USA Score Card

Phil Mayer

KRON4

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Video shows ex-SF fire commissioner assaulted with pipe in Marina District

Former San Francisco Fire Commissioner Don Carmignani, was assaulted by a man swinging a metal pipe, resulting in surgery. Carmignani identified his attacker to be a homeless person who had set up an encampment in front of his mothers’ home.
The San Francisco District Attorney charged the suspect with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
Carmingnani published a statement saying that both him and his mother called 911 to report feeling unsafe due to the encampment at the entryway to her residence. “Neither SFPD nor any of the City’s various homeless service providers responded to our 911 calls that morning.”

Dave Pehling

CBS Bay Area

Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024

4 San Francisco police officers injured in Bayview crash after suspect vehicle pursuit

Four San Francisco Police Officers were injured on the evening of Friday, December 29, after the pursuit of a suspect vehicle ended in a collision at the intersection of Keith Street and Quesada Avenue in the Bayview District.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to yield and fled, initiating a pursuit. Four officers were injured, two being transported to a nearby hospital for their injuries. No additional information has been provided on their condition.
Citizen App video of the scene showed the suspect vehicle had rolled onto its side and the driver of the wanted vehicle was taken into custody.

City of Berkeley

Monday, Aug 7, 2023

Suspect charged with Attempted Murder

On June 28, a 24-year old Berekley man attempted to provoke and violently murder a victim sitting on a bench near Bonar St. and University Ave. The suspect approached a 68-year old man and attempted to attack him before proceeding to pour gasoline and light him on fire.
While the suspect fled the scene, witnesses of the incident extinguished the fire and rendered aid, likely saving the victim’s life, who was taken to a hospital with extensive burn injuries.
Berkeley Police used video surveillance and worked with witnesses to identify the suspect. On July 6th, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office charged the suspect with Attempted Murder, Elder Abuse, and Mayhem.

Da Lin

CBS Bay Area

Thursday, Feb 1, 2024

At the end of 2023, Oakland crime data paints complex picture

The latest crime statistics released by the Oakland Police showed data collected from January 1st to December 24th of 2023:
Robbery was up by 37%, burglary was up by 24%, motor vehicle theft was up 45% (motor vehicle theft was an all-time record high for Oakland), homicide rates stayed the same as last year with 118 murders, with no discretion between accidental or justified homicides in the number.
Police added that locations that were traditionally pretty safe like Temescal and Rockridge are dealing with a lot more robberies and burglaries, and that violent crime is no longer just confined to West and East Oakland.

Tim Fang

CBS Bay Area

Sunday, Feb 4, 2024

East Palo Alto police chief says zero murders reported in 2023 - 'A momentous milestone'

On New Year’s Day, police announced that the East Palo Alto community saw zero reported murders in 2023, a far cry from the early 1990s when the city was dubbed the nation's "murder capital.
"Your collective commitment to safety and unity has transformed our city, evolving from the challenges of 1992 when we faced 42 murders, to now, a community that stands resilient and stronger than ever." Chief of Police Jeff Liu said in a public notice statement Monday.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten

Fox News

Saturday, Feb 3, 2024

San Francisco suspect robs Bank of America by driving SUV through window: 'Criminals are emboldened'

A Bank of America Branch in the Outer Richmond District was destroyed after a suspected thief drove a vehicle through the glass doors to steal money from the ATM.
Police said the driver was allegedly after the ATM in the lobby, but did not specify what had been stolen. By the next day, the branch was boarded-up.
Neighborhood residents interviewed reported being shocked at the news of the event, assuming the debris was caused by water damage. This investigation is active. The SFPD asks anyone with any information on the crime to call 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411.

Bay Area Reporter

Friday, Nov 24, 2023

Woman speaks out in Emeryville hate crime case

A resident at a senior housing facility in Emeryville, spoke out after her former neighbor allegedly removed a Pride-themed display.
The suspect admitted to ripping down the posters. He was charged with vandalism under $400 and another of "violation of civil rights” and is set for a diversion hearing in Alameda County Superior Court on November 1.
His lawyer mentioned discussion amongst seniors who grew up in the 1960s and 70’s who were active in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, find themselves backtracking on their own open identity in unwelcoming environments. “I think this incident at Avalon is a glaring example."

Patrick Reilly

New York Post

Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024

Stores in crime-riddled San Francisco abandoning self-checkout lanes to combat thefts: report

San Francisco retailers, including Safeway in the Fillmore District and Target on Mission Street, shut down self-checkout lanes as a precautionary retail strategy, notes Daniel Conway of the California Grocers Association. Governor Gavin Newsom's office reported $30.7 million in recovered stolen goods and over 1,250 arrests in California since 2019.
In 2019 article entitled, “Do We Create Shoplifters?” Paul Orlando wrote, “There are benefits and costs to job automation. We may prefer automation when there are benefits of cost, safety, and other efficiencies. Those benefits come with costs.”
This year, California announced in September it plans to spend $267 million to help local law enforcement agencies crack down on smash-and-grab robberies.

