mercurynews--2020-01-23--Sponsored: New fireplace in older townhouse no big deal to seller, but full disclosure can avoid leg

Sponsored: New fireplace in older townhouse no big deal to seller, but full disclosure can avoid legal bumps down the road

Q : We are presently selling a townhouse and forgot to mention a texting teenager jumped the curb and drove into an adjoining townhome .
The car went through a patio and stopped in the next-door neighbor ’ s living room .
The back of our townhome ’ s fireplace and its chimney were crushed and subsequently replaced .
We never used the new wood-burning fireplace , and so we thought nothing of it .
Our seller ’ s agent now wants to amend our disclosures .
The homebuyers have already signed off on all the sales disclosures .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the homebuyers to cancel the transaction with this forgotten disclosure .
Anyone can see the long street we live on curves at the backyards of our townhouses .
Why would we mention this disclosure ?
A : To protect your sale , time and costs associated with litigation .
Real estate attorneys share statements during initial meetings with home sellers who are facing legal claims that are genuine or imagined .
Home sellers often proclaim that the disclosure issue in question “ Did not matter to me , ” and “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big deal , I would have disclosed it ” or , “ If someone asked me , I would have told them.
” The first order of business for a seller ’ s agent is to spot issues .
Once the seller ’ s agent has an understanding of the property ’ s inspections , reports and disclosure , he or she has a legal responsibility : “ Diligent exercise of reasonable skill and care in performance of the agent ’ s duties .
A duty of honest and fair dealing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all facts known to the agent materially affecting the value or desirability of the property that are not known to , or within the diligent attention and observation of , the parties.
” My guess is your seller ’ s agent noticed a new fireplace in an older townhouse and started asking questions .
Learning a curved road contributed to a 3,000-pound car leaving the roadway and parking in your next-door neighbor ’ s living room at 35 mph prompted this late disclosure .
Since homebuyers file over 90 % of claims against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are paying for keep steering you out of harm ’ s way .
Do you have concerns ?
Practical methods to buy ?
Strategic tactics to sell ?
Call full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich at 408-245-7700 , email Pat @ SiliconValleyBroker.com .
Broker License 00979413 .
Part art , part science , Kapowich excels at negotiations .

Q: We are presently selling a townhouse and forgot to mention a texting teenager jumped the curb and drove into an adjoining townhome. The car went through a patio and stopped in the next-door neighbor’s living room. The back of our townhome’s fireplace and its chimney were crushed and subsequently replaced. We never used the new wood-burning fireplace, and so we thought nothing of it. Our seller’s agent now wants to amend our disclosures. The homebuyers have already signed off on all the sales disclosures. It sounds like we are creating a loophole for the homebuyers to cancel the transaction with this forgotten disclosure. Anyone can see the long street we live on curves at the backyards of our townhouses. Why would we mention this disclosure?
A: To protect your sale, time and costs associated with litigation. Real estate attorneys share statements during initial meetings with home sellers who are facing legal claims that are genuine or imagined. Home sellers often proclaim that the disclosure issue in question “Did not matter to me,” and “If I’d have known it was a big deal, I would have disclosed it” or, “If someone asked me, I would have told them.” The first order of business for a seller’s agent is to spot issues. Once the seller’s agent has an understanding of the property’s inspections, reports and disclosure, he or she has a legal responsibility: “Diligent exercise of reasonable skill and care in performance of the agent’s duties. A duty of honest and fair dealing and good faith. A duty to disclose all facts known to the agent materially affecting the value or desirability of the property that are not known to, or within the diligent attention and observation of, the parties.” My guess is your seller’s agent noticed a new fireplace in an older townhouse and started asking questions. Learning a curved road contributed to a 3,000-pound car leaving the roadway and parking in your next-door neighbor’s living room at 35 mph prompted this late disclosure. Since homebuyers file over 90% of claims against home sellers, let the pro you are paying for keep steering you out of harm’s way.
Do you have concerns? Practical methods to buy? Strategic tactics to sell? Call full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich at 408-245-7700, email Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com. Broker License 00979413. Part art, part science, Kapowich excels at negotiations.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Jim the Critic’s Top Concert Picks of the Week (Jan. 30-Feb. 5)

Here are your best bets for live music this week , highlighted by a performance from a superstar K-pop act .
Sure , it ’ s Super Bowl Sunday .
And the Niners are in the big game .
But thousands of music lovers will ignore all that and head straight to the SAP Center in San Jose on Feb. 2 to see SuperM .
The South Korean K-pop super group features members of four different SM Entertainment acts – Shinee , Exo , NCT 127 and WayV – and is touring in support of its self-titled EP , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billboard 200 in October .
The Irish singer-songwriter visits the Masonic in San Francisco on Jan. 30 in support of the recently released major-label debut “ Without Fear , ” which features the popular folk-pop single “ Outnumbered.
” The Northern California ambient music act , which received a best dance/electronic album nomination ( for “ Epoch ” ) at the 2017 Grammy Awards , performs Feb. 5 at Fox Theater in Oakland .
The San Francisco electronic dance music producer and DJ performs a big hometown show at the Bill Graham Civic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Habstrakt , Drezo and Tynan are also on the bill .
The Washington D.C.-based prog-metal outfit rolls into the Fillmore in San Francisco on Jan. 30 .
Plini and Covet are also on the bill .

Here are your best bets for live music this week, highlighted by a performance from a superstar K-pop act.
SuperM
Sure, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. And the Niners are in the big game. But thousands of music lovers will ignore all that and head straight to the SAP Center in San Jose on Feb. 2 to see SuperM.
The South Korean K-pop supergroup features members of four different acts affiliated with South Korea’s massive SM Entertainment company — Shinee, Exo, NCT 127 and WayV — and is touring in support of its self-titled EP, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in October.
Details: 7 p.m.; $50; ticketmaster.com
Dermot Kennedy
The Irish singer-songwriter visits The Masonic in San Francisco on Jan. 30 in support of his recently released major-label debut “Without Fear,” which features the popular folk-pop single “Outnumbered.”
Details: 8 p.m.; $32-$42; livenation.com
Tycho
The Northern California ambient music act, which received a best dance/electronic album nomination (for “Epoch”) at the 2017 Grammy Awards, performs Feb. 5 at Fox Theater in Oakland.
Details: 8 p.m.; $45; ticketmaster.com
Jauz
The San Francisco electronic dance music producer and DJ performs a big hometown show at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Feb. 1. Habstrakt, Drezo and Tynan are also on the bill.
Details: 8 p.m.; $25-$45; ticketmaster.com
Periphery
The Washington, D.C.,-based prog-metal outfit rolls into the Fillmore in San Francisco on Jan. 30. Plini and Covet are also on the bill.
Details: 7:30 p.m.; $30; livenation.com


