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Moveable explores the future of transportation, infrastructure, energy, and cities.

For the last five years, driverless car companies have been testing their vehicles on public roads. These vehicles constantly roam neighborhoods while loading with a variety of sensors including video cameras capturing everything going on around them in order to operate safely and analyze instances where they don’t.

While the companies themselves, such as Alphabet’s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise, tout the potential transportation benefits their services may offer one day, they don’t publicize another use case, one that is far less hypothetical: Mobile surveillance cameras for police departments.

“Autonomous vehicles are recording their surroundings continuously and have the potential to help with investigative leads,” says a San Francisco Police department training document obtained by Motherboard via a public records request. “Investigations has already done this several times.”

The document released to Motherboard is a three-page guide for how officers should interact with autonomous vehicles (AVs), especially ones that have no human driver inside. It outlines basic procedures such as how to interact with the vehicles (”Do not open the vehicle for non-emergency issues” and ”Do not pull vehicles over unless a legitimate law enforcement action exists”) as well as whether to issue a citation for a moving violation for a car with no human driver (“No citation can be issued at this time if the vehicle has no one in the driver’s seat” but an incident report should be written instead). And the section titled “Investigations” has two bullet points advising officers of their usefulness in collecting footage.

Privacy advocates say the revelation that police are actively using AV footage is cause for alarm.

“This is very concerning,” Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) senior staff attorney Adam Schwartz told Motherboard. He said cars in general are troves of personal consumer data, but autonomous vehicles will have even more of that data from capturing the details of the world around them. “So when we see any police department identify AVs as a new source of evidence, that’s very concerning.”

“​​As companies continue to make public roadways their grounds testing for these vehicles, everyone should understand them for what they are—rolling surveillance devices that expand existing widespread spying technologies,” said Chris Gilliard, Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center . “Law enforcement agencies already have access to automated license plate readers, geofence warrants, ring doorbell footage, as well as the ability to purchase location data. This practice will extend the reach of an already pervasive web of surveillance.”

Waymo and Cruise are the two AV companies mentioned in the training document, although more have permits to test driverless cars in California (the state grants permission through the DMV, not the city). A Waymo spokesperson told Motherboard the company “requires law enforcement agencies who seek information and data from Waymo to follow valid legal processes in making such requests (eg secure and present a valid warrant, etc.). Our policy is to challenge, limit or reject requests that do not have a valid legal basis or are overly broad.” The company spokesperson also says they do not collect data “to identify individuals.” A Cruise spokesperson told Motherboard, “We are working closely with law enforcement on our common goal of making our roads safer. We share footage and other information when we are served with a valid warrant or subpoena, and we may voluntarily share information if public safety is at risk. Cruise has always worked closely with the communities we serve to make transportation safer, cleaner, and more accessible and will continue to do so.”

SFPD’s use of AVs as mobile surveillance cameras follows the practices of the Chandler Police Department in Arizona, where Waymo has been testing AVs since 2017. But previous reports indicated these were rare instances involving traffic crimes like hit and runs. SPFD did not respond to a Motherboard email asking for more details on when and how often it sought footage from AVs.

The use of AVs as an investigative tool echoes how Ring, a doorbell and home security company owned by Amazon, became a key partner with law enforcement around the country by turning individual consumer products into a network of cameras with comprehensive coverage of American neighborhoods easily accessible to police. Police departments around the country use automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) to track the movements of vehicles. The EFF has sued the SFPD for accessing business improvement district live cameras to spy on protestors.

Privacy advocates and researchers have long warned about the implications of increasingly sophisticated cars, but many of these warnings are essentially extensions of the privacy concerns of smartphones, where consumer technology tracks your movements and behavior, anonymizes it, and sells it to third parties in a manner that can be reverse engineered to identify individuals. They rarely imagine a scenario where cars on the road are constantly recording the world around them for later use by police departments.

