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East Bay

Berkeley courts finally allowed cleanup of a rat-infested homeless encampment after a 16-month blockade—even as leptospirosis, a tropical disease spread by rat urine, was confirmed on-site. Meanwhile, Richmond voted to reinstate the Flock license plate cameras its police chief disabled last fall over ICE fears, a decision that had sent car thefts soaring 33%—with immigrant shopkeepers among the loudest voices demanding the cameras back.

Homelessness & Drug Crisis Public Safety & Policing April 12, 2026 · 5 min read

A Tropical Disease Hit a Berkeley Homeless Encampment. Courts Blocked Cleanup.

April 12, 2026 · 5 min read

Leptospirosis, common in underdeveloped countries, spread through Berkeley's Harrison encampment—and courts continued to prevent cleanup efforts.

Public Safety & Policing Small Business & Regulation March 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Richmond Just Voted to Reinstate Their Flock Cameras After Crime Spiked

March 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Car thefts jumped 33% after Richmond killed its Flock cameras. The people begging to bring them back were immigrant shopkeepers.

Public Safety & Policing Small Business & Regulation March 06, 2026 · 4 min read

Richmond Cut Its Crime Cameras. Car Thefts Jumped 33%.

March 06, 2026 · 4 min read

The city disabled its license plate readers to virtue signal national issues. Immigrant shopkeepers are paying the price.