By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
On Dec. 3, 2024, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve an updated fee schedule for 2025 that simplifies parking fees and eliminates dog fees, among other changes. The updated fee schedule became effective Jan. 1, 2025. Park District fees are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
The new fee schedule includes a flat $5 parking fee at East Bay Regional Parks, where kiosks are present. The flat fee makes it simpler and easier for the public to visit East Bay Regional Parks. Previously, parking fees ranged from $3 to $6 depending on the specific park. The new fee does not apply to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends and holidays April through Labor Day, which has a flat $10 entrance fee on those peak days that covers parking and other fees.
Dog fees have also been eliminated for 2025. Dogs are required to be on leash in designated areas, including trailheads, parking lots, paved trails, and picnic areas. Dogs must also be on leash around horses and in parks where cattle are present. The dog fee was $2. Visit www.ebparks.org/dogs for more information.
A dog permit is still required to walk more than three dogs at a time. Professional dog walkers are required to obtain a permit regardless of how many dogs they walk at one time. Visit www.ebparks.org/permits for details.
The updated fee schedule for 2025 also includes changes to swimming fees, day camp fees, special event fees, concessionaire fees, parking citation penalties, and vehicle release fees.
East Bay Regional Parks fees help recover, in part, the costs of providing a service. The updated fee schedule streamlines pricing and better reflects the cost of services and impacts on the Park District.
To view the fee schedule for 2025, visit www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/2025-Fee-Schedule.pdf.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More
Includes reckless driving & sideshow enforcement, electric bicycle safety, autonomous vehicles, retail theft, more
SACRAMENTO – As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting the new public safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative session and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Unless otherwise noted, the laws referenced below take effect on January 1, 2025.
Tools to Address Reckless Driving and Sideshows:
Vehicles: Speed Contests (AB 1978, Sanchez)
Assembly Bill 1978 permits storing a vehicle when an individual is arrested but not taken into custody for obstructing or placing a barricade a highway or off-street parking facility for purposes of aiding a speed contest or exhibition of speed.
Vehicles: Impoundment (AB 2186, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2186 permits the arrest and custody of individuals engaged in an exhibition of speed in an off-street parking facility. It also permits the impounding of the individual’s vehicle for not more than 30 days.
Vehicles: Sideshows and Street Takeovers (AB 2807, Villapudua)
Assembly Bill 2807 defines a “sideshow” and a “street takeover” as the same type of event.
Vehicles: Removal and Impoundment (AB 3085, Gipson)
Assembly Bill 3085 provides authority to seize and impound a vehicle with a warrant when the vehicle was used in violation of a speed contest or exhibition of speed (including aiding or abetting). This bill also permits electronic service of the notices of impoundment and storage hearings.
Emergency Alert Information Sharing:
Electronic Toll Collection Systems: Information Sharing: Law Enforcement (AB 2645, Lackey)
Assembly Bill 2645 allows transportation agencies operating electronic toll collection systems to share real-time license plate data with law enforcement during active emergency alerts, such as AMBER, Ebony, or Feather Alerts. This legislation eliminates the need for a search warrant in such situations, enabling quicker responses to locate suspect vehicles linked to emergencies, such as child abductions.
Electric Bicycle Safety:
Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage (SB 1271, Min)
Beginning January 1, 2026, SB 1271 focuses on improving the safety standards for electric bicycles (e-bikes), powered mobility devices, and related lithium-ion batteries. It requires these devices and their components, such as batteries and charging systems, to be tested by accredited laboratories to meet specific safety standards. The bill also mandates labeling these products to show compliance with safety regulations, ensuring consumers are informed. Furthermore, it prohibits distributing, selling, or leasing e-bikes and related equipment unless they meet these standards, aiming to reduce risks like fire hazards and electrical malfunctions. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill would prohibit a person from renting or offering for rental an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery unless it has been tested to the specified safety standard.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1774, Gipson)
Assembly Bill 1774 prohibits modifying an electric bicycle’s speed capability to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. Also, it prohibits selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1778, Connolly)
Assembly Bill 1778 authorizes a local authority within the County of Marin, or the County of Marin in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 2 electric bicycle or requiring a person operating a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a helmet.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 2234, Boerner)
Assembly Bill 2234 establishes the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Program and authorizes a local authority within the County of San Diego, or the County of San Diego in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.
Photo Enforced Speed Enforcement Pilot Program:
The City of Malibu’s Speed Safety System Pilot Program (SB 1297, Allen)
Senate Bill 1297 establishes a five-year Speed Safety System Pilot Program in the City of Malibu. The bill defines a ‘speed safety system’ as a fixed or mobile radar or laser system, or any other electronic device that utilizes automated equipment, to detect a violation of speed laws and obtains a clear photograph of a speeding vehicle’s license plate. The bill establishes mandates regarding policy, enforcement, implementation, public notification, and a system evaluation report.
Clean Air Vehicle Sticker Extension:
Vehicles: High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (AB 2678, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2678 permits vehicles with a Clean Air Vehicle decal to drive in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes until January 1, 2027, if federal law permits.
Autonomous Vehicles:
Vehicle Equipment: Driver Monitoring Defeat Devices (SB 1313, Ashby)
Senate Bill 1313 prohibits using, possessing, or selling devices designed to interfere with driver monitoring systems in vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems or autonomous technology. These systems monitor driver alertness and help ensure safety when automated features are used. Violating this law is classified as an infraction. Exceptions are provided for manufacturers testing new technology, vehicle repairs, and updates compliant with safety standards or modifications for disability accommodations. This law aims to enhance road safety by preventing tampering with critical monitoring systems.
Upon the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adoption of necessary regulations, AB 1777 creates new authority for a law enforcement officer to issue a “notice of autonomous vehicle (AV) noncompliance” to an AV manufacturer for an alleged traffic violation committed by one of their vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2026, AB 1777 establishes additional requirements for how AVs that operate without a human operator in the vehicle interact with first responders, including a requirement for manufacturers to provide a two-way device in the vehicles to communicate with first responders.
