Watch aggressive state #housing policy backfire. "Of the 19 builder’s-remedy applications submitted to San Jose, 8 seek to produce housing at a density less than what is supported by the zoning. If approved, the city would lose 4,177 new housing units". https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/10/explore-where-san-jose-may-lose-up-to-4177-homes-because-of-builders-remedy/

It's not going well in court for #Hollywood v. #AI. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sarah-silverman-lawsuit-ai-meta-1235669403/

On his way out the door, retiring #Vallejo City Manager directs $1.5 million in #ARPA covid relief money to bonuses for city workers. https://openvallejo.org/2023/11/24/vallejo-to-use-1-5-million-in-covid-relief-for-staff-bonuses/

The UK's national #health care system gives a 330 million dollar contract to US spytech firm #Palantir to build them a database. Many Brits not happy. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/21/patient-privacy-fears-us-spy-tech-firm-palantir-wins-nhs-contract

#Ransomware attack on the UK government releases the "#sex life data" of 10,000 people. https://therecord.media/sex-life-data-uk-government-ransomware-attacks

"In late August, Kuhnle found the city and Liccardo violated state transparency laws by failing to adequately search his private texts and emails for #publicrecords". https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-to-pay-six-figures-after-losing-public-records-lawsuit/

FBI Director admits that the agency often can't meet the standard for probable cause when they back-door search American's communications under #Section702. In other words, the 4th Amendment to the #Constitution shouldn't apply to the FBI. https://www.techdirt.com/2023/11/21/fbi-director-admits-agency-rarely-has-probable-cause-when-it-performs-backdoor-searches-of-nsa-collections/

That's a healthy workplace. "Buma has also been “shunned and attacked” by fellow agents, Horton said. He said that in recent weeks, someone put large plastic rats, three-to-four feet long, next to Buma’s #FBI cubicle". https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/11/fbi-raids-buma-whistleblower-giuliani/

Consumer Reports and IFixIt petition the FTC for enforceable national #right2repair rules following the enactment of Right to Repair in California. https://www.404media.co/consumer-rights-groups-petition-government-to-create-formal-rules-protecting-right-to-repair/

#Wisconsin Supreme Court looks at ending one of the most severe cases of Republican #gerrymandering in the country by focusing on the definition of "contiguous". https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/21/wisconsin-supreme-court-redistricting-lawsuit

On November 28, the #Alameda County Board of Supes will be considering use policies for one of CA's largest arsenals of #military equipment. Please join us in continuing to advocate for a ban on scattershot munitions and to call for #drone use regulations. More info here. https://bit.ly/demilitarizeACSO

Part 4 of Obscured: From Words to Weapons, a limited series #podcast on law enforcement caused #trauma is out. From Kouvenda Media. Have a listen here: https://pod.link/1707379300/episode/734c75b7bd1e155d53150175fc162c61

“This is an epidemic of #silicosis — a completely preventable lung disease — in this industry all for the sake of having a fashionable kitchen #countertop,” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-19/why-california-workers-died-of-a-preventable-disease-silicosis

Human Rights Watch and NYU catastrophically doxxed over 8,000 survivors of #humanrights atrocities in Congo. Unbelievably the information was left unprotected online for almost 4 years, making it impossible to identify who might have seen it.https://theintercept.com/2023/11/17/congo-hrw-nyu-security-data/

Another public health advisory in #Martinez from #refinery activity. #environment https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/11/19/fire-at-marathon-refinery-prompts-public-health-advisory/?

Immediately prior to Columbia University suspending their Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace chapters, rules regarding events and protests on campus were unilaterally and quietly changed. https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2023/11/17/top-administration-revised-policies-cited-in-sjp-and-jvps-suspension-without-university-senate-input-rosberg-confirms/

Paradise survivor: "“PG&E is getting our settlements back from us by raising rates,” she said. “This has to stop.” Yep. #UtilityJustice https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/16/pge-bills-are-going-up-yet-again-to-pay-for-wildfire-protections/?

Contra Costa DA Diana Becton and BAAQMD agency finally announce an enforcement action against the #Martinez refinery that has regularly been shedding petro-chemical ash all over the city. #environment https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/11/16/contra-costa-d-a-announces-joint-civil-enforcement-action-against-martinez-refining-company/?