Newsom’s back — on Twitter, but profile says he’s still running for Guv November 10, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in Politics, San Francisco.Tags: 2010, Gavin Newsom, Governor, Hawaii, race, Twitter
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BEAT STAFF REPORT
San Francisco’s elusive Mayor is back — in his digital form. He sent out this tweet on his Twitter account at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after a nearly 13-day hiatus from the website.
That’s really strange for a guy who’s known to sent out tweets like crazy — even when he’s rushing to the maternity ward to see his firstborn.
As you may have heard, in those past 13 days, Gavin Newsom dropped out of the 2010 Gubernatorial race, jetted off to Hawaii unannounced, and hasn’t been spotted by news cameras for 11 days now. (more…)
Is the Bay Bridge S-Curve safe enough? November 9, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in East Bay, San Francisco.Tags: accidents, Bay Bridge, Big-Rig, Caltrans, repairs, S-curve, safety, traffic
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By WENDY STEWART
Beat Staff Writer
A Hayward man in his 50s hauling a container of Asian pears across the upper deck of the Bay Bridge during the early morning hours Monday became the first fatality stemming from the troublesome bypass curve installed over the Labor Day weekend.
Official and witness accounts of how the man died are horrific. (more…)
Bay Area Snapshot: MUNI’s high-wire act November 7, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in Multimedia, San Francisco.Tags: MUNI, photos, San Francisco, trolley wires
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By and large, Bay Area voters say yes to tax hikes November 4, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in East Bay, Marin County, Peninsula, Politics, South Bay.Tags: 2009, bond, business license tax, election, parcel tax, sales tax, School, tax, utility users tax
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By STEVEN LUO
Beat Political Director
If there is an anti-tax mood in the electorate, it sure didn’t show in Tuesday’s elections in the Bay Area.
Of 29 tax increases and bond measures placed before the electorate in the Bay Area, 22 passed, including most measures requiring a two-thirds majority. (more…)
10th Congressional District voters elect Garamendi to House November 3, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in East Bay, Politics.Tags: 10th Congressional District, 2009, Alameda, Congress, Contra Costa, David Harmer, election, House of Representatives, John Garamendi, Sacramento, Solano, special election
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By STEVEN LUO
Beat Political Director
Voters in the 10th Congressional District have elected Democratic state Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi to the House of Representatives.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Garamendi holds 53% of the vote, with Republican opponent David Harmer trailing with 43% in totals reported by the secretary of state’s office. (more…)
Trauma: When the going gets tough, destroy more stuff November 2, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in Multimedia, San Francisco.Tags: bus crash, filming, NBC, paramedics, San Francisco, set, show, Trauma, Treasure Island
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By WENDY STEWART
Beat Staff Writer
What’s a canceled television series supposed to do when the host network decides not to ask for new episodes?
Kill off the cast and blow up the props.
It’s already being done for NBC’s Trauma — the ratings-starved medical drama set in San Francisco. Monday’s episode had a shuttle bus careening into an ambulance sending two of the main characters to the hospital with major injuries. (more…)
Bay Bridge reopens after 6-day emergency closure November 2, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in East Bay, San Francisco.Tags: Bay Bridge, Bridge, Caltrans, closure, Oakland, reopening, San Francisco
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By WENDY STEWART
Beat Staff Writer
The Bay Bridge — the reason for many commuters’ angst and extended travel times for the past 6 days — reopened Monday morning.
A marathon construction and inspection effort by engineers and bridge safety officials to ensure that the replacement to a failed repair for a cracked eyebar would withstand vibrations that brought down the initial fix that went into place during the Labor Day weekend passed muster Monday morning, allowing Caltrans to give the go ahead to allow vehicles back onto the 73-year old span around 9:00 a.m.
NEWS ANALYSIS: Ageless Brown scares off yet another challenger November 1, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in Politics.Tags: 2010, Antonio Villaraigosa, Democratic, Gavin Newsom, Governor, Jerry Brown, John Garamendi, primary
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By STEVEN LUO
Beat Political Director
And then there were none.
First, state Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi traded in his gubernatorial campaign to jump into the race for Ellen Tauscher’s House seat (a race he now looks likely to win when voters go to the polls on Tuesday).
Then Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, long rumored to be a contender for the Democratic nomination for governor, announced that he wouldn’t run after all.
Now comes news that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, for months now the only declared candidate in the Democratic field, is dropping out, ostensibly to spend more time with his family.
One common thread runs through all these decisions: fear of a 71-year-old man who isn’t even officially in the race. (more…)




