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Opposition mobilizes against recalls of Oakland mayor, DA
Local progressive organizations held a press event in Oakland on Friday to oppose the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Few allies have publicly shown their support for embattled Mayor Thao since the FBI raid, but the groups on said they still believe in Thao as she fights for her political career."Sheng is the mayor we need now," said Pamela Drake of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club."The problem with Oakland didn't just start with this mayor, she's very new, very new. This problem has been going on for 20, 30 years," said Oakland native...
Napa judge denies resentencing request from Kayleigh Slusher's killers
(KRON) — Three-year-old Kayleigh Slusher was murdered by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend in 2014. This week, hearings were held for the Napa girl’s convicted killers because they requested for their prison sentences to be reduced under a California law, SB 1437. Napa County Superior Court Judge Francisca Tisher presided over the hearings and […]
Kix Brooks, other stars entertain crowd at 113th Monte Rio Variety Show
West Sonoma County’s Monte Rio Variety Show was a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll Thursday evening, as emcee country music star Kix Brooks led a star-studded lineup in the 113th iteration of the show. More than 1,900 people packed their lawn chairs into the Monte Rio Amphitheater and enthusiastically watched performers including folk star Livingston Taylor (brother of James ...
Politics roundup: a GrowSF for Oakland, sleepy races heat up, more youth vote delay
The Nov. 5 election is 133 days away, but Oakland is already bursting with political activity. There are the recall campaigns. There are all the groups spending big on voter education and advocacy. And there are the kids, who may not be able to vote in the upcoming school board elections after all. Let’s take a quick tour around the city’s political scene.
Mission barbershop murder suspect to stand trial
Judge Christine Van Aken ruled today after a two-day preliminary hearing that Alexander Martinez, 30, accused of shooting and killing Alberto Vargas Quero, 23, outside a Mission barbershop in April, will stand trial for murder. Martinez has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in San Bruno. In...
Sharmell Mitchell, whose brother was killed by Vallejo police, dies fleeing gunfire
Sharmell Mitchell, the oldest sister of Willie McCoy, died last week as the result of a collision that occurred as she fled a shooting in central Vallejo. Officers responded to the intersection of Tennessee Street and Vervais Avenue at about 12:36 p.m. last Tuesday following reported gunshots, police said. When officers arrived, they found a three-vehicle crash involving a Mercedes-Benz ML350, an Isuzu Trooper, and a Kia Soul.
Army veteran and Santa Rosa attorney Joe Piasta remembered as man of deep faith
Joe Piasta, a noted Santa Rosa attorney, decorated Army veteran and pillar of the local Catholic community, died at his home on July 19, three years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 73. Piasta spent decades practicing law in Sonoma County, become a partner at Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro, Piasta & Moran and litigation partner at O’Brien, Watters, Davis & Piasta. He opened Law ...
Person charged with firebombing UC Berkeley police car pleads not guilty
Casey R. Goonan, the Pleasant Hill resident suspected in a series of arsons at UC Berkeley, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Goonan, 34, was initially charged with a single count of using fire or explosives to damage the property of an institution receiving federal aid. A federal grand jury has since returned an indictment against Goonan adding one count each of possession of an unregistered firearm and using fire or explosives to damage property used in, or affecting, interstate commerce, court records show.
Bay Point - Concord fire prompts 'leave immediately' evacuation order
CONCORD, Calif. - An immediate evacuation order was issued on Friday afternoon for a fast-moving vegetation fire between the cities of Concord and Bay Point. The fire, north of State Highway 4 off of Evora Road at Nichols Road, was first reported before 3 p.m. The Point Fire has grown...
UC Berkeley official leaves, cancels negotiations concerning student housing rent hikes
(KRON) - One of University of California, Berkeley's student housing complexes has been enduring a game of ping-pong between its landlords and tenants regarding recent rent hikes and the alleged violation of some residents' union contracts. After allegedly "abruptly leaving" the Zoom conference call for negotiations, University Village's Associate Vice Chancellor canceled the meeting. Now, […]
Notes and Quotes: “Keep the energy going into this weekend”
After an early lead and dominant performance from the Boys in Glory Red, Republic FC secured three points to move up to the second spot in the Western Conference table with its 5-2 victory over Oakland. The derby match was the club’s highest-scoring game of the season and the biggest victory by either side in the all-time head-to-head series.
Oakland’s First Garba Dance Festival Arrives in Chinatown
Garba (pronounced gehr-buh) is probably something you haven’t publicly encountered in Oakland before. That’s because, well, there isn’t really anywhere that it formally happens. Reetu Mody, a second-generation Indian American who grew up in Concord, hopes to change that. For Mody, who was raised around garba (a...
Ignite Institute Welcomes Maurice “Mo” King (MAST ’24) as New Director of Growth for Kwaray
Ignite Institute is delighted to announce that Maurice “Mo” King has joined Pacific School of Religion (PSR) as our new Director of Growth effective July 29th. This role will oversee Kwaray, the community-based learning platform dedicated to equipping rising faith leaders that is powered by PSR. Mo is...
SF Fire Chief Nicholson to step down due to 'medical issues'
San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson will retire at the end of August due to “unforeseen medical issues,” the department announced Friday morning. “I am proud of the San Francisco Fire Department and the people that work day and night to protect our City and citizens,” Nicholson said in a prepared statement. “It has been a great privilege and honor to serve as your Fire Chief for the past five years.” ...
This Week In Food: Saison's New Wine Bar Makes a Splash In SoMa
Saison's new SoMa wine bar has opened, a new Greek spot lands in the TenderNob, and Napa is getting its first Kansas City-style smokehouse and barbecue. Saison Cellar & Wine Bar has opened in SoMa, offering high-end and lesser-known pours of wine, a lot of them from France, along with pate and snacks from Maison Nico. As SFist reported in April, it's occupying two spaces on Townsend Street not far from Saison, 228 and 234 Townsend Street, one of which was formerly home to Petit Marlowe. One half is a wine bar, while the other half of the space, The Cellar, is reserved for members of Saison Cellar's wine club. Saison partner Mark Bright, who has long been the restaurant's beverage director, launched Saison Winery in Santa Cruz County in 2016, and later opened a tasting room in Los Gatos and the first Saison Cellar & Wine Bar in Scotts Valley. The new wine bar, formerly home to another Bright venture called Le Clos, is open Tuesday to Saturday, 2 pm to 10 pm, and most of the glasses are priced between $12 and $25.
Brooke Jenkins hired friend as chief of staff, despite second job and lack of law license
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in March quietly promoted a nursing professor with no legal license — who is a longtime friend — to run the office as chief of staff, with an annual salary of nearly $300,000. Monifa Willis, who still earns more than $100,000 a year for...
Thousands of ex-college athletes eligible for damages ranging from pennies to more than $1 million under NCAA settlement
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of ex-college athletes eligible for damages ranging from pennies to more than $1 million under NCAA settlement. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines...
Record number of cider producers join showcase at Gravenstein Apple Fair
Long before California’s infatuation with the wine grape, apples were king in Sonoma County, which was once considered among the top apple-growing regions in the world. It all began with the Gravenstein, a versatile, early-ripening variety that likely arrived in Sonoma County in the early 1800s. Although opinions differ on who introduced the apple to the area, there is widespread agreement ...
Bernal residents bemoan height of 50-ft. affordable housing proposal
One hears often about the excessive cost of housing in San Francisco. At a Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center meeting on Wednesday, the gripe was a rare one: That home values on the lower western slope of Bernal Heights could plummet. The cause? A proposed 100 percent affordable development at the...
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