Coronavirus Disinfecting Services : October 2023

Tuesday, 31 October 2023

One shot in SF's Mission District on Halloween night

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- One person was hospitalized after being shot in San Francisco's Mission District Tuesday night, the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to KRON4.

The shooting happened at 15th Street and Shotwell Street at about 9:05 p.m. The victim has non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect fled the scene before officers could arrive. No arrests have been made and SFPD is investigating the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."

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7-year-old trick-or-treater injured in Berkeley hit-and-run

(KRON) -- A 7-year-old child broke their leg in a hit-and-run crash while trick-or-treating in Berkeley on Tuesday, the Berkeley Police Department confirmed.

The crash happened on the 1200 block of Derby Street at 6:24 p.m. Police said the child and their mother were trick-or-treating when the mother stepped onto the street and the child was struck by a car.

The child is in stable condition, police said. The car fled the scene and has not been spotted by police. It was described as a "dark-colored compact car" by Berkeley PD.

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House Republicans attempt to block funding for California High-Speed Rail

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is attempting to prevent President Joe Biden from awarding federal grant funding to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Legislation presented by GOP lawmakers would dramatically cut spending on passenger train programs, including more than a 60% cut to Amtrak, and a direct block of any federal funding to be awarded to California's high-speed rail projects.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is currently awaiting word on a federal grant that would award it around $2.8 billion which it says would allow it to complete the initial operating segment between Merced to Bakersfield, allow for the purchase of six electric trainsets and construct the rail station in Fresno.

CAHSR is also seeking a multi-year funding agreement that would result in around $8 billion in grant funds to be allocated for the state's most ambitious public transportation infrastructure project in history.

The GOP opposition comes weeks after CAHSR was awarded a $20 2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct six grade separations in the city of Shafter, about 18 miles northwest of Bakersfield in Kern County.

*Rendering of a train car for the California High-Speed Rail project. (California High-Speed Rail Authority)*

Despite being targeted by GOP lawmakers, the project has powerful allies in both President Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Earlier this month, Newsom wrote a letter to the president and urged him to approve the federal grant to help make the high-speed rail system a reality.

The governor also just returned from a trip to China, in which he discussed clean energy and climate change initiatives with Chinese leaders and took a ride on China's expansive high-speed rail system.

Biden has previously shown support for the California project, restoring a nearly $1 billion grant to the High-Speed Rail Authority in 2021 that had been blocked by the Trump Administration.

Perhaps the most well-known supporter of passenger rail, Biden has long advocated for Amtrak funding and was a regular rider during his time in the Senate.

Federal support for America's passenger rail systems was a key component of the president's landmark bipartisan infrastructure bill. White House officials oppose the GOP-backed legislation and any cuts it brings with it.

The California High-Speed Rail released the following statement following the news of the GOP's plan to back any federal grant funding:

"We appreciate the White House position that will allow us to continue making progress on this transformative project, still very much underway with over 11,000 construction jobs created and work having begun to extend the 119 miles under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. The Authority has also environmentally cleared 422 miles of the high-speed rail program from the Bay Area to the Los Angeles Basin."
Melissa Figueroa, CAHSR Chief of Strategic Communications

The statement is consistent with the messaging CAHSR has been putting out all year, that much has already been built and the project is past the point of no return. Officials have previously said that the project will only become more expensive the longer it takes to build.

The initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield is tentatively scheduled to begin operation around 2030. That portion of the rail system comprises "Phase 1" of the project, which seeks to unite the Bay Area with the Los Angeles Metropolitan area via electric trains that can reach speeds of more than 200 mph.

Phase 2 aims to expand the system from north to Sacramento and south to San Diego.

The House will vote on the proposed legislation on Wednesday.

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Bay Area family says U.S. citizen is stuck in Gaza

(KRON) – American citizens stuck in Gaza are being told to try and cross the border into Egypt, according to one Bay Area family that says their grandmother is stuck in Gaza.

The family says their grandmother has tried that, but the border was bombed and closed. KRON4 spoke with their immigration attorney in San Francisco, who is filing a lawsuit this week.

The immigration attorney says this is one of many American families who are having a hard time helping U.S. citizens return home from Gaza. Now he, along with other lawyers, is planning to file a lawsuit against the U.S. government.

The Bay Area family says their 81-year-old grandmother who went back to visit her homeland for the first time in three decades is stuck there after Gaza and that border were bombed.

"We're terrified,” said Dina Abseiso, a relative of the woman. “We feel dehumanized. We are confused. We live here just as any other American expecting all the protections and rights as any other American, and we feel abandoned by our very own government whom we have elected and whom we pay taxes toward."

The family is working with San Francisco immigration attorney Ghassan Shamieh, who says while chartered flights have been helping American citizens leave Israel, there is no evidence of resources being provided to U.S. citizens trying to flee Gaza.

"The families of the U.S. citizens stuck in Gaza are seeing zero effort, zero action, zero tangible proof that there is any movement being made to get these citizens out of Gaza in a safe manner just like U.S. citizens out of Israel were vacated," he said.

The State Department tells KRON4 that the last government-chartered flight for the foreseeable future leaves Tuesday from the Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. It did not mention any specific plans for if or how the U.S. government will help citizens if they are able to safely cross into Egypt from Gaza.

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Nurses hold rallies at Santa Clara County hospitals seeking better working conditions

(BCN) -- Nurses and supporters are holding rallies at three Santa Clara County health facilities on Monday as part of a day of action calling on county leaders to support improved working conditions for nurses and better-quality care for patients, the Registered Nurses Professional Association said.

