mercurynews--2020-01-14--East Bay city to look at ways to jumpstart housing

HAYWARD — With the Bay Area ’ s housing crisis leaving people priced out of purchasing a home and forcing others to live in tents , the City Council wants to look at ways to get more homes built in Hayward .
That includes possibly making construction of affordable housing a priority on some city-owned land , and updating Hayward rules to conform with recent state laws that make it easier for homeowners to turn garages into rental units or build cottage apartments in their backyards .
Also on the table could be easing zoning restrictions and streamlining the approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including developers who plan to sell at market rates .
On Tuesday , the council will hold a work session to review options .
The meeting will be open to the public .
“ Hayward , like other cities in the Bay Area , is experiencing rising housing prices , severe housing instability for its most vulnerable populations , displacement of existing residents and increasing homelessness , ” City Manager Kelly McAdoo said in a background report for the council .
“ The increase in Hayward ’ s and the Bay Area ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in housing units , has caused rents and prices to rise as supply has failed to meet demand.
” Home ownership opportunities are out of reach for most Hayward renters , McAdoo said .
As of October , the median sales price for a house in Hayward was $ 730,000 and $ 528,500 for a condominium or townhouse , according to the National Association of Realtors .
A would-be buyer would need an income of approximately $ 100,000 to purchase a condo and $ 130,000 to get a house , the report shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayward renter is $ 56,7915 , McAdoo said , citing U.S. Census Bureau data .
“ The high cost of ownership housing prevents renters from becoming homeowners , and homeownership can stabilize housing cost and create equity for the homeowner , ” McAdoo said .
The upcoming work session will follow the council asking city staff in February 2018 to evaluate barriers to creating housing , including those designed as affordable .
Since then , city officials have gotten feedback from developers , real estate professionals andrental property owners , plus they met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumpstart projects in Hayward .
City officials plan on incorporating feedback from Tuesday ’ s meeting into a “ work plan ” for constructing housing .
The council will consider the plan Jan. 21 .
The work session , a special meeting of the City Council , will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Conference Room 2A at City Hall , 777 B St. , Hayward .

HAYWARD — With the Bay Area’s housing crisis leaving people priced out of purchasing a home and forcing others to live in tents, the City Council wants to look at ways to get more homes built in Hayward.
That includes possibly making construction of affordable housing a priority on some city-owned land, and updating Hayward rules to conform with recent state laws that make it easier for homeowners to turn garages into rental units or build cottage apartments in their backyards.
Also on the table could be easing zoning restrictions and streamlining the approval process to get construction underway faster, including developers who plan to sell at market rates.
On Tuesday, the council will hold a work session to review options. The meeting will be open to the public.
“Hayward, like other cities in the Bay Area, is experiencing rising housing prices, severe housing instability for its most vulnerable populations, displacement of existing residents and increasing homelessness,” City Manager Kelly McAdoo said in a background report for the council. “The increase in Hayward’s and the Bay Area’s population, absent a corresponding increase in housing units, has caused rents and prices to rise as supply has failed to meet demand.”
Home ownership opportunities are out of reach for most Hayward renters, McAdoo said.
As of October, the median sales price for a house in Hayward was $730,000 and $528,500 for a condominium or townhouse, according to the National Association of Realtors.
A would-be buyer would need an income of approximately $100,000 to purchase a condo and $130,000 to get a house, the report shows. But the median income for a Hayward renter is $56,7915, McAdoo said, citing U.S. Census Bureau data.
“The high cost of ownership housing prevents renters from becoming homeowners, and homeownership can stabilize housing cost and create equity for the homeowner,” McAdoo said.
The upcoming work session will follow the council asking city staff in February 2018 to evaluate barriers to creating housing, including those designed as affordable.
Since then, city officials have gotten feedback from developers, real estate professionals andrental property owners, plus they met with infill developers to discuss ways to jumpstart projects in Hayward.
City officials plan on incorporating feedback from Tuesday’s meeting into a “work plan” for constructing housing. The council will consider the plan Jan. 21.
The work session, a special meeting of the City Council, will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Conference Room 2A at City Hall, 777 B St., Hayward.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Panic at California youth soccer game: Man with camouflage duffel ignites stampede

What started as a scuffle between two boys was whipped into a panic that sent dozens of people fleeing reports of a shooter at a Southern California soccer field .
The incident occurred Sunday , the second day of a youth tournament at Galway Downs in Temecula , TV station KGTV said .
A 10-year-old player on the field was reportedly shoved to the ground by an older boy who had run in from the sideline .
Other spectators then began running onto the field , and some adults got involved in the brawl .
One of those adults aroused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ He rushes to the sideline and he pulls out a camouflage backpack .
Someone ’ s telling him , ‘ Don ’ t do it , don ’ t do it.
’ … We ’ re like , what ’ s going on ?
This guy must have a weapon.
” Saur said he grabbed his 9-year-old daughter and started running for cover , as did dozens of others .
“ They were screaming , ‘ Gun !
Gun !
Run !
Run !
’ … And so I just grabbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of me , because I didn ’ t know if somebody was shooting .
… You ’ re just thinking , oh my god , I got to get my kid .
I got to get out of here.
” Player Luis Cruz gave KGTV a similar account : “ Everyone screamed ‘ run !
’ … We all did and ended up on the other side of the fence huddled in the bushes with our coach and the team we were playing against.
” Temecula County sheriff ’ s deputies responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was determined he did not have a weapon .
The 10-year-old who was shoved suffered a minor head injury , his father said .
He believed the attacker was the older brother of a player on the opposing team .
As of Monday , nobody had been arrested in connection with the brawl .

[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/01/13/WE-016MO_CNNA-ST1-1000000005951700″]
What started as a scuffle between two boys was whipped into a panic that sent dozens of people fleeing reports of a shooter at a Southern California soccer field.
The incident occurred Sunday, the second day of a youth tournament at Galway Downs in Temecula, TV station KGTV said.
A 10-year-old player on the field was reportedly shoved to the ground by an older boy who had run in from the sideline. Other spectators then began running onto the field, and some adults got involved in the brawl.
One of those adults aroused fears, parent Erik Saur told KGTV:
“He rushes to the sideline and he pulls out a camouflage backpack. Someone’s telling him, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it.’ … We’re like, what’s going on? This guy must have a weapon.”
Saur said he grabbed his 9-year-old daughter and started running for cover, as did dozens of others.
“They were screaming, ‘Gun! Gun! Run! Run!’ … And so I just grabbed my kid. I held her in front of me, because I didn’t know if somebody was shooting. … You’re just thinking, oh my god, I got to get my kid. I got to get out of here.”
Player Luis Cruz gave KGTV a similar account: “Everyone screamed ‘run!’ … We all did and ended up on the other side of the fence huddled in the bushes with our coach and the team we were playing against.”
Temecula County sheriff’s deputies responded and detained the man with the duffel. It was determined he did not have a weapon.
The 10-year-old who was shoved suffered a minor head injury, his father said. He believed the attacker was the older brother of a player on the opposing team.
As of Monday, nobody had been arrested in connection with the brawl.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Distinctive roof on Raiders’ Las Vegas stadium is behind schedule: Report

Tell us you didn ’ t see this coming .
The translucent roof which is to be a space-age iconic feature of the Raiders ’ new stadium in Las Vegas is behind schedule , according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal : “ Representatives of the Raiders say that despite the delay , the stadium is still on track to open July 31 with the first event there on Aug. 16 .
However , an independent monitor has expressed concern about the stadium being completed by that date.
” CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives of the Raiders — OK , Joe Bugel — said that the team would win multiple Super Bowls in their second go-round in the Oakland Coliseum .
An independent monitor — OK , the NFL schedule — concluded otherwise .
More solid reporting by the Review-Journal : “ The independent monitor working for the authority board raised concerns about the lifting of the cable net system supporting the lightweight EFTE ( ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ) roof in a report completed in early December .
Because of the delay in the overall building enclosure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage as more finish work is put in place .
Our assessment is that the TCO ( temporary certificate of occupancy ) date may be in jeopardy if weather ( rain ) causes damage to interior finishes .
Of the many possible situations and potential delays that a project of this size and complexity can experience , the cable-net delay is one that attracts attention because of its distinctiveness.
” The CEO of the subsidiary building the stadium told the Review-Journal , “ The construction remains on target for substantial completion on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if construction of the roof goes into overtime , the Raiders can simply distribute sliver , black and translucent umbrellas to fans .
• Raiders ’ Josh Jacobs , who as a youngster slept with his dad in a car , buys his father a house • Not the ‘ Oakland ’ Raiders or the ‘ Las Vegas ’ Raiders — just the Raiders Interestingly enough , when the Raiders returned to Oakland and remade the Coliseum into a house for football , workers were still trying to drag the project over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were warming up for the first event in the retrofitted facility .
One critic ’ s reaction — OK , it was me — that August evening in 1996 : “ The Coliseum renovation may be done , but it ’ s not entirely finished .
I encountered a construction worker who was carrying a ladder back down the ramp , picking up stray nuts and bolts as he went .
One men ’ s restroom in the new upper deck ( i.e .
Mount Davis ) had a row of 20 sparkling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When I reached the foot of the upper deck I noticed that most of the handrails were as unpainted as the day they were forged .
I also noticed a need for bottled oxygen.
” To be fair , the CEO told the Review-Journalthat some aspects of the construction are ahead of schedule .
The project ’ s financing pencils out , and PSL sales are ahead of schedule .

