Local News Roundup
Photo: Sashafatcat via flickr
Your One Stop, Used Oil Drop Spot
Veggie oil vans just got more feasible in San Francisco now that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission set up established locations for people to drop off used cooking oil for conversion into biofuel. (SFGate)
Dressing Up the Vacant Storefronts
The SF Art Commission plans to spice up empty store windows in economically depressed neighborhoods with artistic displays. (Curbed SF)
Port of Oakland to Clean up 1,000 Diesel Trucks? East Bay Express Thinks Not
The Chronicle published this story today about the Port of Oakland’s $22 million plan to retrofit 800 diesel trucks while buying 200 new ones. But the East Bay Express had this to say in response, questioning the Chron’s numbers seeing that retrofits cost $20,000 a piece and new trucks cost upwards of $100,000.
–Related Spot.us pitch: Bay Area Toxic Tour
Government Transparency Just Got Murkier
City lobbyists have been violating local open-government laws since 2005 by failing to report their activity to the Ethics Commission. (SFExaminer)
41 New Officers to Join OPD
The COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) has responded to OPD’s grim budget (apparently Oakland is the most cash-strapped department in the nation) by funding 41 new officers (A Better Oakland)
–Related Spot.us pitches: Oakland Police Blues, Civilian Oversight of Police in Oakland, Oscar Grant Shooting Report
BART Negotiations May be Stalled Yet Again
Negotiations between BART and union leaders representing 2,800 employees are still underway with little forward motion and a possible “snag.” (SFAppeal)
Social-Political Spot: A Sampling of Midweek Bay Area Events
SFBC Bike-In Movie Night, Wednesday July 29, 7 p.m. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition holds its first summer movie night, featuring the BMX cult classic, “Rad.” (Streetsblog)
SPUR Lunchtine Forum: The Rise of Counter Institutions, Thursday July 30, 12:30 p.m. A discussion with local experts about “the origins of urban gardens, land trusts, and community development corporations.” (Streetsblog)
BART Police Department Review Committee Meeting, Thursday July 30th, 6:30 p.m. The BART Police Department Review Committee seeks public input on the Draft Model of Citizen Oversight for the BART Police Department. (Oakland Living)
–Related pitches: Forthcoming Oscar Grant Shooting Report Will Lift the Veil on Transit Police Work; Civilian Oversight of Police in Oakland
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