ReportWire

Tag: alameda county

  • Alameda DA to dismiss case against former San Leandro cop in killing of Steven Taylor

    OAKLAND — Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson’s office formally asked a judge this week to dismiss the manslaughter case against the former San Leandro police officer accused of fatally shooting Steven Taylor during an April 2020 shoplifting call.

    The request by Jones Dickson’s administration  — which is expected to be argued at a hearing Friday morning — marks yet another twist in the case against Jason Fletcher, who was charged with manslaughter months after the killing but has yet to face trial amid a rotating cast of district attorneys. His case has since become a rallying cry by advocates pushing for greater accountability among law enforcement officers who use deadly force.

    If granted, the dismissal would represent an abrupt end to the first police officer charged in an on-duty killing in Alameda County since BART Officer Johannes Mehserle was tried — and convicted — in the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant more than 15 years ago. Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in July 2010, by a Los Angeles County jury after the case was moved south.

    In a motion filed Tuesday, the district attorney’s office argued that Fletcher’s case “cannot be proved beyond a reasonable doubt,” nor that it’s entirely clear that Fletcher didn’t act out of self defense or the right to defend others inside the San Leandro Walmart where the shooting happened.

    Taylor was fatally shot on April 18, 2020, while allegedly trying to steal an aluminum baseball bat and a tent from the Walmart. Only about 40 seconds passed between the time Fletcher encountered Taylor, 33, and when the fatal shot was fired, according to a lawsuit against the city of San Leandro by the slain man’s family.

    Alameda County prosecutors had previously argued that Fletcher did not try to de-escalate the confrontation before fatally shooting Taylor once in the chest after using a Taser on him multiple times. A judge later called the case “a battle of the experts,” given the vast amount of testimony at an evidentiary hearing from police use-of-force experts.

    Those experts became the subject of a recent bid by Fletcher’s attorneys — largely backed by the work of Jones Dickson’s own team — to dismiss the case on the grounds of “outrageous government conduct.” The officer’s attorneys argued that previous prosecutors in the case — each overseen by former District Attorney Pamela Price — acted unethically while seeking experts to testify on the prosecution’s behalf.

    In ruling from the bench last month, Alameda County Judge Thomas Reardon said he found no evidence that those former prosecutors tainted the case by allegedly hiding evidence from defense attorneys.

    The district attorney’s dismissal motion this week again took direct aim at Price’s administration, claiming that her strategy was nothing more than “a desperate de-evolution into violations of both ethics and the law around these experts.”

    “The effort made to conceal expert opinions from the defense in violation of Supreme Court case law that requires transparency of this type of evidence only created more hurdles to the prosecution of Fletcher,” the motion added.

    The motion appears to have been authored by Darby Williams, a relative newcomer to Jones Dickson’s staff who previously spent time as a prosecutor in San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, as well as a public defender in Los Angeles, according to her LinkedIn account. The site shows her having joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in July.

    The request by Jones Dickson’s team continues a trend by the former Alameda County prosecutor and judge, who has worked to unwind the legacy of Price, who voters recalled last year. That includes dismissing numerous cases filed by Price’s administration, including several against law enforcement officers related to the deaths of inmates at Santa Rita Jail.

    Price has since announced a campaign to once again seek election as the county’s district attorney, roughly a year after voters removed her from office by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. So far, Price and Jones Dickson are the only people known to be vying for the post.

    The wave of dismissals had led to fears by Taylor’s family that Fletcher’s case could be next.

    Reached Wednesday morning, Taylor’s grandmother, Addie Kitchen, slammed the decision.

    “I’m shocked,” said Kitchen, noting how the request to end the case came not from Fletcher’s attorneys, but from Jones Dickson’s office. “How do you think it feels? Five and a half years — the biggest slap in the face by the district attorney.”

    Check back for updates to this developing story.

    Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.

    Jakob Rodgers

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  • Five in a row: Pittsburg crushes Cardinal Newman to claim latest NCS D1 crown

    Pittsburg demolishes Cardinal Newman to cruise to fifth straight NCS Division I championship.

    Offer valid for non-subscribers only

    Nathan Canilao

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  • Letters: Fremont cricket field critics fear the unknown

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    Cricket field critics
    fear the unknown

    Re: “Neighbors up in arms over cricket field plans” (Page B1, Nov. 22).

    It was shocking to read that a few neighbors are opposed to having a cricket field in the proposed Palm Avenue Community Park in Fremont. The main fear is that flying cricket balls could injure a child or elderly person or damage homes or cars. Do baseballs ever fly out of the field and cause personal injury? Balls flying over to the street or neighborhood will be rare and can easily be prevented in the design and construction of the stadium.

    It is more likely the fear of the unknown. People here are not familiar with cricket. Both baseball and cricket trace their origins back to medieval European bat-and-ball games and are more like “cousins.” Cricket fields all over the world are in the middle of cities and residential neighborhoods, and they are safe. It is fun to play and or watch cricket, so let us go for it.

    Subru Bhat
    Union City

    Coal project is bad
    for Oakland’s health

    Re: “Coal project costs mounting” (Page A1, Nov. 26).

    The New York Times article about Phil Tagami’s proposed Oakland coal terminal is very misleading.

    The article says, “a state judge ruled in 2023 that the city had to uphold its deal with Tagami.” However, that ruling only provided Tagami with $320,000 in damages. The disappointed coal developers found a judge in Kentucky whose suggestion of hundreds of millions in damages was rejected by Kentucky’s district court on November 21.

    The article quotes Tagami as denying that the project “makes a difference in the world.” But several mile-long trains every day would be spewing unhealthy coal dust from Utah to Oakland. And when burned, that much coal would cost the world tens of billions of dollars in damages (using the EPA’s social cost of carbon).

    The article says, ”The coal project must now go forward.” Those of us who care about the livability of Oakland will continue to oppose this deadly project.