Pedestrian Safety Around Buses:
Transit buses: Yield Right-of-Way Sign (AB 1904, Ward)
Assembly Bill 1904 authorizes a transit agency to equip a transit bus with a “yield” right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus. The sign may be a static decal or a flashing light-emitting diode (LED).
License Plate Manipulation:
License Plates: Obstruction or Alteration (AB 2111, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2111 prohibits any alteration of a license plate’s reflective coating to avoid detection from any entity, not just law enforcement.
Property Theft from a Vehicle:
Crimes: Theft from A Vehicle (SB 905, Wiener)
Senate Bill 905 creates the crime of Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle, which addresses unlawfully entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or any felony. It also adds the crime of Automotive Property Theft for Resale, which addresses possessing stolen property obtained from a vehicle with the intent to sell or exchange the property for value. The property’s value must be over $950.00 and not for personal use. The value of property can be combined within two years of separate acts.
Combating Retail Theft:
Crimes: Organized Theft (SB 982, Wahab)
Senate Bill 982 makes the crime of organized retail theft permanent and strengthens measures to address retail crime. The bill eliminates the expiration date for specific provisions targeting organized retail theft, ensuring long-term tools for law enforcement to combat this issue.
Senate Bill 1242 amends Penal Code Section 452 regarding the unlawful setting of fires. It updates penalties and legal language to clarify offenses, including circumstances involving organized retail theft.
Sentencing Enhancements: Sale, Exchange, Or Return of Stolen Property (SB 1416 Newman)
Senate Bill 1416 focuses on combating organized retail theft by increasing penalties for those involved in the resale of stolen goods, often referred to as “fencing.” The bill, until January 1, 2030, creates sentencing enhancements for individuals who sell, exchange, or return stolen property for value, particularly when the property exceeds specific thresholds. Punishment increases from one year to four years based on a property value scale ranging from $50,000 to over $3 million.
Theft: Jurisdiction (AB 1779, Irwin)
Assembly Bill 1779 addresses the issue of organized retail theft by streamlining the prosecution process. Specifically, it allows district attorneys to consolidate charges for theft offenses committed across multiple counties into a single trial, provided all affected county district attorneys agree.
Crimes: Organized Theft (AB 1802, Jones-Sawyer)
Assembly Bill 1802 ensures that the crime of organized retail theft remains permanently defined in state law and extends the CHP’s Property Crimes Task Force indefinitely. This bill eliminates the “sunset” clause that would have otherwise allowed the statute and the task force to expire.
Regional Property Crimes Task Force (AB 1972, Alanis)
Assembly Bill 1972 expands the scope of the CHP’s Regional Property Crimes Task Force to include cargo theft as a property crime for consideration and requires the task force to provide logistical and law enforcement support for railroad police.
This bill emphasizes cargo theft as a specific priority and aims to strengthen resources for law enforcement agencies to combat these issues. As an urgency statute, AB 1972 went into effect immediately upon its passage in August 2024 to address these concerns promptly.
Crimes: Shoplifting (AB 2943, Zbur)
Assembly Bill 2943, also called the “California Retail Theft Reduction Act,” strengthens measures to combat organized retail theft by creating a specific crime for serial retail theft, allowing the aggregation of property value for thefts committed within 90 days to qualify as grand theft. It empowers law enforcement to make arrests using video evidence or sworn statements, shields businesses from lawsuits for reporting crimes and promotes rehabilitation through diversion programs for minor offenders. The bill aims to dismantle theft rings while balancing public safety and criminal justice reforms.
Crimes: Theft: Retail Theft Restraining Orders (AB 3209, Berman)
Assembly Bill 3209 creates a retail crime restraining order. A court may issue a restraining order when sentencing an individual for specific retail theft-related crimes, including vandalism of a retail store and assaulting a retail store employee. The restraining order prohibits the individual from entering or being on the grounds of the establishment and may include parking lots adjacent to and used by the establishment.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Read More
Photos source: Walnut Creek PD
Multi-agency effort
By Walnut Creek Police Department
Walnut Creek PD recently hosted an extensive and successful Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation, partnering with numerous local and federal agencies to safeguard children in our communities. This collaborative effort resulted in 13 arrests, showcasing the strength of teamwork and technology in the fight against child exploitation.
We’re proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to make a difference. Swipe through for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation and its results.
Photos source: Walnut Creek PD
More information regarding specific individuals and their pending charges will be made available to the public once the cases have been reviewed by the CCCDA’s Office.
Participating agencies included Contra Costa District Attorney, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, and Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Moraga, Oakley, Pleasant Hill, Novato, San Jose and San Francisco Police Departments.
Together, we stand united in protecting our most vulnerable.
Read More
Photos source: Concord PD
With assistance by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force
By Concord Police Department
On December 9, 2024, Concord Police responded to a domestic disturbance where a domestic violence incident was confirmed. During a protective sweep of the residence, officers discovered a loaded, illegally modified short-barrel rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
The suspect, who had prior felony convictions, fled the scene. Detectives secured a warrant and worked with federal agencies to track him down. With help from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the suspect was located in another city and taken into custody without incident.
Concord Police remain dedicated to ensuring community safety and working with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and partner agencies to seek justice for victims.
Read More
Bay Bridge Toll Plaza. Photo by Noah-Berger. Source: MTC website.
