West
SF officials might be on the hook for $190m in homeless hotel costs after feds retract COVID funding promises
The city of San Francisco might be forced to foot the bill for homeless hotel costs after federal officials backtracked on promises to fund the effort, according to reports.
Officials in San Francisco believed the $190 million in COVID expenses would be paid by the federal government, which comes at a time when the city’s deficit is projected to reach more than $1 billion in a few years, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Because Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) typically reimburses municipalities for unexpected expenses during natural disasters and other emergencies, the California city expected the federal government to foot the bill. City officials said the move by FEMA could “pose a significant potential risk” to San Francisco’s budget forecast.
San Francisco and other cities across the state of California housed thousands of homeless people in empty hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for social distancing. This was an effort to cut down on transmission rates of the virus in homeless shelters and on the streets, the S.F. Chronicle reported. San Francisco reportedly spent more than $423 million sheltering over 5,000 residents in hotels and other “non-congregate” facilities during the pandemic.
$1.7 -MILLION TOILET PROJECT IN SAN FRANCISCO STILL NOT DONE AFTER 15 MONTHS: ‘WHY ISN’T THERE A TOILET HERE?’
A sanctioned and fenced-in homeless encampment is seen from this aerial view across from City Hall along Fulton Street between Hyde and Larkin Streets in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Getty Images)
“We are profoundly disappointed that FEMA is changing their plans for reimbursement,” Jeff Cretan, a spokesperson for Mayor London Breed, said.
At first, FEMA said it would reimburse 75% of the costs, then the federal agency told counties it would cover the entire cost of the non-congregate shelter program through July 1, 2022, the S.F. Chronicle reported. After that, they pledged to cover 90% through May 11, 2023.
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But, in October, FEMA officials sent a letter to the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) stating it would not reimburse many hotel stays of longer than 20 days between June 11, 2021, and May 11, 2023, the S.F. Chronicle reported. Bills incurred during this time period could cost San Francisco up to $114 million and more than $300 million for the state of California. The extra $76 million would come into play if FEMA didn’t pay reimbursement claims related to stockpiling vacant hotel rooms.
Officials from both the city controller’s office and the state’s OES have both pushed back on the federal government, arguing FEMA changed its rules years after the fact and stated that if counties had known this was the case, they might have acted differently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We intend to explore every option available to appeal any claims denied by FEMA Region 9 that we believe to be eligible for reimbursement, based on the guidance in effect at the time,” San Francisco City Controller Ben Rosenfield said Monday.
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California OES Director Nancy Ward sent a 95-page memo, which included letters from cities and counties from across California, responding to the change in FEMA policy, calling out the government agency for “inconsistently” applying its non-congregate shelter policies across the country, the S.F. Chronicle reported. She also pointed to numerous statements from FEMA and President Joe Biden where they committed to “fully cover” costs.
San Francisco has sought more than $879 million in reimbursements from the federal government for its COVID response, which includes hotel rooms and other expenses, but the federal government has only reimbursed the city for about $301 million, which includes $148 million for non-congregate sheltering costs, according to the controller’s office, the S.F. Chronicle reported.
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MICHELIN Guide adds 12 new restaurants in California
Discover the 12 new California restaurants added by Michelin Guide, including spots in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and more!
First came monster donuts piled high with bacon and Fruity Pebbles. Then there were cronuts—the croissant-donut hybrid that had everyone buzzing. Later came the era of everything filled with pistachio paste, followed by pastries crafted to look like fruit. For Californians with a sweet tooth, the latest viral dessert trend is often just a drive away.
Now, a new report has confirmed what residents in the Bay Area have known for decades: when it comes to sweets, San Francisco can’t be beat.
From artisanal sourdough bakeries to late-night ice cream spots, San Francisco has secured its place as the fourth sweetest city in the United States, according to new research from Betway.
Analyzing dessert shop availability alongside online appetite for sugary treats, the study ranked major cities across the U.S. and Canada to uncover the nation’s sweetest city.
San Francisco ranks as the fourth most favored spot for folks with a sweet tooth in the nation, placing behind Miami, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, but ahead of cities like Boston and New Orleans—have beignets lost their luster?
The report noted San Francisco’s strong dessert scene, including 111 bakeries and cookie shops, 54 ice cream parlors, and 135 dessert shops. Overall, the authors wrote, the mix of high-quality bakeries and steady demand keeps the city firmly in the top tier of dessert cities.