    Jack Fleck
    Oakland

    Mastering spelling
    unlocks many doors

    Re: “Spelling isn’t a subject we can afford to drop” (Page A6, Nov. 19).

    My attention was drawn to Abby McCloskey’s column.

    As this article asserts, a strong foundation in spelling in a child’s early learning years leads to reading and literacy proficiency down the road. My personal academic experience bears this out.

    In my elementary school years in the 1950s, I had a natural strength in spelling, which was nurtured by my teachers. I still have all of my certificates of achievement, which span local through regional spelling contests that I entered.

    Further, this skill led me toward my love of writing — whether it be in the form of a school essay, poetry or, as you are reading now, my penchant for submitting letters to the editor.

    While “spell check” is a helpful tool, our brains still rely on the visualization of words to connect the dots in our educational journey.

    Sharon Brown
    Walnut Creek

    Immigration judges’
    principles cost them

    As the season of gratitude, peace, joy and hope approaches, recently unbenched San Francisco Immigration Judges Patrick Savage, Amber George, Jeremiah Johnson, Shuting Chen and Louis Gordon have inspired this letter. Although no reason was given for their forced departures, I wasn’t surprised. Having seen several preside over mandatory immigration hearings restored my hope in this country’s future. Unfortunately, the very behaviors that gave me hope put them at risk of losing their jobs. Behaviors like being well-versed in immigration law, diligent in their efforts to fully understand cases from both immigrant and government perspectives, and exhibiting both kindness and respect to all present within their courtrooms.

    The current administration has rendered these judges easily disposable obstacles to any campaign promises conflicting with this nation’s laws, Constitution and system of checks and balances. Fortunately, obstacles like integrity and allegiance to oaths of office can’t be as easily disposed of.

    Linda Thorlakson
    Castro Valley

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  • These 11 Bay Area pop-up bars serve up festive cheer this holiday season

    The winter holidays are nearly here, which means it’s a great time to gather with friends and family for some festive celebratory drinks. But where to go? If cozy kitsch, the glow of Christmas lights and an abundance of tinsel are your vibe, head for one of these 11 pop-up holiday cocktail bars around the Bay Area.

    Sippin’ Santa and Miracle — two pop-up bar organizers — work with existing bars to offer their seasonal cocktail menus. The Sippin’ Santa concept is generally more tropical and tiki-drink focused, while the Miracle bars also offer professionally developed cocktails “and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to.”

    Originally launched in 2014 in New York City, the Miracle pop-up has grown since then, and now brings its seasonal pop-ups worldwide, according to its website. Meanwhile, the first Sippin’ Santa started in 2015 in New York City and has since expanded to over 60 locations across North America, especially following the creation of a 2018 partnership with tiki connoisseur, writer and bar owner Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Generally, the menus are the same across the different locations for each concept, and each has a number of collectible cocktail mugs as well.

    There are five of each concept open now or very soon around the Bay Area.

    Santarex mugs are a popular item at Miracle’s pop-up holiday experience in participating restaurants and bars. (Photo by John McCall, South Florida Sun Sentinel) 

    SIPPIN’ SANTA LOCATIONS

    Beer Baron, Pleasanton

    Open 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 15-Jan. 4, at 336 St. Mary St., Pleasanton; beerbaronbar.com

    Faith & Spirits, San Carlos

    Open at 4:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, at 765 Laurel St., San Carlos; faithandspiritssancarlos.com

    Kona’s Street Market, San Francisco

    Open 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 31 (closed Christmas Day), at 32 Third St., San Francisco; konastreetmarket.com

    55 South, San Jose

    Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 20-Jan. 3, 55 S. 1 First St., San Jose; the55south.com

    Flamingo Lazeaway Club, Santa Rosa 

    Open 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2:30-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 31, at 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; lazeawayclub.com

    Additional California locations are in Hollywood, Paso Robles, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Barbara.

    The Snowball Old-Fashioned cocktail made with rye whiskey, gingerbread, aromatic and wormwood bitters and orange essence will be served during the Miracle pop-up bar experience at participating restaurants and bars this holiday season. (Photo courtesy of Miracle)
    The Snowball Old-Fashioned cocktail made with rye whiskey, gingerbread, aromatic and wormwood bitters and orange essence will be served during the Miracle pop-up bar experience at participating restaurants and bars this holiday season. (Courtesy of Miracle) 

    MIRACLE LOCATIONS

    You’ll also find Miracle pop-up bars at the following bar locations. These cocktail bars are less tiki-themed, more.

    Pop’s Public House, Gilroy

    Open 4-9 p.m. Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 31, at 1300 First St., Gilroy; popspublichouse.com

    The Fat Pigeon, Livermore

    Opens 2 p.m. weekdays and noon weekends through Dec. 31, at 2223 First St., Livermore; fatpigeonbar.com

    Kate Bradshaw

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  • CHP to focus on impaired drivers as community remembers teens killed in Piedmont crash

    The California Highway Patrol said officers will be focusing on impaired drivers ahead of Blackout Wednesday or Drinksgiving. The announcement came as the community remembers the three teens killed in a fiery crash in Piedmont.

    Thursday marks the anniversary of the Piedmont Tesla Cybertruck crash that killed three college students. Since them, multiple lawsuits have been filed, including claims against Tesla over the Cybertruck’s power-lock design, which families said it trapped the students inside once the truck lost power.

    The CHP said among the causes of why that driver lost control was alcohol.

    The deaths serve as a reminder on the eve sometimes known as Blackout Wednesday or Drinksgiving, which is when people head to bars to reconnect with hometown friends ahead of the holiday weekend.

    Now, the CHP said they have added patrols focusing on impaired drivers earlier Wednesday evening and will run until midnight on Sunday.

    “I think the best advice we can give anybody who participating in what has been dubbed as Blackout Wednesday is have a plan ahead of time know how you’re getting home,” said Sgt. Andrew Barclay with the CHP Golden Gate Division. “Also, if you are the designated driver please remember it’s important that you hold up your end of the bargain that’s no drinking.”

