California’s housing reforms are being enforced, with the state using litigation, court orders, and suspension of local land use authority to ensure compliance, as demonstrated by the recent legal victory against Huntington Beach.
The Kevin Epps case revealed the limits of judicial authority and the prosecution’s attempts to push for a conviction, as well as the jury’s resistance to the pressure, resulting in a mistrial and a challenge to the remaining aggravating factor.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation placing an 18-month pause on new outdoor laboratory uses, effectively halting DoorDash’s plans to test food delivery drones at its Mission District property.
In a San Francisco Superior Court trial, Dr. Judy Melinek, a world-renowned forensic pathologist, testified that the state’s forensic narrative was biased and contradicted by scientific evidence, while the prosecution’s expert, Dr. Christopher Liverman, was accused of ignoring the chaotic nature of the case and the suppressed criminal history of the alleged victim.
San Francisco’s Joy to the City holiday celebration is a vibrant, family-centered festival that represents the City at its best, uniting community leaders, public servants, and grassroots organizations to create a moment of happiness and dignity for families in need.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring ICE to provide basic human needs to detainees at its San Francisco Field Office, including clean bedding, hygiene products, medical care, and legal information in their primary languages.
Poverty in the Bay Area increased in 2023, with more than 245,000 residents falling below the poverty line, due to rising rents, cuts to federal and local assistance programs, and a cost of living that is outpacing wages.
The Homecoming Project, a reentry housing program that pairs returning residents with homeowners willing to open spare rooms, is expanding to San Francisco to address the housing barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office’s inability to take on many new cases has led to a public defense crisis, which could have been avoided with earlier collaboration between the Public Defender’s Office and the Conflicts Panel, according to the court program representative.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has launched the Homecoming Project, a housing initiative that pairs community members with individuals returning home from prison to provide rent-free housing and support for six months.
The Coalition on Homelessness is calling on the city of San Francisco to halt the towing and displacement of RV residents, as the city’s RV parking ban went into effect on November 1st and the Large Vehicle Refuge Permit Program has been plagued with bureaucratic issues.
Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the opening of 24 new permanent supportive homes for transitional-aged youth exiting homelessness at 42 Otis Street, operated by nonprofit provider Five Keys.
San Francisco Chief Assistant District Attorney Ana Gonzalez accused the Public Defender’s Office of mismanagement and falsely claiming an emergency to avoid taking new felony cases, while the Public Defender’s Office argued that the declaration was necessary to protect defendants’ Sixth Amendment rights due to soaring caseloads, staff shortages, and unprecedented discovery burdens.
The US Navy, Tetra Tech, Lennar, Five Point, and City officials have been accused of delaying the disclosure of plutonium-239 contamination in Bayview Hunters Point, resulting in health risks for the community, and the Marie Harrison Community Foundation is calling for transparency, accountability, and remediation.
Mayor Daniel Lurie celebrated the opening of two new affordable housing communities, Amani and Nia, and the groundbreaking of two additional developments, Blocks 7 and 9, marking a major milestone in the Sunnydale HOPE SF revitalization project, which will provide over 350 new homes for low-income families and legacy HOPE SF households.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to explore the creation of a city-run “green bank” to support renewable energy, affordable housing and small businesses, potentially making San Francisco the first city in the US to operate a municipal public bank.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California Highway Patrol crime suppression teams have made over 275 arrests, recovered over 520 stolen vehicles, and seized 34 illicit firearms in the Bay Area this year, resulting in a decrease in crime and an increase in public safety.
State Senator Scott Wiener has announced his decision to run for Congress to represent San Francisco, emphasizing the need to defend democracy, rebuild federal capacity, and address national challenges on housing, healthcare, and climate policy.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins is pursuing felony conspiracy charges against seven pro-Palestine activists who shut down the Golden Gate Bridge in a nonviolent protest, a move public defenders and civil rights advocates are calling political overreach.
Judge Teresa M. Caffese denied a motion to compel filed by Deputy Public Defender Christopher Fox-Lent, rejecting his request for the San Francisco Police Department to provide information on replica firearm cases, which he argued could prevent jury misconceptions.