Tell us you didn’t see this coming.
The translucent roof which is to be a space-age iconic feature of the Raiders’ new stadium in Las Vegas is behind schedule, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“Representatives of the Raiders say that despite the delay, the stadium is still on track to open July 31 with the first event there on Aug. 16. However, an independent monitor has expressed concern about the stadium being completed by that date.”
CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on a mobile device
Keep in mind that representatives of the Raiders — OK, Joe Bugel — said that the team would win multiple Super Bowls in their second go-round in the Oakland Coliseum. An independent monitor — OK, the NFL schedule — concluded otherwise.
More solid reporting by the Review-Journal: “The independent monitor working for the authority board raised concerns about the lifting of the cable net system supporting the lightweight EFTE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roof in a report completed in early December. Because of the delay in the overall building enclosure, there is the possibility of weather damage as more finish work is put in place. Our assessment is that the TCO (temporary certificate of occupancy) date may be in jeopardy if weather (rain) causes damage to interior finishes. Of the many possible situations and potential delays that a project of this size and complexity can experience, the cable-net delay is one that attracts attention because of its distinctiveness.”
The CEO of the subsidiary building the stadium told the Review-Journal, “The construction remains on target for substantial completion on July 31, 2020.”
And anyway, if construction of the roof goes into overtime, the Raiders can simply distribute sliver, black and translucent umbrellas to fans.
Talk about distinctive.
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One critic’s reaction — OK, it was me — that August evening in 1996:
“The Coliseum renovation may be done, but it’s not entirely finished. I encountered a construction worker who was carrying a ladder back down the ramp, picking up stray nuts and bolts as he went. One men’s restroom in the new upper deck (i.e. Mount Davis) had a row of 20 sparkling urinals, but an unfinished cement floor. When I reached the foot of the upper deck I noticed that most of the handrails were as unpainted as the day they were forged. I also noticed a need for bottled oxygen.”
To be fair, the CEO told the Review-Journalthat some aspects of the construction are ahead of schedule. The project’s financing pencils out, and PSL sales are ahead of schedule.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Body found on Eureka waterfront identified

The body found on Waterfront Drive in Eureka was identified as Donald Klock III , 59 , according to the @ @ @ @ @ Office .
An autopsy was performed Jan. 8 , said Samantha Karges , a spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ office in an email .
“ A cause of death is still pending the finalization @ @ @ @ @ report , however , there were no signs of trauma or foul play , ” @ @ @ @ @ Klock was believed to be a transient .
The body was found on Jan. 7 @ @ @ @ @ Waterfront Drive , Eureka Police Department spokesperson Brittany Powell said in an email Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ of foul play or criminal act and the Coroner responded and took over the investigation @ @ @ @ @

The body found on Waterfront Drive in Eureka was identified as Donald Klock III, 59, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy was performed Jan. 8, said Samantha Karges, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office in an email.
“A cause of death is still pending the finalization of the Coroner’s report, however, there were no signs of trauma or foul play,” Karges said.
She said Klock was believed to be a transient.
The body was found on Jan. 7 in the 1600 block of Waterfront Drive, Eureka Police Department spokesperson Brittany Powell said in an email Monday.
“There was no sign of foul play or criminal act and the Coroner responded and took over the investigation,” she added.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--PG&E warns of phone scams targeting customers with power shutoffs

PG & E said on Monday that customers , especially in the North Bay and North Coast , had been targeted by ongoing scam phone calls with criminals threatening to shut off power if a payment is not made .
There have been double the number of scam attempts , in some areas , compared to this time last year , PG & E said .
PG & E ’ s Corporate Security department has received several reports in the past few weeks regarding scammers requesting payment on past due utility bills immediately with a cash card .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scammers demanding payment be made using a Green Dot card or Money Pack , but now we ’ re seeing these criminals requesting payment with a gift card .
This should raise a red flag , ” said Kevin Cashman , PG & E Security Investigator for the North Bay and North Coast .
Most recent incidents reported to PG & E have happened in Marin , Sonoma , Lake , Mendocino , and Humboldt Counties .
Another new trend that PG & E is seeing is that the scam is becoming more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , and in some cases , guessing general dollar amounts owed .
They are also disguising their true phone numbers with a caller ID that says “ PG & E ” or “ Pacific Gas & Electric ” .
Notifying residents that they are eligible for a federal tax refund-related to their utility bill ; Trying to sell services related to solar evaluation ; andClaiming to represent a PG & E initiative to sell a product in order to gain access to their home .
PG & E offered the following tips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of potential scams : PG & E will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone .
Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement .
Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill , service request , or request for personal information are encouraged to call PG & E at 1-800-743-5000 .
• Walters : The five issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • 2017-2018 PG & E wildfire victims have until 5pm Tuesday to file Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG & E representative inside their home .
PG & E employees always carry their identification and are willing to show it to you .
If you feel threatened in any way , notify local law enforcement immediately .
PG & E takes security seriously and will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam victimizing customers .
PG & E asked that anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it immediately by calling PG & E at 1-800-743-5000 or visit www.pge.com/scams .

PG&E said on Monday that customers, especially in the North Bay and North Coast, had been targeted by ongoing scam phone calls with criminals threatening to shut off power if a payment is not made. There have been double the number of scam attempts, in some areas, compared to this time last year, PG&E said.
PG&E’s Corporate Security department has received several reports in the past few weeks regarding scammers requesting payment on past due utility bills immediately with a cash card.
“In the past, we’ve seen scammers demanding payment be made using a Green Dot card or Money Pack, but now we’re seeing these criminals requesting payment with a gift card. This should raise a red flag,” said Kevin Cashman, PG&E Security Investigator for the North Bay and North Coast.
Most recent incidents reported to PG&E have happened in Marin, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties.
Another new trend that PG&E is seeing is that the scam is becoming more detailed. Scammers include specific names of customers, and in some cases, guessing general dollar amounts owed. They are also disguising their true phone numbers with a caller ID that says “PG&E” or “Pacific Gas & Electric”.
Other scam phone call tactics include:
Notifying residents that they are eligible for a federal tax refund-related to their utility bill;Trying to sell services related to solar evaluation; andClaiming to represent a PG&E initiative to sell a product in order to gain access to their home.
PG&E offered the following tips to help protect customers from all types of potential scams:
PG&E will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone. Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.
Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill, service request, or request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
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‘This is hell’: Repeat outages mar PG&E’s wildfire safety shift from tree trimming to circuit breakers Crime and Public Safety | Editorial: New PG&E wildfire safety strategy requires scrutiny Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are willing to show it to you. If you feel threatened in any way, notify local law enforcement immediately.
PG&E takes security seriously and will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam victimizing customers. PG&E asked that anyone who had received a call can report it immediately by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or visit www.pge.com/scams.


mercurynews--2020-01-15--‘Violins of Hope’: Concerts slated across Bay Area

If the Violins of Hope project looks back to one of history ’ s darkest chapters , it also speaks to the resilience of the human spirit — and the need to always remember .
Drawn from a priceless collection of 86 recovered Holocaust-era stringed instruments , the touring group of 50 restored violins makes its West Coast debut this month for an eight-week Bay Area residency .
With a number of events featuring the violins in performances , a full schedule of concerts , recitals , and chamber music runs Jan. 16-March 15 .
Central to the residency is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ composer Jake Heggie .
“ Intonations : Songs from the Violins of Hope , ” with a score by Heggie and libretto by Gene Scheer , makes its world premiere Jan. 19 at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame .
The performance features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke , violinist Daniel Hope , and a string quartet — Kay Stern and Dawn Harms ( violins ) , Elizabeth Prior ( viola ) , and Emil Miland ( cello ) — from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra .
The program also includes Mendelssohn ’ s String Quartet No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schubert ’ s String Quartet No .
12 in C minor , “ Quartettsatz.
” The premiere launches the two-month exhibit , and Patricia Kristof Moy , Kohl Mansion ’ s executive director of music , says it sets the tone in all the right ways .
“ I wanted a joyful , celebratory concert — one of hope , community , and justice , ” said Moy , noting that Heggie , whose work has often focused on humanitarian themes , was her first choice of composers .
Heggie , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Holocaust .
Music , says the composer , is essential to keeping history alive .
“ We have to keep telling these stories , ” he said .
“ Cultural memory is so short.
” While writing “ Intonations , ” Heggie and Scheer agreed that the score for strings and voice required a vocalist of expressive power and nuance .
“ The name that came up again and again was Sasha Cooke , ” said Heggie .
A singer of pristine tone and vivid expressiveness , Cooke — who just finished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featuring Michael Tilson Thomas ’ s “ Meditations on Rilke ” — said she was immediately taken with the new score .
“ Music for me is spiritual , and this story is just incredibly powerful , ” she said , adding that the piece is at once personal and universal .
“ We do this to remember , ” she said .
Following the world premiere , the “ Violins of Hope ” performances fan out across the Bay Area .
Here are some of the musical highlights ; For tickets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to www.violinsofhopesfba.org .
“ Intonations : Songs from the Violins of Hope ” : Music at Kohl Mansion presents the world premiere of Heggie ’ s new work , featuring Sasha Cooke , violinist Daniel Hope and a string quartet from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra ; 7 p.m. Jan. 19 , Kohl Mansion , Burlingame ; $ 20- $ 50 .
“ Along the Trade Route ” : Klezmer violinist Cookie Segelstein in a multi-disciplinary performance with violinists Emmanuel During ( Middle Eastern ) , Hemmige V. Srivatsan ( South Indian ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Performances Jan. 26 in Napa , Jan. 30 in Walnut Creek , Feb. 1 in Los Altos , Feb. 15 in San Mateo , Feb. 16 in Albany , March 1 in Berkeley ; free- $ 72 .
“ Refuge in Music , ” Music director Daniel Hope leads his New Century Chamber Orchestra in works by Holocaust composers Erwin Schulhoff and Hans Krása , with film clips from Hope ’ s documentary , “ Terezin — Refuge in Music ” ; 3:30 p.m. Jan. 26 , Osher Marin Jewish Community Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 67.50 .
International Holocaust Remembrance Day : Remarks by “ Violins of Hope ” co-founders Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein ; performance by New Century Chamber Orchestra and pianist Simone Dinnerstein in works by J.S .
Bach and Hans Krása ; excerpts from Heggie ’ s “ Intonations , ” with mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz , violinist Hannah Tarley , and string quartet ; 7 p.m. Jan. 27 , Congregation Emanu-El , San Francisco ; free with reservation .
“ Intonations : Songs from the Violins of Hope ” : A performance of Heggie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Printz ; 4 p.m. Feb. 9 , Congregation Sinai , San Jose ; $ 36- $ 75 ; also 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 , Grace Cathedral , San Francisco ; $ 15- $ 60 .
Ariel String Quartet : Music at Kohl Mansion presents the quartet , performing works by Schubert , Prokofiev , and Shostakovich on the Violins of Hope ; 7 p.m. Feb. 16 , Kohl Mansion ; $ 20- $ 50 .
Oakland Symphony : Music director Michael Morgan conducts Vivaldi ’ s Concerto for Three Violins , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 p.m. Feb. 22 , Paramount Theater , Oakland ; $ 25- $ 100 .
“ Melodies from the Violins of Hope ” : Performance by klezmer band Veretski Pass ; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29 , Oshman Family JCC ; $ 25- $ 30 .