mercurynews--2020-01-23--11 Valentines Day events in the SF Bay Area

The Speakeasy — Cupid ’ s Arrow : 8:30-11 p.m. Feb. 13-15 , Palace Theatre , 644 Broadway , San Francisco .
Strolling performers will recite poetry and sonnets , opera singers will serenade and couples can have their tarot cards read and keepsake photos done at the Cupid ’ s Photo Booth .
$ 75 .
www.thespeakeasysf.com/cupids-arrow/ Valentine ’ s Day Celebration : Feb. 14-16 , Longevity Wines , 2271 S. Vasco Road , Livermore .
This reserve tasting includes a tasting flight of seven wines , wine glasses and a box of chocolates .
( $ 48 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rock music by Chris Ahlman ( Feb. 15 ) , and folk and blues by Jenny DeSantis and Ron Bruder ( Feb. 16 ) .
www.longevitywines.com/events.html In the Kitchen Culinary — A Romantic Valentine ’ s Day Event : 6-9 p.m. Feb. 14 , ITK Culinary , 1410 62nd St. , Emeryville .
The romantic menu for this hands-on cooking experience includes kir royale , oysters on the half shell , lamb carpaccio , seared salmon , New York strip steak and molten chocolate cakes .
$ 200 .
http : //bit.ly/37iHgU1 Valentine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Feb. 14 , Savory Kitchen , 754 The Alameda , Suite 50 , San Jose .
Enjoy a glass of sparkling rosé and a hands-on cooking class that includes rosemary shrimp skewers , candied kumquat salad , cabernet roasted short ribs and raspberry molten lava cakes .
$ 145 .
https : //www.savory-kitchen.com/classes-1 Oakland Valentines Day Bar Crawl : 7-11 p.m. Feb. 14 , The Layover , 1517 Franklin St. , Oakland .
Enjoy drinks , bites , music and fun at some of the neighborhood establishments .
http : //bit.ly/2Gfddkg My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tea : 7-10 p.m. Feb. 14 , Oaktown Supperclub , location tba , Piedmont Ave. , Oakland .
Chef Leslie Landberg is the host on this underground escapade that includes operatic serenades , poetic recitations , fanciful teas and an estate garden tour .
$ 30 .
http : //bit.ly/37jHuds Ghosts of Valentines — A Theatrical Seance with Aiden Sinclair : 6:30 and 9 p.m. Feb. 14-15 , Winchester Mystery House , 525 S. Winchester Blvd.
, San Jose .
This 60-minute interactive performance will immerse guests in the world of Victorian spiritualism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 and over .
$ 79- $ 89 .
https : //winchestermysteryhouse.com/ Champagne and Chocolate Love Fest : 8 p.m. Feb. 14 , Southern Cafe , 400 G St. , Antioch .
Enjoy live DJ music , play “ The Match Game ” and enjoy signature sips and a romantic menu .
$ 20- $ 100 .
http : //bit.ly/36nRtgJ The Jets !
Valentine ’ s Day Concert : 8-11 p.m. Feb. 14 , BAL Theatre , 14808 East 14th St. , San Leandro .
Spend Valentine ’ s Day with the legendary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
http : //bit.ly/2RlPoxv Couple ’ s Love Meditation Workshop : 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15 , Cavallo Point Lodge , 601 Murray Circle , Sausalito .
Learn how meditation can deepen your connection as you discover each other ’ s unique nature .
$ 200 .
http : //bit.ly/2RGwS1D Cupid ’ s Undie Run : Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 15 , Make Westing , 1741 Telegraph Ave. , Oakland .
Party and “ brief ” mile ( ish ) fun run in your undies for neurofibromatosis ( NF ) , a genetic tumor @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Laszlo Lonely Hearts Club: 4-midnight Feb. 13, 2526 Mission St., San Francisco. 1990s high school throwback night complete with themed cocktails, John Hughes movies, a DIY photobooth, and prom-inspired decorations. http://laszlobar.com/
The Speakeasy — Cupid’s Arrow: 8:30-11 p.m. Feb. 13-15, Palace Theatre, 644 Broadway, San Francisco. Strolling performers will recite poetry and sonnets, opera singers will serenade and couples can have their tarot cards read and keepsake photos done at the Cupid’s Photo Booth. $75. www.thespeakeasysf.com/cupids-arrow/
Roses and Rosés: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 14-16, Chandon Winery, 1 California Drive, Yountville. This hourlong tasting experience includes a flight of five rosés, accompanied by a rose and a special gift. www.chandon.com/
Valentine’s Day Celebration: Feb. 14-16, Longevity Wines, 2271 S. Vasco Road, Livermore. This reserve tasting includes a tasting flight of seven wines, wine glasses and a box of chocolates. ($48), plus live pop, folk and rock music by Chris Ahlman (Feb. 15), and folk and blues by Jenny DeSantis and Ron Bruder (Feb. 16). www.longevitywines.com/events.html
Valentine’s Ice Cream Tour: 4-5 p.m. Feb. 14, 6310 College Ave., Oakland. In addition to three ice cream desserts and a fun guided tour, all guests will receive a special heart-shaped treat from La Farine Boulangerie Patisserie. $15-$20. www.localfoodadventures.com/
Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery: 6 p.m. Feb. 14, Brasswood, 3111 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena. Attend this four-course Valentine’s Day mystery theater dinner for the wedding of John Napa and Christine Valley at Brasswood, and you’ll have a chance to enjoy a dramatic “til death due us part” themed mystery. $200. https://www.sthelena.com/event/
In the Kitchen Culinary — A Romantic Valentine’s Day Event: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 14, ITK Culinary, 1410 62nd St., Emeryville. The romantic menu for this hands-on cooking experience includes kir royale, oysters on the half shell, lamb carpaccio, seared salmon, New York strip steak and molten chocolate cakes. $200. http://bit.ly/37iHgU1
Valentine’s Day Dinner Class: 7-10 p.m. Feb. 14, Savory Kitchen, 754 The Alameda, Suite 50, San Jose. Enjoy a glass of sparkling rosé and a hands-on cooking class that includes rosemary shrimp skewers, candied kumquat salad, cabernet roasted short ribs and raspberry molten lava cakes. $145. https://www.savory-kitchen.com/classes-1
Oakland Valentines Day Bar Crawl: 7-11 p.m. Feb. 14, The Layover, 1517 Franklin St., Oakland. Enjoy drinks, bites, music and fun at some of the neighborhood establishments. http://bit.ly/2Gfddkg
My Bloody Valentine — A Steampunk Gothic Romantic Tea: 7-10 p.m. Feb. 14, Oaktown Supperclub, location tba, Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Chef Leslie Landberg is the host on this underground escapade that includes operatic serenades, poetic recitations, fanciful teas and an estate garden tour. $30. http://bit.ly/37jHuds
Ghosts of Valentines — A Theatrical Seance with Aiden Sinclair: 6:30 and 9 p.m. Feb. 14-15, Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. This 60-minute interactive performance will immerse guests in the world of Victorian spiritualism, seance and paranormal illusions. Ages 13 and over. $79-$89. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
The Jets Valentine’s Day Concert: 8 p.m. Feb. 14, Historic Bal Theatre, 14808 E. 14th St., San Leandro. $40-$98. www.baltheatre.com
BATS Improv — Love, San Francisco Style: 8-10 p.m. Feb. 14, B350 Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. A show for those in love, those looking for love, and those trying to avoid the whole thing at all costs. $17-$20. www.improv.org
Champagne and Chocolate Love Fest: 8 p.m. Feb. 14, Southern Cafe, 400 G St., Antioch. Enjoy live DJ music, play “The Match Game” and enjoy signature sips and a romantic menu. $20-$100. http://bit.ly/36nRtgJ
Homecoming icon: Legendary Latin jazz percussionist and band leader Pete Escovedo returns to his hometown for a series of Valentines shows. Details: 8 and 10 p.m. Feb. 14; 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Feb. 16; Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland; $34-$75; 510-238-9200; www.yoshis.com.
The Jets Valentine’s Day Concert: 8-11 p.m. Feb. 14, BAL Theatre, 14808 East 14th St., San Leandro. Spend Valentine’s Day with the legendary Jets family. $35-$40. http://bit.ly/2RlPoxv
Valentines Brunch: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 175 Alvarado Ave., Pittsburg. Fundraiser for Lions Center for the Visually Impaired. 1 p.m. special dedication ceremony for “Locks of Love” display. Seal your love in a lock. Purchase lock with inscription for $20. Brunch $15. https://lcvi.org/giving
Couple’s Love Meditation Workshop: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15, Cavallo Point Lodge, 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito. Learn how meditation can deepen your connection as you discover each other’s unique nature. $200. http://bit.ly/2RGwS1D
Cupid’s Undie Run: Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 15, Make Westing, 1741 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Party and “brief” mile(ish) fun run in your undies for neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic tumor disorder charity. $40. my.cupids.org/cur/city/SFBay
Valentines Concert — Mark and Cindy Lemaire: 7 p.m. Feb. 15, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1225 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. Enjoy a variety of music, from delicate guitar solos to raucous sing-alongs. Free. https://www.facebook.com/events/516749645633445/
Red Light Lit — Harmon Guest House: 7-10 p.m. Feb. 16, Harmon Guest House, 227 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. A mashup of live music, photography, storytelling and poetry. $20. http://bit.ly/31EE578


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Drive-by shooting leaves man wounded in Oakland

OAKLAND — A 32-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by shooting Wednesday night in the Fruitvale district in East Oakland @ @ @ @ @ victim was uncooperative and police believe the shooting was gang-related , authorities said .
The @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
The shooting happened about 10:19 p.m. Wednesday in the 3600 block of East @ @ @ @ @ the man was in a car with another person when they were shot at by @ @ @ @ @ .
The other person with the wounded man was not hurt .
It was not @ @ @ @ @ vehicle they were in .
The two were able to drive to a hospital where @ @ @ @ @ and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $ 5,000 in reward money for @ @ @ @ @ of the shooter .
Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3326 or 510-238-3426 or @ @ @ @ @

OAKLAND — A 32-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by shooting Wednesday night in the Fruitvale district in East Oakland, authorities said.
The victim was uncooperative and police believe the shooting was gang-related, authorities said. The man was in stable condition Thursday.
The shooting happened about 10:19 p.m. Wednesday in the 3600 block of East 16th Street.
Authorities said the man was in a car with another person when they were shot at by someone in a passing vehicle. The other person with the wounded man was not hurt. It was not clear who was driving the vehicle they were in.
The two were able to drive to a hospital where police were notified.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3326 or 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
Check back for updates.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--2nd California child molester dies after beating with cane

CORCORAN — A second convicted child molester has died after he was beaten with a walking cane by another inmate @ @ @ @ @ California prison , officials said Wednesday .
Graham De Luis-Conti , 62 , was pronounced @ @ @ @ @ hospital , three days after authorities said he was attacked at California Substance Abuse Treatment @ @ @ @ @ the small central city of Corcoran , corrections officials said in a statement .
They @ @ @ @ @ , used the cane to beat the heads of both inmates .
David Bobb , @ @ @ @ @ to the hospital .
Both victims were serving life prison sentences for aggravated sexual assault @ @ @ @ @ years old .
Watson has served 10 years of a life sentence for first-degree murder @ @ @ @ @ great bodily injury or death .
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating @ @ @ @ @ , said spokeswoman Terri Hardy .
The prison houses more than 5,400 inmates and specializes @ @ @ @ @

