Tim Henry
San Francisco
The SF Armory, aka the former 'Kink Castle', may return as concert/event venue with added jazz club
From ammunition depot to sports venue to giant porn production house, the San Francisco Armory has gone through several iterations in its 109-year history, and may soon be slated to return as an active event space. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are new plans to turn a portion of the innards of the giant, castle-like Armory in the Mission District into a jazz club and VIP lounge.
San Jose
Santa Cruz mayors, officials have apparently been breaking the law for years by holding official meetings in private
Santa Cruz County civic leaders have been voting to appoint nominees to the California Coastal Commission behind closed doors, violating a state law that requires such proceedings be public, according to the Santa Cruz Lookout.
San Jose
City of Santa Cruz-owned cars torched, graffiti found saying 'Leave Homeless Alone!'
Several cars belonging to the City of Santa Cruz parks department were destroyed in a fire early this morning, and while the cause of the blaze is unknown and being investigated, there were several spray-painted messages found at the scene.
San Jose
Endless bummers: South Bay beaches rank among most polluted in state
A handful of Bay Area beaches have been given poor water-quality ratings in an annual study by a nonprofit. Five out of the top 10 "Beach Bummers" in California, or most polluted beaches, are in the Bay Area, with three in San Mateo County and one in Santa Cruz.
San Jose
Illegal fireworks, drought, and pent-up demand for fun create perfect storm for Fourth of July in the South Bay
As the Bay Area heads into Fourth of July weekend, communities faces a "perfect storm" of extreme-drought conditions, wildfire danger, pent-up, post-COVID demand for partying, and now, both legal and illegal fireworks being sold in some South Bay municipalities.
San Jose
Owner of San Jose taproom becomes latest craft-beer magnate to resign over sexual harassment allegations
The owner of a popular San Jose taproom has become the most recent high-profile figure in the craft brewery industry to resign amid allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. Ryan Summers, the owner of Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe and Pizza Flora in downtown San Jose, formerly resigned on Sunday, and promised to remove himself from his ownership role.
San Jose
South Bay businesses are ready to open up. They just need workers
As South Bay counties continue to ease COVID restrictions — and as the California economy is on the verge of a full reopening — the Bay Area, and the nation, faces a worker shortage crisis. With the number of available jobs far exceeding the number of available workers, several businesses are struggling to staff reopenings, potentially threatening the speed and vitality of the recovery.
San Jose
San Jose opens vacant senior apartments to the unhoused
On Monday, a handful of unhoused residents in San Jose moved into a vacant senior housing complex. Santa Clara County officials said the Willow Glen apartments represent a stepping stone for homeless residents, who will eventually be placed into permanent housing at other locations as it becomes available.
San Francisco
California is set to rescind mask mandates next month, but Bay Area counties likely to sort out their own new rules
With California less than a month away from its "full-reopening" on June 15, and after the Centers for Disease Control rescinded its mask mandate last week, it's still not clear what a mostly vaccinated, maskless, post-pandemic Bay Area will look like.
San Jose
Santa Clara County will see a nearly 10% water-rate hike as residents asked to voluntarily curb use
On Tuesday, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (or Valley Water) announced a nearly 10% water-rate hike for San Jose Municipal Water users. Set to take effect on July 1, Valley Water said the price increase is in response to California's deepening drought, as well as an effort to fund water infrastructure projects.