Pepper Spray OK’d To Use In Crowds Despite Its ‘Severe And Long-Lasting’ Health Consequences
A civilian commission had recommended the Berkeley City Council roll back an ordinance that allowed police to use pepper spray in crowds. But council members voted to continue to allow it.
San Francisco Chronicle:
Berkeley OKs Continued Use Of Pepper Spray In Crowds
The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to keep in place a recently passed ordinance that allows police officers to use pepper spray on violent protesters, rejecting a recommendation from a civilian commission to roll back the law for health concerns. The 5-3 vote will allow police to continue to use the spray in crowd situations when targeting individuals who have become violent, but Police Chief Andrew Greenwood said that officers have not had to do so since the ordinance passed. (Ma, 12/19)
In other news from across the state —
Capital Public Radio:
Stockton Food Bank Sees Growing Need This Season
Food banks across the country are preparing to hand out the traditional Christmas dinner for needy families this week. The Stockton Emergency Food Bank hands out meals to 250 people each day, five days a week. Overall, that's around 60,000 a year. (Ibarra, 12/19)
KQED:
As Marijuana Industry Grows, Workers Begin To Unionize
On Jan. 1, adults in California will be able to walk into a shop like Hugs and buy marijuana products for recreational use, a development that is going to cause the industry to boom. As investors and owners get ready to cash in, an effort is underway to unionize marijuana workers like [Brittany] Dyke. (Harnett, 12/19)