It is the combination of using fixed location camera networks with rolling networks of autonomous vehicle cameras and data that scares privacy advocates most. “​​The holistic outcome of these combined moving and fixed networks is a threat that is greater than the sum of its parts,” Schwartz said. “Working together, [they can] more effectively turn our lives into open books.”

The post San Francisco Police Are Utilizing Driverless Automobiles as Cell Surveillance Cameras appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN JOSE (KPIX) – Mobile home parks in the Bay Area are affordable but also very vulnerable to soaring property prices. This has led some South Bay RV owners to scramble to take control of their home.

Two years ago, homeowners at the Westwinds RV park in San Jose received a letter from the park administration stating that property owners would “not give rental renewals” and may “displace over 720 households and over 1,600 residents.”

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“We were alarmed,” said homeowner Patrick Grimes. “We said, ‘Hey, we have to do something to keep our park going.'”

“This is the last thing you would like to do to remove this from our inventory. Because we don’t have enough affordable housing at all, ”said homeowner Jim Conova

RV owners are in a difficult position because they own a home but not the land below. Moving out would also mean moving. So Grimes and a group of residents formed a homeowners group called the Westwinds Residents Organization.

The group submitted a petition to the town hall and won in March 2020. The city council unanimously decided to create a mobile home zone not just for west winds, but for every mobile home park in the city.

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“What we’re looking for is the security of knowing that our houses aren’t sold out among us,” Grimes said.

But knowing that the city’s protection could one day be undone, the Westwinds homeowners are now working to set up a cooperative that would buy the park and make the residents co-owners of the land themselves.

Paul Bradley runs a nonprofit called Resident Owned Communities USA that helps RV owners set up cooperatives.

“When the homeowners move up and buy the community, they remove this property from the speculative real estate market and remove the pursuit of profit from running the community,” Bradley said.

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The Westwinds Co-op’s efforts still have a long way to go in building membership and attracting investors. But they hope that one day no one can take their home away from them.

The post Residents of San Jose Cellular House Park Create Co-Op to Buy Park Land – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

While residents of a RV park in South San Francisco had years of poor internet access, Minnesota-based wireless technology company Kwikbit was able to connect the entire park to multiple locations in 30 minutes using existing lines.

Joe Costello

“This RV park had fiber optic cables for over a decade. The fiber has been sold to various companies over the years. Nobody would plug the people in and the people who owned the fiber said we weren’t going to plug the people in, it was too expensive, ”said Joe Costello, CEO of Kwikbit.

The company took the fiber optic link and distributed it around the RV park, connecting people within 30 minutes. The longest part of the process was waiting eight weeks for the fiber optic company to connect, he said.

“This is a technology that has been in development for probably 20 years,” said Costello. “This is a very fast wireless technology.”

The problem with fiberglass, a very thin piece of glass filament that uses light to transmit, is that new cables must be run and it is expensive to install. The company uses wireless technology that provides high fiber-like speed by creating a fiber optic connection and using small radio transmitters in a small box that is about 6 “by 4” by 2 “. With 100 gigabits, fiber optic itself is faster than necessary, he said.

“We can do a gigabit. But we’re ten times faster than DSL and cable, ”he said.

Fiber broadband is now available to more than 30% of homes in the United States, and fiber networks are expected to reach 50% of homes by 2025, according to a study by the Fiber Broadband Association.

The percentage that fiber isn’t around are disproportionately low incomes and people of color, Costello said.

“The vast majority of people do not have fiber and unfortunately the people who do this are disproportionately rich. So that’s where the digital divide comes in, ”he said.

The pandemic also highlighted the need for an internet connection as people relied on it for work, health care, socializing, and more.

Last year the company visited Corning, an agricultural school in Northern California, and found that 60% of students did not have adequate internet connections.

It’s working to reach more communities, including RV parks in Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz, San Jose, and Redwood City.

“Mobile home parks are really good because they have been completely overlooked and concentrated by all internet providers,” he said.

It also focuses on small cities and areas that need better broadband coverage.

