Latest news with #OCCC
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Oakland muralist seeks to tell story of city's Chinatown with new works
Community leaders in Oakland's Chinatown are looking to paint a different image of their neighborhood, with the help of series of murals to add color to blank walls. "Art, it is so important for any community district," said Stephanie Tran, who serves as President of Oakland's Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (OCCC). "It helps build identity of the area, but it also helps tell the story of Chinatown as well." This year, the OCCC hopes to complete at least 10 murals in Chinatown that will include the work of Oakland native Sorell Raino-Tsui who is commissioned to paint two installations. "He is able to create art in a way that tells the story of Chinatown, and he helps to create a sense of belonging for the Asian community," Raino-Tsui told CBS News Bay Area. His latest project is a mural on the side of a mixed-use building at 10th and Harrison streets – a colorful giant Chinese antique vase painted in blue and surrounded by a mixture of floral designs. "The vase is the very traditional element. And then the other elements have more of my style, a more contemporary feel," said Raino-Tsui. "So, this is a real fusion of kind of like traditionalism and, and contemporary styling." Raino-Tsui's work as a muralist began in 2016, after quitting his job in finance to purse his passion as an artist. Today, you can find his work across the Bay Area, including several murals in San Francisco. During a recent tour of his work, he showed CBS News Bay Area a variety of murals including a massive installation in the Richmond District at 4200 Geary on the side of a senior housing development. "There is a lot of Chinese, Russian and Ukrainian residents in this area, so we wanted to design a piece that honored those three cultures and brought them together," he said. Other murals include a piece in the Sunnydale neighborhood that pays homage to the history of the community by featuring an iconic photograph taken by Barbara Bernstein, of kids sitting on top of the "The Bear" sculpture by artist Beniamino Bufano. "So, the kids on the bear is a famous photograph that was in the newspaper," said Raino-Tsui. "Residents told me that if you ever lived in Sunnydale, you sat on that bear. And so, it's a great ode to the past." Recently, he completed a giant mural near Portsmouth Square in San Francisco's Chinatown for NBA All-Star weekend. Commissioned by the NBA, the work honors the Year of the Snake and the city's basketball culture. "So, it's a celebration of Chinese culture, the New Year and basketball, he said. "It is very important to me be able to authentically create works that symbolize the culture, but also have a contemporary twist on them." Raino-Tsui believes his work, and the work of other artists can help transform communities and neighborhoods. "Murals contribute a lot. I mean murals are art, and art is culture," he said. "It feels like a real personal blessing to work in my hometown and the Bay Area," His next mural project will begin later this year and will be located at the Shoong Family Chinese Cultural Center in Oakland's Chinatown.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘No excuses now': Noida DM gives developers 15 days to register flats
Noida: In a crackdown on builders delaying flat registrations, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Wednesday directed them to complete the registration process of pending flats by May 31, adding that failure to adhere to the order will result in stringent legal action. "I have made it clear to all builders that if pending flats are not registered within 15 days, we will initiate proceedings under the Indian Stamp Act and the RERA Act," Verma told TOI after chairing a review meeting with builders from Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway. The meeting, held at the Collectorate Auditorium, was called after repeated complaints from homebuyers about the non-registration of flats despite the completion of projects. "Builders cannot continue to harass flat buyers without any valid reason. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated," the DM said. He added that the administration had already issued notices to 30 builders under the Noida Authority and 65 builders under the Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities, directing them to complete all pending registrations for flats where Occupancy-cum-Completion Certificates (OCCC) and sub-lease permissions were granted on or before May 9. "Every eligible flat must be registered by May 31, no excuses. If these directions are ignored, we will act against the promoters directly," he said. Top district officials, including additional district magistrate (F/R) Atul Kumar, assistant inspector generals of registration BS Verma and Brijesh Kumar, deputy registrars, and representatives from all three development authorities were present at the meeting. Representatives from major builder groups such as ATS, Mahagun, Devika Gold Homes, Arihant Infra, and Vihaan Greens attended, along with homebuyers. According to officials, a total of 95 builders were summoned to the meeting, but several of them skipped it. Developers who failed to attend also came under the scanner. "I have instructed officials to take note of builders who skipped today's meeting and initiate action where necessary," the DM said. To speed up the process, officials from the stamp and registration department informed builders that registry camps can be organised as per requirement. "There should be no procedural excuse left. Registry camps will be held wherever necessary to make the process smoother for allottees," said Brijesh Kumar, assistant inspector general-2, stamps and registration department. Deputy registrars were directed to immediately address any issues raised by builders or flat owners to prevent further delay. The Noida stamps department registered 18,405 flats in FY 2024-2025, and 15,527 flats were registered in FY 2023-2024, as per official data.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ala Moana acid attack survivor: ʻI want to say be braveʻ
