The Chabot Gladiators destroyed the Los Medanos Mustangs on Feb. 15 at home by a score of 8-2.
The Chabot College baseball team came out hot with a total of four runs in the first three innings as Los Medanos quickly fell behind. Fernando Sansone scored in the bottom of the second as Jonathan Gazdar hit a double. Gazdar would go on to score later that inning. At the bottom of the second, Matt Sugden homered at the bottom of the third to send himself and Fred Ramos home, making the score 4-0.
The Gladiators were in a back and forth competition in innings 5 and 6 with the Mustangs. The Mustangs would have two runs in the two innings while the Gladiators attempted to match them with one run of their own made by Quinn Ayres with a grounder by Brian Duroff.
The flood gates opened in the bottom of the eighth, where Chabot would score three unanswered runs to send Los Medanos packing. Fernando Sansone scored, and Jonathan Gazdar scored again on an error. Finally, JT Noble also scored on the same error.
During the game, I interviewed Dan Miller: head athletic trainer at Chabot, serving Chabot since 1991.
Miller stated that. “I think the coaching staff has done a great job with the new team, and I really think they’ve gelled well.”
After not playing last year and with a fresh new roster, the coaching staff had challenges coming into this season. The Gladiators dropped their first two games of the season in January with close scores of 5-3 and 8-7. Then they went on a three-game winning streak from Feb. 1 through Feb. 5, including a shutout of Laney College. They then went 10 innings with Marin in the ninth, ending with a loss. The team, unfortunately, got obliterated by the Fresno City Rams 10-4 on Feb. 11.
The team moved into Steve Friend Stadium this season here at Chabot. It’s been a project that Chabot has been really excited about, calling it “one of the top facilities in the state” on the Chabot College Instagram.
I asked Miller what he thought about the new park. He responded with, “I love it, it’s something that we’re really proud of, and there’s a lot of cool stuff we have going on here.”
The new ballpark features batting cages, new bleachers with seats, great audio systems, and a whole new fresh looking field. Miller added, “My favorite part of the new park is the dugout. They’re very clean and modern.”
Chabot is now 4-4 in the season with a winning record in their inaugural season at Steve Friend stadium but is 2-3 on the road. Their next game is Thursday, Feb. 17, at Diablo Valley vs the Vikings.
After 22 seasons of playing in the NFL, Tom Brady officially retired on Feb. 1.
After a week full of rumors after NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported that Brady would retire. Brady made it official and followed that up with:
“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment (to football) anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
Brady went on to also thank his Buccaneer teammates and the whole Buccaneers organization, the city of Tampa, his wife: Giselle, and the rest of his family. Interestingly, Brady didn’t mention anything about the New England Patriots, the team who drafted him way back in 2000.
The San Mateo-born quarterback retires from the league with a ridiculous amount of accolades and achievements. However, Brady’s career did gain him some enemies, specifically, from teams he dominated during his career.
“Screw Tom Brady,” Indianapolis Colts fan Tanner Cummings said to me when I asked him his opinion on Tom Brady.
It’s worth noting that Brady’s Patriots were often the team that eliminated the Colts from the playoffs during the 2000s, including five separate times that the Patriots eliminated the Colts to move on and win the Super Bowl.
However, even those who aren’t huge football fans are still amazed at what the 44-year-old QB has done in his lengthy career.
“It’s impressive what he’s done,” Sandy Lopez, a friend of mine, told me. Lopez, not a big fan of football, still knows the legacy the QB has made in the NFL.
Brady won seven Super Bowl titles in total. Six of those championships were with the New England Patriots, with whom he played 20 seasons for.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft put out a statement the day after Brady announced his retirement.
“Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots, and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career. … You didn’t have to be a Patriots fan to respect and appreciate his competitiveness, determination, and will to win that fueled his success. As a fan of football, it was a privilege to watch. As a Patriots fan, it was a dream come true.”
Kraft also thanked Brady, adding that he considered Brady a part of his immediate family.
Brady replied, “Thank you, Patriots nation. I’m beyond grateful. Love you all.”
Many believe that Brady didn’t mention the Patriots due to the apparent ongoing cold war with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick put out a statement congratulating Brady on his retirement as well.
“I am privileged to have drafted and coached Tom Brady, the ultimate competitor and winner. Tom’s humble beginning in professional football ultimately ended with him becoming the best player in NFL history,” Belichick stated.
Belichick continued to say that Brady was always on the top of his game, was always a professional, and ended his statement thanking Brady for his impact on the Patriots organization and himself.
Brady put out a video on his social media two days after his retirement announcement that included highlights throughout his career, most of them with the Patriots.