The post Kwikbit helps to hook up South San Francisco cellular dwelling park web | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

At the end of a four-year passion project, Molly Welton has become the proud owner of a vintage Layton motorhome from the shelter-in-place. It was rebuilt in stolen moments between parenthood and work. For Welton, calling their 1960 Layton a motorhome, or worse, a trailer, it smells like laziness, togetherness. There is nothing pedestrian about her ship, nor the business she runs from her retro walls, which she calls California Kahve.

Welton feels strong these days. Your son is at school. Her husband does what electricians do all day. And she has the day to herself. So she’s working on the autumn menu: cookies, donuts and all kinds of coffee drinks.

In January, when Welton got the vehicle up and running, she ran into the Tiny Footprint Coffee Company. The goal is to plant a tree in the Mindo cloud forest in Ecuador for every bag of coffee sold. The group is climate neutral, which Welton regards as a must for coffee procurement. Among the brands offered by coffee distributor Welton, Welton has chosen Cafe Femenino, a medium roast that is grown by an all-women group in Colombia.

Welton says it is not always easy to make ethical business decisions. When you buy coffee in bulk, you can make more than a dollar for every mug sold. Buying fair, sustainably grown coffee has much tighter margins. She hopes the San Franciscans will think it’s worth it.

“It comes down to the cost,” Welton said. “Nine months later, I understand.”

Welton’s 10-foot trailer with a custom-made wooden window and bar stands by a rusty gas station on Lincoln Avenue near the wind-blown sands of Ocean Beach. It is difficult to get a parking space there every week. The Department of Health issues permits to mobile food facilities in The City that allow on-the-go stores to sell on private property or on a “public right of way”.

Despite spending thousands on a permit and surviving both the Department of Public Works’ and Public Health’s temporary extermination processes, Welton is not guaranteed parking for her drill rig.

“I actually paid someone to live down the street,” Welton said. “He’ll move his car for me when I text him at 7 a.m., which is incredible.”

This helpful local is moving house at the end of the month so Welton isn’t sure what will happen then. As a fan of San Francisco’s mobile food facilities program in general, the need to rely on the randomness of finding sustainable parking spaces is driving Welton a little crazy.

She has never worked in a coffee shop, but she was responsible for making large pots of coffee and the occasional espresso in the breakfast lobby at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, where she worked for five years. She was employed at the Four Seasons in the Civic Center when the pandemic hit Earth, making her income, at best, unreliable and sometimes non-existent.

In search of the perfect spot for morning coffee on a weekend trip to Petaluma in the spring of 2000, Welton’s husband said to her, “You’ve already gone to five cafes this morning. Why don’t you start yourself? “

The business owner, 42, attended Burlingame High School and enjoys hiking in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Her husband came to the Bay Area from New Zealand to pursue a short-lived, semi-professional rugby career. They have called San Francisco home for 14 years.

California Kahve owner Molly Welton and her son on one of their hikes in the Bay Area. (Courtesy Molly Welton)

Welton does not believe that the business is worthwhile if it does not serve their values. Since California Kahve is only open on weekends, she spends her free time balancing her prices (a cup of drip coffee at California Kahve is $ 3-4) and morale. Instead of commercial bottles of Hershey’s chocolate syrup, she makes her favorites, like her mocha, with locally made TCHO chocolate.

“It feels different when you have a drink with fresh ingredients,” says Welton. “And people talk. They say, ‘Oh my god, this is so good.’ If you want to make a contribution to the gastronomy and beverage scene, then it’s worth it. “

She urges cafe and restaurant owners – as well as locals – to buy spices in San Francisco instead of hitting Amazon for the millionth time. She uses, for example, Rishi Tea & Botanicals and Portland Syrups, because she knows that the quality “carries over to the taste”.

“It’s night and day,” Welton said. “And it’s important to me. I want to offer something valuable and special. “

Welton has always loved food and drink, unlike many in the “industry”, as service people call hospitality. Her voice shines like a lighthouse in the windy gray when she speaks to customers. Your eyes pierce the mist. She remembers her family, all of Irish descent, sitting in the living room drinking tea and talking through the afternoon and into the night.