CORCORAN — A second convicted child molester has died after he was beaten with a walking cane by another inmate last week at a central California prison, officials said Wednesday.
Graham De Luis-Conti, 62, was pronounced dead on Sunday at a hospital, three days after authorities said he was attacked at California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in the small central city of Corcoran, corrections officials said in a statement.
They said Jonathan Watson, 41, used the cane to beat the heads of both inmates. David Bobb, 48, died en route to the hospital.
Both victims were serving life prison sentences for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years old.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | State: California inmate kills 1 prisoner with walking cane, wounds another Watson has served 10 years of a life sentence for first-degree murder and discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury or death.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating the motive for the attack, said spokeswoman Terri Hardy.
The prison houses more than 5,400 inmates and specializes in substance abuse treatment.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--California asks Trump administration for surplus federal land to house homeless

By DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press SACRAMENTO — California is asking the Trump administration to provide surplus federal land that could be used to build housing for the homeless , mirroring a new state program .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom sent the request in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson amid an ongoing debate over whether Democratic officials in California are doing enough to ease the state ’ s homelessness crisis .
The Democratic governor earlier this month directed his administration to identify unused state property by month ’ s end that local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as it doesn ’ t delay the development of affordable housing .
That includes state property alongside highways or state roads , state fairgrounds , and vacant hospitals and health care facilities .
Applicants will submit proposals for long-term leases on the land to build permanent housing .
“ You could match our commitment by similarly providing free surplus federal land to local governments across the state so they can build housing for the homeless , ” Newsom wrote in the letter he made public Wednesday .
Newsom also noted his other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in spending during the current and upcoming fiscal years .
“ A key part of our emergency actions is is deploying 100 emergency trailers and providing state land available for free to local governments to use for homeless housing and shelter , ” he wrote .
“ As you engage California with offers of resources , I hope you will match our commitment to comprehensive solutions that go beyond temporary tent villages .
A successful deployment of emergency aid must include a significant federal commitment to housing resources — anything less , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on federal land.
” • In the shadow of Tesla ’ s car plant , truckers and the homeless converge • Officials want to clear a mile-long homeless camp on a Sonoma County bike trail .
Some don ’ t want to go HUD calculates that California ’ s homeless population increased 16 % last year , to about 151,000 people , or more than a quarter of the national total .
The same week Newsom initially announced his plans , President Donald Trump criticized California leaders , particularly in Los Angeles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address homelessness .
But Trump said in a tweet that if city and state leaders “ acknowledge responsibility and politely ” ask for help , then his administration “ will very seriously consider getting involved .
”

By DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — California is asking the Trump administration to provide surplus federal land that could be used to build housing for the homeless, mirroring a new state program.
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent the request in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson amid an ongoing debate over whether Democratic officials in California are doing enough to ease the state’s homelessness crisis.
The Democratic governor earlier this month directed his administration to identify unused state property by month’s end that local governments or nonprofits can use, so long as it doesn’t delay the development of affordable housing.
That includes state property alongside highways or state roads, state fairgrounds, and vacant hospitals and health care facilities. Applicants will submit proposals for long-term leases on the land to build permanent housing.
“You could match our commitment by similarly providing free surplus federal land to local governments across the state so they can build housing for the homeless,” Newsom wrote in the letter he made public Wednesday.
HUD spokesmen did not immediately comment.
Newsom also noted his other recently announced plans, including $2 billion in spending during the current and upcoming fiscal years.
“A key part of our emergency actions is is deploying 100 emergency trailers and providing state land available for free to local governments to use for homeless housing and shelter,” he wrote. “As you engage California with offers of resources, I hope you will match our commitment to comprehensive solutions that go beyond temporary tent villages. A successful deployment of emergency aid must include a significant federal commitment to housing resources — anything less, and we risk creating permanent homeless encampments on federal land.”
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New San Jose law would ban homeless encampments and RVs near schools Politics | Home sweet parking lot: Some hospitals welcome RV living for patients, families, and workers HUD calculates that California’s homeless population increased 16% last year, to about 151,000 people, or more than a quarter of the national total.
The same week Newsom initially announced his plans, President Donald Trump criticized California leaders, particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco, for failing to adequately address homelessness.
But Trump said in a tweet that if city and state leaders “acknowledge responsibility and politely” ask for help, then his administration “will very seriously consider getting involved.”


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Peninsula pastor who threatened ‘doomsday’ shooting changed after head injury, colleague says

A 79-year-old Lutheran pastor arrested last week for allegedly threatening to shoot up a church he formerly attended displayed personality changes after a head injury , according to those who know him .
Last Thursday evening , San Carlos resident Paul Michaelson was arrested after allegedly hand-delivering multiple letters at Holy Trinity Church detailing his ‘ doomsday ’ shooting plans for Sunday , prompting increased security at the church and a condemnation from the regional bishop .
In a twist that shocked the local Lutheran community , Michaelson was not only a former member of Holy Trinity himself , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Hope Lutheran Church in San Mateo since the early 2000s .
Now , those in Michaelson ’ s circle have been left questioning behavior they describe as out of character — and wondering whether the threats stem from a head injury he apparently suffered about a year and a half ago .
“ The guy ’ s as gentle and compassionate and loving as any guy I ’ ve ever known , ” said Dan Severson , the senior pastor at Hope Lutheran who has worked with Michaelson for about five years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved him because he was compassionate , he was involved in their lives and interested in what it was like to live as a senior in difficult situations.
” Michaelson ’ s duties at Hope Lutheran included tracking church membership statistics and running the senior ministry program , Severson said .
That meant keeping up with other seniors ’ lives — particularly those who lived alone like himself — and arranging monthly lunch outings .
But around April 2018 , Michaelson fell from a ladder outside his home in San Carlos and suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of his family .
He returned to work after treatment in the intensive care unit — but his personality had changed and he was much more withdrawn , tiring easily , colleagues said .
“ It was something that affected his mood and his overall ability to do the job as well as he used to , ” Severson said .
“ He still worked , he still came in , he still fulfilled the basic responsibilities of the job , he just wasn ’ t the same jolly guy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have children and has few family members in the Bay Area .
In 2017 , his wife , Marilyn , died at the age of 80 .
Before that , he felt that Holy Trinity did not support him and his wife while she dealt with cancer , Severson said .
Michaelson ’ s niece Kimberly Phair , 46 , reached by phone in Minnesota , confirmed that several cousins had alerted her to Michaelson ’ s fall last year , but she could not confirm exactly when it happened .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Phair said .
Michaelson ’ s letters , which he allegedly brought to Holy Trinity on four separate occasions in January , spelled out his scheme to murder first the Holy Trinity pastor and then parishioners , according to a gun restraining order filed in San Mateo County Superior Court Friday .
• San Mateo pastor threatens to shoot up church he used to attend , police say He made bail on the Friday after his release ; no formal criminal charges have been filed yet in San Mateo County Superior Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not aware of any documented mental health problems in Michaelson ’ s past that could have contributed to the threats , according to San Mateo County Sheriff ’ s Office Sgt .
Rosemerry Blankswade .
Michaelson appeared to be lucid when he was first apprehended , she added .
“ In the initial interview , nothing stood out , ” Blankswade said .
“ He seemed to have no major mental health components .
”

A 79-year-old Lutheran pastor arrested last week for allegedly threatening to shoot up a church he formerly attended displayed personality changes after a head injury, according to those who know him.
On Jan. 16, San Carlos resident Paul Michaelson was arrested on suspicion of hand-delivering multiple letters to Holy Trinity Church detailing his “doomsday” shooting plans for the following Sunday, prompting increased security at the church and a condemnation from the regional bishop.
In a twist that shocked the local Lutheran community, Michaelson was not only a former member of Holy Trinity himself, but had also served as a part-time pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in San Mateo since the early 2000s.
Now, those in Michaelson’s circle have been left questioning behavior they describe as out of character — and wondering whether the threats stem from a head injury he apparently suffered about a year and a half ago.
“The guy’s as gentle and compassionate and loving as any guy I’ve ever known,” said Dan Severson, the senior pastor at Hope Lutheran who has worked with Michaelson for about five years. “People loved Paul. They loved him because he was compassionate, he was involved in their lives and interested in what it was like to live as a senior in difficult situations.”
Michaelson’s duties at Hope Lutheran included tracking church membership statistics and running the senior ministry program, Severson said. That meant keeping up with other seniors’ lives — particularly those who lived alone like himself — and arranging monthly lunch outings.
But around April 2018, Michaelson fell from a ladder outside his home in San Carlos and suffered a head injury, according to Severson and members of his family. He returned to work after treatment in the intensive care unit — but his personality had changed and he was much more withdrawn, tiring easily, colleagues said.
“It was something that affected his mood and his overall ability to do the job as well as he used to,” Severson said. “He still worked, he still came in, he still fulfilled the basic responsibilities of the job, he just wasn’t the same jolly guy as he had been before.”
Michaelson does not have children and has few family members in the Bay Area. In 2017, his wife, Marilyn, died at the age of 80. Before that, he felt that Holy Trinity did not support him and his wife while she dealt with cancer, Severson said.
Michaelson’s niece Kimberly Phair, 46, reached by phone in Minnesota, confirmed that several cousins had alerted her to Michaelson’s fall last year, but she could not confirm exactly when it happened.
“This whole thing is just shocking,” Phair said.
Michaelson’s letters, which he allegedly brought to Holy Trinity on four separate occasions in January, spelled out his scheme to murder first the Holy Trinity pastor and then parishioners, according to a gun restraining order filed in San Mateo County Superior Court Friday.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo pastor threatens to shoot up church he used to attend, police say He made bail on the Friday after his release; no formal criminal charges have been filed yet in San Mateo County Superior Court.
But detectives say that they were not aware of any documented mental health problems in Michaelson’s past that could have contributed to the threats, according to San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Rosemerry Blankswade.
Michaelson appeared to be lucid when he was first apprehended, she added.
“In the initial interview, nothing stood out,” Blankswade said. “He seemed to have no major mental health components.”