I played for the name on the front of my jersey and the name on the back of my jersey. I played for my friends, my family & our community – every single one of you – that have given me what I have today.
Brady left the Patriots in 2020 during free agency to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won his final championship.
The Glazer Family, who are the Buccaneers owners, said in a statement Tuesday morning:
“Tom arrived in Tampa Bay with an unprecedented level of expectations and delivered some of the most memorable moments in our franchise history. His impact on our team and community was immediate and profound … Saying goodbye to a legend is never easy, but we wish him continued success in retirement.”
Brady was born in San Mateo, California, in 1977. As a Bay Area resident, he often went to San Francisco 49ers games. He looked up to Niners QB Joe Montana, whom he called his idol. Brady attended Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. Brady was excellent at all those sports and was even drafted by the Montreal Expos in the MLB. Brady, however, committed to football and the University of Michigan. Brady’s parents still live in San Mateo, and Junipero Serra High School later renamed their football stadium after Brady.
Brady’s path to the NFL couldn’t have been any more challenging. Coming into the University of Michigan’s training camp, he was seventh on the depth chart. He saw a sports psychologist for anxiety and even debated going back to the Bay Area to play for the University of Berkeley’s football team. He slowly rose to be the starting QB. After graduating from the university, Brady went into the draft with an unimpressive NFL training combine. He was selected 199th overall in the draft and was the seventh QB taken. Brady began his NFL career as the fourth-string QB on the Patriots, and within a season, he worked his way to be the organization’s top QB, later winning his first championship in his second season.
Brady only missed the playoffs once in his 22 seasons of playing as a starting QB and never had a losing record as the starter. He has won the most championships as a player. More than any other player and has won more championships than any NFL franchise. The former Patriot and Buccaneer is a five-time Super Bowl MVP winner. He’s started 363 games which is the most of any QB in history. Brady and his teams that he quarterbacked made the Super Bowl ten times. The future hall of famer is the oldest player to win the Super Bowl, and has 35 playoff wins. Brady owns most of the NFL’s QB records, having 97,569 total passing yards in his whole career.
Brady says now he’s planning on spending more time with his family. However, a return to the NFL isn’t completely out of the question as he leaves the NFL with this quote.
“You know, I’m just gonna take things as they come,” Brady said. “I think that’s the best way to put it, and I don’t think anything, you know, you never say never.”
Chabot College is proud to introduce its first ever mural located outside the El Centro/700 building titled; TOMORROW’S WORLD IS YOURS TO BUILD.
The mural proposal was initiated in 2018, and went into 4 years in the making, by the Stay Woke Collective, a group of student activists that hope to bring the community together for a collective social change. The project is supported by students and staff of the Ethnic Studies program, club advisor Professor Kay Fischer, chair members of the Public Art Committee Professor Juan Pablo Mercado of Chicano Studies, Dean Deonne Kunkle-Wu, and the rest of the Public Art Committee. Funding was made possible through the Student Senate and backed by Chabot College President Susan Sperling and her staff.
A statement, in thanks to Professor Kay Fischer, from the Stay Woke Mural proposal for the Public Art Committee;
“Stay Woke Collective is proposing an outdoor mural on campus that seeks to center themes of social justice and equitable representation that reflect the multicultural backgrounds of students,[as well as], Chabot College’s mission and values statement around diversity and civic engagement. Murals help create a sense of community and belonging, especially when people can see reflections of themselves, their cultures, and their history.”
The project began for artists, alumni Elizabeth Blancas and her team Jessica Sabogal, Shanna Strauss, and Malaya Tuyay, on September 15, 2021 to illustrate the wall featuring the key message that embodies the whole campus and its people.
The quote “Tomorrow’s world is yours to build” came from the words of Yuri Kochiyama (May 19, 1921 – June 1, 2014), a legendary Japanese American activist and leader based in the Bay Area. She was incarcerated with her family during WWII under President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 during the Japanese internment of 1942-1945. In her later years, she fought alongside Malcom X and communities of color for justice, liberation, and against imperialism, wars, and racism.
For Ms. Blancas, Kochiyama’s words spoke to her and fueled her creativity during times of need and confusion. “She was one of the voices I kept coming back to when designing the mural. A large part of the design process happened amidst a chaotic time, 2020-2021. With an ongoing pandemic, state sanctioned violence, civil unrest, and climate catastrophe all occurring– “tomorrow” felt so bleak. I hope Kochiyama’s words offer our community the [same] solace and empowerment they gave me.”
As for the representation for the mural, Ms. Blancas chose to feature two of her dearest friends, Salimah “Mrs.Mak” Shabazz and Taufa Setefano.