“Eating and drinking affect how we feel,” Welton said. “I don’t want to tell people what to or shouldn’t drink, but I’m not proud of giving people trash ingredients.”

Welton is all too aware that their business appears to be a testament to Instagram coffee culture. She sells this infamous Starbucks coffee creation, the much maligned stepson of the pumpkin latte, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. When it comes to these popular concoctions, she is thoughtful and patient.

“I’m anti-mainstream,” Welton said. “The syrups contrast with all the work coffee machines put into growing and harvesting great beans. You get choked in syrup and it’s so gross. “

But their pumpkin latte contains more fennel, ginger, and black pepper than the disgustingly sweet caramel torpedo that many are used to. She also offers a moonrose latte, a delicate rose and nutmeg drink for those unlucky enough to not drink coffee. The Afghan biscuit, a familiar treat from her husband’s homeland made with corn flakes and walnut, differs from other baked goods sold on the beaches of San Francisco.

Long time friend and coffee enthusiast Michelle Griffith says Welton doesn’t compromise on quality, which is important in understanding California Kahve’s business.

“She has a keen sense of detail and sustainability,” Griffith said of Text. “She is true to herself and the brand she creates.”

Food and drinkFood and wine

The post The spirit of San Francisco is alive and nicely in Molly Welton’s cellular cafe appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

BOSTON, October 7, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Mobile veterinary startup BetterVet today announced its latest launch into new markets with Dr. Calvin Lum in San Francisco and Dr. Hanna Ekström in Seattle.

BetterVet logo (PRNewsfoto / BetterVet)

Founded by industry pioneers Bruce Herzfelder, together with the former President of AVMA, Dr. John de Jong, BetterVet is the first family-run veterinary provider of its kind to offer comprehensive mobile veterinary care across the country. At its core, BetterVet offers an enhanced veterinarian experience by meeting the pet in the comfort of their own home while saving pet parents the hassle of getting their anxious pets to the veterinarian. They also use a mobile app and website to provide simplified appointment scheduling, virtual veterinary visits and telemedical communication, access to medical records and certificates, and an online pharmacy.

BetterVet’s modern and mobile approach to veterinary medicine promotes better veterinary care for pets and animal parents alike. Every BetterVet vet is Fear Free® certified as a sign of their commitment to minimizing anxiety and stress for furry family members.

With the primary goal of offering his patients the highest level of veterinary care, Dr. Calvin Lum looks forward to becoming part of the BetterVet family and working with an impressive and diverse team. Dr. Lum explains, “As the owner of my own mobile practice, San Francisco Veterinary Housecalls, I have been working all alone since 2008 for the past 13 years. I look forward to merging my practice with BetterVet. The added support of a veterinary nurse, a dedicated and dedicated team of professionals, and advanced veterinary medicine and supplies will enable me to better serve my long-time patients and accommodate new families as well. With the support of BetterVet, I can concentrate my time on being a veterinarian in the house and turning my practice into the dream I always wanted. “

Dr. Hanna Ekström started at the in 1992 immediately after graduating with distinction Cornell College of veterinary medicine. Dr. Ekstrom initially worked with all pets before moving on to small animal medicine and starting her own mobile practice called At Home Vet. After selling At Home Vet in 2017, she started Gentle Home Vet and a “sister” practice called Angel Wings Vet, which focuses solely on hospice and end-of-life care. Dr. Ekström is thrilled to be part of the BetterVet team and says she “couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to join the BetterVet team” and “looks forward to delivering an exceptional and empathetic veterinary experience to her clients as one team from supportive and competent providers. “

BetterVet is pleased to continue its nationwide expansion on the west coast with the addition of Dr. Calvin Lum and Dr. Hanna Ekström. To honor this milestone, BetterVet is offering its customers a free initial video consultation if they are in between October 14, 2021 and November 14, 2021. Also new customers in the San Francisco and Seattle Territories can use promo code SF95 or SEATTLE95 to a. to obtain $ 95 Discount on an appointment at your home. To book an appointment, either download the convenient BetterVet mobile app or visit the BetterVet appointments page via bettervet.com.