The first rally was at 9 a.m. at St. Louise Regional Hospital, Front Entrance Courtyard, 9400 No Name Uno, Gilroy. At 12 p.m. a second rally was held at O'Connor Hospital, Cafeteria Lawn, 2105 Forest Ave, San Jose. Later in the day, protesting nurses and their supporters gathered at 3 p.m. at Valley Medical Center Main Hospital, Renova Park Plaza, 751 S Bascom Avenue, San Jose.

More than 3,750 nurses in the Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System - represented by the Registered Nurses Professional Association - are currently in contract negotiations with the county. Their last contract expired on Sunday.

Contract negotiations provide an opportunity for nurses to push for improvements that benefit healthcare professionals and patients alike, the group said.

County nurses have identified "scary" conditions that harm patient care such as short staffing and below-standard nurse to patient ratios. The patients who rely on the county's public health system should have the same quality care as those who can afford private healthcare, but that is currently not the case, according to county nurses.

Nurses are also pointing to a dramatic increase in alleged workplace violence, along with troubling rates of nurses dealing with mental health concerns, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"These issues, along with pay and benefit packages that are out of step with the local market, make it difficult for Santa Clara County to recruit and retain nurses," the group said. "Nurses, in turn, have trouble affording to live in the communities they serve."

Bay City News contributed to this story.

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Monday, 30 October 2023

Hawaii-bound United plane returns to SFO due to woman going into labor

(KRON) -- A plane departing SFO for Honolulu turned around Monday night due to a woman going into labor, the airport confirmed to KRON4.

The airport said United Airlines flight #1509 was on its way to Hawaii when the woman began to go into labor and it turned around. It landed safely at SFO, and there is no update on the woman's condition.

United Airlines sent the following statement about the incident:

"United flight 1509 from San Francisco to Honolulu safely returned to SFO following a medical incident onboard. First responders met the airplane at the gate, and we're making arrangements for the other passengers to complete their journeys as soon as possible."

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SJ man indicted for allegedly filing false tax returns, failing to report foreign account

(BCN) -- A San Jose man has been indicted on alleged federal tax and financial crimes, U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey announced Friday.

Chunsheng "Jay" Huang is charged with allegedly filing a false tax return and failing to report a foreign bank or financial account, prosecutors said. Huang was indicted in November 2022 but it was unsealed last week.

According to the indictment, Huang, 67, of San Jose, is alleged to have been an employee of a company based in Milpitas, California, for over 15 years while also working for companies based in the People's Republic of China for at least six of those years.

Huang is accused of using an account with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in his sister-in-law's name to receive payments from two companies in China. The indictment alleges that Huang failed to report that income on his federal tax returns for 2016 through 2020.

In addition to the obligation to report foreign income for tax purposes, the indictment alleges that United States citizens and residents who have a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, a bank account in a foreign country with an aggregate value of more than $10,000 at any time during a particular calendar year are required to file with the United States Treasury, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and other entities for that year. Prosecutors allege that Huang failed to file a required financial report for 2019 and 2020.

Huang has not made an appearance in the case, according to the government. An arrest warrant was issued at the time of his indictment.

If convicted of both counts, Huang faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in federal prison and a fine of $750,000 fine, plus other fines.

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San Jose targets retail theft with new police unit

(BCN) -- Thieves hoping to snatch items off the shelves of San Jose retailers may have a tougher time this holiday season.

City policymakers this week launched a new police team to stop retail theft after the city saw a 25% spike in the crime from 2021 to 2022.

The San Jose City Council unanimously approved creating the Organized Retail Theft Detail, an investigative team within the San Jose Police Department to gather intelligence and track crime statistics and patterns to identify hotspots, catch criminals and reduce the rate of retail crimes. The team will include one full time and four part-time investigators.

Some shop owners say the timing is perfect with holiday shopping already underway. Jack Meir, manager of Yeti in Santana Row, said the store has lost almost $1,000 worth of merchandise after being open only two months.

"All we have talked about in our holiday meeting so far was trying to hire more seasonal workers in order to have more personnel on the floor and have more look outs," Meir told San Jose Spotlight. "Safety is the most important thing that we value."

In San Jose, 5,756 retail theft crimes were reported last year. And it's a national trend.

Retail theft across the country has cost $125.7 billion in economic losses and $39.2 billion in lost wages, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In California, $19 billion in economic losses were reported. The state created the Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program in 2022 through Senate Bill 154 to prevent and respond to organized retail theft.

San Jose's police department received nearly $8.5 million from the state to launch a three-year program. It was one of 38 law enforcement agencies in California to receive the funding. More than half the funds will pay for analyst salaries and overtime for sworn officers to proactively patrol shopping centers to deter crime.

Officers will partner with the district attorney to support prosecutions and work with retailers to arrest criminals.

"One of the big aspects is sharing knowledge and best practices," SJPD Lt. Brent McKim said during Tuesday's council meeting. "So if somebody hits Walmart, and we know that, then we can and we will alert the Target down the street that they might be hit as well."

Nearly $3.5 million will fund technology including fingerprint scanners, forensic software and additional cars and radios. SJPD is also purchasing 300 license plate readers to help catch thieves at hotspots. San Jose uses 72 license plate readers currently that councilmembers approved in 2021 in response to the spike in retail crimes.

"It's a two prong approach: prevention and then investigation," McKim said. "I think the money in this grant will help us attack from both sides."

Councilmember Peter Ortiz urged police to focus on smaller, family-owned businesses in East San Jose - and not just major retailers like Westfield's Oakridge and Valley Fair malls. He said theft at mom-and-pop shops often goes unreported and forces business owners to lock their stores during the day or move to other parts of the city.

"They're starting to lock their doors to protect them from potential robberies or shoplifting, which gives the impression to the public that the business is not open," Ortiz said. "But it also creates an unwelcoming shopping experience."

