mercurynews--2020-07-19--House leaders ‘alarmed’ federal officers policing protests

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) — Top leaders in the U.S. House said Sunday they were “ alarmed ” by the Trump administration ’ s tactics against protesters in Portland , Oregon , and other cities , including Washington , D.C. , and called on federal inspectors general investigate .
“ This is a matter of utmost urgency , ” wrote House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-New York , Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson , D-Mississippi , and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney , D-New York , in a letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Homeland Security .
The Democratic lawmakers are seeking an investigation “ into the use of federal law enforcement agencies by the Attorney General and the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security to suppress First Amendment-protected activities in Washington , D.C. , Portland , and other communities across the United States.
” The mayor of Oregon ’ s largest city said Sunday the presence of federal agents is exacerbating tensions in Portland , which has seen nearly two months of nightly protests since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Speaking on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union , ’ Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler said federal officers “ are not wanted here .
We haven ’ t asked them here .
In fact , we want them to leave.
” President Donald Trump has decried the demonstrations , and Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf blasted the protesters as “ lawless anarchists ” in a visit to the city on Thursday .
“ We are trying to help Portland , not hurt it , ” Trump tweeted Sunday .
“ Their leadership has , for months , lost control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in action .
We must protect Federal property , AND OUR PEOPLE .
These were not merely protesters , these are the real deal !
” Late Saturday , protesters broke into a building , set it on fire and started dumpster fires , police said .
The fire at the Portland Police Association building was put out a short time later , Portland police said on Twitter .
The department declared the gathering a riot and began working to clear the downtown area .
“ As the crowd was dispersed , several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers were able to extinguish the fire .
Portland Police did not use any CS gas , ” the bureau said in a statement early Sunday .
Tear gas was deployed , according to pictures and video from the scene , but it was not necessarily CS gas .
Fencing that had been placed around the federal courthouse had also been removed by protesters and made into barricades , police tweeted .
Police said protesters had gathered Saturday evening at the Portland Police Bureau ’ s North Precinct , vandalizing patrol vehicles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Later , as police dispersed a group that had gathered near North Interstate Avenue , people threw rocks and paint-filled balloons at officers .
Some were injured , the statement said .
Before the aggressive language and action from federal officials , the unrest had frustrated Wheeler and other local authorities , who had said a small cadre of violent activists were drowning out the message of peaceful protesters in the city .
But Wheeler said the federal presence in the city is now exacerbating a tense situation .
“ What we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police tactics by the federal government , Wheeler said Sunday .
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum sued Homeland Security and the Marshals Service in federal court late Friday .
The complaint said unidentified federal agents have grabbed people off Portland ’ s streets “ without warning or explanation , without a warrant , and without providing any way to determine who is directing this action.
” Rosenblum said she was seeking a temporary restraining order to “ immediately stop federal authorities from unlawfully detaining Oregonians.
” However , federal officers and Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets early Saturday , making arrests as protesters threw bottles and pieces of metal fencing .
The action by Portland ’ s police was condemned by Jo Ann Hardesty , a prominent member of the City Council .
Hardesty said Saturday that local police “ joined in the aggressive clampdown of peaceful protest.
” Hardesty also slammed Wheeler , telling the mayor he needed to better control local law enforcement .
Hardesty , who oversees the city ’ s fire department and other first-responder agencies , said in an open letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control the police , give me the Portland Police Bureau.
” • Federal officers in Portland face rising opposition on streets and in court • Letters : Ignoring guidelines | Child care vs. education | The population problem | Dismay in SJPD | Realizing our principles | Cisco suit In a statement Saturday , Portland Police said as they responded to the overnight protests some federal agencies took action “ under their own supervision and direction.
” Portland Police said city officers arrested seven people , and one officer sustained a minor injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , D.C. , contributed to this report .

Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Top leaders in the U.S. House said Sunday they were “alarmed” by the Trump administration’s tactics against protesters in Portland, Oregon, and other cities, including Washington, D.C., and called on federal inspectors general investigate.
“This is a matter of utmost urgency,” wrote House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-New York, in a letter to the inspectors general of Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.
The Democratic lawmakers are seeking an investigation “into the use of federal law enforcement agencies by the Attorney General and the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security to suppress First Amendment-protected activities in Washington, D.C., Portland, and other communities across the United States.”
The mayor of Oregon’s largest city said Sunday the presence of federal agents is exacerbating tensions in Portland, which has seen nearly two months of nightly protests since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Speaking on CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler said federal officers “are not wanted here. We haven’t asked them here. In fact, we want them to leave.”
President Donald Trump has decried the demonstrations, and Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf blasted the protesters as “lawless anarchists” in a visit to the city on Thursday.
“We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!”
We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2020
Late Saturday, protesters broke into a building, set it on fire and started dumpster fires, police said.
The fire at the Portland Police Association building was put out a short time later, Portland police said on Twitter. The department declared the gathering a riot and began working to clear the downtown area.
“As the crowd was dispersed, several people in the crowd were arrested and officers were able to extinguish the fire. Portland Police did not use any CS gas,” the bureau said in a statement early Sunday.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/07/19/sotu-wheeler-full.cnn”]
Tear gas was deployed, according to pictures and video from the scene, but it was not necessarily CS gas. Fencing that had been placed around the federal courthouse had also been removed by protesters and made into barricades, police tweeted.
Police said protesters had gathered Saturday evening at the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct, vandalizing patrol vehicles and taunting officers as they reported for work. Later, as police dispersed a group that had gathered near North Interstate Avenue, people threw rocks and paint-filled balloons at officers. Some were injured, the statement said.
Before the aggressive language and action from federal officials, the unrest had frustrated Wheeler and other local authorities, who had said a small cadre of violent activists were drowning out the message of peaceful protesters in the city. But Wheeler said the federal presence in the city is now exacerbating a tense situation.
“What we’re seeing is a blatant abuse of police tactics by the federal government, Wheeler said Sunday.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum sued Homeland Security and the Marshals Service in federal court late Friday. The complaint said unidentified federal agents have grabbed people off Portland’s streets “without warning or explanation, without a warrant, and without providing any way to determine who is directing this action.”
Rosenblum said she was seeking a temporary restraining order to “immediately stop federal authorities from unlawfully detaining Oregonians.”
However, federal officers and Portland police advanced simultaneously on demonstrators to clear the streets early Saturday, making arrests as protesters threw bottles and pieces of metal fencing.
The action by Portland’s police was condemned by Jo Ann Hardesty, a prominent member of the City Council. Hardesty said Saturday that local police “joined in the aggressive clampdown of peaceful protest.”
Hardesty also slammed Wheeler, telling the mayor he needed to better control local law enforcement. Hardesty, who oversees the city’s fire department and other first-responder agencies, said in an open letter to Wheeler if “you can’t control the police, give me the Portland Police Bureau.”
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Israel’s Netanyahu released from hospital ahead of key vote on legal overhaul News | Protesters try to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone over the burning of Quran and Iraqi flag in Denmark In a statement Saturday, Portland Police said as they responded to the overnight protests some federal agencies took action “under their own supervision and direction.” Portland Police said city officers arrested seven people, and one officer sustained a minor injury.
AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--Surprise standouts and new concerns: What we learned during the Giants’ summer workouts