About BetterVet
Founded in July 2020, BetterVet is a truly mobile veterinary service that offers pets, pet parents and veterinarians an easy and hassle-free health experience. From telemedicine to home calls, BetterVet offers all the expert veterinary services you can find in an inpatient practice, but from the comfort of your home, without the stress, fear and inconvenience. BetterVet is currently in Greater Boston area, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, Austin, Palm beach and Broward Territories and will soon be rolled out to other US cities. To find out more about BetterVet and better veterinary care with just a few clicks, visit www.bettervet.com or download the app on any mobile device.

similar links
https://www.bettervet.com

View the original content to download multimedia:

SOURCE BetterVet

The post BetterVet Cell Vet Care Continues to Broaden Coast to Coast with Launches in Seattle and San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The Boston-based veterinary startup crosses the country and lands on the west coast

Published: October 7, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago

BOSTON, October 7, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Mobile veterinary startup BetterVet today announced its latest launch into new markets with Dr. Calvin Lum in San Francisco and Dr. Hanna Ekström in Seattle.

BetterVet logo (PRNewsfoto / BetterVet)

Founded by industry pioneers Bruce Herzfelder, together with the former President of AVMA, Dr. John de Jong, BetterVet is the first family-run veterinary provider of its kind to offer comprehensive mobile veterinary care across the country. At its core, BetterVet offers an enhanced veterinarian experience by meeting the pet in the comfort of their own home while saving pet parents the hassle of getting their anxious pets to the veterinarian. They also use a mobile app and website to provide simplified appointment scheduling, virtual veterinary visits and telemedical communication, access to medical records and certificates, and an online pharmacy.

BetterVet’s modern and mobile approach to veterinary medicine promotes better veterinary care for pets and animal parents alike. Every BetterVet vet is Fear Free® certified as a sign of their commitment to minimizing anxiety and stress for furry family members.

With the primary goal of offering his patients the highest level of veterinary care, Dr. Calvin Lum looks forward to becoming part of the BetterVet family and working with an impressive and diverse team. Dr. Lum explains, “As the owner of my own mobile practice, San Francisco Veterinary Housecalls, I have been working all alone since 2008 for the past 13 years. I look forward to merging my practice with BetterVet. The added support of a veterinary nurse, a dedicated and dedicated team of professionals, and advanced veterinary medicine and supplies will enable me to better serve my long-time patients and accommodate new families as well. With the support of BetterVet, I can concentrate my time on being a veterinarian in the house and turning my practice into the dream I always wanted. “

Dr. Hanna Ekström started at the in 1992 immediately after graduating with distinction Cornell College of veterinary medicine. Dr. Ekstrom initially worked with all pets before moving on to small animal medicine and starting her own mobile practice called At Home Vet. After selling At Home Vet in 2017, she started Gentle Home Vet and a “sister” practice called Angel Wings Vet, which focuses solely on hospice and end-of-life care. Dr. Ekström is thrilled to be part of the BetterVet team and says she “couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to join the BetterVet team” and “looks forward to delivering an exceptional and empathetic veterinary experience to her clients as one team from supportive and competent providers. “

BetterVet is pleased to continue its nationwide expansion on the west coast with the addition of Dr. Calvin Lum and Dr. Hanna Ekström. To honor this milestone, BetterVet is offering its customers a free initial video consultation if they are in between October 14, 2021 and November 14, 2021. Also new customers in the San Francisco and Seattle Territories can use promo code SF95 or SEATTLE95 to a. to obtain $ 95 Discount on an appointment at your home. To book an appointment, either download the convenient BetterVet mobile app or visit the BetterVet appointments page via bettervet.com.