McKim said the police department will scope out hotspots at smaller businesses.

Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmember Bien Doan applauded efforts to work with prosecutors to ensure thieves are held accountable.

"We want to let people know that the city of San Jose is a safe place to visit, to shop, to live," Doan said. "And to let the criminals know we are going to prosecute."

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2 people stabbed near Bernal Heights in SF

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Two people were injured after a stabbing Sunday near the Bernal Heights neighborhood, the San Francisco Police Department said. The stabbing happened around 4:13 p.m. in the area of Bayshore Boulevard and Cortland Avenue.

SFPD officers arrived at the scene and spotted two male victims suffering from stab wounds. They were both treated for medical care and taken to the hospital. As of Sunday evening, one victim has non-life-threatening injuries. The other has life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, however, was able to escape before SFPD's arrival. No information was provided about the suspect.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact SFPD at 415-575-4444. You can also text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."

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Sunday, 29 October 2023

Newsom requires diversity reporting, but not for himself

(BCN) -- Coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for venture capital firms. Not coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for Gov. Gavin Newsom.

As the bill signing period wrapped up earlier this month, Newsom approved a measure that will force venture capital firms operating in California to collect and disclose demographic data about the founders of the companies they invest in -- while on the very same day, he vetoed for the third time a similar transparency requirement for his own gubernatorial appointments.

Senate Bill 54 by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Berkeley Democrat, was among nearly 900 measures that Newsom signed into law this year. It represents an effort to boost lagging venture capital investments in businesses founded by women, Latino and Black entrepreneurs.

Under the law, venture capital firms must annually survey the founding teams of the companies they invested in during the year for information such as gender identity, race, ethnicity and disability status, as well as whether they are LGBTQ+, military veterans or California residents. Aggregated data, along with how much money was invested in those businesses, will be reported to the state starting March 1, 2025.

The National Venture Capital Association opposed the bill, arguing it would "produce misleading and counterproductive data that would hurt the cause of diversity" because founders from diverse backgrounds would be more likely to participate in the voluntary surveys, exaggerating their representation in startup investments.

Newsom identified his own issues with "problematic provisions," "unrealistic timelines" and the cost to the state of administering the program -- some of which he promised to address in cleanup language in the next budget -- but ultimately signed the measure.

Newsom, in his signing statement: "This bill resonates deeply with my commitment to advance equity and provide for greater economic empowerment of historically underrepresented communities."

The governor looked less favorably on SB 702 by Sen. Monique Limon, a Santa Barbara Democrat who has spent the past three years trying to pass a law documenting the diversity of gubernatorial appointments. Newsom again rejected her latest effort, which would have required the governor's office, starting in 2026, to annually publish aggregate demographic information of appointees to state boards and commissions in the previous year, including their ethnicity, gender, disability status, region, party affiliation and veteran status.

In his veto message, Newsom noted that the data would be voluntarily self-reported and argued that it would therefore "not necessarily accurately reflect the diversity of appointees." Limon expressed frustration in a statement to CalMatters that her proposal was in line with the goals and data collection methods of the venture capital firm reporting mandate that Newsom signed.

Limon: "We believe that this Administration has taken strides to diversify our statewide appointees, but more needs to be done to ensure we have mechanisms in place long after this Administration is gone."

The governor's office did not respond to repeated questions from CalMatters about why Newsom supported a diversity reporting requirement for venture capital firms but not for himself, why he signed that bill in spite of the concerns he identified, and why he thought that self-reported data was only a problem for the gubernatorial appointments proposal.

Newsom spokesperson Omar Rodriguez, in an email: "Thanks for reaching out. The messages for SB 54 and SB 702 speak for themselves here. Will let you know if we have anything further to add."

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Should San Jose ask developers to pay for public art?

(BCN) -- San Jose creatives want more funding for the arts--and they are turning to the city for help.

San Jose Arts Advocates, a coalition of art and culture leaders, is asking city officials to move forward on applying a "percent for art policy" on new development to fund art and culture projects. The coalition held a meeting Thursday to prepare for a city council arts funding study session on Nov. 30.

The city council first broached the idea in 2007 with a goal to implement it by 2020, but it didn't happen. In 2020, just a month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, six councilmembers approved of the fee creation as one of the city's top priorities. But priorities shifted during the pandemic. The hospitality sector collapsed and revenue from a tax charged to hotel guests--the city's main funding for art projects--plummeted.

Brendan Rawson, executive director of San Jose Jazz and a founding member of San Jose Arts Advocates, said reconsidering arts and culture funding mechanisms is necessary to improve the downtown and quality of life in general.

"Things have changed, particularly the downtown economy," Rawson said. "There are fewer large conventions coming to town, much less business travel from Monday through Friday and other things that fill hotel rooms."

Forty percent of the hotel tax revenue goes to the general fund. The other half goes into a fund that subsidizes the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau, operations of Team San Jose and the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Though tourism is slowly bouncing back, advocates are stressing the need to create other funding tools so art can flourish without delays. Rawson said according to the city's five-year budget projection, the hotel tax was approximately $27.5 million at the end of fiscal year 2023. In 2019, it was $51.3 million--drop of more than 46%.

It's unclear how much the art fee would generate. The most prevalent art-based fee program requires a developer to pay 1% of a building permit valuation or make an in-lieu payment, according to a 2009 consultant report to the city council.

Advocates are also asking the city to consider re-allocating the 40% of the hotel tax collected from the general fund to create art spaces. Another idea is to encourage the city to explore creating a "quality of life" ballot measure to collect taxes for libraries, community centers, art and culture spaces.

Sunnyvale has had such a fee in place for more than 30 years and Santa Cruz is in the beginning stages of creating a similar tax.