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Xerox to nominate 11 directors to HP’s board as part of takeover attempt

Xerox on Thursday fired its latest shot in its battle to acquire HP as the printing and imaging technology giant released a list of 11 proposed HP board directors it will nominate at the Palo Alto company ’ s next annual meeting of stockholders .
The announcement of Xerox ’ s slate of directors comes after the company said in November it would go directly to HP ’ s shareholders if HP refused to negotiate and consider Xerox ’ s acquistion offer , which values HP $ 33.5 billion .
HP has so far turned down Xerox , largely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undervalues HP .
The purpose of nominating its own directors is for Xerox to put a friendly board in place at HP that supports its Xerox ’ s acquisition proposal .
“ We believe HP shareholders will be better served by a new slate of independent directors who understand the challenges of operating a global enterprise and appreciate the value that can be created by realizing the synergies of a combination with Xerox , ” said Xerox Chief Executive John Visentin , in a statement provided to this news organization .
HP hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next shareholders ’ meeting , but HP typically holds its annual meetings in April .
An HP spokesperson was dismissive of Xerox ’ s latest action .
“ These nominations are a self-serving tactic by Xerox to advance its proposal , that significantly undervalues HP and creates meaningful risk to the detriment of HP shareholders , ” the HP spokesperson said .
–Betsy Atkins , former CEO of software company Clear Standards , and a board member of Wynn Resorts and SL Green Realty .
–George Bickerstaff , co-founder and managing director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology investment bank .
Bickerstaff is also a director at Axovant Sciences and Innoviva .
–Carolyn Byrd , CEO of Global Tech Financial and a board member of Regions Financial .
–Jeannie Diefenderfer , a former Verizon executive and current board member of Windstream Holdings .
–Kim Fennebresque , former CEO of investment bank Cowen Group , and a board member of Ally Financial , BlueLinx Holdings and Albertsons .
–Carol Flaton , an executive speciazing in global consulting and corporate restructuring and turnarounds .
–Matthew Hart , a board member of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Lease Corporation , and former president of Hilton Hotels .
–Fred Hochberg , former chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States during the Obama administration .
–Jacob Katz , a board member of Jefferies Financial Group and Herc Holdings .
• Xerox ups pressure on HP with $ 24 billion in new takeover funding –Nichelle Maynard-Elliott , a board member of specialty chemicals company Element Solution .
–Thomas Sabatino , Jr , former general counsel at insurance company Aetna , and a current board member at pharmaceutical company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquire HP are highlighted by the involvement of activist investor Carl Icahn , who owns a 4.2 % stake in HP and more than 10 % of Xerox .
Icahn has encouraged HP shareholders to approve Xerox ’ s offer , calling it a “ no brainer.
” A Xerox spokesperson said the company had no further comment about its proposed slate of directors at the present time .

Xerox on Thursday fired its latest shot in its battle to acquire HP as the printing and imaging technology giant released a list of 11 proposed HP board directors it will nominate at the Palo Alto company’s next annual meeting of stockholders.
The announcement of Xerox’s slate of directors comes after the company said in November it would go directly to HP’s shareholders if HP refused to negotiate and consider Xerox’s acquistion offer, which values HP $33.5 billion. HP has so far turned down Xerox, largely on the grounds that it believes the offer undervalues HP.
The purpose of nominating its own directors is for Xerox to put a friendly board in place at HP that supports its Xerox’s acquisition proposal.
“We believe HP shareholders will be better served by a new slate of independent directors who understand the challenges of operating a global enterprise and appreciate the value that can be created by realizing the synergies of a combination with Xerox,” said Xerox Chief Executive John Visentin, in a statement provided to this news organization.
HP hasn’t set a date for its next shareholders’ meeting, but HP typically holds its annual meetings in April. In a statement released Thursday, HP was dismissive of Xerox’s attempt to take over its board of directors.
“These nominations are a self-serving tactic by Xerox to advance its proposal, that significantly undervalues HP and creates meaningful risk to the detriment of HP shareholders,” HP said.
Xerox’s proposed HP directors include.
–Betsy Atkins, former CEO of software company Clear Standards, and a board member of Wynn Resorts and SL Green Realty.
–George Bickerstaff, co-founder and managing director of M.M. Dillion, a healthcare and technology investment bank. Bickerstaff is also a director at Axovant Sciences and Innoviva.
–Carolyn Byrd, CEO of Global Tech Financial and a board member of Regions Financial.
–Jeannie Diefenderfer, a former Verizon executive and current board member of Windstream Holdings.
–Kim Fennebresque, former CEO of investment bank Cowen Group, and a board member of Ally Financial, BlueLinx Holdings and Albertsons.
–Carol Flaton, an executive speciazing in global consulting and corporate restructuring and turnarounds.
–Matthew Hart, a board member of American Airlines, American Homes 4 Rent and Air Lease Corporation, and former president of Hilton Hotels.
–Fred Hochberg, former chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States during the Obama administration.
–Jacob Katz, a board member of Jefferies Financial Group and Herc Holdings.
–Nichelle Maynard-Elliott, a board member of specialty chemicals company Element Solution.
–Thomas Sabatino, Jr, former general counsel at insurance company Aetna, and a current board member at pharmaceutical company Teligent.
Rob Enderle, director of tech consulting firm the Enderle Group, said that Xerox is putting forth “an A-team of directors” in an attempt put the best face on what is turning into a nasty hostile takeover effort.
“At this phase, think of this like an election where the challenging politician is focused on promising the world they know they can’t deliever, but they still want the job,” Enderle said. “Xerox is trying to convince the (HP) investors they have the better path forward.”
Xerox’s efforts to acquire HP are highlighted by the involvement of activist investor Carl Icahn, who owns a 4.2% stake in HP and more than 10% of Xerox. Icahn has encouraged HP shareholders to approve Xerox’s offer, calling it a “no brainer.”
HP said it believes that Icahn’s involvement is driven solely by his own influence over Xerox.
“Xerox’s proposal and nominations are being driven by Carl Icahn, and his large ownership position in Xerox means that his interests are not aligned with those of other HP shareholders,” HP said. “Due to Mr. Icahn’s ownership position, he would disproportionately benefit from an acquisition of HP by Xerox at a price that undervalues HP.”
A Xerox spokesperson said the company had no further comment about its proposed slate of directors at the present time.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Does Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ due diligence include Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson?

How Super Bowl week has evolved , No .
2,771 : In the days of before Super Bowl III , Jets quarterback Joe Namath entertained newsmen , and the stray autograph seeker , poolside at the team ’ s Miami hotel wearing nothing but a bathing suit and a great big smile .
Namath was quite confident that he had what it took to beat the big , bad , overrated Baltimore Colts .
Patrick Mahomes is no Joe Namath .
The Kansas Chiefs quarterback entertained newspeople Wednesday , puffing up the 49ers ’ defense and indicating a willingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team in Super Bowl LIV .
“ Obviously they ’ ve got a ton of playmakers on defense , defensive line and linebackers and secondary Mahomes said .
“ They have guys with experience and young guys who who have really grown as they have learned , “ They ’ re sound at what they do , the coverages that they play .
So for us it ’ s about having to execute a high level .
We know it ’ s going to be a great challenge on every play.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Mahomes might pick the brain of his co-insurance company pitchman and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers , who played the 49ers twice this season ( and lost twice ) .
“ I haven ’ t even though about that .
I might need to , ” Mahomes said , playing along .
“ I do have a relationship where I can talk to him and text him and stuff like that .
I ’ ll probably focus on what we do here and what coach Reid game plans , because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game planning all year long.
” Good answer .
Not as instantly iconic as Namath ’ s , “ The Jets will win Sunday , I guarantee it , ” but a lot more sensible .
The newspeople then asked Mahomes if he would pick the brain of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson , who beat the 49ers this season .
• Super Bowl : Can the 49ers ’ defense deal with Chiefs ’ speed ?
• Jimmy Garoppolo doesn ’ t need respect to win the Super Bowl “ I mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to see stuff that guys are doing , ” Mahomes said Wednesday .
“ I think you do that as a quarterback if you are watching some of these great quarterbacks .
For me , I know I can ’ t juke like Lamar or do stuff like that , but I feel like I can extend plays .
When I watch similar opponents , like I watch Lamar playing the 49ers and seeing how he could extend plays , I know that ’ s some stuff that I can take away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run with the same agility or speed that he can.
” Really ?
As we said , Mahomes is no Namath .