Berkeleyside

Friday, Jan 12, 2024

Man suspected of stabbing family members arrested, Berkeley police say

21-year-old Byron Gabriel DeCles was arrested by Oakland police on Dec. 12 for allegedly stabbing two family members in the Claremont neighborhood. The incident occurred without resistance from DeCles, as stated in police records. Will his cooperation influence the judge's compassion?
DeCles’ mother said her son has a history of mental health issues, and she’s concerned he was experiencing a crisis when he stabbed his uncle and grandmother, who have been discharged from the hospital since.
DeCles is in custody at the Berkeley Jail. His arraignment is Wednesday, December 13 at 9 am. at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. Oakland police referred any requests for information to Berkeley police.

Adam Shanks

Forbes

Sunday, Dec 10, 2023

BREAKING NEWS: FBI Seized NYC Mayor Eric Adams' Phones Amid Campaign Investigation

FBI is currently investigating New York City Mayor's election campaign knowingly received illegal contributions from Turkish Nationals
A major result of this conflict of interest is Eric Adams' intervention in pushing to obtain temporary certificate of occupancy for the Turkish consulate in summer 2021
Eric Adams reports complying with investigation and asserts that he has done nothing wrong

@BetterSF94102

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2023

Per Federal Judge Donna Ryu's injunction order, unable to move subjects at this time. Sidewalk is not blocked and currently ADA compliant.

Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu of the US District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the San Francisco city government from forcibly relocating homeless people from the streets.
This post references lawsuits against municipalities for not removing homeless encampments, which obstruct access to sidewalks for disabled individuals.
Ryu responded to the plaintiff’s argument that the city regularly failed to offer shelter before clearing encampments and improperly seized or threw out the belongings of homeless persons.

Mitch Smith

New York Times

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Measure Designed to End Cash Bail

The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld a law signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker that eliminates cash bail in the state.
Advocates argue that ending cash bail will prevent cases like Lavette Mayes, who was charged with aggravated battery, had bail set at $250,000, and waited one year in jail for trial.
Law enforcement groups and opponents warn that the law could result in increased crime, recidivism, dysfunction in the criminal justice system, and danger to both police officers and the communities they serve.

Krystal Ball

Breaking Points

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023

Saudis DRAINED Arizona Water As Politicians Did Nothing

Fondomonte Arizona, a company based in Saudi Arabia, has been heavily irrigating alfalfa for export as livestock feed using groundwater.
An inquiry about water usage was blocked by then Governor Doug Ducey's office.
Arizona's Attorney General Kris Mayes has advised against renewing state-issued land leases to Fondomonte.

Saagar Enjeti

Breaking Points

Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022

SCOTUS Set To KILL Affirmative Action Forever

It is expected that the Students for Fair Admissions v University of North Carolina case will result in a Supreme Court decision against affirmative action in college admissions.
Saagar reports overwhelming evidence that admissions at Harvard University discriminated against Asian Americans.
Elizabeth Prelog, a Biden appointee and US Solicitor General, has advocated for the continuation of affirmative action in the US Armed Forces and Service Academies.

Saagar Enjeti

Breaking Points

Monday, Jul 10, 2023

Colleges NUKE MERIT To Preserve Racial Admissions

Some colleges are preparing to change their admissions criteria to preserve race-based admissions in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions.
Saagar argues that prioritizing equality of outcome, which includes race-based admissions, race-based hiring, and removing objective measures of academic performance, will come at the sacrifice of equality of opportunity.
Many proponents of affirmative action contend that fostering diversity within various establishments, including workplaces, is a valuable undertaking.

Saagar Enjeti

Breaking Points

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022

EXPOSED: SECRET Ivy League Plan To Preserve Affirmative Action

Saagar argues that elite law schools like Yale are withdrawing from US News Rankings to preserve affirmative action by using subjective admission criteria without affecting their rankings.
This may negatively impact students who may have not otherwise been admitted and are unable to handle the course load. They will incur a significant amount of debt without being able to practice law.
Many proponents of affirmative action contend that fostering diversity within various establishments, including law school, is a valuable undertaking.

Evan Symon

California Globe

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023

New Bill To Repeal Prop. 47, Lower Felony Theft Threshold of $950 to $400

Assemblyman Juan Alanis introduced AB 335, which aims to repeal the changes made by Proposition 47, except for those reducing the penalty for possession of concentrated cannabis.
On March 7th, 2023, AB 335 underwent an amendment in the Committee for Public Safety. The repeal of Prop 47 was abandoned, and instead, a proposal was made to study property crimes, law enforcement responses, and district attorney responses. A final report is expected to be due on January 1st, 2026.
Proposition 47 has not had a significant impact on crime rates in California, according to recent reports by KQED and the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Crime trends have remained stable despite the policy reform.