If the Violins of Hope project looks back to one of history’s darkest chapters, it also speaks to the resilience of the human spirit — and the need to always remember.
Drawn from a priceless collection of 86 recovered Holocaust-era stringed instruments, the touring group of 50 restored violins makes its West Coast debut this month for an eight-week Bay Area residency. With a number of events featuring the violins in performances, a full schedule of concerts, recitals, and chamber music runs Jan. 16-March 15.
Central to the residency is a new chamber work by San Francisco composer Jake Heggie. “Intonations: Songs from the Violins of Hope,” with a score by Heggie and libretto by Gene Scheer, makes its world premiere Jan. 19 at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame.
The performance features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, violinist Daniel Hope, and a string quartet — Kay Stern and Dawn Harms (violins), Elizabeth Prior (viola), and Emil Miland (cello) — from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The program also includes Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, and Schubert’s String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, “Quartettsatz.”
The premiere launches the two-month exhibit, and Patricia Kristof Moy, Kohl Mansion’s executive director of music, says it sets the tone in all the right ways.
“I wanted a joyful, celebratory concert — one of hope, community, and justice,” said Moy, noting that Heggie, whose work has often focused on humanitarian themes, was her first choice of composers.
Heggie, along with Scheer, spent months researching stories from the Holocaust. Music, says the composer, is essential to keeping history alive. “We have to keep telling these stories,” he said. “Cultural memory is so short.”
While writing “Intonations,” Heggie and Scheer agreed that the score for strings and voice required a vocalist of expressive power and nuance.
“The name that came up again and again was Sasha Cooke,” said Heggie.
A singer of pristine tone and vivid expressiveness, Cooke — who just finished a week of San Francisco Symphony concerts featuring Michael Tilson Thomas’s “Meditations on Rilke” — said she was immediately taken with the new score. “Music for me is spiritual, and this story is just incredibly powerful,” she said, adding that the piece is at once personal and universal. “We do this to remember,” she said.
Following the world premiere, the “Violins of Hope” performances fan out across the Bay Area. Here are some of the musical highlights; For tickets, information and the complete schedule, go to www.violinsofhopesfba.org.
“Intonations: Songs from the Violins of Hope”: Music at Kohl Mansion presents the world premiere of Heggie’s new work, featuring Sasha Cooke, violinist Daniel Hope and a string quartet from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra; 7 p.m. Jan. 19, Kohl Mansion, Burlingame; $20-$50.
“Along the Trade Route”: Klezmer violinist Cookie Segelstein in a multi-disciplinary performance with violinists Emmanuel During (Middle Eastern), Hemmige V. Srivatsan (South Indian), and Darcy Noonan (Celtic). Performances Jan. 26 in Napa, Jan. 30 in Walnut Creek, Feb. 1 in Los Altos, Feb. 15 in San Mateo, Feb. 16 in Albany, March 1 in Berkeley; free-$72.
“Refuge in Music,” Music director Daniel Hope leads his New Century Chamber Orchestra in works by Holocaust composers Erwin Schulhoff and Hans Krása, with film clips from Hope’s documentary, “Terezin — Refuge in Music”; 3:30 p.m. Jan. 26, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, San Rafael; $30-$67.50.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Remarks by “Violins of Hope” co-founders Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein; performance by New Century Chamber Orchestra and pianist Simone Dinnerstein in works by J.S. Bach and Hans Krása; excerpts from Heggie’s “Intonations,” with mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz, violinist Hannah Tarley, and string quartet; 7 p.m. Jan. 27, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco; free with reservation.
“Intonations: Songs from the Violins of Hope”: A performance of Heggie’s new work, featuring mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz; 4 p.m. Feb. 9, Congregation Sinai, San Jose; $36-$75; also 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; $15-$60.
Ariel String Quartet: Music at Kohl Mansion presents the quartet, performing works by Schubert, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich on the Violins of Hope; 7 p.m. Feb. 16, Kohl Mansion; $20-$50.
Oakland Symphony: Music director Michael Morgan conducts Vivaldi’s Concerto for Three Violins, along with works by Mahler and Steve Martland; 8 p.m. Feb. 22, Paramount Theater, Oakland; $25-$100.
San Francisco Symphony Chamber Music: Music by Brahms, Hans Krása, Malcolm Arnold, and Gideon Klein; . 2 p.m. Feb. 23, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $40; 415-864-6000; www.sfsymphony.org.
“Melodies from the Violins of Hope”: Performance by klezmer band Veretski Pass; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, Oshman Family JCC; $25-$30.


mercurynews--2020-01-15--TV gig for Felicity Huffman’s daughter raises questions about a ‘rigged’ system

It ’ s almost as if the college admissions scandal never happened to Felicity Huffman and her family because 10 months after her arrest her oldest daughter , Sophia Macy , has landed a featured role in a TV show .
CBS announced that it had cast Sophia , 19 , in an episode of the second season of “ The Twilight Zone , ” its reboot of the classic series hosted by Jordan Peele .
Sophia , many people remember , was involuntarily connected to the scandal after her TV actress mother was charged with paying a $ 15,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosted .
Just four months ago , Sophia ’ s actor father , William H. Macy , described in a letter to the court that his aspiring actress daughter had been “ devastated ” by the events surrounding her mother ’ s arrest , prosecution and 11-day imprisonment .
The high school graduate was so devastated that she temporarily gave up on the idea of going to college so that she could take a gap year and “ regain her equlibrium.
” So , this reversal of fortune for Sophia is pretty stunning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and without going to college , she ’ s already getting a head start on a lucrative , fulfilling career .
Such fortune may be par for the course for a child of a rich and famous criminal defendant , even for one who pleaded guilty and apologized .
To many people who believed that Huffman got off easy with her 11-day prison stay , Sophia ’ s new TV gig offers yet another sign that justice isn ’ t dispensed equally to the rich and poor in this country .
Many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s casting news with predictable snark , as well as anger at what they see as another example of a “ rigged ” system and of a famous criminal — and her family — suffering few , if any , consequences of her actions .
“ Rich people failing up , ” tweeted one person .
“ Must be nice to suffer zero consequences , ” tweeted another .
“ The law is only for us peasants .
It ’ s almost like being born into a rich white family is a talent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another .
It ’ s not typical for the children of criminal defendants , who don ’ t have Huffman ’ s and Macy ’ s resources , to fare so well after their parents ’ arrest and incarceration .
These children are called the “ hidden victims ” of the criminal justice system , according to a National Justice of Institute report .
They number up to 2.3 million nationally — children who have had a parent in jail or prison at some point in their young lives .
Like Sophia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes .
But many face long-term documented risks of increased anxiety , depression and anti-social behavior .
They also are more likely to get kicked out of school , have low educational attainment , suffer economic hardship , lack stable housing and get involved in crime themselves .
It could be said that Sophia has a few things in common with the children of less-affluent defendants .
For example , she was asleep when law enforcement , “ with guns drawn , ” came into her family ’ s home early in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Macy ’ s letter to the court , he wrote that his daughter still suffers “ nightmares ” and hasn ’ t been comfortable sleeping alone at night since that morning in March when armed FBI agents came for her mother .
Things got worse for Sophia , according to Macy .
Even though she didn ’ t know about her mother ’ s bribery scheme with William “ Rick ” Singer , she had to deal with regularly being mentions in stories about the case .
As Huffman described in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt especially humiliated and betrayed when the indictment showed that she didn ’ t think her daughter ’ s honest effort was good enough .
“ Why didn ’ t you believe in me ?
” Huffman wrote that her daughter asked her in a letter she submitted to the court .
“ Why didn ’ t you think I could do it on my own ?
” But things got even worse for Sophia , according to Macy ’ s letter .
Two days after her mother ’ s arrest , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an elite theater program at the college of her dreams , Macy recalled .
But she learned at the airport that her invitation to audition had been rescinded , because of the scandal .
Sophia “ called us from the airport in hysterics , ” Macy wrote , adding : “ From the devastation of that day , Sophia is slowly regaining her equilibrium and getting on with her life.
” It now looks like her gap year included pursuing this “ Twighlight Zone ” role .
But , not surprisingly , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry connections of Sophia ’ s parents helped her get a high-profile professional job .
Nepotism is a common Hollywood practice , however much stars insist that their children win their breaks entirely on their own merit .
“ Look I understand how the world works , nepotism is how most ( people ) get their start , ( especially ) in the world of celebrity but let ’ s not pretend Sophia Macy is ‘ Succeeding Despite Parent ’ s Best Efforts ” she ’ s succeeding *because* they are her parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted another .
Sophia ’ s fame — or notoriety , as a result of the scandal — also could have brought her to the attention of the show ’ s producers .
Maybe someone felt sorry for her and wanted to give her a break .
• Lori Loughlin ’ s new defense hope ?
USC didn ’ t get daughters ’ rowing photos , report says • Lori Loughlin and her husband were warned high school counselor ‘ could mess things up ’ for daughter ’ s USC chances • Lori @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in school , records allege Again , Sophia herself didn ’ t do anything wrong .
But now her happy news about her TV gig is overshadowed by questions about a lack of fairness in society and about her own qualifications .
It ’ s a lot for a 19-year-old to shoulder .
“ My reaction as an American mother of two sons , busting her ass so they could attend and graduate ?
I bribed nobody , didn ’ t pick up a phone to call in a favor .
Sophia… try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own , ” tweeted a mother .