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SAN FRANCISCO — There ’ s no question the San Francisco Giants will play a different style of baseball under first-year manager Gabe Kapler than they did under future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy .
Kapler ’ s reluctance to name a starting rotation , commitment to platoons at the majority of positions on the diamond and desire to give inexperienced players opportunities to shine are a few of the changes that should immediately appear obvious .
With Kapler at the helm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing increasingly comfortable in his role , Giants fans can expect a season that ’ s interesting , unusual and even thought-provoking .
Whether the season will be enjoyable or fun for fans watching from home remains to be seen .
After two-plus weeks of summer workouts at Oracle Park , the Giants are preparing to travel across the Bay Bridge Sunday to meet the Oakland A ’ s for the first of two exhibition games .
A day off from formal practices Sunday marks the unofficial end to the team ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with as many questions as answers about how the Giants will approach the season .
We examined who stood out , what stood out and what remains a concern for the Giants as they enter the 2020 season .
Joey Bart : It ’ s possible no member of the Giants player pool enjoyed as strong of a camp as Bart , the organization ’ s top prospect who is only 25 months removed from being selected with the No .
2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft .
After Buster Posey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , all eyes turned to Bart and whether the Giants would reconsider their commitment to keeping the Georgia Tech product off the Opening Day roster .
Neither Kapler nor Zaidi budged on their assertion that Bart needs more time to develop , but the 23-year-old forced Giants leadership to keep discussing his progress as he routinely produced highlight-reel moments during intrasquad games .
Bart hit for average , hit for power , showed poise behind the plate and demonstrated an elite arm that will make him tough to run on when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level .
There ’ s little question Bart is the catcher best equipped to help the Giants win now , but in a condensed season , the organization is likely looking to gain an extra year of control with Bart by keeping him off the Opening Day roster .
The Giants can ’ t publicly acknowledge that Bart ’ s service time is an issue in play here , but it ’ s impossible to talk about the team ’ s catching situation without noting a primary reason why the organization would benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least the first week of the season .
Brandon Crawford : When Giants veterans announced their intention to embrace Kapler and a new coaching staff that was light on major league experience , one of the reasons they cited was their struggles in recent seasons .
Shortstop Brandon Crawford was among the players who was eager to see how new sets of eyes could help him rebound from a rough 2019 season and Crawford appears to be on track for a bounce back summer .
Of all the established major league players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent swing to intrasquad scrimmages while also demonstrating impressive plate discipline .
The Giants will still look to limit his at-bats against left-handed pitchers more than they did under Bochy , but Crawford is only two years removed from earning an All-Star nod and he looks much more like the 2018 version of himself than the player who hit .228 with a .654 OPS last year .
Carlos Navas : Never heard of Navas before ?
That might not be a surprise considering the right-hander has only appeared in 19 career games above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s hard to know how seriously the Giants are considering Navas for an Opening Day bullpen spot , but Kapler recently mentioned how dependable and professional the Venezuela native has been and noted “ you need guys like that in your bullpen.
” The Giants view Navas as a potential bulk innings candidate and stretched him out to as many as three innings in intrasquad games .
If he performs well in an exhibition game against the A ’ s , it wouldn ’ t be a shock to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles this weekend .
Chadwick Tromp : Like Bart , Tromp entered summer workouts as someone who was ticketed for the team ’ s alternate camp in Sacramento .
After launching three home runs –including one each off Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto– and belting a triple during intrasquad games , Tromp has entered the competition for an Opening Day roster spot and may have supplanted Rob Brantly in his quest to earn a job .
The Giants initially expected Brantly and minor league free-agent Tyler Heineman to split starts this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his bat than either player and may have removed some clarity from the depth chart with his recent performances .
Logan Webb : Zaidi and Kapler had both mentioned the idea Webb would be on an innings limit in 2020 during spring training , but the stoppage in play spurred by the coronavirus pandemic means the young right-hander no longer has to worry about exceeding a certain threshold .
Webb struggled at times during a six-week stint in the majors late last year , but has a high ceiling as a pitching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to earn a roster spot .
His sweeping slider is completely transformed from the breaking ball he used a year ago and his willingness to throw a two-seamer and cutter that play off of his four-seam fastball give him a bigger arsenal .
Expect Webb to make the Opening Day roster and expect him to start games at some point this season .
Five concerns heading into the season Is Evan Longoria healthy enough to play ?
With Posey out , no veteran player means more to the Giants lineup than third baseman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the club expected to start regularly against both right and left-handed pitchers .
Longoria ’ s consistency and power potential had the Giants projecting him as one of their most important middle-of-the-order bats , but a moderate right oblique strain leaves his status heading toward Opening Day in jeopardy .
Longoria seems to bounce back quickly from injuries , but an oblique strain can be hard to overcome and it ’ s the type of injury that can hamper a player even when they do return .
If Longoria isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outset of the year , it ’ s hard to see how the Giants find a suitable replacement .
What should the club do with Brandon Belt ?
Belt is expected to be the team ’ s primary starter at first base against right-handed pitchers , but like Longoria , he ’ s dealing with an injury ( right heel issue ) that could keep him out for a few days at the beginning of the season .
The Giants likely wouldn ’ t start Belt against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles in the season-opening four-game series , it might make sense to have Belt start the season on the injured list to ensure he ’ s not rushing back .
The Giants would miss Belt ’ s glove and his ability to come off the bench to face righties , but it seems he would be at or close to 100 % by the time a stint on the injured list would be up .
What does this Giants rotation look like ?
The vast majority of teams have started to provide indications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first week of the season , but outside of naming Johnny Cueto their Opening Day starter , the Giants haven ’ t committed to anything .
The team expects Kevin Gausman to start Monday ’ s exhibition against the A ’ s in Oakland , so that would make him the likely candidate to start Saturday in game three of the regular season against the Dodgers .
The Giants can slot Jeff Samardzija in behind Cueto and send Drew Smyly out for the series finale in Los Angeles , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deploy Smyly or Gausman out of the bullpen if they jump out to an early lead in either of the first two games of the series .
It ’ s anyone ’ s guess as to who takes the fifth spot in the rotation , but with an off day next Monday , the Giants won ’ t actually need a fifth starter until Saturday , August 1 .
How do the Giants divide up playing time in the center field ?
One of the primary concerns the Giants faced during spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pillar in center field .
With fewer than five days remaining until Opening Day , there ’ s no clarity whatsoever in the outfield as Kapler continues to list four-to-five players all viewed as capable center fielders .
The Giants are eager to see Mauricio Dubón play center field and will likely have the right-handed hitter start there on Opening Day against Kershaw , but Mike Yastrzemski , Jaylin Davis , Austin Slater and Steven Duggar have all spent considerable time in center during intrasquad games .
Remember Billy Hamilton ?
He showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a week to prepare for the regular season , so it seems unlikely he ’ ll make the initial Opening Day roster .
Hamilton ’ s speed on the bases and range in center make him a valuable part-time player , so at some point this season the Giants will likely attempt to turn him loose too .
It could take weeks to sort out the center field depth chart , but there ’ s some good news for everyone who likes uncertainty .
The Giants have no clear plan in right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve a 40-man roster logjam ?
What do Pablo Sandoval , Yolmer Sánchez , Billy Hamilton , Darin Ruf , Carlos Navas , Tyler Heineman , Rob Brantly , Chadwick Tromp , Trevor Oaks , Trevor Cahill , Caleb Baragar , Rico Garcia , Andrew Triggs and Sam Wolff all have in common ?
All 14 minor league free-agents were non-roster invitees to Giants summer camp who all appear to have a chance to crack the team ’ s Opening Day roster .
If the Giants want to bring any of those players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to first add them to their 40-man roster .
It ’ s unrealistic to expect Zaidi to keep all 14 as some are unlikely to be ready for Opening Day ( e.g .
Cahill , Hamilton ) while others are battling with each other for the same roles ( right-handed relievers such as Triggs , Navas , Garcia ) .
It does seem likely the Giants keep at least four and potentially up to seven players from this group , so sorting out all of the 40-man roster issues will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week to be Chris Shaw , Kean Wong , Jandel Gustave and Melvin Adon , four players who are on the 40-man roster but didn ’ t get the invite to summer camp at Oracle Park .
They could be the first four players cut to create room for players such as Sandoval , Sánchez and Heineman .
Creating additional space will require constant discussions and debates by members of the front office and coaching staff over the next few days .