Forbes

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022

Amy Coney Barrett: ‘This Is Not A Question About Harvard’s History Of Anti-Semitism, But..’

Amy Coney Barrett asked the Harvard lawyer if Harvard University considers race as a factor for admissions. The lawyer confirmed that they do.
Comment by @albatross5466, “If they are ‘supremely qualified’ why aren’t they just admitted on merit?”
The attorney representing Harvard highlights the importance of having a diverse student body in enhancing the educational experience of admitted students.

Forbes

Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022

‘Why Do You Do It?’: Samuel Alito Grills Harvard Lawyer On Alleged Asian American Discrimination

During the trial, Justice Alito questioned Harvard’s lawyer about the reason behind the lowest personal scores, an admissions criterion, received by Asian Americans, compared to any other racial group.
According to Justice Alito, a district court found a negative correlation between Asian American identity and personal rating given by Harvard admissions officers.
Harvard's lawyer argues that there is no evidence of discrimination in the personal score and admissions outcomes, citing findings from the trial court.

Bill Melugin

Fox 11 Los Angeles

Friday, Feb 7, 2020

Prop 47 co-author George Gascon doubles down on controversial legislation live on FOX 11

Proposition 47 is a California ballot measure that changed the classification of some nonviolent property and drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. It also increased the threshold for theft misdemeanors from $450 to $950.
Critics argue that Proposition 47 led to an increase in total drug use, open air drug use, a decrease in drug court participation, and an increase in property crime.
George Gascon, the District Attorney of Los Angeles county and co-author of Prop 47, maintains his support for the proposition. He believes that it has successfully redirected resources to drug addiction treatment instead of imprisonment.

KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco

Friday, Oct 14, 2022

East Oakland neighbors say they haven't seen mail carriers in weeks

A number of Oakland residents have lodged complaints about not receiving any mail from the USPS for several weeks.
One reported factor is an increase in attacks on postal workers. It should be noted that Councilmember Sheng Thao supported a cut to the Oakland Police Department's budget in 2020.

Christian Martinez

Los Angeles Times

Monday, Jul 10, 2023

Rapper 50 Cent is shaking his head over L.A.’s zero-bail policy: ‘Watch how bad it gets’

Rapper 50 Cent believes that crime and living conditions in Los Angeles will deteriorate due to a preliminary injunction by Judge Lawrence Riff that ends cash bail.
During the hearing, George Gascon's office and lawyers from the city argued that they should not be defendants in the case and did not argue for the merits of cash bail.
Supporters of the ruling argue neither violent nor nonviolent crimes or charges increased markedly immediately after jurisdictions implemented bail reform.

Susanne Rust

Los Angeles Times

Sunday, Nov 13, 2022

Is California on its way to banning rodeos? Behind the growing movement to buck the event

Contrary to the title's suggestion, the article only discusses two counties planning to restrict certain events and devices used on rodeo animals, not ban rodeos entirely.
Animal rights activists are advocating for these types of bans due to concerns over cruelty to animals.
Opponents contend that rodeos hold deep-rooted traditions and enjoy widespread popularity. They further caution against government overreach, expressing concerns that the bans, if implemented, could lead to a loss of economic activity.

NBC Bay Area

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022

San Francisco 7-Eleven Worker Speaks Out After Another Man Beats Senior to Death

Charles E Short, a suspect arrested and charged for several felonies, including murder, after he allegedly attacked several people in Visitacion Valley, killing one.
Short’s case has been filed under case number CRI-22013178, though no updates to final ruling were available at this time.
One interviewee made the case that the alleged assailant may have been suffering from serious mental illness.

David K. Li

NBC News

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021

Dollar Tree raises price point to $1.25, citing inflation

Warren Gunnels, a Facebook user, highlights that Dollar Tree earned $1,230,000,000 in profits this year. However, the company pays its workers as little as $8.32 per hour and gave its CEO $10,757,883. As a result, more than 7,400 Dollar Tree employees have to depend on food stamps and Medicaid, which are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers.
The company is not raising prices due to inflation, but because they have pricing power.
It can be argued that the recent price increase is reasonable and fair, in accordance with the principles of a competitive market.

Adam Shanks

San Francisco Examiner

Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023

Judge probes San Francisco's encampment response

The City of San Francisco is seeking clarity on the precise procedures and timing for clearing out homeless encampments following a court ruling that has restricted its ability to do so. The ruling in question is the Coalition on Homelessness, et al. v. City and County of San Francisco case.
Judge Donna Ryu denied The City's motion for clarification on the definition of "involuntarily homeless".
David Chiu, the City Attorney, requested clarification because the city is prevented from clearing encampments even if a homeless person refuses shelter.

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