San Francisco, CA
San Francisco police cracking down on speed
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco police are offering details on the department’s new plan to crack down on speeding.
The intersection at Geary Boulevard and Divisidero Street has all the hallmarks for speeding: multiple lanes east and westbound, fairly straight, and a light that drivers sometimes race to beat.
Now, police say that intersection and nine others around the city will be getting extra scrutiny to get drivers to slow down.
Some intersections in San Francisco are notorious for speeding vehicles, including Mission and Ninth Streets. People living in the area say pedestrians have to pay close attention when crossing.
“It’s pretty erratic,” said Dana George. “You really have to be aware when you’re crossing this intersection.”
San Francisco police say the department has already started a plan to step up scrutiny and enforcement at this intersection and nine other high-injury corridors to slow drivers down.
Pedestrian advocacy group Walk San Francisco says speed kills, and anything the police can do to slow drivers will help save lives.
“Speed is the worst and most dangerous driving behavior,” said Jodie Medeiros from Walk SF. “It is the cause of most of the crashes that we’ve seen in San Francisco. We’re happy that the SFPD is going to start really focusing on that most dangerous behavior.”
News about the latest enforcement effort with officers in person enforcing the speed limit comes as the city is installing 33 speed cameras at dangerous stretches of road. Walk SF says it’s all part of an overlapping network of enforcement aimed at protecting pedestrians, cyclists and even drivers.
“This combination of SFPD and cameras working together, it really does show that San Francisco is a city where the city cares about the people coming into San Francisco, it wants people to walk and bike more, it wants to make the streets safe,” said Medeiros.
Some pedestrians say while they hope the added enforcement works, they’re unsure if it will have a lasting impact.
“As long as they’re around, sure they’ll slow down. But I think they’ll go right back once they leave,” said George.
To combat the chance of only having a short-term impact, San Francisco police say their enforcement will come in waves to ensure consistent enforcement over a sustained period. Police say some plan components are already in place, others are still being implemented.
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San Francisco hotel workers agree pay rise after 3-month strike
What’s New
Hilton hotel workers in San Francisco voted on Christmas Eve to approve a new union contract after a 93-day strike, according to the Unite Here Local 2 union.
The union, which represents about 15,000 workers in the region, announced that the deal settles the last of the city’s 2024 hotel strikes, covering approximately 900 Hilton workers.
Newsweek has contacted Unite Here Local 2 and Hilton via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The new contracts after this year’s strikes establish significant improvements in wages, health care and workload protections for workers at Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott-operated hotels.
The agreements conclude months of labor unrest that involved thousands of workers and disrupted San Francisco’s hotel industry.
What To Know
Hilton workers voted 99.4 percent in favor of the agreement on Christmas Eve, which includes a $3 per hour immediate wage increase, additional raises, and protections against understaffing and increased workloads.
The four-year contract preserves affordable union health insurance and provides pension increases. The deal covers workers at Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55, with 650 workers having actively participated in the strike.
This agreement follows similar contracts reached with Hyatt workers on Friday and Marriott workers last Thursday, covering a total of 2,500 workers who had been on strike since late September.
What People Are Saying
Bill Fung, a housekeeping attendant at Hilton San Francisco Union Square for 29 years, said: “These 93 days have not been easy, and I’m so proud that my coworkers and I never gave up. We stood together through the rain and cold, and even though there were some hard days, it was all worth it. We will go back to work with our health care, good raises, and the confidence of knowing that when we fight, we win.”
Lizzy Tapia, President of Unite Here Local 2, said: “Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott workers refused to give up their health care or go backwards – and we proved on the picket line that we’re not afraid of a tough fight. As contract talks begin with the city’s other full-service hotels in the new year, they should know that this is the new standard they must accept for their own employees.”
San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie said on X: “All those that have been out on strike will be back to work, and just in time for Christmas. So, things are looking bright as we head into 2025.
What Happens Next
Unite Here Local 2 said it would push for other full-service hotels in San Francisco to adopt the same standards established by the Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott agreements when contract negotiations resume in 2025.
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