The Bay Area has the fifth dirtiest air of any region in America — worse than L.A. Here’s why (OP-ED)
The Chronicle's MARIELA RUACHO: "The Bay Area is among the most impacted regions in the nation when it comes to unhealthy days of ozone and particle pollution as well as annual levels of particles, according to the latest State of the Air report from the American Lung Association, where I work as an advocate for clean air policies.
The metropolitan Bay Area, which ranges from the northern San Joaquin Valley to San Francisco based on U.S. Census Bureau designations, ranks fifth for annual particles and the seventh most polluted region in the nation for days when particle pollution spikes to unhealthy levels. Bay Area residents might be shocked to see our communities with failing grades and poor rankings, something more often associated with Southern California, which fares better on these two rankings in this year’s report."
Looming TikTok ban now law unless China-based parent company sells. What it means for California
Sacramento Bee's GILLIAN BRASSIL, ANDREW SHEELER: "President Joe Biden signed into law a potential ban on TikTok as part of a long-awaited foreign aid package on Wednesday.
California influencers and users might have less than a year left to promote businesses, seek advice and spread awareness of key topics on the popular social media app used by millions of Americans. About 890,000 businesses and 16 million Californians actively use TikTok, according to data from the platform."
California officials debate Prop. 47 changes to curb crime. On the street, the answer isn’t that simple.
CALMatters's YUE STELLA YU: "The money at Colonial Donuts was gone before dawn, again. This time, so was the cash register.
Three people had walked in just before 6 a.m on March 1. One jumped over the counter and ripped out the register. Another held up a golf club. The other used the shop’s yellow “wet floor” sign to keep the front door open."
California’s Latino lawmakers choose priority bills for 2024. Here are their top issues
Sacramento Bee's MATHEW MIRANDA: "California’s Latino Caucus gathered Tuesday morning to announce its legislative priorities for 2024 — highlighting a package of bills which concentrates on the state’s undocumented immigrants.
The caucus, consisting of 35 members, is influential in the Legislature and has championed a series of wins over the last decade, including laws to allow residents to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status and expand Medi-Cal access."
Congressional recount: 16 ballots being challenged in San Mateo County — some of which went uncounted due to a ‘simple oversight’
BANG*Mercury News's GRACE HASE: "In another twist that could shake up the results of the recount in the Congressional District 16 race even more, 16 ballots are being challenged in San Mateo County that were excluded from the original tally due to what has been described as a “simple oversight.”
The recount of the 182,135 votes cast in the March primary began on April 15 in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, where the congressional district is located. In the race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo came in first by more than 8,000 votes ahead of Low and Simitian, who are deadlocked for second."
‘We will not move.’ Pro-Palestinian encampments, protests grow at California universities
LAT: "Pro-Palestinian protests swept across California colleges and universities Tuesday as tensions grew nationwide amid an expanding student-led movement that has pitted administrators and police against young activists and intensified the debate over the line between campus free speech and antisemitism.
At UC Berkeley, students have set up dozens of tents in front of Sproul Plaza — the historic hub of the campus free speech movement. They vowed to face arrest as they demanded the university divest from investments in weapons manufacturers tied to Israel’s war in Gaza."
Grassroots contributions fueled bid to oust two from Orange County school board
EdSource's MALLIKA SESHADRI, DANIEL J. WILLIS: "A grassroots movement propelled by small contributions from teachers and local residents ousted two board members from an Orange County school district who supported controversial causes.
The victory came despite opposing big money contributions from conservative organizations, Republican political figures and business leaders."
Tesla mass layoffs slam Fremont and Palo Alto, with over 2,750 jobs lost
The Chronicle's ROLAND LI, AIDIN VAZIRI: "Tesla’s mass layoffs will hit the electric carmaker’s Fremont gigafactory and Palo Alto offices with 2,753 job cuts, according to state filings.
The move is part of a broader 10% workforce reduction across the Elon Musk-led company, marking one of the most substantial layoffs in the Bay Area in the past year following cuts in the thousands at Google, Meta, Cisco, PayPal and Microsoft."
