Features

Bay Area Briefs

Staff
Tuesday February 05, 2002

Orange pedestrian flags are being stolen 

 

BERKELEY — Thieves seem to be collecting the bright orange flags intended to help protect pedestrians cross dangerous intersections in Berkeley. 

About half of the 1,000 flags that the city of Berkeley bought last month to help drivers see people crossing the street have been stolen. 

Still, city crews have been refilling flag-holding canisters at four busy locations. Reh-Lin Chen, the city traffic engineer who helped set up the flag program, said he hopes to buy 2,000 more flags — at a little more than $1 each — for the program, which will include flags at three other intersections within six months. 

The flags failed to prevent an accident last month — just two days after Berkeley began the program — when Susan T. Wood, with flag in hand, was struck and injured by a Jeep. She escaped major injury. 

 

 

 

 

Man shot to death in  

Richmond 

 

RICHMOND — Police are investigating the killing of a Richmond man, who was shot to death Sunday morning after an argument. 

After responding to reports of gunshots at Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street around 10:30 a.m., police found Jamario Jajuan Washington, 22, suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. 

Washington was transported to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, said Richmond Police Sgt. Enos Johnson. 

Police cordoned off Pennsylvania Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets following the shooting to gather evidence. 

Police said they had no suspects. The police department was considering offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the slaying, Johnson said. 

Johnson would not comment on how many times Washington had been shot or if anyone witnessed the shooting. 

 

 

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Three members of Oakland’s Citizen Police Review Board have resigned amid frustration with long-winded meetings and what they perceive as slow progress to improve the situation. 

Sylvester Grigsby, whose term doesn’t expire until 2003, said the major reason he resigned was the amount of time required of him. His last day will be Feb. 15. 

Grigsby said he hopes the board will develop a training document for potential board members so they will know exactly what the commitments are. 

“I know I came on during the big transition, but I didn’t know what was expected of me. If people have to learn by chance it becomes very frustrating,” Grigsby said. 

Peter Kassel resigned at the Jan. 24 meeting of the police review board, announcing he had “had enough.” He also handed in a resignation letter for Daisy Jin Yan, who was absent. 

More changes are expected by Feb. 15, when the terms of four other board members expire. The mayor has not yet selected replacements, although he has a list of candidates on his desk and will “definitely be appointing people by the Feb. 15 deadline,” said spokeswoman Erica Harrold.