    It’s a message Oakland’s Mad Oak Bar N Yard shares with their patrons as they anticipate their busiest Wednesday of the year.

    “We’ve historically been one of Ubers top ten destinations in Oakland and so I think that’s been a game changer between Uber and Lyft that people can be responsible and it’s a lot easier than it used to be,” said Daniel Cukierman with the Mad Oak Bar N Yard.

    The data company Beerboard which tracks alcohol sales says on Thanksgiving eve says last year Spirit sales increased nearly 40% compared to 2023.

    It says packaged beers and ciders as well as wine sales also rose.

    Mad Oak Bar N Yard says serving customers those drinks comes with a duty.

    “It’s our responsibility not just tonight but every night, ‘Hey looks like you’ve had too much to drink here’s so water have a seat relax for a while,’” said Cukierman.

    Gia Vang

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  • Trump administration to investigate UC Berkeley over Turning Point USA event

    The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into the University of California at Berkeley Tuesday over violence that erupted earlier this month at protests outside an event organized by conservative group Turning Point USA.

    The department said it will investigate whether UC Berkeley violated the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, a federal law that requires colleges and universities that receive federal financial aid to record and report campus crime data.

    The announcement comes as UC Berkeley also faces a Department of Justice investigation into the university’s handling of the event and protests, which resulted in at least four arrests and left one person injured after being struck in the head by a thrown object. Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative values on high school and college campuses, was co-founded by Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot in September during a tour stop at a university in Utah.

    “Just two months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was brutally assassinated on a college campus, UC Berkeley allowed a protest of a Turning Point USA event on its grounds to turn unruly and violent, jeopardizing the safety of its students and staff,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement Tuesday.

    She said the department is reviewing UC Berkeley’s procedures to ensure that it maintains campus safety and security.

    “This is not about students’ First Amendment rights to protest peacefully. This is about ensuring accurate and transparent reporting of crime statistics to the campus community and guaranteeing that every student can safely participate in educational programs and activities,” McMahon said. “The department will vigorously investigate this matter to ensure that a recipient of federal funding is not allowing its students to be at risk.”

    In a statement Tuesday, UC Berkeley said the university has “an unwavering commitment” to abide by the laws and will cooperate with the investigations, as well as continue to host speakers and events representing a variety of viewpoints “in a safe and respectful manner.”

    The university said the campus provided public reports about two violent crimes that happened that evening — a fistfight over an attempted robbery and the person hit by a thrown object.

    “The campus administration went to great lengths to support the First Amendment rights of all by deploying a large number of police officers from multiple jurisdictions and a large number of contracted private security personnel,” the university said Tuesday. “The campus also closed adjoining buildings and cordoned off part of the campus in order to prevent criminal activity, keep the peace, and ensure the event was not disrupted by protests.”

    The Education Department’s office of Federal Student Aid will lead the investigation. It gave UC Berkeley 30 days to provide copies of the school’s annual security report, all incidents of crime from 2022-2024, all arrests made by law enforcement and referrals for disciplinary action against students or employees disclosed in the annual security report, daily crime logs from 2022-2025 and several other reports.

    In 2020, UC Berkeley was fined $2.35 million for failing to comply with the Clery Act after a six-year federal review revealed thousands of crime incidents were misclassified — the majority of which were related to liquor, drug and weapons violations. UC Berkeley said the campus had referred students for disciplinary proceedings but wrongly classified the violations — many involving minors in possession of alcohol in residence halls — as a campus policy violation rather than a law violation, as required under the Clery Act.

    The Department of Education’s investigation — started in July 2014 — also found a range of issues including failure to comply with sexual violence policies and procedures, failure to maintain accurate and complete daily crime logs, failure to disclose accurate hate crime statistics and failure to issue emergency notifications. UC Berkeley entered into a settlement agreement with the Education Department in 2020 and acknowledged that the campus had made “many administrative errors in the past,” but said it has taken aggressive steps toward improvement.

    Notably, the Education Department’s finding that the campus failed to issue emergency notifications surrounded a campus visit by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos in February 2017, which sparked violent protests and caused $100,000 in damages to the campus, the school said.

    The Education Department’s investigation said the university failed to notify students of any violence until an hour after protests began to escalate — a delay the department said could have compromised community members’ safety. In a response to the department, UC Berkeley said the finding was based on an incorrect timeline of events and that it had alerted the community immediately after learning the protest had become violent.

    Molly Gibbs

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  • Letters: Walnut Creek bike path plan doesn’t enhance safety

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    Bike-path gambit
    doesn’t enhance safety

    Re: “Safety debate at crossroads” (Page A1, Oct. 30).

    In a recent meeting held behind closed doors, Contra Costa County and the city of Walnut Creek agreed to use over $6 million in funds from programs designed to promote highway safety and improvements to carve out a three-block-long bicycle path on Treat Boulevard.

    The affected area runs from North Main St. to Jones Road, a stretch that currently handles over 40,000 vehicles a day. The proposed path duplicates the existing Canal Trail, which is dedicated to bikers and pedestrians, is located two blocks south of Treat Boulevard and connects directly to the Iron Horse Trail for access to the Pleasant Hill BART station.

    The city acknowledged both the high risk to bikers using the proposed paths and the negative impacts on traffic in this highly congested area. So, why is this project going forward?

    Larry McEwen
    Walnut Creek

    Opposing investment
    policy is out of step

    Re: “Ethical investment policy approved” (Page B1, Oct. 10).

    The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) came out in opposition to an Alameda County Ethical Investment Policy at the Oct. 3 Board of Supervisors meeting. The supervisors passed the policy but delayed implementation.

    The majority of Jews present at that meeting were mobilized by Jewish Voice for Peace and supported the policy.