“The muses, Mrs. Mak and Taufa, I got to know in Ethnic Studies campus and Stay Woke organizing meetings. When I think back on myself first arriving at Chabot fresh out of [highschool] , confused about my next step, I can feel how impactful it would have been to see this mural, to be greeted by Black & Brown joy, words of resilience. I am grateful that future generations will have this affirmation to greet them on campus.”
Taufa Setefano, is a student activist and leader, who also served on the Stay Woke Collective club, student senate, and a student in the Change it Now! learning community. In addition, not only founding the Nesians Unite club, she, and other Pacific Islander students, collaborated with Prof. Fisher of the Ethnic Studies program in creating the first ever course focusing on critical Pacific Islands and Oceanic studies now known as Ethnic Studies 6.
Mrs. Mak is a long-time Stay Woke Collective member and leader. She supports many Chabot students, as well as one of the most involved students on campus. She serves as an Ethnic Studies tutor and Learning Assistant for 2 or 3 years, a student senator, a Change It Now! club leader, and organizer of the Stop the Violence campaign at Chabot for almost a decade.
In the midst of a very painful and raw moment in her life, Mrs. Mak found comfort and positivity in being featured in the mural.
She expresses, “I want to convey that I am humbly honored for being the inspiration for the mural. I became aware that I was being featured during one of the most difficult times of my life. My Daddy, My Hero, My Rock, had just passed away from a massive heart attack, and my son (Shakur) was in the hospital preparing for a surgery. I couldn’t even go to the hospital to support him. I was in a major state of depression. A few days later I became aware that I was being featured in the mural and it brought some light at the end of a very dark tunnel.”
Grief and sorrow is only a part of what makes the mural’s message so strong and it’s what the creators and supporters hope to convey to the whole of the student body and the Hayward community.
Lesley Avendaño, an alumni member of Stay Woke and former Vice President of the Chabot Student Senate, relayed her hope towards the ongoing and future students of Chabot saying;
“This mural [conveys] the beautiful power of students, community, and social justice through art. [It] allows students and staff to reflect on [their] perseverance, [how they] pushed through adversity, and their ability to impact change; whether it’s individually, on-campus, or in their community and families. [The mural] highlights two leaders, but it ultimately allows us to reflect on how we, as a campus and as individuals, can join together to build a future without racism, classism, and any other form of oppression.”
Throughout the course of time that the college has changed and improved, many programs and support services have flourished to further support students in their academic careers as well as in their personal lives. Programs such as, EOPS (Educational Opportunity Program and Services) and CARE offer extensive services with personalized student counselors and in the prime of the pandemic, offered stress relief management and community game night zoom meetings for students to participate in. To participate in these programs, information can be found on the Special Programs and Services page within the school website.*
Thinking about the destiny of Chabot and its students, as well as the community of Hayward, Mrs.Mak imparts this message;
“I often wondered what legacy I would leave to my grandchildren as well as my great grandchildren, well being featured on the mural answers that question. Now when I leave this earth, my existence at Chabot college and in life will never be forgotten…I want future students to look at the mural and know that Mrs. Mak went from tragedy to triumph. From being a victim to being a pessimist to becoming an activist.”
An unveiling is expected in Spring semester 2022 and in accordance, will uplift, support, and encourage everyone on campus. With the completion of the mural, more projects like the mural are in hopes to increase throughout the entire campus. Ms. Blancas joyfully exclaims when asked about taking on more projects;
@ishouldbepainting
“Absolutely! When this project was initially being proposed a few years ago, I could only dream of painting this wall. While I was working on the mural, I was so grateful to receive feedback from the Chabot community about a yearning to see more of my work on campus and in the larger community. I know there’s more to come and I can’t wait to continue creating for and with my community.” *
Students and staff, at least those who park in Lot G, are now welcomed immediately by the beautiful mural seen at the front of the school, right beside the campus driveway. Come and see!
Hamilton, the musical production has returned to the stage after the 2019 pandemic surfaced. CVID-19 left Broadway as a whole shook as live showings are the key component.
A recorded version of Hamilton was released on Disney Plus in 2020 with the original cast. Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator and lead role of Alexander Hamilton extended his vision for an at-home experience for all to see.
Hamilton isn’t the first production to be released as a “movie.” Cats the Musical is one of the more famously known shows that has been recorded for the small screen back in 1998.
One key aspect of any Broadway show is the set, and it doesn’t change much during a performance. The story works around the stage and part of Hamilton’s stage literally spins clockwise. Nothing compares to watching the show live!
San Jose was more than excited to be hosting the show at the San Jose Center for The Performing Arts.
Three requirements were needed to get in. A ticket of course. Along with proof of vaccination and ID with the matching information. The lines were quite fast and the staff worked diligently.
