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.
JULY 21, 2021
Cities continue to translate climate commitments into deadlines for transportation, buildings, energy and waste. San Francisco’s ordinance shows local officials setting a 2040 net-zero goal while placing equity inside the implementation plan.
Bay City News Reported:
“San Francisco Sets Faster Climate Targets”
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a set of goals Tuesday to combat climate change that sets new targets to speed up the cutbacks on greenhouse gas emissions within the city.
Mayor London Breed announced the passage Tuesday evening of the ordinance, which she co-sponsored with supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Ahsha Safai.
In her news release, Breed said the city has long been a leader on climate policy.
“Now we must build on these successes and push even further, because our future depends on it,” Breed said. “These new, bold targets put us on track to reduce our emissions more quickly — with the urgency that climate change demands and with social and racial equity at the forefront of our work.”
The ordinance updates the city’s environment code, targeting six areas, according to Breed’s office: energy, transportation, housing, buildings, zero waste and roots.
Two major goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 61 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040 (while allowing for any residual emissions to be sequestered using nature-based solutions).
The ordinance requires the city to prepare a climate action plan by the end of the year, a roadmap for achieving the goals passed Tuesday.
JULY 21, 2016
Replacing aging civic buildings requires governments to balance seismic safety, historic preservation, public access and cost. Contra Costa County’s planning process shows officials considering a new downtown headquarters and possible reuse of nearby facilities.
Bay City News reported:
“Contra Costa Reviews New County Administration Building”
Initial planning is underway for possible replacement of the Martinez building where the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meetings have long been held.
After asking for architects, engineers and other professionals to come forward with qualifications for such a project, supervisors are slated to discuss contracts that evaluate the building’s replacement next month, Supervisor Federal Glover’s office announced today.
Once contracts and an environmental report are reviewed, the county’s staff will start to evaluate sites in downtown Martinez for replacement of the Contra Costa County Administration Building at 651 Pine St., a 12-story building that is more than 60 years old.
Part of the planning process will include an analysis of the nearby jail complex for potential adaptive reuse, according to Glover’s office.
“The county values historic resources and we have shown a commitment to preserve structures when feasible,” Glover said in a statement.
Next to the building being considered for possible replacement, the county’s aging finance building at 625 Court St. – which was built in 1901 – is currently undergoing a $20 million rehabilitation.
The planning process for the changes under consideration will include opportunities for public input.
“The county expects to hear from residents and other stakeholders – including residents, the city and the courts — throughout this,” Glover said in a statement.
JULY 21, 2006
Immigration policy continues to shape Bay Area families, workplaces and civic institutions even when decisions are made in Washington. The Santa Clara speech shows the federal government confronting legalization, border security and the practical limits of mass deportation.
Bay City News reported:
“Attorney General Presses Congress On Immigration Reform”
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told a Santa Clara audience today that there are “no easy answers” when dealing with illegal immigration.
Conservative opponents of President George W. Bush’s plan, which would offer many illegal immigrants the eventual opportunity to become citizens, need to be realistic about the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country, according to Gonzales.
“Reforms must be based in reality. We cannot realistically deport en masse 12 million people who are here illegally,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales stressed that the federal government must secure not only the southern border with Mexico but also the northern border with Canada.
“A porous border is an opportunity for terrorists to enter,” Gonzales said.
Following his speech, Gonzales took written questions from the audience. He said that despite this being an election year, Congress needs to pass immigration reform this year.
Gonzales also defended the Bush administration’s domestic eavesdropping efforts as “vital” to national security. He said he has not fully read Thursday’s decision by San Francisco-based U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker allowing an Electronic Freedom Foundation lawsuit challenging the eavesdropping to proceed, and would not comment on the decision. However, he said an appeal is possible and plans to meet with his deputies to discuss it.
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.