Super Bowl City's Entrance Denied to Justice For Mario Woods Coalition

300 protesters with the justice for Mario Woods coalition were denied entrance to San Francisco's super bowl city today, by at least the same amount of San Francisco police officers. The march brought together a coalition of different associations and activists seeking justice after the death of Mario Woods, who was fatally shot more than 20 times by the San Francisco police department on December 2nd.
Pacifica reporter, Nina Pareja, was at the protest in San Francisco and filed this report.

Single-Occupancy Restrooms May Become Gender-Neutral in California

In San Francisco, Assemblymember Phil Ting announced a new bill that would call for single-occupancy restrooms in California businesses, government buildings, and public spaces to be identified as “all gender.” Assembly Bill 1732, if passed, would be the most progressive restroom access law adopted by a state in the nation. The bill hopes to increase the safety and security of transgender people, as well as benefiting families with children, and those with caretakers.

Warehouse Red Tag in West Oakland, Residents displaced

Dozens of Oakland renters are losing their homes as city officials are proposing red tag a warehouse in West Oakland. Residents received a notice yesterday and will have to vacate the building by Sunday, January 31st, many of them don't know where to go.
Pacifica reporter Nina Pareja, went to 1919 market street, Oakland, to meet residents and filed out this report.

High-Speed Rail Subject of Leg Oversight Hearing

The high-speed rail project linking the Bay Area to Los Angeles is on-track to come in under budget, though it may take a little longer than expected. That’s the word from high-speed rail officials who spoke at an Assembly oversight hearing. Opponents of the controversial project are blasting the hearing as a whitewash and a dog and pony show. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Gov. Brown Unveils Prison Initiative

Governor Jerry Brown has announced a new ballot initiative that would let some prison inmates earn credits and parole to get out of prison earlier. The proposed initiative would also give judges, not prosecutors, the decision of when to charge juveniles as adults. Some advocates hope this will lead to new conversations about the need for broader sentencing reforms. Christopher Martinez reports.

Migrants Activists Protested at ICE Building in San Francisco

Fifteen migrants activists were arrested today in San Francisco as they were protesting in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building demanding an end to the deportation of Central America's refugees.
Pacifica reporter Nina Pareja was at the protest and filed out this report.

Ocean Acidification Catches State Senate Attention

Climate change is taking a toll on the oceans, making them more acidic, and threatening ocean habitats as well as economies that rely on threatened fisheries. The state Senate held its first ever hearing on the issue of ocean acidification, what some call “the evil twin of climate change.” Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

SF Homeless Report Displacement From Super Bowl 50

The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in the country, and this year marks celebrations for its 50th anniversary. The game is being played at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. But San Francisco is hosting events next week before the game, including Super Bowl City by the Ferry Building. Homeless people who live on the streets of the city say they’re feeling pressure to clear out before the festivities begin. Lucy Kang filed this report.

(Cover photo by Keon Parandvash)

Environmental Justice Activists Rate Lawmakers

Environmental justice activists are looking forward to a productive year, with the release of their scorecard of legislative votes on bills affecting health and environment in low-income communities of color. But they say there’s still work to be done, noting recent racially charged e-mails demeaning communities that complain about environmental problems. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Supreme Court On Juveniles

The U.S. supreme court ruled today that any juvenile sentenced to life in prison without parole should be eligible for review. The court also said that any child serving life without parole violates the eight amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Pacifica reporter, Nina Pareja filed out this report.

Voters Fight for Rights in North Carolina

Residents of North Carolina took the state to court this morning, over a voter ID law that would require voters to show photo ID before being allowed to vote at the ballot box. Also included in the legislation are restrictions on registration and early voting. Detractors claim this will prevent minorities from voting. Claire Stremple has the story.

Deluges Of El Nino's Consequences For Bay Area's Homeless

While the deluges of El Nino are a sign of redemption for California drought, rain is not such good news for the Bay Area homeless population who have to deal with finding a dry place to stay at night and during the day. In an emergency crisis for their health and safety, city officials and associations are taking action to keep them out of the storm.
Pacifica reporter, Nina Pareja filed out this report from the streets of San Francisco and Berkeley.

