San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin today filed an unfair business practices lawsuit against food delivery service DoorDash, which has consistently classified its employees as independent contractors rather than employees, contrary to California law.

“I assure you that this is just the first step of many to fight for worker safety and equal enforcement of the laws,” Boudin said at the virtual press conference today. This lawsuit is being led by Assistant District Attorney Scott Stillman's White Collar Crimes Against Employees Unit – “and I did not bring ADA Stillman into the office to file a single lawsuit,” Boudin continued.

No messages were returned for DoorDash as of press time.

Today's lawsuit was filed at Section 17200 of the State Business and Professions Codewhat applies to ““Any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent commercial act.” Either a prosecutor or a prosecutor can take action under this code – and in fact, in May, Attorney General Dennis Herrera, along with colleagues in Los Angeles and San Diego, filed a lawsuit against Uber and Lyft for their Employees had allegedly miscategorized.

According to the California Supreme Court decision: “Dynamex” decision of April 2018, a three-point test was established to determine whether workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors.

No reasonable interpretation of this ruling could result in Doordash workers—or Uber and Lyft drivers, or many others—being classified as anything other than employees.

In April 2019, it was revealed that DoorDash was applying the tips DoorDash had given its employees to their base wages instead of serving as tips – which led to this A complaint is filed against the company with the city's Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement.

In September 2019, the “Dynamex” decision was essentially codified as law under AB5, authored by Rep. Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego).

“When you think of theft, you don’t often think of wage theft,” said Gonzalez, who took part in today’s virtual press conference. “If an employee stole from his boss, he would go to prison. But employers steal from their employees in large quantities every day.”

By misclassifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees, companies can avoid paying the minimum wage, providing mandatory breaks, and providing health care or sick days. Workers in such conditions are subsidized by the social safety net, which in turn is subsidized by taxpayers and law-abiding corporations.

“DoorDash has a long history of being an exploitative employer,” Veena Dubal, a labor law professor at UC Hastings, told Mission Local. “Like Uber, the company’s business model is based on the fiction that its employees are independent contractors. This means that the people whose work led to the company’s sky-high valuation will not have access to a wage floor, workers’ compensation in the event of an injury, or unemployment insurance if they are fired through no fault of their own.”

During the ongoing pandemic, Dubal continued, these workers have continued to be classified as “essential” and have “risked their lives to deliver food from restaurants to families in lockdown.”

“DoorDash has vigorously fought the employment claims of its delivery drivers,” Dubal said. “This lawsuit today – filed by the San Francisco District Attorney – puts the state’s weight behind these allegations.”

DoorDash Complaint by Joe Eskenazi on Scribd

Update, 2:20 p.m.: A statement from Max Rettig, DoorDash Global Head of Public Policy:

More than ever, Californians from all walks of life are looking to DoorDash for flexible earning opportunities, working an average of a few hours per week. Throughout the pandemic, DoorDash has supported Dashers on and off the road with free safety equipment, telemedicine, wage replacement and more. Today's action aims to disrupt Dashers' essential services, deprive hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, parents, retirees and other Californians of valuable job opportunities, deprive local restaurants of much-needed revenue, and make it more difficult for consumers to receive prepared food Store groceries, groceries and other essentials safely and reliably. We will fight to continue to offer Dashers the flexible earning opportunities they want during these challenging times.

If you would like to continue to employ us – and have not already done so – support us now.

The post San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin sues DoorDash for ‘unlawful misclassification’ of employees as unbiased contractors appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Thousands and thousands taken from distressed owners as CA mortgage aid firm Golden House Companies America accused of criminal activity appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Thousands and thousands taken from distressed owners as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden Residence Companies America accused of criminality appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Hundreds of thousands taken from distressed householders as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden House Providers America accused of criminality appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The American Civil Liberties Union accused San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto on Thursday of violating the privacy rights of defendants who have been freed under electronic monitoring by requiring them to allow searches of their person or property and to share their location data with other law enforcement agencies.

Defendants who are released from jail before trial are often required to wear ankle monitors that allow officers to track their locations. But in a class-action suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the ACLU and a private law firm said Miyamoto went beyond constitutional bounds by requiring them, as a condition of release, to consent to a search of their body, home, vehicle or possessions at any time. They must also agree to let the sheriff’s office inform other law enforcement agencies of their location at all times.

