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Berkeley prepares to transform its marina — and keep labor relations there ship-shape

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

The Berkeley Marina has long been a bustling destination for residents looking to take in stunning natural views, fly a kite, learn to sail or enjoy an upscale bayside meal.But the area has faced challenges in the last few years, especially around the Berkeley pier, which remains closed in disarray on the San Francisco Bay. Now, as preliminary plans are underway to transform the waterfront, city leaders are working to ensure that future workers are happy and business runs smoothly.On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved adding a “labor peace policy” to its municipal code, which requires that any hospitality operation which inks a new (or amended) lease on city-owned marina property vow to work in good faith with labor unions and employees that want to request or negotiate benefits.In exchange, employees agree to avoid economic actions like picketing, boycotts and work stoppages while union recognition discussions are underway — a compromise supported by Berkeley’s...

Why do all the new apartment buildings in the Bay Area look the same?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

Walk through the heart of just about any Bay Area city and you can’t miss them: boxy, Lego-like apartment buildings with bright multi-colored paneling rising above downtown streets and suburban thoroughfares.The creeping sameness of the new developments — decried as “ugly” or “soulless” by some and “gentrification buildings” by others — is true for luxury apartment complexes and low-income housing projects alike. And as the region plans for the addition of hundreds of thousands of new multifamily units over the next decade to ease its deepening housing shortage, the bulky designs are likely to become more ubiquitous.“Even the most high-end buildings look the same,” said Mary Comerio, an architecture professor at UC Berkeley. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re designed by the average corporate firm or a more sensitive, well-known architect.”Why do so many new apartment buildings look alike? Housing and arch...

They said it: Tired of racism

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

“I ask everyone for patience, including myself . . . But after reading some of those texts . . . it was personal to me. All I heard was n…er, n…er, n…er. That should be personal to everybody in this room. Every single person. That should be personal to you, too.”— Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who is Black, after a heated discussion at a city council meeting last week on revelations of racist text messages among members of the city’s police force.

Highway 17 construction will continue into July: Roadshow

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

Q: What will it take to force these bumbling bureaucrats to realize that closing a single lane during the afternoon commute hours on Highway 17 is a really dumb idea? For example, traffic was at a standstill in Los Gatos one recent day. It took me 10 minutes to travel two blocks. It was that way for everyone.Terry Swinggi, AptosA: I know this is frustrating. It will be better when work is complete. Just a reminder that Caltrans will close one lane of Highway 17 in each direction from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Monday, April 17. This is for pavement rehabilitation, highway striping, guardrail repair and highway maintenance from Hebard Road to Highway 9. Work will be completed in July.Q: I agree with your advice to call the police, not contact the business owner, when finding handicap spaces blocked by non-handicap vehicles, especially large trucks. Recently I was at the Walgreens in Scotts Valley and a delivery truck was occupying two handicap spaces. I pointed out to the man unloadi...

Mission Paradise project could propel Hayward to forefront of affordable housing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

On Monday, a group of state and local dignitaries gathered in Hayward on a patch of dirt wedged between a taqueria, a church and a bus stop to celebrate a new affordable housing development for seniors.But amid the upbeat small talk, table of hors d’oeuvres and soft, beachy licks of a solo guitarist, there was something else—a collective sigh of relief.“This project could have died,” said Sasha Kergan, the deputy secretary of housing and consumer relations at the Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “It’s that bit of hope that we need.”To Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, the Mission Paradise project that will be completed by 2025 establishes Hayward as a leader in affordable housing for the region.“We’re leading the East Bay in providing housing for all income levels,” Salinas said. “I’d put us up against anybody.”The development will accommodate several underserved communities, with units earmarked for everything from low-income seniors to formerly homeless households to...