The show doesn’t slow down for latecomers, so be sure to get there on time, plus it/s quite distracting when people are crouching to the seats.
The Northern American tour casting of Hamilton is currently made up of three different crews. The shows that were featured in the Bay Area were made up by the “ And Peggy” cast named after the third Schuyler sister.
Julius Thomas III starred as the lead Alexander Hamilton and Donald Weber Junior as Aaron Burr. The cast is diverse and has been prevalent in a mostly POC cast. The casting director, “Bernie Telsey” has spoken to IndieWire on why that is.
“It was created with the idea that anyone can do anything. . . it’s much more about consciously making a choice to do something, being seen for the color you are”
Another unique approach, but not unseen, is the dialect.
The songs are influenced by hip-hop and rap although taking place in 1776. A comparison could be made to the modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet released in 1996 starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo Montague. The setting is in modern times with the dialect and story being the same.
While the show is titled Hamilton, the story is told by Aaron Burr as he is the one to open up the show with the famous line;
“How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore
And a Scotsman dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
In the Caribbean by providence impoverished
In squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?”
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton Essentially want the same thing, to be someone important. Their means of achieving success are very different. Where Burr prefers to play by the rules and take the most logical choice, Hamilton is impatient and lets it be known what he wants.
This becomes both men’s downfall. Hamilton’s pride ends up killing his image, marriage, and his life. Burr was the man to pull the trigger.
“I’m the damn fool who shot him,” Burr’s lyric speaks to his life after killing Hamilton.
The success of Hamilton boomed in the mid-2010s, and although Lin-Manuel Miranda had already been working in the music and Broadway industry, this opened a door to more opportunities for Miranda.
Miranda wrote music for the popular film Moana, released in 2016. He even features some of his vocals in the background of some songs. “In the Heights” was another musical that Miranda was able to bring to movie production. Miranda’s Hamilton castmate, Anthony Ramos, starred as the lead in the role that Miranda once played.
The shows plan to continue well into 2022 so there’s still time to see when Hamilton will return to a city near you.
Chabot Campus Security reported a campus auto burglary in March 2021, with a catalytic converter taken out of a vehicle in broad daylight located in parking lot F right across the B1100 building.
Two incidents followed in the month of July, including a burglary at a construction trailer parked within campus and an attempted burglary/vandalism in an office inside building B2000, was reported. Force was used on both locations, a door and a window was broken into during the nighttime hours, however no loss was recorded.
The Chabot College fall semester began with continued success of hybrid online and on-campus class meetings. However, unbeknownst to most students and staff, mysterious break-ins have occurred well before the start and have since continued within the college campus during the academic semester
Throughout August to September, at least 11 robberies/attempted robberies were reported to campus security. Almost all incidents targeted buildings designated for the Arts and Theater department, only one being another auto burglary in Lot B during an athletic event.
There were many reports with locked classrooms and staff only rooms that were forcefully broken into. A locked classroom was pried open in order to gain access to two students’s personal belongings while they were still within campus. Damages to school property and vandalism also occurred.
While most burglaries are considered B&E’s (breaking and entering), there are reports of theft that used no force. An office in B1100, had a window that was left open and thus was accessible from the outside, and a laptop was stolen. Trespassing took place in a “locked” faculty men’s restroom; yet no force was used to gain entry. Unfortunately, there were a number of classrooms and facilities that were left unsecured, therefore the burglaries were highly successful.
The Theater department’s Stage One building was broken into twice. The first robbery involved several electronic equipment, especially laptops, that were stolen which belonged to the department for students to use. They were placed in a locked cabinet, however, the perp(s) had knowledge of an opening or gap underneath in order to reach the devices. The second burglary, there were serious damages and vandalism that took place, yet no loss was found. In several offices and classrooms belonging to the department, a rock was used to break windows and was used as an acces point to loot various media equipment.
In the event of a motor vehicle theft, engine parts, specifically a catalytic converter, was coveted in those incidents and no other loss was reported.
Although there were incidents with evidence of no property or petty loss, more often than not, there was a higher rate of successful break-ins and robberbies recorded, with several victims and damagaes done on school property. On that note, it may be taken into consideration that there are items, such as media equipment, that are highlighted as main objectives made by the perpetrator(s) to take and steal.
These datas are collected and recorded under the Clery act; a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. All public and private institutions of postsecondary education participating in federal student aid programs are subject to it.
The Clery Act originated from Howard & Connie Clery and named after their daughter Jeanne, who was raped and murdered at Lehigh University Bethelehem, Pennsylvania in 1986. The bill was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President George Bush in 1990 as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. The law was made in order to allow transperancy to the public and for schools to be made liable for the victims that suffer throught the heinous crimes commited within thier campuses.