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It was a shocking and random act of violence. A young woman doused with acid near one of Hawaii's busiest shopping centers. It was just after 9 p.m. on January 23, 2024 when 26-year-old Danying Zhang was walking near Ala Moana Center when out of nowhere, a man threw a chemical liquid, believed to be sulfuric acid, on her face and body. Judge finds Ala Moana chemical attack suspect fit for trial 'It feels like hot water for her at the first and then her clothes start to falling off. Then she realized it's not hot water,' said Zhang, through an interpreter. Zhang, a Maryknoll school teacher who teaches Chinese, was walking home at the time of the attack. 'I found out that it was Danying and I was shocked that here, this person that I knew, I took around and she got attacked,' said Vernon Ching, US China People's Friendship Association Honolulu President. But the biggest shock came days later when police arrested Sebastian Mahkwan, a man Zhang had never met before. Then came an even more disturbing twist. Police say Mahkwan had conspired with his former OCCC cellmate, Paul Cameron. Cameron is awaiting trial for a separate acid attack on his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors said the second attack was intended to cast doubt on his case. Indictment links two chemical attacks, details how crime was carried out 'The first couple months, she cannot move. She cannot speak. So her skin peeling off and she just feels extremely painful every second,' said Zhang through her interpreter. Zhang has undergone six surgeries since the attack. The most recent was last month. She went back to teaching in the classroom at the beginning of the year and she's proud of herself for where she is now, but her life has changed forever. 'She has a deep anxiety about, you know, what's the result gonna be after this whole thing, can she return to normal life after this?' said Zhang's interpreter. Zhang is now sharing her story thanks to those who supported her during her recovery. A Go Fund Me account set up by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii raised close to $200,000. The funds helped pay Zhang's medical bills, rehab and counseling. She was also able to bring her mother from China to Hawaii. Another Go Fund Me account has been set up to help pay her ongoing says she's focused on healing, but also on justice. She plans to testify at the trial, not to relive the trauma, but to show that she's still standing. 'I want to say be brave, face the challenges, no matter good or bad in your life. Life continues.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Maui doctor pleads not guilty to attempted murder on Oahu hike
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife during a hike on Oahu is now pleading not guilty. At his arraignment and plea, Gerhardt Konig appeared by video from from OCCC where he's being held without bail–something his attorney is already fighting. HPD arrests man who allegedly tried to murder wife 'It's pretty commonplace in attempted murder and murder cases over the last 10 years that some degree of bail would be set. We see no reason why this case would be any different, especially given the fact that Dr. Konig has no prior record,' said Thomas Otake, Konig's attorney. Konig has been indicted on attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill his wife, Arielle, while on a hiking trail in Nuuanu last month, which led to an hours-long manhunt for the doctor. In a TRO filed by Arielle, she claims her husband accused her of having an affair. The petition details the attack on the hike, where Konig allegedly tried to shove her off a cliff, attempted to inject her with two syringes and then struck her multiple times on the head with a rock.'There are two sides to every story, and thus far, only one side has been shared. The other side to this story will be shared within the court process at the appropriate time,' Otake said in a statement. In setting bail, the court looks at public safety and risk of flight as factors. Defense attorneys say the court upholding no bail for an attempted murder charge is uncommon and they argue, is illegal. Defense attorney Victor Bakke said prosecutors originally set bail when Konig was arrested and charged. Waikiki man tries everything to rescue deceased neighbor's cat 'They set bail at $5 million which they were supposed to do, but then they took the case to the grand jury and they indicted him through that process, and then they asked the judge to set it from $5 million up to no bail, and they did that without any hearing, and it's completely illegal, and the court shouldn't allow it,' Bakke said. 'The defendant has to be given an opportunity to argue against a no bail determination, and he hasn't been given that opportunity. So it's completely illegal. He's being illegally detained right now under Hawaii law.' Konig's attorney plans to ask the court to revisit the issue of bail as early as next week. For now, Konig is being held pending trial, which is currently set for June 9. Arielle Konig has asked through her attorney that no details about her be shared publicly, at least for now. She has a hearing on her restraining order in a Maui courtroom this Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orange County Convention Center's $560M expansion to begin in 2026
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is moving forward with a $560 million expansion of its North-South Building, known as the Grand Concourse expansion, with construction slated to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2029, according to a March 27 news release. Ninety-percent construction documents — considered a milestone in the development process — are anticipated by the end of July. Mayor Jerry Demings, in his opening remarks at a Feb. 27 OCCC Expansion Phase 5A Citizens Oversight Committee kickoff meeting, underscored the robust health of the local economy, noting Orange County welcomed 74 million visitors last year — generating approximately $359 million in tourist development tax receipts for Orange County... Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