It’s almost as if the college admissions scandal never happened to Felicity Huffman and her family because 10 months after her arrest her oldest daughter, Sophia Macy, has landed a featured role in a TV show.
CBS announced that it had cast Sophia, 19, in an episode of the second season of “The Twilight Zone,” its reboot of the classic series hosted by Jordan Peele. Sophia, many people remember, was involuntarily connected to the scandal after her TV actress mother was charged with paying a $15,000 bribe to have her SAT score illegally boosted.
Just four months ago, Sophia’s actor father, William H. Macy, described in a letter to the court that his aspiring actress daughter had been “devastated” by the events surrounding her mother’s arrest, prosecution and 11-day imprisonment. The high school graduate was so devastated that she temporarily gave up on the idea of going to college so that she could take a gap year and “regain her equlibrium.”
So, this reversal of fortune for Sophia is pretty stunning. Just out of high school, and without going to college, she’s already getting a head start on a lucrative, fulfilling career.
Sophia Macy, daughter of Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, will appear in an episode of "The Twilight Zone." Macy was at the center of her mother’s involvement in the college admissions scandal. https://t.co/bz8buQDqsW — NBC News (@NBCNews) January 14, 2020
Such fortune may be par for the course for a child of a rich and famous criminal defendant, even for one who pleaded guilty and apologized. To many people who believed that Huffman got off easy with her 11-day prison stay, Sophia’s new TV gig offers yet another sign that justice isn’t dispensed equally to the rich and poor in this country.
Many people on social media reacted to Sophia’s casting news with predictable snark, as well as anger at what they see as another example of a “rigged” system and of a famous criminal — and her family — suffering few, if any, consequences of her actions.
“Rich people failing up,” tweeted one person. “Must be nice to suffer zero consequences,” tweeted another.
“The law is only for us peasants. It’s almost like being born into a rich white family is a talent in America. Sad,” tweeted another.
It’s not typical for the children of criminal defendants, who don’t have Huffman’s and Macy’s resources, to fare so well after their parents’ arrest and incarceration.
These children are called the “hidden victims” of the criminal justice system, according to a National Justice of Institute report. They number up to 2.3 million nationally — children who have had a parent in jail or prison at some point in their young lives.
Like Sophia, they are innocent of their parents’ crimes. But many face long-term documented risks of increased anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior. They also are more likely to get kicked out of school, have low educational attainment, suffer economic hardship, lack stable housing and get involved in crime themselves.
It could be said that Sophia has a few things in common with the children of less-affluent defendants.
For example, she was asleep when law enforcement, “with guns drawn,” came into her family’s home early in the morning to arrest one of her parents.
In Macy’s letter to the court, he wrote that his daughter still suffers “nightmares” and hasn’t been comfortable sleeping alone at night since that morning in March when armed FBI agents came for her mother.
Things got worse for Sophia, according to Macy. Even though she didn’t know about her mother’s bribery scheme with William “Rick” Singer, she had to deal with regularly being mentions in stories about the case.
As Huffman described in her letter to the court, Sophia felt especially humiliated and betrayed when the indictment showed that she didn’t think her daughter’s honest effort was good enough.
“Why didn’t you believe in me?” Huffman wrote that her daughter asked her in a letter she submitted to the court. “Why didn’t you think I could do it on my own?”
But things got even worse for Sophia, according to Macy’s letter. Two days after her mother’s arrest, she traveled across the country to audition for an elite theater program at the college of her dreams, Macy recalled. But she learned at the airport that her invitation to audition had been rescinded, because of the scandal.
Sophia “called us from the airport in hysterics,” Macy wrote, adding: “From the devastation of that day, Sophia is slowly regaining her equilibrium and getting on with her life.”
It now looks like her gap year included pursuing this “Twighlight Zone” role. But, not surprisingly, people on social media were wondering if the industry connections of Sophia’s parents helped her get a high-profile professional job. Nepotism is a common Hollywood practice, however much stars insist that their children win their breaks entirely on their own merit.
“Look I understand how the world works, nepotism is how most (people) get their start, (especially) in the world of celebrity but let’s not pretend Sophia Macy is ‘Succeeding Despite Parent’s Best Efforts” she’s succeeding *because* they are her parents, jail time and all,” tweeted another.
Sophia’s fame — or notoriety, as a result of the scandal — also could have brought her to the attention of the show’s producers. Maybe someone felt sorry for her and wanted to give her a break.
Again, Sophia herself didn’t do anything wrong. But now her happy news about her TV gig is overshadowed by questions about a lack of fairness in society and about her own qualifications. It’s a lot for a 19-year-old to shoulder.
“My reaction as an American mother of two sons, busting her ass so they could attend and graduate? I bribed nobody, didn’t pick up a phone to call in a favor. Sophia… try, just try doing something on your own,” tweeted a mother.


mercurynews--2020-01-15--Syrian army says Israeli jets attacked Homs air base

AMMAN – The Syrian army said on Tuesday Israeli jets attacked the main T4 air base in Homs province , saying its air defenses downed several missiles in strikes that caused only material damage .
An army spokesman told state media that four Israeli missiles did reach the base , but said air defenses intercepted several others .
State television earlier did not say who was behind the attack on the major air base , which Israel accuses of hosting an Iranian military presence and has attacked several times in recent years .
“ The Israeli airforce conducted new aerial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enemy missiles , ” an army statement said .
The Syrian army statement said the Israeli war jets flew from Tanf , to the southeast , where the United States has set up a base near the Iraqi-Jordanian border .
Tanf lies on the strategic Damascus-Baghdad highway , a major supply route for Iranian weapons into Syria .
This makes the base a bulwark against Iran and part of a larger U.S. campaign against Iranian influence in Iraq and Syria .
Israel has repeatedly bombed Iranian backed militia targets in Syria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s military presence which Western intelligence sources say has expanded in recent years in the war-torn country .
The Israel Defence Force did not immediately comment on the attack .
Tuesday ’ s strikes are the first which Syria accused Israel of undertaking since the United States killed Iran ’ s most powerful military commander in a drone strike on Jan. 3 , sparking one of the biggest escalations between Tehran and Washington since 1979 .
Iran ’ s proxy militias led by Lebanon ’ s Hezbollah now hold sway in vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwest as well as several suburbs around the capital .
They have also entrenched themselves in the strategically located border town of AlbuKamal on the Euphrates river in Deir Zor district in eastern Syria near the border with Iraq where Iraqi Shi ’ ite paramilitary groups have a strong foothold .
Western intelligence sources say Israel has been behind several strikes against Iranian assets in the border area in recent weeks .
The Iraqi side of the border had seen the deployment in large numbers of Iran-allied Iraqi Shi ’ ite militias who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frontier , with posts not far from military bases housing U.S. troops .
• House Dems going over material from Giuliani pal Parnas • Prohibition : 100 years ago , the US turned off the taps • Iran says it has arrested ‘ individuals ’ over civilian plane downing • As Harry and Meghan step back , questions of racism linger The U.S. military struck Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group in areas in Iraq and Syria along the border area at the end of last month in what U.S. officials said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israel in the past has said Iran uses the T4 base to transfer weapons to Hezbollah , the Lebanese Shi ’ ite militia group with which it fought a deadly month-long war in 2006 .
Western intelligence sources say it has also been used as a base for Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guards .
Israel , which previously has rarely acknowledged strikes in Syria , has become more vocal in pledging it will do what is needed to thwart the entrenchment of Iranian forces or arms transfers to Hezbollah .

By Suleimani Al-Khalidi | Reuters
AMMAN – The Syrian army said on Tuesday Israeli jets attacked the main T4 air base in Homs province, saying its air defenses downed several missiles in strikes that caused only material damage.
An army spokesman told state media that four Israeli missiles did reach the base, but said air defenses intercepted several others.
State television earlier did not say who was behind the attack on the major air base, which Israel accuses of hosting an Iranian military presence and has attacked several times in recent years.
“The Israeli airforce conducted new aerial aggression and immediately our air defenses confronted the enemy missiles,” an army statement said.
The Syrian army statement said the Israeli war jets flew from Tanf, to the southeast, where the United States has set up a base near the Iraqi-Jordanian border.
Tanf lies on the strategic Damascus-Baghdad highway, a major supply route for Iranian weapons into Syria. This makes the base a bulwark against Iran and part of a larger U.S. campaign against Iranian influence in Iraq and Syria.
Israel has repeatedly bombed Iranian backed militia targets in Syria, saying its goal was to end Tehran’s military presence which Western intelligence sources say has expanded in recent years in the war-torn country.
The Israel Defence Force did not immediately comment on the attack.
Tuesday’s strikes are the first which Syria accused Israel of undertaking since the United States killed Iran’s most powerful military commander in a drone strike on Jan. 3, sparking one of the biggest escalations between Tehran and Washington since 1979.
Iran’s proxy militias led by Lebanon’s Hezbollah now hold sway in vast areas in eastern and southern Syria and northwest as well as several suburbs around the capital.
They have also entrenched themselves in the strategically located border town of AlbuKamal on the Euphrates river in Deir Zor district in eastern Syria near the border with Iraq where Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitary groups have a strong foothold.
Western intelligence sources say Israel has been behind several strikes against Iranian assets in the border area in recent weeks.
The Iraqi side of the border had seen the deployment in large numbers of Iran-allied Iraqi Shi’ite militias who now de facto control large stretches of the frontier, with posts not far from military bases housing U.S. troops.
The U.S. military struck Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group in areas in Iraq and Syria along the border area at the end of last month in what U.S. officials said was a response to escalating provocations from Iran.
Israel in the past has said Iran uses the T4 base to transfer weapons to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi’ite militia group with which it fought a deadly month-long war in 2006. Western intelligence sources say it has also been used as a base for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Israel, which previously has rarely acknowledged strikes in Syria, has become more vocal in pledging it will do what is needed to thwart the entrenchment of Iranian forces or arms transfers to Hezbollah.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--‘Jeopardy!: Greatest of All Time’ resumes; will we get a winner tonight?