    A September Washington Post poll found that the majority of U.S. Jews do not support current Israeli policies. The JCRC’s position of opposing a pro-human rights policy is not a mainstream position, and it is not aligned with Jewish values.

    The JCRC accused Israel’s critics of antisemitism and expressed concern about Jewish safety. Associating Jews with the acts of a murderous regime makes Jews less safe. Jews are safer in a world that works for all, including Palestinians.

    We urge the supervisors to implement the Ethical Investment Policy as soon as possible.

    Cynthia Kaufman
    Oakland

    California must go its
    own way on health care

    Re: “Policyholders brace for price increases” (Page A1, Nov. 22).

    The recent story harkens back to a pre-ACA time when people went without insurance because of the high costs of insurance premiums. What we need for California is a Cal-Care for all solution. However, this year, a Cal-Care bill was sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he vetoed it. The main reason is that the federal government is not willing to give money that is due to us, which messes with the state budget.

    Staying in the United States is not beneficial to California. In 2022, we gave $83 billion to the federal government, which ends up getting redistributed to other states. The California National Party is the only party that recognizes this and has universal health care (Cal-Care, or Medi-Cal for all) as part of its platform.

    Maya Ram
    Union City

    Constitution will halt
    third term for Trump

    Re: “Don’t think Trump won’t try for third term” (Page A6, Nov. 18).

    A letter writer opined that President Trump could seek a third term as president by being vice president on a ticket headed by JD Vance, and, after Vance won the presidency, Vance could, by prearrangement, resign, and Trump would become president.

    However, the 12th Amendment of the Constitution stipulates that one who is constitutionally ineligible to be president is also ineligible to be vice president, which would presumably prevent Trump from becoming president under this subterfuge.

    Trump could argue that the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibits him only from being “elected” — but not actually serving — as president for a third term. But the Supreme Court would likely reject this subterfuge on grounds that it conflicts with the plain intent of the 22nd amendment to prevent a person from serving a third term as president through the electoral process, as Franklin Roosevelt did in the 1930s.

    Roderick Walston
    Orinda

    Don’t cancel comic;
    just move it

    Re: “Don’t cancel comic for having an opinion” (Page A8, Nov. 23).

    I am one of the people who have written to request that “Mallard Fillmore” be moved to the Opinion Page, since it is clearly political in nature. I’m not asking that it be censored or removed from the paper, just that it be recognized as political opinion.

    In the past few days, “Mallard Fillmore” has implied that the media only looks for bad things about Donald Trump and twists the truth, that liberals are stealing our tax dollars to support their own political party, and only care about disease in an election year, and the media is hypocritically misleading us about the destruction of the White House East Wing. Meanwhile, “Pickles” taught Nelson to say I love you to his grandma, and “Luann” adopted a puppy. Which of these is not like the other?

    Incidentally, “Doonesbury” is offering more-than-20-year-old strips. That’s not a fair balance.

    Sampson Van Zandt
    Walnut Creek

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  • CCS, NCS football playoffs: Best of Saturday’s semifinals

    Saturday’s games

    CCS Division II

    No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 63, No. 3 Santa Teresa 27 

    The game was tied at seven in the first half Saturday, but that’s as close as Santa Teresa would get as SHC routed the Saints to advance to the section title game, where the Fightin’ Irish will play rival St. Ignatius next week. SHC used a 28-point second quarter to propel the San Francisco school to the win. Quarterback Michael Sargent accounted for six touchdowns – throwing for four and rushing for two. Running back Jaylen Malcom had three touchdowns for Santa Teresa, which finished 11-1. – Nathan Canilao

    CCS Division V

    No. 1 Piedmont Hills 41, No. 4 Jefferson 14

    Piedmont Hills will play in its first section final since 2010 after making quick work of Jefferson at home. Senior Diego Arias was excellent on both sides of the ball, getting a 32-yard pick-six and throwing a 50-yard touchdown to Travis Linane. Running back Alijah Torres had two rushing scores. Quarterback John Palomo ran for a touchdown and kicker Cash Martinez knocked in field goals from 26 and 32 yards away. Jefferson quarterback Robert Saulny-Green accounted for both of his team’s touchdowns with a rushing score and a passing TD. The Pirates will play Sobrato for the D-V championship next week. They will try to avenge a 40-30 loss to the Morgan Hill school this season. Jefferson ended its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao

    No. 2 Sobrato 27, No. 3 Terra Nova 19

    Brady Lennon rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns to help Sobrato to the win and the program’s first appearance in a CCS title game. Lennon broke a 70-yard scoring run on the second play of the game. Brandon Huighes connected with Jacob Sorrentino on a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0. After Terra Nova drew to within 20-19, Lennon’s 26-yard TD run with 1:46 left gave Sobrato (8-4) an eight-point lead. Then when kicker Kyle Gurney recovered a fumble on the subsequent kickoff, the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock. For Terra Nova (8-4), QB Joey Donati rushed for 93 yards and passed for 184 and touchdowns to Robbie Johnson and Holden Najar. – Glenn Reeves

    NCS Division V

    No. 2 Ferndale 35, No. 3 Salesian 7

    Salesian traveled more than 250 miles up Highway 101 for its semifinal game against Ferndale, hoping to return home to Richmond with a shot to capture the program’s eighth NCS championship next week. For three quarters Saturday, there was still hope. The Pride trailed 14-7 with 12 minutes to play. But the home team found another gear down the stretch, scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter to advance to play top-seeded St. Vincent de Paul for the championship next Saturday at Rancho Cotate High in Rohnert Park. Instead of Salesian playing for an eighth NCS crown, Ferndale (12-0) will be seeking its 15th. Salesian finished 10-2.  – Darren Sabedra

    Nathan Canilao, Darren Sabedra, Glenn Reeves

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  • Cal’s Metayer helps lead Washington Spirit into NWSL championship game at PayPal Park

    SAN JOSE — Few players in the NWSL cover more ground than Paige Metayer.

