mercurynews--2020-11-06--Judge orders USPS to sweep facilities for ballots

A judge on Thursday ordered twice daily sweeps at U.S .
Postal Service ( USPS ) facilities serving states with extended ballot receipt deadlines as votes were still being counted in U.S. election battleground states .
Some states , including still undecided Nevada and North Carolina , are counting ballots that are received after Election Day Tuesday .
Plaintiffs lawyers in a lawsuit said the Postal Service delivered roughly 150,000 ballots nationwide on Wednesday .
Of those , roughly 8,000 or 9,000 , were delivered after Tuesday even though they had been mailed by Sunday .
U.S. District Judge Emmet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning sweeps and then afternoon sweeps “ to ensure that any identified local ballots can be delivered that day.
” Sullivan issued a separate order requiring USPS to file additional data from districts covering North Carolina and Pennsylvania .
He also ordered USPS to “ coordinate with all local county Boards of Elections in North Carolina or Pennsylvania ” in order to deliver all ballots “ before 5:00 PM local time in North Carolina or Pennsylvania ” on Friday .
He also directed additional steps to ensure delivery of ballots in two states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USPS to take all possible steps to ensure ballots are delivered .
He ordered sweeps in response to lawsuits by groups including Vote Forward , the NAACP , and Latino community advocates .
USPS must report to headquarters “ the total number of ballots identified and confirm that those ballots have been expedited for delivery to meet applicable extended state deadlines , ” Sullivan added in one of his orders Thursday .
Ballots were still being counted by election officials in battleground states two days after polls closed in one of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Democratic candidate Joe Biden was cutting into Republican President Donald Trump ’ s leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia but retained slim margins in Nevada and Arizona .

By David Shepardson | Reuters
A judge on Thursday ordered twice daily sweeps at U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities serving states with extended ballot receipt deadlines as votes were still being counted in U.S. election battleground states.
Some states, including still undecided Nevada and North Carolina, are counting ballots that are received after Election Day Tuesday. Plaintiffs lawyers in a lawsuit said the Postal Service delivered roughly 150,000 ballots nationwide on Wednesday. Of those, roughly 8,000 or 9,000, were delivered after Tuesday even though they had been mailed by Sunday.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said the processing centers must perform morning sweeps and then afternoon sweeps “to ensure that any identified local ballots can be delivered that day.”
Sullivan issued a separate order requiring USPS to file additional data from districts covering North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He also ordered USPS to “coordinate with all local county Boards of Elections in North Carolina or Pennsylvania” in order to deliver all ballots “before 5:00 PM local time in North Carolina or Pennsylvania” on Friday.
He also directed additional steps to ensure delivery of ballots in two states before the deadline.
Sullivan previously urged USPS to take all possible steps to ensure ballots are delivered. He ordered sweeps in response to lawsuits by groups including Vote Forward, the NAACP, and Latino community advocates.
USPS must report to headquarters “the total number of ballots identified and confirm that those ballots have been expedited for delivery to meet applicable extended state deadlines,” Sullivan added in one of his orders Thursday.
Ballots were still being counted by election officials in battleground states two days after polls closed in one of the most unusual elections in U.S. history because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Democratic candidate Joe Biden was cutting into Republican President Donald Trump’s leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia but retained slim margins in Nevada and Arizona.


mercurynews--2020-11-05--49ers-Packers pregame: Mullens is team’s sixth QB to start vs. Rodgers

SANTA CLARA — Nick Mullens is the sixth 49ers quarterback to start against the Green Bay Packers ’ Aaron Rodgers in the past 12 years .
Mullens makes his third start this season in place of Jimmy Garoppolo , who went on injured reserve earlier today with an ankle injury that will keep him out until December if not all season .
Rodgers , a Chico native and former Cal star , is 4-6 all-time against the team he grew up rooting for and the one that spurned him in favor of Alex Smith with the 2005 Draft ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4-6 all-time against the 49ers , including an 0-3 mark in the playoffs , the last coming in last season ’ s 37-27 defeat in the NFC Championship Game .
Rodgers ’ record against opposing 49ers quarterbacks : 1-1 vs. Alex Smith , 1-0 vs .
Troy Smith , 1-3 vs. Colin Kaepernick , 1-0 vs. C.J .
Beathard and 0-2 vs. Garoppolo .
Mullens is 4-6 all-time as a starter , having been benched during his last start after committing three turnovers in an Oct. 4 loss here to the Philadelphia Eagles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonight or at least those experienced in the 49ers ’ system .
The 49ers ’ top three receivers are out following Kendrick Bourne ’ s positive COVID-19 test Tuesday , with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk ruled out for being high-risk contacts , as was left tackle Trent Williams .
Tight end Jordan Reed got activated off Injured Reserve earlier today , a timely replacement to offset the loss of George Kittle , who went on Injured Reserve today with a fractured cuboid bone in his foot .
Trent Taylor and Richie James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 49ers summoned Kevin White and River Cracraft from the practice squad .
Out for the 49ers are running back Tevin Coleman ( knee ) , linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles ( hamstring ) , and , quite surprisingly , cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon , who ’ s apparently returned to the coaching staff ’ s doghouse because he has not been on the injury report recently .
Safety Jaquiski Tartt ( groin ) and James will suit up after being listed as questionable .
The 49ers ’ defense will be facing Green Bay Packers top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Well , unlike the Packers ’ past two games , he is at least suiting up for them despite a calf injury .
Jones produced 543 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in his first five games .
Out for the Packers is left tackle David Bakhtiari ( chest ) , cornerback Kevin King ( quadriceps ) ; safeties Will Redmond ( shoulder ) and Vernon Scott ( shoulder ) , quarterback Jordan Love and defensive lineman Billy Winn .
• NFL may discipline 49ers after discovering possible mask violation by Kendrick Bourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday despite positive COVID tests this week ?
Here is how Rodgers ’ fared in his previous 10 games with the 49ers ( and how the 49ers ’ QB fared ) :

SANTA CLARA — Nick Mullens is the sixth 49ers quarterback to start against the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers in the past 12 years.
Mullens makes his third start this season in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, who went on injured reserve earlier today with an ankle injury that will keep him out until December if not all season.
Rodgers, a Chico native and former Cal star, is 4-6 all-time against the team he grew up rooting for and the one that spurned him in favor of Alex Smith with the 2005 Draft’s No. 1 pick.
Rodgers is 4-6 all-time against the 49ers, including an 0-3 mark in the playoffs, the last coming in last season’s 37-27 defeat in the NFC Championship Game. Rodgers’ record against opposing 49ers quarterbacks: 1-1 vs. Alex Smith, 1-0 vs. Troy Smith, 1-3 vs. Colin Kaepernick, 1-0 vs. C.J. Beathard and 0-2 vs. Garoppolo.
Mullens is 4-6 all-time as a starter, having been benched during his last start after committing three turnovers in an Oct. 4 loss here to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nick Mullens about to become 6th #49ers QB to start against #Packers Aaron Rodgers in past 12 years
Rodgers’ went:
1-1 vs Alex Smith
1-0 vs Troy Smith
1-3 vs Colin Kaepernick
1-0 vs CJ Beathard
0-2 vs Jimmy Garoppolo pic.twitter.com/GrtBscoOdM — Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 5, 2020
Mullens’ will have limited targets tonight or at least those experienced in the 49ers’ system.
The 49ers’ top three receivers are out following Kendrick Bourne’s positive COVID-19 test Tuesday, with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk ruled out for being high-risk contacts, as was left tackle Trent Williams.
Tight end Jordan Reed got activated off Injured Reserve earlier today, a timely replacement to offset the loss of George Kittle, who went on Injured Reserve today with a fractured cuboid bone in his foot.
Trent Taylor and Richie James were the only available wide receivers until the 49ers summoned Kevin White and River Cracraft from the practice squad.
49ERS INACTIVES
Out for the 49ers are running back Tevin Coleman (knee), linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring), and, quite surprisingly, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who’s apparently returned to the coaching staff’s doghouse because he has not been on the injury report recently.
Safety Jaquiski Tartt (groin) and James will suit up after being listed as questionable.
PACKERS’ JONES
The 49ers’ defense will be facing Green Bay Packers top rusher Aaron Jones tonight. How much? Well, unlike the Packers’ past two games, he is at least suiting up for them despite a calf injury. Jones produced 543 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in his first five games.
Out for the Packers is left tackle David Bakhtiari (chest), cornerback Kevin King (quadriceps); safeties Will Redmond (shoulder) and Vernon Scott (shoulder), quarterback Jordan Love and defensive lineman Billy Winn.
MORE ON RODGERS
Here is how Rodgers’ fared in his previous 10 games with the 49ers (and how the 49ers’ QB fared):
2009, 30-24 win in Green Bay: 344 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; Alex Smith 227-3-1
2010, 34-16 win at Green Bay: 298-3-0; Troy Smith 194-1-1
2012, 30-22 loss at Green Bay: 303-2-0; Alex Smith 211-2-0
2012 playoffs, 45-31 loss at Candlestick: 257-2-1; Colin Kaepernick 263-2-1
2013, 34-28 loss at Candlestick: 333-3-1; Kaepernick 412-3-0
2013 playoffs, 23-20 loss at Green Bay: 177-1-0; Kaepernick 227-1-1
2015: 17-3 win at Levi’s Stadium: 224-1-0; Kaepernick 160-0-1
2018: 33-30 win at Green Bay; C.J. Beathard 245-2-1
2019: 37-8 loss at Levi’s Stadium; 104-1-0; Jimmy Garoppolo 253-2-0
2019 NFC Championship, 37-20 loss at Levi’s: 326-2-2; Garoppolo 77-0-0