New Campaign Against Human Trafficking

Just over two weeks ahead of San Francisco super bowl a new effort to crack down on human trafficking.
“No traffic ahead” is a multi-county group of over 50 agencies and organizations collaborating on the issue of human trafficking in the bay area. The group is capitalizing on January as human trafficking awareness month by launching a campaign to catch the attention of Bay Area residents as well as visitors, particularly those in town to celebrate the super bowl.
Morgan Levey reports from San Francisco

Valley Sikhs React to Hate Crimes

Fresno Police are continuing to investigate the brutal murder of Gucharan Gill, a 68 year-old Sikh man while he worked at a convenience store on January 1st. Investigators have not ruled out hate crime as a motive in the killing. Mr. Gill was stabbed multiple times as he was helping attacker. Store cameras show a Caucasian male present. The tragic incident came just a week after another Sikh man was viciously beaten while waiting for a ride to work on a country road. Amrik Bal, also 68 and wearing the traditional Sikh turban, was first cursed at by two white men in a car, stuck with the car as he tried to escape, then badly beaten. Police are calling it a hate crime. Last week at a memorial gathering at the Shields market, where Mr. Gill worked, people came together with Sikh citizens to express their sadness and solidarity. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

SF Supervisors' Hearing on SFPD Use of Force

San Francisco board of supervisors held a special hearing this morning to discuss the police use of force in the wake of the firestorm resulting from the fatal shooting of Mario Woods. While Mayor Ed Lee proposals to reform the SFPD are unclear, supervisor Malia Cohen took the matter into her hands and welcome experts and public input to discuss changes in policies.
Pacifica reporter Nina Pareja was at the San Francisco city hall special hearing and filed this report.

Brown Delivers State of State Speech

Governor Jerry Brown gave his State of the State speech Thursday, repeating his calls for fiscal prudence in order to prepare for the prospect of future recessions. The speech did not lay out new programs, but rather focused on past accomplishments and called for the state to prepare for the next recession. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Report Calls For More Scrutiny of Oil Wastewater Use in Agriculture

The use of wastewater from oil production on farmland in the Central Valley has come under closer scrutiny in a report from the Pacific Institute, an Oakland-based environmental think tank. Treated wastewater has been used for years on 90,000 acres in Kern County, a small fraction of the county’s total farmland. The report recommends a comprehensive scientific review of the practice. The Central Valley Water Board agrees, and is putting together a panel of experts from state agencies and academia to investigate any potential threat to public health and food safety. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Assembly Begins Work on State Budget

State lawmakers are beginning their months-long task of crafting a new state budget. The Assembly Budget Committee held its first hearing on Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal, a day after their Senate counterparts held their own first budget hearing. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Mayor Lee's Office Closed To Pastor Dorn and Allies

A coalition of San Francisco ministers, Bayview Pastor Yul Dorn and supporters knocked on Mayor Ed Lee's office door today to deliver a letter, endorsed by 8 San Francisco supervisors, urging Lee to take action on Pastor Dorn’s eviction by the San Francisco sheriff’s department.
Pacifica reporter Nina Pareja filed out this report from San Francisco city hall.

Man Reports Car Stolen to SFPD, Then is Arrested outside the station by Immigration

Some officials and activists are worried San Francisco’s Sanctuary City laws currently may mean nothing. Last month San Francisco resident Pedro Figueroa had his car stolen and while dealing with the San Francisco police found himself detained and arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The construction worker was taken away in front of his family, including his young daughter who was born in the U.S. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Minimum Wage in California: Signatures Delivered to Become a Ballot Measure

Several dozens union members and supporters delivered more than 600.000 signatures to the San Francisco county registrar of votes to qualify a ballot initiative that would raise the minimum wage in California.
Pacifica reporter Nina Pareja was at San Francisco City Hall were the signatures were delivered this morning and filed this report.

Supreme Court Considers Obama's Immigration Orders

The fate of more than four million undocumented residents is now in the hands of the US Supreme Court. The high court agreed to hear a case challenging President Barak Obama’s executive action to let undocumented parents of citizens and lawful permanent residents remain in the country and legally work. Texas and 25 other states have blocked the action with their legal challenge. Christopher Martinez reports.

SF Supervisors Say No to Mayor Lee's NFL Deal

The furor over the costs that San Francisco will bear to host the Super Bowl is not going away. An independent budget analyst has revealed that the week long super bowl 50 celebration will cost the city of San Francisco nearly five million dollars, much more than initially expected. On top of the costs, local artists and vendors have now learned they will have to shut down rather then reaping the benefits of increased tourism. The City of Santa Clara, where the game will actually be played, is receiving full compensation from the National Football League while San Francisco is left to fund additional transportation and security costs on its own. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report.

Family of Mario Woods Asks Justice Department to Investigate Police Shooting

The family of Mario Woods, a black man killed last month by the San Francisco Police Department, has asked the United States Justice Department to step in and investigate, their attorney announced this morning. Scott Baba reports.