How Super Bowl week has evolved, No. 2,771: In the days of before Super Bowl III, Jets quarterback Joe Namath entertained newsmen, and the stray autograph seeker, poolside at the team’s Miami hotel wearing nothing but a bathing suit and a great big smile.
Namath was quite confident that he had what it took to beat the big, bad, overrated Baltimore Colts.
Patrick Mahomes is no Joe Namath. The Kansas Chiefs quarterback entertained newspeople Wednesday, puffing up the 49ers’ defense and indicating a willingness to do anything to create an edge for his team in Super Bowl LIV.
"I might need to!" 😂@PatrickMahomes on reaching out to fellow QB @AaronRodgers12 in preparation for Super Bowl LIV 👇 pic.twitter.com/LIb5R0xGV2 — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 22, 2020
“Obviously they’ve got a ton of playmakers on defense, defensive line and linebackers and secondary Mahomes said. “They have guys with experience and young guys who who have really grown as they have learned.
“They’re sound at what they do, the coverages that they play. So for us it’s about having to execute a high level. We know it’s going to be a great challenge on every play.”
One member of the Fourth Estate asked if Mahomes might pick the brain of his co-insurance company pitchman and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played the 49ers twice this season (and lost twice).
“I haven’t even though about that. I might need to,” Mahomes said, playing along. “I do have a relationship where I can talk to him and text him and stuff like that. I’ll probably focus on what we do here and what Coach Reid game plans, because he’s done a good job of game planning all year long.”
Good answer. Not as instantly iconic as Namath’s, “The Jets will win Sunday, I guarantee it,” but a lot more sensible.
The newspeople then asked Mahomes if he would pick the brain of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who beat the 49ers this season.
“I mean, I watch everybody in the league and try to see stuff that guys are doing,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “I think you do that as a quarterback if you are watching some of these great quarterbacks. For me, I know I can’t juke like Lamar or do stuff like that, but I feel like I can extend plays. When I watch similar opponents, like I watch Lamar playing the 49ers and seeing how he could extend plays, I know that’s some stuff that I can take away. But I obviously can’t run with the same agility or speed that he can.”
Really? As we said, Mahomes is no Namath.


mercurynews--2020-01-24--Out with the old? Bay Area man sues Palo Alto tech firm claiming he was fired over his age, disabili

Out with the old? Bay Area man sues Palo Alto tech firm claiming he was fired over his age, disability

For more than two decades , John Doherty worked for Fuji Xerox in Palo Alto , racking up raises , promotions and bonuses as he helped invent new technologies and usher the company into the 21st Century , he claims in a lawsuit .
Last April , he received another raise , and an $ 11,000 performance bonus — a month before he was fired , the wrongful-termination and discrimination suit claimed .
The 61-year-old former senior media specialist at the company ’ s FX Palo Alto Laboratory , which develops business-communications products and services , alleged in the suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his age and disability , and for taking medical leave .
Doherty ’ s suit further claimed the firm fired other workers for similar reasons .
Fuji Xerox did not respond to a request for comment .
Doherty ’ s medical issues arose in November 2015 , with complications from hernia surgery , the suit said .
On long-term disability leave for three months , he returned to work in early 2016 , according to the suit .
He was then diagnosed with chronic pain , but continued to do his job well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final day of employment , ” the suit claimed .
Late in 2018 , the company announced it was raising employees ’ health insurance rates because the firm ’ s healthcare costs were rising , the suit alleged .
Doherty claimed in the suit that three weeks before he was fired in May 2019 with no warning , he ’ d told the company his wife and daughter had significant new health issues .
The company abruptly shut off his access to email and the firm ’ s computer network , and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if he had stolen from the firm , the suit alleged .
Fuji Xerox , the suit alleged , believed Doherty was “ unnecessary and redundant because of his age , disability , ( and ) association with other disabled family members and their medical costs.
” The other senior media specialist in the office , 46 , was not laid off , the suit claimed .
Doherty was one of the first two workers cut during a round of layoffs , the suit claimed .
The other was a senior research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe medical issues , ” according to the suit , filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court .
About three-quarters of those laid off were 58 or older , the suit alleged .
Another older worker was fired about a year earlier , shortly after starting treatment for rheumatoid arthritis , the suit claimed .

For more than two decades, John Doherty worked for Fuji Xerox in Palo Alto, racking up raises, promotions and bonuses as he helped invent new technologies and usher the company into the 21st Century, he claims in a lawsuit.
Last April, he received another raise, and an $11,000 performance bonus — a month before he was fired, his wrongful-termination and discrimination suit claimed.
The 61-year-old former senior media specialist at the company’s FX Palo Alto Laboratory, which develops business-communications products and services, alleged in the suit that Fuji Xerox sacked him because of his age and disability, and for taking medical leave. Doherty’s suit further claimed the firm fired other workers for similar reasons.
Fuji Xerox did not respond to a request for comment.
Doherty’s medical issues arose in November 2015, with complications from hernia surgery, the suit said. On long-term disability leave for three months, he returned to work in early 2016, according to the suit. He was then diagnosed with chronic pain, but continued to do his job well, “up to and including his final day of employment,” the suit claimed.
Late in 2018, the company announced it was raising employees’ health insurance rates because the firm’s healthcare costs were rising, the suit alleged. Doherty claimed in the suit that three weeks before he was fired in May 2019 with no warning, he’d told the company his wife and daughter had significant new health issues. The company abruptly shut off his access to email and the firm’s computer network, and had him escorted out of the building, the suit alleged.
Fuji Xerox, the suit alleged, believed Doherty was “unnecessary and redundant because of his age, disability, (and) association with other disabled family members and their medical costs.”
The other senior media specialist in the office, 46, was not laid off, the suit claimed. Doherty was one of the first two workers cut during a round of layoffs, the suit claimed. The other was a senior research scientist, now 62, with “severe medical issues,” according to the suit, filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court. About three-quarters of those laid off were 58 or older, the suit alleged. Another older worker was fired about a year earlier, shortly after starting treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, the suit claimed.
Doherty is seeking unspecified damages.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--How are 49ers players handling the onslaught of Super Bowl LIV ticket requests? One word: no

SANTA CLARA — Every player in the San Francisco 49ers locker room had just won his biggest game of the season .
For many , their careers .
They would soon begin preparation for the game in Miami two weeks from then that will usurp that title .
Even as music was still blaring and players continued to take their turns with the George Halas trophy , the text messages started rolling in .
“ I ’ ve got ta get my number changed , ” rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw said .
While much of the focus these next two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deservedly ) and the media circus that happens off of it ( less deservedly ) , the real quagmire for most participants in Super Bowl LIV is deciding who gets to go .
Each player from the 49ers and Chiefs is allotted two free tickets , with the opportunity to purchase up to 13 more .
In years past , those extra tickets have cost as much as $ 1,800 per seat .
( A far cry from the secondary market , where the cheapest tickets currently start at $ 3,500 . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenlaw said .
“ But even then , you ’ ve got ta pay for their housing , pay for their food , pay for a whole bunch of stuff.
” Fullback Kyle Juszczyk and second-year offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey have no such concerns .
They both expect to use their full allotment of tickets .
To that , Greenlaw responded , “ Freak no !
That ’ s my whole contract.
” Oh , the complications of playing on a fifth-round rookie contract .
The only people coming to Miami on Greenlaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brian and Nancy Early .
No matter the amount of tickets a player buys , he can expect to come out of the game in the black .
Players on the winning team will earn $ 124,000 , while the losers take home $ 62,000 .
( That ’ s to say nothing of the other way to profit off the Super Bowl , selling tickets to brokers , for which Vikings coach Mike Tice was fined $ 100,000 in 2005 . )
Juszczyk called the amount of people reaching out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time he looked at his phone Sunday night , he had received 400 or 500 text messages .
For him , at least , it was mostly well-meaning congratulations .
“ None of them have been coming out of the woodwork for stuff or tickets or anything , ” he said .
“ So I haven ’ t had anything too eye-opening with that kind of stuff.
” Juszyzck and McGlinchey are enlisting a popular strategy to help balance the load : the help of their mothers and spouses .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this game : the ability to say no .
“ Just tell them no , ” Greenlaw said .
“ If they keep texting , don ’ t answer.
” Greenlaw said he ’ s had to deny his birth mother , his aunt and siblings .
“ Everybody , ” he said .
Some are easier to ignore than others .
“ It ’ s a little hard when it ’ s people who are close to you , ” Greenlaw said .
“ When they ain ’ t do nothing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little easier.
” • Super Bowl LIV : What makes 49ers , Chiefs top pass-rushers so tough to stop ?
• 49ers ’ George Kittle provides Super Bowl tickets to family of Army vet killed in Iraq Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne spelled it out .
“ Hit them with the N-O , ” he said .
“ Leave me alone !
” Bourne will have his parents , Eric and Luisa Turner , and three siblings at the game .
Juszczyk , for one , isn ’ t apologizing for not hooking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the day , this is the biggest game of my life , ” he said .
“ I have to focus on myself .
If that takes hurting people ’ s feelings and telling them no , I can ’ t help you with ticket requests , I ’ m sorry , I have a bigger job to fulfill .
”