    The former Cal midfielder has transformed into one of the league’s most versatile players. On Saturday, she brings that full-spectrum game back to the Bay Area as the Washington Spirit face Gotham FC in the NWSL championship at PayPal Park.

    The third-year pro has played at forward, midfield, and fullback for the Spirit, and started at right back in last year’s 1-0 championship game loss to Orlando.

    Bay FC’s Penelope Hocking advances on Gotham FC in Saturday night’s NWSL match in Harrison, N.J. Hocking scored Bay FC’s lone goal when she scored from close range in the 11th minute. It was Hocking’s fourth goal in her last five games. (Courtesy of Bay FC / NWSL) 

    Metayer started for four years at Cal, but didn’t receive all-conference recognition and went undrafted. But the Spirit offered her a preseason invite, and it took her just a few weeks to prove she belonged.

    As a rookie in 2023, she started all 21 matches she appeared in, and scored three goals—every one of them a headed finish off a corner kick. Heading had never been a strength earlier in her career, but like so much else in her game, she developed it quickly, even unexpectedly.

    “It wasn’t something I specialized in,” she said. “I wasn’t very tall growing up, so heading wasn’t really part of my game. But the service was great, and I was able to get my head on things. It became a strength I didn’t know I had.”

    Cal coach Neil McGuire wasn’t surprised at Metayer’s professional evolution.

    “She’s got incredible soccer intellect,” McGuire said. “She understands the game at a really high level, so positionally she can play in a number of spots. Athletically she’s extremely fit. Technically she’s gifted. She can deal with pressure, strike a ball over distance, receive with both feet—she just has a lot of strengths that make her right for the professional game.”

    That combination of intelligence, composure, and athleticism turned her into one of the most adaptable players on the Spirit roster. In 2024 alone, she appeared in 20 regular-season matches, making 11 starts, and played across all three levels of the field.

    Harold Gutmann

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  • Letters: Alameda County should stop coddling criminals

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    Alameda County should
    stop coddling criminals

    Re: “Accused killer appears in court” (Page A1, Nov. 19).

    In your report on the horrific killing of coach John Beam, Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods argued that “Instead of more jail and prison, we should invest in more effective solutions, such as diversion, mentorship and violence interruption.”

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  • AG Rob Bonta spent nearly $500K on lawyers while trying to be ‘helpful’ amid East Bay corruption probe, adviser says

    SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta spent $468,000 of his campaign cash on lawyers while reportedly being interviewed by federal authorities investigating Oakland’s former mayor and others in a sprawling federal bribery and corruption inquiry.

    The longtime East Bay politician’s senior adviser, Dan Newman, told this news organization Wednesday that Bonta’s legal bills were for the sole purpose of “providing information that could be helpful to the investigation of those implicated” in the ongoing criminal probe.

    Bonta — who lives in Alameda and has worked his way from city councilman to the state’s top prosecutor — was never a target of the investigation, Newman said.

    “The AG’s involvement is over,” Newman added. “But this is an ongoing legal proceeding that we don’t want to hinder — with no relation to or involvement of the AG — so unable to provide further information.” He said the work required of those attorneys ended in 2024, the adviser said.

    Newman initially told the KCRA this week that the attorney general used the campaign funds “to help his law enforcement partners pursue justice” in the East Bay corruption probe. The Sacramento station was the first to report Bonta’s legal spending.

    Newman later changed that stance, claiming in a subsequent interview with KCRA that Bonta spent the money on attorneys for himself while being questioned by federal investigators. The adviser stressed Bonta was never a target of the investigation, and the funds were needed “because of the nature of the charges against the people implicated,” the station reported.

    The size of Bonta’s legal bills appear historically large, and they reflect the fact that Bonta retained one of the premier law firms in Silicon Valley — Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati — which routinely charges four figures an hour for its work, said David McCuan, a Sonoma State University political science professor. That also highlights the stakes Bonta faces as a politically ambitious state attorney general, particularly one who has taken a leading stand against the current White House administration by filing dozens of lawsuits against it, the professor said.

    “His problems are the appearance of impropriety when he is the poster child against Donald Trump and the administration,” McCuan said. “So if he has an image problem that is created by this expenditure, then that is a problem for him.”

    McCuan added that California campaign finance law is considered “murky” when it comes to when candidates can use campaign cash for legal help.

    In general, campaign funding can only be used “if the litigation is directly related to activities of the committee that are consistent with its primary objectives,” said Shery Yang, a spokesperson for the Fair Political Practices Commission, in an email. While she said she couldn’t speak specifically to this case, instances where that money can be used include defending against claims that a candidate violated election laws, or ensuring compliance with state campaign disclosure reports.

    The five payments to Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati were made two days before Bonta announced he would not run for governor and seek reelection as attorney general in February, the records show.

    It all casts a fresh spotlight on Bonta’s ties to many of the main players charged in the ongoing bribery and pay-to-play probe that has roiled the East Bay’s political scene, including former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Andy Duong, who helps run a recycling company contracted by the city of Oakland.

    In charges unsealed in January, federal prosecutors accused former Thao of accepting bribes from Andy Duong and his father, David, in the form of political favors and a $95,000 no-show job for Thao’s romantic partner, Andre Jones. In return, prosecutors claimed Thao promised to secure lucrative city contracts for a fledgling housing company co-founded by David Duong, as well as for Duongs recycling business, California Waste Solutions.

    Thao, Jones and David and Andy Duong have all pleaded not guilty and could face trial by next year.

    Bonta has known Andy Duong for years, even becoming a frequent presence on his Instagram page before federal agents raided the businessman’s house in June 2024.

    In an August 2021 social media post, Bonta was seen standing alongside Andy Duong and the famed Filipino boxer and retired politician Manny Pacquiao, each of them giving a “thumbs up” to the camera. In another, Bonta appeared to be sitting in a limousine, smiling at the camera with one arm around Andy Duong and another around his wife, California Assemblymember Mia Bonta.