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Joe Biden eases ahead in Georgia; Donald Trump attacks election process

By JONATHAN LEMIRE , ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Democrat Joe Biden narrowly overtook President Donald Trump in the vote count in Georgia early Friday and was steadily gaining ground in Pennsylvania , with the presidency hinging on the outcome of tight contests in key battleground states .
Neither candidate has reached the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House , though Biden has the advantage after eclipsing Trump in Wisconsin and Michigan , two crucial Midwestern battleground states .
That left both campaigns increasingly focused on developments in Pennsylvania and Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 900 votes on Friday morning .
It could take several more days for the vote count to conclude in some states , allowing a clear winner to emerge .
With millions of ballots yet to be tabulated , Biden has already received more than 73 million votes nationally , the most in history As Americans entered the third full day after the election without knowing who won the race , anxiety about the outcome was building .
With his pathway to reelection appearing to narrow , Trump was testing how far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of presidential power to undermine confidence in the vote .
On Thursday , he advanced unsupported accusations of voter fraud to falsely argue that his rival was trying to seize power in an extraordinary effort by a sitting American president to sow doubt about the democratic process .
“ This is a case when they are trying to steal an election , they are trying to rig an election , ” Trump said from the podium of the White House briefing room .
Biden spent Thursday trying to ease tensions and project a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After participating in a coronavirus briefing , he declared that “ each ballot must be counted.
” “ I ask everyone to stay calm .
The process is working , ” Biden said .
“ It is the will of the voters .
No one , not anyone else who chooses the president of the United States of America.
” Trump showed no sign of giving up and was was back on Twitter around 2:30 a.m. Friday , insisting the “ U.S .
Supreme Court should decide !
” Trump ’ s erroneous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenged Republicans now faced with the choice of whether to break with a president who , though his grip on his office grew tenuous , commanded sky-high approval ratings from rank-and-file members of the GOP .
That was especially true for those who are eyeing presidential runs of their own in 2024 .
Maryland GOP Gov .
Larry Hogan , a potential presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump , said unequivocally : “ There is no defense for the President ’ s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process .
America is counting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results as we always have before.
” But others who are rumored to be considering a White House run of their own in four years aligned themselves with the incumbent , including Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, who tweeted support for Trump ’ s claims , writing that “ If last 24 hours have made anything clear , it ’ s that we need new election integrity laws NOW.
” Trump ’ s campaign engaged in a flurry of legal activity to try to improve the Republican president ’ s chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wisconsin and filing lawsuits in Pennsylvania , Michigan and Georgia .
Judges in Georgia and Michigan quickly dismissed Trump campaign lawsuits there on Thursday , when Trump still held a small edge in Georgia — though Biden was gaining on him as votes continued to be counted .
The same was true in Pennsylvania , where Trump ’ s lead had slipped to about 18,000 votes — and the race is destined to get tighter .
One reason is that elections officials were not allowed to process mail-in ballots until Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form of voting that has skewed heavily in Biden ’ s favor after Trump spent months claiming without proof that voting by mail would lead to widespread voter fraud .
Mail ballots from across the state were overwhelmingly breaking in Biden ’ s direction .
A final vote total may not be clear for days because the use of mail-in ballots , which take more time to process , has surged as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Trump campaign said it was confident the president would ultimately pull out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also still being counted , including in Maricopa County , the state ’ s most populous area .
The AP has declared Biden the winner in Arizona and said Thursday that it was monitoring the vote count as it proceeded .
“ The Associated Press continues to watch and analyze vote count results from Arizona as they come in , ” said Sally Buzbee , AP ’ s executive editor .
“ We will follow the facts in all cases.
” Trump ’ s campaign was lodging legal challenges in several states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He would have to win multiple suits in multiple states in order to stop vote counts , since more than one state was undeclared .
Some of the Trump team ’ s lawsuits only demand better access for campaign observers to locations where ballots are being processed and counted .
A judge in Georgia dismissed the campaign ’ s suit there less than 12 hours after it was filed .
And a Michigan judge dismissed a Trump lawsuit over whether enough GOP challengers had access to handling of absentee ballots Biden attorney Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meritless.
” Their only purpose , he said “ is to create an opportunity for them to message falsely about what ’ s taking place in the electoral process.
” Weissert reported from Wilmington , Delaware .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin , Colleen Long and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report .

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ZEKE MILLER, JILL COLVIN and WILL WEISSERT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden stood on the cusp of winning the presidency Friday night, three days after Election Day, as the long, exacting work of counting votes widened his lead over President Donald Trump in critical battleground states.
High turnout, a massive number of mail-in ballots and slim margins between the two candidates all contributed to the delay in naming a winner. But Biden held leads in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia, putting him in an ever-stronger position to capture the 270 Electoral College votes needed to take the White House.
There was intense focus on Pennsylvania, where Biden led Trump by more than 27,000 votes, and Nevada, where the Democrat led by about 22,000. The prolonged wait added to the anxiety of a nation facing historic challenges, including the surging pandemic and deep political polarization.
DUBLIN, CA - NOV. 6: Video Only store manager, Ken Crawford, of San Jose, watches former Vice President Joe Biden at the TV and audio store in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, as Biden addresses the nation from Wilmington, Delaware. Votes continue to be counted in several battleground states as the nation waits for a winner to be declared in the 2020 presidential election. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOV. 6: A bicyclist stops to admire the red, white and blue lights illuminating San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. The nation waits for the results of the 2020 presidential election as we enter the end of the third day of counting ballots. Currently former vice president Joe Biden leads President Donald J. Trump 264-214 in electoral votes as of 6 p.m. Friday evening per the Associated Press. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 6: Former Vice President Joe Biden is seen on a TV addressing the nation from Wilmington, Delaware at a restaurant along Santana Row in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. Votes continue to be counted in several battleground states as the nation waits for a winner to be declared in the 2020 presidential election. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOV. 6: Protesters gather in front of Twitter headquarters to protest against President Donald Trump in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. The nation waits for the results of the 2020 presidential election as we enter the end of the third day of counting ballots. Currently former vice president Joe Biden leads President Donald J. Trump 264-214 in electoral votes as of 6 p.m. Friday evening per the Associated Press. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - NOVEMBER 06: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden addresses the nation at the Chase Center November 06, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. The winner of the 2020 presidential election has yet to be declared, as vote counting continues in the key states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Trump stayed in the White House and out of sight, as more results trickled in and expanded Biden’s lead in must-win Pennsylvania. In the West Wing during the day, televisions remained tuned to the news amid trappings of normalcy, as reporters lined up for coronavirus tests and outdoor crews worked on the North Lawn on a mild, muggy fall day.
Biden, for his part, addressed the nation Friday night near his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and acknowledged the sluggish pace of the count “can be numbing.” But he added, “Never forget the tallies aren’t just numbers: They represent votes and voters.”
He expressed confidence that victory ultimately would be his, saying, “The numbers tell us a clear and convincing story: We’re going to win this race.”
Standing alongside his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, and against a backdrop of flags, Biden wasn’t able to give the acceptance speech his aides had hoped. But he hit notes of unity, seemingly aimed at cooling the temperature of a heated, divided nation.
“We have to remember the purpose of our politics isn’t total unrelenting, unending warfare,” he said. “No, the purpose of our politics, the work of our nation, isn’t to fan the flames of conflict, but to solve problems, to guarantee justice, to give everybody a fair shot.”
Trump’s campaign on Friday was mostly quiet — a dramatic difference from the day before, when officials held a morning call projecting confidence and then a flurry of press conferences announcing litigation in key states. But it was touched once again by the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief of staff Mark Meadows contracted the virus, according to two senior White House officials not authorized to publicly discuss private matters. Several other members of the White House staff and Trump’s campaign team also tested positive.
Trump’s handling of the pandemic has been the defining issue of the campaign. The president, first lady Melania Trump and several other people in Trump’s orbit have fallen ill.
A handful of states remained in play Friday evening — Georgia, North Carolina too early to call along with Pennsylvania and Nevada. In all four states the margins between Trump and Biden were too narrow and the number of ballots left to be counted too great for the AP to declare a victor.
In Pennsylvania, officials were not allowed to begin processing mail-in ballots until Election Day under state law. In Nevada, there were a number of provisional ballots cast by voters who registered on Election Day, and officials had to verify their eligibility. And recounts could be triggered in both Pennsylvania and Georgia.
With his pathway to reelection appearing to greatly narrow, Trump was testing how far he could go in using the trappings of presidential power to undermine confidence in the vote.
On Thursday, he advanced unsupported accusations of voter fraud to falsely argue that his rival was trying to seize power. It was an extraordinary effort by a sitting American president to sow doubt about the democratic process.
“This is a case when they are trying to steal an election, they are trying to rig an election,” Trump said from the podium of the White House briefing room.
He took to Twitter late Friday to pledge further legal action, tweeting that “Joe Biden should not wrongfully claim the office of the President. I could make that claim also. Legal proceedings are just now beginning!”
Trump did claim that he won late on Election Night. He also tweeted that he had “such a big lead in all of these states late into election night, only to see the leads miraculously disappear as the days went by,” although it was well known that votes cast before Tuesday were still being legally counted.
Biden spent Thursday trying to ease tensions and project a more traditional image of presidential leadership. After participating in a coronavirus briefing, he declared that “each ballot must be counted.”
“I ask everyone to stay calm. The process is working,” Biden said. “It is the will of the voters. No one, not anyone else who chooses the president of the United States of America.”
Trump’s erroneous claims about the integrity of the election challenged Republicans now faced with the choice of whether to break with a president who, though his grip on his office grew tenuous, commanded sky-high approval ratings from rank-and-file members of the GOP. That was especially true for those who are eyeing presidential runs of their own in 2024.
Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, a potential presidential hopeful who has often criticized Trump, said unequivocally: “There is no defense for the President’s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process. America is counting the votes, and we must respect the results as we always have before.”
But others who are rumored to be considering a White House run of their own in four years aligned themselves with the incumbent, including Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who tweeted support for Trump’s claims, writing that “If last 24 hours have made anything clear, it’s that we need new election integrity laws NOW.”
Trump’s campaign engaged in a flurry of legal activity, saying it would seek a recount in Wisconsin and had filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia.
On Friday evening, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito approved a GOP request ordering county boards to comply with state guidance to keep the late ballots separate from those received before or on Election Day. However, Alito did not direct election officials to stop counting the ballots, as the Republicans had also sought.
But judges in three states quickly swatted down legal action. A federal judge who was asked to stop vote counts in Philadelphia instead forced the two sides to reach an agreement without an order over the number of observers allowed.
“Really, can’t we be responsible adults here and reach an agreement?” an exasperated U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond said during an emergency hearing Thursday evening. “The whole thing could (soon) be moot.”
The Trump campaign said it was confident the president would ultimately pull out a victory in Arizona, where votes were also still being counted, including in Maricopa County, the state’s most populous area. The AP has declared Biden the winner in Arizona and said Thursday that it was monitoring the vote count as it proceeded.
“The Associated Press continues to watch and analyze vote count results from Arizona as they come in,” said Sally Buzbee, AP’s executive editor. “We will follow the facts in all cases.”
___
Weissert reported from Wilmington, Delaware. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Opinion: SVO must be dismantled in its entirety