SANTA CLARA — Every player in the San Francisco 49ers locker room had just won his biggest game of the season. For many, their careers. They would soon begin preparation for the game in Miami two weeks from then that will usurp that title.
Even as music was still blaring and players continued to take their turns with the George Halas trophy, the text messages started rolling in.
The dreaded requests for Super Bowl tickets.
“I’ve gotta get my number changed,” rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw said.
While much of the focus these next two weeks will be on the field (deservedly) and the media circus that happens off of it (less deservedly), the real quagmire for most participants in Super Bowl LIV is deciding who gets to go.
Each player from the 49ers and Chiefs is allotted two free tickets, with the opportunity to purchase up to 13 more. In years past, those extra tickets have cost as much as $1,800 per seat. (A far cry from the secondary market, where the cheapest tickets currently start at $3,500.)
“They’re expensive,” Greenlaw said. “But even then, you’ve gotta pay for their housing, pay for their food, pay for a whole bunch of stuff.”
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk and second-year offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey have no such concerns. They both expect to use their full allotment of tickets.
To that, Greenlaw responded, “Freak no! That’s my whole contract.”
Oh, the complications of playing on a fifth-round rookie contract. The only people coming to Miami on Greenlaw’s dime are his adoptive parents, Brian and Nancy Early.
No matter the amount of tickets a player buys, he can expect to come out of the game in the black. Players on the winning team will earn $124,000, while the losers take home $62,000. (That’s to say nothing of the other way to profit off the Super Bowl, selling tickets to brokers, for which Vikings coach Mike Tice was fined $100,000 in 2005.)
Juszczyk called the amount of people reaching out to him “ridiculous.” McGlinchey said by the time he looked at his phone Sunday night, he had received 400 or 500 text messages.
For him, at least, it was mostly well-meaning congratulations.
“None of them have been coming out of the woodwork for stuff or tickets or anything,” he said. “So I haven’t had anything too eye-opening with that kind of stuff.”
Juszyzck and McGlinchey are enlisting a popular strategy to help balance the load: the help of their mothers and spouses.
But there’s only one winning strategy for this game: the ability to say no.
“Just tell them no,” Greenlaw said. “If they keep texting, don’t answer.”
Greenlaw said he’s had to deny his birth mother, his aunt and siblings. “Everybody,” he said.
Some are easier to ignore than others.
“It’s a little hard when it’s people who are close to you,” Greenlaw said. “When they ain’t do nothing for you growing up, it gets a little easier.”
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“Hit them with the N-O,” he said. “Leave me alone!”
Bourne will have his parents, Eric and Luisa Turner, and three siblings at the game.
Juszczyk, for one, isn’t apologizing for not hooking up ticket requests.
“At the end of the day, this is the biggest game of my life,” he said. “I have to focus on myself. If that takes hurting people’s feelings and telling them no, I can’t help you with ticket requests, I’m sorry, I have a bigger job to fulfill.”


mercurynews--2020-01-23--‘Bogus’ Ukraine theory led to Trump’s abuse, Dems tell trial

Democratic House prosecutors argued in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial Thursday that he was swept up by a “ completely bogus ” Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani that led to his abuse of presidential power and then impeachment .
As the Democrats pressed their case for a second day before skeptical Republican Senate jurors , they displayed video images of the nation ’ s top FBI and Homeland S ecurity officials warning the public off the theory that it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
It was just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued , that Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election — the first article of impeachment against him .
“ That ’ s what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced — this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory , ” said Rep. Adam Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution .
Trump is accused of seeking the investigation — and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden ’ s son — while holding back congressionally approved military aid as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can imagine what a danger that presents to this country.
” Trump is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month , accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia .
The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe .
Republicans , growing tired of the long hours of proceedings , have defended Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and acquittal is considered likely .
The Democrats ’ challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year .
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding , Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump ’ s motives were apparent .
“ No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York , the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , told the senators .
He said the nation ’ s founders would be shocked .
“ The president ’ s conduct is wrong .
It is illegal .
It is dangerous.
” They scoffed at Trump ’ s claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes .
It was Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power , not former Vice President Biden or other Trump foes , said Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ no evidence , nothing , nada ” ′ to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine , said the former judge .
Trump , with Giuliani , pursued investigations of Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on a Ukrainian gas company ’ s board , and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election .
On dual tracks , Democrats prosecuted their case while answering in advance the arguments expected from the president ’ s attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham , then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump , arguing during Bill Clinton ’ s 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president .
Trump ’ s defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against the president are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime .
The president ’ s defenders waited their turn , which may come on Saturday .
“ We will be putting on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ebutting what they said , ” and the Constitution , said attorney Jay Sekulow .
Ahead of the day ’ s proceedings , Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward “ admirable presentations.
” But he said , “ They ’ ve basically got about one hour of presentation , and they gave it six times on Tuesday and eight times yesterday .
There ’ s just not much new here.
” The top Senate Democrat , Chuck Schumer , acknowledged that many senators “ really don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time .
He contended they can ’ t help but be “ glued ” to his testimony .
Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year , Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge .
Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday morning tweet , declaring them the “ Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history !
” Each side has up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the House prosecutors finish , likely Friday , the president ’ s lawyers will have as long as 24 hours .
It ’ s unclear how much time they will actually take , but Trump ’ s team is not expected to finish Saturday , according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity .
The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week .
After that senators will face the question of whether they do , or do not , want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence , Jennifer Williams , who testified in the House impeachment inquiry , an was among those who had concerns about Trump ’ s actions .
Democrats said the supplemental testimony , which is classified , bolsters their impeachment case .
A lawyer for Williams declined to comment .
Holding the room ’ s attention has been difficult for the Democrats , but senators seemed to pay closer mind to Schiff ’ s testimony that grew dramatic .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their desks throughout the afternoon session , as the rules stipulate , and not as many of them were yawning or standing up to stretch as during the previous long nigh ts .
To help senators pass the time , the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , Richard Burr of North Carolina , passed out lunch favors of fidget spinners , stress balls and other toys .
Democrats took a gracious tack , thanking the senators for their time and patience , acknowledging the repetition of some of their presentations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ backdrop of the 2020 election .
Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail , seated as jurors .
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not , 45 % to 40 % .
But a sizable percentage , 14 % , said they didn ’ t know enough to have an opinion .
One issue with wide agreement : Trump should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the trial .
About 7 in 10 said so , including majorities of Republicans and Democrats , according to the poll .
The strategy of more witnesses , though , seemed all but settled .
Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides including former national security adviser John Bolton , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week .
Senators were likely to repeat that rejection next week , shutting out any chance of new testimony before they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Mary Clare Jalonick , Alan Fram , Andrew Taylor , Laurie Kellman , Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington and Bill Barrow in Osage , Iowa , contributed to this report .

By LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case Thursday at Donald Trump’s impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a “completely bogus” Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.
On Friday, the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators, focusing on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress’ investigation.
As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day, and night, the prosecutors outlined the charge. They argued that Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation’s top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.
“That’s what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced — this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution, during Thursday’s session.
At the close of the evening Schiff made an emotional plea to senators to consider what was at stake as Trump is accused of seeking Ukrainian probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden’s son while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage.
“Right matters,” he said, quoting Army officer Lt. Col. Alex Vindman who had testified in the House. “Otherwise we are lost.”
The president is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.
Republicans, growing tired of the long hours of proceedings, have defended Trump’s actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.
The Democrats’ challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year.
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump’s motives were apparent.
“No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nation’s founders would be shocked. “The president’s conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous.”
Democrats scoffed at Trump’s claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden or other political foes.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, herself a former judge, aid there is “no evidence, nothing, nada” to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine.
Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas company’s board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
On dual tracks, Democrats prosecuted their case while answering in advance the arguments expected from the president’s attorneys in the days ahead.
At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton’s 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president. Trump’s defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime.
The president’s defenders’ turn will come Saturday.
“We will be putting on a vigorous defense of both facts, rebutting what they said,” and the Constitution, said attorney Jay Sekulow.
Ahead of the day’s proceedings, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward “admirable presentations.” But he said, “There’s just not much new here.”
During the dinner break, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said it seemed like “Groundhog Day in the Senate.”
The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, acknowledged that many senators “really don’t want to be here.”
But Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time. He contended they can’t help but be “glued” to his testimony.
Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year, Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge.
Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday tweet, declaring them the “Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!”
After the House prosecutors finish, the president’s lawyers will have as long as 24 hours. It’s unclear how much time they will actually take, but Trump’s team is not expected to finish Saturday, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity. The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week.
After that senators will face the question of whether they do, or do not, want to call witnesses to testify.
Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, Jennifer Williams, who was among those who had concerns about Trump’s actions. Democrats said the testimony, which is classified, bolsters their impeachment case. A lawyer for Williams declined to comment.
Holding the room’s attention has been difficult for the Democrats, but senators seemed to pay closer mind to Schiff’s testimony that grew dramatic.
Most senators, even Republicans, sat at their desks throughout the afternoon session, as the rules stipulate, and not as many of them were yawning or standing to stretch as during the previous long nights.
To help senators pass the time, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr of North Carolina, passed out lunch favors of fidget spinners, stress balls and other toys.
Democrats thanked the senators for their time and patience, acknowledging the repetition of some of their presentations.
The impeachment trial is set against the backdrop of the 2020 election. Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail, seated as jurors.
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didn’t know enough to have an opinion.
One issue with wide agreement: Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.
The strategy of more witnesses, though, seemed all but settled. Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week.
Senators were likely to repeat that rejection next week.
___
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Alan Fram, Andrew Taylor, Laurie Kellman, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington and Bill Barrow in Osage, Iowa, contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Rents jump in Oakland, drop in San Francisco

