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CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Oakland school district hires first-ever school safety executive director
The Oakland Unified School District hired its first-ever executive director of school safety just ahead of the new school year. Nelson Alegria is taking on the role of the newly created position after more than a decade working in school safety and emergency preparedness. He began his role on July 29, the district said. "The great thing about this role, and even though there are new things kind of across the district, is that safety has always been a really big priority for the district," Alegria said. Alegria will be tasked with creating and updating safety protocols, managing security teams, and assessing safety risks. He told CBS News Bay Area that the district's emphasis on race relations and social justice attracted him to the job. "There is a clear correlation between school, prison pipeline, and its effect on race," Alegria said. "And with that elimination, we've been able to really add the other systems that support our students." The new role is an expansion of the George Floyd Resolution drafted back in 2020. The resolution removed campus police from Oakland schools in an attempt to reduce arrests and limit violence against students of color. But this year, Alegria says Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have added another layer for him to consider. "We know it's been a top-of-mind for families last year," Alegria said. Alegria said that law enforcement isn't allowed on school sites outside of emergencies, but school staff are still training for potential interactions with ICE agents. Zach Norris, a parent of two daughters at Oakland schools, said he is encouraged by Alegria's position, but still has concerns. "What we're seeing in terms of like children being taken from their parents, parents being taken from their children is of a huge concern, and it's a concern in the Black community as well," Norris said. Alegria said he is working to include the community in any actions he takes. "Our students have a right to attend school, and we will continuously work on keeping our students safe."
CBS News
29-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
San Francisco gas ban could include homes, businesses undergoing renovations
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco may update the gas ban ordinance to include homes and businesses undergoing major renovations. The ordinance, backed by Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, would require buildings that fit the bill's criteria to convert all gas water heating, heating and cooling systems, and cooking appliances to electric. The amendment would apply to buildings undergoing major wall-to-ceiling renovations and load-bearing elements that support at least 30% of the property. Mandelman told CBS News Bay Area that the updated ordinance is necessary for a greener San Francisco. "I do think the climate crisis is real. The health impacts of natural gas and fossil fuels are real, and we can't ignore them," Mandelman said. "We have to address them." The city has been slowly phasing out natural gas since 2020, when the original ordinance was passed to reduce emissions. Since then, all new builds are required to use electrical appliances. "We can't say that every conversion of a building is going, or every major retrofit is going to involve that building going all electric, but it's pushing in that direction." Buildings with gas appliances protected under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act are exempt. Mandelman also said affordable housing units get a temporary exemption. Justin Spillman, a contractor for Ace Plumbing and Rooter, said he's seeing San Francisco's push for electric appliances unfold in real time. "They want their energy bills to go down. They want to get ahead of the curve when it comes to the changes that are happening in the emissions goals in the city." He said his company is getting more inquiries from people interested in making the switch. Geran Checkley, one of his clients, said he thinks the ordinance is a necessary one. "We already know we want to electrify our house for environmental and climate reasons, and for health and safety reasons," Geran said. But Checkley said the only drawback to the amendment is the price tag. Even with state and federal rebates, he estimated he'll pay thousands for this update. "I am a supporter of the effort to electrify our city. What I would also like to see is state and city changes that make it more efficient and cheaper." The city, state, and federal government offer rebates for electrifying homes and businesses, depending on the type of projects.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
San Francisco unveils new "ReadySF" emergency preparedness portal
SAN FRANCISCO — In a move officials say will make the city more resilient in the face of mounting climate threats and overdue disasters, Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Department of Emergency Management are launching "ReadySF," a revamped emergency preparedness portal built to help San Franciscans — and anyone visiting or working in the city — get ready before the next big emergency hits. The new portal, went live Wednesday morning, replacing the decade-old It's the digital centerpiece of a broader campaign to equip residents with real-time data about emergencies and climate hazards. CBS News Bay Area obtained an exclusive first look ahead of the official release. "We are, very many people say, overdue for an earthquake," Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Mary Ellen Carroll tells CBS News Bay Area. "We live in a seismically risky area of the country, as we know and we are encountering a lot more risks based on climate