Struggling Hertha brings Dárdai back for 3rd stint as coach

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Hertha Berlin is bringing Pál Dárdai back for a third stint as coach after firing Sandro Schwarz in a bid to escape relegation.The Bundesliga club said Sunday that the 47-year-old Dárdai will take over for the rest of season. He has six games to save Hertha from demotion.Hertha has been flirting with relegation every season since investor Lars Windhorst first backed the club in 2019.On Friday, however, the team dropped to last in the Bundesliga with a 5-2 loss at fellow struggler Schalke, which was previously bottom. It stretched Hertha’s run without a victory to six games. The next six games – against Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Bochum and Wolfsburg – will need to be better if Hertha is to avoid another drop to the second division following its last demotion in 2012. The club had maintained its faith in Schwarz as coach even as the team struggled to transfer reported good work in training to competitive games. Schwarz remained in charge when Hert...

2 hurt after shooting in Green Valley Ranch neighborhood

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver Police investigated a shooting that happened in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood before 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Shots are believed to have been fired at a home on E. 48th Place near Green Valley Ranch Boulevard. & Piccadilly Road. Police said one of the victims is a juvenile male in critical condition and the other victim is an adult man and has non-life-threatening injuries. Both went to the hospital in private cars. Originally DPD reported that both victims were minors but then released an update. It’s still unclear the circumstances leading up to the shooting. SWAT and DPD K9s were on the scene early in the morning but had since left. FOX31 was told by RTD officials that a bus was called to the scene to keep people warm, while a few homes were evacuated.  Police have not said why people were asked to leave their homes in the area.   No arrests have been made at this time and there does not seem to be any immediate threat to the...

Denver Weather: Warm and windy trend

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will transition from showers to sunshine and warmer temperatures through Tuesday. Wind will also pick up each day, meaning high fire danger.Weather today: Seasonal sunshineAfter a cool start to the day, sunshine warms Denver to seasonal highs in the mid-60s. Not as windy as yesterday but still a breeze around. Looking ahead: High fire danger before showersThe warming and windy trend continues through Tuesday - main concern will be the high fire danger. Unsettled weather returns midweek through Friday with showers and cooler temperatures. We look to stay cool for next weekend but back to sunshine and dry skies.

16-year-old missing now home safe with family

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

AURORA, Colo (KDVR) -- UPDATE (April 16, 2023) -- The family of a 16-year-old missing from Aurora said she was found and is home safe as of Sunday.The teen had not been seen or heard from since Monday. The family told FOX31 she was last seen wearing a red beanie with a black zip-up hoodie, black shorts and white shoes. Her father, Paul Chhoeun, said they just want her back home safe. "Just not having her home is the most difficult thing and not knowing if she’s safe wherever she’s at," Chhoeun said.  Chhoeun said it was a typical Monday when he dropped Alex off at her bus stop that takes her to Vista Peak Preparatory in Aurora.  Police shoot, kill suspect with woman, children barricaded in Northglenn "We get a phone call, first period Alex wasn’t in class and then another phone call she’s missing in second period, so we’re like, ‘Okay she’s probably ditching school,’” Chhoeun said.  But Alex didn’t return home Monday night. "Day one we thought maybe s...

Bruins look to end Presidents’ Trophy winners empty run

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:51:21 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The NHL record-setting Boston Bruins only need to glance over at the opposing bench to see what’s happened to Presidents’ Trophy winners for nearly the last decade.Coming off a record regular season that earned them the award with the most points (135) and wins (65) in league history, the Bruins begin their opening-round playoff series on Monday night at TD Garden against the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.“They were in our shoes last year as Presidents’ Trophy winners,” Boston’s first-year coach Jim Montgomery said. “And I think since the All-Star break, the record is one of the top six teams in the league.”Both teams enter off a hot stretch. The Bruins won their final eight games and 15 of 16, while Florida had a six-game winning streak to clinch its wild-card spot before losing its final two.Boston looks to become the first Presidents’ winner since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks to hoist the Stanley Cup. Ironically, they skated around TD Garden ...