State regulators are demanding PG&E provide evidence as to why they should not be fined because of the mistakes made during the blackouts at the beginning of October. PG&E could be fined $100,000 a day by the California Public Utilities Commission for its failure to “properly communicate with customers and coordinate with local officials,” according to the commission. The decision on sanctioning will be made on December 3rd.

A large fire broke out on Saturday morning in the Castro District. Two people were injured, with one being taken to the hospital, and eight people were displaced as the four alarm fire broke out at 4:30 in the morning. The cause of the fire is unknown as of this writing.

Drivers on streets that do not have a marked speed limit must not go faster than 20 mph, the SFMTA's Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee voted earlier this week. Their proposal now goes to the Board of Supervisors, who will decide if they want to make it legislation. The current state-wide speed limit is 25 mph. Of the 27 traffic fatalities this year, 17 have been pedestrians.

Large developers are using an obscure law designed for sports centers to fast track large housing developments by avoiding environmental lawsuits. Over 5,000 units are to be built in San Francisco using AB900 to avoid lengthy lawsuits from environmental groups and neighborhood associations. Some, like Assemblyman David Chiu, are questioning why state law allows for fast tracking the environmental review process for stadiums and sports arenas but not for much needed housing projects in the state.

CCSF faces a $13 million projected deficit this year and is proposing cutting hundreds of classes before the spring term starts. The school already cut 863 classes, or 12% of its total class offerings, this year. Supervisor-elect Dean Preston joined students in protesting the proposed cuts.

The Board of Appeals has overturned a decision made by the Planning Department regarding a proposed restaurant in the Sunset. There was confusion over whether Palm City Wines, the restaurant under construction, needed to send out notice to residents within 150 feet of the property or whether it was exempt under the Small Business Attraction Ordinance Program. The board ruled the property didn’t need to send out notice and construction on the new business now continues.

The United Farm Workers have endorsed Senator Kamala Harris ahead of the California Democratic Party Convention in Long Beach. Dolores Huerta, one of the co-founders of the UFW, had previously personally endorsed Harris. The endorsement comes as Harris is polling 4th in California, behind former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. 

Earlier this year, nearly 200 bills were introduced to address California’s growing housing crisis. However, in what one Bay Area legislative aid compared to the “Red Wedding” in Game of Thrones, most of them were nixed. Assemblyman David Chiu was one of the few lawmakers to get housing legislation through, by passing AB 1482, which puts caps of statewide rent increases. However, Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 50 has been delayed until a vote next year.

Former D11 Supervisor John Avalos has pulled papers to challenge current Supervisor Ahsha Safai next year, taking advantage of the provision in the city charter that allows termed out supes to run again after sitting out one term. Avalos, a progressive, says the need for more housing drove him to run again and should he win, Mayor Breed would deal yet again with the ever-dwindling moderate vote on the Board.

On the west side, Board President Norman Yee will be termed out of District 7 next year and so far two candidates have pulled papers for the race -  former reporter Joel Engardio and Karim Salgado. In District 3, Supervisor Peskin is running for reelection as has Spencer Simonsen.

Longtime staffer, and current Housing and Equity Manager for the Planning Department, Miriam Chion is vying for the top job as the Planning Commission considers 16 candidates to replace outgoing Director John Rahaim. Chion threw her hat into the ring after community and tenants rights advocates called for the Commission to hire an “equity champion” to ensure low-income residents and communities of color are considered in the department’s policies on key development projects.

Former Planning Commissioner Rich Hills retired from the commission following Rahaim announcing his retirement in order to run for the position. The Commission is tasked whittling down the list to three candidates to submit to Mayor Breed for consideration, with interviews expected to begin in early December.

With the impeachment proceedings underway in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying the President’s actions amount to bribery in an attempt to simplify the Democrat’s message around the impeachment inquiry.

Pelosi said, “What President Trump has done on the record in terms of acting to advantage a foreign power to help him in his own election, and the obstruction of information about that — the cover-up — makes what (Richard) Nixon did look almost small."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and East Bay Rep. Mark DeSaulnier are joining forces to push for a new bridge across the Bay that would connect highway 238 to 380 for cars and mass transit to alleviate the nightmare commute across the Bay Bridge. This comes as Bay Area leaders are pushing for a November 2020 regional tax measure to generate billions for transit improvements.

Regional transit planners aren’t necessarily thrilled with the idea as they are pushing to expand transit options to encourage people to leave their cars at home.