I have been elected to public office in Santa Clara County 11 times , first as a city council member , then mayor and for the past 26 years as county assessor .
I have always received strong bipartisan support including support from the Silicon Valley Organization ( SVO ) I was nauseated by the SVO PAC ’ s racist political campaign advertisements .
When I first learned of this , prior to the ensuing media firestorm , I immediately contacted SVO CEO Matt Mahood to express my outrage .
In an interview with a Mercury News reporter I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — something right from the playbook of Donald Trump.
” Public outrage and the CEO ’ s resignation is simply not enough .
The SVO brand and culture has been so damaged by such reprehensible behavior and poor judgement , I believe the organization must be dismantled in its entirety .
Just dissolving the SVO-PAC is insufficient .
SVO is not your typical nonprofit community organization .
Shutting it down will not be easy .
It is a business with assets , including a building in the center of downtown San Jose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vendors and possible legal liabilities for past behavior .
Dissolving the SVO is complicated but necessary .
A simple name change will not suffice .
With longtime corporate members and respected local business owners resigning and taking with them their financial support , SVO will at best limp along ineffectively ; at worst , it will face a drawn-out slide toward insolvency .
I urge the leaders in San Jose ’ s business community to immediately come together to form a new business-centered organization in which ethical conduct is at the core of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects the diversity of the business community .
And when that happens , please name it the Chamber of Commerce , one of the most recognized brands in America .
I firmly believe San Jose only prospers when all voices have a seat at the table .
I strongly oppose those in our community who see SVO ’ s demise as an opportunity to deprive the business community of any voice or political influence going forward .
I have opposed similar efforts at the national level to silence labor and environmental interests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level to deny labor unions from participating in political campaign activities .
Silicon Valley is stronger when diverse viewpoints and political discourse are balanced .
It ’ s time to close the chapter on SVO , reimagine a new voice for the business community and begin the healing .

I have been elected to public office in Santa Clara County 11 times, first as a city council member, then mayor and for the past 26 years as county assessor. I have always received strong bipartisan support including support from the Silicon Valley Organization (SVO)
I was nauseated by the SVO PAC’s racist political campaign advertisements. When I first learned of this, prior to the ensuing media firestorm, I immediately contacted SVO CEO Matt Mahood to express my outrage. In an interview with a Mercury News reporter I said, “This was disgusting and racist — something right from the playbook of Donald Trump.”
Public outrage and the CEO’s resignation is simply not enough. The SVO brand and culture has been so damaged by such reprehensible behavior and poor judgement, I believe the organization must be dismantled in its entirety. Just dissolving the SVO-PAC is insufficient.
SVO is not your typical nonprofit community organization. Shutting it down will not be easy. It is a business with assets, including a building in the center of downtown San Jose, contract obligations, commitments to employees and vendors and possible legal liabilities for past behavior. Dissolving the SVO is complicated but necessary. A simple name change will not suffice. With longtime corporate members and respected local business owners resigning and taking with them their financial support, SVO will at best limp along ineffectively; at worst, it will face a drawn-out slide toward insolvency.
I urge the leaders in San Jose’s business community to immediately come together to form a new business-centered organization in which ethical conduct is at the core of its culture, one that more accurately reflects the diversity of the business community. And when that happens, please name it the Chamber of Commerce, one of the most recognized brands in America.
I firmly believe San Jose only prospers when all voices have a seat at the table. I strongly oppose those in our community who see SVO’s demise as an opportunity to deprive the business community of any voice or political influence going forward. I have opposed similar efforts at the national level to silence labor and environmental interests, as well as efforts at the state level to deny labor unions from participating in political campaign activities.
Silicon Valley is stronger when diverse viewpoints and political discourse are balanced. It’s time to close the chapter on SVO, reimagine a new voice for the business community and begin the healing.
Larry Stone is the Santa Clara County assessor.


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Editorial: California must act now to counter third coronavirus surge

Coronavirus data suggests that California and the Bay Area are exiting the calm and entering the third surge of the deadly disease that has taken root elsewhere in the country .
As a state and a region , we can slow the spread .
But that means learning from our past mistakes and doubling down on preventive measures — being more vigilant than ever with our hand-washing , social distancing , mask-wearing and avoidance of groups and crowds .
It means that state and county officials should freeze and roll back reopening plans , as San Francisco and Contra Costa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as tough as it might be , looking for virtual alternatives to holiday family gatherings and avoiding travel in and out of the region .
And it means , as Bay Area health officials are considering , quarantining people who come from out of state .
While California ’ s cases per capita rank low in comparison to other states , that ’ s nothing to brag about at a time when the virus is spreading rapidly elsewhere and our state ’ s trend line is going in the wrong direction .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time reported more than 100,000 new daily cases .
Contrary to President Trump ’ s false claims , the increase isn ’ t just attributable to increased testing .
The number of tests coming back positive has soared from 4 % to 7 % in just one month .
And daily deaths , a lagging indicator , are also rising It ’ s not surprising .
As we approach winter , the weather is cooling , forcing more people indoors where the virus spreads more easily .
People are growing weary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of restrictive living .
And Trump , setting a dangerous example for the country , still shuns masks , one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the deadly disease .
California and the Bay Area can not afford to wait for the rest of the country to alter its behavior .
We must act before we get swept up in this coming wave .
There are clear signs it has already arrived .
In California , new cases have been on the rise since mid-October .
Hospitalizations are edging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels we saw in mid-April , when the state was entering its first surge .
The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has increased in the past two weeks from 2.4 % to 3.3 % — still lower than it has been during past onslaughts , but the trend line is troubling .
Likewise , in the nine Bay Area counties and Santa Cruz County , cases are rising , along with hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units .
While the numbers are still low compared to the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun to set in here .
As the season changes , as we approach Thanksgiving and then Christmas and New Year ’ s Day , as the virus spreads from elsewhere in the nation , it ’ s just a matter of time before the third wave strikes .
How bad it will be depends on what we do and don ’ t do now .

Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards

Coronavirus data suggests that California and the Bay Area are exiting the calm and entering the third surge of the deadly disease that has taken root elsewhere in the country.
As a state and a region, we can slow the spread. But that means learning from our past mistakes and doubling down on preventive measures — being more vigilant than ever with our hand-washing, social distancing, mask-wearing and avoidance of groups and crowds.
It means that state and county officials should freeze and roll back reopening plans, as San Francisco and Contra Costa counties are doing. It means, as tough as it might be, looking for virtual alternatives to holiday family gatherings and avoiding travel in and out of the region. And it means, as Bay Area health officials are considering, quarantining people who come from out of state.
While California’s cases per capita rank low in comparison to other states, that’s nothing to brag about at a time when the virus is spreading rapidly elsewhere and our state’s trend line is going in the wrong direction.
The United States on Wednesday for the first time reported more than 100,000 new daily cases. Contrary to President Trump’s false claims, the increase isn’t just attributable to increased testing. The number of tests coming back positive has soared from 4% to 7% in just one month. And daily deaths, a lagging indicator, are also rising
It’s not surprising. As we approach winter, the weather is cooling, forcing more people indoors where the virus spreads more easily. People are growing weary of the isolation as we enter our ninth month of restrictive living. And Trump, setting a dangerous example for the country, still shuns masks, one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the deadly disease.
California and the Bay Area cannot afford to wait for the rest of the country to alter its behavior. We must act before we get swept up in this coming wave. There are clear signs it has already arrived.
In California, new cases have been on the rise since mid-October. Hospitalizations are edging back up and are already at the levels we saw in mid-April, when the state was entering its first surge. The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has increased in the past two weeks from 2.4% to 3.3% — still lower than it has been during past onslaughts, but the trend line is troubling.
Likewise, in the nine Bay Area counties and Santa Cruz County, cases are rising, along with hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units. While the numbers are still low compared to the rest of the country, the winter cold has not begun to set in here.
As the season changes, as we approach Thanksgiving and then Christmas and New Year’s Day, as the virus spreads from elsewhere in the nation, it’s just a matter of time before the third wave strikes. How bad it will be depends on what we do and don’t do now.


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Review: Watching Lane, Costner in ‘Let Him Go’ is a joy

Superman , that boring lug , has thankfully flown the coop .
Writer-director Thomas Bezucha ’ s Western thriller “ Let Him Go ” reunites Diane Lane and Kevin Costner , who as the Kents were easily the warmest presences in the otherwise dully dour “ Man of Steel.
” They are together again in “ Let Him Go , ” this time front and center but likewise retired and living close to the land .
And the pairing is just as good .
Both Lane and Costner , direct and earthy performers from the start , have only added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranchers in “ Let Him Go ” ( in theaters Friday ) , they ’ re basically the platonic ideal of an old-fashioned , homespun Americana .
They could sell you a mountain of jeans if they wanted to .
In Bezucha ’ s film , adapted from Larry Watson ’ s novel , they are Margaret and George Blackledge , and the opening scenes are of ominous harmony .
Their son James ( Ryan Bruce ) returns from the fields for breakfast , turning the radio on and dancing with his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their newborn .
If there ’ s a trace of discord , it ’ s in a moment where Lorna puts her son under water too hot , leading Margaret to take the child with what probably isn ’ t her first reproachful glance at her daughter-in-law .
It ’ s an early sign : “ Let Him Go ” might be set on familiar , tense Western plains , but it ’ s about mothering .
In a series of fast-moving events , James is killed in a horsing accident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Lorna is remarrying in a small , joyless ceremony .
Soon after , Margaret sees the new husband Donnie ( Will Brittain ) striking both mother and son on the street .
Before she ’ s had much time to respond to it , she finds the family has unexpectedly moved out of their new apartment .
Margaret starts packing up the Chevy station wagon .
She ’ s going to look for them , she says .
George , a former lawman , gets in .
At this midway point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
As two childless , grieving figures traversing a Western landscape , the Blackledges seemed carved out of an elegiac mythology .
They are trying to beat back the loss they feel creeping over their lives .
“ Sometimes that ’ s all life is , Margaret , ” says George .
“ A list of what we ’ ve lost.
” It ’ s a impression made more powerful by Lane and Costner , both of whom are returning to a genre they ’ ve visited before but from a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more identifiable with Westerns thanks to “ Dances With Wolves , ” “ Wyatt Earp ” and others , but don ’ t forget Lane in “ Lonesome Dove.
” ) Their search takes them into North Dakota where the dark reputation of Donnie ’ s family , the Weboys ( pronounced “ wee-boys ” ) , begins to surround them before they ’ ve even crossed state lines .
Finding them at all seems uncertain , but they manage it , and in a menacing dinner , they meet the Weboys .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a formidable matriarch in Blanche ( Lesley Manville , bringing dramatic flare to an otherwise restrained film ) , a much more violent and sinister corollary to Margret .
But the collision of the two families is managed awkwardly .
The Weboys , which include a grinning father ( Jeffrey Donovan ) and two other brothers , never come through clearly .
It ’ s unclear what they ’ re about , except that they ’ re bad news , and their cruelty come off as strange , extravagant gestures in uncertainly defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slow-burn showdown between rival grandmas dissipates in blunt shoot-outs that sidelines Lane ’ s Margaret at just the wrong time .
It ’ s Margaret who leads the charge , and it ’ s Lane ’ s movie even when the film momentarily forgets it .

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
Superman, that boring lug, has thankfully flown the coop. Writer-director Thomas Bezucha’s Western thriller “Let Him Go” reunites Diane Lane and Kevin Costner, who as the Kents were easily the warmest presences in the otherwise dully dour “Man of Steel.”
They are together again in “Let Him Go,” this time front and center but likewise retired and living close to the land. And the pairing is just as good. Both Lane and Costner, direct and earthy performers from the start, have only added depth with age. As long-married Montana ranchers in “Let Him Go” (in theaters Friday), they’re basically the platonic ideal of an old-fashioned, homespun Americana. They could sell you a mountain of jeans if they wanted to.
In Bezucha’s film, adapted from Larry Watson’s novel, they are Margaret and George Blackledge, and the opening scenes are of ominous harmony. Their son James (Ryan Bruce) returns from the fields for breakfast, turning the radio on and dancing with his wife, Lorna (Kayli Carter), and their newborn. If there’s a trace of discord, it’s in a moment where Lorna puts her son under water too hot, leading Margaret to take the child with what probably isn’t her first reproachful glance at her daughter-in-law. It’s an early sign: “Let Him Go” might be set on familiar, tense Western plains, but it’s about mothering.
In a series of fast-moving events, James is killed in a horsing accident. Bezucha cuts immediately to three years later, when Lorna is remarrying in a small, joyless ceremony. Soon after, Margaret sees the new husband Donnie (Will Brittain) striking both mother and son on the street. Before she’s had much time to respond to it, she finds the family has unexpectedly moved out of their new apartment. Margaret starts packing up the Chevy station wagon. She’s going to look for them, she says. George, a former lawman, gets in.
At this midway point, “Let Him Go” is good. As two childless, grieving figures traversing a Western landscape, the Blackledges seemed carved out of an elegiac mythology. They are trying to beat back the loss they feel creeping over their lives. “Sometimes that’s all life is, Margaret,” says George. “A list of what we’ve lost.” It’s a impression made more powerful by Lane and Costner, both of whom are returning to a genre they’ve visited before but from a different standpoint in life. (Costner is more identifiable with Westerns thanks to “Dances With Wolves,” “Wyatt Earp” and others, but don’t forget Lane in “Lonesome Dove.”)
Their search takes them into North Dakota where the dark reputation of Donnie’s family, the Weboys (pronounced “wee-boys”), begins to surround them before they’ve even crossed state lines. Finding them at all seems uncertain, but they manage it, and in a menacing dinner, they meet the Weboys. Their clan, too, comes with a formidable matriarch in Blanche (Lesley Manville, bringing dramatic flare to an otherwise restrained film), a much more violent and sinister corollary to Margret.
But the collision of the two families is managed awkwardly. The Weboys, which include a grinning father (Jeffrey Donovan) and two other brothers, never come through clearly. It’s unclear what they’re about, except that they’re bad news, and their cruelty come off as strange, extravagant gestures in uncertainly defined roles. What seems set up for a slow-burn showdown between rival grandmas dissipates in blunt shoot-outs that sidelines Lane’s Margaret at just the wrong time. It’s Margaret who leads the charge, and it’s Lane’s movie even when the film momentarily forgets it.
“Let Him Go”
2 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: R (for violence)
Running time: 108 minutes