About BetterVet
Founded in July 2020, BetterVet is a truly mobile veterinary service that offers pets, pet parents and veterinarians an easy and hassle-free health experience. From telemedicine to home calls, BetterVet offers all the expert veterinary services you can find in an inpatient practice, but from the comfort of your home, without the stress, fear and inconvenience. BetterVet is currently in Greater Boston area, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, Austin, Palm beach and Broward Territories and will soon be rolled out to other US cities. To find out more about BetterVet and better veterinary care with just a few clicks, visit www.bettervet.com or download the app on any mobile device.

similar links
https://www.bettervet.com

View the original content to download multimedia:

SOURCE BetterVet

The above press release is courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions, and statements contained in the press release are not endorsed by, nor do they necessarily reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

The post BetterVet Cellular Vet Care Continues to Develop Coast to Coast with Launches in Seattle and San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

While residents of a RV park in South San Francisco had years of poor internet access, Minnesota-based wireless technology company Kwikbit was able to connect the entire park to multiple locations in 30 minutes using existing lines.

Joe Costello

“This RV park had fiber optic cables for over a decade. The fiber has been sold to various companies over the years. Nobody would plug the people in, and the people who owned the fiber said we weren’t going to plug the people in, it was too expensive, ”said Joe Costello, CEO of Kwikbit.

The company took the fiber optic link and distributed it around the RV park, connecting people within 30 minutes. The longest part of the process was waiting eight weeks for the fiber optic company to connect, he said.

“This is a technology that has been in development for probably 20 years,” said Costello. “This is a very fast wireless technology.”

The problem with fiberglass, a very thin piece of glass filament that uses light to transmit, is that new cables must be run and it is expensive to install. The company uses wireless technology that provides fast fiber-like speed by creating a fiber optic connection and using tiny radio transmitters in a small box that is about 6 “by 4” by 2 “. With 100 gigabits, fiber optics itself is faster than necessary, he said.

“We can do a gigabit. But we’re ten times faster than DSL and cable, ”he said.

Fiber broadband is now available to more than 30% of homes in the United States, and fiber networks are expected to reach 50% of homes by 2025, according to a study by the Fiber Broadband Association.

The percentage that fiber is not around are disproportionately low incomes and people of color, Costello said.

“The vast majority of people do not have fiber and unfortunately the people who do this are disproportionately rich. So that’s where the digital divide comes in, ”he said.

The pandemic also highlighted the need for an internet connection as people depended on it for work, health care, socializing, and more.

Last year, the company visited Corning, an agricultural school in Northern California, and found that 60% of students did not have adequate internet connections.

It’s working to reach more communities, including RV parks in Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz, San Jose, and Redwood City.

“Mobile home parks are really good because they have been completely overlooked and concentrated by all internet providers,” he said.

It also focuses on small cities and areas that need better broadband coverage.

The post Kwikbit helps to hook up South San Francisco cell dwelling park web | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SANTA ROSA (KPIX 5) – When two North Bay veterinarians volunteer, they save two lives: the person’s life and the life of their pet.

The veterinarians Dr. Kate Kuzminski and Dr. Sarah Reidenbach converted an ambulance into a free veterinary clinic on wheels.

Recently, it offered services outside of The Living Room, a domestic violence sanctuary in Santa Rosa. Kuzminski says the mission is to break the cycle of abuse.

“We know that in households with domestic violence and child abuse, 80 percent also have animal abuse,” she said.

But Reidenbach adds that getting out is not easy.

“Domestic violence survivors – up to 50 percent – are not left at risk if they cannot bring their pets,” she said.

NOMINATE A JEFFERSON AWARD HERO

Pet-friendly shelters require pets to be fully vaccinated and healthy before they are admitted. That’s why the two founded Ruthless Kindness in 2017. The non-profit organization works with around a dozen animal shelters for victims of abuse and the homeless.

Reidenbach and Kuzminski will receive calls around the clock to help with veterinary care and vaccines so a pet can accompany its owner in an animal shelter in search of safety.

“A woman who leaves or tries an abusive situation shouldn’t depend on her dog to be vaccinated,” said Kuzminski.

