Despite all the efforts by Republicans to deep-six the Affordable Care Act, they failed — albeit by the skin of their teeth. However, undermining the law appears to be the GOP game plan of the moment — the Trump administration cut advertising for open enrollment by 90 percent, slashed the federal enrollment period, ended reimbursements to health insurers that helped offset discounts they provide to low-income customers, you know, things like that. However, California is a state that just wants to make Barack Obama’s law work and has enthusiastically implemented it from the get-go. Now, in face of the Trump onslaught, the state has managed to get insurers to stick with the exchanges and has maintained relatively stable prices. (FiveThirtyEight). So, for all present and future enrollees in Covered California (that’s what that law is called here), the program still exists and open enrollment is now. (KALW/Crosscurrents). Even though signing up can have a few glitches — read one woman’s account of the ups and downs of enrolling — it’s probably worth it. (Daily Kos).
Housing — It’s Always Something
- Maybe the old saying, “the love of money is the root of all evil,” covers what’s happening with a few below-market-rate housing owners in San Francisco. The city’s program for low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers to buy condos at big discounts has spawned a new group of rapacious owners: Those who break the rules and rent out their digs illegally at ginormous prices. “San Francisco’s Below Market Rate Homes Illegally Up for Rent” (CBS 5).
- If you’re a YIMBY-type of person (that is, “Yes In My Backyard”), talk to state Sen. Scott Wiener, who’s a big booster of development, yes, environmentally good, yes, school of urban living. He’s all for dense, walkable, car-free neighborhoods that state regulators say is the way to go to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. “Enviros and Developers: A Love Story” (Grist).
- There is a glimmer of good news for San Francisco renters. Thanks to Eviction Protections 2.0, a rewrite of the rent control law that passed in 2015, evictions have been on the decline in the past two years. “Tenants Find Stability Under Eviction Protections 2.0” (San Francisco Examiner).
- And help may be on the way for future homebuyers. Local entrepreneurs are founding startups to snuff out the Bay Area housing crisis — by doing such things as building new housing or helping people buy or rent. “Meet the Startups Fighting Silicon Valley’s Soaring Housing Costs” (The Mercury News).
North Bay Fires — A Grim Toll
- Forty-three people died and 8,300 homes were destroyed in the wildfires, but no one yet knows how the millions of gallons of fire retardants have affected plants and the soil. “After the Wine Country Fires, What Happens to the Crops?” (CALmatters).
- Other potentially nasty things to look out for in the fires’ aftermath include toxic ash chock-full of heavy metals and toxins; sure, they’ll seep into the soil, but will that be a problem? Yes? No? No one really knows. “California’s Fires Have Died Out, but Now Comes the Toxic Ash” (Mother Jones).
- The cleanup of ash, debris and other hazardous messes is underway, and homeowners do have a lot of options — the feds? … private contractors? Your pick. “Homeowners Weigh Options for Wildfire Cleanup” (KQED News/The California Report).
- You would think partisanship wouldn’t be a factor in requests for federal disaster assistance, but here it is: A letter sent to President Donald Trump asking for help was signed by California’s governor, its two U.S. senators and 39 members of the 52-member House delegation that included a lone Republican. One. “California Republicans Decline to Join Push for Federal Aid After Deadly Fires” (KQED News/The California Report).
- However much help California gets, undocumented workers will be left out in the cold because many are ineligible for federal aid. “After the Inferno, Undocumented Workers Find Themselves Without Federal Help” (Capital & Main).
- If you have friends who were burned out of their home, here are some tips on how to help out. “How to Help a Friend Who Lost Their Home in a Fire” (KQED News/The California Report).
- Finally, other Bay Area folks might be a bit jittery about the possibility of waking up to fires raging close to their doorstop. So the question is: What are the chances of other parts of the region going up in flames? Sadly, other areas are at risk. “How Vulnerable Are Other Parts of the Bay Area to Wildfires?” (Bay Nature).
S.F. Teacher Pay Going, Going … Up!
- A scheduled strike authorization vote never happened after the San Francisco teachers union struck a deal that gives teachers an 11 percent raise over three years, which would be among the biggest increases in the state. “SF Teachers Reach Tentative Contract Agreement With District” and “11% Raises in SF Schools Contract Would Be Among Tops in State” (SFGate).
- And there’s more on the topic of those salaries. The school district and the teachers union are pushing for a 2018 ballot measure to raise money for teacher pay. “San Francisco Schools Eye Parcel Tax After Agreement on Teacher Pay” (KQED News Fix).
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (aka A Sad Farewell)
- A nonprofit news pioneer, New America Media, and its parent organization, Pacific News Service, will shut its doors at the end of the month. “Pacific News Service dba New America Media Announces Closure of Organization” (New America Media).
- Also gone from this world are local news websites DNAinfo and Gothamist (a network that includes SFist) in New York; their owner Joe Ricketts pulled the plug — surprise?! — a week after employees voted to unionize. “Billionaire Owner Shuts Down DNAinfo, Gothamist Sites a Week After Workers Unionize” (KQED News). SFist’s site is still up, but it is frozen in time: All stories are dated Nov. 2, 2017, the last day of operation (and the homepage is topped with the words: “DNAinfo has closed. Click here to read a message from our Founder and CEO”). (SFist).
- Fake news, however, is flourishing and Youth Radio has come up with the tools to help you sniff out any fakery. “Don’t Get Faked” and “More Tools to Help You Spot Fake News” (Youth Radio).