Last of three voter-approved increases takes effect Jan. 1st; failed in Contra Costa County
BATA board also voted last week to increase tolls to $11.50 by 2030 for bridge maintenance and repairs
By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by $1 next Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. This will be the third of the three $1 toll increases approved by the California Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595 and by voters through Regional Measure 3 (RM3) in June 2018 which passed by 55.07% to 44.93%. The first of these toll hikes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and the second on Jan. 1, 2022. It funds $4.45 billion slate of highway and transit improvements but did not include bridge maintenance and repairs. Regular tolls for two-axle cars and trucks (as well as for motorcycles) at the Antioch, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will rise to $8 from the current $7 on Jan. 1, 2025. Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles also will rise by $1 on Jan. 1, 2025, at all seven of the state-owned toll bridges: to $18 for three axles, $23 for four-axles, $28 for five axles, $33 for six axles, and $38 for combinations with seven or more axles. Regional Measure 3 continues the peak-period toll discount for motorcycles, qualifying carpools and qualifying clean-air vehicles crossing any of the state-owned toll bridges on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The discounted toll will rise to $4 on Jan. 1 from the current $3.50. To qualify for this discount, carpoolers, motorcyclists and drivers of clean-air vehicles must use FasTrak® to pay their tolls electronically and must use a designated carpool lane at each toll plaza. Contra Costa Voters Opposed Ballot Measure According to Ballotpedia, RM3 raised bridge tolls in the Bay Area—excluding tolls for the Golden Gate Bridge—by $3 over six years to fund the Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan, including a $4.5 billion slate of transportation projects. It was on the ballot for voters in the city and county of San Francisco and the following counties: Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma. Voters in two of the counties most affected by the bridge tolls rejected RM3. The vote in Contra Costa County was 44.54% opposed to 55.465 in favor and Solano County voters overwhelmingly opposed it 30.03% to 69.97%. But voters in the other seven counties approved the measure. Alameda County where voters and commuters are also most affected by bridge toll increases passed RM3 by 53.89% to 46.11% The vote margin was closest in Napa County, where voters approved the measure 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent.
Source: Ballotpedia
Senate Bill 595 and Regional Measure 3 also established a 50-cent toll discount for two-axle vehicles crossing more than one of the state-owned toll bridges during weekday commute hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. To be eligible for the toll discount, which is to be applied to the second toll crossing of the day, motorists must pay their tolls electronically with FasTrak®. Carpools, motorcycles and qualifying clean-air vehicles making a second peak-period toll crossing in a single day will qualify for an additional 25-cent discount off the already-discounted carpool toll. New FasTrak® customers can obtain toll tags at Costco warehouse stores and select Walgreens stores around Northern California. A complete list of participating locations — as well as an online enrollment and registration feature — is available on the FasTrak® Web site at bayareafastrak.org. Customers also may enroll in the FasTrak® program by phone at 1-877-229-8655; by calling 511 and asking for “FasTrak” at the first prompt; or in person at the FasTrak® customer service center at 375 Beale Street in San Francisco. FasTrak® can be used in all lanes at all Bay Area toll plazas. Major projects in the Regional Measure 3 expenditure plan include improvements to State Route 37 in the North Bay, freeway interchange improvements in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, the purchase of more new BART cars, extension of the BART system from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, extension of the Caltrain corridor to the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco, expansion of Muni’s transit vehicle fleet, expansion of San Francisco Bay Ferry service and more frequent transbay bus service, an improved connection between northbound U.S. 101 and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County, upgrades to the Dumbarton Bridge corridor, and extension of the SMART rail system to Windsor and Healdsburg in Sonoma County. In Addition to Recently Approved Bridge Toll Hikes Beginning Jan. 1, 2026
The Regional Measure 3 toll hike that takes effect next week is separate from the 50 cents per year toll hikes approved by BATA earlier this month, which will be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the seven state-owned toll bridges. It will increase tolls by 2030 to $11.50 for those who don’t use FasTrak and $10.50 for those who do. BATA this month also approved updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the state-owned bridges, which will similarly go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. (See related article)
BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak® customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Photos courtesy of the CHP
$38,000 stolen merch recovered from 10 communities including Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore
SACRAMENTO – In the final shopping days before Christmas, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducted a successful enforcement operation targeting organized retail crime, promoting safe shopping experiences for communities throughout California.
The collaborative statewide retail theft crackdown on Friday, December 20, just four days after Prop. 36 went into effect increasing penalties, resulted in 117 arrests, the recovery of over $38,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of two illegal firearms, and the recovery of three stolen vehicles. Charges range from petty theft, grand theft, organized retail crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and auto theft.
The daylong operation was conducted in collaboration with the Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore, Hemet, Los Angeles, Glendale, Bakersfield and Woodland Police Departments, and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
“Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated.”
Key Results of the Operation:
- 117 arrests made for organized retail theft and related offenses.
- Recovery of 767 stolen items, valued at $38,290.70, including clothing, shoes, and fragrances.
- Enhanced collaboration among 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 different retail partners to improve in-store security and reporting.
- Increased law enforcement visibility in high-traffic shopping areas, deterring additional crimes.
“The state stands committed to protecting consumers, especially as they go about the final shopping sprint before the holiday season,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “I’m proud of the efforts of CHP and local law enforcement to protect consumers and businesses throughout California.”
As the holiday season winds down, the CHP will continue working with businesses and the community to prevent retail theft year-round. Anyone with information about organized retail theft operations is encouraged to contact the CHP.
Since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 3,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 3,500 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.3 million stolen goods valued at $51.3 million.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Larry Neal, Jr. in 2017. Photo by Pittsburg PD
3rd arrest this year for Larry Neal, Jr. who was also injured and has history of arrests
By Pleasant Hill Police Department
The Pleasant Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured an adult male and a child. Two arrests have been made.
On December 23, 2024, at about 11:49AM, the Pleasant Hill Police received several calls about numerous gunshots in the area of Contra Costa Blvd. and Vivian Drive. Responding officers were quickly able to locate three vehicles that were involved in the incident. The driver of one of the vehicles, Larry Neal, was struck by gunfire in the hand. A 7-year-old child was inside one of the involved vehicles and sustained minor injuries. Both were treated and released from local hospitals.
The investigation shows that this incident began as a custody dispute between the parents of the injured child and was not a random act. The occupants of two of the vehicles exchanged gunfire with one another at close range.
Contra Costa Blvd. was closed to traffic for several hours but has since reopened.
Alexis Janay Sidney (age 38, born June 9, 1986) of Brentwood was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle
Larry Darryl Neal, Jr. (age 27, born Dec. 6, 1997) of Antioch was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and PC 29800(a)(1)- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Both were booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Our agency is still actively investigating the shooting and ask that anyone with information contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department Investigations Division at (925) 288-4630
Case Number: 24-3760
According to NBC Bay Area news report, the two are parents of the child and the gunfire was over a custody dispute.
Neal Has History of Arrests
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, Neal is five-foot, 11-inches tall, 189 pounds and his being held on $400,000 bail.