Published Annual Security Reports are completed and updated every year by October 1st and must contain 3 years’ worth of campus crime statistics and security policy statements.
According to the clery reports from 2018-2020, criminal offences totaled to a number of 22 reported incidents, ranging from sexual crimes and burglary. Law violations were also listed, such as weapons possession (1) and drug possessions (5) and liquor possession (3). Less than half ended in actual arrests.
Notifications can be found within the Chabot College website under Campus Safety and Security– Jeanne Clery Act; Annual Security Reports (ASRs).
Lastly, a message from President Susan Sperling and Chabot Campus Safety & Security;
“We are increasing Safety and Security patrols across all campus areas and consolidating in person classes to several buildings where possible so that other sites can be locked and secured. We are also expanding administrative presence across campus areas.
Ultimately this is a multi-layered approach that we can all help play a part. Security reports that classroom doors are not always locked as people get used to the new system! Please make sure when leaving a class, meeting room, or office that you always press the inside button to lock the door.”
Moreover, please consider the following safety tips:
“See something Say Something”
* Be aware of your surroundings.
* Always report suspicious behavior.
* Always secure valuables in a safe place.
* Always close and lock all doors and windows to your office, classroom, and vehicle.
* Always take your keys with you, even if you leave for only a short time
* Do not lend your keys to any unauthorized person
* Always hide valuables so they cannot be seen through windows.
It is very troubling that there are staff and students who suffered damage and irreplacable losses in their academic careers. Criminal offences, no matter how big or small- with or without loss, must be reported and under no circumstances be disregarded or ignored.
Major companies from California’s tech Silicon Valley, depart to Texas for their new global headquarters. Along with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Oracle will also be based in Texas.
The Tech exodus from California has been a long time coming as businesses have found it increasingly difficult to turn profits due to regulations and high taxes. According to CNBC metrics, the average income tax rate in California is 53.8% and at 13.3%, California has the top rank in marginal tax across the nation.
Katie Shoolov CNBC reinforces, “Where some see as progressive legislation others see costly for business.”
Not only making it hard for big business to stay but for the workers as well. The cost of living in California has only been rising with job growth decreasing. Leaving Californians an inflated housing market with less of an incentive to stay. 650,000 people left the state in 2019 and another 135,400 the following year; 2020.
A study from Wealthfront, an investment management firm that provides robo-advisor services, found when it surveyed 2,700 bay area resident workers showed, 2 out of every 3 residents said they would move away from the bay area, if they could work from home. This was done with the caveat of the workers facing a possible pay decrease if choosing to work from home.
“Housing is impossible, we are 3 or 4 million units behind…because of the rate of living you [would] have to pay someone $150,000 a year. You don’t need to pay someone that type of salary in Texas.” Larr Getson political analyst San Jose State.
Without the high cost of living and progressive tax legislation, companies are able to create value for shareholders, lower wages, and generate revenue more efficiently in Texas. While Texas measures in the top three of States to do business in by tax structure, California is listed at 50th by the Tax Foundation. From 2008-2019, 18,000 companies have fled the state, mostly to Texas. 1,800 in 2016 alone.
Texas Governor Greg Abott touted his state welcoming the incoming tech giants, “To open in 2022 with lower taxes, high quality life, top notch workforce, and tier one universities creating an environment where companies like HPE can flourish.”
Tech analyst Tim Bajarin says when these companies leave the revenue could be a “bigger blow as here HP represents a pioneer helping to create Silicon Valley.”
Also warned by Lee Ohanian, senior fellow Hoover Institute, Professor of economics at UCLA, “This could change the whole nature of the state, how many tax dollars go into Sacramento.”
As the domino effect continues, one major company may not hurt California’s budget but the fear is a fleet of them just might. California has the 5th largest economy in the world and other tech staples like Apple, Facebook, and Google aren’t going anywhere soon.
Larr Getson “Google, Apple they are doing so well that the last thing they have to think about is moving. It is very much in their interest to stay here and get the latest on what is going on and be promoted by these beautiful minds at Stanford and at Cal.”
Peter Leroe Munoz Tech analyst reminds,“This is not an end to Silicon Valley, this is the move of the global headquarters. Where is the innovation and intellectual power happening.They have not left yet and will continue to employ people, It doesn’t matter where the CEO is.”
HPE, Oracle, and Tesla have said they are keeping the campuses in silicon valley with no layoffs.
The remote success of workers during the pandemic is the catalyst for companies who wanted a move out of California.
“HP and many others are sending the signal… Silicon Valley is wherever you want to be.” Jared Walczak VP state projects Tax Foundation.
Still considering the outcome of the exodus, will California legislation draw back or will they continue on the same agenda?
