Latest News
The Almost Daily Briefing, November 25, 2025
The Almost Daily Briefing
Published news articles from local, regional, and national media on topics of interest to the #LoveLafayette Community
LOCAL NEWS
An Idea Worth Spreading: Inside The Lamorinda Care Collective’s Radical Model Of Community Care - On a quiet street in downtown Lafayette, California, an empty storefront has become something unexpected – a place where need and abundance meet, and where an ordinary retail space has turned into a laboratory for mutual aid. That is the experiment at the heart of the Lamorinda Care Collective, founded by Maya Smith and Julie Marsh. What began as a 12-day holiday pop-up has evolved into a year-round free store powered by neighbors, volunteers, and a simple idea… (Forbes)
SNAP food benefits have resumed, but new work requirements could push millions off assistance in California - Food banks are scrambling to keep up with a continued surge in demand as Bay Area families are still recovering from lapses in federal food benefits triggered by the government shutdown. The need could grow even greater as millions nationwide stand to lose benefits once new work requirements kick in next month. (East Bay Times)
Waymo gets permission to expand robotaxi service to East Bay, North Bay, Sacramento - Waymo has received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to expand its driverless robot-taxi service to the East Bay, North Bay, and Sacramento, the company said Friday. (East Bay Times) Related:
- Waymo moves toward expanding service across Bay Area, Sacramento, SoCal - California DMV approved expanded maps for Waymo to test and deploy its vehicles, including most of the Bay Area (NBC)
- Waymo to expand service into Wine Country in one of California’s largest robotaxi rollouts (San Francisco Chronicle)
Pesticide Companies To Pay $3 Million In Hazardous Waste Dumping Settlement - Clark Pest Control of Stockton, Orkin Services of California, and Crane Pest Control settled complaints that they violated state laws by illegally disposing pesticides and hazardous waste into trash bins that were destined for dozens of landfills […] The investigation, led by the district attorneys of Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, was initiated in 2021. (Patch)
E-Bike Enforcement on East Bay Trails - Police stopped 16 cyclists and impounded two electric bikes not permitted on trails in a joint operation between Walnut Creek and East Bay Regional Park District police departments. The operation in early November focused on educating riders about the classes of e-bikes permitted on trails, including class 1 and 2, Walnut Creek police said in a statement. (Patch)
California is still in the red with another big budget deficit projected for next year -California’s independent Legislative Analyst is warning that the state faces a nearly $18 billion deficit. It is “critical” for lawmakers to rein in spending and increase revenues long term, he said. (CalMatters)
Even a full reservoir wouldn’t have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say - During the Palisades fire in January, fire hydrants lost water pressure and ran dry. A nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an investigation. State officials found that even if the reservoir had been full, the water system still would have been quickly overwhelmed and lost pressure. (L.A. Times)
The Fed will fly blind for a second interest-rate meeting in a row - The Federal Reserve will meet in December equipped with aging inflation and employment data. (Quartz)
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Thanksgiving - City Administrative Offices will be closed on Thursday Nov. 27 and Friday Nov. 28
Lafayette Planning Applications Received
Major Development Projects Map
Lafayette Community Information & Emergency Radio AM 1670
Shop, Dine & Gather in Lafayette
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND CITY PLANNING
Safeway long resisted building housing in S.F. Here’s why it’s now racing to create 2,700 units - From the Fillmore to the Richmond to Bernal Heights, Safeway is now saying it will temporarily close multiple grocery stores to build housing complexes, a 180-degree turnaround from its decades-long position… (San Francisco Chronicle)
Developers have found way to bypass Berkeley’s labor standards for housing construction – Construction unions argue hard-won local worker protections are being illegally dismantled. Developers say they’re following state law aimed at lowering the cost of building housing (Berkeleyside)
Pleasanton To Discuss Major Redevelopment Of BART Station Site Future - The Pleasanton City Council will review a number of proposals for redeveloping the 14-acre Pleasanton side of the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, which currently consists mostly of underused parking lots. The city has used grants from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments to work with consultants to design high-density, transit-oriented proposals that include housing, bike lanes, retail, open space, and more. (Patch)
Panicked over rezoning? SF officials say don’t worry — nothing is getting built anyway - In order to avoid a state smackdown, San Francisco needs to rezone large areas to “create capacity” for tens of thousands of housing units. That doesn’t mean those homes will materialize. As the January deadline to pass the Family Zoning Plan inches closer, city planners have repeatedly reminded tenants worried about displacement of this distinction. (San Francisco Standard)
Rohnert Park's plans for a new downtown take big step forward - Rohnert Park's city council unanimously signed off on an agreement with CenterCal Properties. That's the same developer behind Emeryville's Bay Street, and the company will be tasked with creating Rohnert Park's new downtown at 6400 State Farm Drive. The location is a 28-acre parcel of vacant land next to the SMART train station, along State Farm Drive and Rohnert Park Expressway. (NorCal Public Media) Related:
A new downtown in four years? Rohnert Park approves plan to bring ‘missing heart’ to city (Press Democrat)
School district eyes hundreds of San Jose homes intended for its workers - A South Bay school district intends to develop hundreds of San Jose apartments and offer them at rental rates that district employees can afford. (Mercury News)
Fire survivors can use this new portal to rebuild faster and save money - Builders Alliance, a nonprofit organization formed in response to the fires, on Friday launched a portal that offers survivors a selection of homes, filtered by lot size, price range and other preferences.