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
SAN FRANCISCO — There’s no question the San Francisco Giants will play a different style of baseball under first-year manager Gabe Kapler than they did under future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy.
Kapler’s reluctance to name a starting rotation, commitment to platoons at the majority of positions on the diamond and desire to give inexperienced players opportunities to shine are a few of the changes that should immediately appear obvious.
With Kapler at the helm and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi growing increasingly comfortable in his role, Giants fans can expect a season that’s interesting, unusual and even thought-provoking.
Whether the season will be enjoyable or fun for fans watching from home remains to be seen.
After two-plus weeks of summer workouts at Oracle Park, the Giants are preparing to travel across the Bay Bridge Sunday to meet the Oakland A’s for the first of two exhibition games. A day off from formal practices Sunday marks the unofficial end to the team’s summer workout program, which left us with as many questions as answers about how the Giants will approach the season.
We examined who stood out, what stood out and what remains a concern for the Giants as they enter the 2020 season.
Five players who shined
Joey Bart: It’s possible no member of the Giants player pool enjoyed as strong of a camp as Bart, the organization’s top prospect who is only 25 months removed from being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
After Buster Posey announced his intention to sit out the season, all eyes turned to Bart and whether the Giants would reconsider their commitment to keeping the Georgia Tech product off the Opening Day roster. Neither Kapler nor Zaidi budged on their assertion that Bart needs more time to develop, but the 23-year-old forced Giants leadership to keep discussing his progress as he routinely produced highlight-reel moments during intrasquad games.
Bart hit for average, hit for power, showed poise behind the plate and demonstrated an elite arm that will make him tough to run on when he finally does arrive at the major league level. There’s little question Bart is the catcher best equipped to help the Giants win now, but in a condensed season, the organization is likely looking to gain an extra year of control with Bart by keeping him off the Opening Day roster.
The Giants can’t publicly acknowledge that Bart’s service time is an issue in play here, but it’s impossible to talk about the team’s catching situation without noting a primary reason why the organization would benefit from keeping him off the roster for at least the first week of the season.
Brandon Crawford: When Giants veterans announced their intention to embrace Kapler and a new coaching staff that was light on major league experience, one of the reasons they cited was their struggles in recent seasons.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford was among the players who was eager to see how new sets of eyes could help him rebound from a rough 2019 season and Crawford appears to be on track for a bounce back summer. Of all the established major league players in camp, he brought the most consistent swing to intrasquad scrimmages while also demonstrating impressive plate discipline.
The Giants will still look to limit his at-bats against left-handed pitchers more than they did under Bochy, but Crawford is only two years removed from earning an All-Star nod and he looks much more like the 2018 version of himself than the player who hit .228 with a .654 OPS last year.
Carlos Navas: Never heard of Navas before? That might not be a surprise considering the right-hander has only appeared in 19 career games above Double-A in a 10-year minor league career.
It’s hard to know how seriously the Giants are considering Navas for an Opening Day bullpen spot, but Kapler recently mentioned how dependable and professional the Venezuela native has been and noted “you need guys like that in your bullpen.”
The Giants view Navas as a potential bulk innings candidate and stretched him out to as many as three innings in intrasquad games. If he performs well in an exhibition game against the A’s, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him taking down innings against the Dodgers in Los Angeles this weekend.
Chadwick Tromp: Like Bart, Tromp entered summer workouts as someone who was ticketed for the team’s alternate camp in Sacramento.
After launching three home runs –including one each off Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto– and belting a triple during intrasquad games, Tromp has entered the competition for an Opening Day roster spot and may have supplanted Rob Brantly in his quest to earn a job.
The Giants initially expected Brantly and minor league free-agent Tyler Heineman to split starts this year, but Tromp has more pop in his bat than either player and may have removed some clarity from the depth chart with his recent performances.
Logan Webb: Zaidi and Kapler had both mentioned the idea Webb would be on an innings limit in 2020 during spring training, but the stoppage in play spurred by the coronavirus pandemic means the young right-hander no longer has to worry about exceeding a certain threshold.
Webb struggled at times during a six-week stint in the majors late last year, but has a high ceiling as a pitching prospect and entered camp on a mission to earn a roster spot. His sweeping slider is completely transformed from the breaking ball he used a year ago and his willingness to throw a two-seamer and cutter that play off of his four-seam fastball give him a bigger arsenal.
Expect Webb to make the Opening Day roster and expect him to start games at some point this season.
Five concerns heading into the season
Is Evan Longoria healthy enough to play? With Posey out, no veteran player means more to the Giants lineup than third baseman Evan Longoria who might be the only member of the club expected to start regularly against both right and left-handed pitchers.
Longoria’s consistency and power potential had the Giants projecting him as one of their most important middle-of-the-order bats, but a moderate right oblique strain leaves his status heading toward Opening Day in jeopardy.
Longoria seems to bounce back quickly from injuries, but an oblique strain can be hard to overcome and it’s the type of injury that can hamper a player even when they do return. If Longoria isn’t healthy enough to go at the outset of the year, it’s hard to see how the Giants find a suitable replacement.
What should the club do with Brandon Belt? Belt is expected to be the team’s primary starter at first base against right-handed pitchers, but like Longoria, he’s dealing with an injury (right heel issue) that could keep him out for a few days at the beginning of the season.
The Giants likely wouldn’t start Belt against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and with three lefties set to pitch for Los Angeles in the season-opening four-game series, it might make sense to have Belt start the season on the injured list to ensure he’s not rushing back. The Giants would miss Belt’s glove and his ability to come off the bench to face righties, but it seems he would be at or close to 100% by the time a stint on the injured list would be up.
What does this Giants rotation look like? The vast majority of teams have started to provide indications of what their rotations will look like for the first week of the season, but outside of naming Johnny Cueto their Opening Day starter, the Giants haven’t committed to anything.
The team expects Kevin Gausman to start Monday’s exhibition against the A’s in Oakland, so that would make him the likely candidate to start Saturday in game three of the regular season against the Dodgers. The Giants can slot Jeff Samardzija in behind Cueto and send Drew Smyly out for the series finale in Los Angeles, but they can also maintain some flexibility and try to deploy Smyly or Gausman out of the bullpen if they jump out to an early lead in either of the first two games of the series.
It’s anyone’s guess as to who takes the fifth spot in the rotation, but with an off day next Monday, the Giants won’t actually need a fifth starter until Saturday, August 1.
How do the Giants divide up playing time in the center field? One of the primary concerns the Giants faced during spring training was determining who would replace Kevin Pillar in center field.
With fewer than five days remaining until Opening Day, there’s no clarity whatsoever in the outfield as Kapler continues to list four-to-five players all viewed as capable center fielders.
The Giants are eager to see Mauricio Dubón play center field and will likely have the right-handed hitter start there on Opening Day against Kershaw, but Mike Yastrzemski, Jaylin Davis, Austin Slater and Steven Duggar have all spent considerable time in center during intrasquad games.
Remember Billy Hamilton? He showed up to camp on Thursday and only has a week to prepare for the regular season, so it seems unlikely he’ll make the initial Opening Day roster. Hamilton’s speed on the bases and range in center make him a valuable part-time player, so at some point this season the Giants will likely attempt to turn him loose too.
It could take weeks to sort out the center field depth chart, but there’s some good news for everyone who likes uncertainty. The Giants have no clear plan in right field, either.
How will they solve a 40-man roster logjam?
What do Pablo Sandoval, Yolmer Sánchez, Billy Hamilton, Darin Ruf, Carlos Navas, Tyler Heineman, Rob Brantly, Chadwick Tromp, Trevor Oaks, Trevor Cahill, Caleb Baragar, Rico Garcia, Andrew Triggs and Sam Wolff all have in common?
All 14 minor league free-agents were non-roster invitees to Giants summer camp who all appear to have a chance to crack the team’s Opening Day roster. If the Giants want to bring any of those players to Los Angeles, they’ll have to first add them to their 40-man roster.
It’s unrealistic to expect Zaidi to keep all 14 as some are unlikely to be ready for Opening Day (e.g. Cahill, Hamilton) while others are battling with each other for the same roles (right-handed relievers such as Triggs, Navas, Garcia). It does seem likely the Giants keep at least four and potentially up to seven players from this group, so sorting out all of the 40-man roster issues will be a challenge.
It’s a tough week to be Chris Shaw, Kean Wong, Jandel Gustave and Melvin Adon, four players who are on the 40-man roster but didn’t get the invite to summer camp at Oracle Park. They could be the first four players cut to create room for players such as Sandoval, Sánchez and Heineman.
Creating additional space will require constant discussions and debates by members of the front office and coaching staff over the next few days.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--Black Lives Matter rally draws counterprotesters in Los Gatos