While many Bay Area residents are continuing to see rising rents , some local cities are actually registering dips in monthly rates .
That ’ s according to Apartment Guide ’ s new annual report on the nation ’ s rental market , which compared 2019 average prices for multifamily rental properties to the previous year .
Unlike a number of its competitors , Apartment Guide looks not only at the rental market overall but at various apartment types , from studios on up .
And the Bay Area picture is decidedly mixed .
Although it remains one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rents were down across the board in San Francisco .
Studios ticked down a surprising 8.2 percent from 2018 to 2019 to around $ 3842 .
One-bedroom apartments came in 1.2 percent cheaper at about $ 4,063 , and two-bedroom homes were 11.2 percent cheaper at about $ 5,478 .
“ Prices are getting a little more affordable , ” said Brian Carberry , managing director of Apartment Guide .
“ It ’ s still really expensive to live there , don ’ t get me wrong.
” Across the bay , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland for all apartment types in 2019 .
Studios were 3.3 percent more in 2019 at about $ 2,839 , one-bedroom units were .7 percent more at about $ 3,308 and two-bedroom units were 6 percent more at roughly $ 4,338 .
Merika Reagan has lived in her East Oakland apartment for around five years .
Since her initial two-year lease expired , her landlord has tried to raise her rent by hundreds of dollars .
The anti-displacement advocacy group ACCE Oakland initially helped her negotiate a more modest increase , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the dog walker , pet sitter and trainer .
“ I see people being displaced all around me , ” the 44-year-old said , adding that the experience disrupted her sleep and gave her anxiety .
“ I don ’ t want to be out there , too.
” The average studio was 2.5 percent more expensive in 2019 at $ 2,669.71 , and the average one-bedroom apartment was .9 percent more , at $ 3,118.25 .
But the average two-bedroom unit was 1.6 percent less expensive than in 2018 , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Bay Area city in the report ’ s round up of the nation ’ s 100 most populated cities , also saw a mix of changes , with one-bedroom apartments going for less than in 2018 but two-bedroom units renting for slightly more .
Whether the softening of prices in some areas is temporary or indicative of a true downswing , “ it ’ s too early to make that conclusion , ” Carberry said .
Across California , rents for all apartment types have crept up with two- and three-bedroom units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some nearby states that have proven popular with Californians fleeing the state ’ s expensive housing market , rents have ballooned .
In Idaho , home to recent hotspot Boise , the cost of renting a studio has soared more than 32 percent from 2018 to 2019 .
Still , at $ 1,695 , renting a studio in Idaho was a steal in 2019 compared to in California where a studio cost $ 2,430 .
Just one California city — Long Beach — cracks the top 10 list of where rents for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although no city in the Golden State made the top 10 list of where rents are declining , either .
Apartment Guide suggests that sluggish apartment construction across the country in the last decade has put increasing pressure on the rental market and fueled an uptick in prices , particularly in the West .
And yet the report also acknowledges that places with low vacancy rates like San Francisco have also seen price decreases , “ indicating that undersupply may now be starting to loosen its grip on these markets.
” While that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing advocates , who have heralded Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s call to build 3.5 million new homes by 2025 , the data suggests that the apartments being built aren ’ t necessarily affordable for most of the state ’ s residents .
Michael Trujillo , a staff attorney for the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley , which advocates on behalf of tenants , said the report doesn ’ t “ really reflect what ’ s going on for low-income renters.
” San Jose , he pointed out , has met market-rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable housing even as some existing affordable units are removed .
“ That kind of creates an exclusionary market for certain kinds of people , ” Trujillo said .
• Letter : Trapping the Bay Area in amber will destroy all we care about According to Apartment Guide , a growing number of renters are high income and older than 55 , and searching for newer apartments with lots of amenities .
In San Jose , Oakland and elsewhere , developers are building luxury homes that tenant advocacy groups say are pushing low-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year found that with a number of San Francisco renters relocating to Oakland for its comparatively affordable rents , longtime Oakland renters were being pushed to Contra Costa County or , in some cases , leaving the state altogether .
Reagan , the Oakland renter , was born and raised in San Francisco but eventually moved across the bay .
“ I ’ ve never been able to live there as an adult , ” Reagan said .
“ It ’ s impossible .
”

While many Bay Area residents are continuing to see rising rents, some local cities are actually registering dips in monthly rates.
That’s according to Apartment Guide’s new annual report on the nation’s rental market, which compared 2019 average prices for multifamily rental properties to the previous year. Unlike a number of its competitors, Apartment Guide looks not only at the rental market overall but at various apartment types, from studios on up. And the Bay Area picture is decidedly mixed.
Although it remains one of the nation’s most expensive markets, rents were down across the board in San Francisco. Studios ticked down a surprising 8.2 percent from 2018 to 2019 to around $3842. One-bedroom apartments came in 1.2 percent cheaper at about $4,063, and two-bedroom homes were 11.2 percent cheaper at about $5,478.
“Prices are getting a little more affordable,” said Brian Carberry, managing director of Apartment Guide. “It’s still really expensive to live there, don’t get me wrong.”
Across the bay, the opposite was true. Rents rose in Oakland for all apartment types in 2019. Studios were 3.3 percent more in 2019 at about $2,839, one-bedroom units were .7 percent more at about $3,308 and two-bedroom units were 6 percent more at roughly $4,338.
Merika Reagan has lived in her East Oakland apartment for around five years. Since her initial two-year lease expired, her landlord has tried to raise her rent by hundreds of dollars. The anti-displacement advocacy group ACCE Oakland initially helped her negotiate a more modest increase, but the monthly rent payments are still a stretch for the dog walker, pet sitter and trainer.
“I see people being displaced all around me,” the 44-year-old said, adding that the experience disrupted her sleep and gave her anxiety. “I don’t want to be out there, too.”
In San Jose, the market varies.
The average studio was 2.5 percent more expensive in 2019 at $2,669.71, and the average one-bedroom apartment was .9 percent more, at $3,118.25. But the average two-bedroom unit was 1.6 percent less expensive than in 2018, at $3,685.59.
Fremont, the only other Bay Area city in the report’s roundup of the nation’s 100 most populated cities, also saw a mix of changes, with one-bedroom apartments going for less than in 2018 but two-bedroom units renting for slightly more.
Whether the softening of prices in some areas is temporary or indicative of a true downswing, “it’s too early to make that conclusion,” Carberry said.
Across California, rents for all apartment types have crept up with two- and three-bedroom units seeing the most significant increases. In some nearby states that have proven popular with Californians fleeing the state’s expensive housing market, rents have ballooned. In Idaho, home to recent hotspot Boise, the cost of renting a studio has soared more than 32 percent from 2018 to 2019. Still, at $1,695, renting a studio in Idaho was a steal in 2019 compared to in California where a studio cost $2,430.
Just one California city — Long Beach — cracks the top 10 list of where rents for a one-bedroom apartment are increasing the most, although no city in the Golden State made the top 10 list of where rents are declining, either.
Apartment Guide suggests that sluggish apartment construction across the country in the past decade has put increasing pressure on the rental market and fueled an uptick in prices, particularly in the West. And yet the report also acknowledges that places with low vacancy rates like San Francisco have also seen price decreases, “indicating that undersupply may now be starting to loosen its grip on these markets.”
While that might be welcome news for some California housing advocates, who have heralded Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to build 3.5 million new homes by 2025, the data suggests that the apartments being built aren’t necessarily affordable for most of the state’s residents.
Michael Trujillo, a staff attorney for the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, which advocates on behalf of tenants, said the report doesn’t “really reflect what’s going on for low-income renters.”
San Jose, he pointed out, has met market-rate housing goals but failed to add enough affordable housing even as some existing affordable units are removed.
“That kind of creates an exclusionary market for certain kinds of people,” Trujillo said.
According to Apartment Guide, a growing number of renters are high income and older than 55, and searching for newer apartments with lots of amenities.
In San Jose, Oakland and elsewhere, developers are building luxury homes that tenant advocacy groups say are pushing low-income renters out. Census data released last year found that with a number of San Francisco renters relocating to Oakland for its comparatively affordable rents, longtime Oakland renters were being pushed to Contra Costa County or, in some cases, leaving the state altogether.
Reagan, the Oakland renter, was born and raised in San Francisco but eventually moved across the bay.
“I’ve never been able to live there as an adult,” Reagan said. “It’s impossible.”


