Transcripts For KGO ABC7 20240703 : vimarsana.com

Is the tesla factory. Abc seven News Reporter tim johns is live at the warm springs bart station, where people are gathering tonight. Tim, what can you tell us . Yeah. Thats right. Now, these protesters have been out here for about a half hour. Im going to step out of frame here to give you guys at home a look at some of what were seeing here. Now these group of protesters say about 50 to 60. Their numbers have grown over the past 20 or 30 minutes or so. These folks are associated with the a 15 group. Now thats the same group that you guys were just talking about who shut down the Golden Gate Bridge and parts of 880 earlier today that a 15, obviously a symbolism for today being tax day, april the 15th. And the thing thats different about these protests and other ones that we have seen around the bay area in recent months, is these ones say their main focus is shutting down the Global Economy and having an impact on what they say is the u. S. Government and Major Economic players support sort of the israeli, as they call it, a genocide in gaza. Now, these folks are going to be walking down in the next 5 or 10 minutes to the tesla factory. Were only about about a half mile away from the factory. There where they will be continuing their protest. They say tesla is also a company that they want to target. They say that they support all the things going on in gaza and that they want to make their voices heard. Now, i am also going to tell you guys, we did just speak to one of these protesters just moments before we came here to talk to you guys. He told us that they are prepared to be arrested if it does come down to that, that they want the federal government to hear their voices, and they really believe that this is the best way for them to get their voices to be heard. Were going to stay out here and follow these folks down to tesla. But for now, im dion. Im going to send it back to you guys in the studio. All right tim, thank you for that update. Organizers say todays actions are, quote, an economic blockade against palestinian genocide. There protests on the Golden Gate Bridge stopped traffic for hours, sending the morning commute into chaos. Abc seven News Reporter cornell bernard is live at the bridge with more cornell. Hey, dion, you know, many commuters probably wish they had worked from home today. It was certainly a day to remember. As you can see behind me, the bridge is back. Open traffic is flowing. But earlier that was not the case. And many travelers say what happened today actually put their health at risk. We just want to get to home, man. Or work. Everybody just mad. Monday mornings commute turning into a carmageddon nightmare after propalestinian protesters blocked both lanes on the Golden Gate Bridge. The demonstration closing the span for hours and leaving drivers like aung zin frustrated. I think this is like the only way they will listen, but at the same time, i wish there was like a resolution around it. Traffic was backed up for miles on southbound 101 through marin county. The chp turning cars around at alexander avenue in sausalito. Frustration spilling over when a motorist confronted protesters on the bridge. You understand think i care . Youre in the wrong. Some say their health was put at risk by the closure remote. Donnelly was late for surgery. Im supposed to be at ucsf at 930. I left san rafael at 830 and Surgery Department said i have to be there by one or i have to reschedule, and im supposed to have colon surgery. Rachel mckim from larkspur, was hoping to make her medical procedure. Im heading into the city for a medical procedure that involves some stem cells, which are frozen and are now defrosted and waiting for me. I was supposed to have them put in at 9 a. M. This morning, so they have to get in today, so i have to get there. How are you feeling about all of this . Im feeling pretty frustrated. You know what . I believe in the right to protest. And i believe in the right to express your point of view. But i think causing this type of disturbance to thousands and thousands of people isnt the right way to go about it. The chp arresting 26 protesters on the bridge, allowing it to reopen just after 12 p. M. Yeah the chp brought in busses to take those protesters off the bridge and to San Francisco county jail. Were live in San Francisco. Cornell, bernard, abc seven news. Cornell. Ive got to ask you, when there are logistic problems, such as covering a demonstration on a bridge, how do you get to the scene . In this case, there was so much traffic. It was quite a journey. I have to say, for myself and photographer andrew shepherd, who was with me right now, i thought i knew every side street and back road in marin county. Unfortunately others had the very same idea. At one point i jumped out of the van and started walking up. Alexander avenue just to get to the bridge. I passed about ten chp cars. They were also in the backup, so lots of frustration. We finally made it there but it took several hours. Wow, no one can question your dedication. Well done out there to you and your photojournalist partner today, cornell. Thank you. The propalestinian protesters first made their presence known around six this morning on 880 in oakland. The protests took place at two locations first on 880 northbound near fifth avenue, then two hours later at 880 southbound at seventh street. The first site proved to be the most problematic. The protesters chained themselves to 855 gallon drums. Each