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LOS GATOS — Scores of people gathered peacefully Sunday in downtown Los Gatos to support the Black Lives Matter movement , briefly shutting down an onramp onto Highway 17 to draw attention .
About 200 people attended the rally , the latest in a series of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota .
Bay Area protests over police violence have gone on for weeks since Floyd ’ s death on May 25 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who argued with some of the protestors as city police stood by .
The rally was meant to draw attention to BLM in a small community not typically known for protests ; residents were flocking to a nearby farmers market as the event began about 11 a.m. near Los Gatos Town Plaza .
Event organizer Mar Abat , 21 , said protestors wanted to return to Los Gatos after a demonstration a month ago attracted hundreds of people to the downtown .
Abat , of San Jose , said that in wealthy communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be reminded of BLM and what we ’ re fighting for.
” She said some people “ think it ’ s just ‘ something for us to cry about.
’ But I want to make sure they know why we ’ re out here.
” After walking through Los Gatos ’ downtown , the protesters marched toward Highway 17 chanting “ Black lives , Black power.
” A line of cars backed up as protesters held up signs and yelled at drivers to honk their horns to show support .
Some protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple in a car who yelled , “ Black lives don ’ t matter.
” Annie Servin , 20 , of San Jose said she was excited to see so many people take action .
“ I never thought I ’ d be skating on Highway 17 , ” said Servin , who was riding a skateboard during the march .
“ I can ’ t believe that we blocked the highway.
” Jonathan Rogers , 32 , called it a victory to shut down the road to Santa Cruz and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To defeat the counterprotest rather quickly , that ’ s significant , ” he said .
“ The fact that most people in Los Gatos weren ’ t happy with the situation is even better .
Shutting down 17 is impressive.
” Marvin Pikrum , 52 , who was sitting in traffic as protesters chanted in front of him , said that as a Black man he is angered by police brutality , but he said he did not understand why protesters decided to block the road .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pikrum said .
“ I get the political aspect of this but you ’ re just provoking the police .
Get out of the way !
” Four hours after the start of the rally , protesters returned to downtown Los Gatos .
Protesters said that in the past week people made threats to Black Lives Matter protesters on the neighborhood forum app NextDoor .
Those protesting the march eventually left downtown Los Gatos after some heated arguments and physical confrontations .
No immediate reports of arrests or injuries were made .
Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Bay Area Motorcycle Escorts .
She and other members of the group said they provide shields , medical aid and traffic control for protests without the need for police .
“ The cops hate us because we do their job better than them , ” said Moon , 29 .
“ We are there to be the front line between the cops and the marchers .
When people think about revolution , this is at the root of the kinds of things we need to do to make that happen.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major general in the San Jose-based Black Guerrilla Coalition , said American society needs to build new institutions of power to handle policing .
“ We feel we know the community better than the police , so we want Black and brown people to call us to mediate situations , ” Smith said .
“ This is how we fight the system .
”

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
LOS GATOS — Scores of people gathered peacefully Sunday in downtown Los Gatos to support the Black Lives Matter movement, briefly shutting down an onramp onto Highway 17 to draw attention.
About 200 people attended the rally, the latest in a series of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota. Bay Area protests over police violence have gone on for weeks since Floyd’s death on May 25.
The event also drew about a dozen counterdemonstrators who argued with some of the protestors as city police stood by.
The rally was meant to draw attention to BLM in a small community not typically known for protests; residents were flocking to a nearby farmers market as the event began about 11 a.m. near Los Gatos Town Plaza.
Event organizer Mar Abat, 21, said protestors wanted to return to Los Gatos after a demonstration a month ago attracted hundreds of people to the downtown. Abat, of San Jose, said that in wealthy communities such as Los Gatos “people need to be reminded of BLM and what we’re fighting for.”
She said some people “think it’s just ‘something for us to cry about.’ But I want to make sure they know why we’re out here.”
After walking through Los Gatos’ downtown, the protesters marched toward Highway 17 chanting “Black lives, Black power.” A line of cars backed up as protesters held up signs and yelled at drivers to honk their horns to show support.
Some protesters briefly engaged in a heated argument with a couple in a car who yelled, “Black lives don’t matter.”
Annie Servin, 20, of San Jose said she was excited to see so many people take action.
“I never thought I’d be skating on Highway 17,” said Servin, who was riding a skateboard during the march. “I can’t believe that we blocked the highway.”
Jonathan Rogers, 32, called it a victory to shut down the road to Santa Cruz and make their presence felt in the community.
“To defeat the counterprotest rather quickly, that’s significant,” he said. “The fact that most people in Los Gatos weren’t happy with the situation is even better. Shutting down 17 is impressive.”
Marvin Pikrum, 52, who was sitting in traffic as protesters chanted in front of him, said that as a Black man he is angered by police brutality, but he said he did not understand why protesters decided to block the road.
“I’m trying to get to work,” Pikrum said. “I get the political aspect of this but you’re just provoking the police. Get out of the way!”
Four hours after the start of the rally, protesters returned to downtown Los Gatos.
Protesters said that in the past week people made threats to Black Lives Matter protesters on the neighborhood forum app NextDoor. Those protesting the march eventually left downtown Los Gatos after some heated arguments and physical confrontations. No immediate reports of arrests or injuries were made.
Rose Moon of Berkeley participated Sunday as part of the Bay Area Motorcycle Escorts. She and other members of the group said they provide shields, medical aid and traffic control for protests without the need for police.
“The cops hate us because we do their job better than them,” said Moon, 29. “We are there to be the front line between the cops and the marchers. When people think about revolution, this is at the root of the kinds of things we need to do to make that happen.”
Related Articles California News | California AG Rob Bonta apologizes for his office’s past role in Japanese American internment during WWII
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Biotech firm settles with family over cells for research California News | Opinion: Reparations to Black Californians is now up to Newsom Booley Smith, 22, a self-described major general in the San Jose-based Black Guerrilla Coalition, said American society needs to build new institutions of power to handle policing.
“We feel we know the community better than the police, so we want Black and brown people to call us to mediate situations,” Smith said. “This is how we fight the system.”
I spoke with Black Guerilla Coalition member Booley Smith who is confronting a counterprotester now. It’s been quite tense here so far but so far no physical confrontation. Via @mercnews pic.twitter.com/l6jS64NF6S — Aldo Toledo (@aldot29) July 19, 2020
Things are very tense with the counter protesters. A contingent of #BLM protesters have already started marching around town but some are staying to confront them. Via @mercnews pic.twitter.com/K295QdAe32 — Aldo Toledo (@aldot29) July 19, 2020
Staff writer Elliott Almond contributed to this report


mercurynews--2020-07-19--Coronavirus: Southern California continues to lead state in new COVID-19 cases

California ’ s trends in tracking the novel coronavirus showed familiar patterns over the weekend , with the majority of new cases coming from Southern California , according to this news organization ’ s data .
Los Angeles County again led the way with 2,722 new positive results Saturday for a total of 153,014 cases since the pandemic began earlier this year .
Orange County reported 702 new cases and San Diego County had 625 new positive results .
California counties reported 6,836 cases and 91 deaths on Saturday for a total of 378,778 cases and 7,690 COVID-19 fatalities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dramatic drop from Friday ’ s data — 9,427 cases and 122 deaths were logged that day — not all state counties , including Riverside County , update figures over the weekend .
Although the population centers of Southern California have been hit hard by COVID-19 , the rest of the state is not immune from the outbreak .
Thirty of the state ’ s 58 counties have been placed on the Department of Public Health ’ s watchlist .
Those counties could face delays in reopening plans if their numbers do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded the most new deaths — 37 , for a total of 4,084 .
Orange County had 25 new deaths whereas San Bernardino County reported 13 more fatalities because of the coronavirus .
The Bay Area has recorded a total of 33,617 cases in its six counties and 633 deaths .
On Saturday , Santa Clara County led the region with 156 new cases Sunday but no deaths .
It has a total of 7,456 cases and 177 deaths with a seven-day average of 188.14 in daily cases .
Alameda County added 127 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one death on Saturday for a total of 9,237 cases and 162 fatalities .
Alameda ’ s seven-day daily case average is almost 198 .
Contra Costa County reported 68 new cases and two deaths for a total of 5,606 cases and 98 deaths .
It has a seven-day average of 133.29 daily cases .
• Coronavirus : Bay Area passes 30,000 cases as more counties added to state watchlist • Breathtaking coronavirus numbers show normal life still far away San Francisco reported 86 new cases and no fatalities for a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mateo County had 62 new cases for a total of 4,464 cases and 114 deaths .
Marin public health officials reported 39 new cases as of Sunday morning for a total of 2,127 positive results .
The county did not list updated figures for deaths , which stands at a total of 30 .