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Sponsored: New luxury Lafayette homes designed for today’s lifestyle

An opportunity to own a custom contemporary and ultra-luxurious home in Lafayette is now available .
THE NINES , located in Lafayette ’ s Reliez Valley off Gloria Terrace , is a planned retreat-home-style neighborhood on a fabulous 7.5-acre site for nine homes designed to capture today ’ s lifestyle with sweeping views of Mount Diablo and Briones open space .
Renowned local developer David Langon of Langon Construction in Alamo says the development of this community of homes is inspired by the ambience of the city of Lafayette with its great East Bay location , its highly rated schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Construction is working closely with Lindsay Owen , its in-house designer , “ to drive the current design trends in both architecture and interior finishes to create well-designed healthy homes.
” Each of the nine homes will be custom-designed to respond directly to its lot .
The goal is to create that retreat home , a “ true sanctuary ” to call home .
Construction of the homes is expected to start in early 2021 .
“ We took a deep dive into each lot to see how we can best carve out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then we developed each floor plan , ” Langon says .
“ This ( process ) has allowed us to open up each home to their exterior spaces , creating seamless transitions of indoor and outdoor living.
” All the lots can accommodate pools , outdoor kitchens and other amenities .
The homes , between 4,000 square feet and 5,400 square feet , showcase floor plans that are flexible to meet the needs of today ’ s lifestyle , whether that is a multigenerational family , live-in help , returning college students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than ever , we want to build homes that you feel safe , healthy and happy in , ” Langon says .
These homes are designed for wellness with flexible floor plans , multiple offices/guest rooms , home fitness areas , indoor-outdoor living , filtered air and water systems , and oversize garages .
Additionally , the homes are designed with lots of natural light , optimizing the views and privacy , and are built with healthy and sustainable building materials .
The concept of flexible living spaces was “ a natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation toward the amount of home office space now needed , plus breakout spaces for the kids , and home fitness , ” Langon says .
Air quality is also a significant factor these days and having the ability to have the air continually filtered is essential .
“ You can shut your doors and windows knowing the air your family is breathing is clean , ” he adds .
Leaning toward a more contemporary design , the homes will also give “ a nod to transitional architecture , ” Langon says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pocket community allows us to push the boundaries of ‘ typical ’ and elevate these designs to something truly unique.
” According to Langon , the homesites will be sold with the plans , materials and finishes already selected “ to take the burden away from buyers.
” “ We are finding that our buyers know what they want but don ’ t have the time to go through the process of building a custom home and make all the decisions required along the way , ” Langon says .
The buyer will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see and feel the finished product through virtual renderings and LookBooks , illustrating the hard finishes such as lighting , flooring , hardware , and more .
He adds that buyers will have input on minor architectural changes .
“ We can even help them select soft finishes like furniture , window coverings , rugs , and decor , ” says Langon , to make it a completely turnkey home .
THE NINES , located just off Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette is conveniently close to the charming downtown district , BART , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Lafayette and Acalanes school districts .
It is also within walking distance to miles of trails and open space at Briones Regional Park .
Price range : From $ 3,000,000 to $ 4,000,000 Where : Surrounding area of Gloria Terrace Website : www.LiveTheNines.com Listing agent : Dudum Real Estate Group , Mary Piscitelli , DRE # 01426129 , 925-765-9095 , mary @ dudum.com , www.maryseastbayhomes.com

An opportunity to own a custom contemporary and ultra-luxurious home in Lafayette is now available.
THE NINES, located in Lafayette’s Reliez Valley off Gloria Terrace, is a planned retreat-home-style neighborhood on a fabulous 7.5-acre site for nine homes designed to capture today’s lifestyle with sweeping views of Mount Diablo and Briones open space.
Renowned local developer David Langon of Langon Construction in Alamo says the development of this community of homes is inspired by the ambience of the city of Lafayette with its great East Bay location, its highly rated schools, and the warm-hearted community. Langon Construction is working closely with Lindsay Owen, its in-house designer, “to drive the current design trends in both architecture and interior finishes to create well-designed healthy homes.” Each of the nine homes will be custom-designed to respond directly to its lot. The goal is to create that retreat home, a “true sanctuary” to call home. Construction of the homes is expected to start in early 2021.
“We took a deep dive into each lot to see how we can best carve out space with minimal impact on the site. Then we developed each floor plan,” Langon says. “This (process) has allowed us to open up each home to their exterior spaces, creating seamless transitions of indoor and outdoor living.” All the lots can accommodate pools, outdoor kitchens and other amenities.
The homes, between 4,000 square feet and 5,400 square feet, showcase floor plans that are flexible to meet the needs of today’s lifestyle, whether that is a multigenerational family, live-in help, returning college students, and more.
“Now, more than ever, we want to build homes that you feel safe, healthy and happy in,” Langon says.
These homes are designed for wellness with flexible floor plans, multiple offices/guest rooms, home fitness areas, indoor-outdoor living, filtered air and water systems, and oversize garages. Additionally, the homes are designed with lots of natural light, optimizing the views and privacy, and are built with healthy and sustainable building materials.
The concept of flexible living spaces was “a natural segue for us when we turned the conversation toward the amount of home office space now needed, plus breakout spaces for the kids, and home fitness,” Langon says.
Air quality is also a significant factor these days and having the ability to have the air continually filtered is essential. “You can shut your doors and windows knowing the air your family is breathing is clean,” he adds.
Leaning toward a more contemporary design, the homes will also give “a nod to transitional architecture,” Langon says. “Having the opportunity to develop a pocket community allows us to push the boundaries of ‘typical’ and elevate these designs to something truly unique.” According to Langon, the homesites will be sold with the plans, materials and finishes already selected “to take the burden away from buyers.”
“We are finding that our buyers know what they want but don’t have the time to go through the process of building a custom home and make all the decisions required along the way,” Langon says. The buyer will still have the opportunity to understand, see and feel the finished product through virtual renderings and LookBooks, illustrating the hard finishes such as lighting, flooring, hardware, and more.
He adds that buyers will have input on minor architectural changes.
“We can even help them select soft finishes like furniture, window coverings, rugs, and decor,” says Langon, to make it a completely turnkey home.
THE NINES, located just off Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette is conveniently close to the charming downtown district, BART, freeway access, and the top-rated schools in the Lafayette and Acalanes school districts. It is also within walking distance to miles of trails and open space at Briones Regional Park.
Price range: From $3,000,000 to $4,000,000
Where: Surrounding area of Gloria Terrace
Website: www.LiveTheNines.com
Listing agent: Dudum Real Estate Group, Mary Piscitelli, DRE#01426129, 925-765-9095, mary@dudum.com, www.maryseastbayhomes.com


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Review: PlayStation 5 helps ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ step out of shadows

