. Rain will return to the East Bay sometime Tuesday afternoon, SFGate report. It's been a long time coming. The storm is the first of the rainy season, which began in October. Significant snowfall is also expected in the Sierras.
4. Hayward resident Xuehua Edward Peng plead guilty to be being an unregistered agent for the Chinese government, the Associated Press reports. "Prosecutors said Peng, under orders from a handler in China, left cash in hotel rooms in exchange for classified national security information on small electronic storage devices."
5. Unemployment checks for roughly 774,000 California are being delayed because of a disruption in the state Employment Development Department's computer system, the Sacramento Bee reports. Checks could starts going out on Wednesday. $$
6. "Ramone Sanders, a McClymonds High School and Laney College football player and member of McClymonds' state championship team who was diagnosed with bone cancer in November 2018, succumbed Friday to the disease. He was 20," SFGate reports. A tribute in his honor was held last weekend in Oakland.
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Monday, November 25, 2019
Monday's Briefing: Police shut down encampment in front of Oakland City Hall; U.C. chancellor supports dropping SAT for enrollment
Software to identify bad cops in Oakland goes online
Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 25:
1. No repeat of Occupy Oakland here. Oakland Police arrested 22 activists who set up an encampment on the lawn in front of Oakland City Hall, the East Bay Times reports. The protest was organized to highlight the city's treatment of the homeless.
2. UC Berkeley chancellor Carol Christ supports ending the use of SAT testing for incoming freshman, EdSource reports. A U.C. task force is studying the issue. Last month, several groups threatened to sue the U.C. system if the test, which they said puts minority students at a disadvantage, is not discontinued.
3. Two boys were killed at an elementary school in Union City on Sunday morning, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Police are still searching for suspects. Police said the boys were sitting in a van at 1:30 a.m. when an unknown gunman shot into the van. $$
4. It's kind of like the Minority Report, but for police. Oakland will begin using software today pools various data streams on its police officers, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The software uses the information to flag potential problem officers. $$
5. Next year, California voters will decide whether to scrap Proposition 13, the landmark 1978 measure that significantly crimps the amount some home and commercial property owners pay on their property taxes. KQED reports on the grassroots effort already underway to defeat Prop. 13.
6. Tal Kopan of the San Francisco Chronicle goes behind-the-scenes to report the tick-tock of East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell's day last week serving on the House Intelligence Committee that is investigating the possible impeachment of President Trump. $$
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Friday, November 22, 2019
Friday's Briefing: FPPC wanted stiffer fines for CoCo official who used campaign funds for vacations; ATF issues reward for Orinda shooting suspects
Exhibit by former Mills College art professor is canceled by Chinese government
Fri, Nov 22, 2019 at 4:00 AM
News you don't want to miss for Nov. 22-24:
1. The fine against the former Contra Costa County registrar who misused $130,000 in campaign funds for vacations and home improvements will stand, the state's Fair Political Practices Commission found Thursday. But they also said the $150,000 fine against Joe Canciamilla is not enough, the Sacramento Bee reports. FPPC commissioners said they will ask the Legislature next year to consider raising the limit on such egregious acts. $$
2. U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information on the Halloween night shooting at an AirBNB in Orinda that left five dead, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Earlier this week, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office declined to press charges against five suspects who were arrested on Nov. 14. $$
3. "The California Restaurant Association sued Berkeley over the city’s natural gas ban on Thursday, arguing it violates existing law and would hurt businesses," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Last summer, Berkeley approved an ordinance that bans all new homes, town homes, and small apartments from being equipped with natural gas. A commercial ban may follow. $$
4. A social media posting led to rumors at St. Mary's College in Moraga that the campus was under threat of gun violence, KTVU reports. Campus police quickly determined there was no threat. The posting showed a photo of the campus juxtaposed with a photo of a firearm.
5. A proposal by the Cal State University system to require a fourth year of mathematics is being criticized by some who believe the change will unfairly hamper minority students and do little to improve graduation rates, the Los Angeles Times reports. $$
6. An art exhibit by Oakland artist Hung Liu scheduled for next month at a Beijing museum was abruptly cancelled by the Chinese culture ministry, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. One piece depicted Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Mao. Hung is a retired Mills College art professor.
7. The Cal men's basketball team came into Thursday's game against Duke, the top-ranked team in the nation, with a 4-0 record. But the Bears were blown out by Duke, 87-52, in the first round of the 2k Empire Classic in New York City, the East Bay Times reports. $$
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