A San Jose spokesperson did not respond to a question about how much revenue an art fee could generate.

Peter Allen, a founding member of San Jose Arts Advocates, said with a new council, it will be a heavier lift to get the fee passed, especially because developers are already overwhelmed by a variety of fees.

"This fee is not going to be the make or break element of any project," Allen told San Jose Spotlight. "This should not be seen as a burden, but a benefit that would make their projects frankly more viable and desirable."

Allen said there's no better time to implement it. With more than 127 housing, commercial and office developments underway in San Jose, the city could stand to fill its arts and culture coin purse with millions of dollars.

In the last decade, the city has invested millions to liven its public art scene--especially in the downtown core. The city sets aside 1% of its capital improvement project budget for the commission, purchase and installation of artworks. This has generated $2.4 million to be applied to art projects over the next four years.

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Saturday, 28 October 2023

Who has better gas between Costco and Sam's Club?

(FOX40.COM) -- Many people flock to warehouses like Costco and Sam's Club with high hopes of getting the best deal on the price of fuel and although both places offer similar savings, there's a stark difference in the quality of gas they pump.

The most notable difference between Costco and Sam's Club is that one provides Top Tier gas while the other does not.

A study written by Consumer Reports stated that, "Not all gasoline is created equal. There is plain old regular, and then there is regular gasoline that meets a higher standard, known as Top Tier.”

Top Tier is recognized as a high-quality fuel performance specification in fuel that was developed by some of the leading automotive and heavy-duty equipment manufacturers, according to Top Tier's website. Top Tier gas can reduce build-up deposits on fuel injectors and on intake valves. This can restore engine performance, vehicle responsiveness, and fuel economy.

In 2016, AAA conducted a study that revealed that Top Tier gasoline keeps engines 19 times cleaner.

In response to increasing levels of carbon deposits in modern engine designs, AAA reported that the Environmental Protection Agency mandated a minimum level of detergent for all gasoline sold in the United States in 1996. Top Tier fuel is gasoline that has more detergent additives than the Environment Protection Agency requires. Detergent additives help keep engines clean.

Costco offers Top-tier gasoline with higher levels of required detergents; however, Sam's Club does not provide Top Tier gasoline.

Continued fuel use without the Top Tier additive package could result in 2% to 4% lower miles per gallon, increased emissions, and a greater chance of maintenance issues, according to AAA.

Even if a person buys fuel outside of a warehouse station, CarFax reported that, "Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money. The benefits are not a myth."

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Vehicle slams into divider along I-280, killing one

(BCN) -- At least one person is dead after a vehicle slammed into the center divider along Interstate Highway 280 in Los Altos Hills early Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.

As of 5 a.m., all southbound lanes of Interstate 280 north of El Monte Road were still blocked as a result of the collision, officers said.

The crash, first reported at 3:33 a.m. Saturday, occurred just south of the El Monte Road offramp on Interstate 280 in Los Altos Hills. The driver of the vehicle was confirmed dead on the scene, according to the CHP.

Information about the crash victim and the circumstances of the accident were not immediately available.

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Friday, 27 October 2023

Why does California law enforcement announce DUI checkpoints?

California law enforcement officials frequently send public service announcements about scheduled DUI checkpoints throughout the state, which has prompted some community members to ask 'why?'

"This is done as a result of case law, specifically Ingersoll v. Palmer, " Lincoln Police Department Officer Brett Schneider told FOX40.com. "This case law established guidelines for evaluating the constitutionality of checkpoints. Prior public notice was one of eight requirements also known as the Ingersoll 8."

In 1984, California conducted its first official checkpoint in Burlingame, according to casetext.com. During the checkpoint, every fifth vehicle was stopped and drivers were screened for various indicators of intoxication. Some drivers felt that the checkpoint violated the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Shortly after, taxpayers who opposed the newly mandated stop worked together and filed a petition against local authorities to contend the validity of sobriety checkpoints. The case was known as Ingersoll v. Palmer and made its way to the California Supreme Court. In 1987, the courts upheld checkpoints as long as certain stipulations were enforced - one being to send out public notice before a DUI checkpoint was initiated.

Although checkpoints reportedly aim to crack down on drunk or intoxicated drivers, some people fear that notices about their whereabouts help those in violation avoid getting caught.

"If we hold a checkpoint and contact zero drivers under the influence, some may feel that it was not a successful checkpoint," Schneider said. "Since education and awareness of the dangers of DUI driving is the goal, the idea of zero arrests is not a bad thing. It can be construed that through the public notices and the checkpoint itself, drivers made choices which resulted in them possibly not driving impaired."

Schneider added, "The goal of DUI checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to prevent, deter and educate. The more notice, the better. If a driver knows there is a DUI checkpoint planned, maybe it will cause them to think twice before driving impaired."

Schneider encouraged people to spread the word about known DUI checkpoints.

"Expect them, share them, and encourage others to make smart choices when operating vehicles," Schneider said.

Roseville Police Department Lt. Christopher Ciampa told FOX40.com that he agreed with the perspective that notices about DUI checkpoints don't help intoxicated drivers get away.

"They don’t help people not get caught, it's more for traffic advisement for non-DUI drivers," Ciampa said. "The notices don’t really impact the checkpoints."

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2.9 earthquake reported near San Jose

(KRON) -- A 2.9 earthquake was reported near San Jose on Friday night, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was reported in eastern Santa Clara County near Joseph D. Grant County Park.

The earthquake occurred around 8:21 p.m.

The South Bay earthquake happened about two hours after a 3.7 earthquake was reported near SFO. The depth of the most recent quake near San Jose was reported to be 7.8 kilometers.

This story will be updated.