“Ankle cuffs are supposed to ensure that an individual remains in the Bay Area and shows up for court proceedings,” Shilpi Agarwal, legal director of the ACLU of Northern California, said in a statement accompanying the suit. “They are not a license for law enforcement’s unlimited search and surveillance of vulnerable people who haven’t been convicted of a crime.”

“Stripping away privacy rights is illegal and only tolerated because of the disenfranchisement of those directly affected, who are indigenous and 70% Black and brown,” said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, who is not participating in the suit but helped the ACLU identify individual plaintiffs.

The three plaintiffs also objected to the searches but agreed to the conditions of release, the ACLU said, because they were able to go to work, care for a child and attend a high school graduation.

The suit accuses the sheriff and the city of violating rights against unreasonable searches, under the US and California constitutions, as well as the constitutional right of privacy approved by California voters in 1972. It seeks court orders halting the searches and erasing the shared location data .

Tara Moriarty, a spokesperson for Miyamoto, said inmates released under electronic monitoring have waived those rights, allowing the sheriff to “enforce the rules and regulations imposed by the court,” which she said included consent to future searches. “The sheriff details this information to assist the justice-involved individual to successfully complete the (electronic-monitoring) program,” Moriarty said in a statement.

More than 200 defendants are being electronically monitored in San Francisco, and that number is likely to grow as the city attempts to reduce its jail population, the ACLU said. As court backlogs have increased during the pandemic, the organization said, some people have been monitored for a year or more.

In addition to turning GPS location data over to San Francisco police and other agencies, the ACLU said, Miyamoto’s program allows Sentinel Offender Services, a private contractor that has run the program since 2019, to keep the data indefinitely.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko

The post Class motion accuses San Francisco sheriff of unlawful search and surveillance practices appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

OAKLAND (CBS SF) — The Oakland Education Association on Sunday announced it was planning a one-day teacher strike this Friday over planned permanent school closures and what the group called “unfair labor practices.”

The official Oakland Education Association Twitter account posted information about the strike Sunday afternoon. In addition to pickets outside of Oakland Unified School District schools starting at 6:30 am on Friday, April 29, the post said there would also be an OEA block party at the Lake Amphitheater.

pic.twitter.com/MtyfyJyKnn

— Oakland Education Association (@OaklandEA) April 24, 2022

READ MORE: Santa Cruz Couple Arrested After Dog Fight Leads to Assault, Homophobic Slur

“OEA is launching a new contract campaign for safe and racially just community schools for all Oakland students!” the message read. The organization is pushing to garner support as they negotiate their next three-year contract with the district.

For months, the OEA — along with Oakland Unified parents and students — have been protesting planned closures approved by district officials earlier this year.

According to the plan, Brookfield Elementary, Carl B. Munck Elementary, Grass Valley Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary and Korematsu Discovery Academy will close in the 2022-2023 school year, while Hillcrest K-8 would close its middle school grades. Rise Community Elementary and New Highland Academy will merge this year into one school.

READ MORE: Pederson Homers Twice in Giants’ 12-3 Rout of Nationals

Oakland Unified issued a letter in response to the strike announcement later Sunday afternoon. It read in part:

“The purported basis for this potential strike is in protest over the consolidation of district schools. If this is correct, we demand that OEA immediately cease and desist from moving forward with this strike.

There is no legal basis for any concerted activity that would justify a strike or refusal to perform services benefiting District students. OEA is strongly encouraged to consult with its legal counsel before counting any votes, before announcing any results, and especially before taking any actual action. To be clear, any strike, other withholding of unit member services, or other concerted activity that disrupts the education of District students would be unlawful and an unfair labor practice, a violation of the current collective bargaining agreement between the District and OEA, and a
violation of the EERA.

More importantly, the impact on students would be significant. In light of the lost instruction due to the pandemic, OEA and OUSD worked hard together to ensure that in-person instruction was the norm for this school year. Even the threat of again depriving students of instruction, let alone an actual deprivation, especially without legal justification, will only further hurt students.”

MORE NEWS: Report: Ruby Princess Cruise Ship Has Another COVID Outbreak

Oakland teachers have also been calling for improved COVID safety protocols and funding since last fall.