To date, Ruthless Kindness has helped about 300 pets in Sonoma County, in part through free monthly medical clinics like Dogwood Animal Rescue, which have volunteers who do everything from cutting nails to distributing donations like pet food and beds.

Dogwood volunteer Beth Jackson is amazed at what Kuzminski and Reidenbach have created.

“Not only do you save lives, but you also help people in need they cannot afford,” said Jackson.

One recipient just adopted two kittens and they received free vaccinations and pet food at the mobile clinic before they were all returned to the shelter where she lives.

“I’m just overwhelmed that there are people who are kind enough to give them time,” said Jen, not wanting to use her last name. “It’s a relief because I didn’t know how to get their shots.”

LEARN MORE: Jefferson Awards for Public Service

The co-founders of Ruthless Kindness both have full-time jobs outside of the nonprofit. Reidenbach is the managing director of Sonoma CART, an animal disaster team. Kuzminski is the medical director of guide dogs for the blind.

Your charitable work is entirely voluntary and is supported by donations and a generous helping of compassion.

“I’m a domestic violence survivor too, so I was able to need help,” Reidenbach said. “Serving the community I belong to is beautiful. I love to be able to do that. “

“It feels rewarding, but it feels like we should,” added Kuzminski.

That’s why this week’s Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Dr. Kate Kuzminski and Dr. Sarah Reidenbach for spreading “Ruthless Friendliness” to people at risk and their pets.

The post North Bay Veterinarians Saving Animal, Human Lives With Volunteer Cell Pet Clinic – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

EAST PALO ALTO (BCN) – Residents of the Palo Mobile Estates RV park in East Palo Alto will have the opportunity to purchase the currently rented land this summer.

The city of East Palo Alto wants to help them with this.

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The city council voted Tuesday evening to borrow $ 2 million from its affordable housing fund to help residents, who are mostly low-income, buy their land and stay in the park.

Palo Mobile Estates Associates, who currently owns the park on 1885 East Bayshore Road, is currently filing for a subdivision which means the park will be converted into independent salable units. This means that residents who occupy spaces in the park can buy their land.

However, according to a report from the staff, the lots could be estimated at $ 260,000 for single lots to $ 325,000 for double wide lots. A resident survey found that most residents are interested in buying their property but would need around $ 100,000 in financial support per family to do so.

The $ 2 million city council loan would go to two community housing organizations: East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO) and Preserving Affordable Housing Assets Longterm, Inc. (PAHALI).

EPACANDO is a non-profit developer of affordable housing and PAHALI is a community land trust. Both organizations will use the funds to help residents purchase their land.

Deputy City Director Patrick Heisinger said the $ 2 million loan will help use other funds to help more families.

“The donors really want to see a commitment from the city to know that the people are at the table and ready to help,” said Heisinger. “If we can bring more donors to the table, we could either provide more help to lower their housing expense ratio or help more households.”

Heisinger also said there was an urgent schedule to help residents as they would have to submit an offer to buy their property by early August and then have 60 days to complete the sale.

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“For a lot of residents out there, this can be a pretty intimidating process,” Heisinger said, adding that it would take a lot of case management.

Before funds can be spent, city officials will prepare a grant agreement detailing how EPACANDO and PAHALI will identify families for support and spend the money. Heisinger said they plan to return in July with a full grant agreement.

Mayor Carlos Romero said he plans to review the grant agreement and looks forward to further funding.

“I really hope that EPACANDO and this city can convert that $ 2 million into $ 19 million,” said Romero. The “$ 2 million is the city’s bona fide money. It is important. It’s not our biggest investment. We’ve made much bigger housing investments, but it’s pretty important to start that engine. “

On Tuesday evening, the city council also voted to monitor several homeless camps that have been reported in recent months, such as Bell Street Park, which is home to 11-13 homeless people.

Rather than building a “sanctioned” camp – which is a designated area for the homeless to stay overnight – the city plans to monitor the camps and provide portable toilets, hand washing facilities and garbage disposal services.