change and extreme weather so and we know that statistically, we are seeing that we didn't used to need a heat plan, and now we do." The update comes on the heels of climate-induced shifts that have made the city rethink its readiness for a range of modern threats. From deadly heat waves and wildfire smoke to tsunami warnings and aging infrastructure, San Francisco's risk profile has changed dramatically in the last decade. "A safe San Francisco needs a reliable, secure, and effective emergency preparedness system," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "While our first responders are always ready to respond to a crisis, ReadySF will give San Franciscans the tools to prepare and keep themselves and their families safe." Carroll says no one likes to think about the next disaster but spending the time to prepare now can save pain later. "We really want to make it so that it's super helpful and that they feel a place that they can feel good about, that's easy to navigate, gives them the tools that they need so that they'll be more prepared and resilient when an emergency happens," she explained. The new site includes a five-step preparedness plan: Sign up for alerts, make a disaster plan, gather supplies, connect with neighbors, and get trained. It also provides access to interactive hazard maps showing the current data on areas at risk for heatwave, flood, storm, and tsunami. The maps show everything from power outages and cooling centers to sandbag distribution points and air quality data. Though designed for San Francisco's unique geography and demographics, Carroll says ReadySF is a resource that could help anyone living in earthquake and climate-prone regions. "Over the last 10 years, we actually have new kinds of emergencies that we're dealing with in San Francisco and California, including heat emergencies, including air quality from the fires that we've seen over the last few years, we've had a couple of tsunami scares, and so we've learned a lot from that," said Carroll. "We've taken the time worked with all of our partners, to come up with a step-by-step guide for how to get prepared, and it is for San Franciscans, but honestly, it would be helpful to anybody who wants to make sure that they're ready when an emergency happens." The urgency for the new site comes in part by public confusion after a tsunami warning in December sent people across coastal Bay Area cities scrambling. Though the threat was minor, the alert sowed panic across the region and sounded a wake-up call for officials. "I think one of the events for me that just resonated about how clearly, people are not thinking about the average person is not thinking about emergencies, is the tsunami warning that we had in which the National Weather Service set out a WEA that went really broadly throughout the region and caused a lot of panic, including from the majority of people that didn't need to be they weren't close to the water anyway," said Carroll. "That was one of the things that I was just like, you know, we have to try to push out more information and make it easily available to the public before the event happens." To get prepared, visit or sign up for alerts by texting your ZIP code to 888-777.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Golden State Valkyries take over the Bay Area ahead of their home opener
The Golden State Valkyries are getting ready to take the court for the first regular season game in franchise history. The team will go head to head with the Los Angles Sparks on Friday, May 16 at Chase Center. It will be a rematch of their first preseason game where the Valkyries lost to the Sparks 82-83. The team is building excitement all week long for Friday's game. They will be installing 90 violet nets at 45 basketball courts throughout Oakland. Players will also be riding the Kaiser Permanente Hoopbus to multiple schools. Golden State Valkyries events leading up to their home opener Tuesday, May 13 Violet Nets - All Day Installations Across Public Parks in Oakland Afternoon Hoopbus Takeover presented by Kaiser Permanente at Rudsdale Continuation High School Wednesday, May 14 Violet Nets – All Day Installations Across Public Parks in Oakland Morning Hoopbus Takeover presented by Kaiser Permanente: West Oakland Middle School Flag Raising Ceremony: Noon - Oakland City Hall Thursday, May 15 Violet Nets – All Day Installations Across Public Parks in Oakland Flag Raising Ceremony: 2:30 p.m. - San Francisco City Hall See the Valkyries Play Tickets are still available for Friday's home opener. The Valkyries have sold more than 10,000 season tickets setting a record for the WNBA. Watch the Valkyries season on CBS News Bay Area CBS News Bay Area is the official broadcast partner of the Golden State Valkyries. Fans will be able to watch 37 games across KPIX and PIX+ channel 44 cable 12. See the full broadcast schedule.
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
How to watch the Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury
Golden State Valkyries getting ready for their first game on the road Golden State Valkyries getting ready for their first game on the road Golden State Valkyries getting ready for their first game on the road The Golden State Valkyries are playing the first away game in franchise history on Sunday. The team is playing a preseason game agains the Phoenix Mercury. How to watch the Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury on PIX+ Pre-game with Vern Glenn and analyst Zena Keita Tipoff: 3pm Post game analysis with Vern Glenn and analyst Zena Keita The pre-game and post game shows will also be available streaming on CBS News Bay Area. CBS News Bay Area is the official broadcast partner of the Golden State Valkyries. Fans will be able to watch 37 games across KPIX and PIX+ channel 44 cable 12. See the full broadcast schedule.