The post Oakland Academics Announce One-Day Strike on Friday; District Calls Plan ‘Unlawful’ – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

FAIRFIELD (BCN) – Police in Fairfield red-tagged a commercial building and a residence last week for being too dangerous for occupation or habitation after more than 1,500 marijuana plants were discovered being grown illegally inside the two buildings.

Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Bell Avenue at about 7:15 am last Friday regarding a suspicious incident and possible burglary. Once on scene, major damage to a roll-up garage door was detected and the front door to the building was ajar. Inside during a search, police found multiple rooms filled with more than 900 marijuana plants, grow lights, illegal and exposed electrical wiring modified plumbing, ventilation systems and unknown chemicals.

READ MORE: UPDATE: 4-Alarm Fire Burning at Commercial Building in Campbell

No one was located inside the commercial building.

Illegal marijuana growing operation found in Fairfield in March 2022. (Fairfield Police Department)

READ MORE: Oakland Unified School District Loosens Masking In Outdoor Spaces; Indoor Mandate Continues Into April

During the early morning hours of last Saturday, police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Dover Avenue following up on a report of a residential burglary in progress and gunfire being exchanged. When officers arrived, they found the front door pried open, broken glass and the front door riddled with bullet holes. During the investigation, more than 600 marijuana plants were found inside along with firearms, grow lights, illegal and exposed electrical wiring ventilation systems and unknown chemicals.

There have been no arrests.

MORE NEWS: UPDATE: Arraignment for Man Who Fatally Shot Security Guard Kevin Nishita Postponed

© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post Fairfield Police Uncover Unlawful Marijuana Rising Operation In 2 Areas – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Feb 23, 2022

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Andrew Kennelly/Getty Images

Traffic on the Bay Bridge was brought to a halt Tuesday night after a rogue firework display, launched from the upper deck, lit up the sky.

someone just set fireworks off on the bay bridge pic.twitter.com/4VTNMrq2xF

— Jay (@chicitysports) February 23, 2022

California Highway Patrol said in a statement that 10 to 15 cars stopped in the westbound lane near Treasure Island at around 7:45 pm The drivers got out of their vehicles and lit the fireworks before moving on after a few minutes. Fireworks are illegal in San Francisco and Oakland. CHP reported that 911 calls flooded emergency dispatch operators during the stunt.

The elaborate display was caught and shared across social media by onlookers and drivers on the bridge caught in the brief gridlock.

Bay Bridge Delay: tonight people on the bay bridge being blocked while others are shooting fireworks just right now? SMH #bayareafirefighter @KTVU pic.twitter.com/Sfi5e2C0gn

— Bay Area Firefighter (@bayareafire343) February 23, 2022

Some users, and those stuck in traffic, voiced their surprise and frustration, while others celebrated the chaos. “No idea why there were fireworks from the bay bridge, just happy they happened,” Twitter user Ryan Gross wrote. “Life is so damn good, keep it coming!”

No idea why there were fireworks from the bay bridge, just happy they happened.

Life is so damn good, keep it coming! pic.twitter.com/7s3ylaTDfW

— Ryan Gross (@r2gross) February 23, 2022

It’s not yet known who set off the fireworks, and no arrests were made. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

SFGATE Deputy Managing Editor Andrew Chamings was formerly Senior Editor at The Bold Italic and has written for The Atlantic, Vice and McSweeney’s.

The post Unlawful firework show stops visitors on the San Francisco Bay Bridge appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

„Wir sehen jetzt Leute dort drinnen“, sagt Don House und betrachtet die ehemalige „Lager“-Einheit der Nachbarn auf der anderen Seite seines hinteren Zauns. „Wir konnten das unverwechselbare blaue Licht eines Fernsehers sehen. Zwei Fernseher! Ich glaube, sie haben zwei Fernseher drin!“

Aber das ist noch nicht alles: Letzte Woche konnte House nicht nur Leute reden und sich in dieser Hinterhofeinheit bewegen hören, sondern auch das Essen riechen, das sie zubereiteten.

Das Haus lebt tief im Outer Sunset, nur einen Sprung, einen Sprung und einen Sprung vom Ocean Beach entfernt. An den meisten Tagen ist es einfacher, eine zusätzliche Wohneinheit in dieser Nachbarschaft zu entdecken als die Farallones, und viele, wenn nicht die meisten dieser „ADUs“ sind ungerechtfertigt. Eine illegale ADU nebenan oder über dem Zaun zu entdecken, ist kein Trick; Es ist ein bisschen, als würde man ein Kaninchen aus einem Kaninchenstall ziehen.

