Catch Me Up: Daily news roundup for Aug. 6, 2025

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This Daily News Roundup for the 24 hours from 4:00 PM Tuesday 8/5 to 4:00 PM Wednesday 8/6 is based on news articles created by Bay City News reporters and editors. We prompted ChatGPT to analyze the articles produced by our staff and to choose 5 stories to highlight. Then we used ElevenLabs and other tools to help us convert the text into audio based on the voice of Leslie Katz, one of our Bay City News editors. This content was verified by a human editor.

Hello, and welcome to Bay City News for Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. Here is a look at some of the top stories from across the region.

Marin City’s historic Golden Gate Village housing complex has secured key funding for the first phase of its multi-year renovation. The nonprofit developer Burbank Housing announced Tuesday that the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee approved a $3.9 million federal tax credit, which will be sold to an investor for $35 million. This funding is part of the $84.8 million cost for Phase One, set to begin in February 2026. This initial phase will upgrade the first 88 of the property’s 296 low-rise units, adding new kitchens, bathrooms, safety features, and energy efficiency improvements. The Golden Gate Village, built in 1961 and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protege Aaron Green, is home to 300 low-income families and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From that development news, we turn to the latest from the Peninsula. Stanford University plans to lay off more than 360 employees due to budget cuts. A university spokesperson confirmed the cuts stem from a $140 million budget reduction for the 2025-26 academic year. This is attributed to decreased federal research support and a new 8% endowment tax signed into law last month by President Donald Trump, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa called the layoffs a “gut punch” to the local economy, stating they are a “direct result” of the federal legislation. Stanford officials say they are offering support and benefits to affected employees.

Shifting our focus south to San Jose. Our partners at San Jose Spotlight report that residents at San Jose’s first multi-story, modular housing site for the homeless are claiming unsafe and unhealthy living conditions. The facility at 1 Branham Lane, which opened in February, has reportedly experienced issues like a sewage smell in water, water damage on walls, and collapsing shower benches leading to injuries. One resident has filed a lawsuit against the city, citing mold contamination and poor ventilation, which she claims have caused her and others to feel sick. While the managing nonprofit, LifeMoves, states their testing found no harmful mold or contaminants, multiple residents continue to report feeling ill.

In other significant regional news, affecting thousands of residents, our partners at CalMatters report that approximately 2,300 “Dreamers” in California are about to lose their health care coverage. These undocumented immigrants, brought to the U.S. as children, were previously allowed to sign up for Covered California health insurance under a Biden administration policy update last year. However, the Trump administration reversed this decision in June, with the change taking effect at the end of August. Covered California’s executive director, Jessica Altman, called the decision “deeply unfair” to “hard-working, tax-paying individuals.” Without marketplace access, DACA recipients must seek coverage through employers or, if eligible, Medi-Cal, leaving self-employed individuals and freelancers in a difficult position.

Staying in San Jose for a more uplifting story, our partners at San Jose Spotlight also report that downtown San Jose is undergoing a significant beautification effort aimed at building civic pride and improving connectivity. City officials and the San Jose Downtown Association unveiled a nearly $800,000 project Monday, focusing on Santa Clara Street between Market and Fourth streets. The makeover includes new murals, repainted building facades, and colorful lighting. This project is the first phase of the “Stitching Districts” initiative, designed to make downtown safer, more walkable, and vibrant for residents and visitors. Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the goal of creating a more pedestrian and bike-friendly environment, especially as San Jose prepares to host major events like Super Bowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Finally, some unique news related to peace and advocacy in the Bay Area. The historic Golden Rule, a 34-foot wooden sailboat that sailed to disrupt nuclear weapons testing in 1958, has returned to the Bay Area. The same boat arrived Tuesday at San Francisco’s Pier 39, embarking on a voyage to promote peace and nuclear nonproliferation. Restored by Veterans for Peace and other volunteers after being abandoned and sinking, the boat’s tour will include port visits across San Francisco Bay. These events will feature guest sailing, public discussions, and opportunities for veterans, activists, and educators to engage on issues of nuclear threats and the costs of war. The Golden Rule has planned stops in San Francisco, Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and San Mateo until Aug. 29.

And those are some of the top stories we’re following. Thank you for joining us for Bay City News.