Small businesses are key drivers for California’s economy, more equitable opportunity
Capitol Weekly's HILDA KENNEDY, DON HOWARD: "California’s large, iconic companies are most often in the spotlight, but small businesses are what drive our economy. These locally owned employers are the lifeblood of community prosperity, particularly for women and people of color who often see entrepreneurship as a path to financial independence.
The aftermath of COVID-19 presents both unprecedented challenges and opportunities for these enterprises. That’s according to a new report from Next Street, a mission-driven advisory firm for small entrepreneurs and small businesses."
Exclusive details on Stonestown mega-project: 3,500 homes, acres of parks, ‘main street’
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "In what represents San Francisco’s first post-pandemic mega-project development agreement, the owners of Stonestown Galleria and city officials have agreed to a package of trade-offs and public benefits that would pave the way for 3,500 housing units to sprout on the sea of asphalt that dominates the 40 acre shopping mall.
Under the terms of the deal, which must be approved by the Board of Supervisors, developer Brookfield would make 20% of the units affordable, which would be roughly 700 homes, including a “senior village” and senior center. Another three parcels would be donated to the city for affordable housing."
Homeless encampments are on the ballot in Arizona. Could California, other states follow?
LAT's NOAH BIERMAN: "From their modest apartment buildings alongside a block-long strip of gravel and scrub grass, the residents can see the tents and tarps and empty Mountain Dew bottles, hear the late-night fights and occasional gunshots, and smell the stringent, slightly sweet odor of burning fentanyl.
“It brings the value of the properties down,” said Shawn Matthews, a 46-year-old medical services driver who lives in one of the buildings. “But where else are people going to go?”"
These are the California cities where $150,000 still buys you a home. Would you live here?
LAT's TERRY CASTLEMAN: "California’s soaring home values and its affordability crisis show no signs of easing.
But if you look hard enough, there are still a handful of cities where the median price of a home is less than $150,000."
California to expand re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Here’s how they work
CALMatters's LEVI SUMAGAYSAY: "As California closes prisons and shifts its focus to rehabilitation, it is expanding programs that help formerly incarcerated people transition back into society.
The state’s Corrections Department is touting its male and female community re-entry programs as among its most successful tools in helping former inmates become self-sufficient after they get out of prison."
How some programs help with post-prison life: ‘I’m signing checks. This is crazy.’
CALMatters's LEVI SUMAGAYSAY: "Timothy Jackson never thought about becoming an entrepreneur until he spent 12 years in prison.
That’s where he came across, and got inspired by, other formerly incarcerated people who had started their own businesses. He then enrolled in a training program that gave him the skills and confidence to do the same.
Should property owners get a tax rebate because of the homeless crisis? Arizona voters will decide
LAT's NOAH BIERMAN: "From their modest apartment buildings alongside a block-long strip of gravel and scrub grass, the residents can see the tents and tarps and empty Mountain Dew bottles, hear the late-night fights and occasional gunshots, and smell the stringent, slightly sweet odor of burning fentanyl.
“It brings the value of the properties down,” said Shawn Matthews, a 46-year-old medical services driver who lives in one of the buildings. “But where else are people going to go?”"
Deadly Bay Area streets spark officials to make traffic safety improvements
BANG*Mercury News's KRISTIN J. BENDER: "International Boulevard in Oakland is home to a vibrant mix of cultures from downtown Oakland to the San Leandro border. Colorful, cultural street murals cover restaurant facades and the street is peppered with food carts and vendors selling everything from fruit cups to T-shirts. But navigating the vital, busy thoroughfare can be a heart pumping challenge for pedestrians and drivers alike.
The city of Oakland and Alameda County transportation officials are now pouring several million dollars into making the street safer, more transit friendly and easier to navigate."
UN calls for investigation into mass graves uncovered at two Gaza hospitals raided by Israel
AP: "The United Nations called Tuesday for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops.
Credible investigators must have access to the sites, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, and added that more journalists need to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts."