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Deadline looms for Mission District street vendors to relocate

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A deadline is looming for street vendors to get off the streets in San Francisco’s Mission District, and the vendors aren’t happy about their options.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen says it’s too dangerous to allow operations to continue as they have been. KRON4 spoke with the supervisor who told us the timing of her plan.

Ronen says street vendors will have to relocate sometime next month, but that an exact date and where they’ll be able to go is still in the works. This is what the BART station at 24th and Mission in San Francisco looks like on any given night.

However, that won't be for long, according to Supervisor Hillary Ronen. Starting next month, street vending with or without a permit will be prohibited because of how dangerous conditions have become.

“There’s been gunshots, there’s been regular assaults," Ronen said. "There has been extortion of the legacy vendors by the vendors involved with the fencing of goods.”

It’s been six months since the city started requiring proof of a permit. However, those from the Department of Public Works walking around the Mission District enforcing the law have been met with violence.

“They’ve been threatened with their lives and assaulted, so much so that they where bulletproof vests to work," Ronen said.

She says illegal vendors are the problem and to separate the bad from the good. The city is in the process of renting a storefront on Mission Street that legal street vendors can work inside of -- as well as inside BART plazas and a parking lot on 24th Street.

"Those will be alternative spaces for people that are legally selling goods that they have made or purchased, but nobody will be able to sell those goods on Mission Street itself," Ronen said.

The vendors who work in the area between Cesar Chavez and 14th Streets aren’t happy about the changes.

“They feel like they’ve been kicked around a lot on this that folks have gone through the proper permitting processes," said Co-Chair of San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club Kevin Ortiz.

The San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club does a lot of the outreach to vendors selling their goods. Ortiz says there are a lot of frustrations being felt and that there needs to be more options for locations than have been presented.

“Like we need to have a space for all the vendors that have actually went through proper permitting process," Ortiz said. "Not just one storefront. I think it should be frankly you know different commercial corridors as well as different storefronts as well.”

The street vendor ban will be for at least 90 days and includes anyone selling goods or prepackaged foods. Vendors of handmade food will still be able to sell.

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Thursday, 26 October 2023

Wiener introduces bill to make it harder for criminals to get away with car break-ins

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- State Sen. Scott Wiener has announced a bill he says will make it harder for criminals to get away with car break-ins. The bill, Wiener says, is intended to eliminate the requirement that prosecutors prove a vehicle was locked at the time of the robbery.

Car break-ins have become all too common in San Francisco. Sharky Laguana is the CEO of Bandago, which rents vans to touring musicians. He says his customers have become sitting targets.

“In fact, this morning I looked it up and every single one of our vans has been broken into at least twice,” said Laguana.

He was joined at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts Thursday by State Sen. Scott Wiener, SF Mayor London Breed and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Currently, convicting a suspect of auto burglary requires proving that the vehicle was locked at the time of the break-in.

“It oftentimes, is a real challenge in the courtroom and it’s a challenge to us being able to effectively prosecute a crime that we know plagues San Francisco,” DA Jenkins said on Thursday.

Sen. Wiener says he’ll introduce a bill when the state legislature reconvenes next year that will eliminate the locked door rule. Current law requires victims to be physically present in the courtroom to testify that the car was locked.

“A tourist with a rental car and that tourist is now 3,000 miles away and they aren’t going to San Francisco to testify that they locked the car, or you might have a resident who simply doesn’t remember if they locked the car,” Sen. Wiener said.

If the senator’s law passes, evidence of forcible entry like a smashed-out window will be enough to prove the crime of auto burglary.

“We have to make it easier for our victims and make it harder for the people that victimize our victims,” said SF Police Chief Bill Scott.

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Cruise to pull all of its driverless vehicles off streets nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Self-driving Cruise cars will no longer be inhabiting the streets of San Francisco. Cruise announced Thursday that it is pulling all of its driverless cars off the streets nationwide.

The cars have been at the center of controversy in the city over the past year. They have been involved in crashes and have driven into areas such as construction zones.

"The most important thing for us right now is to take steps to rebuild public trust," Cruise said. "Part of this involves taking a hard look inwards and at how we do work at Cruise, even if it means doing things that are uncomfortable or difficult."

Cruise said it will "proactively pause driverless operations across all of our fleets" as it does internal evaluation. It is not related to any new on-road incidents, per Cruise.

"We think it’s the right thing to do during a period when we need to be extra vigilant when it comes to risk, relentlessly focused on safety, & taking steps to rebuild public trust," Cruise continued.

On Tuesday, the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise's autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permits, citing “an unreasonable risk to public safety.”

Perhaps the most high-profile incident Cruise was involved in happened on Oct. 2, when a pedestrian was struck by a regular vehicle around 5th and Market Streets and fell into the path of a Cruise car. The Cruise car ran over the pedestrian before trying to perform a pullover maneuver while the pedestrian remained underneath the vehicle.

Driverless Cruise vehicles operate in San Francisco, Austin and Phoenix.

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AT&T offers $5K reward in copper cable thefts in Contra Costa County

(KRON) -- AT&T has been challenged by multiple incidents of copper cable thefts in Consta Costa County since July 2023, and the telecommunications company is offering money for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

According to a statement from AT&T, the copper thefts in the county have been an ongoing problem for months. Now, the company said up to $5,000 is being offered “for specific and detailed information about copper cable thefts or the attempted sale or purchase of stolen copper cable from AT&T in Contra Costa County.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact AT&T Asset Protection at (800)-807-4205.

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Fatality reported in pedestrian involved-collision on I-580 in Richmond

(BCN) -- The California Highway Patrol reported a fatality following a crash on Interstate Highway 580 in Richmond on Wednesday night.