According to localcrimenews.com, Neal is Black and was arrested twice this year and twice in 2022. On Jan. 24 he was arrested by Richmond PD for multiple gun charges and on Jan. 25 he was arrested by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies also for multiple gun charges, as well as hit-and-run and evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety. On Feb. 18, 2022, Neal was arrested by Antioch PD for gun charges including addict in possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner. He was arrested later that year on July 23 by Dublin CHP for assault against a peace officer or emergency personnel, driving while under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol and possession of an open container while driving.
As previously reported, in 2017 Neal was wanted by police for fatally shooting a 43-year-old Bethel Island man, Robert Hopkins, Jr., near the Baskin-Robbins in Pittsburg. He later turned himself in. During the trial a video was shown and according to an East Bay Times report, “The shooting, both defense and prosecuting attorneys agreed, was the culmination of a brief, spontaneous argument between Hopkins, Neal, and Neal’s then-pregnant girlfriend, that began with a stare-down between the two men. After Hopkins ran toward the couple, Neal fired five shots at him, striking him four times, according to testimony.” Neal’s public defender argued Neal fatally shot the Hopkins while defending his pregnant girlfriend to get the charges reduced but the judge in the case struck it down. However, the jury convicted Neal of manslaughter. Neal appealed the conviction, and it was later reduced to unlawful firearm activity and his sentence was vacated.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 176-pound Sidney is being held in the West County Detention Center on $350,000 bail.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Photos source: Kaiser Permanente.
Among 6 Kaiser Nor Cal hospitals ranked as nation’s Top Hospitals by The Leapfrog Group
By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are among the top hospitals in the nation for providing safe, high-quality patient care, according to the Leapfrog Group’s 2024 Top Hospital award.
The highest-performing hospitals on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey are recognized annually with the prestigious Leapfrog Top Hospital award, considered one of the most elite and competitive honors a hospital can receive. In 2024, only 134 hospitals nationwide, or less than 6% of the nearly 2,400 eligible hospitals, were recognized.
The six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals to receive the award include: Antioch, Manteca, Modesto, San Jose, San Rafael and South San Francisco. The Leapfrog Group also recently recognized 14 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals with an “A” rating for patient safety.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Antioch was recognized as a Top Teaching Hospital.
View this hospital’s full score.
View this hospital’s Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results
“Our hospitals are recognized consistently as among the best in the nation for providing safe, equitable, high-quality patient care, which is a top priority for our care teams and the staff and employees who support them,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Focusing on safety and quality enhances clinical outcomes and supports our patients’ journey toward improved health.”
Only 29 California hospitals received the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s 6 hospitals represent more than 20% that were recognized.
The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is based on excellence in upholding quality standards across several areas of patient care including staffing, hand hygiene, infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and error prevention. Hospitals must have also received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade in the most recent round of scoring to be eligible for the Top Hospital award.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our highly trained clinical teams who provide exceptional quality care with compassion,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente continues to be ranked among the best for providing high-quality care, focusing on the overall health and well-being of those we serve.”
The annual Top Hospital award is given to both teaching and general medical centers. Kaiser Permanente Antioch, San Jose, and South San Francisco are named top teaching hospitals and Kaiser Permanente Manteca, Modesto, and San Rafael are named top general hospitals.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health care benefits. It is an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Photos source: BATA
For $2 billion in maintenance, preservation and operation of Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges.
Contra Costa’s representatives voted in favor of 50-cent annual increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
By Allen D. Payton
After extending the period for public input, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Board of Directors voted 15-0-1 to approve toll increases and other toll policy changes for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls will increase to as much as $11.50 by 2030.
According to BATA spokesman John Goodwin, the vote passed “by all 16 members present save one abstention from a brand-new commissioner, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who represents the cities of Alameda County.”
The board consists of 21 members, with 18 voting members, he shared. Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack, who represents the cities of Contra Costa, and Contra Costa District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents the County, both voted in favor of the toll increases.
A phased toll increase starting in 2026 is proposed to fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion of investment which will be used exclusively for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.
The Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges are structurally sound and in good repair. State law requires BATA — working in partnership with Caltrans — to keep them that way.
The toll increases are separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.
Summary of the 2026 Toll Increase
Toll rates include the last voter-approved Regional Measure 3 (RM 3) toll increase that goes into effect January 1, 2025.
To encourage electronic toll payment with FasTrak® tags, tolls and help recoup the increased costs of collecting tolls via pre-registered license plate accounts or invoices, on Jan. 1, 2027 will also rise by 25 cents for customers who pay with a pre-registered license plate account and on January 1, 2027 will rise by $1 for tolls paid by invoice.
Two-Axle Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Two-Axle Vehicle Toll
The toll rate update includes an increase of 50 cents a year from 2026 through 2030 for two-axle vehicles. This phased-in approach is similar to the Golden Gate Bridge’s recent multi-year update to its toll schedule.
*HOV rate is 50% of two-axle FasTrak rate.
Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll
Tolls for multi-axle vehicles also will rise by 50 cents per axle per year from 2026 through 2030.
Multi-axle differential pricing:
- Invoices: +$1.00 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
- License plate account: + $0.25 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
A Precedent for Tiered Pricing
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has used a tiered pricing schedule at the Golden Gate Bridge since 2014.
Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.
Summary of the Changes to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Policies
BATA is also making changes to HOV policies. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the changes will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. It will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to all bridges except the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas.
BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll (half-price), with a two-person (HOV 2+) occupancy requirement for the discounted tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the new policy will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. The discounted toll rate is available weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.
The policy changes will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. There will be no change at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where volumes of vehicles with three or more occupants are much higher than those at other bridges. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the Bay Bridge will still require a minimum of three occupants.
In addition to establishing region-wide consistency for the carpool toll discount, the policy changes are designed to:
- Improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing “weaving” between lanes.
- Optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the bridges’ transition to open-road tolling.
- Increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools.
Read more about the BATA toll increases, here.
See BATA Board meeting agenda items 24-1571 through 24-1575. Watch meeting video.
