Mary Catherine O'Connor
News ProducerOriginally from Chicago, I’ve lived in San Francisco for the past 20 years and am a veteran reporter and communicator. I was most recently editorial director for Activate, a nonprofit that empowers science entrepreneurs to bring their research to market. Prior to that I spent a dozen years as an independent reporter whose beats included climate, energy, microplastics, technology, and recreation. I’ve written for Outside, The Guardian, Al Jazeera America, and many other publications, and in 2014 co-founded a reader-supported experiment in journalism, called Climate Confidential. I had a brief stint in radio during college and can’t wait to learn the craft of audio storytelling.
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A San Francisco Board of Supervisors met Tuesday at City Hall to discuss a report recommending how the City could compensate African American residents for centuries of discrimination.
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Policymakers at the national, state, and local levels are considering initiatives aimed at redressing the trauma experienced by African Americans through slavery. And on Tuesday, the San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors will discuss reparation recommendations.
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California State Senator Scott Wiener was joined by housing advocates and building trade groups on Monday to introduce legislation aimed at accelerating the construction of affordable housing.
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Late last year, it looked like developers Lennar Corporation and FivePoint Holdings were about to settle a class action lawsuit with thousands of Bayview Hunters Point residents. But the judge reviewing the settlement motion has rejected it.
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Plans to redevelop a naval shipyard in San Francisco’s Hunters Point have been plagued by delays due to public health concerns and fraud. Now, the developer behind the project is putting its focus elsewhere.
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Meet Earl Thomas, an environmental health and safety consultant who years ago walked away from a job with a legendary Motown trio.
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Scientists and public health experts have been raising alarms for years about water pollution in the form of tiny plastic fragments, or microplastics. But they’ve lacked a way to determine the origins of those fragments – until now.
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On the heels of historic rainfall last weekend, the City of San Francisco is calling on residents to prepare for the next storm expected to make landfall tomorrow. City officials are urging residents to stay home, if possible.
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According to a recent audit, a non-profit that provides housing and support services to San Francisco residents failed to meet requirements related to the nearly $28 million in grants it administers. It also found that the city is failing to monitor the organization’s performance.
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The redevelopment of a former Navy shipyard and Superfund site in Bayview Hunters Point has led to a raft of lawsuits. One of those suits may soon be resolved in a $5.4 million dollar settlement with residents.