filled with concrete and rebar, traffic backed up for miles. It took crews several hours to break through that material before police could remove the protesters and take them into custody. We have to use jackhammers and saws to cut to basically break in and cut through those. Thus, the reason it took a while to open up the roadway in all, 12 people were taken into custody at both sites. The southbound lanes were closed for about five hours. The chp finally reopened the northbound lanes around 115 more than seven hours after the protests began. This time lapse video shows traffic starting to move again some six miles away near the coliseum. Now, a live picture of how traffic looks right now. Hey, a lot better. This is 880 now. Protesters did not get onto the bay bridge, but there certainly was a ripple effect. Take a look. The off ramp from eastbound i80 onto southbound 880 was closed because of the protesters. The chp blocked the grand avenue on ramp to westbound i80, increasing the gridlock on nearby surface streets. Drivers stuck at the Golden Gate Bridge streamed abc7 on their phones for news while they waited. We were live on the protests and their impact on traffic for hours. You can live stream us on abc seven news. Com, or make it easier and download the abc seven bay area app. You can also set up the app for push alerts for breaking news like this, so you can avoid getting stuck in traffic like today. Coming up, why does it take so long for cops to clear out these protests , and how can we prevent it from happening again . We found answers to those questions next, and the recount begins today. The process is underway to determine if well really have three candidates advancing from the primary to the general election. In the race for anna eshoos congressional seat, im meteorologist sandhya patel. Temperatures trending higher this week. Ill show you the warmest day. And when changes will arrive. Coming up. And because of todays extensive live coverage of the traffic stopping protest, the view did not air at 10 a. M. Like usual. Todays episode high speed chase from San Francisco to oakland. Sky seven captured video of the white car cruising along the freeway. Police were chasing it after several people were spotted using drugs and throwing trash out the window. Investigators say the vehicle was also involved in a recent carjacking. The occupants eventually ditched the car in oakland and ran off. Police havent said yet if they arrested anyone. Well, these are live pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as interstate 880 in oakland. You can see there traffic is moving well in both of these live shots. Thats a great sign after a pretty terrible morning commute because of those protests. Now, the demonstration snarled traffic and frustrated many commuters. But what will happen to the protesters . And why did it take so long for police to clear the scene . Abc seven News Reporter luz pena spoke to legal experts who explain what the consequences could be, and the response from Law Enforcement. She joins us live from the newsroom. Louis thats right. Dion. Propalestinian protesters shot down the Golden Gate Bridge and interstate 880 in oakland for hours as part of a worldwide economic blockage, calling for a cease fire in gaza. A similar disruption happened last year during apec. Today, 38 people were arrested and for hours the Golden Gate Bridge and interstate 880 were blocked by propalestinian protesters on the bridge, chp reported. Protesters used their vehicles to chain themselves. It was pretty clear on the 880 corridor you saw those those black barrels that had been filled with cement. And were also dealing with individual individuals on the Golden Gate Bridge who are utilizing vehicles as devices for slowing us down. This frustrated driver was caught confronting protesters. You think i care if we allow those individuals to engage in such disruption without any form of accountability, then we can absolutely expect more of the same in the future. San Jose State University professor greg woods categorized todays actions as illegal without the benefit of a license to engage in protest at these particular locations, these individuals are engaging in trespass. Todays demonstrations are a flashback to nearly five months ago, when 80 protesters were arrested on the bay bridge calling for a cease fire in the middle east while President Biden was in San Francisco for the apec summit. The question is, is what is it that we demand from local Law Enforcement and also those districts attorney that are ultimately going to have the responsibility to respond to this type of Mass Movement after the 2023 bay bridge demonstration, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged 80 protesters with five misdemeanors. It remains to be seen whether Brooke Jenkins will use the same tactic in which she charged uh. This large group of people, it was overcharged and it was very unusual that they were all charged together. Recently, District Attorney jenkins agreed to dismiss the criminal case against those 80 protesters. In exchange, the group would need to complete five hours of community service. Their Attorney Says theyre following the agreement. We also asked just to confirm, youre saying that the people who you represent the last time are not the same ones who are on the bridge today . No, not the same ones who are on the bridge part of the global community. During last years protest, ucsf transplant organs were delayed by the bay bridge protest. Today, sf