Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why El Cerrito is backing away from controversial license plate cameras

And on the El Cerrito Patch calendar - The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

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Good morning to you El Cerrito! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in El Cerrito? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.

In today's newsletter:

  • Why El Cerrito is backing away from controversial license plate cameras
  • What led El Cerrito to become first in Contra Costa to drop Flock?

Also on today's calendar: The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Partly sunny and delightful, with a high of 76 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Friday: Fog to sun, temps: high: 71, low: 60.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and cool, with a high of 66 and low of 52 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Judge dismisses constitutional challenge to San Jose license plate readers (eastbaytimes.com) — El Cerrito is among several Bay Area communities that have dropped or sharply limited Flock license plate cameras, even as a judge just upheld San Jose's broad use of similar technology. The ruling highlights a growing regional split, with San Jose defending automated plate readers while civil liberties groups and nearby cities question privacy risks and potential abuse.
   

• Flock Backlash Fuels Broader Debate Over Mass Surveillance (ccpulse.org) — El Cerrito's move to drop Flock license-plate readers is held up as a key win in a growing Bay Area and statewide pushback against mass surveillance technology. Speakers at a San Francisco panel describe how local organizing, including in El Cerrito, is pressuring cities to cancel contracts, question data sharing with law enforcement networks, and consider community-based safety alternatives instead.
   

📸 Around El Cerrito

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Rubix Or "ruby", a cat who went missing in El Cerrito, CA, has been safely reunited with their family after 12 hours, 12 minutes. Message from Owner… (Nextdoor El Cerrito del Norte (Inner))
  • Heads Up!!!
    Check your FasTrack invoice if you use the HOV lane at the Richmond San Rafael toll plaza during commute hours and expect a discounted rate. You may… (Nextdoor El Cerrito Plaza)
  • Taco Bell posted a job opening for Team Member: Food Champion in El Cerrito. Apply here.
  • Albany Unified School District posted a job opening for Culinary Arts Teacher, 0.80 FTE, Temporary in Albany. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near El Cerrito here.

🗞 Nearby News

Richmond

  • Richmond approves police drones and cameras, puts license plate readers on hold (grandviewindependent.com)
  • 3 things to know: Interim city manager arrives; sea level rise meeting; $1M buys new fire engine (richmondside.org)
  • I Love Richmond. To Afford the Life I Want, I Think I Have to Leave (ccpulse.org)

Berkeley

  • Graham Nash - 1979-10-07 - Berkeley, CA (SBD) (blogspot.com)

Alameda

  • Meet Tony Daysog, Your Alameda Mayoral Candidate (patch.com)
  • 4 Rescued, 2 Hurt During Blaze At Alameda Apartment Building (patch.com)

Ok El Cerrito! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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