California’s trends in tracking the novel coronavirus showed familiar patterns over the weekend, with the majority of new cases coming from Southern California, according to this news organization’s data.
Los Angeles County again led the way with 2,722 new positive results Saturday for a total of 153,014 cases since the pandemic began earlier this year. Orange County reported 702 new cases and San Diego County had 625 new positive results.
California counties reported 6,836 cases and 91 deaths on Saturday for a total of 378,778 cases and 7,690 COVID-19 fatalities. While the number of new cases shows a dramatic drop from Friday’s data — 9,427 cases and 122 deaths were logged that day — not all state counties, including Riverside County, update figures over the weekend.
Although the population centers of Southern California have been hit hard by COVID-19, the rest of the state is not immune from the outbreak. Thirty of the state’s 58 counties have been placed on the Department of Public Health’s watchlist. Those counties could face delays in reopening plans if their numbers do not decrease.
Los Angeles County also recorded the most new deaths — 37, for a total of 4,084. Orange County had 25 new deaths whereas San Bernardino County reported 13 more fatalities because of the coronavirus.
The Bay Area has recorded a total of 33,617 cases in its six counties and 633 deaths.
On Saturday, Santa Clara County led the region with 156 new cases Sunday but no deaths. It has a total of 7,456 cases and 177 deaths with a seven-day average of 188.14 in daily cases.
Alameda County added 127 new cases Sunday. It also recorded one death on Saturday for a total of 9,237 cases and 162 fatalities. Alameda’s seven-day daily case average is almost 198.
Contra Costa County reported 68 new cases and two deaths for a total of 5,606 cases and 98 deaths. It has a seven-day average of 133.29 daily cases.
Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge San Francisco reported 86 new cases and no fatalities for a total of 5,205 cases and 52 deaths. San Mateo County had 62 new cases for a total of 4,464 cases and 114 deaths.
Marin public health officials reported 39 new cases as of Sunday morning for a total of 2,127 positive results. The county did not list updated figures for deaths, which stands at a total of 30.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--FDA approves Quest COVID-19 test for ‘pooled’ sample use

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency approval to a new approach to coronavirus testing that combines test samples in batches instead of running them one by one , speeding up the process .
The FDA said Saturday that it reissued an emergency use authorization to Quest Diagnostics to use its COVID-19 test with pooled samples .
It is the first test to be authorized to be used in this way .
With pooling , instead of running each person ’ s test individually , laboratories would combine parts of samples from several people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result would clear everyone in the batch .
A positive result would require each sample to be individually retested .
Pooling works best with lab-run tests , which take hours — not the much quicker individual tests used in clinics or doctor ’ s offices .
The potential benefits of sample pooling include stretching laboratory supplies further , reducing costs and expanding testing to millions more Americans who may unknowingly be spreading the virus .
Health officials think infected people who aren ’ t showing symptoms are largely responsible for the rising number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
The approach might enable mass testing at schools or businesses , though it ’ s unclear when that could happen .
“ It ’ s a really good tool .
It can be used in any of a number of circumstances , including at the community level or even in schools , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious-disease expert , told a Senate hearing last month .
Pooling is not always be the best option .
It won ’ t save time or resources when used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nursing home outbreak .
That ’ s because the logistical and financial benefits of pooling only add up when a small number of pools test positive .
• Coronavirus : Southern California continues to lead state in new COVID-19 cases • NFL players take to social media to protest COVID-19 safety measures Experts generally recommend the technique when fewer than 10 % of people are expected to test positive .
For example , pooling would not be cost-effective in Arizona , where a surge has pushed positive test results to well over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sense in areas with a lower rate of positive results .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency approval to a new approach to coronavirus testing that combines test samples in batches instead of running them one by one, speeding up the process.
The FDA said Saturday that it reissued an emergency use authorization to Quest Diagnostics to use its COVID-19 test with pooled samples. It is the first test to be authorized to be used in this way.
With pooling, instead of running each person’s test individually, laboratories would combine parts of samples from several people and test them together. A negative result would clear everyone in the batch. A positive result would require each sample to be individually retested. Pooling works best with lab-run tests, which take hours — not the much quicker individual tests used in clinics or doctor’s offices.
The potential benefits of sample pooling include stretching laboratory supplies further, reducing costs and expanding testing to millions more Americans who may unknowingly be spreading the virus. Health officials think infected people who aren’t showing symptoms are largely responsible for the rising number of cases in more than half the country. The approach might enable mass testing at schools or businesses, though it’s unclear when that could happen.
“It’s a really good tool. It can be used in any of a number of circumstances, including at the community level or even in schools,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, told a Senate hearing last month.
Pooling is not always be the best option. It won’t save time or resources when used in a COVID-19 hot spot such as a nursing home outbreak. That’s because the logistical and financial benefits of pooling only add up when a small number of pools test positive.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--New stretch of Bay Trail connecting Oakland to Richmond opens

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
ALBANY — Cyclists whizzed past at breakneck speed and the waters of the bay sparkled as a new stretch of the Bay Trail enabling folks to walk from Oakland to Richmond formally opened in Albany on Saturday .
The $ 18.9 million East Bay Regional Park District project added a new mile-long segment to the trail behind the Golden Gate Fields racetrack , closing a gap in the trail between Berkeley and Albany .
“ This is a legacy of 20 years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the park district , ” said Park District Board Member Elizabeth Echols during a brief opening ceremony on the trail .
“ The views are stunning , ” Echols noted , framed by a backdrop of the bay .
Walkers , cyclists , stroller-pushers and all manner of outdoor enthusiasts can see the Bay Bridge , the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline from the new stretch of trail right on the bay .
In his remarks , Park District General Manager Robert Doyle stressed , “ To keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observe six feet of distance , ” in concurrence with Centers for Disease Control and Protection guidance .
In line with state guidance prohibiting public gatherings to limit the spread of COVID-19 , the opening ceremony was live-streamed for the public .
Only a few officials and members of the press attended .
The project also redid a small beach at the north end of the new segment in Albany , doubling its size , hauling away rocks and concrete , adding picnic tables and restrooms and creating a wetland area with plants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was “ just overjoyed ” at the new segment as she relaxed on a bench overlooking the bay with friend Madeline Chun of Berkeley .
“ I used to bike out here ” behind the racetrack , Rosenberg , a Richmond resident , said .
“ It was awful because there was shattered glass .
Now , it ’ s pristine.
” Rosenberg said she liked the demarcations on the path separating cyclists and pedestrians .
“ There is tension sometimes between walkers and cyclists , and this will help.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Buchanan Street and walked seven miles on the trail to the Berkeley Marina – a trip that wasn ’ t possible before the new segment was added .
• San Jose community briefs for the week of July 17 The beach and new stretch of trail actually opened several months ago and have been popular ever since .
Located at the north end near the Albany Bulb , the beach area has scant parking .
More parking is available at the south end of the new segment .

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
ALBANY — Cyclists whizzed past at breakneck speed and the waters of the bay sparkled as a new stretch of the Bay Trail enabling folks to walk from Oakland to Richmond formally opened in Albany on Saturday.
The $18.9 million East Bay Regional Park District project added a new mile-long segment to the trail behind the Golden Gate Fields racetrack, closing a gap in the trail between Berkeley and Albany.
“This is a legacy of 20 years of partnerships with the community, community leaders and the park district,” said Park District Board Member
Elizabeth Echols during a brief opening ceremony on the trail.
“The views are stunning,” Echols noted, framed by a backdrop of the bay. Walkers, cyclists, stroller-pushers and all manner of outdoor
enthusiasts can see the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline from the new stretch of trail right on the bay.
In his remarks, Park District General Manager Robert Doyle stressed, “To keep the park open, wear a mask and observe six feet of distance,” in concurrence with Centers for Disease Control and Protection guidance.
In line with state guidance prohibiting public gatherings to limit the spread of COVID-19, the opening ceremony was live-streamed for the public. Only a few officials and members of the press attended.
The project also redid a small beach at the north end of the new segment in Albany, doubling its size, hauling away rocks and concrete, adding picnic tables and restrooms and creating a wetland area with plants to protect wildlife.
Shoshana Rosenberg said she was “just overjoyed” at the new segment as she relaxed on a bench overlooking the bay with friend Madeline
Chun of Berkeley.
“I used to bike out here” behind the racetrack, Rosenberg, a Richmond resident, said. “It was awful because there was shattered glass. Now, it’s pristine.”
Rosenberg said she liked the demarcations on the path separating cyclists and pedestrians. “There is tension sometimes between walkers and cyclists, and this will help.”
The two friends started at the Albany Bulb near Buchanan Street and walked seven miles on the trail to the Berkeley Marina – a trip that
wasn’t possible before the new segment was added.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--Faced with calls to defund police, some Bay Area cities weigh radical changes to law enforcement

When Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín considered a slate of proposals to defund his city ’ s police department and remove some of its core functions in the wake of sustained protests against police brutality and racism , he knew it was time to do more than “ tinker around the edges.
” Faced with similar pressure , San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo thought about his already understaffed police department and the community members calling for a more robust law enforcement presence .
Unlike Arreguin , Liccardo proposed far more modest changes he described as a move to “ reform , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustrate the quandary faced by progressive-leaning local governments in the Bay Area and across the country , as the Black Lives Matter movement seeks to channel the energy of massive nationwide demonstrations into changes that eliminate racism in the criminal justice system and prevent law enforcement killings of civilians : Do they seek to make improvements while keeping the institution of law enforcement intact ?
Or do they heed activists ’ calls to revolutionize policing altogether ?
“ We are past making reforms and changes to the existing system , ” said Arreguín @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s City Council last week broadly aim to shrink the role of police in society — to more narrowly focus their efforts on responding to and investigating violent crime , rather than being the first responders to a wide variety of social ills .
Two of the most notable changes shift responsibility for enforcing traffic laws from police to unarmed civilian employees , and create teams of medical staff to respond to noncriminal calls that might otherwise be handled by officers .
Berkeley ’ s ideas have drawn national attention , including from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put residents and the newly appointed non-police responders at risk .
Arreguín said the new approach is necessary .
“ There is a long history in this country of policing being used to repress African-Americans and people of color , and being a tool of enforcement for racism and oppression , ” he said .
“ We have to fundamentally change our approach to criminal justice in this country.
” Traffic stops are the most common way civilians interact with law enforcement , said Darrell Owens , a housing and transit activist with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But those contacts can escalate , and several studies show that Black and Latino drivers are pulled over at disproportionate rates compared with white drivers .
Supporters of the change cite as examples the 2016 police killing of driver Philando Castile in Falcon Heights , Minnesota , during a traffic stop , and the 2015 death of Sandra Bland , who died in jail after she was pulled over for failing to signal a lane change , and arrested .
Owens said he hopes to create a future in which “ Black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives could be over if they make one wrong move.
” While lawmakers at the state and federal level have announced a raft of new legislation meant to change police practices , the vast majority of law enforcement decision-making happens at the local level .
And that ’ s where much of the debate over the future of policing is now playing out .
Oakland ’ s school board has voted to eliminate its school police force , and the City Council has cut $ 14.6 million in funding from the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deeper cut .
BART ’ s governing board redirected $ 2 million planned for traditional police officers to ensure riders are wearing masks and socially distancing , and will instead have unarmed police personnel do that work .
The transit agency has also started looking into options for responding to problems relating to homelessness , mental health and substance abuse with unarmed staff , rather than its police department .
San Leandro slashed $ 1.7 million from its police budget last month , and last week Concord ’ s police chief said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response team for mental health calls .
In San Jose , Liccardo has proposed a nine-point plan he says will “ make our department more accountable and more responsive and more transparent.
” Its two most significant points call for having an independent body conduct officer misconduct investigations that are now handled by the department ’ s Internal Affairs Division and overhauling the arbitration process for officer discipline .
The existing arbitration process usually results in watered-down discipline even in cases of egregious misconduct , Liccardo said .
Raj Jayadev , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley De-Bug , said Liccardo ’ s proposals are the kinds of moderate changes that cities have been trying for years — which have failed to prevent racist practices or police killings , and the community backlash those incidents spark .
“ It ’ s out of touch with the moment and this national , transformative position the country is in , ” Jayadev said .
“ We ’ re either going to have to be more ambitious and bold in our changes , or we ’ re going to be stuck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes like those in Berkeley are worth exploring , he does not believe most people agree with activists who want to reduce the role of police in society .
“ Their views aren ’ t necessarily the views of the majority of our residents , ” Liccardo said .
“ I ’ ve been in a lot of community meetings , particularly in high-crime , low-income neighborhoods , and the first and last demand of every Spanish-speaking mom who is leading those community meetings has been , ‘ We need police patrol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposals faces the challenge of winning over — or overcoming resistance from — both the activists calling for dramatic change and police themselves .
Police unions have historically been among the biggest obstacle to institutional change and reforms .
Tom Saggau , a spokesperson for the San Jose Police Officers Association , said the union wants to hear more from Liccardo about his proposed changes to the arbitration and discipline process .
“ The devil ’ s always in the details , but we ’ re open to it , ” Saggau said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was a much more positive review than Saggau gave Berkeley ’ s plans .
“ It ’ s really political pandering at its finest , ” Saggau said .
“ Instead of being surgical and trying to figure out the best path to improve outcomes , they ’ ve taken a meat cleaver to a section of the department that is going to cause way more harm than … good.
” • New records in East Bay police shooting raise questions about DA ’ s role in investigating cops • UC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on online learning , police reform and how the coronavirus is changing higher education • San Jose Police records : Mayor tries to force release as Bay Area News Group prepares to file lawsuit • Alameda DA : No charges over Black man dancing in street LaDoris Cordell , San Jose ’ s former independent police auditor , said each of Liccardo ’ s proposals are good ideas , if your goal is limited to making changes within the existing structure and culture of law enforcement .
“ But if you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself that is militaristic , that sees itself as occupiers , as us-vs-them , which is full of stereotypes of the community they are policing — these reforms are not going to get at that , ” Cordell said .

When Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín considered a slate of proposals to defund his city’s police department and remove some of its core functions in the wake of sustained protests against police brutality and racism, he knew it was time to do more than “tinker around the edges.”
Faced with similar pressure, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo thought about his already understaffed police department and the community members calling for a more robust law enforcement presence. Unlike Arreguin, Liccardo proposed far more modest changes he described as a move to “reform, rather than defund.”
The two cities illustrate the quandary faced by progressive-leaning local governments in the Bay Area and across the country, as the Black Lives Matter movement seeks to channel the energy of massive nationwide demonstrations into changes that eliminate racism in the criminal justice system and prevent law enforcement killings of civilians:
Do they seek to make improvements while keeping the institution of law enforcement intact? Or do they heed activists’ calls to revolutionize policing altogether?
“We are past making reforms and changes to the existing system,” said Arreguín.
The proposals approved by Berkeley’s City Council last week broadly aim to shrink the role of police in society — to more narrowly focus their efforts on responding to and investigating violent crime, rather than being the first responders to a wide variety of social ills. Two of the most notable changes shift responsibility for enforcing traffic laws from police to unarmed civilian employees, and create teams of medical staff to respond to noncriminal calls that might otherwise be handled by officers.
Berkeley’s ideas have drawn national attention, including from law enforcement groups that say they will put residents and the newly appointed non-police responders at risk. Arreguín said the new approach is necessary.
“There is a long history in this country of policing being used to repress African-Americans and people of color, and being a tool of enforcement for racism and oppression,” he said. “We have to fundamentally change our approach to criminal justice in this country.”
Traffic stops are the most common way civilians interact with law enforcement, said Darrell Owens, a housing and transit activist with the organization East Bay for Everyone. But those contacts can escalate, and several studies show that Black and Latino drivers are pulled over at disproportionate rates compared with white drivers.
Supporters of the change cite as examples the 2016 police killing of driver Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, during a traffic stop, and the 2015 death of Sandra Bland, who died in jail after she was pulled over for failing to signal a lane change, and arrested.
Owens said he hopes to create a future in which “Black and brown motorists can drive around without worrying their lives could be over if they make one wrong move.”
While lawmakers at the state and federal level have announced a raft of new legislation meant to change police practices, the vast majority of law enforcement decision-making happens at the local level. And that’s where much of the debate over the future of policing is now playing out.
Oakland’s school board has voted to eliminate its school police force, and the City Council has cut $14.6 million in funding from the police department. Many activists wanted to see a deeper cut.
BART’s governing board redirected $2 million planned for traditional police officers to ensure riders are wearing masks and socially distancing, and will instead have unarmed police personnel do that work. The transit agency has also started looking into options for responding to problems relating to homelessness, mental health and substance abuse with unarmed staff, rather than its police department.
San Leandro slashed $1.7 million from its police budget last month, and last week Concord’s police chief said he wanted to explore creating a non-police response team for mental health calls.
In San Jose, Liccardo has proposed a nine-point plan he says will “make our department more accountable and more responsive and more transparent.”
Its two most significant points call for having an independent body conduct officer misconduct investigations that are now handled by the department’s Internal Affairs Division and overhauling the arbitration process for officer discipline. The existing arbitration process usually results in watered-down discipline even in cases of egregious misconduct, Liccardo said.
Raj Jayadev, director of the South Bay social justice group Silicon Valley De-Bug, said Liccardo’s proposals are the kinds of moderate changes that cities have been trying for years — which have failed to prevent racist practices or police killings, and the community backlash those incidents spark.
“It’s out of touch with the moment and this national, transformative position the country is in,” Jayadev said. “We’re either going to have to be more ambitious and bold in our changes, or we’re going to be stuck in this cycle.”
But while Liccardo said changes like those in Berkeley are worth exploring, he does not believe most people agree with activists who want to reduce the role of police in society.
“Their views aren’t necessarily the views of the majority of our residents,” Liccardo said. “I’ve been in a lot of community meetings, particularly in high-crime, low-income neighborhoods, and the first and last demand of every Spanish-speaking mom who is leading those community meetings has been, ‘We need police patrol.'”
Each of these cities’ proposals faces the challenge of winning over — or overcoming resistance from — both the activists calling for dramatic change and police themselves. Police unions have historically been among the biggest obstacle to institutional change and reforms.
Tom Saggau, a spokesperson for the San Jose Police Officers Association, said the union wants to hear more from Liccardo about his proposed changes to the arbitration and discipline process.
“The devil’s always in the details, but we’re open to it,” Saggau said of the mayor’s nine-point plan.
That was a much more positive review than Saggau gave Berkeley’s plans.
“It’s really political pandering at its finest,” Saggau said. “Instead of being surgical and trying to figure out the best path to improve outcomes, they’ve taken a meat cleaver to a section of the department that is going to cause way more harm than … good.”
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“But if you want to get at policing — the culture itself that is militaristic, that sees itself as occupiers, as us-vs-them, which is full of stereotypes of the community they are policing — these reforms are not going to get at that,” Cordell said.