Read More
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
On Dec. 3, 2024, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve an updated fee schedule for 2025 that simplifies parking fees and eliminates dog fees, among other changes. The updated fee schedule became effective Jan. 1, 2025. Park District fees are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
The new fee schedule includes a flat $5 parking fee at East Bay Regional Parks, where kiosks are present. The flat fee makes it simpler and easier for the public to visit East Bay Regional Parks. Previously, parking fees ranged from $3 to $6 depending on the specific park. The new fee does not apply to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends and holidays April through Labor Day, which has a flat $10 entrance fee on those peak days that covers parking and other fees.
Dog fees have also been eliminated for 2025. Dogs are required to be on leash in designated areas, including trailheads, parking lots, paved trails, and picnic areas. Dogs must also be on leash around horses and in parks where cattle are present. The dog fee was $2. Visit www.ebparks.org/dogs for more information.
A dog permit is still required to walk more than three dogs at a time. Professional dog walkers are required to obtain a permit regardless of how many dogs they walk at one time. Visit www.ebparks.org/permits for details.
The updated fee schedule for 2025 also includes changes to swimming fees, day camp fees, special event fees, concessionaire fees, parking citation penalties, and vehicle release fees.
East Bay Regional Parks fees help recover, in part, the costs of providing a service. The updated fee schedule streamlines pricing and better reflects the cost of services and impacts on the Park District.
To view the fee schedule for 2025, visit www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/2025-Fee-Schedule.pdf.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More
Includes reckless driving & sideshow enforcement, electric bicycle safety, autonomous vehicles, retail theft, more
SACRAMENTO – As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting the new public safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative session and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Unless otherwise noted, the laws referenced below take effect on January 1, 2025.
Tools to Address Reckless Driving and Sideshows:
Vehicles: Speed Contests (AB 1978, Sanchez)
Assembly Bill 1978 permits storing a vehicle when an individual is arrested but not taken into custody for obstructing or placing a barricade a highway or off-street parking facility for purposes of aiding a speed contest or exhibition of speed.
Vehicles: Impoundment (AB 2186, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2186 permits the arrest and custody of individuals engaged in an exhibition of speed in an off-street parking facility. It also permits the impounding of the individual’s vehicle for not more than 30 days.
Vehicles: Sideshows and Street Takeovers (AB 2807, Villapudua)
Assembly Bill 2807 defines a “sideshow” and a “street takeover” as the same type of event.
Vehicles: Removal and Impoundment (AB 3085, Gipson)
Assembly Bill 3085 provides authority to seize and impound a vehicle with a warrant when the vehicle was used in violation of a speed contest or exhibition of speed (including aiding or abetting). This bill also permits electronic service of the notices of impoundment and storage hearings.
Emergency Alert Information Sharing:
Electronic Toll Collection Systems: Information Sharing: Law Enforcement (AB 2645, Lackey)
Assembly Bill 2645 allows transportation agencies operating electronic toll collection systems to share real-time license plate data with law enforcement during active emergency alerts, such as AMBER, Ebony, or Feather Alerts. This legislation eliminates the need for a search warrant in such situations, enabling quicker responses to locate suspect vehicles linked to emergencies, such as child abductions.
Electric Bicycle Safety:
Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage (SB 1271, Min)
Beginning January 1, 2026, SB 1271 focuses on improving the safety standards for electric bicycles (e-bikes), powered mobility devices, and related lithium-ion batteries. It requires these devices and their components, such as batteries and charging systems, to be tested by accredited laboratories to meet specific safety standards. The bill also mandates labeling these products to show compliance with safety regulations, ensuring consumers are informed. Furthermore, it prohibits distributing, selling, or leasing e-bikes and related equipment unless they meet these standards, aiming to reduce risks like fire hazards and electrical malfunctions. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill would prohibit a person from renting or offering for rental an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery unless it has been tested to the specified safety standard.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1774, Gipson)
Assembly Bill 1774 prohibits modifying an electric bicycle’s speed capability to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. Also, it prohibits selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 1778, Connolly)
Assembly Bill 1778 authorizes a local authority within the County of Marin, or the County of Marin in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 2 electric bicycle or requiring a person operating a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a helmet.
Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (AB 2234, Boerner)
Assembly Bill 2234 establishes the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Program and authorizes a local authority within the County of San Diego, or the County of San Diego in unincorporated areas, to enact an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.
Photo Enforced Speed Enforcement Pilot Program:
The City of Malibu’s Speed Safety System Pilot Program (SB 1297, Allen)
Senate Bill 1297 establishes a five-year Speed Safety System Pilot Program in the City of Malibu. The bill defines a ‘speed safety system’ as a fixed or mobile radar or laser system, or any other electronic device that utilizes automated equipment, to detect a violation of speed laws and obtains a clear photograph of a speeding vehicle’s license plate. The bill establishes mandates regarding policy, enforcement, implementation, public notification, and a system evaluation report.
Clean Air Vehicle Sticker Extension:
Vehicles: High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (AB 2678, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2678 permits vehicles with a Clean Air Vehicle decal to drive in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes until January 1, 2027, if federal law permits.
Autonomous Vehicles:
Vehicle Equipment: Driver Monitoring Defeat Devices (SB 1313, Ashby)
Senate Bill 1313 prohibits using, possessing, or selling devices designed to interfere with driver monitoring systems in vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems or autonomous technology. These systems monitor driver alertness and help ensure safety when automated features are used. Violating this law is classified as an infraction. Exceptions are provided for manufacturers testing new technology, vehicle repairs, and updates compliant with safety standards or modifications for disability accommodations. This law aims to enhance road safety by preventing tampering with critical monitoring systems.
Upon the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adoption of necessary regulations, AB 1777 creates new authority for a law enforcement officer to issue a “notice of autonomous vehicle (AV) noncompliance” to an AV manufacturer for an alleged traffic violation committed by one of their vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2026, AB 1777 establishes additional requirements for how AVs that operate without a human operator in the vehicle interact with first responders, including a requirement for manufacturers to provide a two-way device in the vehicles to communicate with first responders.