Community Discuss New Arabic Language Programs for SFUSD Schools

Members of the San Francisco Arabic community gathered to discuss what they would like to see from the newly passed San Francisco Unified School District board resolution to offer Arabic language programming in K-12 schools beginning in the 2017-18 school year. The school board resolution also includes education programs in Vietnamese language. The board designated the SF-based Arabic community group, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, AROC, to facilitate designing Arabic language curriculum, but the organization has since been embroiled in controversy with a local pro-Israel community group, which accused AROC of using hate language against Jews. Pacifica’s Saadia Malik reports:

Interfaith Tribute in Oakland to Honor Bay Victims of Police Violence

More than a hundred people rallied today in front of Oakland City Hall as part of the 96 hours of direct action honoring Dr Martin Luther King's birthday. In an interfaith ritual, they paid tribute to the 9 people killed by bay area police in 2015.
KPFA reporter, Nina Pareja was at the Oakland rally.

Faculty at City College Declare Impasse Over Wages

In San Francisco, hundreds of faculty members and their supporters gathered at the City College campus, to support the Faculty Union's effort to bargain for a new fair labor contract. The rally came a day after the union declared it had reached an impasse in negotiations with management. The union's bargaining team said the district administration presented no new economic proposals in yesterday's meeting. Faculty members are demanding a much-needed pay increase, as their wages are lower than they were in 2007. However, the administration says there is no impasse, and the faculty union needs to return to the bargaining table.

U.S. Halts New Coal Leases on Federal Lands

The Obama Administration announced that they are halting all new coal leases on federal lands until it completes a comprehensive review of fees charged to mining companies and coal mining's impact on the environment. Emma Riley reports.

Brown Pushes Water Plan, Tunnels

Governor Jerry Brown laid out his vision for California’s water future at a conference of water agencies in Sacramento. He renewed his push for a controversial plan to build tunnels to divert water around the bay delta, a project that’s opposed by many environmental activists. Brown says the tunnels are needed to update a water infrastructure that’s outdated and inadequate for a growing population in an era of climate change. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Solar Supporters at CPUC Public Hearing

The California Public Utilities Commission held a public hearing today at the CPUC Auditorium in San Francisco on the future of solar power and net metering. The hearing was the culmination of a month long struggle with the solar industry to preserve net metering: a policy that allows residents who have installed solar power to sell their excess power back to utilities. KPFA's Emma Riley reports

Bayview Pastor Dorn Eviction Postponed

In San Francisco, Bayview African American Pastor Yuli Dorn avoided eviction today thanks to community support. The San Francisco sheriff’s department was set to evict Dorn today. In response, housing advocacy group - the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment - invited Bayview residents and allies to the Pastor's house in protest. The sheriff, however, didn’t show up, postponing the eviction for at least a day.
KPFA reporter, Nina Pareja was in the Bayview district.

The Raiders Lose Bid to Move to LA

After a failed bid to move to LA it appears the Oakland Raiders will likely remain playing in Oakland at least for now. Last night the NFL owners met and voted on proposals for moving teams into the LA market. The second largest city in the U.S. currently has no foot ball teams, but the owners decided to offer rights for building a stadium in Inglewood to the Saint Louis Rams with an option for the San Diego Chargers to join them. The Raiders leadership has shown little desire to stay in Oakland, their options at least for next season may soon be running out if they want to move. Pacifica's Mike Kohn files this report.

Republican Bill Aims at Prop 13 Tax Loophole

A state senate committee has approved a measure aimed at closing a loophole in California’s Prop 13 property tax law. The measure is backed by business and anti-tax groups, but it’s opposed by some advocates who want to change Prop 13 and hike property taxes for corporations. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

An Apology for the Mother of Mario Woods

Five members of the San Fransisco Board of supervisors offered their condolences to the mother of Mario Woods Tuesday. supervisors Breed, Campos, Avalos, Cohen, Kim, and Mar put forth a pair of resolutions demanding a commitment for police reform in San Fransisco and a federal investigation into the November second shooting, where cell phone footage on you tube shows woods surrounded by police officers and shot dozens of times when he refuses to drop a knife. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports from San Fransisco city hall.

City Will Pay $3.5 to $4 Million for Super Bowl Celebrations

Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors butted heads over whether the city should pick up the tab for costs of the Super Bowl 50 celebrations. The events are estimated to cost the city $3.5 to $4 million for things like police and transit. Christopher Martinez reports from San Francisco.

14th Guantanamo Anniversary Meets Protests

Guantanamo prison today celebrates its 14th anniversary. Protesters gathered in a dozen cities in the U.S. and worldwide including Honolulu and Mexico. They were wearing orange prison jumpsuits and asked President Obama to keep his promise to shut Guantanamo down.
KPFA reporter Nina Pareja was at the San Francisco protest.

