police

Police Overtime Abuse Contributes to Budget Crisis
The City’s budget is in crisis, but the Mayor is asking for more money for policing. Is it justified? Watching Mayor Lurie put together his first big boy budget is like watching a car crash in slow motion. The budget always feels like a car crash at the end, but

Why Recalling The Mayor Won’t Fix Crime In Oakland
The recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is progressing, with the group behind it, Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST), claiming they’ve collected over 30,000 signatures. This exceeds the 25,000 needed by July to qualify for the November ballot. Brenda Harbin-Forte, OUST President and retired Alameda County judge,

Local’s Guide to Alcatraz: Hidden Trails, Stunning Views, & Forgotten Stories
A veteran tour guide gives us the hidden trails, different seasons, and forgotten secrets on the Rock.

Why No One Went To Union Square On Black Friday
Fentanyl didn’t kill Downtown San Francisco. It killed people, but prior to the Pandemic, no one seemed to mind. They’d just walk over the bodies on their way to the office. Some people complained while others felt the juxtaposition of prosperity and poverty was what made urban life exhilarating. The

What I Learned at an Active Shooter Workshop
“No guarantees,” said Deputy Chief Ken Craig throughout the evening. “You won’t know how you’re going to respond until it happens.” The ominous disclaimer hushed the room as one by one, we placed ourselves at the center of a worst-case scenario. What would you do if, on a night out

Locking Up the Mentally Ill, Involuntarily, is Making A Comeback
New York City Mayor Eric Adams just announced his initiative to renew involuntary commitment. A “common misunderstanding persists that we cannot provide involuntary assistance unless the person is violent,” said Adams, with the New York Times reporting. “Going forward, we will make every effort to assist those who are suffering

When Is It Okay To Talk To The Police?
This may not come as a surprise, but I’ve never loved the police. I don’t hate every single cop like some kind of psychopath, but I’ve never been in a shitty situation where I felt like the presence of a police officer would improve it. Generally cops make shit worse.

Let’s Consider This Theory That The Cops and CIA Are Behind All The Fireworks
The fireworks have been ringing loud and all night long, from Oakland to Mission Street to Daly City, with fireworks complaints up across the Bay Area this summer. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and really the whole country are experiencing an explosion of firecracker antics and resulting complaints to

Dave Chappelle on George Floyd, Police Violence, and Candace Owens
In a makeshift, social-distanced, outdoor comedy club, Chappelle performed a set this week. As a comedian, Chapelle may be remembered in history as someone who created more conversations about race relations in America, than perhaps any other contemporary. His Chapelle Show, which satirized racism, and openly discussed social divides, stereotypes,