Samwise SF Bay Area Newsletter
Saturday, April 11, 2026
SF Leaders Call Citywide Ceasefire; Shooting Erupts Hours Later
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, Police Chief Derrick Lew, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto jointly declared a citywide ceasefire on Thursday, April 9, responding to a surge in street violence. The city has recorded 14 homicides in 2026, compared to just four at the same point last year — a 250 percent increase. Officials said many victims have been teenagers and that the violence is largely driven by interpersonal disputes amplified by social media rather than gang territory. Hours after the joint announcement, a teenager was shot with life-threatening injuries near Mission and 18th streets in the Mission District.
Sources: KQED
Sexual Assault Allegations Against Rep. Swalwell Could Upend California Governor’s Race
Rep. Eric Swalwell, an East Bay Democrat who has been polling near the top of the California governor’s race since entering, is facing sexual assault allegations from a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations publicly. The accusation, reported this week, could fundamentally reshape the dynamics of the 2026 Democratic primary, in which Swalwell has positioned himself as a leading progressive contender. Multiple candidates have called for an independent review. The former staffer’s identity has not been confirmed, and no formal legal proceedings have been filed, according to reports. KQED described the development as potentially race-defining.
Sources: KQED
Man Threw Molotov at Sam Altman’s Home, Then Threatened to Burn Down OpenAI
A 20-year-old man was arrested early Friday, April 10, after throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home and then threatening to burn down the company’s Mission Bay headquarters. San Francisco police arrested the suspect outside the OpenAI office building following the threats. His identity has not been released; he is in custody pending charges. OpenAI confirmed the incident in a statement: “Someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters.” Altman was not injured. SFPD is investigating both incidents as connected.
Sources: KQED
AC Transit Faces 31% Service Cuts if November Ballot Measure Fails
AC Transit is projecting a $50 million annual structural deficit beginning next year with no permanent funding fix in place. Without voter approval of the Connect Bay Area ballot measure in November, the agency warns it must cut service to 31 percent below pre-2019 levels — a reduction that would eliminate between 200 and 300 positions. An emergency state loan has bridged funding through early 2027. Transit advocates pressed the AC Transit board on April 8 to reject proposed fare increases and service reductions before exhausting other options. BART separately raised fares by 6 percent on January 1, 2026, adding pressure on Bay Area commuters.
Sources: Streetsblog SF
72,000 California Immigrants Losing CalFresh Benefits Under New Federal Law
Effective April 1, 2026, approximately 72,000 lawfully present immigrants across California — including refugees, asylees, and trafficking survivors — lost eligibility for CalFresh food assistance following changes mandated by H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In Alameda County alone, more than 5,000 residents are affected. Current recipients are being cut off at their next recertification appointment, with the first terminations rolling out this month. KQED reported that affected individuals may still qualify for the California Food Assistance Program, a state-funded alternative. Bay Area food banks are preparing for a significant increase in demand.
Sources: KQED
Oakland Kicks Off Earth Month with Estuary Cleanup and Native Plant Events
Oakland is hosting a month of Earth Day activities anchored by today’s volunteer cleanup of the Oakland-Alameda Estuary at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. The I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary organization is leading the shoreline effort, supported by a NOAA grant and a city agreement running through December 2027 to remove sunken and derelict boats from the waterway. The Port of Oakland is providing refreshments and lunch for volunteers. A larger April 18 celebration will feature native plant installations at Redwood Heights Park and Sobrante Park, weeding along Monterey Boulevard’s redwood corridor, and family activities at parks across the city.
Sources: Oaklandside
Berkeley Unified Ratifies 7% Raise for 700 Classified Employees
The Berkeley Unified School District has ratified a new three-year contract with the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees covering roughly 700 non-credentialed staff, including classroom aides, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and maintenance personnel. The agreement spans July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, and includes a 3 percent retroactive raise for the current school year followed by a 4 percent raise next year. Employees will also receive one-time bonuses of $600 to $1,000. Full family health coverage at 100 percent of the Kaiser premium rate takes effect in 2027. Union members voted 99 percent in favor.
Sources: Berkeleyside
Bay Pulse
Weather: SF 59°F Heavy Rain · Oakland 61°F Rainy · San Jose 63°F Cloudy
BART: Normal service · Bay Bridge: Normal · AQI: 28 — Good (rain clearing particulates)
Giants: Next: @ Baltimore — Sat Apr 11 at 4:15 PM PT, Camden Yards (Webb vs Bassitt, FOX)
Warriors: Next: @ LA Clippers — Sun Apr 12 at 5:30 PM PT, Crypto.com Arena (final regular season game)
Sharks: Next: vs Vancouver — Sat Apr 11 at 7:00 PM PT, SAP Center
Curated by JD · samwise.agency