Representation is a powerful force in comic books .
It makes a community feel seen , it reinvigorates superhero franchises , and it opens doors to new audiences .
Marvel has found success by making its heroes more diverse with Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel and Riri Williams as the successor to Ironman .
The most popular of these new additions has been Miles Morales , the biracial teenager who took on the role of Spider-Man .
Despite the initial aversion from the likes of Glenn Beck , Morales has been embraced by Spider-Man fans .
He has found success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spider-Verse , ” and now , he has a starring role in his own video game “ Spider-Man : Miles Morales.
” The project is a follow-up to 2018 ’ s “ Spider-Man , ” which featured a twentysomething Peter Parker and relegated Miles to a supporting role .
With the 2020 release , which is launching separately alongside the PlayStation 5 , Miles steps out of his mentor ’ s shadow .
He ’ s the young and inexperienced Spider-Man that fans have come to know but with added dimensions .
Bitten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains abilities similar to his mentor .
He has the proportional speed , strength , stamina , durability and reflexes of a spider , according to Marvel.com .
He can stick to walls and has the preternatural Spidey sense , but what makes Miles different is his additional powers .
He has bio-electrokinesis , which lets him stun foes , and he can turn invisible through camouflage .
The developer , Insomniac , leverages these abilities to produce a game that has its own identity .
A lot of that has to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of the PlayStation 5 .
“ Miles Morales ” is built on the work developers did with the 2018 “ Spider-Man.
” The New York that the hero explores here is structurally the same as in the older title .
The difference lies in the seasons and the finer points .
Set during the holidays , the snow and winter decorations give the Big Apple a distinct feel .
The game also shows off more detail in bodegas that occupy first floors and the billboards that grace buildings ’ facades .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels more alive .
Meanwhile , the power of the PlayStation 5 produces the much-hyped ray-tracing technology that provides realistic reflections and more accurate lighting .
If player ’ s don ’ t want that , they can run the game at 4K and 60 frames per second for silky smooth experience .
Unfortunately , ray-tracing takes up so much power that the PS5 can ’ t do both .
As for the narrative , it focuses on family and hammers that theme home .
Peter gives Miles the job of protecting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed overseas vacation with Mary Jane in Symkaria .
Going solo for the first time , Miles takes time to adjust to the new role and that ’ s a way for Insomniac to teach players the ropes .
Miles ’ s “ venom strikes ” lets him stun opponents , enabling him to crowd control swarming thugs .
When faced with tough foes , it lets him break through their defenses or even attack from different angles .
Venom strikes have variations with a dash , slam and jump attack .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players to build up a venom meter by pounding enemies , so they can ’ t just use the powerful move over and over .
The other part of that equation is Miles ’ s camouflage , which turns him invisible .
It ’ s useful when picking off squads one by one in missions that need stealth .
It ’ s also a great escape mechanism when being overwhelmed .
Players can flee , go invisible and collect themselves while planning a new attack strategy .
The enemies lose Miles and go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those powers is a heal that ’ s powered by venom meter and four gadgets — web shooters , holograms , gravity well and shock mines .
These limited-use items again help Miles with crowd controlling enemies — the holograms is a particularly good distraction item .
After using them up , players can refill them by fighting .
They can also be upgraded .
Players can further tweak Miles by mixing and matching different suits and modifications .
They purchase these upgrades by fighting crime in ambient events throughout New York or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app .
The smartphone program is how sidequests are doled out as citizens ask Spidey for help .
With the mods , players can create loadouts that help Miles in different scenarios .
One setup I used let Miles ’ s venom stun foes more often and heal from those attacks while another focused on increasing the number gadgets and refilling them quickly as I fought .
Part of the fun is exploring the different mods , and finding ones that work with each mission .
With that gameplay foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different type of Spider-Man story .
It ’ s one rooted in family dynamics , friendship and a diverse Harlem community .
It ’ s one of the rare games where the cast is dominated by people of color with side quests that show other communities that aren ’ t represented in video games and remain invisible in the industry .
“ Miles Morales ” even has a nod toward the Black Lives Matter movement .
All of this feels right for the setting and character .
Miles is a character meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reflect its audience , and it ’ s refreshing to see that carry over in the video game version .
The game embraces its hero ’ s background and uses it to tell a Marvel Cinematic Universe-style story that sticks to its themes over the course of a few hours .
It ’ s nowhere near as long as the original but Insomniac manages to do more with less .
Everything from the spellbinding soundtrack to the side quests add to the narrative though the last optional collectible arc is needed but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t distract too much from a game that gets so much right and will likely be the crowd-pleasing title that most PlayStation 5 owners will flock to .

Representation is a powerful force in comic books. It makes a community feel seen, it reinvigorates superhero franchises, and it opens doors to new audiences. Marvel has found success by making its heroes more diverse with Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel and Riri Williams as the successor to Ironman.
The most popular of these new additions has been Miles Morales, the biracial teenager who took on the role of Spider-Man. Despite the initial aversion from the likes of Glenn Beck, Morales has been embraced by Spider-Man fans. He has found success as the protagonist in “Into the Spider-Verse,” and now, he has a starring role in his own video game “Spider-Man: Miles Morales.”
The project is a follow-up to 2018’s “Spider-Man,” which featured a twentysomething Peter Parker and relegated Miles to a supporting role. With the 2020 release, which is launching separately alongside the PlayStation 5, Miles steps out of his mentor’s shadow. He’s the young and inexperienced Spider-Man that fans have come to know but with added dimensions.
Bitten by a genetically modified spider, he gains abilities similar to his mentor. He has the proportional speed, strength, stamina, durability and reflexes of a spider, according to Marvel.com. He can stick to walls and has the preternatural Spidey sense, but what makes Miles different is his additional powers. He has bio-electrokinesis, which lets him stun foes, and he can turn invisible through camouflage.
The developer, Insomniac, leverages these abilities to produce a game that has its own identity. A lot of that has to do with the storytelling, mission design and power of the PlayStation 5.
“Miles Morales” is built on the work developers did with the 2018 “Spider-Man.” The New York that the hero explores here is structurally the same as in the older title. The difference lies in the seasons and the finer points. Set during the holidays, the snow and winter decorations give the Big Apple a distinct feel. The game also shows off more detail in bodegas that occupy first floors and the billboards that grace buildings’ facades. With so much going on, the city feels more alive.
Meanwhile, the power of the PlayStation 5 produces the much-hyped ray-tracing technology that provides realistic reflections and more accurate lighting. If player’s don’t want that, they can run the game at 4K and 60 frames per second for silky smooth experience. Unfortunately, ray-tracing takes up so much power that the PS5 can’t do both.
As for the narrative, it focuses on family and hammers that theme home. Peter gives Miles the job of protecting the city while the older Spider-Man takes a needed overseas vacation with Mary Jane in Symkaria. Going solo for the first time, Miles takes time to adjust to the new role and that’s a way for Insomniac to teach players the ropes.
Miles’s “venom strikes” lets him stun opponents, enabling him to crowd control swarming thugs. When faced with tough foes, it lets him break through their defenses or even attack from different angles. Venom strikes have variations with a dash, slam and jump attack. The one caveat is that these attacks require players to build up a venom meter by pounding enemies, so they can’t just use the powerful move over and over.
The other part of that equation is Miles’s camouflage, which turns him invisible. It’s useful when picking off squads one by one in missions that need stealth. It’s also a great escape mechanism when being overwhelmed. Players can flee, go invisible and collect themselves while planning a new attack strategy. The enemies lose Miles and go back to their old routines.
Supplementing those powers is a heal that’s powered by venom meter and four gadgets — web shooters, holograms, gravity well and shock mines. These limited-use items again help Miles with crowd controlling enemies — the holograms is a particularly good distraction item. After using them up, players can refill them by fighting. They can also be upgraded.
Players can further tweak Miles by mixing and matching different suits and modifications. They purchase these upgrades by fighting crime in ambient events throughout New York or by tackling missions listed in the in-game Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app. The smartphone program is how sidequests are doled out as citizens ask Spidey for help. With the mods, players can create loadouts that help Miles in different scenarios. One setup I used let Miles’s venom stun foes more often and heal from those attacks while another focused on increasing the number gadgets and refilling them quickly as I fought. Part of the fun is exploring the different mods, and finding ones that work with each mission.
With that gameplay foundation established, “Miles Morales” tells a different type of Spider-Man story. It’s one rooted in family dynamics, friendship and a diverse Harlem community. It’s one of the rare games where the cast is dominated by people of color with side quests that show other communities that aren’t represented in video games and remain invisible in the industry. “Miles Morales” even has a nod toward the Black Lives Matter movement. All of this feels right for the setting and character.
Miles is a character meant to bring diversity to the Marvel universe and reflect its audience, and it’s refreshing to see that carry over in the video game version.
The game embraces its hero’s background and uses it to tell a Marvel Cinematic Universe-style story that sticks to its themes over the course of a few hours. It’s nowhere near as long as the original but Insomniac manages to do more with less. Everything from the spellbinding soundtrack to the side quests add to the narrative though the last optional collectible arc is needed but feels forced, but it doesn’t distract too much from a game that gets so much right and will likely be the crowd-pleasing title that most PlayStation 5 owners will flock to.
‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’
3½ stars out of 4
Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Rating: Teen


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Review: PlayStation 5 leans on DualSense to bring next-level feeling