    “Cannot wait to see what else the future has to offer to you,” wrote Andy Duong, calling the state’s top prosecutor a “brother” while recounting his rise from “Vice Mayor to State Assembly and now CA Attorney General.” The post included no less than nine other photos of the two together over the years, often at campaign events or, in one instance, together at a Golden State Warriors game.

    Rob Bonta has since sought to distance himself from the Duongs. Shortly after the FBI and other federal authorities raided the family’s Oakland hills houses on June 20, 2024, Bonta said he planned to give back $155,000 in political contributions that he had previously received from the Duong family.

    The political fortunes of Thao and Mia Bonta also nearly collided several years ago. Before running for mayor, Thao briefly considered campaigning for the state assembly seat once held by Rob Bonta before he became the state’s attorney general. Instead, Thao opted to run for the mayor of Oakland, while Mia Bonta ran and filled her husband’s post in Sacramento.

    Bonta ties to people investigated in the corruption probe extend to an unnamed co-conspirator widely believed to be longtime Oakland political operative Mario Juarez. Bonta and Juarez enjoyed “close financial and political ties,” such as when Bonta helped secure a $3.4 million grant in 2017 from the California Energy Commission for a company that Juarez co-owned, according to a filing late last year by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

    “They have publicly endorsed each other and have used the same office for their business dealings,” said the filing, adding that Juarez and the Bontas’ “extensive intertwined political and business dealings are widely known.”

    Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.

    Jakob Rodgers

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  • Why are birds perching on only 1 set of power lines in Newark?

    DEAR JOAN: There is something that I have noticed for years, and I finally decided to ask the only expert I know.

    Joan Morris, Correspondent

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  • CCS, NCS football playoffs: Best of Saturday’s first round

    Saturday’s games

    CCS Open Division/Division I

    No. 1 Archbishop Riordan 42, No. 8 Salinas 9

    The Crusaders scored 28 points in the first quarter and didn’t look back in a rout of Salinas at home. Despite having four touchdowns called back because of penalties, the San Francisco school had no problem moving the ball against the Cowboys. The lead grew insurmountable in the second half as a running clock initiated in the third quarter. Riordan (10-0) will play Serra (7-4) for the Open Division title next week. – Nathan Canilao

    No. 2 Serra 29, No. 7 Archbishop Mitty 13

    The Padres rushed for 312 yards and shut down Mitty’s offensive attack to cruise to a 16-point win at home. Speedy receiver Charlie Walsh led Serra with a rushing and a receiving score. Kicker Saul Marks knocked in three field goals and Serra’s defense forced three turnovers.S Serra will get a rematch with Riordan – after falling to the Crusaders in the WCAL regular season finale – in the Open Division finals next week. Nathan Canilao was in San Mateo and has the story here.

    CCS Division II

    No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 34, No. 7 Wilcox 21

    After trailing by two at halftime, the Fightin’ Irish took over the game behind a second-half surge to down visiting Wilcox at City College of San Francisco. Three second half touchdowns from quarterback Michael Sargent charged SHC’s offense, and the San Francisco school’s defense held Wilcox to just one score in the final two periods to seal the win. SHC (5-6) will host another South Bay powerhouse in undefeated Santa Teresa (11-0) next week. – Nathan Canilao

    No. 4 Menlo School 17, No. 5 The King’s Academy 7

    Menlo earned a hard-fought postseason win, defeating TKA at home. Quarterback Jack Freehill threw a touchdown pass to Chuck Wynn and Trevor van der Pyl’s 82-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Menlo. Dylan O’ Malley rounded out Menlo’s scoring with a 27-yard first-quarter field goal. Quarterback Jaiden Flores to wide receiver Ricky Gutierrez was the only score TKA had on Saturday. Menlo (9-2) will travel to top-seeded St. Ignatius next week for its semifinal game. TKA ends its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao

    CCS Division V

    No. 2 Sobrato 28, No. 7 Santa Cruz 17

    Sobrato advanced to the Division V semifinals after defeating Santa Cruz at home. Junior running back Brady Lennon led the way with rushing touchdowns from 35 and 10 yards. Jacob Sorrentino had a 75-yard touchdown grab and senior Jacob Kimerer had a 65-yard touchdown run. Sobrato improved to 7-4 and will host Terra Nova (8-3) next week. 

    NCS Division V

    No. 3 Salesian 38, No. 6 Northgate 33 

    Quarterback Izeah Buchanan tossed four touchdown passes to lead the Pride to a win over Northgate at home. Basketball star Carlton Perrilliat Jr. caught two touchdown passes while Joseph Tarin had two receiving scores of his own as Salesian will advance to the section semifinals at Ferndale next Saturday. Senior Jahlil Lindsey had a 95-yard scoop-and-score and kicker Roberto Mora knocked in a 27-yard field goal to round out the scoring for Salesian. Northgate (5-6) ends its 2025 season one game under .500. – Nathan Canilao

    Nathan Canilao

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  • How local sports community is remembering Oakland icon John Beam

    John Beam’s death has rocked everyone who knew or knew about him.

    From professional sports to high school sports, the outpouring of admiration and love for the 66-year-old former Oakland football coach who was gunned down on Thursday at Laney College and died Friday has been non-stop.

    Beam coached Skyline High to 15 Oakland Athletic League championships from the 1980s to the early 2000s, then had similar success at Laney College before retiring from the sidelines last year and moving into his role as athletic director.

    Along the way, the coach went from Oakland icon to nationally known when Netflix featured Beam’s Laney College program in its “Last Chance U” series in 2020.

    His death was national news.

    Here is a sampling of what the local sports community is saying about Beam:

    Bob Ladouceur, former De La Salle High football coach, on X: “John was good for Skyline, good for Laney, good for teenagers/young men. For all who coach college and High School…he was one of the best. He dedicated his life to his profession of making men out of boys.”