The CHP said a pedestrian was involved in the collision, which occurred around 10:25 p.m. in the highway's westbound lanes near the Bayview Avenue offramp. The pedestrian was running across the traffic before the crash, according to the CHP.

Westbound lanes of I-580 in the area were blocked due to the collision.

There were no further details about the collision immediately available.

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LGBTQ cultural district proposed for Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – Oakland is getting closer to establishing the city’s first LGBTQ cultural district and neighborhood. The city council’s Life Enrichment Committee approved the proposal for the new district this week.

It’s an idea LGBTQ community members say is “long overdue” in Oakland, which has one of the highest percentages of residents who identify as LGBTQ in the United States. The cultural district would be set up in between Grand Lake and Lakeshore, and community leaders say it’s a space that’s long been needed.

“Oakland needs its own safe spaces, cultural districts for our LGBTQ community and that’s what’s happening now,” said Joe Hawkins, a co-founder of Oakland's LGBTQ community center.

The co-founders of Oakland’s LGBTQ center say an official designation would solidify what already exists in the area. Gay-run bars, restaurants and other businesses, as well as the center itself, can be found in the Lakeshore area.

Joe Hawkins says San Francisco gets a lot of the attention for LGBTQ culture, but it’s just as important in Oakland.

“And it shouldn’t be lost on people either that our LGBTQ community center is founded by Black people,” he said. “And it’s one of the few in the state, if not the only one, founded by Black people.”

Community leaders also say recent anti-drag and anti-trans legislation, as well as increased attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the country, show a known safe space is needed in Oakland.

“In general we want a space where we can say ‘this is ours’ and we’re bringing everyone together with allies and people who are gay-friendly and businesses just try to work as one community,” said Jeffrey Myers, the other co-founder of the community center.

The entire city council still needs to vote on making the district official, but there’s lots of confidence it will become a reality.

“It just makes sense that we now create a zone where we can continue to showcase and provide safe environments for our community,” Hawkins said.

The final resolution on the district is set to be heard by the entire city council next month. Oakland’s LGBTQ community center will also be holding a news conference on Nov. 7 in hopes that the district gets approved.

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023

California home with meth lab goes on market for $1.5 million

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- A California home that was busted as a meth lab seven months ago is now up for sale for more than $1.5 million.

What's more, the San Jose home at 668 Potomac Court is being sold as-is.

Surrounded by chain link fencing and warning signs reading "condemned," the home has been deemed unsafe to occupy.

Keller Williams Reality's website lists the 2,743-square-foot home for $1,550,000 and states, "Great opportunity to own large home. Great location to freeway and expressway. Home has inactive meth lab and meth."

The homeowner, 35-year-old Peter Karasev, was arrested in March for keeping explosive materials, guns and narcotics inside. FBI agents said Karasev stockpiled highly explosive bomb-making chemicals while he lived at the home with his wife and three young children.

Police found chemicals drugs, and firearms "within easy reach of children. It was not a safe environment for children, or for anyone," San Jose Police Department Assistant Chief Paul Joseph previously told reporters.

In addition to a "for sale" sign, the house also has warning signs posted by Santa Clara County officials. (KRON4 image)

When he was questioned by detectives, Karasev said he was interested in building model rockets, used meth, and was concerned about the war in Ukraine, according to court documents. Investigators said Karasev built bombs that he used to blow up PG&E transformers around the city.

The property’s listing description says the home will be transferred to a new buyer in its current state.

Real Estate 38 owner Zaid Hanna told Nexstar's KRON that even though it's a seller’s market, "if they do achieve the $1.5 million that they are asking for, that’s a home run. I’d be very surprised if they get it."

Hanna says getting the home to a safe, livable state won’t be cheap. "Somebody will have to come and rip out the flooring, the sheet rock, insulation ... so you’re looking at about $200,000 to $300,000 to bring this back to where it needs to be," he explained.

Six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a 6,000-square-foot lot are some of the selling points. The house is also nestled in a residential neighborhood with a school nearby. But is the house worth $1.5 million, plus $300,000 in repairs?

"The answer is no," Hanna said.

KRON reached out to the listing agent who is selling the property, but the agent was unavailable for comment.

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Bob Melvin is leaving the San Diego Padres to manage the San Francisco Giants: AP sources

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have hired manager Bob Melvin away from the division rival San Diego Padres, three people with direct knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither team had made a formal announcement about the move. The Athletic first reported Melvin was the Giants' choice.

The 61-year-old Melvin will be returning to the Bay Area where he grew up cheering the Giants. He later played for them and then managed the Oakland Athletics from 2011-21. An introductory news conference was planned for Wednesday.

“I’m very excited to work with Bob Melvin,” Giants ace Logan Webb said in a text message Tuesday night. "I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things from everyone that has played for him. Excited to get to meet him, play for him, and learn from him!”

Melvin had one year left on his contract with San Diego but leaves amid reports of friction with general manager A.J. Preller. Melvin managed the Padres for two seasons, reaching the 2022 NL Championship Series but then missing the playoffs this season with a $258 million payroll, the third-highest in the majors. It's unclear if the Padres will receive compensation.

Melvin, a three-time Manager of the Year who has won the award in both leagues, went 171-153 with the big-spending Padres and will enter his 21st season as a manager next year. He has a career record of 1,517-1,425 with eight postseason appearances while guiding Arizona, Seattle, Oakland and San Diego.

A native of nearby Palo Alto, California, Melvin loves the Bay Area. He attended the University of California-Berkeley and played for his hometown Giants from 1986-88.

Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi had hoped to find a new manager by the start of free agency to replace Gabe Kapler, fired with three days remaining in the season. Kapler was 295-248 over three-plus seasons, leading the team to a franchise-record 107 wins to edge the 106-win Dodgers for the NL West title in 2021 before missing the playoffs the last two seasons.

