Bay Area Updates
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...
Bay Area’s Worst Times to Drive Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Bay Area Updates, Thanksgiving, Transportation, Travel Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the worst times for Bay Area drivers to hit the road over Thanksgiving weekend. INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts Thanksgiving travel to rebound almost to pre-pandemic levels. Airports and roads may seem jam-packed this year as AAA predicts 53.4 million people to travel for more...
SF Might Create Mega “Gardens of Golden Gate Park” Attraction
Bay Area Updates, Only in San Francisco, Outdoorsy, Parks & Beaches Officials with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department on Monday announced a proposal to merge three separate attractions at Golden Gate Park into one, creating the new “Gardens of Golden Gate Park.” The proposal would bring together the Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers — more...
SF Will Soon Let You Buy Live Crab Fresh Off the Boat
Bay Area Updates, Brand New, San Francisco Thanks to Eater SF for sharing the news that when crab season kicks off, you’ll now be able to buy live Dungeness crabs directly off the boat at Fisherman’s Wharf. On Tuesday, November 9, San Francisco’s Port Commission approved the sale of whole live crabs from fishermen’s boats. Previously, Fisherman’s Wharf more...
Downtown San Jose’s Controversial Statue to be Removed
Bay Area Updates, Causes, Controversy, Goodbye By Jana Kadah, Bay City News Foundation The controversial Thomas Fallon statue, which stood in downtown San Jose for about 30 years, is finally coming down. On Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved to decommission the bronze structure that sat at the intersection of West Julian and West St. James streets. The more...
Oakland May Stop Cannabis Testing Its Employees
Bay Area Updates, Oakland By Keith Burbank, Bay City News The Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted unanimously Tuesday on an ordinance to end the testing of city employees for off-the-job cannabis use considering the crisis the city is facing recruiting and retaining employees, Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan’s office said. The Public Safety Committee’s vote more...