    Damian Lillard, who played at Oakland High before becoming an NBA star, on Instagram: “This man is a true Oakland (l)egend and a GREAT man. Gave me my first job at Laney football games… Hundred(s) of kids all over Oakland became the type of men they are today because of this dude and for someone from that exact world to randomly come and take his life just ain’t right… this ain’t the Oakland I grew up in. Sh** sad!”

    Charlie Ramirez, Pittsburg High football coach: “It’s extremely devastating, and honestly, simultaneously horrific and every other thing you could explain it to be. It was terrible. He was a mentor to me just like he was to so many coaches in the Bay Area. We were at their seven-on-seven this year, he’s come to my coaches clinics, not to mention he recruited the heck out of our guys at Laney, got a lot of them to the next level. Even though we’re out here in Pittsburg, he had a lot of strong ties with our program and he’s going to be extremely, extremely missed.”

    Greg Calcagno, St. Francis football coach: “My dad (Ron) knew him really well. St. Francis played Skyline for a long time. And my dad spoke super highly of John. I knew John. He married a St. Francis alum, so I’d see him at the reunions. Just a great quality person, and the number of people that he helped, it’s just so sad to hear the news of his passing. It puts everything in perspective. This is a football game, right? And I get to coach kids that I love and coach with people that I love and against people that I respect. But this is just a football game. We can still smile at the end, sort of. But yeah, just super sad. A lot of our guys, they work out up at Laney, and they know all those guys. And so it was a tough day for them.”

    Los Gatos High Head Coach Mark Krail takes part in a moment of silence honoring Laney College coach John Beam, who was killed during a shooting on Laney College’s campus, before the start of their Central Coast Section Open Division I playoff football game against Saint Francis High in Los Gatos, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) 

    Mark Krail, Los Gatos football coach: “I never had the privilege (to meet him), but I certainly knew of him. And it broke my heart when we heard the news break, and then obviously the fact that he had passed was just awful. I mean, football in Oakland, his name is all over it, and it will be for a long, long time. It’s just a tragic, tragic loss for the city of Oakland, because there’s so many people that he helped their life go in the right direction. From what I understand, he was no-nonsense, and he would tell you how it was. A personality like that that is true to themselves, that’s full of integrity, that’s when guys rally around you and want to be a part of what you’re doing. And sometimes you get young kids, especially that have a tough upbringing, to see the light and see the right way of doing things. And he had 20 guys that were in the NFL, or something like that, I read. So that speaks to the success of him as a coach, but I think as a man, he was more highly regarded than that, just for his impact in the city of Oakland.”

    Mike Cable, Liberty High football coach: “Coaching is so much more than X’s and O’s. It’s about the impact that you have in the lives of your players. It’s about the men that they grow up to be. He was the epitome of that.”

    Herc Pardi, former Pittsburg and Clayton Valley coach, in an email to Bay Area News Group: “UNBELIEVABLE!! My heart is crushed. What a tragedy. One of the more Dynamic coaches/teachers I ever met – period!! … Anytime I saw Coach down the road, we picked up right where we left off — FB chatter and some hearty laughs!!  John was a CHANGE AGENT!! So sad.”

    Oakland Ballers baseball team on X: “Our hearts are broken. Coach Beam was one of the first people to believe in the Oakland Ballers. He was part of our secret meetings, and he helped us make important connections within the Oakland community. As the Ballers grew, Coach Beam was a mentor, an advisor, an investor, and a friend of the team. We will miss him dearly, but his legacy and impact on the Oakland community will never be forgotten. Rest easy, Coach.”

    Las Vegas Raiders on X: “The Raiders Family is tremendously saddened by the loss of John Beam, a coach, mentor, and friend to so many in Oakland and the entire Bay Area. John was an influential and guiding force both on and off the field for young athletes, and his decades of service will forever be woven into the fabric of football in the East Bay. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with John’s family, the Laney College community, and everyone else whose life he touched.”

    Oakland Roots soccer team on X: “Today, our hearts are filled with tremendous sadness and grief at the passing of an Oakland icon, Coach John Beam. While his name was John Beam, everyone in Oakland knew him as Coach Beam – not only because he commanded deep respect, but because he was, and always will be, Oakland’s Coach. No one cared more about the past, present, and future of this great city and its youth.”

    In the fall of 2023, Laney coach John Beam speaks with Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro before the Silver Bowl, the annual McClymonds vs Oakland Tech game and the Oakland Athletic League football championship game at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Beam was shot on Thursday and has died at the age of 66. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
    In the fall of 2023, Laney coach John Beam speaks with Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro before the Silver Bowl, the annual McClymonds vs Oakland Tech game and the Oakland Athletic League football championship game at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Beam was shot on Thursday and has died at the age of 66. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group) 
    John Beam, Skyline head football coach, the All-ANG Coach of the Year Dec. 17, 2002. (D. Ross Cameron/ Tribune Archive)
    John Beam, Skyline head football coach, the All-ANG Coach of the Year Dec. 17, 2002. (D. Ross Cameron/ Tribune Archive) 

    Darren Sabedra, Justice delos Santos, Christian Babcock

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  • Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Ashish Naveen, Dougherty Valley

    Dougherty Valley’s Ashish Naveen scores eight goals, hands out four assists in water polo victory over Pittsburg.

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    Darren Sabedra

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  • Berkeley to encrypt police scanners starting Thursday

    BERKELEY — Police scanners in Berkeley will officially be encrypted starting Thursday morning, officials said Wednesday.

    Scanner encryption, the process of shifting officers and dispatch communication to a private channel, will align the city’s police department with other law enforcement offices in the East Bay that began encrypting their feeds in October.

    Berkeley’s decision to fully encrypt has been influenced by multiple factors.

    A 2020 memo by former Attorney General Xavier Becerra called on agencies to protect peoples’ sensitive identifiable information like their names, addresses, birthdates and social security numbers from scanner traffic that was available to the public.