With Melvin gone, Preller will be hiring his fifth manager since midway through the 2015 season. Perhaps the strongest in-house candidate is Mike Shildt, who was abruptly fired as manager in St. Louis after the 2021 season despite leading the Cardinals to a third straight playoff appearance. He was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2019.

Shildt was hired by the Padres before the 2022 season as a senior adviser to the major league staff and player development department. He filled in as third base coach early in the 2023 season after Matt Williams had colon cancer surgery.

The previous year, Shildt also stepped in as third base coach, first base coach and bench coach due to various medical situations. His work in player development could be an added bonus if he takes over a big league roster led by stars Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts.

Another in-house candidate is Ryan Flaherty, the bench coach/offensive coordinator who was teammates with Machado in Baltimore.

Melvin was the only manager to lead the Padres to a winning record in a full season during Preller’s tenure, doing so twice. Preller’s three previous hires had no previous big league managerial experience.

AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this report.

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Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Homeless man ignited 3 arson fires in Bay Area, police say

(KRON) -- A 34-year-old homeless man was arrested and accused of igniting at least three separate arson fires in South San Francisco and Colma.

One of the blazes sparked on October 20 along EL Camino Real and Hickey Boulevard in South San Francisco. Flames spread from brush to a nearby residence on Duvall Drive before firefighters doused the fire.

Later that day, Colma police said they received a 911 call from a witness who saw a man intentionally lighting a fire. Investigators wrote, "Colma police officers contacted and detained a 34-year-old unhoused male while he was walking away from the scene of the fire."

The man was in possession of a lighter and witnesses identified him as the arsonist. Through the investigation, the man was connected to a third arson fire, according to police.

The man, whose name was not released by law enforcement, was arrested. "Our detectives are conducting follow-up investigation to determine this male’s connection to additional unsolved/unreported incidents," the South San Francisco Police Department wrote.

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Dense fog advisory up for North Bay interior valleys

(BCN) -- A dense fog advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. Tuesday for North Bay interior valleys, according to the National Weather Service.

Under dense fog conditions, visibility is reduced to a quarter of a mile or less. Sudden visibility changes also add to the risks, the weather service said.

Due to widespread dense fog, residents and motorists are advised to travel carefully and allow for extra time when driving through the affected areas.

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Cal State graduation rates remain flat for second consecutive year

(BCN) -- California State University's four-year graduation rates remain flat for the 23-campus system just two years before the end of a 10-year deadline to dramatically improve them.

The system announced Monday during its Graduation Initiative 2025 symposium in San Diego that rates remain unchanged from last year for first-time students. Preliminary data shows the four-year graduation rate remains unchanged from last year at 35 percent. The system's 2025 goal is 40 percent. The six-year graduation rate for first-time students also remains the same as last year at 62 percent. The 2025 goal is 70 percent.

Graduation rates for transfers also remain flat this year, although the two-year transfer rate increased by 1 percentage point from last year to 41 percent. The 2025 two-year transfer goal is 45 percent. However, four-year transfer rates slightly decreased from 80 percent last year to 79 percent this year. The 2025 four-year transfer goal is 85 percent.

Despite the stall, Cal State has doubled its four-year graduation rates from 19 percent, when the 2025 graduation initiative was created in 2015. And since 2016, the CSU has contributed to an additional 150,000 bachelor's degrees earned.

"We have no shortages of challenges ahead," CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia said during the symposium. "Persistent opportunity gaps continue to shortchange our students and our state. There is a greater need now, more than ever, to expand access and affordability, to proactively recruit and serve students of all ages and stages. Not only to elevate lives but to power California's economic and social vitality."

However, graduation equity gaps persist throughout the system. The gap between Black, Latino and Native American students and their peers increased by 1 point this year to a 13 percent difference. The graduation rate for Black students is at 47 percent. And the socioeconomic gap in graduation rates between low-income and higher-income students increased to 12 percent, said Jeff Gold, assistant vice chancellor for student success in the chancellor's office.

"Graduation rates, although they are at all-time highs, have stagnated," Gold said, adding that the system has been stuck at a 62 percent six-year graduation rate since 2020.

Jennifer Baszile, Cal State's associate vice chancellor of student success and inclusive excellence, said the system is proud of its work to increase rates since 2015, but "we still know there is more work ahead."

"Across the country, institutions have seen a growth in equity gaps," Baszile said, adding that much of that is due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the pressure on students to work or take care of their families.

But the chancellor's office is also working on strategies to understand and intervene where it can to improve the college experience for low-income and students of color, she said. For example, former interim Chancellor Jolene Koester assembled a strategic workgroup on Black student success to study trends and improve education for that group of students.

Cal State will release more data, including graduation rates by campus and race, over the next several weeks.

"While the CSU's collective focus on our ambitious goals has resulted in graduation rates at or near all-time highs, there is still much to accomplish in the coming years," Chancellor Garcia said.

"We will boldly re-imagine our work to remove barriers and close equity gaps for our historically marginalized students -- America's new majority -- as we continue to serve as the nation's most powerful driver of socioeconomic mobility."

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Suspected robbery crew arrested in Daly City

(KRON) – Three robbery suspects were arrested on multiple felony charges by the Daly City Police Department.

The Daly City police responded to the 6100 block of Mission Street on Oct. 18 around 8:40 p.m. The officers located three suspects who had recently committed a robbery at a local retail store. The suspects had thousands of dollars in cash and two firearms in their possession.

According to the police investigation, the suspects were tied to several other robberies in the Bay Area.

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Bay Area animal shelter leads nationwide campaign for senior dogs

(BCN) -- A Petaluma-based nonprofit is leading a nationwide information and fundraising effort for animal shelters taking care of senior dogs in the fifth annual Saving Senior Dogs Week.

Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma is collaborating with senior dog rescues across the country to present the fifth annual Saving Senior Dogs Week -- a week-long national social media campaign that brings awareness of the struggles of homeless senior dogs all over the country and the joys of adopting them.

The campaign, which began Monday and runs through Sunday, is also being done to raise funds for the Saving Senior Dogs USA nationwide network of senior dog rescues.

On Saving Senior Dogs Week, partnering senior dog rescues share hundreds of rescue and adoption stories on their social media sites to highlight the work they do. The dogs featured in these stories are called Saving Senior Dogs Week "Ambassadogs."

Aside from Lily's Legacy, local Bay Area participating shelters include Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, Peace of Mind Dog Rescue in Pacific Grove, and Tails of Gray Senior Dog Rescue in Livermore.

The Saving Senior Dogs Week network of partnering senior dog rescues has grown over the last five years and now includes around 37 senior dog rescues that are located all across the country.

Thousands of dogs euthanized.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 390,000 shelter dogs are euthanized each year in the United States.

Senior dogs are least likely to be rescued or adopted from shelters and are most at risk of being euthanized, according to Saving Senior Dogs USA.

Although there are an estimated 4,400 animal rescue organizations nationwide, less than 1.5 percent of them are dedicated exclusively to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming senior dogs, the animal shelter group added.

Over the past decade, the number of US households with a dog older than 7 years of age has increased from 42 percent to 52 percent, Saving Senior Dogs USA said.

More information about Saving Senior Dogs Week, where to make donations and adopt senior dogs is available at https://ift.tt/qmHXphZ.

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Monday, 23 October 2023

2.9 magnitude earthquake strikes in Isleton, second in five days

(FOX40.COM) -- A 2.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Isleton on Monday morning, making it the second earthquake in the area in less than a week, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The earthquake was detected at 7:42 a.m. as a 4.0 magnitude at a depth of 8 kilometers or about 5 miles. The earthquake was downgraded a magnitude 2.9 at around 8:30 a.m.

Isleton is located about 40 miles southwest of Sacramento in Sacramento County.

The city is located on the easternmost edge of the Delta Region.

As of 8 a.m., there have been 44 responses to the USGS's 'Did You Feel It?' report with the strongest felt shaking being "light" near Rio Vista and Isleton.

There is no reported damage at this time.

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Missing Oakland woman considered at risk

(KRON) – The Oakland Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing woman who is considered at risk. Leela Marie Givens, 46, was last seen on Oct. 20 in the 9800 block of Plymouth Street. Givens’ clothing is unknown.

The family reports Givens is in good physical condition and has mental health challenges.

Anyone with information regarding Givens’ whereabouts is asked to contact the OPD Missing Persons Unit at (510) 238-3641.

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Man who ran meth trafficking biz out of elder care home faces life in prison after conviction

(BCN) -- A Vallejo man who ran a methamphetamine trafficking business out of the back of a care home he ran was found guilty of possessing and distributing meth and a weapons charge, U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert announced Friday.

After a six-day trial, Henry Benson, 42, was found guilty of conspiracty to distribute and manufacture methamphetamine-laced pillls, four counts of distributing or possessing with intent to sell the pills, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

From January 2015 to his arrest in February 2019, Benson produced and sold thousands of meth-laced pills, prosecutors said. He made the pills with a pill press, which compresses powders into tablets.

According to prosecutors, Benson created meth pills that looked like traditional Ecstasy pills that were colorful, candy-like tablets in the shape of cartoon characters, well-known company logos like Tesla, Donald Trump's likeness, and other designs.

Benson's co-conspirator, Rafael Ruiz, sold thousands of these pills to an undercover agent.

On Feb. 7, 2019, authorities searched Benson's residence in the backrooms of an elder care facility in Vallejo that he ran with his wife, co-defendant Roselle Cipriano.

At the Genesis Care Home for the Elderly on Lewis Avenue, agents found the pill press, pills, bags of powders and other items for pressing pills, along with a 12-gauge shotgun. A search of Benson's storage unit also yielded more pill presses.

Ruiz has already been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault on a federal officer, conspiracy to commit robbery and distribution of methamphetamine.

Cipriano, 39, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and manufacture methamphetamine-laced pills.

Both Benson and Cipriano are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2024. Each face ten years to life in federal prison and a $10 million fine for trafficking methamphetamine.

Benson also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, up to life in prison, and a fine up to $250,000 for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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Police investigating death threats written on high school bathroom wall

(BCN) -- Police in Petaluma are investigating disturbing messages written on a bathroom wall at a high school on Friday.

Detectives have opened a case into death threats on a bathroom wall written in black ink at Petaluma High School, located on Fair Street.

According to police, one message read, "Date: Monday 10/23/23 is the day I kill. I'm going to shoot up the school and my first person is [name redacted]. So watch out Monday is your guys (sic) day."

Two students were named in the threat, according to police. A third student was also singled out with derogatory names and "wishing death upon them," Petaluma detectives said.

School administrators and police narrowed down a few persons of interest in the case using video footage near the bathroom and relationships to the named students.

"The threats are possibly related to an ongoing conflict amongst a small group of students," said police.

Interviews with students and parents were carried out, but as of Sunday, officers have not established probable cause to make any arrests, Petaluma Police said.

"We recognize the stress and anxiety these situations create for students, parents, and community members," said police on Sunday in a statement. "We are working collaboratively to create a safe environment on campus."

Police said that they will have an increased presence on campus Monday.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about this case, especially students, to come forward to either the police or school faculty. Anonymous tips can also be emailed to ppdtips@cityofpetaluma.org or by calling (707) 778-4373.

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