After taking a break for a few days , “ Jeopardy !
The Greatest of All Time ” tournament resumes Tuesday night ( 8 p.m. , ABC ) , as Ken Jennings , James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter battle for a $ 1 million prize .
Here ’ s where we stand so far : Host Alex Trebek has presided over three rounds — six games — with Jennings and Holzhauer trading victories .
Jennings captured Round 1 by a slim margin — winning by just $ 200 .
Holzhauer took Round 2 and Jennings came back to capture the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means the tournament could end tonight if Jennings prevails .
If he doesn ’ t , we keep going until someone has captured three rounds .
The eventual winner will earn $ 1 million , while both runner-ups will take home $ 250,000 .
( The latest possible end date is Friday ) .
If Jennings does win , he can give Holzhauer at least partial credit .
Holzhauer , who teasingly called Jennings ’ style of play “ wimpy , ” brought an aggressive , risk-taking approach to the game during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took note .
“ The good thing about this tournament was we all knew going in who the finalists were going to be , ” Jennings told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour .
“ So we can look at tape .
I feel like an offensive coordinator watching James in slow motion , because you want to figure out how he did that .
It ’ s the most remarkable thing I ’ ve ever seen on the show .
“ Once somebody breaks the glass on doubling up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
“ You realize that Brad and I are going to have to take big chances .
We ’ re going to have to play like James or we risk getting steamrolled by the original.
” So far , just about everything about the epic event has lived up to expectations .
The competition has been fierce , the ratings robust and the questions difficult .
The tournament has also given a prime-time spotlight to the continued greatness of Trebek , who is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been Rutter .
He ’ s the game ’ s all-time winningest contestant — with earnings of $ 4,688,436 — and was considered by many fans to be the favorite going in .
But his performances have been lackluster and he has been a non-factor , finishing in third all three nights .
Can he pull off a crazy comeback ?
As far as the ratings go , the numbers have actually climbed from 16 million on Night 1 to 17 million on Night 3 .
“ Jeopardy !
The Greatest of All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s top entertainment program , and ranks as this season ’ s most-watched TV special , behind only the Golden Globe Awards .

After taking a break for a few days, “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” tournament resumes Tuesday night (8 p.m., ABC), as Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter battle for a $1 million prize.
Here’s where we stand so far:
Host Alex Trebek has presided over three rounds — six games — with Jennings and Holzhauer trading victories. Jennings captured Round 1 by a slim margin — winning by just $200. Holzhauer took Round 2 and Jennings came back to capture the latest hour in a rout.
That means the tournament could end tonight if Jennings prevails. If he doesn’t, we keep going until someone has captured three rounds. The eventual winner will earn $1 million, while both runner-ups will take home $250,000. (The latest possible end date is Friday).
If Jennings does win, he can give Holzhauer at least partial credit. Holzhauer, who teasingly called Jennings’ style of play “wimpy,” brought an aggressive, risk-taking approach to the game during his electrifying streak last year — and Jennings took note.
“The good thing about this tournament was we all knew going in who the finalists were going to be,” Jennings told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour. “So we can look at tape. I feel like an offensive coordinator watching James in slow motion, because you want to figure out how he did that. It’s the most remarkable thing I’ve ever seen on the show.
“Once somebody breaks the glass on doubling up, you gotta do it as well,” he added. “You realize that Brad and I are going to have to take big chances. We’re going to have to play like James or we risk getting steamrolled by the original.”
So far, just about everything about the epic event has lived up to expectations. The competition has been fierce, the ratings robust and the questions difficult. The tournament has also given a prime-time spotlight to the continued greatness of Trebek, who is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
About the only disappointment thus far has been Rutter. He’s the game’s all-time winningest contestant — with earnings of $4,688,436 — and was considered by many fans to be the favorite going in. But his performances have been lackluster and he has been a non-factor, finishing in third all three nights. Can he pull off a crazy comeback?
As far as the ratings go, the numbers have actually climbed from 16 million on Night 1 to 17 million on Night 3. “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” reigned as last week’s top entertainment program, and ranks as this season’s most-watched TV special, behind only the Golden Globe Awards.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--House Dems going over material from Giuliani pal Parnas

House Democrats are poring through reams of material by indicted Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas to see whether there ’ s anything that could be used at the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump , according to multiple sources familiar with the matter .
Officials on the House Intelligence and House Oversight committees are trying to quickly assess the vast array of records that Parnas provided to Capitol Hill , including photos , dozens of text messages and thousands of pages of documents , according to the sources .
Joseph Bondy , Parnas ’ attorney , hand-delivered the contents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s staff over the weekend .
The Senate trial is expected to begin next week , and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff , a California Democrat , is expected to lead the House ’ s presentation of the case against the President .
The House is expected to have to present exhibits and trial records ahead of time , according to the sources , which means Democrats need to see what , if anything , could be used in the trial on the front end — although the House has yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial rules from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
“ I think it ’ s something we can ’ t ignore , ” said Rep. Val Demings , a Florida Democrat on both the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees , told CNN when asked about Parnas ’ documents .
“ To what extent we can get through it before the Senate trial remains to be seen.
” Schiff said Tuesday that “ we don ’ t know ” if the House impeachment managers would be able to present in the Senate any new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeached Trump in late December because they don ’ t know what the trial procedures will look like under the resolution being drafted by McConnell , a Kentucky Republican .
“ This is going to be a partisan resolution by Mitch McConnell , and I ’ m sure it will be drafted with the White House lawyers to give the President every advantage , ” Schiff said on MSNBC .
“ I will say this , though .
It ’ s going to be hard for the Senate to ignore information that comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not going to consider that , even though it ’ s directly relevant , even though it ’ s directly incriminating.
” Parnas and Igor Fruman worked with Giuliani in Ukraine as part of the President ’ s lawyer ’ s efforts to oust the US ambassador to Ukraine and then push the country to investigate Burisma , the Ukrainian gas company which made up the core of the House ’ s impeachment case .
According to CNN , Joseph A. Bondy , Parnas ’ New York attorney , traveled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hand-deliver the contents of an iPhone 11 to Democratic staff on the House Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations , according to a series of Bondy ’ s tweets .
Bondy , has been tweeting out exhortations for the Senate to call witnesses in the impeachment trial .
One challenge for Democrats in deciding what to do with Parnas ’ documents is the source of the information , given that Parnas is under federal indictment and could face additional charges .
The sources say Democrats want to make sure the information is rock solid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are racing against the clock with the trial expected to begin in earnest next week .
• Pelosi : House will send impeachment articles to Senate next week • Political cartoons : Bolton willing to testify in Trump impeachment trial Parnas ’ document dump is one of several developments that have occurred since the House passed two impeachment articles against the President — and additional information could be released during the trial .
The watchdog group American Oversight has already received documents from the State Department , thanks to Freedom of Information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive Ukraine records from the Energy Department on January 28 — which is likely to be in the middle of the Senate trial .
If new documents come up in the trial , Chief Justice John Roberts could have to rule on whether they are admissible .
Fifty-one senators could vote to overturn a chief justice ’ s decision , senators said .
“ We could ” overturn Roberts ’ rulings , said Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , a member of Senate GOP leadership .
“ Or if he doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overturn the chief justice.
” It ’ s not yet clear how Schiff and other potential House impeachment managers would use any new information during the trial that wasn ’ t available when the House voted to impeach the President , but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has touted the new development as part of her argument that the strategy of withholding the impeachment articles for nearly a month was effective .