    That directive allowed agencies to keep feeds open while securely sharing sensitive information through other channels. The Berkeley Police Department has argued its dispatch staffing levels are too low to manage multiple feeds and the public feed has put officers in danger or enabled suspects to attempt to flee arrest.

    “The Berkeley Police Department appreciates the community’s understanding and continued partnership as we enhance our systems to better serve Berkeley. These changes ensure the protection of sensitive information while maintaining the highest possible level of transparency and accessibility,” the department said in a statement.

    As a compromise, the department has developed a real-time call log that will display information from the Computer-Aided Dispatch system including the date and time of the call, incident number, call type, source of call, priority level and general location of the incident. That log will be updated with a 10-minute delay and a 10-minute refresh.

    Some incident information can also still be heard through the fire department’s radio feed which will remain unencrypted. Police department updates will also be shared through Nixle, an emergency response communication tool, and on social media, the department said.

    An October vote by the Berkeley City Council enabled the department to encrypt by reversing a 2021 policy that prohibited encryption in most cases. All but one councilmember agreed the department needed to silence their radios to the public to ensure Berkeley did not become a target for crime and to keep officers and potential victims safe.

    Opponents of the move, including those with Berkeley Copwatch, a civilian police oversight organization operating in the city for more than three decades, said the city was giving away an important tool for holding officers accountable.

    Sierra Lopez

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  • Delays hamper BART riders after maintenance and police activity

    OAKLAND — BART passengers were experiencing delays Sunday due to maintenance operations and police activity that hampered trips on sections of the Bay Area transit system.

    In one occurrence, a 10-minute delay had occurred Sunday morning at the Coliseum station in Oakland in the direction of Daly City due to police activity. It wasn’t disclosed which law enforcement agency was involved. By 9:30 a.m., that delay had ended.

    BART also reported Sunday morning that a 10-minute delay was underway on the San Francisco line in the direction of Berryessa in San Jose, Antioch, and Millbrae due to overnight track maintenance. By 10 a.m., that advisory had ended.

    In recent months, BART passengers have suffered through mammoth delays and systemwide shutdowns that snarled the regional transit system.

    In May, a fire near the San Leandro station disrupted service on the lines to the Berryessa (San Jose), Dublin and Lake Merritt (Oakland) stations.

    In September, the entire BART system shut down due to a computer failure that halted service through the Transbay Tube for several hours.

    In October, an equipment problem on the track in the Transbay Tube snarled trips through the underwater connection between Oakland and San Francisco for three hours during the morning commute.

    George Avalos

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  • Cal misses its shot to beat No. 15 Virginia and become bowl eligible as Bears fall 31-21 at home

    BERKELEY — Cal has lost two games in a row for the first time this season, again missing a chance to earn bowl eligibility in a 31-21 setback to No. 15 Virginia in front of 30,893 at Memorial Stadium on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

    Trailing 24-21, Cal got one last chance after Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris threw incomplete on fourth-and-2 from the Bears’ 14-yard line.

    Cal took over with 45 seconds left and on first down Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw down the field into double coverage. He was picked off by linebacker Kam Robinson, who returned it 35 yards untouched into the end zone with 29 seconds left.

    The Bears (5-4, 2-3 ACC) travel next week to No. 16 Louisville, which improved to 7-1 with a 28-16 win over Virginia Tech. Cal still is one win shy of securing bowl eligibility for the third straight season, and its chances are dwindling to put together the kind of season that will ensure ninth-year coach Justin Wilcox has job security.

    Cal fell behind 10-0 early and could not muster enough consistency on offense to overtake the Cavaliers (8-1, 5-0), whose first victory ever in the Pacific time zone gives them seven straight wins this season.

    The Bears finished with a season-low 263 yards. Sagapolutele was 19 for 30 for 213 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He played turnover-free the two previous weeks. He was sacked three times, contributing to Cal’s net rushing total of 8 yards.

    The Bears played much of the game without star linebacker Cade Uluave, who had one pass breakup but no tackles before coming out with an undisclosed injury. He was on the sidelines with his helmet off all of the second quarter and was in a T-shirt after halftime.

    The ACC’s leading tackler had a career-best 19 tackles a week ago in the Bears’ 42-34 double-overtime loss at Virginia Tech.

    Cal drew within three points for the second time in the second half, thanks in part to a 14-yard punt that skidded off the foot of Virginia’s Daniel Sparks. That set up the Bears at the 25-yard line and they needed just two plays to get into the end zone.

    Sagapolutele completed a 24-yard pass to tight end Mason Mini to the 1-yard line, but the Cal freshman QB stayed on the ground afterward and had to come out of the game for one play.

    Redshirt freshman EJ Caminong came on and handed off to Raphael Kendrick, who powered in from the 1 for his third touchdown of the game, his sixth in two weeks. That enabled the Bears to close within 24-21 with 12:57 left in the fourth quarter.

    The Bears had used some razzle-dazzle to get within 17-14 midway through the third quarter.

    Jacob De Jesus set the Bears up at the Virginia 42-yard line with an 18-yard punt return.

    Sagapolutele then threw a lateral pass to the left flat to Mini, who uncorked a deep ball down the right side of the field to Raphael, who took it in with 6:08 left in the period.

    Jeff Faraudo

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  • East Bay woman pleads not guilty in killing of Condor Club manager outside his Santa Rosa home

    A 25-year-old Dublin woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to helping her boyfriend in the killing of the manager of San Francisco’s historic Condor Club outside his Santa Rosa home.

    Colin Atagi

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  • ‘How ’bout them Colts, baby?’ James Logan shakes off loss, seizes WACC Foothill division lead with rout of O’Dowd

    James Logan bounced back from a tough loss to San Leandro to seize control of the WACC Foothill race with a convincing win over Bishop O’Dowd, putting itself one win away from a league title.

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    Christian Babcock

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