With its soaring curves and massive frame , the PlayStation 5 looks more like an architectural wonder than a video game console .
That ’ s intentional .
The bold silhouette is meant to give players a sense of novelty , a feeling of progress as they enter a console cycle when developers are clawing for new ways to impress players .
The visual jump from the PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 isn ’ t as big as the ones from previous generations .
It ’ s not like going from standard definition to high definition or from sprites to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will find two big graphic upgrades that aren ’ t obvious at first glance but will need a careful eye to discern .
The first visual upgrade comes in the form of ray tracing , which is a hardware-intensive rendering technique that lets developers model light on surfaces .
It means you ’ ll see accurate reflections on glass or fire that glows correctly around burning wood .
The effect is subtle but it raises the realism of images to a Pixar-like level .
The second improvement is the frame rate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chips lets gamers play titles at up to 120 frames per second .
Players need monitors with high refresh rates that support the technology , but once they see active gameplay , it reveals a discernible difference in silky smooth motion .
Unfortunately , ray tracing and high frame rates can ’ t be used at the same time .
Both require tons of horsepower .
The final system piece is the super-fast hard drive .
The custom PS5 tech dramatically speeds up load times , to the point where they are almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games are designed , as studios may not need to hide load times through winding corridors or cut scenes .
Again , the changes may go over the head of casual consumers , but for developers , it creates a broader canvas .
While the console tech boasts meaningful but sophisticated changes , there is nothing subtle about the changes in the DualSense controller .
It ’ s the first major redesign of Sony ’ s controller since the DualShock was introduced in 1997 .
The new DualSense builds on the innovation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , touchpad and share button , but it comes packed with game-changing technology that elevates the experience to the next level .
The biggest change is in the adaptive triggers .
It ’ s a type of force feedback that creates tension when players pull on the main shoulder buttons .
It ’ s akin to the resistance that players feel when fighting the steering wheel during an arcade race game .
The extra feedback comes into play when players pull the string back on a bow to shoot an arrow or get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a magical feeling and shifts the weight of the DualSense .
At times , it can feel heavy when the triggers are tight , or it can feel lighter when the shoulder buttons are looser .
It ’ s an invention that ’ s worth celebrating and adds needed immersion .
Along with that , Sony added a microphone and better haptics to the controller .
The microphone introduces minor value to games , depending on how well the processor can understand voice controls , but the improved rumble in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going on the screen .
It ’ s a smidge better than what Nintendo did with the Joy-Con ’ s HD Rumble .
Sony preloaded “ Astro ’ s Playroom ” on the PS5 and the short but sweet platformer is the perfect showcase for the system .
It highlights the fine force feedback that the DualSense can give off by replicating the feel of rain drops hitting an umbrella .
It uses the adaptive triggers with a bow and arrow and machine gun , showing how developers adjust to the feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the motion controls that are available but are infrequently used .
Meanwhile , “ Astro ’ s Playroom ” shows off a tiny bit of the PS5 ’ s graphic prowess .
The visuals don ’ t jump off the screen , but fans will appreciate the references and Easter eggs focused on PlayStation ’ s history .
It ’ s a neat homage to the whole brand .
When it comes to sound , Sony takes an interesting approach by funneling the audio through its Tempest Engine chip .
Players don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards such as Dolby or DTS because much of that info is processed through that chip .
At the same time , though , it may not play as nicely for those with certain speaker setups .
Ideally , games should be experienced with headphones because the chip is tuned for those devices at the moment .
Receivers , soundbars and others setups will likely get support .
The 3D audio adds more detail to the soundscape .
It has a layered effect : Players can hear the chatter in a crowd through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York street .
Again , it ’ s subtle , but the tricks add to the immersion and sense of place .
On the software side , Sony cleans up and refines the user interface .
Taking screenshots and video are more transparent as player see the picture or video after its taken .
The company added cards to the UI that helps guide players through achievements or other activities .
These are fine improvements , but the one place that the PS5 is lacking is in the integration with smartphones .
Sony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote play , messaging and main app functions on smartphones a few months back .
Thankfully , the company has reversed course and folded messaging back into the main app , but the remote app still functions separately .
It ’ s not as intuitive as its rivals nor does it provide the same functionality .
It ’ s needed for gamers who want to play when the TV is occupied by another household member .
Although it ’ s not as robust as the Xbox version , the PlayStation app has two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that players can buy games from the app and see it downloaded to the PS5 .
The other benefit is that players can run a voice chat off the phone making it easier to talk to their friends in a private group .
Those are simple quality of life improvements but they ultimately make a big difference for players who had to fiddle through years of a cumbersome PS4 interface .
• Review : With a nod to the past , fully loaded Xbox Series X is built for the future • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xbox Series X • How San Mateo ’ s Roblox became the ‘ it ’ game for tweens — and a massive business • Review in progress : ‘ Watch Dogs Legion ’ has promising start despite a major glitch • ‘ Pokemon Go ’ : November set for two Community Days with Electabuzz and Magmar The only drawback for the system is how it handles backward compatibility .
Unlike the Xbox Series X , the PlayStation family of consoles doesn ’ t have a uniform architecture , and because of years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t support PS3 games or discs released earlier .
Thankfully , it does support most PlayStation 4 releases .
With a handful of great launch titles that include “ Spider-Man : Miles Morales ” ( see our review ) , players will have the content that takes advantage of the DualSense and PS5 .
For those with the PlayStation Plus service , they ’ ll also have access to the PlayStation Plus Collection , which comes with 18 top PS4 titles , some of which benefit from the new hardware .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive boost .
The PS5 ’ s vision of the next generation doubles down on and refines what made its past console so great while adding innovations that will undoubtedly be adopted by others .

With its soaring curves and massive frame, the PlayStation 5 looks more like an architectural wonder than a video game console. That’s intentional. The bold silhouette is meant to give players a sense of novelty, a feeling of progress as they enter a console cycle when developers are clawing for new ways to impress players.
The visual jump from the PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 isn’t as big as the ones from previous generations. It’s not like going from standard definition to high definition or from sprites to polygons. In the PS5, players will find two big graphic upgrades that aren’t obvious at first glance but will need a careful eye to discern.
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
WALNUT CREEK, CA - OCT. 26: Photos of the recently released Sony Playstation 5 photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A higher visual fidelity
The first visual upgrade comes in the form of ray tracing, which is a hardware-intensive rendering technique that lets developers model light on surfaces. It means you’ll see accurate reflections on glass or fire that glows correctly around burning wood. The effect is subtle but it raises the realism of images to a Pixar-like level.
The second improvement is the frame rate. The upgraded hardware of the PS5’s chips lets gamers play titles at up to 120 frames per second. Players need monitors with high refresh rates that support the technology, but once they see active gameplay, it reveals a discernible difference in silky smooth motion. Unfortunately, ray tracing and high frame rates can’t be used at the same time. Both require tons of horsepower.
The final system piece is the super-fast hard drive. The custom PS5 tech dramatically speeds up load times, to the point where they are almost nonexistent. That feature can change how games are designed, as studios may not need to hide load times through winding corridors or cut scenes. Again, the changes may go over the head of casual consumers, but for developers, it creates a broader canvas.
The true MVP
While the console tech boasts meaningful but sophisticated changes, there is nothing subtle about the changes in the DualSense controller. It’s the first major redesign of Sony’s controller since the DualShock was introduced in 1997. The new DualSense builds on the innovation of the DualShock 4 with the built-in speaker, touchpad and share button, but it comes packed with game-changing technology that elevates the experience to the next level.
The biggest change is in the adaptive triggers. It’s a type of force feedback that creates tension when players pull on the main shoulder buttons. It’s akin to the resistance that players feel when fighting the steering wheel during an arcade race game. The extra feedback comes into play when players pull the string back on a bow to shoot an arrow or get the recoil from firing a gun.
It’s a magical feeling and shifts the weight of the DualSense. At times, it can feel heavy when the triggers are tight, or it can feel lighter when the shoulder buttons are looser. It’s an invention that’s worth celebrating and adds needed immersion.
Along with that, Sony added a microphone and better haptics to the controller. The microphone introduces minor value to games, depending on how well the processor can understand voice controls, but the improved rumble in the controller conveys more of what’s going on the screen. It’s a smidge better than what Nintendo did with the Joy-Con’s HD Rumble.
Sony preloaded “Astro’s Playroom” on the PS5 and the short but sweet platformer is the perfect showcase for the system. It highlights the fine force feedback that the DualSense can give off by replicating the feel of rain drops hitting an umbrella. It uses the adaptive triggers with a bow and arrow and machine gun, showing how developers adjust to the feel of a weapon. It even highlights the motion controls that are available but are infrequently used.
Meanwhile, “Astro’s Playroom” shows off a tiny bit of the PS5’s graphic prowess. The visuals don’t jump off the screen, but fans will appreciate the references and Easter eggs focused on PlayStation’s history. It’s a neat homage to the whole brand.
Sound decision?
When it comes to sound, Sony takes an interesting approach by funneling the audio through its Tempest Engine chip. Players don’t have to worry about different surround standards such as Dolby or DTS because much of that info is processed through that chip. At the same time, though, it may not play as nicely for those with certain speaker setups. Ideally, games should be experienced with headphones because the chip is tuned for those devices at the moment. Receivers, soundbars and others setups will likely get support.
The 3D audio adds more detail to the soundscape. It has a layered effect: Players can hear the chatter in a crowd through the roar of cars of a New York street. Again, it’s subtle, but the tricks add to the immersion and sense of place.
On the software side, Sony cleans up and refines the user interface. Taking screenshots and video are more transparent as player see the picture or video after its taken. The company added cards to the UI that helps guide players through achievements or other activities. These are fine improvements, but the one place that the PS5 is lacking is in the integration with smartphones.
Sony made the strange decision to separate the remote play, messaging and main app functions on smartphones a few months back. Thankfully, the company has reversed course and folded messaging back into the main app, but the remote app still functions separately. It’s not as intuitive as its rivals nor does it provide the same functionality. It’s needed for gamers who want to play when the TV is occupied by another household member.
Although it’s not as robust as the Xbox version, the PlayStation app has two features going for it. The first is that players can buy games from the app and see it downloaded to the PS5. The other benefit is that players can run a voice chat off the phone making it easier to talk to their friends in a private group. Those are simple quality of life improvements but they ultimately make a big difference for players who had to fiddle through years of a cumbersome PS4 interface.
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What to play: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ will keep gamers busy during August Entertainment | ‘First Descendant’ crossplay beta delayed until September but will be open to all The only drawback for the system is how it handles backward compatibility. Unlike the Xbox Series X, the PlayStation family of consoles doesn’t have a uniform architecture, and because of years of using different chipsets, the PS5 won’t support PS3 games or discs released earlier. Thankfully, it does support most PlayStation 4 releases.
With a handful of great launch titles that include “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” (see our review), players will have the content that takes advantage of the DualSense and PS5. For those with the PlayStation Plus service, they’ll also have access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, which comes with 18 top PS4 titles, some of which benefit from the new hardware. “Days Gone” is one that gets massive boost.
The PS5’s vision of the next generation doubles down on and refines what made its past console so great while adding innovations that will undoubtedly be adopted by others.
PlayStation 5
3½ stars out of 4
Release date: Nov. 12
Price: $499 (standard edition), $399 (digital edition)


mercurynews--2020-11-06--Here’s where the California ballot measures stand with 100% of precincts reporting; mail-in ballots