Pedestrian Safety Around Buses:
Transit buses: Yield Right-of-Way Sign (AB 1904, Ward)
Assembly Bill 1904 authorizes a transit agency to equip a transit bus with a “yield” right-of-way sign on the left rear of the bus. The sign may be a static decal or a flashing light-emitting diode (LED).
License Plate Manipulation:
License Plates: Obstruction or Alteration (AB 2111, Wallis)
Assembly Bill 2111 prohibits any alteration of a license plate’s reflective coating to avoid detection from any entity, not just law enforcement.
Property Theft from a Vehicle:
Crimes: Theft from A Vehicle (SB 905, Wiener)
Senate Bill 905 creates the crime of Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle, which addresses unlawfully entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or any felony. It also adds the crime of Automotive Property Theft for Resale, which addresses possessing stolen property obtained from a vehicle with the intent to sell or exchange the property for value. The property’s value must be over $950.00 and not for personal use. The value of property can be combined within two years of separate acts.
Combating Retail Theft:
Crimes: Organized Theft (SB 982, Wahab)
Senate Bill 982 makes the crime of organized retail theft permanent and strengthens measures to address retail crime. The bill eliminates the expiration date for specific provisions targeting organized retail theft, ensuring long-term tools for law enforcement to combat this issue.
Senate Bill 1242 amends Penal Code Section 452 regarding the unlawful setting of fires. It updates penalties and legal language to clarify offenses, including circumstances involving organized retail theft.
Sentencing Enhancements: Sale, Exchange, Or Return of Stolen Property (SB 1416 Newman)
Senate Bill 1416 focuses on combating organized retail theft by increasing penalties for those involved in the resale of stolen goods, often referred to as “fencing.” The bill, until January 1, 2030, creates sentencing enhancements for individuals who sell, exchange, or return stolen property for value, particularly when the property exceeds specific thresholds. Punishment increases from one year to four years based on a property value scale ranging from $50,000 to over $3 million.
Theft: Jurisdiction (AB 1779, Irwin)
Assembly Bill 1779 addresses the issue of organized retail theft by streamlining the prosecution process. Specifically, it allows district attorneys to consolidate charges for theft offenses committed across multiple counties into a single trial, provided all affected county district attorneys agree.
Crimes: Organized Theft (AB 1802, Jones-Sawyer)
Assembly Bill 1802 ensures that the crime of organized retail theft remains permanently defined in state law and extends the CHP’s Property Crimes Task Force indefinitely. This bill eliminates the “sunset” clause that would have otherwise allowed the statute and the task force to expire.
Regional Property Crimes Task Force (AB 1972, Alanis)
Assembly Bill 1972 expands the scope of the CHP’s Regional Property Crimes Task Force to include cargo theft as a property crime for consideration and requires the task force to provide logistical and law enforcement support for railroad police.
This bill emphasizes cargo theft as a specific priority and aims to strengthen resources for law enforcement agencies to combat these issues. As an urgency statute, AB 1972 went into effect immediately upon its passage in August 2024 to address these concerns promptly.
Crimes: Shoplifting (AB 2943, Zbur)
Assembly Bill 2943, also called the “California Retail Theft Reduction Act,” strengthens measures to combat organized retail theft by creating a specific crime for serial retail theft, allowing the aggregation of property value for thefts committed within 90 days to qualify as grand theft. It empowers law enforcement to make arrests using video evidence or sworn statements, shields businesses from lawsuits for reporting crimes and promotes rehabilitation through diversion programs for minor offenders. The bill aims to dismantle theft rings while balancing public safety and criminal justice reforms.
Crimes: Theft: Retail Theft Restraining Orders (AB 3209, Berman)
Assembly Bill 3209 creates a retail crime restraining order. A court may issue a restraining order when sentencing an individual for specific retail theft-related crimes, including vandalism of a retail store and assaulting a retail store employee. The restraining order prohibits the individual from entering or being on the grounds of the establishment and may include parking lots adjacent to and used by the establishment.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Read MorePhotos source: Walnut Creek PD
Multi-agency effort
By Walnut Creek Police Department
Walnut Creek PD recently hosted an extensive and successful Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation, partnering with numerous local and federal agencies to safeguard children in our communities. This collaborative effort resulted in 13 arrests, showcasing the strength of teamwork and technology in the fight against child exploitation.
We’re proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to make a difference. Swipe through for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation and its results.
Photos source: Walnut Creek PD
More information regarding specific individuals and their pending charges will be made available to the public once the cases have been reviewed by the CCCDA’s Office.
Participating agencies included Contra Costa District Attorney, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, and Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Moraga, Oakley, Pleasant Hill, Novato, San Jose and San Francisco Police Departments.
Together, we stand united in protecting our most vulnerable.
Read MorePhotos source: Concord PD
With assistance by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force
By Concord Police Department
On December 9, 2024, Concord Police responded to a domestic disturbance where a domestic violence incident was confirmed. During a protective sweep of the residence, officers discovered a loaded, illegally modified short-barrel rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
The suspect, who had prior felony convictions, fled the scene. Detectives secured a warrant and worked with federal agencies to track him down. With help from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the suspect was located in another city and taken into custody without incident.
Concord Police remain dedicated to ensuring community safety and working with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and partner agencies to seek justice for victims.
Read MoreBay Bridge Toll Plaza. Photo by Noah-Berger. Source: MTC website.