[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/01/14/house-democrats-senate-trial-new-evidence-parnas-note-raju-tsr-vpx.cnn”]
By Manu Raju, Jeremy Herb and Erica Orden | CNN
House Democrats unveiled new evidence Tuesday that they plan to send to the Senate as part of their case to remove President Donald Trump from office, providing text messages and hand-written notes from an indicted Rudy Giuliani associate that add more details about the push for Ukraine to announce an investigation against Trump’s political rivals.
The documents show how the associate, Lev Parnas, sought to set up a meeting between Giuliani and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and connect with members of his government. The records also add more details about the push by Giuliani to seek the ouster of the then-US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
The House Intelligence Committee pored through the reams of material provided by Parnas as they prepared for Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, and the transition of the material to the Senate suggests House Democrats may cite the documents while presenting their case. Joseph Bondy, Parnas’ attorney, hand-delivered the contents of an iPhone to the Intelligence panel’s staff over the weekend.
To read the documents, click here.
The House panel made some of the documents that Parnas provided public on Tuesday, including a letter from Giuliani to then-President-elect Zelensky requesting a meeting as the President’s personal attorney, in which Giuliani said he was working “with the President’s knowledge and consent.” There are also text messages that show Parnas’ communications with members of Zelesnky’s aides where he pursued a meeting between Zelensky and Giuliani and provided negative information about former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
The documents also include a hand-written note on stationery from the Ritz-Carlton in Vienna, Austria, that Bondy said was written by his client, which says: “get Zalensky (sic) to Annonce (sic) that the Biden case will Be Investigated.” There are also cryptic text messages suggesting that Yovanovitch’s movements were being tracked.
The Senate trial is expected to begin next week, and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, is expected to lead the House’s presentation of the case against the President. The House is expected to have to present exhibits and trial records ahead of time, according to sources, which means Democrats expected to need to provide materials on the front end — although the House has yet to see the formal resolution laying out the trial rules from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“I think it’s something we can’t ignore,” said Rep. Val Demings, a Florida Democrat on the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees, told CNN when asked about Parnas’ documents. “To what extent we can get through it before the Senate trial remains to be seen.”
In response to the House committee releasing the records, Bondy tweeted: “HPSCI has just transmitted evidence from Lev Parnas to the Judiciary Committee, which it deemed relevant to @POTUS’ impeachment inquiry. Mr. Parnas remains committed to testifying as to all the actions he took in Ukraine on behalf of @realDonaldTrump.”
‘With his knowledge and consent’
The tranche of documents released Tuesday included the previously undisclosed letter from Giuliani to Zelensky asking for a meeting in mid-May of last year. Parnas included a screenshot of the letter in a text to Serhiy Shefir, an aide to Zelensky.
“Along with many others, I am very hopeful that your election is a real turning point and allows the Ukraine to prosper and overcome some of the long-standing problems of the past,” Giuliani wrote.
He then made his ask: “In my capacity as personal counsel to President Trump and with his knowledge and consent, I request a meeting with you on this upcoming Monday, May 13th or Tuesday, May 14th. I will need no more than a half-hour of your time and I will be accompanied by my colleague Victoria Toensing, a distinguished American attorney who is very familiar with this matter.”
Subsequent texts between Parnas and Shefir indicate the two met in Kyiv at Restaurant Prague after Giuliani canceled his trip.
The new documents also provide additional details on Giuliani’s efforts to obtain a visa for former Ukrainian prosecutor general Viktor Shokin, which had been denied by the State Department. Giuliani repeatedly told Parnas in text messages that he would help him obtain a visa after it was denied, and provided Parnas with the contact info of the President’s attorney Jay Sekulow. The visa was ultimately not issued.
The texts help establish the role that Parnas played in Giuilani’s Ukrainian efforts. In the early stages of the impeachment investigation, Trump allies described Parnas as a low-level “translator” who assisted Giuliani and occasionally had his photo snapped with Trump at events for political donors. But the documents make it clear that Parnas was not a bit player — he was in direct communication with members of the incoming Zelensky administration in spring 2019.
The documents reveal that Parnas communicated with Ivan Bakanov, who is the chief of Ukraine’s Security Service, which means he is one of the senior law enforcement and intelligence officials in Ukraine. House Democrats say the documents show how Parnas sent articles to Bakanov containing smears and “false allegations” against Biden, and that Bakanov said he shared the articles with Zelensky. The articles were about alleged corruption by Biden and his son, the same claims Trump has promoted without providing any evidence.
A new figure emerges
The texts disclosed Tuesday also revealed a previously unknown participant in Parnas’ efforts: Republican Connecticut congressional candidate Robert Hyde. In a series of texts, Hyde ranted in crude language about a person identified by the House of Representative committee officials as Yovanovitch.
“F— that bitch,” Hyde wrote to Parnas on March 22, 2019, in response to a series of articles and tweets Parnas sent him. The following day, he continued: “Wow. Can’t believe Trumo (sic) hasn’t fired this bitch. I’ll get right in that.”
The House Intelligence Committee said that the texts suggested he had Yovnoavitch under physical surveillance while in Kiev.
“Wake up Yankees man. She’s talked to three people. Her phone is off. Computer is off. She’s next to the embassy. Not in the embassy. Private security. Been there since Thursday.”
Hyde told Parnas “that address I sent you checks out” and “they are willing to help if we/you would like a price.” He added: “Guess you can do anything in the Ukraine with money … what I was told.”
The text messages also provide the first evidence that Giuliani and Parnas had advance notice Trump had made the decision in April to remove Yovanovitch as ambassador to Ukraine. One day before she was informed by her bosses at the State Department that she was being stripped of her position, Giuliani texted Parnas, “he fired her again,” according to the documents. Giuliani has spoken openly about his role in removing Yovanovitch, but the information released Tuesday is the first contemporaneous written record of his central role in the scheme.
Reached by a CNN reporter by phone Tuesday, Hyde declined to comment when asked about the House Democrats’ statement that the text messages suggested Hyde had Yovanovitch under physical surveillance in Kiev. He said he has not heard from prosecutors.
Told he was speaking to a CNN reporter, Hyde said: “Communist News Network? Sorry, I only talk to Fox, OAN and Blaze reporters like Eric Bolling.”
Larry Robbins, Yovanovitch’s lawyer, declined to comment on the texts.
Questions on how the documents will be used in Senate trial
On Tuesday, Schiff said he didn’t know if the House impeachment managers would be able to present in the Senate any new evidence that has emerged since the chamber impeached Trump in late December because they don’t know what the trial procedures will look like under the resolution being drafted by McConnell, a Kentucky Republican.
“This is going to be a partisan resolution by Mitch McConnell, and I’m sure it will be drafted with the White House lawyers to give the President every advantage,” Schiff said on MSNBC. “I will say this, though. It’s going to be hard for the Senate to ignore information that comes into the public record and say we’re not going to consider that, even though it’s directly relevant, even though it’s directly incriminating.”
Parnas and Igor Fruman worked with Giuliani in Ukraine as part of the President’s lawyer’s efforts to oust the US ambassador to Ukraine and then push the country to investigate Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company which made up the core of the House’s impeachment case. Parnas and Fruman were indicted by federal prosecutors late last year.
Parnas’ document dump is one of several developments that have occurred since the House passed two impeachment articles against the President — and additional information could be released during the trial. The watchdog group American Oversight has already received documents from the State Department, thanks to Freedom of Information Act lawsuits, and is slated to receive Ukraine records from the Energy Department on January 28 — which is likely to be in the middle of the Senate trial.
If new documents come up in the trial, Chief Justice John Roberts could have to rule on whether they are admissible. Fifty-one senators could vote to overturn a chief justice’s decision, senators said.
“We could” overturn Roberts’ rulings, said Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of Senate GOP leadership. “Or if he doesn’t admit (records), we could overturn the chief justice.”
It’s not yet clear how Schiff and other potential House impeachment managers would use any new information during the trial that wasn’t available when the House voted to impeach the President, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has touted the new development as part of her argument that the strategy of withholding the impeachment articles for nearly a month was effective.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Jury convicts two in Pleasant Hill marijuana robbery/shooting death, including defendant who was mil

Jury convicts two in Pleasant Hill marijuana robbery/shooting death, including defendant who was miles away at the time

MARTINEZ — After deliberating for several days , a Contra Costa County jury convicted two men Tuesday in the 2018 shooting death of a Pleasant Hill man who prosecutors say was set up for a marijuana robbery by the defendants .
Keith Jones was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Oshry Elor , 23 , as well as attempted robbery and residential burglary .
His co-defendant , Luther Lee , was convicted of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter , police said .
Jones now faces a life sentence , while Lee faces a maximum of four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , and traveled to California in April 2018 , prosecutors say , under the guise of buying several pounds of marijuana from Elor .
In actuality , a prosecution witness testified , they intended to rob Elor at gunpoint .
A third accomplice , Terry Jones , drove them to the Sacramento , and then drove Keith Jones to Elor ’ s home .
During the meetup at Elor ’ s Pleasant Hill home , Jones pulled a gun .
A struggle ensued , and Elor was shot , but still managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyewitness testimony .
Jones fled the house , as Elor attempted to shoot him , but the gun jammed .
Elor succumbed to the gunshot wound shortly thereafter .
At the time of the shooting , Lee was still in Sacramento , but prosecutors argued that he knew the danger he was putting Elor in by setting up an armed robbery .
“ The jury held Keith Jones accountable for killing Oshry Elor , and that is justice .
They also held Luther Lee responsible , in part , for his role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a good thing as well , ” Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Aron DeFerrari , the prosecutor , said in an email .
“ We would like to thank the jury for their service in this difficult case and the Pleasant Hill Police Department for their tireless efforts to hold all of the individuals accountable who played a role in Oshry Elor ’ s death .
The police did an excellent job and should be commended for their hard work , ” DeFerrari wrote .
Terry Jones was initially charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became a prosecution witness after the murder count was dismissed per SB 1437 , a new state law that restricts when prosecutors can charge accomplices to a homicide .
During the trial , Terry Jones testified that the plan was always to rob Elor , though he noted Lee and Keith Jones were wealthy enough to afford the marijuana .
He said the night of the murder , he heard shots ring out and screaming , while he waited in the car for Keith Jones to return .
Keith Jones took the stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was a “ businessman ” who had no intent to rob Elor .
He told authorities at the time he believed Elor had laced some marijuana that Jones sampled , and that the gun went off during a mutual fight .
After the murder , all three defendants were arrested in Arizona on their way back to their home state .
Lee , Terry Jones and a woman they were with all surrendered , but Keith Jones got behind the wheel and sped away , leading police on a high-speed chase until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MARTINEZ — After deliberating for several days, a Contra Costa County jury convicted two men Tuesday in the 2018 shooting death of a Pleasant Hill man who prosecutors say was set up for a marijuana robbery by the defendants.
But one of the defendants avoided special circumstances and robbery convictions, and faces only a small stint of incarceration.
Keith Jones was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Oshry Elor, 23, as well as attempted robbery and residential burglary. His co-defendant, Luther Lee, was convicted of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.
The jury acquitted Lee of murder, robbery, and other related charges. Following the verdict, his attorney blasted the police investigation and DA’s decision to charge Lee with murder, calling it a “stretch.”
Jones now faces a possible life sentence, while Lee — who would have been eligible for a life without parole sentence if convicted of everything — faces a maximum of four years in prison.
The nearly two years Lee has spent in jail awaiting trial will count towards that sentence.
Both defendants are from Georgia, and traveled to California in April 2018, prosecutors say, under the guise of buying several pounds of marijuana from Elor. In actuality, a prosecution witness testified, they intended to rob Elor at gunpoint. A third accomplice, Terry Jones, drove them to Sacramento, and then drove Keith Jones to Elor’s home. Terry Jones and Keith Jones are not related.
During the meetup at Elor’s Pleasant Hill home, Jones pulled a gun. A struggle ensued, and Elor was shot, but still managed to disarm his attacker, according to eyewitness testimony. Jones fled the house, as Elor tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed.
Elor succumbed to the gunshot wound shortly thereafter.
At the time of the shooting, Lee was still in Sacramento, but prosecutors argued that he knew the danger he was putting Elor in by setting up an armed robbery.
“The jury held Keith Jones accountable for killing Oshry Elor, and that is justice. They also held Luther Lee responsible, in part, for his role in what happened to Oshry, and that is a good thing as well,” Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Aron DeFerrari, the prosecutor, said in an email.
“We would like to thank the jury for their service in this difficult case and the Pleasant Hill Police Department for their tireless efforts to hold all of the individuals accountable who played a role in Oshry Elor’s death. The police did an excellent job and should be commended for their hard work,” DeFerrari wrote.
Terry Jones was initially charged with murder along with Keith Jones, but became a prosecution witness after the murder count was dismissed per SB 1437, a new state law that restricts when prosecutors can charge accomplices to a homicide.
During the trial, Terry Jones testified that the plan was always to rob Elor, though he noted Lee and Keith Jones were wealthy enough to afford the marijuana. He said the night of the murder, he heard shots ring out and screaming, while he waited in the car for Keith Jones to return.
Terry Jones’ testimony was key to the case against Lee. Ironically, he will spend more time in prison than Lee, thanks to the plea deal Jones cut with the District Attorney’s office.
Lee’s attorney, Jai Gohel, said Pleasant Hill police investigators used “abusive” interrogation tactics when interviewing Terry Jones, and that it tainted the case.
“The entire case against him was a stretch promulgated by the decision of the Contra Costa County DA’s Office, including Aron DeFerrarri, to pursue first degree murder charges against him,” Gohel said in an email. “This was firmly rejected by a jury of his peers.”
Keith Jones took the stand in his own defense, testifying that he was a “businessman” who had no intent to rob Elor. He told authorities at the time he believed Elor had laced some marijuana that Jones sampled, and that the gun went off during a mutual fight.
After the murder, all three defendants were arrested in Arizona on their way back to their home state. Lee, Terry Jones and a woman they were with all surrendered, but Keith Jones got behind the wheel and sped away, leading police on a high-speed chase until he too was eventually taken into custody.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Le Boulanger Sunnyvale site is bought amid sale of business that will preserve its brand

