At a time when Oakland is facing a potential budget shortfall of roughly $177 million, union leaders allege that the city's Finance Department failed to collect taxes from thousands of businesses by the April 17, 2023 deadline and that as much as $34 million in unpaid business taxes from previous years could still be outstanding.
During the rally and in a letter addressed to Mayor Sheng Thao and the City Council's Finance and Management Committee, the unions say department staff, including Finance Director Erin Roseman, have been evasive or provided information that is "contradictory or untrue" about their tax collection efforts.
The rally was held prior to the Finance and Management Committee meeting Tuesday, during which City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan said she understood that the issue involves both businesses that have filed tax documents with the city and for whom there may be some outstanding taxes, and those businesses that haven't filed tax documents at all.
Kaplan said that she believes that the larger potential for generating tax revenue lies primarily with tracking down businesses that simply don't file their tax documents with the city.
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Warrior women are the inspiration for the name announced Tuesday for the new Bay Area-based Women's National Basketball Association team, the Golden State Valkyries.
The Valkyries are the WNBA affiliate of the Golden State Warriors NBA team and are the WNBA's first expansion team since 2008. They will be headquartered in Oakland and begin playing games next year at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The name Valkyries comes from Norse mythology about warrior women who are fearless and unwavering and travel both through the air and by sea, according to the team.
Valkyries-branded clothes and other gear can be found at shop.valkyries.com and the team is holding a block party from 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Thrive City -- the plaza outside Chase Center -- featuring live music and other festivities.
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A Concord man who struck and killed an 86-year-old man last Thanksgiving was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Damian Lopez-Avelino was 19 and intoxicated when his vehicle struck another vehicle at Oak Grove and Ryan roads in Concord.
Police responded at 6:49 p.m. on Nov. 23 to a report of a two-vehicle crash at Treat Boulevard and Oak Grove Road in Concord. While at the scene, police determined a second crash happened a few blocks away. Lopez-Avelino struck a second vehicle, in which Thomas O'Connell was a passenger. O'Connell was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Police arrested Lopez-Avelino, who was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing serious bodily injury, hit-and-run with injury, and driving a motor vehicle while unlicensed.
Lopez-Avelino reached a negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors on April 11, pleading guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving with a .08 blood alcohol content causing injury. Both charges carried enhancements.
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A man injured in a shooting last week at a homeless encampment in San Jose died days later, police said Tuesday.
The shooting was reported at 5:46 p.m. Thursday at a camp in the area of Interstate Highway 280 and McLaughlin Avenue and officers arrived to find the victim, who was not conscious or breathing, according to San Jose police.
The man was taken to a hospital where he was stabilized but remained in critical condition. On Sunday, police were notified that the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately available from the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office.
No arrest has been made in the shooting, San Jose's 13th homicide in 2024, and investigators have not released any suspect information or a possible motive in the case.
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A Hayward man riding a scooter died in a collision in Hayward last week, police said Tuesday.
At 4:43 p.m., Wednesday, officers were alerted to a reported collision involving a vehicle and a scooter near the intersection of Mission Boulevard and Orchard Avenue. Upon arrival, they found a 22-year-old man with a scooter unresponsive and with injuries from the collision.
The man, a resident of Hayward, was transported to a hospital for treatment. The driver, a 36-year-old man also from Hayward, did not have any injuries. Police said the driver was cooperative with the investigation.
According to police, the scooter rider died Saturday at the hospital. The identities of both motorists were not released yet.
Police said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be factors in the fatal crash.
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A man was killed in a shooting on Monday morning in Stockton's Valley Oak District, according to police.
Around 10:20 a.m., officers were alerted to reported gunfire in the 1200 block of East Hammer Lane. Police said a 29-year-old man was shot.
He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police said that as of now, there is no information on the suspect.
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A shooting in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood Monday evening left a 29-year-old man with life-threatening injuries, police said.
The shooting was reported around 7:50 p.m. in the 900 block of Connecticut Street, where a suspect walked up to the victim and shot him before fleeing, according to San Francisco police.
The victim was taken to a hospital and an update on his condition was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.
No arrest has been made in the shooting and police have not released any suspect details.
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