Here’s where the California ballot measures stand with 100% of precincts reporting; mail-in ballots still being counted

Here is a geographical breakdown of how Californians are voting on the 12 propositions .
Figures are from the California @ @ @ @ @ as of 6:41 p.m. Nov. 4 with 100 % ( 20,497 of 20,497 ) precincts @ @ @ @ @ change as more vote-by-mail ballots , provisional ballots and other ballots are tallied .
Election @ @ @ @ @ statewide level as often as new data is received from county elections officials .
Many @ @ @ @ @ Election Day ; county elections officials must report final official results for presidential electors to @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 1 , and all other state contests by Dec. 4 .
Results will be @ @ @ @ @

Here is a geographical breakdown of how Californians are voting on the 12 propositions.
Figures are from the California Secretary of State as of as of 6:41 p.m. Nov. 4 with 100% (20,497 of 20,497) precincts reporting. Election results may change as more vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots and other ballots are tallied.
Election results are updated at the statewide level as often as new data is received from county elections officials. Many ballots are not counted on Election Day; county elections officials must report final official results for presidential electors to the Secretary of State by Dec. 1, and all other state contests by Dec. 4. Results will be certified by Dec. 11.


mercurynews--2020-11-06--49ers report card: COVID-19 saga, injury count took toll against Packers

SANTA CLARA — Here is how the 49ers ( 4-5 ) graded in Thursday night ’ s 34-17 home loss to the Green Bay Packers : Let ’ s be honest , no one could expect much with wide receivers Deebo Samuel , Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne going so late onto the COVID reserve list , as well as George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo retreating to Injured Reserve .
Richie James came through with a career-best game ( nine catches , 184 yards , one touchdown ) and Nick Mullens finished strong like Sunday , when the outcome wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mullens and Garoppolo have been too locked into the pocket , which hasn ’ t helped the linemen .
So it wasn ’ t stunning to see Trent Williams ’ sub at left tackle , Justin Skule , get beat in what resulted in Mullens ’ two turnovers ( interception ; sack-fumble ) .
Perhaps this grade reflects how the COVID saga impacted this unit , and Bourne ’ s alleged lack of proper face shield put the 49ers ’ in such a precarious position .
Jerick McKinnon scored — with four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had some decent runs .
Far from the 220-yard , four-touchdown showcase , however , that Raheem Mostert put on the Packers in the NFC Championship Game .
JaMycal Hasty managed just 3 yards on four carries , his second straight humbling outing .
The revamped line wasn ’ t inspiring , although first-time center Daniel Brunskill gained coach Kyle Shanahan ’ s approval .
This unit needed to save the day .
It failed .
Aaron Rodgers easily passed for four touchdowns , just as Russell Wilson did four days earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 173-yard performance topped those put on the 49ers ’ this season by the Arizona Cardinals ’ DeAndre Hopkins ( 151 yards ) and D.K .
Metcalf ( 161 yards ) .
Who ’ s to blame ?
It starts with the pass rush ; Jordan Willis had the lone sack .
Ultimately , the 49ers secondary hasn ’ t answered the bell , as cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett both struggled , but not more so than the 49ers ’ safety help , which continues to plague things and yield explosive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore at one of the spots .
Jaquiski Tartt now has a toe injury after his recent groin problem .
Missed tackles against Aaron Jones on the opening drive simply opened the floodgates for the Packers ’ offense .
Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair weren ’ t sharp enough or not nearly at the level of Fred Warner , who had a season-high 13 tackles and played with more fire than any other defender .
The defensive line did not clog lanes nearly well enough .
• What the 49ers are saying after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Season on the brink – Niners loss to Packers shows how far they ’ ve fallen It ’ s not every game you have five kick returns from four different players , the best coming from Austin Walter ( 34 yards ) in his 49ers debut .
Robbie Gould made his lone field goal , a 22-yard chip shot .
Curiously , Kyle Shanahan said Ahkello Witherspoon was inactivated because of how the 49ers envisioned their special teams ; Witherspoon downed a punt at the 1 on Sunday in Seattle .
I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ albeit hand-picked replacements but a ton of new guys at new spots .
Losing four offensive mainstays to the COVID list the day before a game when you ’ re already understaffed ?
Welcome to 2020 NFL football , 49ers style .
The 49ers need to start better offensively and defensively , and while that could be on the coaching staff for their scripts , Mullens said the calls weren ’ t the problem but rather players ’ failed execution .
I ’ ll buy that , except on the defensive ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @

SANTA CLARA — Here is how the 49ers (4-5) graded in Thursday night’s 34-17 home loss to the Green Bay Packers:
PASS OFFENSE: D+
Let’s be honest, no one could expect much with wide receivers Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne going so late onto the COVID reserve list, as well as George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo retreating to Injured Reserve. Richie James came through with a career-best game (nine catches, 184 yards, one touchdown) and Nick Mullens finished strong like Sunday, when the outcome wasn’t in doubt like in Seattle. Mullens and Garoppolo have been too locked into the pocket, which hasn’t helped the linemen. So it wasn’t stunning to see Trent Williams’ sub at left tackle, Justin Skule, get beat in what resulted in Mullens’ two turnovers (interception; sack-fumble). Perhaps this grade reflects how the COVID saga impacted this unit, and Bourne’s alleged lack of proper face shield put the 49ers’ in such a precarious position.
RUN OFFENSE: D
Jerick McKinnon scored — with four seconds remaining, capping a 52-yard night that had some decent runs. Far from the 220-yard, four-touchdown showcase, however, that Raheem Mostert put on the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. JaMycal Hasty managed just 3 yards on four carries, his second straight humbling outing. The revamped line wasn’t inspiring, although first-time center Daniel Brunskill gained coach Kyle Shanahan’s approval.
PASS DEFENSE: F
This unit needed to save the day. It failed. Aaron Rodgers easily passed for four touchdowns, just as Russell Wilson did four days earlier against this porous secondary. Davante Adams’ 173-yard performance topped those put on the 49ers’ this season by the Arizona Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins (151 yards) and D.K. Metcalf (161 yards). Who’s to blame? It starts with the pass rush; Jordan Willis had the lone sack. Ultimately, the 49ers secondary hasn’t answered the bell, as cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett both struggled, but not more so than the 49ers’ safety help, which continues to plague things and yield explosive plays. Please, just play Tarvarius Moore at one of the spots. Jaquiski Tartt now has a toe injury after his recent groin problem.
RUN DEFENSE: D+
Missed tackles against Aaron Jones on the opening drive simply opened the floodgates for the Packers’ offense. Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair weren’t sharp enough or not nearly at the level of Fred Warner, who had a season-high 13 tackles and played with more fire than any other defender. The defensive line did not clog lanes nearly well enough. Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers aren’t worried about Nick Bosa’s holdout. They should be
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SPECIAL TEAMS: C
It’s not every game you have five kick returns from four different players, the best coming from Austin Walter (34 yards) in his 49ers debut. Robbie Gould made his lone field goal, a 22-yard chip shot. Curiously, Kyle Shanahan said Ahkello Witherspoon was inactivated because of how the 49ers envisioned their special teams; Witherspoon downed a punt at the 1 on Sunday in Seattle.
COACHING: C
I mean, look who they were coaching, albeit hand-picked replacements but a ton of new guys at new spots. Losing four offensive mainstays to the COVID list the day before a game when you’re already understaffed? Welcome to 2020 NFL football, 49ers style. The 49ers need to start better offensively and defensively, and while that could be on the coaching staff for their scripts, Mullens said the calls weren’t the problem but rather players’ failed execution. I’ll buy that, except on the defensive’s penchant for allowing big plays.