mercurynews--2020-07-20--How East Bay man became a reluctant Major League Baseball pioneer

What do you know about Pumpsie Green ?
Some baseball fans know enough to realize what a big deal it was when Green sprung from the Boston Red Sox dugout one July night in 1959 to pinch run for Vic Wertz in an otherwise ordinary game at Chicago ’ s Comiskey Park .
When the kid from El Cerrito High by way of the Richmond playgrounds took Wertz ’ s place at first base , his name was forever emblazoned in baseball annals as — finally — the first Black player in Red Sox history .
Green ’ s modest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Sox to evade some criticism and become the last of baseball ’ s 16 teams to integrate — a disturbingly long 12 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball ’ s color line .
Green ’ s historic role in the larger battle against racial segregation took place 61 years ago Tuesday , but it ’ s left a lasting impression .
Even in the most unexpected places .
As the story goes , an older white school teacher in Los Angeles awhile back walked into the classroom of a fellow teacher , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken aback when he noticed among the decorations on her desk were some old Pumpsie Green baseball cards .
In a demanding tone , the man asked her , ‘ What do you know about Pumpsie Green ?
” He didn ’ t bother pausing to allow her to answer .
“ Because I know a lot , ” he continued .
“ Do you know anything about him and what he did ?
I ’ m from Boston and I was around when he played .
He was amazing !
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was such an inspiration.
” The man explained to her what made Green so special , even though the career statistics from Green ’ s five seasons as a part-time player in the major leagues — a batting line of .246/.357/.364 with 13 homers and 12 stolen bases in 344 career games — would suggest otherwise .
When the longtime Pumpsie Green fan was finally finished , he once more demanded an answer .
“ Again , I ’ m gon na ask , why do you have his baseball cards ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history lesson , the young teacher looked at him and said matter-of-factly , “ That ’ s my dad.
” That ’ s the day Heidi Green , Elijah “ Pumpsie ” Green ’ s only daughter , said she found a new best friend at work .
That story is one of the many memories Heidi has been cherishing more than ever these days .
You see , the Red Sox ’ s upcoming “ Desegregation Day ” isn ’ t the only important anniversary on her mind .
While speaking with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a family gathering the next day to commemorate the one-year anniversary of her father ’ s death at age 85 in a San Leandro hospital .
Knowing her dad , he wouldn ’ t want Heidi or her mom , Marie , fussing over him too much .
Pumpsie Green never was one for making a big deal of things .
He was the oldest of Elijah and Gladys Green ’ s five boys , who included Cornell , a Pro Bowl safety for the Dallas Cowboys , and Credell , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so unassuming and unpretentious he never bothered finding out why his mom began calling him “ Pumpsie ” as a kid .
He only knew he liked it .
Green ’ s amiable personality often helped make things bearable for him .
For even as a pro baseball player , Green wasn ’ t immune to the atrocities African-Americans had to endure in the days of segregation .
That included having racial slurs directed at him , and not being able to eat in the same restaurants or stay in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not have liked it , but he didn ’ t complain .
“ He used to say ‘ This was just the way of the world then , ’ ” Heidi said .
At times , the attention Green received for finally breaking the color line in Boston made him uncomfortable .
In that way , he was just a simple man with an even simpler plan .
“ My dad wasn ’ t trying to be the martyr .
My dad wasn ’ t a Black Panther or anything like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born five years after her father left baseball in 1965 .
“ He wasn ’ t trying to be a hero .
He really was just a kid who wanted to play baseball.
” It wasn ’ t until Green ’ s playing career ended that he began embracing his place in baseball history , particularly during trips back to Fenway Park where he was feted by fans old and young .
“ I wasn ’ t thinking about history or what it all means , ” Green said of his playing days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Red Sox in 2018 .
“ I was thinking about getting to first base and second base … with a base hit .
That ’ s what I was thinking about .
Still , Pumpsie Green became a reluctant pioneer in 1959 not because of what he did , but because of what the Red Sox couldn ’ t do .
Under the leadership of owner Tom Yawkey and later his general manager Joe Cronin , the Red Sox continually rejected the idea of signing any Black players .
At various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson , Billy Williams and Willie Mays in for tryouts and easily could have signed any or all of them .
Their motives sometimes seemed suspect .
It turned out the Red Sox reportedly only agreed to allow Robinson to try out in 1945 after a city official threatened to revoke the team ’ s license to play on Sundays if they didn ’ t show more racial tolerance .
George Digby , one of Boston ’ s longtime scouts , once told ESPN he had the 17-year-old Mays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League to join the Red Sox in 1949 for a below-market contract of $ 4,500 .
“ We could have had Mays in center and ( Ted ) Williams in right , ” Digby lamented .
“ But Yawkey and Cronin already made up their minds they weren ’ t going to take any Black players.
” By 1959 , Boston remained the only major league team without a single Black player .
Pressure on the Red Sox intensified for their questionable hiring practices throughout their organization .
An investigation by the Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , save for one brief exception , hadn ’ t employed any African-Americans .
Not even as an usher or a janitor .
Facing mounting pressure from the MCAD and other state agencies pushing for change , the Red Sox made a long-awaited call for equality .
It was answered in Minneapolis by Green , a minor-league All-Star infielder who was resting in his tiny hotel room .
The 25-year-old standout , who three years earlier had been purchased from his hometown Oakland Oaks , hustled to Chicago right before Boston ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greeted in the locker room by the legendary Ted Williams , who welcomed him to the big leagues .
A few minutes later , Green was on his way to the field when he heard a loud voice call out .
It was Jim Landis , a white outfielder for Chicago from Richmond High , who had played with and against Green in the East Bay for years .
Landis came out to shake Green ’ s hand and wish his old friend good luck .
Green ’ s appearance later that night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-reaching impact , but his real joy came a few nights later in his first home game in Boston .
But first , Celtics great Bill Russell , an old friend of Green ’ s from their high school days in the East Bay , visited him to deliver a warning to him about life as an African-American in Boston .
“ It ’ s a flea market of racism , ” Russell famously said of Boston .
Green , though , was treated like royalty by Boston fans when he stepped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of the first inning .
He received a rousing standing ovation .
“ I didn ’ t want to disappoint them , ” said Green , who surely didn ’ t when he blistered the second pitch he saw off the Green Monster for a triple .
Green couldn ’ t really ever top that thrill he had while standing on third base as the Red Sox crowd went wild .
He eventually was traded to the New York Mets , where he spent the final year of his big league career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and received his degree from San Francisco State , which allowed him to begin working for the Berkeley Unified School District .
Green became the baseball coach at Berkeley High , where he remained for 25 years until retiring in 1997 .
Heidi Green , who was inspired enough by her father to become an educator herself , is now an assistant school superintendent in Daly City .
But no matter where she goes in the Bay Area , her father ’ s admirers always seem to find her .
“ He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are still checking in with me and telling me what an impact he made on them , ” Heidi said .
“ It ’ s happened so many times.
” Earlier this week , Heidi took her mother to a tax preparer .
Before the man began crunching numbers , he just had to share that his best friend played for Pumpsie , and loved every minute of it .
“ I ’ ve heard everything about my dad from his former students .
People loved him and some even hated him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noting her dad also helped with school security .
“ But he really cared for all of the kids .
He did right by them.
” Maybe Pumpsie Green ’ s biggest impact in life wasn ’ t what he did for the Red Sox in front of the entire nation more than 60 years ago ?
Maybe it was really what he did for the thousands of kids he taught , counseled and coached while at Berkeley High all those years ?

