Samwise SF Bay Area Newsletter
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Police Arrest 20-Year-Old After Molotov Cocktail Attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Home
San Francisco police arrested a 20-year-old man Friday after he allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Russian Hill home shortly before 4 a.m. The incendiary device struck an exterior gate, starting a fire. Officers responding about an hour later found the same suspect, identified as Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama, threatening to burn down OpenAI’s nearby San Francisco headquarters. Moreno-Gama was booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges including attempted murder, arson, criminal threats, and possession of an incendiary device. OpenAI confirmed the attack in a statement, saying no one was hurt.
Sources: SF Standard
A Week After West Berkeley Apartment Blaze, Dozens of Displaced Residents Still Struggling
One week after a fire tore through an apartment building on Ninth Street in West Berkeley on March 31, dozens of displaced residents are still navigating a period of loss and stress, Berkeleyside reported Friday. Many fled in the early morning hours with little more than they could carry. Residents have been relying on support from friends, family, and community organizations while seeking temporary and longer-term housing solutions. City officials are working to connect displaced tenants with available resources. Investigators have yet to release a final determination on the cause of the blaze, which gutted multiple units of the complex.
Sources: Berkeleyside
Rat Infestation Forces North Berkeley Senior Center to Close, Disrupting Programs for Older Adults
The North Berkeley Senior Center has closed unexpectedly after city workers discovered a rat infestation at the facility, Berkeleyside reported Friday. Officials say the building could remain shut for more than a week while crews address the pest problem and carry out necessary maintenance. The center serves Berkeley seniors with programs including fitness classes, meal services, and social gatherings that help combat isolation among older adults. City officials say they are notifying affected participants and redirecting them to other available city resources in the interim. No timeline has been confirmed for the building’s reopening.
Sources: Berkeleyside
North Bay’s SMART Train Boosts Service by 19 Percent as New Coordinated Schedule Takes Effect
North Bay commuters gained significantly more train service this weekend as the Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service plan took effect Sunday, Streetsblog San Francisco reported. SMART rail increased service by 19 percent, adding trains earlier in the morning, more frequent midday departures, and extended evening service on both weekdays and weekends. The last southbound train now departs after 8 p.m. The changes also improve bus-to-rail connections across Marin and Sonoma counties. The service boost comes as regional transit agencies make the case for the Connect Bay Area Act, a regional sales tax measure needed to prevent deeper cuts starting in fiscal year 2028.
Sources: Streetsblog SF
San Francisco Median Home Price Hits Record $2.15 Million as AI Startup Wealth Reshapes Market
San Francisco’s median house price surged to a record $2.15 million in March, an 18 percent jump from a year earlier, as wealth from artificial intelligence startups continues to reshape the city’s real estate market, the SF Standard reported. The boom pushed luxury sales to new highs, with 24 condominiums selling for more than $3 million last month — nearly four times as many as in March 2025. The price spike is intensifying affordability concerns even as the city faces a widening housing shortage. Housing advocates warn that AI-driven demand threatens to displace longtime residents and further strain the region’s already limited supply.
Sources: SF Standard
Oakland’s No-Coal Campaign Revives Decade-Long Fight Over Port Terminal and Air Quality
Oakland’s No-Coal campaign is launching a new chapter in its years-long battle against coal shipments at the Port of Oakland, targeting Bay Area Air Quality Management District regulations, The Oaklandside reported. The renewed push follows the city’s decision to grant OBOT — the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal operator — permits to begin construction at the former Oakland Army Base. Activists say the project would bring coal dust and diesel particulates to West Oakland, a community already burdened by some of the region’s highest asthma rates. Organizers are calling on the air district to adopt stricter dust and emissions standards before construction proceeds.
Sources: The Oaklandside
Oakland Could Restructure Its Entire City Government — But Three Competing Visions Are on the Table
Oakland voters may face a November ballot decision among three distinct proposals to restructure city government, The Oaklandside reported. Mayor Barbara Lee’s working group backs a strong-mayor model that would give the mayor veto power over the budget and direct control of city administration. An independent group, the Oakland Charter Reform Project, is advancing a more moderate hybrid approach. A third option would retain the existing council-manager structure with targeted modifications. The City Council must decide which proposal, if any, to refer to voters before a spring deadline. Supporters say Oakland’s governance failures demand structural change; critics warn of undue power concentration.
Sources: The Oaklandside
Bay Pulse
Giants: Next: at Baltimore Orioles — Sat Apr 11 at 7:15 PM PT, Camden Yards
Warriors: Next: Play-In Game vs. 9-seed — Wed Apr 15 at 7:00 PM PT, TBD
Sharks: Next: vs. Vancouver Canucks — Sat Apr 11 at 7:00 PM PT, SAP Center
49ers: 49ers’ season starts again in September 2026.
Earthquakes: Next: at Sporting Kansas City — Sat Apr 11 at 8:30 PM PT, Children’s Mercy Park
Curated by JD · samwise.agency