Last of three voter-approved increases takes effect Jan. 1st; failed in Contra Costa County
BATA board also voted last week to increase tolls to $11.50 by 2030 for bridge maintenance and repairs
By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by $1 next Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. This will be the third of the three $1 toll increases approved by the California Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595 and by voters through Regional Measure 3 (RM3) in June 2018 which passed by 55.07% to 44.93%. The first of these toll hikes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and the second on Jan. 1, 2022. It funds $4.45 billion slate of highway and transit improvements but did not include bridge maintenance and repairs. Regular tolls for two-axle cars and trucks (as well as for motorcycles) at the Antioch, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will rise to $8 from the current $7 on Jan. 1, 2025. Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles also will rise by $1 on Jan. 1, 2025, at all seven of the state-owned toll bridges: to $18 for three axles, $23 for four-axles, $28 for five axles, $33 for six axles, and $38 for combinations with seven or more axles. Regional Measure 3 continues the peak-period toll discount for motorcycles, qualifying carpools and qualifying clean-air vehicles crossing any of the state-owned toll bridges on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The discounted toll will rise to $4 on Jan. 1 from the current $3.50. To qualify for this discount, carpoolers, motorcyclists and drivers of clean-air vehicles must use FasTrak® to pay their tolls electronically and must use a designated carpool lane at each toll plaza. Contra Costa Voters Opposed Ballot Measure According to Ballotpedia, RM3 raised bridge tolls in the Bay Area—excluding tolls for the Golden Gate Bridge—by $3 over six years to fund the Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan, including a $4.5 billion slate of transportation projects. It was on the ballot for voters in the city and county of San Francisco and the following counties: Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma. Voters in two of the counties most affected by the bridge tolls rejected RM3. The vote in Contra Costa County was 44.54% opposed to 55.465 in favor and Solano County voters overwhelmingly opposed it 30.03% to 69.97%. But voters in the other seven counties approved the measure. Alameda County where voters and commuters are also most affected by bridge toll increases passed RM3 by 53.89% to 46.11% The vote margin was closest in Napa County, where voters approved the measure 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent.
Source: Ballotpedia
Senate Bill 595 and Regional Measure 3 also established a 50-cent toll discount for two-axle vehicles crossing more than one of the state-owned toll bridges during weekday commute hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. To be eligible for the toll discount, which is to be applied to the second toll crossing of the day, motorists must pay their tolls electronically with FasTrak®. Carpools, motorcycles and qualifying clean-air vehicles making a second peak-period toll crossing in a single day will qualify for an additional 25-cent discount off the already-discounted carpool toll. New FasTrak® customers can obtain toll tags at Costco warehouse stores and select Walgreens stores around Northern California. A complete list of participating locations — as well as an online enrollment and registration feature — is available on the FasTrak® Web site at bayareafastrak.org. Customers also may enroll in the FasTrak® program by phone at 1-877-229-8655; by calling 511 and asking for “FasTrak” at the first prompt; or in person at the FasTrak® customer service center at 375 Beale Street in San Francisco. FasTrak® can be used in all lanes at all Bay Area toll plazas. Major projects in the Regional Measure 3 expenditure plan include improvements to State Route 37 in the North Bay, freeway interchange improvements in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, the purchase of more new BART cars, extension of the BART system from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, extension of the Caltrain corridor to the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco, expansion of Muni’s transit vehicle fleet, expansion of San Francisco Bay Ferry service and more frequent transbay bus service, an improved connection between northbound U.S. 101 and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County, upgrades to the Dumbarton Bridge corridor, and extension of the SMART rail system to Windsor and Healdsburg in Sonoma County. In Addition to Recently Approved Bridge Toll Hikes Beginning Jan. 1, 2026
The Regional Measure 3 toll hike that takes effect next week is separate from the 50 cents per year toll hikes approved by BATA earlier this month, which will be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the seven state-owned toll bridges. It will increase tolls by 2030 to $11.50 for those who don’t use FasTrak and $10.50 for those who do. BATA this month also approved updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the state-owned bridges, which will similarly go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. (See related article)
BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak® customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MorePhotos courtesy of the CHP
$38,000 stolen merch recovered from 10 communities including Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore
SACRAMENTO – In the final shopping days before Christmas, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducted a successful enforcement operation targeting organized retail crime, promoting safe shopping experiences for communities throughout California.
The collaborative statewide retail theft crackdown on Friday, December 20, just four days after Prop. 36 went into effect increasing penalties, resulted in 117 arrests, the recovery of over $38,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of two illegal firearms, and the recovery of three stolen vehicles. Charges range from petty theft, grand theft, organized retail crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and auto theft.
The daylong operation was conducted in collaboration with the Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore, Hemet, Los Angeles, Glendale, Bakersfield and Woodland Police Departments, and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
“Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated.”
Key Results of the Operation:
- 117 arrests made for organized retail theft and related offenses.
- Recovery of 767 stolen items, valued at $38,290.70, including clothing, shoes, and fragrances.
- Enhanced collaboration among 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 different retail partners to improve in-store security and reporting.
- Increased law enforcement visibility in high-traffic shopping areas, deterring additional crimes.
“The state stands committed to protecting consumers, especially as they go about the final shopping sprint before the holiday season,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “I’m proud of the efforts of CHP and local law enforcement to protect consumers and businesses throughout California.”
As the holiday season winds down, the CHP will continue working with businesses and the community to prevent retail theft year-round. Anyone with information about organized retail theft operations is encouraged to contact the CHP.
Since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 3,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 3,500 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.3 million stolen goods valued at $51.3 million.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Larry Neal, Jr. in 2017. Photo by Pittsburg PD
3rd arrest this year for Larry Neal, Jr. who was also injured and has history of arrests
By Pleasant Hill Police Department
The Pleasant Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured an adult male and a child. Two arrests have been made.
On December 23, 2024, at about 11:49AM, the Pleasant Hill Police received several calls about numerous gunshots in the area of Contra Costa Blvd. and Vivian Drive. Responding officers were quickly able to locate three vehicles that were involved in the incident. The driver of one of the vehicles, Larry Neal, was struck by gunfire in the hand. A 7-year-old child was inside one of the involved vehicles and sustained minor injuries. Both were treated and released from local hospitals.
The investigation shows that this incident began as a custody dispute between the parents of the injured child and was not a random act. The occupants of two of the vehicles exchanged gunfire with one another at close range.
Contra Costa Blvd. was closed to traffic for several hours but has since reopened.
Alexis Janay Sidney (age 38, born June 9, 1986) of Brentwood was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle
Larry Darryl Neal, Jr. (age 27, born Dec. 6, 1997) of Antioch was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and PC 29800(a)(1)- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Both were booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Our agency is still actively investigating the shooting and ask that anyone with information contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department Investigations Division at (925) 288-4630
Case Number: 24-3760
According to NBC Bay Area news report, the two are parents of the child and the gunfire was over a custody dispute.
Neal Has History of Arrests
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, Neal is five-foot, 11-inches tall, 189 pounds and his being held on $400,000 bail.