The city also plans to work with San Mateo County to make it easier for people in the camps to access hotel or motel rooms. These are rooms that were converted into transitional apartments during the COVID-19 pandemic through the government initiatives Project Roomkey and Project Homekey.

For more information on Tuesday’s meeting, see the agenda package at http://eastpaloalto.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx?field_microsite_tid_1=27.

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© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The youngest students in Oakland are resuming face-to-face learning. Many teachers are missingIt’s the first in-person study day for Oakland’s youngest students. But they won’t all be in the classroom, and neither will the teachers. Emily Turner reports. (3/30/21)

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School Reopening: Elementary students return to Oakland classroom, but some teachers will not returnElementary school students are returning to the Oakland classroom, but some teachers will not be returning

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TODAY forecast: The latest forecast from the KPIX 5 weather teamTemperatures will rise into the 80s this week

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SF artist creates healing heart to express support for Asian community after attacksA San Francisco artist shows her support for the Asian community after all the recent attacks. Betty Yu shares the message behind the new heart in Chinatown.

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COVID Baby Bust: Couples facing new obstacles to parenting due to a pandemicA year after the pandemic started, we see a baby bust. Juliette Goodrich tells us that new obstacles to parenting during the pandemic are high anxiety, low testosterone levels, and more.

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COVID: Vaccine Has Hopes For Bay Area Experts Despite CDC Director’s Dire WarningAfter the director of the Centers for Disease Control warned of “impending doom,” some Bay Area experts remain optimistic if COVID restrictions are eased too soon. Andrea Nakano explains why.

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SJ lawmakers are proposing a plan to combat the sideshow promotersAfter a wild weekend of shows, San Jose lawmakers are considering a plan to stop them before they start. Maria Medina tells us that they want to go after the people who promote the shows.

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Fatal shooting in San FranciscoOne person was killed and another injured in a shooting in San Francisco near 24th Streets and Mission. Police also investigated another shooting in San Jose. No suspects in either case.

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Many allergy sufferers in the Bay Area have symptoms similar to COVID-19Spring has started and many seasonal allergy sufferers in the Bay Area are experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19. Juliette Goodrich shows us how to tell the difference.

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COVID: Emotional Day San Rafael Children Return to the ClassroomAs other schools celebrate the return of part-time students, the San Rafael Unified School District has brought all elementary school students back to campus. John Ramos was there on the first day.

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COVID Reopening: Santa Clara County’s schools are slated to return to classrooms in AprilWith the pace of school openings in the Bay Area remaining uneven and insane for many parents, the Santa Clara Unified School District has launched a phased reopening plan with all grade levels returning to campus for face-to-face learning over the next two weeks. Devin Fehely reports. (03/29/21)

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Weather forecast for Monday evening with Paul HeggenWarm week ahead.

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COVID Vaccines: Santa Clara County Launches Mobile Vaccination Unit After Receiving $ 200,000 DonationSanta Clara County residents could be vaccinated much closer to home after a donation from Bloom Energy resulted in the creation of a mobile vaccination unit. Kiet Do reports. (03/29/21)

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Contra Costa County could expand immunization eligibility for people 16 and older this weekAndria Borba reports that Contra Costa County is preparing to further expand the eligibility for COVID vaccination (03/29/2021)

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The San Ramon Valley School District welcomes students back to their classroomsEmily Turner Discusses Students and Teachers Returning to Schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (03/29/2021)

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Contra Costa County to expand eligibility for COVID vaccinationAnne Makovec reports on health officials in the Contra Costa district who have announced plans to extend vaccination eligibility to all residents aged 16 and over (March 29, 2021).

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Stanford Elite 8: Head coach Tara VanDerveer and Stanford players discuss advancement to Elite 8Head coach Tara VanDerveer and Stanford players talk about advancing to the Elite 8

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COVID Schools: Students return to classrooms in Danville on MondayStudents return to classrooms in Danville on Monday

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TODAY forecast: The latest forecast from the KPIX 5 weather teamWarm, sunny week ahead

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