Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern angered privacy activists late last year when he ignored their sentiment against purchasing a small unmanned aerial drone. San Jose city leaders are grappling with the potential use of drones, as is Berkeley.Bloomberg Businessweek takes a look at the burgeoning issue in the Bay Area at a macro level. From … Continue reading Bay Area’s burgeoning eyes in the sky
Category: domestic drones
2013 Year In Lists: Top 5 East Bay Political News Stories
Replica of a drone sought by the Alameda County Sheriff in Feb. PHOTO/Shane Bond1. Public privacy under siege>>> The potent issue of government infringement on public privacy through technology was barely on the national radar a year ago and non-existent in the Bay Area. Public officials in Oakland did not see it coming and when the citywide … Continue reading 2013 Year In Lists: Top 5 East Bay Political News Stories
2013 Year In Lists: Top 5 East Bay Freshmen Politicians
Rob Bonta PHOTO/Steven Tavares1. Rob Bonta>>> The first-term assemblymember from Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro may have set the mark for how to make an immediate splash in higher office. Bonta made the jump from the Alameda City Council to the Assembly has seamless as possible. In fact, his talents for leadership may have been … Continue reading 2013 Year In Lists: Top 5 East Bay Freshmen Politicians
State Lawmakers Struggle With Domestic Drones And Privacy Safeguards
Drone replica displayed last February in Alameda County. PHOTO/Shane BondASSEMBLY//DRONES/PRIVACY | As two high-profile drone bills sit in Assemby, members of its Public Safety Committee continue to grapple with the rapidly changing growth and privacy implication that stems from the potential use of public and private unmanned aerial systems, better known as drones.At a hearing Tuesday in Sacramento, … Continue reading State Lawmakers Struggle With Domestic Drones And Privacy Safeguards
Swalwell Goes To Israel
Rep. Eric SwalwellCONGRESS 15 | Rep. Eric Swalwell already has his hands full closing the inherent East-West divide in the 15th Congressional District, but he thinks he can help the generations-long dispute between Israel and Palestine.The freshman congressman and 35 other members of Congress, led by Rep. Steny Hoyer, left Sunday for Israel. The contingent … Continue reading Swalwell Goes To Israel
ACLU: Oakland DAC Amounts To Warrantless Surveillance Of Residents
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL//PRIVACY | Oakland’s plan to link disparate video feeds across the city and port into one massive data center is drawing intense criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. In a letter sent Wednesday to the Oakland City Council, the ACLU says the program, known as the Domain Awareness Center … Continue reading ACLU: Oakland DAC Amounts To Warrantless Surveillance Of Residents
After Major National Security Speech, Lee Still Has Concerns Over Use Of Drones
CONGRESS 13//DRONES | While some opponents of the Obama Administration’s use of military drones were placated by the president’s major national security speech Thursday, East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee, however, still has concerns.Preceding the president’s speech Thursday morning, Lee introduced the Drones Accountability Act in Congress, which would require disclosing legal opinions and justifications leading to the … Continue reading After Major National Security Speech, Lee Still Has Concerns Over Use Of Drones
Meet The East Bay’s Newest Progressive Patron Saint
ILLUSTRATION/Steven Tavares PHOTO/Matt SantosSUNDAY COLUMN | Linda Lye, the whip-smart attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union was ecstatic. Walking out the Alameda County Administration Building last Valentine’s Day, Lye had just tweeted her followers, “I heart Richard Valle.” No, she didn’t love Valle for his thick, perpetually well-trimmed white mustache, Lye, like a growing … Continue reading Meet The East Bay’s Newest Progressive Patron Saint
Corbett Shook Swalwell’s Hand; Bill Left Nadia At Home; East Bay Dems Gossiped
Prelude to 2014: Rep. Eric Swalwell and State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett greet each other Mar. 21 at the Eden Area United Democratic Campaign St. Patrick's Day dinner in Hayward. PHOTO/Shane BondALAMEDA COUNTY//DEMOCRATS | The Eden Area United Democratic Campaign St. Patrick's Day dinner served as the backdrop for the first encounter between congressional … Continue reading Corbett Shook Swalwell’s Hand; Bill Left Nadia At Home; East Bay Dems Gossiped
Swalwell Hosts First Town Hall Meetings
PHOTO/Joseph Geha CONGRESS | “It’s good to be home,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell, addressing nearly 100 residents in Hayward Saturday attending his first day of town hall meetings. “I grew up in this area, I know it really well, and I think my most important responsibility is to update you, to inform you, and most importantly … Continue reading Swalwell Hosts First Town Hall Meetings
Throw This Blue Dog A Drone: Swalwell Blows Up His Liberal Cred
THE SUNDAY COLUMN | Eventually young Rep. Eric Swalwell was going to have to face the fact more than half of the 15th Congressional District is far more liberal than his hometown in the Tri Valley. When the issue gun control became the taste of the month among national and local public officials, Swalwell went … Continue reading Throw This Blue Dog A Drone: Swalwell Blows Up His Liberal Cred
Swalwell Supports Obama’s Use Of Drones; Hedges In Alameda County
Model of a Predator drone outside AlamedaCounty Administrative Building, Feb. 14.CONGRESS | Rep. Eric Swalwell told The Citizen recently that he “trusts the president,” and “fully supports him and doesn’t want to take away authority from him,” when it comes to his use of drones but only hopes he “keeps Congress more in the loop.” Swalwell … Continue reading Swalwell Supports Obama’s Use Of Drones; Hedges In Alameda County
A Lack of Trust in Local Goverment Grows Amid Oblivious Elected Officials
PHOTO/Shane Bond ILLUSTRATION/Steven TavaresTHE SUNDAY COLUMN | Oakland Civil Rights Attorney Michael Siegel stood before the Alameda County Board of Supervisors' Public Protection Committee last Valentine’s Day and told them what he thought about a proposal by the Sheriff’s Department to purchase a drone (now, apparently, two, says Sheriff Gregory Ahern). The gray-haired sheriff in … Continue reading A Lack of Trust in Local Goverment Grows Amid Oblivious Elected Officials
Alameda County Hosts First Public Battle Over Use Of Domestic Drones
PHOTO/Shane BondALAMEDA COUNTY BOS//DRONES | After months of contention and concern, the residents of Alameda County were finally afforded a public hearing Thursday afternoon to discuss the potential purchase of aerial drones by the county sheriff's department. Activists, many wearing neon colored stickers stating “No Drones,” joined various organization leaders in Oakland to express their dismay in … Continue reading Alameda County Hosts First Public Battle Over Use Of Domestic Drones
LiveTweet Highlights: #alcomtg
//storify.com/eastbaycitizen/ebc-livetweeting-of-alcomtg-on-domestic-drones-in.js[View the story "EBC LiveTweet of #alcomtg on domestic drones in Alameda County" on Storify]EBC LiveTweet of #alcomtg on domestic drones in Alameda CountyAlameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern's plan to purchase drones to aid in search and rescue and other emergency situations was met with significant opposition, Feb. 14, at a Alameda County Board of … Continue reading LiveTweet Highlights: #alcomtg
EAST BAY CITIZEN 