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Crosscurrents

Daily news roundup for Thursday, June 23, 2016

By Flickr user Ben Drake, used under CC / Resized and cropped
The Oakland City Council voted early Wednesday morning to delay a planned 2017 police academy.

Here’s what’s happening in the Bay Area, as curated by KALW news:

 

House Democrats’ Gun-Control Sit-In Turns Into Chaotic Showdown With Republicans // New York Times

"A Democratic protest demanding votes on gun-control legislation led to pandemonium in the House chamber that did not end until early Thursday, when Speaker Paul D. Ryan and his fellow Republicans reclaimed control long enough to force through a major spending bill. They then abruptly adjourned and left the Capitol.

"Furious Democrats remained on the House floor, where they huddled around their leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, who praised their stand as a 'discussion heard around the world.'"

 

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#LibbyLeaks: Oakland Mayor Launches Investigation Against City and Police Whistleblowers // East Bay Express

"The Express has learned that Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina Landreth have opened an investigation to identify internal whistleblowers and leaks, according to multiple city and police sources, who asked not to be identified because they fear retaliation. 

"The investigation started after recent news reports exposed details regarding multiple police-misconduct cases, as well as efforts by city and police officials to keep the misconduct hidden from the public.

"'The overarching goal is to make sure that all complaints of police misconduct are thoroughly investigated. Our intention is to root out misconduct and prevent cover-ups, not to silence critics or whistleblowers,' city administrator Landreth said in a statement."

 

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Oakland council delays planned police hiring pending audit of recruitment, training // East Bay Times

 

"The Oakland City Council voted early Wednesday morning to delay a planned 2017 police academy until an audit of the department's recruitment and training policies is completed.

"Two police academies that are scheduled to begin in July and October will move forward as planned, said a spokeswoman for the Oakland Police Department. If the audit is not completed before the scheduled start date of the third police academy planned for the coming fiscal year, it will not move forward, Oakland City Administrator Sabrina Landreth said."

 

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Richmond lifts ban on commercial cannabis grows // East Bay Times

"Starting Friday, Richmond will allow an unlimited number of permits for commercial cannabis grows as well as businesses that produce edibles like cookies, brownies and tinctures. The goal of the new law is to bring a sometimes shady industry into the sunlight and generate money for a city that is perpetually strapped for cash.

"The move is similar to recent changes in Oakland, which in May expanded the number of medical marijuana dispensaries and related businesses operating in the city. That city's policy is expected to bring in an estimated 30 cultivators and 28 manufacturing businesses.

"In contrast, all other cities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties ban marijuana cultivation, with the exception of Martinez, which allows it at approved dispensaries."

 

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A Kindergarten Teacher May Be Evicted from Her Mission Apartment. Reason: ‘Using Appliances’ // San Francisco Magazine

"Though S.F. has proven to be an inhospitable place for renters the last several years, the circumstances surrounding this eviction are particularly startling. It seems that Malliett’s new landlords—Mathieu Verbeeck, a VP of product development at Mubi, and Catherine Crevels, a marketing manager at Intuit—are testing out a novel strategy for ejecting tenants. They contend that Malliett and her daughter are causing a 'nuisance' by living in a unit that lacks the proper permits. The Board of Supervisors has already blocked landlords from evicting tenants of illegal units simply because they are illegal, but here the owners are taking a different approach—one that tenants' rights advocates are concerned will create a worrying precedent.

"'This is the first time we’ve seen a tenant accused of nuisance for living in an illegal unit,' says tenant rights attorney Joseph Tobener, whose firm is representing Malliett. And what, pray tell, is the nuisance cited in the legal notice? 'Defendant’s usage of gas or electrical appliances is dangerous.'”

 

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Obama visit expected to snarl San Francisco traffic // SFGate

"President Obama will spend Thursday night at a South of Market hotel in San Francisco, prompting some road closures in the area, officials said."

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