Bay Area Updates
Oakland Will Expand Police Department by 60 Officers
Bay Area Updates, Oakland Oakland will have two more police academies over the next two fiscal years to hire more sworn officers into the Oakland Police Department, the Oakland City Council voted on Tuesday evening. The hiring would allow the city to meet the requirements of Measure Z, a parcel tax approved by voters in more...
Bay Area Ridge Trail is Now 400 Miles Long
Bay Area Updates, Outdoorsy, Parks & Beaches The Bay Area Ridge Trail has now reached 400 miles long, thanks to the recent addition of 3.5 miles in El Sereno Open Space Preserve. After more than 30 years since the first dedication, there are now 400 miles of Ridge Trail open and ready to explore. This section of trail offers more...
Downtown Oakland Has Covid-19 Booster Shots. No Appointment Needed
Bay Area Updates, COVID Testing, East Bay, Vaccines Demand has prompted Oakland officials to continue a free, walk-up COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic through at least the end of the year, city officials said Tuesday. The clinic is open to everyone seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, next to more...
Two New Commuter Lots Opening w/ Free Parking in Dec. & Jan.
Bay Area Updates, Brand New, East Bay, Transportation As part of its Bay Bridge Forward initiative to move more people in fewer cars through the Bay Bridge corridor, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will open two newly constructed East Bay commuter parking lots next Monday, Dec. 6. The Pivot Point Commuter Hubs include a 261-space lot adjacent to Interstate 80 at more...
BART’s Ugly Holiday Sweater Sold Out in Just 40 Minutes
Bay Area Favorites, Bay Area Updates, Transportation Thanks to KRON4 for sharing the news that BART created a limited edition ugly holiday sweater. BART joined the ever-fun ugly sweater phenomenon and produced their own version featuring the BART logo, colors and a Fleet of the Future train. After a video shared on Twitter featuring Principle Vehicle Systems Engineer Charles more...
Got a FastTrak Fine in 2021? You May Get a Big Refund
Bay Area Updates, Transportation The Bay Area Toll Authority announced Wednesday that fines for toll violation notices will be reduced for anyone who received them on the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges dating back to the start of 2021. The BATA, the agency tasked with administering toll revenues from the Bay Area’s toll bridges, announced more...
SF Suspending Citywide Cannabis Tax in 2022
Bay Area Updates, San Francisco San Francisco supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance to suspend the city’s Cannabis Business Tax through the end of next year, in an attempt to curb illegal marijuana sales. According to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the legislation’s author, suspending the city business tax through Dec. 31, 2022, would help support legal more...
SF Now Has 464 Miles of Bikeways
Bay Area Updates, Green, San Francisco, Transportation By Eillie Anzilotti, SFMTA From just a few stretches of scattered lanes in 2013, San Francisco’s protected bike network now stretches like a green web connecting more and more of the city. See how much has changed over the last eight years: In just the blink of an eye, San Francisco has more...
Bay Bridge Tolls are Rising to $7 on January 1, 2022
Bay Area Updates, Transportation Thanks to KRON4 for sharing the unfortunate news that starting January 1, 2022, it’ll now cost $7 to cross the Bay Bridge. The toll fee is increasing $1 as part of a ballot measure that was approved in 2018. Apparently, 55% voted for Regional Measure 3 which stated: “Toll revenues will more...
CHP to Massively Increase Presence at Major Retail Areas
Bay Area Updates, Crime In response to a recent increase in organized retail theft activities across the state, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to increase their presence near major retail sites and announced a proposed increase in the 2022-2023 state budget to combat retail theft. “The level of organized retail more...
San Francisco Declares Water Shortage Emergency
Bay Area Updates, Green, San Francisco San Francisco Public Utilities Commission declared a water shortage emergency and approved measures aimed at further conserving and reducing water usage across the SFPUC’s service territory in response to exceptionally dry weather conditions that have affected the entire state over the past two years. As a result of the emergency measure, more...
Walnut Creek to Close Broadway Plaza to Traffic Through the Holidays
Bay Area Updates, East Bay, Transportation, What's Closed / What's Open By Tony Hicks, Bay City News Foundation The dozens of looters who rushed Walnut Creek’s Nordstrom on Saturday night made off with between $100,000 and $200,000 worth of merchandise, Walnut Creek police said Monday. Lt. Hollie Connors said up to 80 masked bandits blocked the street up and down Broadway Plaza with more...
Oakland’s “Safe Exchange Zones” for Buying/Selling Online Goods
Bay Area Updates, Community, Oakland By Victoria Hsieh, Bay City News Foundation The Oakland Police Department offers its community members two Safe Exchange Zones during the holiday season in front of the department at 455 7th St. The zones are intended to be an alternative to meeting in an unfamiliar location for buying and selling online more...
Union Square Closing Streets for the Holidays
Bay Area Updates, Crime, San Francisco Thanks to KRON4 for sharing the news that after the recent brazen looting incidents, San Francisco announced that it will be limiting vehicle access in Union Square. The news was shared during a joint press conference with Mayor London Breed and the San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott. Breed announced that, more...
BART’s Late Night New Year’s Eve Service Returns
Bay Area Updates, New Year's Eve, Transportation BART’s late-night service for New Year’s Eve returns this year. For New Year’s Eve we will run standard Friday service but with an extended closing time to allow people to enjoy fireworks in San Francisco or other festivities ringing in the New Year. The regular last trains of evening (Yellow, Blue, and more...