SUNNYVALE — In a whirlwind of transactions , the Le Boulanger headquarters property has been purchased , the business and brand have been bought , the employees are being transitioned to new jobs amid layoffs , and the main offices are shifting to Fresno .
Athens Baking Co. , based in Fresno , has bought the Le Boulanger business and brand , Dan Brunello , chief executive officer of Le Boulanger , told this news organization Tuesday in an interview .
“ It ’ s an exciting time , ” Brunello said .
“ We are excited to be handing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will preserve its legacy and expand the business.
” Separately , Irvine Co. , a big developer , has bought the Le Boulanger property , located at 305 N. Mathilda Ave. , according to Santa Clara County property records filed on Jan. 13 .
Acting through an affiliate , Irvine Co. paid $ 19.5 million for the Sunnyvale site , located near the corner of Mathilda Avenue and Central Expressway .
The Le Boulanger baking operations in Sunnyvale are being shifted to an existing manufacturing site in Richmond .
Distribution activities that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the wide-ranging changes and transactions involving the bakery company have resulted in job cuts for Le Boulanger employees , according to an official filing with the state ’ s Employment Development Department .
“ Le Boulanger Inc. will be closing its entire facility at 305 N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale , ” the company stated in the EDD filing .
Up to 143 employees could lose their jobs , Le Boulanger disclosed in a letter to the EDD .
The first of the job cuts will begin around March 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff reductions are completed around March 31 , the EDD filing shows .
“ We are working hard to transition everyone to new jobs , ” Brunello said .
Bakers , route drivers , retail cafe workers , laborers , and office workers are among the types of jobs that are being eliminated by the plant shutdown .
“ A good portion of the staff have been offered new opportunities in Richmond and San Leandro , and we are also getting inquiries from other employers in our industry about hiring some of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boulanger also is working with the Nova Job Center in Sunnyvale to obtain new employment for the displaced workers .
The sale of the business to Athens Baking closes a major chapter in California ’ s retailing and baking industries .
“ Baking has been a Brunello family tradition for nearly a century , ” according to the Le Boulanger website .
“ Paul Brunello , father of Roger and Dan , immigrated to America from Venice , Italy and began the Brunello tradition of true bread baking.
” The family ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siskiyou County town of Weed .
In 1956 , the Brunello family moved to the Bay Area and opened a bakery in Palo Alto .
Over the decades , the elder Brunello brought his sons Dan and Roger into the family business .
After the Brunello family bakery merged with Stemple ’ s Bakery in 1971 , the family business extended from Santa Clara County up the Peninsula and into San Francisco .
Eventually , in 1981 , Dan and his brother Roger launched Le Boulanger as a tiny 14-seat cafe in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sourdough and specialty breads that were unprecedented in the area , setting the stage for Le Boulanger to become the Bay Area ’ s premier bread bakery , ” the company ’ s website states .
This time around , it appears Dan Brunello intends to exit a business that ’ s nearly four decades old .
“ Athens Baking has the bandwidth to really expand the business , ” Brunello said .
“ I ’ m going to work with Athens for a little while to make sure the transition goes well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m going to step back and maybe retire .
Under the new owner , Le Boulanger will flourish , it will grow , it ’ s going to remain great .
”

SUNNYVALE — In a whirlwind of transactions, the Le Boulanger headquarters property has been purchased, the business and brand have been bought, the employees are being transitioned to new jobs amid layoffs, and the main offices are shifting to Fresno.
Athens Baking Co., based in Fresno, has bought the Le Boulanger business and brand, Dan Brunello, chief executive officer of Le Boulanger, told this news organization Tuesday in an interview.
“It’s an exciting time,” Brunello said. “We are excited to be handing off the business to a company that will preserve its legacy and expand the business.”
Separately, Irvine Co., a big developer, has bought the Le Boulanger property, located at 305 N. Mathilda Ave., according to Santa Clara County property records filed on Jan. 13.
Acting through an affiliate, Irvine Co. paid $19.5 million for the Sunnyvale site, located near the corner of Mathilda Avenue and Central Expressway.
The Le Boulanger baking operations in Sunnyvale are being shifted to an existing manufacturing site in Richmond. Distribution activities that were in Sunnyvale are relocating to San Leandro.
However, the wide-ranging changes and transactions involving the bakery company have resulted in job cuts for Le Boulanger employees, according to an official filing with the state’s Employment Development Department.
“Le Boulanger Inc. will be closing its entire facility at 305 N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale,” the company stated in the EDD filing.
Up to 143 employees could lose their jobs, Le Boulanger disclosed in a letter to the EDD.
The first of the job cuts will begin around March 3 and will continue in phases until the staff reductions are completed around March 31, the EDD filing shows.
“We are working hard to transition everyone to new jobs,” Brunello said.
Bakers, route drivers, retail cafe workers, laborers and office workers are among the types of jobs that are being eliminated by the plant shutdown.
“A good portion of the staff have been offered new opportunities in Richmond and San Leandro, and we are also getting inquiries from other employers in our industry about hiring some of our people,” Brunello said.
Le Boulanger also is working with the Nova Job Center in Sunnyvale to obtain new employment for the displaced workers.
The sale of the business to Athens Baking closes a major chapter in California’s retailing and baking industries.
“Baking has been a Brunello family tradition for nearly a century,” according to the Le Boulanger website. “Paul Brunello, father of Roger and Dan, immigrated to America from Venice, Italy and began the Brunello tradition of true bread baking.”
The family’s first bakery opened in 1922 in the Siskiyou County town of Weed. In 1956, the Brunello family moved to the Bay Area and opened a bakery in Palo Alto. Over the decades, the elder Brunello brought his sons Dan and Roger into the family business.
After the Brunello family bakery merged with Stemple’s Bakery in 1971, the family business extended from Santa Clara County up the Peninsula and into San Francisco.
Eventually, in 1981, Dan and Roger launched Le Boulanger as a tiny 14-seat cafe in downtown Los Altos.
“They offered delicious sourdough and specialty breads that were unprecedented in the area, setting the stage for Le Boulanger to become the Bay Area’s premier bread bakery,” the company’s website states.
This time around, it appears Dan Brunello intends to exit a business that’s nearly four decades old.
“Athens Baking has the bandwidth to really expand the business,” Brunello said. “I’m going to work with Athens for a little while to make sure the transition goes well. After that, I think I’m going to step back and maybe retire. Under the new owner, Le Boulanger will flourish, it will grow, it’s going to remain great.”


mercurynews--2020-01-14--‘Strongest’ storm system in several weeks set to hit Bay Area

