How has life in the Bay Area changed over the last 20 years? These stories straight from our Bay City News archives capture news of the day from 5, 10, and 20 years ago – as originally published at the time. Explore these history snapshots and ponder how today’s news compares to that of years past.
JUNE 5, 2021
San Francisco City Hall prepared to reopen to the public after 15 months of pandemic closure. The reopening captures a broader civic question that remains current as governments balance digital access, in-person services and public-health safeguards.
Bay City News Reported:
“San Francisco City Hall Reopens After Pandemic Closure”
San Francisco City Hall will open to the public on Monday for the first time in 15 months, and most offices will be open for full service, officials said on Saturday. “Reopening City Hall is not only symbolic,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “[It] represents expanded access to services for those who have had a hard time engaging by phone or through the internet. As we take this next step, please remember to continue taking precautions. Let’s keep our masks on and maintain our social distance.”
Indeed, visitors will be required to wear face coverings and stay 6 feet apart in order to enter the building, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Public restrooms will be open, hand sanitizer will be available, and City Hall workers must undergo a health screening before reporting to work. Entrances on both Goodlett and Grove streets will be open. The Van Ness steps and McAllister Street entrances will remain closed. Printed information, posters and other material related to COVID-19 will be available in the South Light Court. Details on reopening schedules for each city department are available by calling 311.
JUNE 5, 2016
San Mateo County’s transportation authority approved a budget of more than $102 million for congestion relief, roadway projects, shuttles, Caltrain and paratransit. The spending plan reflects the Peninsula’s durable challenge of connecting growth, transit operations and mobility for residents who do not drive.
Bay City News reported:
“San Mateo County Approves Transportation Budget“
The board of directors of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Thursday approved a $102.5 million budget for the next fiscal year, which begins next month. The budget consists of $30.7 million for congestion relief on San Mateo County highways, $18.1 million for roadway projects and $10.5 million for county shuttle programs. An allocation of $30.3 million will help pay for street improvements, Caltrain operations and paratransit transportation.
The board consists of seven members from cities in the county, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the San Mateo County Transit District. The transportation authority was created to administer Measure A, a one-half cent sales tax aimed at improving transportation and infrastructure in the county.
JUNE 5, 2006
Federal election observers were assigned to Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to monitor language-access compliance under voting-rights law. The deployment remains relevant as election officials continue to defend both ballot access and public confidence in local vote administration.
Bay City News reported:
“Federal Observers Assigned To Bay Area Polls“
The U.S. Justice Department announced today that it will send federal observers to monitor polling place activities in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in Tuesday’s primary election. Department spokesman Eric Holland said the purpose of the monitoring is to assess compliance with a section of the U.S. Voting Rights Act that bars discrimination against citizens who are members of minority language groups.
The law requires that citizens in groups with a certain share of the population be given ballots, election materials and assistance in one or more minority languages. Holland said the requirement applies for Spanish- and Chinese-speaking groups in Alameda and San Mateo counties and for Spanish-, Chinese-, Filipino- and Vietnamese-speaking groups in Santa Clara County. The spokesman said he couldn’t give any details about when or where the observers will be present.
The three Bay area counties are among a total of 18 counties nationwide, in California, Alabama, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, that will be monitored on Tuesday for compliance with various provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
Editor’s Note: All the reporting, writing, and editing of this content was done by human journalists at the time of initial publication. AI tools were used to surface these stories from our internal Bay City News archives and provide the introductory context.