Aber hier ist noch mehr. Vor acht Jahren verfügte die Planungskommission, dass aus dieser Einheit eine Küche entfernt werden muss und sie künftig keine „Kochgeräte“ wie einen Herd oder gar eine Kochplatte haben darf. Außerdem konnte es nur von der Familie bewohnt werden, die auf dem Gelände wohnte.

Ob diese Küche entfernt wurde, ist nicht bekannt. Es gibt keine vor Ort registrierten Installations- oder Elektrogenehmigungen, die man benötigen würde, um eine ordnungsgemäß zu entfernen. Wo wir gerade dabei sind, gibt es hier vor Ort keine Genehmigungen, um eine Küche in die betreffende Einheit zu integrieren. Aber House roch, was er roch.

In den letzten Jahren hat der Nachbar des Hauses eine separate Adresse für die Hinterhofeinheit erhalten. Und er hat auf dem Gelände bedeutende Bauarbeiten durchgeführt, die nicht so leicht mit den vorliegenden Genehmigungen übereinstimmen.

Im November 2019 wurde dem Grundstückseigentümer schließlich die Genehmigung erteilt, hier eine „neue Nebenwohnung“ zu errichten. Und das ist seltsam – im August 2019 beantragte er hier die Legalisierung einer bestehenden, „nicht genehmigten“ Wohneinheit.

Nun, das ist verwirrend: Die Genehmigung zum Hinzufügen einer neuen Wohnung wurde drei Monate nach dem Antrag des Eigentümers zur Legalisierung einer bestehenden „nicht genehmigten Wohnung“ erteilt.

Nun, das Department of Building Inspection von San Francisco ist in der Tat ein erstaunlicher Ort. Wie gehen Sie denn mit der „Legalisierung einer nicht genehmigten Wohnung“ vor, die Sie aufgrund einer gleichzeitigen Genehmigung noch nicht hinzugefügt haben? Umgekehrt, wie „fügt“ man eine bereits bestehende Wohneinheit hinzu?

Der beste Ansprechpartner wäre vielleicht Stephen Kwok, ein leitender Bauinspektor beim DBI, einer der Leiter der Abteilung in Bezug auf die Legalisierung von ADUs und eine anerkannte Autorität für die Vorschriften der Stadt.

Außerdem: Das ist seine ADU. Dies geschieht auf seinem Grundstück.

Diese Einheit ist in einem Antrag der Planungsabteilung aus dem Jahr 2019 als „ein Stockwerk über dem Keller vorhandenes und genehmigtes Gebäude“ aufgeführt. Foto von Don House

Kwok hat nicht mehrere Anrufe an seine privaten und geschäftlichen Leitungen zurückgeschickt, noch hat er Nachrichten sowohl an seine persönlichen als auch an seine geschäftlichen E-Mails zurückgesendet. Seine Kollegen in der Abteilung Plan Review sagten uns, dass er an den Tagen, an denen wir anriefen und E-Mails schrieben, im Büro war.

Das ist also schade. Aber Kwok sagte 2013 während einer Anhörung zur Ermessensprüfung der Planungskommission zu dieser Immobilie aus. Und der Mann auf dieser Videoaufnahme stimmt mit dem Mann überein, der 2018 in einer Veröffentlichung des Department of Building Inspection fotografiert wurde, in der Kwok als Mitarbeiter des Jahres bekannt gegeben wurde.

Zahlreiche Quellen – sowohl innerhalb als auch außerhalb des Department of Building Inspection – bestätigten, dass der Mann auf dem Video von 2013 der DBI-Mitarbeiter ist, mit dem sie seit Jahren eng zusammenarbeiten.

Das ist also eine ziemliche Zwangslage. Der Mann, der das Team des Department of Building Inspection leitet, das für die Verwaltung von ADUs geschaffen wurde, ist Gegenstand mehrerer Beschwerden, dass er auf seinem Grundstück eine illegale ADU gebaut hat. Tatsächlich gibt die 2019 von Kwok selbst eingereichte Genehmigung die Anwesenheit eines illegalen ADU vor Ort zu.

