Muslims in Bay Area respond to Trump, San Bernardino // Hayward Daily Review
“Even before Donald Trump's incendiary proposal this week to ban all Muslims from entering the United States, ZakirAgha knew what many Americans were thinking: Is there a terrorist among us?
“The San Bernardino massacre — carried out by a couple whose inner circle of family, co-workers and fellow Muslim worshippers expressed shock at their secret allegiance to the Islamic State — has left many among the Bay Area's 250,000 Muslims struggling with a range of emotions, from anger to exasperation to sorrow to fear.
“Concerns of a backlash persuaded the large Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara to hire professional security guards, restrict entry to two entrances, and advise members to leave promptly after prayers. ‘Please be watchful both at the masjid and elsewhere,’ MCA posted on Facebook. “ ‘These are cautionary measures, so do not be unduly alarmed.’ ”
-----
San Francisco Supervisors certify EIR, greenlight Warriors arena // ABC7 News
“The NBA Champion Golden State Warriors hope to leave Oracle Arena in time for tip off in San Francisco in 2018. Tuesday night the San Francisco supervisors debated whether to move forward with the plan, despite the objections of opponents who raised environmental concerns.
“In the end, the supervisors voted unanimously to certify the EIR and move ahead with the project.
“Still, there is a threatened lawsuit that may call for a time out.”
-----
Sacramento area teachers make extra money selling lesson plans, curriculum online // Sacramento Bee
“Chery Akaba-McCumber has created educational games for her students ever since she started teaching 32 years ago, but now she gets paid to share them.
“The first-grade teacher at John Still K-8 School in south Sacramento has joined a growing number of teachers who sell lesson plans and classroom materials through curriculum marketplaces online.
“While the Internet made it easier to sell materials to colleagues thousands of miles away, the cottage industry really took off starting in 2010 when national Common Core State Standards were first published. The challenging standards, which emphasize problem-solving skills over memorization, sent many teachers scrambling to find ideas proven to work in the classroom.
“Teachers Pay Teachers is the largest online marketplace for educators, with 1.8 million resources available on the site, said Adam Freed, the company’s chief executive officer. About 3.7 million people have downloaded a product from the site in the last year, he said.”
-----
San Jose leaders approve easing medical pot rules // San Jose Mercury News
“With the looming threat of medical marijuana collectives supporting a ballot measure that wipes out San Jose's pot regulations, city leaders Tuesday eased the rules and approved major compromises — including allowing collectives to grow weed anywhere in the state.
“The city a year ago adopted a pair of medical marijuana ordinances that limited where weed shops can locate, banned them from dispensing pot manufactured around the state and required some operational changes, including background checks for staff members.
“The marijuana shops were given until Dec. 18 to register with the city, move to new locations, pay licensing fees and pass inspections.”
-----
Alameda County: Safe house for girls rescued from sex slavery to open in '16 // Oakland Tribune
“The first safe house for girls who have been sex trafficked in the East Bay is scheduled to open in Oakland in 2016 under an effort led by the Diocese of Oakland, Catholic Charities of the East Bay, and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, officials announced Tuesday.
“Catholic Charities CEO Chuck Fernandez said the goal is to open a series of safe houses in the next five years for children rescued from sex slavery, so they can receive educational, medical, dental, mental health services in a loving and supporting environment.
“ ‘Often these girls come from broken homes where there is no love, there is no support, there is no encouragement,’ Fernandez said. ‘Their life does not have a future or hope. Our intent is to hold the hope for these girls until they can hold the hope for themselves.’
“The announcement of the safe houses was timed Tuesday to coincide with Pope Francis' declaration of the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy, a special holy year for Catholics. Oakland Bishop Michael Barber said the partnership represents one of the Oakland Diocese's major acts of mercy for the holy year.
“ ‘I think it's imperative that the church take the lead in building an awareness of this situation and offer victims a safe place to rediscover their dignity and self-worth. As we contemplate acts of mercy as the Diocese of Oakland, I cannot think of a more vulnerable, needy group to serve,’ Barber said.”
-----
Angelo Sangiacomo, one of S.F.’s biggest landlords, dies at 91 // SF Gate
“Angelo Sangiacomo liked to say he bought real estate and never sold it.
“The legendary San Francisco landlord bought and built houses and apartment buildings all over San Francisco. Most of them, he kept.
“ ‘We never sell!’ he once said. ‘You buy the son of a bitch and you hold onto it.’
“Mr. Sangiacomo, who died Tuesday of undisclosed causes in his San Francisco home at the age of 91, bought his first property six decades ago with money he earned delivering newspapers to downtown office buildings. It was a small cottage near Ocean Beach. He subdivided it — burning his hands stripping the wallpaper in the process — and rented out units in it for $75 a month. He still owned the site when he died.”