mercurynews--2020-01-23--Sundance 2020: Bay Area filmmakers, Obamas already making mark

The 49ers aren ’ t the only ones in the Bay Area on a winning streak .
The region ’ s filmmaking community is on a roll too , especially when it comes to the famed Sundance Film Festival in Utah , which opens today , Jan. 23 , and runs through Feb. 2 .
Bay Area filmmakers are set to once again make a significant impact on this winter wonderland of a film festival , which for the next 10 days will be overrun with celebs , studio reps , dealmakers , journalists , movie fans and looky-loos with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day start around 9 a.m. and skate through midnight .
With streaming services creating even more opportunities to get discovered , landing a spot in Sundance is a dream for budding filmmakers .
So what ’ s the secret to getting from here to there ?
“ It ’ s talented people telling stories that we haven ’ t seen before , ” says festival programmer Charlie Sextro .
“ Crip Camp , ” a Sundance opening day documentary film with big Bay Area ties , certainly fits that description .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focuses on a summer camp for disabled teens near Woodstock , in upstate New York , as a peg for exploring the history of disability rights activism .
The film , directed by Berkeley ’ s Jim LeBrecht and Oakland ’ s Nicole Newnham , is entered in the U.S .
Documentary Competition .
Getting discovered is not the issue for “ Crip Camp , ” however .
The documentary already has some big names behind it .
It ’ s among the first set of releases announced by Higher Ground , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama last year .
And it will be streamed by Netflix ( no release date has been announced yet ) .
Among other milestones , “ Crip Camp ” means that for the fourth year in a row , a film with Bay Area ties is among the opening-day screenings at Sundance .
In 2017 , San Francisco filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk joined former Vice President Al Gore at Sundance for the premiere of their “ An Inconvenient Sequel : Truth to Power.
” In 2018 , “ Hamilton ” star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Bay BFF Rafael Casal for the world premiere of their timely and energetic feature set in Oakland , “ Blindspotting.
” ( It was the same year Boots Riley ’ s surreal , allegorical “ Sorry to Bother You , ” also made and set in Oakland , made its debut . )
Last year , the South Bay figured prominently in the acclaimed Alex Gibney HBO documentary “ The Inventor : Out for Blood in Silicon Valley , ” about Elizabeth Holmes and the stunning implosion of her biotech startup Theranos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
The Bay Area remains well-represented in a dizzying array of shorts , documentaries , features , TV series , episodic works and panels showing up in this year ’ s Sundance schedule .
In fact , Diggs is coming back to Park City Jan. 25 to chat about his role in TNT ’ s adaptation of the Bong Joon-ho thriller “ Snowpiercer , ” which debuts May 31 .
A couple other films with Bay Area roots receiving world premieres at Sundance include : “ Spaceship Earth ” : San Jose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epic ” documentary explores the debacle of an experiment that was Biosphere 2 , a terrarium of sorts in Arizona that was intended to serve as a self-containing community .
Like “ Crip Camp , ” it is entered in the U.S .
Documentary Competition .
“ Boys State ” : Bay Area husband/wife filmmakers Jesse Moss ( a Palo Alto native ) and Amanda McBaine created this of-the-moment documentary about a group of teen-aged boys in Texas who created their own government .
It premieres Jan. 24 and is also entered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production with Bay Area roots is “ Embrace , ” an Oakland-set narrative short — seen as part of a series — created by Oakland native Kathreen Khavari and Chuck Neal that follows an Iranian-American medical student .
Khavari , who now lives in Los Angeles , is one of the many artists at Sundance hoping her creation gets picked up .
She and Neal have sketched out nearly three seasons already .
The funny and poignant selection is part of the indie episodic category that Sundance launched three years ago .
Sextro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fastest growing categories due to the demands for content by new streaming services .
It ’ s a boon for filmmakers capable of working on a tiny budget , he adds .
He likens the scene to a “ wild frontier ” with artists taking more chances and exploring new areas because financial considerations are less of a factor .
“ There are a lot less barriers , ” he said , “ so you ’ re seeing many more inclusive , diverse shows and a bigger range of stories and experiences.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” creative team ’ s goals — to share an experience ( Khavari says the series is semi-autobiographical ) from the perspective of an Iranian-American family — an uncommon offering in film and TV projects .
“ Why haven ’ t we seen those stories ?
” she asks .
“ It ’ s because the people who are the decision makers don ’ t necessarily want to see them .
Or they don ’ t believe that audiences can connect because we are still seen as the ‘ other ’ rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , ” she adds , “ I think with more and more programming of people who don ’ t necessarily look like us that gap can be bridged .
”

The 49ers aren’t the only ones in the Bay Area on a winning streak.
The region’s filmmaking community is on a roll too, especially when it comes to the famed Sundance Film Festival in Utah, which opens today, Jan. 23, and runs through Feb. 2.
Bay Area filmmakers are set to once again make a significant impact on this winter wonderland of a film festival, which for the next 10 days will be overrun with celebs, studio reps, dealmakers, journalists, movie fans and looky-loos with cellphones primed to Instagram. Screenings each day start around 9 a.m. and skate through midnight.
With streaming services creating even more opportunities to get discovered, landing a spot in Sundance is a dream for budding filmmakers. So what’s the secret to getting from here to there?
“It’s talented people telling stories that we haven’t seen before,” says festival programmer Charlie Sextro.
“Crip Camp,” a Sundance opening day documentary film with big Bay Area ties, certainly fits that description. One of nine films launching the fest, it focuses on a summer camp for disabled teens near Woodstock, in upstate New York, as a peg for exploring the history of disability rights activism. The film, directed by Berkeley’s Jim LeBrecht and Oakland’s Nicole Newnham, is entered in the U.S. Documentary Competition.
Getting discovered is not the issue for “Crip Camp,” however. The documentary already has some big names behind it. It’s among the first set of releases announced by Higher Ground, the production company formed by Barack and Michelle Obama last year. And it will be streamed by Netflix (no release date has been announced yet).
Among other milestones, “Crip Camp” means that for the fourth year in a row, a film with Bay Area ties is among the opening-day screenings at Sundance.
In 2017, San Francisco filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk joined former Vice President Al Gore at Sundance for the premiere of their “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” In 2018, “Hamilton” star and Oakland native Daveed Diggs joined his East Bay BFF Rafael Casal for the world premiere of their timely and energetic feature set in Oakland,“Blindspotting.” (It was the same year Boots Riley’s surreal, allegorical “Sorry to Bother You,” also made and set in Oakland, made its debut.)
Last year, the South Bay figured prominently in the acclaimed Alex Gibney HBO documentary “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” about Elizabeth Holmes and the stunning implosion of her biotech startup Theranos.
But there’s more than that. The Bay Area remains well-represented in a dizzying array of shorts, documentaries, features, TV series, episodic works and panels showing up in this year’s Sundance schedule. In fact, Diggs is coming back to Park City Jan. 25 to chat about his role in TNT’s adaptation of the Bong Joon-ho thriller “Snowpiercer,” which debuts May 31.
A couple other films with Bay Area roots receiving world premieres at Sundance include:
“Spaceship Earth”: San Jose native Matt Wolf’s self-described “epic” documentary explores the debacle of an experiment that was Biosphere 2, a terrarium of sorts in Arizona that was intended to serve as a self-containing community. Like “Crip Camp,” it is entered in the U.S. Documentary Competition.
“Boys State”: Bay Area husband/wife filmmakers Jesse Moss (a Palo Alto native) and Amanda McBaine created this of-the-moment documentary about a group of teen-aged boys in Texas who created their own government. It premieres Jan. 24 and is also entered in the U.S. Documentary Competition.
Another production with Bay Area roots is “Embrace,” an Oakland-set narrative short — seen as part of a series — created by Oakland native Kathreen Khavari and Chuck Neal that follows an Iranian-American medical student. Khavari, who now lives in Los Angeles, is one of the many artists at Sundance hoping her creation gets picked up. She and Neal have sketched out nearly three seasons already.
The funny and poignant selection is part of the indie episodic category that Sundance launched three years ago. Sextro says it’s one of the fastest growing categories due to the demands for content by new streaming services. It’s a boon for filmmakers capable of working on a tiny budget, he adds. He likens the scene to a “wild frontier” with artists taking more chances and exploring new areas because financial considerations are less of a factor.
“There are a lot less barriers,” he said, “so you’re seeing many more inclusive, diverse shows and a bigger range of stories and experiences.”
That was one of the “Embrace” creative team’s goals — to share an experience (Khavari says the series is semi-autobiographical) from the perspective of an Iranian-American family — an uncommon offering in film and TV projects.
“Why haven’t we seen those stories?” she asks. “It’s because the people who are the decision makers don’t necessarily want to see them. Or they don’t believe that audiences can connect because we are still seen as the ‘other’ rather than being this human being first.”
“But,” she adds, “I think with more and more programming of people who don’t necessarily look like us that gap can be bridged.”