Berkeley Copwatch is one of several Bay Area organizations that instruct observers in how to record interactions between the public and law enforcement officials that are seeing a surge in demand for their services. The groups have shifted their tactics and focused more resources on online course delivery in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the surge in protests. They’re also ramping up misconduct tracking efforts and social media campaigns as the public focus on police brutality heightens.
Author Archives: Meka Boyle
Freelance journalist covering public-interest news, politics and social media.
Contact Meka at mekaboyle@gmail.com
Posted inEconomy & Business, Social Justice
Community Efforts Raise Nearly $1 Million for Black-Owned Oakland Businesses
As damage from looting and property destruction added to the financial pain of black-owned businesses already hurting from the coronavirus shutdown, Oakland nonprofits, business leaders and community members swung into action, collectively raising almost $1 million to help those businesses recover. Two of the biggest fundraisers were launched by black women – one a business owner and one a community member acting on her own initiative – who together raised almost $400,000.
Posted inBay Area, Government & Politics, Social Justice
Oakland Lifts City Curfew After Thousands Defied It Wednesday
Oakland’s City Council ended the city’s contentious curfew order Thursday afternoon, Mayor Libby Schaaf announced in a tweet. “Effective immediately, Oakland is lifting the curfew. We will continue to facilitate safe spaces for our residents to demonstrate and express themselves peacefully and passionately,” Schaaf wrote. The decision came hours after the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office rescinded its curfew order following days of demonstrations lasting well past the curfew.
Posted inEducation, Homelessness
School Doubles as Home for Some S.F. Students
The San Francisco school district’s Stay Over Program has played a major role in sheltering homeless students and their families and helping them move to more stable situations since the shelter-in-place rules were implemented. Service providers worry they may be joined in a few months by many more newly homeless students as job losses mount and more families get evicted.
Posted inCoronavirus, Labor, Transportation
Cable Car Bells Silenced as Crews Focus on Maintenance in Pandemic
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At San Francisco’s cable car barn on Mason Street, the large looms of wire that power one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions used to produce a loud, uninterrupted whirring. Now, the building’s interior is so quiet it’s unnerving.
Posted inCommunity, Coronavirus
Want to Foster a Dog? Get on the Waitlist as Demand Soars at Bay Area Shelters
So many residents are looking to foster pets in need that Bay Area shelters have been overwhelmed by the demand. Though many have reached capacity for foster pets, some are still open to animal lovers looking to adopt.
Posted inAging, Coronavirus, Neighborhoods
Coronavirus Spurs Neighbors in S.F.’s Sunset District to Create Mutual Aid Society
In less than two weeks,a well-meaning post in a neighborhood Facebook group has evolved into an extremely organized support system for an entire community during the time San Francisco’s COVID-19 shelter-in-place order is in effect.
Posted inCampaign Finance: The Rising Cost of Winning Votes, News
Tracking TV News — and the Challenges Involved
Despite numerous challenges, our findings quantified how the local election was covered: Coverage was scarce — and repetitive.
Posted inCampaign Finance: The Rising Cost of Winning Votes, City Hall, Elections, Housing, Media, Technology
Slick, Misleading TV Ads Paid Off
The 2015 election united the political clout of two rich, powerful industries that will exert an enduring in uence across the city, Bay Area and nation: real estate and technology.
Posted inNews
The Most Misleading Political Ads of 2015
The Public Press reviewed more than 3 ½ hours of television news in the two months leading up to the November 2015 election, and found that ads far outstripped news about the elections in terms of airtime.