According to localcrimenews.com, Neal is Black and was arrested twice this year and twice in 2022. On Jan. 24 he was arrested by Richmond PD for multiple gun charges and on Jan. 25 he was arrested by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies also for multiple gun charges, as well as hit-and-run and evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety. On Feb. 18, 2022, Neal was arrested by Antioch PD for gun charges including addict in possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner. He was arrested later that year on July 23 by Dublin CHP for assault against a peace officer or emergency personnel, driving while under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol and possession of an open container while driving.
As previously reported, in 2017 Neal was wanted by police for fatally shooting a 43-year-old Bethel Island man, Robert Hopkins, Jr., near the Baskin-Robbins in Pittsburg. He later turned himself in. During the trial a video was shown and according to an East Bay Times report, “The shooting, both defense and prosecuting attorneys agreed, was the culmination of a brief, spontaneous argument between Hopkins, Neal, and Neal’s then-pregnant girlfriend, that began with a stare-down between the two men. After Hopkins ran toward the couple, Neal fired five shots at him, striking him four times, according to testimony.” Neal’s public defender argued Neal fatally shot the Hopkins while defending his pregnant girlfriend to get the charges reduced but the judge in the case struck it down. However, the jury convicted Neal of manslaughter. Neal appealed the conviction, and it was later reduced to unlawful firearm activity and his sentence was vacated.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 176-pound Sidney is being held in the West County Detention Center on $350,000 bail.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MorePhotos source: Kaiser Permanente.
Among 6 Kaiser Nor Cal hospitals ranked as nation’s Top Hospitals by The Leapfrog Group
By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are among the top hospitals in the nation for providing safe, high-quality patient care, according to the Leapfrog Group’s 2024 Top Hospital award.
The highest-performing hospitals on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey are recognized annually with the prestigious Leapfrog Top Hospital award, considered one of the most elite and competitive honors a hospital can receive. In 2024, only 134 hospitals nationwide, or less than 6% of the nearly 2,400 eligible hospitals, were recognized.
The six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals to receive the award include: Antioch, Manteca, Modesto, San Jose, San Rafael and South San Francisco. The Leapfrog Group also recently recognized 14 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals with an “A” rating for patient safety.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Antioch was recognized as a Top Teaching Hospital.
View this hospital’s full score.
View this hospital’s Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results
“Our hospitals are recognized consistently as among the best in the nation for providing safe, equitable, high-quality patient care, which is a top priority for our care teams and the staff and employees who support them,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Focusing on safety and quality enhances clinical outcomes and supports our patients’ journey toward improved health.”
Only 29 California hospitals received the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s 6 hospitals represent more than 20% that were recognized.
The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is based on excellence in upholding quality standards across several areas of patient care including staffing, hand hygiene, infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and error prevention. Hospitals must have also received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade in the most recent round of scoring to be eligible for the Top Hospital award.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our highly trained clinical teams who provide exceptional quality care with compassion,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente continues to be ranked among the best for providing high-quality care, focusing on the overall health and well-being of those we serve.”
The annual Top Hospital award is given to both teaching and general medical centers. Kaiser Permanente Antioch, San Jose, and South San Francisco are named top teaching hospitals and Kaiser Permanente Manteca, Modesto, and San Rafael are named top general hospitals.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health care benefits. It is an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MorePhotos source: BATA
For $2 billion in maintenance, preservation and operation of Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges.
Contra Costa’s representatives voted in favor of 50-cent annual increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
By Allen D. Payton
After extending the period for public input, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Board of Directors voted 15-0-1 to approve toll increases and other toll policy changes for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls will increase to as much as $11.50 by 2030.
According to BATA spokesman John Goodwin, the vote passed “by all 16 members present save one abstention from a brand-new commissioner, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who represents the cities of Alameda County.”
The board consists of 21 members, with 18 voting members, he shared. Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack, who represents the cities of Contra Costa, and Contra Costa District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents the County, both voted in favor of the toll increases.
A phased toll increase starting in 2026 is proposed to fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion of investment which will be used exclusively for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.
The Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges are structurally sound and in good repair. State law requires BATA — working in partnership with Caltrans — to keep them that way.
The toll increases are separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.
Summary of the 2026 Toll Increase
Toll rates include the last voter-approved Regional Measure 3 (RM 3) toll increase that goes into effect January 1, 2025.
To encourage electronic toll payment with FasTrak® tags, tolls and help recoup the increased costs of collecting tolls via pre-registered license plate accounts or invoices, on Jan. 1, 2027 will also rise by 25 cents for customers who pay with a pre-registered license plate account and on January 1, 2027 will rise by $1 for tolls paid by invoice.
Two-Axle Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Two-Axle Vehicle Toll
The toll rate update includes an increase of 50 cents a year from 2026 through 2030 for two-axle vehicles. This phased-in approach is similar to the Golden Gate Bridge’s recent multi-year update to its toll schedule.
*HOV rate is 50% of two-axle FasTrak rate.
Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll
Tolls for multi-axle vehicles also will rise by 50 cents per axle per year from 2026 through 2030.
Multi-axle differential pricing:
- Invoices: +$1.00 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
- License plate account: + $0.25 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
A Precedent for Tiered Pricing
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has used a tiered pricing schedule at the Golden Gate Bridge since 2014.
Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.
Summary of the Changes to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Policies
BATA is also making changes to HOV policies. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the changes will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. It will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to all bridges except the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas.
BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll (half-price), with a two-person (HOV 2+) occupancy requirement for the discounted tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the new policy will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. The discounted toll rate is available weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.
The policy changes will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. There will be no change at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where volumes of vehicles with three or more occupants are much higher than those at other bridges. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the Bay Bridge will still require a minimum of three occupants.
In addition to establishing region-wide consistency for the carpool toll discount, the policy changes are designed to:
- Improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing “weaving” between lanes.
- Optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the bridges’ transition to open-road tolling.
- Increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools.
Read more about the BATA toll increases, here.
See BATA Board meeting agenda items 24-1571 through 24-1575. Watch meeting video.
Read More