fire said they didnt get any 911 emergency calls, but they were ready. The Fire Department can coordinate with Law Enforcement and possibly get an escort or closed lanes on the Opposing Side of the roadway to reach you, extricate you, safely, move you out of harms way on interstate 880, chp said there were hundreds of protesters, 12 were arrested on the Golden Gate Bridge, chp said. 26 people were arrested and are in custody in the newsroom. Luz pena, abc seven news. All right, luis, looking ahead, what is the next step for the protesters who were arrested today . Well, don, its still too early to know. Were talking about two counties, San Francisco county and Alameda County. So it will be up to Alameda County District Attorney pamela price and San Franciscos District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins. Last year, jenkins charged 80 protesters with several charges, including false imprisonment, refusing to disperse and refusing to comply with a peace officer. Experts believe that could potentially be the case this time around. All right, we shall wait and see what develops. Lose. Many thanks to you, Alameda County District Attorney pamela price appears headed for a recall election this year. This evening, the countys registrar of voters announced there are enough valid signatures on a petition to force a recall election. County supervisors must now choose an election date. The registrar says it received 74,757 valid signatures on the recall petition. The threshold was 73,195. More than 48,000 of the signatures submitted by the group save alameda for everyone, were found to be invalid, and a recount started today in Silicon Valley in the congressional race that ended in a tie. Take a look. Right now, three candidates are moving on to the general election unless the recount finds different results. A recount has been requested due to that tie between evan low and joe simitian. Abc seven News Reporter zach fuentes got a look at the start of the recount process. Recount procedures are underway at the Santa Clara County registrar of voters office. Right here behind us, we have 40 plus pallets of ballots from all the various precincts within Congressional District 16. The district is made up of santa clara and san mateo counties. Former san jose mayor sam liccardo secured a spot on novembers ballot, but second place is tied between assemblyman evan low and Santa Clara County supervisor joe simitian. Two candidates tie exactly for second place. I mean, this has never happened before. Initially, two people requested a recount. The Santa Clara County Registrars Office confirmed, though, that dan stedingk, the person who requested the recount in San Mateo County, withdrew his request. That left jonathan padilla, who requested it in Santa Clara County, according to his linkedin profile. He was a policy and finance director for liccardos 2014 san jose mayoral campaign. He requested a recount on behalf of low lows campaign, said they are not connected with him, insisting padilla is acting on behalf of liccardos campaign. Liccardos team also has not claimed a Current Association with padilla. Its not known how padilla is financing the cost of the recount, but the Registrars Office says he has by ten each morning to pay the days deposit. The cost approximately 16,000 a day. Again, thats an estimate based on counting the ballots only if the requester would like to see additional materials, the and it would incur additional labor. And you know, time for us to pull those things which would increase the cost and the deadline as well. Despite questions from lows campaign about the law regarding recount refunds, Santa Clara County maintains that there is a possibility padilla could be paid back. Lets say if one of the candidates we find wins and the requester is requesting the recount on behalf of that winning candidate, then the requester would then receive their money back. We reached out to San Mateo County to find out where it is in the recount process, and have not heard back. Santa clara county estimates their process to take 1 to 2 weeks to finish in Santa Clara County. Zach fuentes, abc seven news. All right, im ready for warmer weather. How about you . I think not just you, but me and many, many people. Sandhya. Yeah, and you know what . All of you are going to be happy the next couple of days, diana and ama, because we have plenty of sun in the forecast along with that warm up. Let me show you a live picture. People are enjoying the sun right now at pier 39. You can see the sea lions are also soaking it up. Gorgeous view right now as we take a look at your temperature trend for livermore, average high is 69 degrees. Youre going to go above average pretty much right on through the weekend, but its the uptick in temperatures from 76 tomorrow to 81 on wednesday. Youre going to really feel it. Thursday is still going to be warm before those temperatures drop off. High pressure is starting to build in, and as it continues to build, those temperatures will go up and theyre already there coming up today. But you probably werent noticing it too much. Nine degrees warmer in livermore and santa rosa. It was in the 60s and 70s across the bay from san jose. Right now you can see the sun is shining. 66 in san jose, San Francisco 58, oakland. Youre at 62 hayward, not far behind, and Half Moon Bay chilling at 55 degrees from our Oakland Airport camera. You can see just a clear view right now. 64 in santa rosa. It is in the 60s, from napa to concord to livermore,