‘Herd immunity’: Pushing a coastal community to become fireproof after the Palisades fire - Some Palisades fire survivors in Sunset Mesa are rebuilding with fireproof materials, applying a “herd immunity” concept where protected homes shield vulnerable neighbors from fires. (L.A. Times)
Builders are desperate to sell homes — giving buyers an edge - Softer buyer demand is leading to a pileup of inventory across parts of the country as builders pull out all the stops to sell new homes. (Quartz)
The cities of the future will be built on code, not concrete - Cities aren’t chasing flying pods. They’re racing to wire permits, safety, and services into systems that can keep up with the pressures of modern life. (Quartz)
Trucks could return to this Bay Area highway after a 74-year ban. People aren’t happy - State transportation officials are weighing a controversial idea to allow large trucks on Interstate 580 in Oakland. Many people are not happy about it. (San Francisco Chronicle)
MIXTAPE
Thanksgiving Forecast: What To Expect In The Bay Area
PG&E Encourages Customers To “Slow Down, Verify, Stop The Scam” During The Holiday Season
Earthquake swarm rattles East Bay
As others disappear, this independent theater still thrives in the Bay Area
Berkeley tries to dispel doubts it can keep feds out of its surveillance network
A Stand Against Coal Could Push Oakland Toward Bankruptcy
How a Berkeley fire code almost canceled the annual Telegraph Holiday Street Fair
Novato relaunches grant program for downtown businesses
New Fairfield program focuses on retention, expansion of existing businesses
The cost to drive in I-80’s new toll lanes in Solano County will be dictated by an algorithm
How Alameda County’s stonewalling legal approach has cost taxpayers millions
Hundreds of California and Bay Area Hazardous Sites Could Face Future Flooding
MEANWHILE IN ANOTHER LAFAYETTE
Civic-Con series focusing on advancing Acadiana's 'urban core' - The event consisted of seven panelists all from different agencies. The evening was also about letting the public know about projects which are already in the works.
AND FINALLY…
A rare stratospheric warming event is about to occur - It’s a rare change for November and one that could set the stage for sharp weather swings across the Northern Hemisphere in December.
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Editor’s Note: Happy Thanksgiving! We are truly thankful to each reader of this e-newsletter.We hope it helps you stay informed about topics of importance for our community.
The Almost Daily Briefing (ADB) is an aggregation of links to news articles from local and regional newspapers, magazines, websites, and other news sources. Its purpose is to alert readers to current issues and affairs that may impact Lafayette. The ADB does not promote, favor, disfavor, support, reject, or endorse any position, candidate, campaign, or proposition, and nothing about the ADB, including the selection, presentation, arrangement, or content of the links presented should be construed as an advocacy position.
At times, the ADB features articles from sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. The Contra Costa Library offers access to multiple newspapers online for all cardholders, including the Los Angeles Times (via the ProQuest E-Library digital resource) and the New York Times Digital. Visit the library’s website to learn how to get a library card or access digital services.
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