Barry Boone CEO of The Greater Sac Council pleads, “We are risking Californians’ economic future… legislators need to signal to the companies on the fence.”
San Francisco requires proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for patrons to dine indoors. As of Aug. 12, businesses have had to adapt to more changes as the pandemic continues.
The City and County of San Francisco (CCOSF) announced that this health order” [has been] designed to protect against the continued spread of COVID-19, particularly among the unvaccinated, while keeping businesses open and helping to ensure schools remain open.”
Over 94,000 small businesses (corner stores/restaurants/shops) operate out of the city, according to the CCSOF. Some have had better experiences adjusting to the mandate. The common opinion among several businesses is to do the best they can to keep doors open and employees safe.
Imperial Tea Court is a famous restaurant that opened in the early 90s located in The Ferry Building on Embarcadero.
Another location is set in Northern Berkeley where the city requires proof of vaccination before entry. The City of Berkeley emphasizes how restaurant environments hold high risks, “airborne droplets or particles containing the virus spread easily”
One of the employees oF Imperial Tea Court, who wishes to remain unnamed, has worked at the Embarcadero location since its opening in 2005.
He emphasized that he feels safe in his work environment and will continue to follow any guidelines presented by the city. He stated that he’s always been in favor of a vaccine, whether or not it was required to go to work.
According to the unnamed employee, there are more residents and businesses who are willing to follow guidelines than those who are not, “I haven’t heard of a business not wanting to comply. In San Francisco, people are very pro-vaccination.”
He also noted that although the business has picked back up again, it is not as busy as it used to be. The employee believes it’s due to the end of summer and there aren’t as many tourists. Johnson said visitors from all around the world come to Embarcadero, and he’s had several patrons who didn’t want to comply.
“Sometimes I’m kind of fearful that a customer could be an anti-vaxxer and be volatile,” responded the employee when asked about those who don’t want to show vaccination proof. Thankfully nothing worrisome has occurred at the Tea Court.
Locations with outdoor dining have the advantage, as they’re able to serve those who do not wish to show proof or have yet to get the vaccine.
A popular location located right above the BART stop on Powell St. is the Westfield Mall. Thousands of people stop here to get to work or to enjoy the 170+ shops. The food court serves desserts, smoothie shops, and various Asian cuisines. However, to dine in, you must present your vaccine proof to a security guard before entering the dining area.
One factor that some may not be aware of is that the mall has a terrace on the ninth floor where people can eat outdoors if they don’t have proof. There are plenty of tables and chairs, all with a delightful view of the Theater District.
Jose Hernandez is a security guard for the mall and has worked in this location for about six months. According to Hernandez, for the most part, people are on board and comply with the rules.
“I haven’t had to remove anyone who didn’t want to comply.”
Hernandez has only worked as a security guard and is very used to the changing CDC guidelines. He, like Johnson, does believe the city is very used to the changes and comply.
“There are a few ways that people can show proof, which makes it easier.” Hernandez refers to the physical vaccine card and apps (depending on where you got the vaccine) with the QR code you can download to your smartphone that holds your information.
If you don’t have the vaccine card, you can download an online version of the verification through Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record. (https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ ) A QR code appears with your name and the dates you received the vaccine(s).
Gov. Gavin Newsom overcomes recall effort with 7,910,379 voting “No” to remove him. Relying on unions and community organizations to pull a massive voter turnout to win 62% of the vote.
“It’s not a persuasion campaign,” Newsom told reporters earlier in September. “I mean, you’ll still find people that may be on the fence, but it’s really about turnout. Labor knows how to turn out.”
The Governor acknowledged the support in the final days of the election, using the humbling moment as a warning sign and a jumping off point to prepare for his coming election in 2022.
Newsome at a Stop the recall rally.
“I am humbled and grateful to the millions and millions of Californians who exercised their fundamental right to vote, and expressed themselves so overwhelmingly by rejecting the division, cynicism, and negativity that’s defined our politics in this country over the course of so many years,”.
Newsom’s “Stop the Recall ” campaign scrambled early and ahead with a 10 week coordinated plan and a fund of over 71$ million. Tremendously outnumbering any of the GOP opponents raised funds. Still retaining 24$ million for his reelection campaign.
The Campaign was built from receiving more than 600,000 small dollar donations(any amount less than $100 dollars); 90% percent of which were from California.
Newsom partnered with over 90 community organizations. The head of Newsom’s ground game operation told CNN they have had “real conversations” with about 1.5 million voters over the course of about seven weeks – noting that’s “at a scale bigger than most of the presidential campaigns.”