An older teacher walked into Heidi Green’s classroom one day years ago and noticed among the decorations on her desk were some baseball cards of a player he loved as a boy.
It was not a star player, not even a starting player, so the man wanted to know why she had his cards.
“Do you know anything about him and what he did?” he asked in a tone bordering on accusatory.”I’m from Boston and I was around when he played. He was amazing! He’s one of my heroes.”
She couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
“What do you know about Pumpsie Green?” he demanded. “Why do you have his baseball cards?”
Finally given an opening, Heidi Green replied: “That’s my dad.”
Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, a kid from El Cerrito High by way of the Richmond playgrounds, spent five seasons in the major leagues as a part-time player. He played in 344 games, batted .246, hit 13 home runs and stole 12 bases.
But on July 20, 1959, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Green became an everlasting piece of baseball history.
Entering as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning, Green became the first Black to play for the Boston Red Sox — the last team to integrate. Twelve years after Jackie Robinson broke the color line, Green closed the loop.
“My dad wasn’t trying to be the martyr. My dad wasn’t a Black Panther or anything like that,” said Heidi, who was born five years after her father left baseball in 1965. “He wasn’t trying to be a hero. He really was just a kid who wanted to play baseball.”
A photograph of former Boston Red Sox player Pumpsie Green, with teammates, from left, Frank Malzone, Don Buddin, Green, and Pete Runnels is copied at his home in El Cerrito, Calif. Tuesday, July 21, 2020 marks Green’s 61st anniversary appearance as the team’s first black player. (Courtesy Pumpsie Green)
Pumpsie Green never was one for making a big deal of things. He was the oldest of Elijah and Gladys Green’s five boys, who included Cornell, a Pro Bowl safety for the Dallas Cowboys, and Credell, who was drafted by the Packers. Green was so unassuming and unpretentious he never bothered finding out why his mom began calling him “Pumpsie” as a kid. He only knew he liked it.
Green’s amiable personality often helped make things bearable for him. He was subjected to the atrocities Black Americans endured in the days of segregation. That included having racial slurs directed at him, and not being able to eat in the same restaurants or stay in the same hotels as his white teammates. He may not have liked it, but he didn’t complain.
“He used to say ‘This was just the way of the world then,’ ” Heidi said.
At times, the attention Green received for finally breaking the color line in Boston made him uncomfortable. In that way, he was just a simple man with an even simpler plan.
It wasn’t until Green’s playing career ended that he began embracing his place in baseball history, particularly during trips back to Fenway Park where he was feted by fans old and young.
“I wasn’t thinking about history or what it all means,” Green said of his playing days in an interview for a video produced by the Red Sox in 2018. “I was thinking about getting to first base and second base … with a base hit. That’s what I was thinking about.
“I play ball, that’s what I do.”
Still, Pumpsie Green became a reluctant pioneer in 1959 not because of what he did, but because of what the Red Sox couldn’t do. Under the leadership of owner Tom Yawkey and later his general manager Joe Cronin, the Red Sox continually rejected the idea of signing any Black players.
At various times, the Red Sox had future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Billy Williams and Willie Mays in for tryouts and easily could have signed any or all of them. Their motives sometimes seemed suspect. It turned out the Red Sox reportedly only agreed to allow Robinson to try out in 1945 after a city official threatened to revoke the team’s license to play on Sundays if they didn’t show more racial tolerance.
George Digby, one of Boston’s longtime scouts, once told ESPN he had the 17-year-old Mays all but set to leave the Negro League to join the Red Sox in 1949 for a below-market contract of $4,500.
“We could have had Mays in center and (Ted) Williams in right,” Digby lamented. “But Yawkey and Cronin already made up their minds they weren’t going to take any Black players.”
FILE – In this April 19, 2009, file photo, Boston Red Sox great Elijah “Pumpsie” Green throws out a ceremonial first pitch for the Red Sox’s baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Boston. Green, the first black player on the Red Sox, has died. He was 85. A Red Sox spokesman confirmed his death Wednesday night, July 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
By 1959, Boston remained the only major league team without a Black player. Pressure on the Red Sox intensified for their questionable hiring practices throughout their organization. An investigation by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination revealed the Red Sox, save for one brief exception, hadn’t employed any African-Americans. Not even as an usher or a janitor.
Facing mounting pressure from the MCAD and other state agencies pushing for change, the Red Sox made a long-awaited call for equality. It was answered in Minneapolis by Green, a minor-league All-Star infielder who was resting in his tiny hotel room.
The 25-year-old standout, whose playing rights three years earlier had been purchased from his hometown Oakland Oaks, hustled to Chicago right before Boston’s game that night. Green was immediately greeted in the locker room by the legendary Ted Williams, who welcomed him to the big leagues.
A few minutes later, Green was on his way to the field when he heard a loud voice call out.
“Hey, El Cerrito!”
It was Jim Landis, a white outfielder for Chicago from Richmond High, who had played with and against Green in the East Bay for years. Landis came out to shake Green’s hand and wish his old friend good luck.
Green’s appearance later that night as a pinch runner would have a far-reaching impact, but his real joy came a few nights later in his first home game in Boston.
Celtics great Bill Russell, an old friend of Green’s from their high school days in the East Bay, had warned him about being Black in Boston. “It’s a flea market of racism,” Russell famously said of the city.
Former major league baseball player Pumpsie Green and his daughter, Heidi, at Fenway Park in 2009 when Green was honored. (Photo courtesy of Heidi Green).
Green, though, was treated like royalty by Boston fans when he stepped up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the first inning. He received a rousing standing ovation.
“I didn’t want to disappoint them,” said Green, who surely didn’t when he blistered the second pitch he saw off the Green Monster for a triple.
Green couldn’t really ever top that thrill he had while standing on third base as the Red Sox crowd went wild. He eventually was traded to the New York Mets, where he spent the final year of his big league career.
After baseball, he returned home and received his degree from San Francisco State, which allowed him to begin working for the Berkeley Unified School District. Green became the baseball coach at Berkeley High, where he remained for 25 years until retiring in 1997.
Heidi Green, who was inspired enough by her father to become an educator herself, is now an assistant school superintendent in Daly City. But no matter where she goes in the Bay Area, her father’s admirers always seem to find her.
Pumpsie Green died a little more than a year ago — July 17, 2019, four days short of the 60th anniversary of his historic game — at a San Leandro hospital. He was 85.
“He’s been gone for a year and people are still checking in with me and telling me what an impact he made on them,” Heidi said. “It’s happened so many times.”
Recently, Heidi took her mother to a tax preparer. Before the man began crunching numbers, he just had to share that his best friend played for Pumpsie, and loved every minute of it.
“I’ve heard everything about my dad from his former students. People loved him and some even hated him,” Heidi said with a laugh, noting her dad also helped with school security. “But he really cared for all of the kids. He did right by them.”