Viral dessert spots in San Francisco to visit now
San Francisco’s ranking among the best cities for desserts should come as no surprise. Legend has it that the city is the first place in the U.S. to serve a fortune cookie. The slightly sweet, crispy cookie with a grain of insight—a memorable fortune read: “Buy clothes now, more expensive later”—is still produced in San Francisco at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. The factory produces up to 10,000 fortune cookies a day and offers tours that should be on every visitor’s San Francisco itinerary.
The pastry shop that some say has the best croissant in San Francisco (see: Arsicault below) has experienced long lines since it opened its doors in the North Beach district three years ago. Owner and head pastry chef Sophia Smith honed her skills in Paris, where she mastered the art of lamination, a process that begins with high-quality French butter and yields a range of sweet and savory pastries that regularly sell out. The demand at the viral spot has gotten so great that a notice on their website asks customers not to line up before 7:45 a.m. The shop opens at 9 a.m., Thursday through Sunday.
Named the best new bakery in the U.S. by Bon Appétit when it opened its doors in 2016, Arsicault is a slice of Parisian heaven with three locations in San Francisco. Known for their traditional French pastries, including sweet and savory croissants, each location has a slightly different menu. Customers will find an assortment of sundries, including French baguettes, scones, cookies, quiches, and freshly made sandwiches.
The exquisiteness of their guava tarts warranted a mention in the New York Times when they were a pop-up; now, Sol Bakery is the latest viral sensation to open a brick-and-mortar spot in San Francisco. Located at the corner of Hayes and Central in the city’s Panhandle district, Sol Bakery is known for its viral tart, as well as its fresh focaccia, cakes, and sourdough croissants.
The name says it all. Known for their inspired multi-layered crepe cakes, Sweet Glory delivers on taste and aesthetics. Located in the Inner Sunset area of the city, Sweet Glory offers handcrafted desserts made with handpicked ingredients. In addition to their crepe cakes, try their moreish Basque burnt cheesecakes, which also come in a delectable range of flavors.
If you know, you know, and Holy Nata knows how to make the best Portuguese tart in San Francisco. Gooey, crispy, and luscious all in one, the “pastel de nata” is an egg custard tart with provenance. The recipe of the viral tart comes straight from Lisbon and is infused with the love of family and tradition. In addition to the traditional (which can be bought by the box), Holy Nata offers a rotating assortment of flavors each week. Holy Nata is in the city’s financial district.
Denver, CO
Denver police still looking for help solving double murder at American Elm restaurant 3 years ago
Police in Denver sent out a reminder on Friday that they are still looking for the public’s help trying to solve a double murder that sent shockwaves through the city’s food-service industry.
Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio Gutierrez Morales were killed three years ago to the day — on April 24, 2023.
The crime was committed at the American Elm restaurant in the city’s West Highlands neighborhood.
Both people were employees there and were fatally shot at the restaurant in the late part of the morning.
Morales was a 58-year-old prep cook at the restaurant whose nickname was “Nacho.” He had three grown children. His family said after his death that he had a kind and gentle spirit and that they couldn’t think of anyone who would have wanted to harm him.
Vaughn-Dahler, 34, worked as a general manager at the restaurant. She was married with a 12-year-old son. Her husband Andrew Dahler told CBS Colorado when he learned she had been killed, he was devastated and “didn’t want it to be real.”
“Three years have passed, and their killer has still not been identified. The families of Emerall and Ignacio continue to live with unimaginable loss and are still searching, still hoping, and still asking for answers,” Denver police wrote in a Metro Denver Crime Stoppers bulletin.
The reward for information provided to authorities that leads to an arrest is as high as $32,600. Anyone who might have seen something suspicious on the 4100 block of West 38th Avenue between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. pm April 24, 2023, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
SEATTLE — A 70-year-old traffic flagger was hospitalized after being struck by a dump truck on Capitol Hill on Friday morning, according to Seattle police.
The collision happened near the intersection of Broadway and East Pine Street just before 11 a.m. The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center.
She was working for a private company at the time of the crash, according to police.
The Seattle Police Department Traffic Collision Investigative Squad is investigating.
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The dump truck driver remained at the scene and was speaking with officers, police said.
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