The strongest storm system in several weeks will douse Bay Area commuters with rain and high winds on Thursday , followed by another week of cool , cloudy weather and scattered showers .
After a brief respite from showers on Wednesday , the brunt of the deluge will smack the region during peak commuting hours Thursday .
A storm traveling south from the Pacific Northwest will unleash around 2.5 inches of rain and winds of up to 40 mph throughout the day , according to the National Weather Service .
“ Folks should just be aware this will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some issues , ” said meteorologist Roger Gass , ticking off minor flooding , slick roadways and blown-over trashcans as his chief concerns .
The National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon they anticipated the storm to move into the area late Wednesday or early Thursday with moderate to heavy rain and wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph on the coastline The morning commute is expected to be affected significantly .
“ Whatever you do , do whatever you can to be prepared ahead of time , ” CHP spokesman Officer Kris Borer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , that your headlights work .
Check your windshield wipers .
Also , please look at your tire tread .
Those can save you on the roadways.
” Borer also warned drivers to leave early for their destinations and not to be in a rush to get where they ’ re going .
“ It ’ s the time to be the best driver you can be , so take that extra time and go slow , ” he said .
“ Also , lookout for water buildups on the shoulders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , but don ’ t dart into another lane without looking or stop in your lane and cause a crash.
” Originating off the coast of Alaska , the cold front will travel north to south and drop around 2.5 inches of rain over the North Bay and coastal ranges , with 1.5 inches over interior hills and between 1 and 1.5 inches in the rest of the region .
That ’ s enough to edge up seasonal rainfall totals — but not by much .
Most of the Bay Area ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco and San Jose , have yet to top 70 percent of typical rainfall since the start of October , according to NWS totals .
San Jose has hit just 52 percent of its typical rainfall , while Livermore is at just 26 percent .
Salinas and Concord have made the most headway , having reached 79 and 68 percent of typical totals so far this season .
A weaker storm system on Tuesday did little to boost those totals , with just a few hundredths of an inch counted throughout much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early afternoon .
Although Thursday ’ s anticipated system represents the “ strongest ” storm in recent weeks , Gass said , the Bay will still be thirsting for more rain as winter drags on .
“ It doesn ’ t appear to be a system that will drop , say , 3 or 4 inches of rain in Silicon Valley , so we won ’ t see those numbers dramatically jump up , ” Gass said .
The cold front also prompted a winter storm warning for most of Thursday in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yosemite National Park southward to near the Lake Isabella area .
Snowfall of up to 8 inches is expected in areas above 4,000 feet , while in the Bay , up to 3 inches of snow could fall on the highest peaks in the North Bay , East Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains .
After Thursday evening , showers will taper off and make way for a weekend of relief , bringing temperatures in the low to mid-60s and likely just scattered drizzles .
While a gentler , scattered rainy system is developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commuters ought to take heart : Thursday ’ s storm is the last expected to pack a punch .
For now .
“ All indications are that we ’ re not going to see any heavy rainfall next week , ” Gass said .

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The strongest storm system in several weeks will douse Bay Area commuters with rain and high winds on Thursday, followed by another week of cool, cloudy weather and scattered showers.
After a brief respite from showers on Wednesday, the brunt of the deluge will smack the region during peak commuting hours Thursday. A storm traveling south from the Pacific Northwest will unleash around 2.5 inches of rain and winds of up to 40 mph throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.
“Folks should just be aware this will be a stronger system, and we could have some issues,” said meteorologist Roger Gass, ticking off minor flooding, slick roadways and blown-over trashcans as his chief concerns.
The National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon they anticipated the storm to move into the area late Wednesday or early Thursday with moderate to heavy rain and wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph on the coastline
The morning commute is expected to be affected significantly.
“Whatever you do, do whatever you can to be prepared ahead of time,” CHP spokesman Officer Kris Borer said. “Make sure your taillights work, that your headlights work. Check your windshield wipers. Also, please look at your tire tread. Those can save you on the roadways.”
Borer also warned drivers to leave early for their destinations and not to be in a rush to get where they’re going.
“It’s the time to be the best driver you can be, so take that extra time and go slow,” he said. “Also, lookout for water buildups on the shoulders and in the lanes. Try to avoid them, but don’t dart into another lane without looking or stop in your lane and cause a crash.”
Originating off the coast of Alaska, the cold front will travel north to south and drop around 2.5 inches of rain over the North Bay and coastal ranges, with 1.5 inches over interior hills and between 1 and 1.5 inches in the rest of the region.
That’s enough to edge up seasonal rainfall totals — but not by much.
Most of the Bay Area’s cities, including Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose, have yet to top 70 percent of typical rainfall since the start of October, according to NWS totals. San Jose has hit just 52 percent of its typical rainfall, while Livermore is at just 26 percent. Salinas and Concord have made the most headway, having reached 79 and 68 percent of typical totals so far this season.
A weaker storm system on Tuesday did little to boost those totals, with just a few hundredths of an inch counted throughout much of the South and East Bay as of early afternoon.
Although Thursday’s anticipated system represents the “strongest” storm in recent weeks, Gass said, the Bay will still be thirsting for more rain as winter drags on.
“It doesn’t appear to be a system that will drop, say, 3 or 4 inches of rain in Silicon Valley, so we won’t see those numbers dramatically jump up,” Gass said.
The cold front also prompted a winter storm warning for most of Thursday in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, from Yosemite National Park southward to near the Lake Isabella area.
Snowfall of up to 8 inches is expected in areas above 4,000 feet, while in the Bay, up to 3 inches of snow could fall on the highest peaks in the North Bay, East Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains.
After Thursday evening, showers will taper off and make way for a weekend of relief, bringing temperatures in the low to mid-60s and likely just scattered drizzles.
While a gentler, scattered rainy system is developing for early next week, Bay Area commuters ought to take heart: Thursday’s storm is the last expected to pack a punch. For now.
“All indications are that we’re not going to see any heavy rainfall next week,” Gass said.
Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-01-14--Oakland launches city, community effort to combat illegal dumping

OAKLAND — City and community officials on Tuesday kicked off Oaktown PROUD — a campaign aimed at reducing illegal dumping through new enforcement and educational programs .
The joint effort between city government and neighborhoods was announced at San Antonio Park .
The Oaktown PROUD name stands for “ Prevent & Report Our Unlawful Dumping.
” The program ’ s core strategy is to reduce illegal dumping centers on education , eradication and enforcement .
“ Oaklanders deserve a home to be proud of , and when we work together that ’ s exactly what we build , ” Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our community has told us loud and clear that they will not stand by while our streets and sidewalks are made dirtier and less safe by illegal dumping .
This is a public health issue , a public safety issue and an equity issue – and that means it ’ s time for all hands on deck .
I ’ m proud of the city ’ s growing commitments and services , but even more I am humbled and inspired by the determination of our residents to take action and be part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PROUD Student Ambassador program , a pilot effort involving young Oakland residents to help to inform individuals about the need to dispose of garbage .
Oakland High School and Skyline High School took part in the program , which is expected to expand this year .
• The Environmental Enforcement Officers unit , a new team of civilian investigators who inspect heavy dumping sites and contact suspected dumpers , will encourage them to use available services , and refer cases for legal action .
• Expansion of the Garbage Blitz Crews , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mayor Libby Schaaf and the Oakland City Council have expanded the pilot program .
Currently , three crews are pick up trash among four regions that cover the entire city .
Funding for a fourth crew was approved in the fiscal year 2020-21 budget .
“ When someone asks the question , ‘ Why do you pick up litter when people continue to throw it down , ’ the answer is simple : I pick up litter because people continue to throw it down .
I feel like my neighborhood and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary Forte , a volunteer neighborhood coordinator with the city ’ s Adopt a Spot program .
Ida Oberman , executive director of Community School for Creative Education and a member of the East Oakland Congress of Neighborhoods and board member of Faith in Action East Bay , said , “ City enforcement is a last resort .
We can ’ t punish our way out of a problem that starts with neighbors in need , and community members who lack access or resources to dispose of their trash and unwanted items need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oberman said the “ power for change is in our own hands.
” The Oaktown PROUD campaign will be expanded over the next several months , according to the city .
It will highlight several strategies to reduce illegal dumping , including proper waste disposal and how to report illegal dumping , and volunteering with the city ’ s Adopt a Spot Program , which hosts cleanup and beautification events .
For more information about Oaktown PROUD , go to www.oaktownproud.com .

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
OAKLAND — City and community officials have started Oaktown PROUD — a campaign aimed at reducing illegal dumping through new enforcement and educational programs.
The joint effort between city government and neighborhoods was announced Tuesday at San Antonio Park.
The Oaktown PROUD name stands for “Prevent & Report Our Unlawful Dumping.” The program’s core strategy is to reduce illegal dumping through education, eradication and enforcement.
“Oaklanders deserve a home to be proud of, and when we work together that’s exactly what we build,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement. “Our community has told us loud and clear that they will not stand by while our streets and sidewalks are made dirtier and less safe by illegal dumping. This is a public health issue, a public safety issue and an equity issue – and that means it’s time for all hands on deck. I’m proud of the city’s growing commitments and services, but even more I am humbled and inspired by the determination of our residents to take action and be part of the solution.”
New and expanded city services include:
The Oaktown PROUD Student Ambassador program, a pilot effort involving young Oakland residents to help to inform individuals about the need to correctly dispose of garbage. Oakland High School and Skyline High School took part in the program, which is expected to expand this year.
The Environmental Enforcement Officers unit, a new team of city investigators who inspect common dumping sites, will contact suspected dumpers and encourage them to use available services such as the county hazardous household waste drop-off sites, and refer cases for legal action. There are four offices and one supervisor making up the unit.
Expansion of the Garbage Blitz Crews, where city cleanup crews pick up illegal dumping. Schaaf and the City Council have expanded the pilot program. Currently, three crews pick up trash among four regions that cover the entire city. Funding for a fourth crew was approved in the fiscal year 2020-21 budget.
“When someone asks the question, ‘Why do you pick up litter when people continue to throw it down,’ the answer is simple: I pick up litter because people continue to throw it down. I feel like my neighborhood and my home are my castle,” said Mary Forte, a volunteer neighborhood coordinator with the city’s Adopt a Spot program.
Ida Oberman, executive director of Community School for Creative Education and a member of the East Oakland Congress of Neighborhoods and board member of Faith in Action East Bay, said, “City enforcement is a last resort. We can’t punish our way out of a problem that starts with neighbors in need, and community members who lack access or resources to dispose of their trash and unwanted items need our compassion, education and support.”
Oberman said the “power for change is in our own hands.”
The Oaktown PROUD campaign will be expanded over the next several months, according to the city.
It will highlight several strategies to reduce illegal dumping, including proper waste disposal and how to report illegal dumping, and volunteering with the city’s Adopt a Spot Program, which hosts cleanup and beautification events.
For more information about Oaktown PROUD, go to www.oaktownproud.com.