Es gibt viel Kompliziertes an dieser Situation, aber das ist es nicht: Wenn Sie die „Legalisierung“ einer ADU beantragen, bedeutet dies, dass Sie eine illegale ADU haben. Kwok lebt hier seit weit mehr als einem Jahrzehnt und diese ADU ist nicht vom Himmel gefallen.

Aus welchem ​​Grund auch immer, zwischen Mittwoch, als wir Kwok zum ersten Mal kontaktierten, und Sonntagabend ging die Liste der San Francisco Property Information Map (SFPIM) für seine Adresse von mehr als einem Dutzend Genehmigungen vor Ort auf Null. Nun, das ist beunruhigend.

Aber bei näherer Betrachtung stellt sich heraus, dass jede Adresse jetzt null Genehmigungen auf SFPIM auflistet – sie sind alle weg. Das kann noch störender sein.

Es gibt jedoch andere Möglichkeiten, die Genehmigungen für die Website zu verfolgen. Und Screenshots von allen machen.

Eine im Jahr 2016 als „Lager“ bezeichnete Einheit ist bis 2019 zu einer „nicht genehmigten Wohneinheit“ geworden, obwohl im Interregnum keine Genehmigungen für die Durchführung der erforderlichen Arbeiten erteilt wurden – und obwohl die Genehmigung zum „Hinzufügen“ einer Einheit vorliegt Monate, nachdem eine Genehmigung zur „Legalisierung“ einer bestehenden Einheit beantragt wurde.

Die seltsame und schreckliche Saga von Stephen Kwoks ADU begann vor ungefähr einem Jahrzehnt.

Die Stadt hat seitdem mehrere Verordnungen erlassen, die die Schaffung von ADUs rationalisieren und nicht autorisierte Einheiten legalisieren, und der Druck von Bürgermeister London Breed, das Tempo zu erhöhen, führte zur Schaffung der Task Force, die Kwok leitet. Grundstückseigentümer, die mit illegalen Einheiten erwischt wurden, hatten früher die Möglichkeit, sie abzuschaffen. Aber das ist nicht mehr der Fall: Jede Einheit, die legalisiert werden kann, muss legalisiert werden.

Auf landesweiter Ebene hat der kalifornische Gesetzgeber möglicherweise letzte Woche mit einem Gesetzentwurf, der die Schaffung mehrerer ADUs auf ehemals Einfamiliengrundstücken erlaubt, einen Coup de grâce für die Zonierung von Einfamilienhäusern geschaffen.

Wenn Kwok seinen Antrag für 2013 also heute stellen würde, würde er wahrscheinlich anders aufgenommen.

Und das ist nicht schlimm. Denn dies ist keine Geschichte, die das Hinzufügen mehrerer Einheiten zu einem Grundstück beklagt; Lasst uns alle glücklich eine Handvoll Erde auf das Grab der Einfamilienhaus-Zonierung werfen. Vielmehr handelt es sich um eine Geschichte über Regeln und Prozesse. Dies ist eine Geschichte über einen DBI-Insider, der anscheinend seine eigenen Regeln aufstellte und seinem eigenen Prozess folgte – und anscheinend von seiner Abteilung dabei unterstützt wurde.

Der in Ungnade gefallene ehemalige Bauinspektor Bernie Curran schrieb viele E-Mails und rief viele Nachbarn von Kwoks Grundstück wegen Bauarbeiten vor Ort an. Aber er hat sich nie die Mühe gemacht, Inspektionen vor Ort zu dokumentieren.

Ein wenig notwendige Vorgeschichte zur Anhörung zur „Discretionary Review“ 2013: Kwok, der seit langem mit seiner wachsenden Familie in der kleinen Einheit auf der Rückseite seines Grundstücks wohnte, schlug vor, ein großes dreistöckiges Gebäude auf der Vorderseite des Grundstücks zu errichten, während das Gerät im Heck halten. Seltsamerweise plante er jedoch, das neue, dreistöckige Gebäude ohne Küche zu bauen und zu bewohnen und die Küche im Hintergebäude zu belassen, das an das Grundstück des Hauses angrenzt. (Kwok sagte der Planungskommission, dass seine Eltern in der hinteren Einheit wohnen würden und die Familie dort kochen und essen würde).

