Here’s what’s happening in the Bay Area, as curated by KALW news:
Lee vetoes S.F.’s proposed rolling-stop law for bicyclists // SF Gate
“Mayor Ed Lee has followed through with his pledge to veto legislation that would allow bicyclists to roll through stop signs instead of coming to a full stop.
“In a letter to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Lee wrote that the “ordinance does not promote balanced public safety for all the diverse users of our streets, rather, it trades safety for convenience. Therefore, this is not a policy I can allow this City to endorse.”
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Possible CSU faculty strike looms, but still would be weeks away // San Jose Mercury News
“As CSU students return to classes for the spring term, the threat of a system-wide faculty strike looms.
“‘A storm is coming,” said California Faculty Association President Jennifer Eagan at a news conference Tuesday. ‘The faculty are fed up with the low pay.’
“The faculty union rejected a 2 percent raise offered by the California State University administration last year and is demanding 5 percent increases for all of its members and an additional 1.2 percent for some faculty. In October, CSU faculty voted overwhelmingly to allow union leaders to call a system-wide strike should the union and CSU system fail to resolve their dispute.”
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Greyhound says they allow drivers to get more rest than mandates //ABC 7 News
“The driver [of a Greyhound bus that overturned in San Jose Tuesday] was among the people transported to the hospital with minor injuries. ABC7 News looked into the rules Greyhound imposes on its drivers.
“There are strict regulations for bus drivers. Federal law mandates they get eight hours of rest, after 10 hours behind the wheel. Greyhound says it does better than that and requires nine hours of rest after 10 hours of driving. In addition, federal law has a 70-hour "on duty limit" in an eight-day period. That means, no driving after 70 hours of work, whether that work involves driving or not.
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Terminal operator exits Oakland port, which is in talks with new tenants // Oakland Tribune
“A joint venture that includes terminal operator Ports America and Terminal Investment will cease operations at the Port of Oakland, officials said Tuesday, dealing a blow to the East Bay cargo hub.
“‘We're disappointed when a tenant leaves,’ said Michael Zampa, a spokesman for the Port of Oakland. ‘But it also presents opportunities for the port.’
“The port, which is trying to rebound from a labor dispute that hobbled West Coast ports early last year, also is already engaged in negotiations to bring a new tenant to the terminal when it becomes idle in about 60 days."
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Plainclothes Cops Monitor Renters at Alameda Council Meeting // East Bay Express
“City officials cited public safety concerns for their unusual decision to assign plainclothes officers to keep tabs on renters, but activists say the move could have a chilling effect on speech.
“As renters and landlords filed through the large foyer leading into Alameda's Kofman Auditorium on January 5 to watch the Alameda City Council's latest attempt to address the growing problem of rising rents and evictions on the island, Monty Heying's job was to help renters sign up to speak in front of the council. But Heying, a member of the Alameda Renters Coalition, grew suspicious of three men watching the signup table. ‘I kept noticing them and was wondering what they were doing,’ Heying said in a recent interview. ‘Then, I noticed a commotion and saw handcuffs fall to the ground that made this clattering sound.’”
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Sacramento approves restrictions on short-term rentals such as Airbnb // Sacramento Bee
“The Sacramento City Council unanimously approved two ordinances Tuesday allowing short-term rental services such as Airbnb.
“The ordinances require Sacramento operators of short-term rentals to obtain a permit and pay associated taxes and fees.The changes respond to a quickly evolving part of the sharing economy in which residents advertise a room or entire house for rent online, typically on a nightly basis as an alternative to a hotel.
“Council members spoke of the importance of creating a balanced system where homeowners can share their homes and make some extra money without causing problems for their neighbors.”
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