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East Bay

Berkeley courts finally allowed cleanup of a leptospirosis-infected homeless encampment in April 2026—sixteen months after the city first tried to act. Meanwhile, Richmond voted to reinstate its Flock Safety license plate readers after shutting them down over an ICE data-sharing concern that had already been resolved, a decision that cost the city a 33% spike in vehicle thefts.

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 05, 2026 · 4 min read

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

March 05, 2026 · 4 min read

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