Supervisor Campos Unveils Legislation to Create All-Gender Restrooms in San Francisco

San Francisco bathrooms may soon be all-gender facilities, if a piece of legislation to be unveiled by Supervisor Campos passes in the coming weeks. This legislation is in response to harassment faced by the transgender community, but benefits the disabled and seniors who require a companion when using the restroom. Claire Stremple reports from San Francisco City Hall.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was inaugurated for his final term in office today in a ceremony repeatedly interuppted by the Justice for Mario Woods Coalition activists angry over last months police shooting of a troubled African American man, Mario Woods…some of the protesters were roughed up by deputy sheriffs who showed up in riot gear…Emma Riley reports:

Governor Brown's Budget Proposal Leaves Marginalized Californians in the Margins

In San Francisco, dozens of advocates gathered on the steps of the California State Building to protest the budget proposal Governor Jerry Brown unveiled yesterday. Many vital government programs and services suffered severe cuts while the economy was in a recession. Now there's a budget surplus. Advocates are calling for the state to re-invest in programs for children, seniors, people with disabilities, the homeless, and immigrants. And they say the state should limit funding for prisons, and instead direct it to community programs to help people stay out of the prison system

Delta’s Future Rests on 2016 Decisions

California Governor Jerry Brown has tucked 3.6 million dollars into the state budget as part of his push to build twin tunnels to divert water around the San Francisco Bay Delta and ship it to Central Valley farms and Southern California. Although the proposed amount is relatively small, tunnel opponents are denouncing Brown's plan..He previously pledged not to spend general fund money on the tunnels. Tunnel opponents are also preparing to take their fight to the State Water Resources Control Board. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Governor Brown's Budget Pleases Republicans, Disappoints Advocates

Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his new budget proposal at the state capitol. The $123 billion spending plan garnered praise from Republican lawmakers, but it’s a disappointment to health and welfare advocates who had hoped for restorations to programs cut during the recession. It’s also frustrating some criminal justice advocates who had hoped for sentencing reform plans, only to see increased spending for jail construction projects. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Holiday Immigration Raids Spark Activism

Central American immigrants and civil rights activists are calling on the Obama administration to halt a series of immigration raids that began just before Christmas. They say the deportation raids have led to rushed hearings and a conveyor-belt process that sends mothers and children fleeing violence back to Central American countries with the world’s highest murder rates. Christopher Martinez reports from San Francisco.

Alameda Talks Rent Control until 4am

The Alameda city council began developing a rent stabilization ordinance in a meeting that lasted until 4am Wednesday morning. Alameda is one of the only cities in the San Fransisco Bay Area that currently offers no form of either eviction protections or rent control. The Highly anticipated city council meeting was given a special format and neutral location large enough for the entire audience to attend and contribute to the discussion after limited time and space lead to a physical confrontation the last time renter protections were discussed by the board. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports

Advocates Hope for Budget Restorations

Governor Jerry Brown will release his budget proposal Thursday. California is on track to have a $3.6 billion dollar surplus this year. How, or whether, that translates into spending on under-funded health and welfare programs remains to be seen. Christopher Martinez reports.

Alameda Tenants Demand Protection from the City

The pitched battle over rent control and evictions will play out tonight in the small San Francisco Bay Area city of Alameda. Over half the city's residents are renters, yet there are no tenant protections in place. Tonight city staff will present proposals to protect renters rights, but tenants say the proposals do not go far enough to address the crisis that they're facing.
Claire Stremple reports from Alameda.

California State Senate Proposes Homelessness Initiative

California lawmakers proposed a state senate initiative today, hoping to address the state's massive homelessness problem with a $2 billion bond for services and housing. Scott Baba reports.

Annual Oscar Grant Memorial Gives Attention to Mario Woods Killing

Seven years after the killing of Oscar Grant by BART police officers, Grant’s family along with community members and artists gathered for an annual event to lend support to victims of police shootings everywhere. The gathering, which was held at Fruitvale BART station, where Grant was fatally shot by BART police officer Johannes Meserle on Jan. 1, 2009, largely centered around the killing of Mario Woods in San Francisco by a gang of police officers, an event that was hauntingly captured on cell phone video and then distributed on social media.
Pacifica’s Saadia Malik reports:

Lawmakers Begin 2016 Session

State lawmakers have returned to Sacramento for the start of the new legislative year. They gaveled in brief floor sessions days before Governor Jerry Brown releases his next budget proposal, with much work left unfinished from last year. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.