Mehrere Nachbarn stellten diesen Vorschlag in Frage, der ihrer Meinung nach ein heimlicher Versuch war, eine zweite, illegale Einheit zu errichten. Dies führte zur „DR“-Anhörung vor der Planungskommission. Die Kommissare waren verwirrt von der Vorstellung, ein neues, dreistöckiges Haus ohne Küche zu bauen. Kwok durfte also weitermachen, aber er musste die Küche aus dem kleinen, hinteren Gebäude entfernen und in das neue, dreistöckige Gebäude einbauen.

Er durfte weder einen Herd noch eine Kochplatte in den hinteren Schrank einbauen, ihn vermieten oder anderweitig als „separate Wohneinheit“ nutzen.

Die Gesetze, auf die sich die Planungskommission bei der Urteilsbildung gestützt hat, haben sich inzwischen geändert. Aber Planungsquellen sagen, dass Sie die Ergebnisse einer diskretionären Überprüfung nicht einfach ignorieren können. Sollten künftige Arbeiten mit dem Urteil kollidieren, müssten die Diskrepanzen vielmehr auch im Falle einer Änderung lokaler und bundesstaatlicher Gesetze formell adressiert werden.

Wenn dies passiert ist, gibt es keine leicht zugängliche Aufzeichnung darüber.

Das Fazit der „DR“ 2013

Stattdessen wurde auf dem Gelände viel gebaut, zusammen mit mehreren Planungs- und DBI-Anträgen, um die Heckeinheit in eine ADU umzuwandeln – in direktem Widerspruch zu den Bedingungen der Ermessensprüfung.

Aber weißt du was? Vergessen Sie die Ermessensprüfung. DRs sind oft mühsam und hartnäckig – besonders wenn sich die zugrunde liegenden Gesetze geändert haben. Wichtiger ist hier, dass der Wortlaut in den von Kwok eingereichten Genehmigungsanträgen ein Mittel zur Schaffung eines illegalen ADU zu sein scheint – was eine unerlaubte Bebauung nach sich ziehen würde.

Im Jahr 2013 beantragte Kwok, die Heckeinheit in ein „Büro“ umzuwandeln. In einem Antrag aus dem Jahr 2016, es in eine ADU umzuwandeln, bezeichnete er es als „Speicher“. Diese Genehmigung wurde aus unbekannten Gründen erst im November 2019 erteilt – und Sie können erst dann vor Ort arbeiten oder Inspektionen planen, wenn eine Genehmigung erteilt wurde.

Und doch beantragte Kwok im August 2019 – wiederum bevor die vorherige Genehmigung zum Hinzufügen einer Wohneinheit erteilt wurde – die „Legalisierung einer nicht genehmigten Wohneinheit“. Dies bedeutet im Klartext, dass es 2019 kein „Büro“ oder „Lager“ gab, sondern eine „Wohneinheit“ vor Ort (Kwok zitierte sogar eine Stadtverordnung von 2014, die es ermöglichte, den bestehende Wohneinheiten.“).

Ohne Arbeit kommt man nicht vom „Büro“ zum „Lager“ zur „Wohnung“. Aber es gibt keine Genehmigung für solche Arbeiten. Und es gibt keine aufgezeichneten Inspektionen von Arbeiten für die Genehmigung zum Hinzufügen einer Einheit, die Kwok im Jahr 2019 erteilt wurde – sie hätte 2020 automatisch ablaufen sollen.

Dies ist auch keine Frage der reinen Semantik. Laut Bauordnung muss eine „Wohneinheit“ „Wohneinrichtungen einschließlich Vorkehrungen zum Schlafen, Essen, Kochen und sanitären Einrichtungen gemäß den Vorschriften …“ enthalten.

Irgendwie mussten die Vorräte zum Kochen da rein. Oder vielleicht wurden sie nie herausgenommen.

„Ich glaube, sie haben zwei Fernseher drin!“

Tatsächlich gibt es eine Reihe von seltsamen Mustern, die durch die in den Akten befindlichen Genehmigungen und Inspektionen (die Sie ja immer noch finden können – und auf dem Bildschirm erfasst werden) aufgedeckt wurden.

