San Francisco, CA

Wild weekend sideshows challenge embattled Antioch police force

Published

1 year ago

August 7, 2023

Wild weekend sideshows challenge embattled Antioch police force

ANTIOCH — A wild predawn sideshow at the Antioch Marina parking lot Sunday resulted in crashes, injuries and an SUV submerged in the San Joaquin River.

“Not surprised. Not surprised but sad,” said Kathy Bunton, owner of Delta Kayak Adventures at the marina.

Bunton said sideshows take place in the parking lot almost every weekend.

“It’s frustrating — hopeless in a lot of respects — because we don’t know what we can do. We’ve gone to our leaders and nothing gets done,” Bunton said.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, Antioch officers responded to multiple crashes involving cars leaving the sideshow and fleeing the police.

Investigators said a white car plowed into a black car at high speed near G Street and West 9th Street. The white car also sheared off a fire hydrant sending a geyser of water about 15 feet into the air.

Paramedics transported the female driver in the black car to the hospital. Police said they arrested the driver of the white car after he was treated at the hospital.

They believe his was one of at least 50 cars that were spinning doughnuts in the parking lot.

Officers said an SUV crashed into a water main in front of the harbormaster’s office resulting in another geyser. The SUV also struck a large concrete garbage bin. That driver also fled the scene.

Police also found a Suburban SUV in the San Joaquin river at the end of a dock. They think someone drove it into the river after the sideshow. It was unclear if the vehicle was stolen.

“Something’s got to be done because businesses like mine and Smith’s Landing [a seafood restaurant at the marina], they just can’t go on like that. People don’t feel comfortable coming down,” Bunton said.

“I feel sorry for Smith’s Landing. It’s a nice restaurant. Good food, good service but things like this will make us not want to come down here anymore.” Maureen Desmond, who dined at the restaurant, told KPIX.

Several people said sideshow participants don’t care that the city police department is a block away.

“This is almost a badge of honor for people to be able to do this directly in front of the police department and that needs to stop,” said Antioch District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica.

The city recently added speed bumps in the parking lot but business owners say that did not deter sideshows. Councilman Barbanica is talking to city staff about adding other rubber barriers.

He’s also asking the city to request help from the CHP and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. They don’t have enough patrol officers since many Antioch officers are being investigated by the FBI as part of a text message scandal.

“If you look at a 7-beat system with 31 officers assigned to patrol for a 24/7 operation, the math does not add up,” Councilman Barbanica said.

Bunton hopes help comes soon.

“Maybe getting a gate like at the Richmond Marina where you have to pay to get in,” Bunton said.

There’s already a law that provides for fining sideshow drivers and impounding their cars. Now Antioch is considering a city ordinance that would allow for citing sideshow spectators.

Da Lin

Da Lin is an award-winning journalist at KPIX 5 News. He joined KPIX 5 in 2012, but has been reporting the news in the Bay Area since 2007. Da grew up in Oakland, and before his return to the Bay Area, he spent five years covering the news at three other television stations in Texas, Southern and Central California. He also spent five years reporting at KRON 4.

Source link

Click to comment

San Francisco, CA

Watch: Every Splash Hit By Recent San Francisco Giants Legends

Published

9 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Watch: Every Splash Hit By Recent San Francisco Giants Legends

Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are among the most recognized and well-liked players in recent San Francisco Giants history.

The pair combined to help San Francisco win world titles in 2012 and 2014.

Crawford recently announced his retirement in November and will be honored in April. Belt remains a free agent but didn’t play last season. He hasn’t officially announced his retirement.

At Oracle Park, one of the best moments is when a Giants player hits a “splash hit,” which is a home run into McCovey Cove, which is behind the right-field seats. Typically, left-handed hitters slam balls into McCovey Cove — but it’s not easy.

Crawford and Belt played more than a decade for the Giants and combined, they only hit 14 of them.

Recently, the Giants put together a super clip of all 14 of their splash hits during their Giants careers.

Crawford played 14 seasons, 13 of which were with the Giants. The 37-year-old California native was a three-time All-Star selection, won four Gold Gloves and was the Silver Slugger at his position in 2015. He also played for the U.S. in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where the U.S, won the gold medal.

The Mountain View, Calif., product finished his career with a slash line of .249/.318/.395/.713 with 147 home runs and 748 RBI. His best single season was in 2021, when he slashed .298/.373/.522/.895 with 24 home runs and 90 RBI. He was selected an All-Star for the last time, won his last Gold Glove and finished fourth in National League MVP voting.

Belt was primarily a first baseman throughout his career and played in 2023 with Toronto, where he batted .254 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI.

Belt was a National League All-Star in 2016 and finished in the Top 20 in MVP voting in 2020.

He has a career .261 batting average with 194 home runs and 697 RBI.

Source link

San Francisco, CA

City Improvement Project Funds Improvements To Local Businesses

Published

18 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

City Improvement Project Funds Improvements To Local Businesses

Locally owned and loved San Francisco establishments like tapas restaurant Cha Cha Cha and the Hong Kong Bakery are getting a hand from the SF Shines Improvement Project, the city announced.

A total of $350,000 in funding will be distributed between more than 50 businesses to support storefront improvements and equipment purchases from the project, which is administered by the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Both new and existing small businesses can receive up to $10,000 apiece to make building improvements to reduce vulnerability to crime, attract foot traffic, ensure compliance with City requirements and stimulate economic growth.

Since it launched in 2022, the program has been vital to the City’s economic revitalization strategy, awarding more than $3.7 million to approximately 960 businesses, city officials said.

“San Francisco’s small businesses are at the center of what drives our economy and what makes our city so special,” said Mayor London Breed.

Onur Ozkaynak, owner of Cha Cha Cha, said he plans to redesign the bar at Cha Cha Cha and purchase a new pizza oven for his other establishment, Oz Pizza, with the grant funding.

“This investment has not only enabled much-needed improvements to my businesses but has also brought renewed hope for future growth,” Ozkaynak said.

Hong Kong Bakery owner David Huang said, “In previous years, our old freezer would stop working randomly, requiring constant repairs and careful maintenance.

“With the funds from SF Shines Grant, we will be able to purchase a brand new commercial-use freezer for our bakery,” Huang said.

The new unit will make it possible for Huang to more accurately control and maintain the desired temperature and deliver fresher food to his customers, the bakery owner said.

The program will begin accepting new applications in January 2025. Information on how to apply for an SF Shines grant is available on the Office of Small Business webpage: sf.gov/SmallBusinessGrants.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Source link

San Francisco, CA

Warriors dance squad presents special Christmas show

Published

1 day ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Warriors dance squad presents special Christmas show – CBS San Francisco

Watch CBS News

Loureen Ayyoub reports on the Golden State Warriors Gold Squad collaborating with dancers from the San Francisco Ballet for a special Christmas performance.