In Los Angeles county alone, the entire affiliation of labor unions through the AFL-CIO called more than 1 million phone numbers and knocked on over 130,000 doors, according to the organization’s spokesperson Christian Castro. In total, the federation spent over $2.1 million on the recall effort and coordinated a total of 3,265 volunteer shifts.
They had walkers in 15 counties going door-to-door reminding folks to turn in their ballots. They’ve been averaging 600,000 attempts to reach voters each day via phone, messaging, and in person. Reaching out in 7 different languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
“The goal is to hit two million door knocks by the end of the day. We tried to create a surround sound,” the adviser said.
“A multi-layered approach that meets voters wherever they are. I want to focus on what we said yes to as a state,” Newsom said, “We said yes to science, to vaccines, to ending this pandemic, to people’s right to vote without fear of fake fraud or voter suppression, to women’s fundamental constitutional right to decide for herself what she does with her body and her fate and future, diversity, inclusion, pluralism, to all those things that we hold dear as Californians and I would argue as Americans. Economic justice, social justice, racial justice, environmental justice. Our values, where California’s made so much progress. All of those things were on the ballot this evening…Thank you all very much, and thank you to 40 million Americans, 40 million Californians, and thank you for rejecting this recall,”.
On Oct. 1st, An oil spill from a cracked pipeline leaked over 10,000 gallons, off the coast of Huntington Beach. Mayor Kim Carr has reopened the shoreline and water. “It is important that our decision be based on data, that we continue to monitor the water quality going forward.”
Officials told CNN, “they have recovered at least 5,544 gallons of oil and 13.6 barrels of tar balls. In a worst-case scenario, more than 131,000 gallons may have spilled into the waters.” With these notes Orange County has cut off recreational fishing between Sunset Beach and Dana Point from the shoreline to six miles out.
“The health and safety of our residents and visitors is of the utmost importance. We understand the significance our beaches have on tourism, our economy, and our overall livelihood here in Huntington Beach,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr in a press statement.
The City is in coordination with Federal, State, regional, and local agencies.The US Coast Guard is the leading agency and has formed an incident management team putting together a unified command team including Huntington Beach Fire, Marine Safety, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Amplify Energy Corporation to investigate the oil spill incident.
“The City of Huntington Beach is continually assessing and contributing towards mitigation efforts for the Orange County Oil Spill (Pipeline P00547 Incident). The oil spill has significantly affected the City, with substantial ecological impacts occurring at the beach and at the Huntington Beach Wetlands.” City Statement.
The Oiled Wildlife Network (OWCN) reports 65 birds recovered in total, 38 of which were found dead, also reporting nine dead fish.
The Department of Justice has opened their own investigation led by Attorney General Rob Bonta. Who is concerned in the spill minimization and possible prevention.
“The oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach is an environmental disaster with far-reaching consequences for our fish and wildlife, for our communities, and for our economy,” said Bonta. “My sorry fice is committed to devoting the people and the resources necessary to ensure this environmental disaster is fully investigated, and we will follow the facts wherever they lead us.”
According to Jason Neubauer, chief of the office of investigations and analysis for the US Coast Guard.The pipeline was dragged 105 ft and could have been cracked a year ago. Evidence is suggesting the 13 inch linear crack was likely caused by a ship’s anchor pulled along the seafloor.Video released by the Coast Guard showed marine growth on the damaged portion of the pipeline, initially enclosed in concrete.
Neubauer explained “The linear fracture on the pipeline could have been a very gradual crack, which got worse over time.This event could be multiple incidents and strikes on the pipeline after the initial event, that we’re pretty confident occurred several months to a year ago,”
Residents in the area are upset with the contamination of their water fronts. There is a worry the spill will affect visitor attraction. A owner of the Cali Shore clothing store in Huntington Beach,
Sydney said “If people aren’t walking around or strolling around because they think the beach might be unsafe.There’s less of a chance of them walking in the door; hurting us. Because they will move onto the next beach with beautiful stores and sunsets, there’s too many in southern California not to.”
On the other hand, others aren’t too concerned now that access has reopened. After talking with Clare, who tends bar for Cabo Cantina … along the beach,
She said “The spill hasn’t affected us too much.The bar is still packed every night, when the spill happened too. There’s not alot that can keep people from visiting our area. Huntington is Huntington for a reason”.
Taylor Lebar was one of those visitors trying to make the most of a trip planned before the spill was detected. “…”.
Fortunately, she was just passing through to Oceanside clear of the oily water. Unfortunate, for owners making a living from the tourism as Taylor was not strolling. Some of the fears Sydney told us earlier. Fears she will have to figure out and live with as her patience is tested and as the investigation and cleanup continues.
