Here's what's happening in the Bay Area, as curated by KALW news:
Acting SF police chief meets with Bayview community leaders // SF Gate
“Acting San Francisco police Chief Toney Chaplin faced tough questioning by Bayview community leaders Monday evening where residents asked for answers in last week’s officer-involved shooting that led to former Chief Greg Suhr’s resignation.
“At an invitation-only meeting at the Southeast Community Facility, nearly 50 leaders lobbied Chaplin to rebuild trust between the predominantly African American neighborhood and officers. The venue was less than a mile from the spot where 29-year-old Jessica Williams was fatally shot by a sergeant Thursday morning.”
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Berkeley voters could face dueling Robin Hood tax measures // The Mercury News
“Taxing the rich to give to the poor is talk one might expect from the People's Republic of Berkeley.
“But soon the Robin Hood principle could be enshrined in law: Two competing measures likely on the city's November ballot would tax landlords to fund affordable housing.”
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San Francisco sues landlord for feces and rodent infested rental properties // SF Gate
“A landlord with properties located in Nob Hill and the Richmond District is being sued by the city of San Francisco for feces and rodent infested rental properties.
“The SF Examiner reported that Yick On Wong, the owner of 505 26th Ave. and 1254-56 Leavenworth St., has failed to comply with abatement orders given by the Department of Building Inspection and ignored several building code violations.”
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California Senate votes to ban private talks at coastal board// Sacramento Bee
“Lingering frustration over potentially cozy relationships between California’s coastal protection agency and developers prompted the state Senate on Monday to advance legislation prohibiting board members from engaging in private, off-the-record conversations with the parties in permit decisions and other matters.
“Under current law, these 'ex parte' communications are allowed as long they are disclosed through a form or, if they occurred less than 7 days before a meeting, verbally at that hearing. Supporters of Senate Bill 1190 allege that builders and their consultants have developed special access to the California Coastal Commission because of their full-time involvement in the issues it oversees.”
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You Can Now Reserve Whole Sections Of Dolores Park Grass For Yourself, For A Price // SFist
“This should end well. A two-month pilot program from the Recreation and Parks Department now allows people to reserve sections of Dolores Park for periods of at least seven hours. And no, not the picnic table areas (which you've always been able to reserve), but just straight up sections of grass near Hipster Hill/Fixie Flats. What's more, on weekends Rec and Parks plans on having staff on site to enforce the reservations — so you better not sit in someone's spot.
“Yes, it costs money. And yes, the primary way to book the spots is online. The new practice of course calls to mind the infamous Soccer Field War of 2014 in which longtime, Mission-born players ran up against a new reservation system being used by recent transplants and tech employees, ultimately causing neighborhood kids to get kicked off what they saw as their own fields.”
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Domestic workers speak out to make overtime requirement permanent // SF Gate
“As a housemaid in San Francisco more than a decade ago, Luz Sampedro made $10 for a full day’s work.
“She was homeless, a single mother in her 30s raising a child, and living in the United States without documentation. Speaking up for fair pay didn’t cross her mind.”
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CHP takes on wayward baby geese in 'slowest pursuit ever' // Los Angeles Times
“By the standard of police pursuits, the one that unfolded on Interstate 80 in Berkeley wasn't the fastest or most dangerous. But it was the cutest.
“California Highway Patrol officers found themselves in their 'slowest pursuit ever' Sunday morning, while trying to corral a gaggle of baby geese off the road.”