Dazu gehören ein Mangel an Kontrollen des dreistöckigen Hauses, das an der Vorderseite des Grundstücks errichtet wurde – nur zwei: eine „Rohrahmen, teilweise“ und eine Endkontrolle. Im Jahr 2015 schrieb ein Außendienstinspektor an einem einzigen Tag eine Handvoll Abschlusszertifikate auf dieser Website und räumte am selben Tag auch sechs „Sonderinspektionen“ ab – eine höchst unregelmäßige und ungewöhnliche Leistung. Für das Fundament des dreistöckigen Gebäudes sind hier keine DBI-Feldbesichtigungen aufgezeichnet.

Im Jahr 2015 kam auch der in Ungnade gefallene Ex-Senior-Inspektor Bernie Curran aus seinem Bezirk und besänftigte die Nachbarn (die nie darüber informiert wurden, dass Kwok sein DBI-Kollege war; Curran erwähnte es sicherlich nie in den vielen E-Mails, die er an diese Nachbarn schrieb).

Curran wurde Anfang des Jahres suspendiert und trat abrupt zurück, nachdem der Stadtstaatsanwalt ihn festgenommen hatte, weil er es versäumt hatte, ein „Darlehen“ von einem Entwickler offenzulegen und die Arbeit an den Projekten dieses Entwicklers zu genehmigen. In diesem Monat wurde er von Bundesanklagen getroffen, denen zufolge er sich aus seinem Bezirk gewagt hatte, um im Austausch gegen Spenden an seine bevorzugten gemeinnützigen Organisationen Genehmigungen für minderwertige Arbeiten zu erteilen.

Es ist nicht klar, was Curran tat, als er sich aus seinem Bezirk herauswagte, um diese Stätte angeblich zu inspizieren und diese Transaktionen dann nicht aufzuzeichnen.

Und während Currans Anwesenheit ein Warnsignal ist, war er zumindest ein leitender Inspektor. Gemäß der DBI-Richtlinie hätte ein leitender Angestellter Inspektionen auf dem Grundstück eines untergeordneten DBI-Mitarbeiters durchführen sollen. Dies geschah über die Jahre hier nicht.

Currans Name erscheint jedoch nie in den offiziellen Aufzeichnungen für tatsächliche Inspektionen. Ohne seine schriftliche Kommunikation mit den Nachbarn wäre seine Beteiligung nicht nachweisbar gewesen.

Auch wenn wir anerkennen können, dass ADUs eine gute Sache sind – und unabhängig davon, wie Sie darüber denken, werden neue Gesetze immer mehr von ihnen ermöglichen – der Prozess hier hat weder gute Gefühle noch Vertrauen in das Bauamt unserer Stadt und sein Personal geweckt .

Ganz im Gegenteil.

„Er hat das System durchgespielt“, grummelt House. “Er hat das System durchgespielt, weil er in der verdammten Bauabteilung arbeitet.”

Houses Frau Paulette Stracuzzi fügt hinzu: „Alles, was wir an unserem Haus gemacht haben, auch die kleinste Sache, wir haben zuerst die Genehmigungen bekommen. Es sind immer die Leute, die sich an die Regeln halten, die verlieren.“

Vielleicht. Oder vielleicht ist das das System.

The post San Francisco’s level man for legalizing unlawful items accused of constructing unlawful unit appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

A huge illegal slideshow in San Francisco was caught on cellphone video just before 3:00 a.m. on 6th and Harrison Streets early Sunday morning.

No arrests related to the slide show have been made this early morning, San Francisco police said.

The slideshow still happens often, even as the cities of San Francisco and Bay Area move to root out the deed.

During this exhibition, intersections will be closed and the public will block traffic with their cars to prevent the police from entering before the huge crowd is gone.

The slide show was recorded after police and city officials vowed for almost a year to end this illegality.

A new law was passed last fall that now allows vehicles linked to illegal slide shows to be confiscated for up to 30 days.

In addition, the monitoring of these activities is supplemented by 15 additional city cameras.

A specialized stunt drive response unit was even created by the San Francisco Police Department.

Illegal slideshows are considered a dangerous subject that is upsetting the Bay Area.

The city of San Jose has used the toughest method yet to curb this illegality. Last June, the city became the first major city in the United States to illegalize the promotion of slide shows. Advertising over the phone, social media, or word of mouth is considered illegal.

Last year, city guides banned people from watching a slide show, KRON4 reported.

Anyone who has more information about the illegal slide show is asked to contact the police.

The post Cellphone video confirmed unlawful slideshow in San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.