San Francisco, CA
Could speed cameras save lives on SJ streets? This program proposal hopes it can
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — After other programs have failed to make it through the state government in the past, San Jose hopes a speed camera pilot program can pass and help save lives.
Assembly Bill 645 would allow San Jose to install speed camera systems in school zones, priority safety corridors and areas with a history of street racing or sideshows with the goal to save lives.
On Dia de las Madres, San Jose’s Maria Hernandez won’t be able to celebrate her mother Maria Marcelo.
Five months ago, the community activist’s life was taken in a deadly car crash. Now, her daughter is calling for safer city streets.
When we see things that are repetitive like this,” Hernandez said. “When it’s not just one fatality, when it’s multiple on that same street – if that’s not screaming for a change, I don’t know what is.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Matt Mahan and city leaders voiced their support for what they say is a step towards that change.
Hundreds attend funeral mass for beloved SJ community activist fatally struck by car
Assembly Bill 645 would allow six California cities including San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose to install speed cameras as part of a pilot program running until 2032 to help slow drivers down.
Thirty-one percent of traffic deaths cite speed as a factor according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
MORE: SJ leaders continue to struggle finding solutions to stop city’s record traffic deaths
Thirty-three percent of deaths in San Jose were linked to speeding according to Mayor Mahan and cameras have proven to help.
“These speed safety cameras have been shown in studies across the country and, frankly, around the world, they are deployed in over 150 communities around the United States,” Mahan said. “They have been shown to reduce by over 50% on average, 54% to be exact.”
MORE: EXCLUSIVE: SJPD steps into the crosswalk as pedestrian decoys for traffic safety
If approved, the cameras would snap a picture of cars’ back license plate and send set fines of $50, $100, $200 or $500 to drivers breaking the speed limit by 11 miles per hour and up.
In the interest of privacy, the picture would be kept for 5 days if no ticket was issued and up to 60 days if a violation occurred.
But Tracy Rosenberg with Oakland Privacy still has concerns.
“When the location of a car is recorded over, and over and over again over the course of a day, it is sort of like having somebody tailing your car,” Rosenberg said. “It’s not just one location at one moment in time. It’s really the pattern of your movements all around the city.”
Rosenberg would like to see investments in other speed slowing measures and not in a camera program that’s proving to be unpopular in other states.
VIDEO: SJ community honors woman fatally struck by car while leading prayer procession
But the city believes this can be a part of the enforcement, engineering and education in San Jose that helps save lives.
“We are all here today to find solutions to keep our community safe and this technology is one of those types of solutions,” San Jose Police Dept. Chief Anthony Mata said.
If passed, the cameras would likely roll out in 2024.
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The offseason has started for the San Francisco Giants, as they are going to be trying to improve and snap their playoff drought.
It has been a tough couple of seasons for the Giants, and they are hoping that new leadership at the top will help result in some positive changes. Landing the superstars in free agency has been a struggle for San Francisco, as they have missed out on players like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani in recent years.
With Buster Posey in charge now, the hope is that he will be able to convince some of the elite players to come to the Giants. While San Francisco will be looking to add some talent, preferably in the lineup, they did have one of the free agent signings from last offseason opt out in Blake Snell.
The southpaw signed just before the start of the season, and it really impacted his effectiveness on the mound at the start of the campaign. However, he really turned it around in the second half of the season and decided to opt out and test free agency once again this offseason.
Snell is likely going to receive the big contract that he desired last offseason, as his new deal should be north of $100 million. Even though he had a good second half of the season with the Giants, it doesn’t appear like he is going to be returning to San Francisco.
Recently, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report named the Boston Red Sox as the ideal landing spot for the southpaw.
“The Red Sox need an ace. The Red Sox also have an aversion to doing long-term deals in free agency. The fit with Snell is good just from these perspectives, and it doesn’t hurt that he also has a track record of success in the AL East.”
The Red Sox are certainly going to be a team in the mix for one of the best pitchers on the market, as they have a clear need for an ace. Snell is familiar with the American League East from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, as he had some very successful seasons there.
With the division being really competitive, Boston knows what they need to spend in order to compete, and Snell makes a lot of sense for them.
For the Giants, while their left-hander did well for them in the second half, the money that it would cost to keep him would likely be better allocated to their lineup.
Three women are taking their love of actor Dev Patel and turning it into a contest.
The friends are organizing a Dev Patel look-alike contest in San Francisco on Nov. 10 at the Miguel Hidalgo Statue in Dolores Park.
They got the idea after a similar event was held in New York City for Timothee Chalamet. That event drew thousands of people, including the star himself.
The organizers of the San Francisco event say they don’t expect Patel to show up, but they are expecting to meet some of his doppelgangers.
“I feel like everyone has met someone, that even remotely looks like Dev Patel or kind of has the same facial features, structure,” organizer Tasnim Khandakar said. “So, I also felt like there is also a lot of diversity here in San Francisco Bay Area. So, it feels like a kind of a good way to celebrate the actor and the people who live here.”
The women say they created the event, expecting a small gathering. But, now more than 140 people have RSVP’d.
“We’re ready for it, we’re prepared for it, we’re excited,” organizer Sitara Bellam said.
The winner of the contest will get $50, presented on a large check and a “Monkey Man” statue.
“I think we’re looking for someone who is really passionate about this too. I don’t think you have to look exactly like Dev Patel,” Khandakar said.
Bellam added: “It’s got to be like a guy that’s written by women, that vibe. You know, the ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ ‘Mr. Darcy’ vibe. I feel like that’s the Dev Patel energy.”
The contest starts at 1 p.m.
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