News you don’t want to miss this St. Patrick’s Day weekend:
1. First, there was two years of labor negotiations between Oakland teachers and the school district, a 7-day strike, an new contract with raises for teachers, then budget cuts. The East Bay Times reports some Oakland teachers received layoff notices this week. $$
2. The Berkeley school board voted to cut $2 million from its budget, Berkeleyside reports.
3. East Bay legislators like state Sen. Nancy Skinner and Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Buffy Wicks have been doing their part to alleviate the regional and state housing crisis with a number of bills that, if approved, will benefit renters, SF Weekly reports.
4. No surprise here, but the BART Board of Directors approved a resolution in support of SB 50, KPIX reports. The bill authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener would foster high-density housing projects near transit hubs, like BART stations. A similar bill nearly became law last year, but with a new governor, there’s growing consensus it may succeed later this year.
5. What if another year of devastating wildfires engulfs California? What if evidence points to PG&E again being liable for the firestorms? The Wall Street Journal reports the judge overseeing the utility’s bankruptcy fears the scenario will greatly worsen PG&E’s financial prospects. $$
6. Sea-level rise could greatly affect shorelines between Alameda and Oakland; San Leandro to the marshlands in Hayward and Fremont more than previously believed, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, KQED reports.
7. Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley wants to allow 12-15 homeless individuals to use a portion of the Fairmont Hospital’s parking lot to continue living in their cars, the San Leandro Times report.
$$ = Stories you may have to pay to read.
TRENDING:
.Friday’s Briefing: Some Oakland teachers receive layoff notices; East Bay legislators fighting for renters
Future sea-level rise in the East Bay worse than previously thought