Four years after it was announced that Seattle would get a National Hockey League team, one year of being branded as the Seattle Kraken, 3 months after the expansion draft: Seattle hockey fans didn’t have to wait anymore. The first official game of the Seattle Kraken’s maiden season against the last NHL expansion team: the Vegas Golden Knights.
Concerns were high as many of the high-profiled Kraken players were on the COVID protocol list however most of them managed to be in the game including the player who took the first face-off.
The first of firsts for the Kraken was the very beginning of the game at T-Mobile arena on Tuesday (Oct 12). Jared McCann took the first ever face-off. McCann played for Pittsburgh last year and was an obvious choice for the Kraken to take in the expansion draft with 32 points in 43 games. However, knowing this, the Penguins flipped the forward to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Kraken took McCann from them. He’ll pop up later in this historic game again.
The first shot was taken by Mark Giordano 18 seconds into the first period. Giordano was another prime candidate to be taken in the expansion draft when protected lists were released. Giordano had been a long time player of the Calgary Flames. He played with the Flames since 2004 and became team captain in 2013.
Giordano won the Mark Messier award in 2020 which is given to a recognizable leader on and off the ice. Giordano also won the James Norris award as best defenseman in the league in 2019. With a resume like that, Giordano was taken from the only team he had ever known. Flames fans were sad but probably became even more sad when Giordano was named captain of the Kraken and scored his first (unofficial) goal with the team in a preseason game against the Flames.
The Kraken’s first game and the whole momentum behind this new team was shortly cut off. 3 minutes and 10 seconds into the first period, the Knights scored to make the score 1-0. Welcome to the NHL. 6 minutes and 36 seconds into the period and the Knights score another goal making it 2-0 to end the 1st period. The Kraken would go down 3-0 at 6:43 in the second period. Not a great way to start an inaugural game or season.
11 minutes and 32 second into the second period and history was made. Joonas Donskoi was selected in the expansion draft from the Colorado Avalanche. He had been a solid point producer for the past 3 seasons with the Avalanche and Sharks. Donskoi makes a pass to Vince Dunn. Dunn was another selection in the expansion draft from the St Louis Blues. Dunn is a Stanley Cup champion, winning it with the Blues in 2019. Dunn shoots the puck on net and Vegas goalie Robin Lehner makes the save. The puck rebounds in front of the net where an unlikely player would be.
That is where Ryan Donato stands. Ryan Donato unlike most of the Kraken’s players didn’t come from the expansion draft. Donato has bounced around the league for a little bit. He was drafted by Boston, traded to Minnesota where he played for 2 seasons, and then traded once again this time to San Jose where he played last season. Donato went to free agency after the Sharks didn’t offer him a contract and didn’t actually get signed until August where the Kraken signed him to a 1 year, league minimum contract. Donato gets the puck and backhands it into the net. First goal for the Seattle Kraken in franchise history. Ryan Donato becomes a trivia question answer. Not bad for a player who has been across the league the past couple of years.
Shortly after Ryan Donato’s goal, Jared McCann scores the Kraken’s second goal. He is assisted by Jordan Eberle who was selected in the expansion draft by the Islanders and Jaden Schwartz who was signed in free agency by the Kraken. Schwartz is another Stanley Cup champion winning with the Blues in 2019. McCann’s goal makes the score 3-2. A comeback in their first game? Kraken fans hoped so. The Kraken fans who had waited so long to see their team hit the ice and so long for their city to even get a team got their wish.
The 3rd period brought the 3rd Kraken goal. 7 minutes and 58 seconds into the game and Morgan Geekie: selected in the expansion draft from the Carolina Hurricanes, shoots a wicked shot to beat Robin Lehner. He is assisted by Jeremy Lauzon: the expansion draft pick from the Boston Bruins. The game is tied 3-3. The score was 3-0 at one point of time, now it’s 3-3.
Unfortunately, the Kraken wouldn’t get their Cinderella story that night. Soon after Geekie’s goal, Chandler Stephenson would score to make the score 4-3 Vegas and although the Kraken would get some good shots on goal, that would remain the final score.
“We did a lot of good things, being down 3-0 in this building and being able to push back to get it back to even. It says a lot about this group in terms of sticking together and making plays but it’s disappointing not to come away with 2 points,” said head coach Dave Hakstol.
“I think we gave them too many grade A opportunities right away and it came to bite us so we need to correct some things and obviously we’ll learn from that,” Ryan Donato told the media after the game.
The Kraken would win their next game against the Nashville Predators which became the first win in franchise history. Meanwhile, although their debut in the NHL ended on a low, it was worth it all the same to Kraken fans everywhere. The sold out crowd on October 11th in T-Mobile arena, although consisting of a lot of Knights fans, had Kraken jerseys dispersed in the crowd as well. A dream 4 years long that came true.
