Natalie Hanson

Benicia High School students hold anti-ICE walkout The protest followed a week of school walkouts all across the nation.

An estimated 400 students from Benicia High School walked out of class on Wednesday afternoon to protest ICE and the Trump Administration.
www.vallejosun.com/benicia-high...

Vallejo commissions advance plan for events center in vacant federal building The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the project while requiring the owner to take steps to control sound and improve accessibility.

Vallejo’s Planning Commission and Architectural Heritage and Landmarks Commission on Thursday approved a plan to transform the vacant downtown U.S. Post Office and Federal Building into a new event center, amid concerns about noise and limited parking.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-comm...

Vallejo’s efforts to finance new police HQ, road repairs hampered by bankruptcy debt The city faces limitations because of loan terms dating back to its 2011 bankruptcy.

The city of Vallejo’s ability to finance future capital improvement projects like $300 million in deferred maintenance on roads and a new police headquarters faces limitations because of loan terms dating back to the city’s 2011 bankruptcy.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejos-eff...

Inside Solano County’s rebuilt Family Justice Center The nonprofit Contra Costa Family Justice Center Alliance took over the center three years ago after reports of mismanagement by the district attorney's office.

Three years ago, the Solano Board of Supervisors voted to take the Family Justice Center away after reports of mismanagement by the DA's office.

Since a Contra Costa nonprofit took over, it's been remodeled into a full walk-in navigation center.
www.vallejosun.com/inside-solan...

Important follow up story by @nhansonreports.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/vall...

Vallejo surveillance board asks for changes to mobile security tower policy The board raised concerns about data sharing with other agencies and facial recognition features.

Vallejo’s Surveillance Advisory Board got a first look at a new policy underway to manage footage collected by new security towers being placed around the city, but raised concerns about how data may be shared and the use of facial recognition technology.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-surv...

Some Vallejo churches work to fill affordable housing gap Maintaining their efforts or even getting the projects off the ground has led to difficulties, in part because of confusion and mixed messages from the city and state regulators.

Some churches have sought to help provide affordable housing either by allowing RVs to park on their property or taking on construction projects under new state legislation.

Mixed messages from the city and state regulators have led to difficulties.
www.vallejosun.com/some-vallejo...

Family of man crushed to death in encampment cleanup sues Vallejo James Edward Oakley II was crushed to death during a Dec. 24, 2024, clean up.

Two children of James Oakley, a homeless man killed during a city of Vallejo clean up operation in 2024, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, claiming that city workers ignored obvious signs of human habitation before gathering materials using heavy equipment.
www.vallejosun.com/family-of-ma...

ACLU reiterates call for investigation into Vallejo city attorney’s office following council action The ACLU alleged that City Attorney Veronica Nebb mishandled allegations of misconduct by officers of the Vallejo Police Department.

The @aclu-norcal.bsky.social reiterated its call for an investigation of the Vallejo City Attorney on Monday following an admission by the an attorney for the city that police kept a secret filing cabinet of officer complaints that weren't brought to court.
www.vallejosun.com/aclu-reitera...

As homeless residents move into long-awaited housing project, Vallejo council unclear on path forward The long-awaited Broadway Project will offer 47 supportive housing units and wraparound services to people who have faced homelessness.

Some homeless Vallejo residents began moving into a long-delayed supportive housing site this week, while Vallejo leaders split over how to proceed with a strategic plan for handling homelessness.
www.vallejosun.com/as-homeless-...

Vallejo greenlights contract for controversial gunshot detection tech The City Council had called for clearer guardrails out of concern for whether Flock’s data would be shared with outside law enforcement agencies.

The Vallejo City Council approved spending $210K to continue using Flock Safety’s gunshot detection technology for another 18 months, despite previous concerns over the company’s sharing data with out of state law enforcement agencies.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-gree...

Lawsuit: Solano deputy ‘thought she was going to die’ when colleague raped her A sheriff's deputy alleges in a lawsuit that fellow Deputy John Robertson raped, assaulted, and harassed her for years, and the sheriff's office retaliated against her for reporting it.

A Solano County Sheriff’s deputy sued the department, claiming that she was repeatedly and violently raped and abused by a senior deputy and faced retaliation for reporting it.
www.vallejosun.com/lawsuit-sola...

Dark and disturbing story by @nhansonreports.bsky.social

The deputy accused of rape had shot and killed a man in Vallejo two months before the violent rapes allegedly began.

His father is the former sheriff of Napa County.
bsky.app/profile/vall...

The Vallejo Sun sues Vallejo over release of police shooting video The First Amendment Coalition is representing the Sun in its lawsuit over the city refusing to release unedited footage from the Aug. 29 shooting.

The Vallejo Sun, represented by the @facoalition.bsky.social, filed a lawsuit against the city of Vallejo on Wednesday over the city’s failure to comply with state transparency laws involving a recent police shooting.
www.vallejosun.com/the-vallejo-...

Nonprofit plans newly affordable homes in South Vallejo The nonprofit Step Up Housing plans to convert the Bay Village Apartments into a partially affordable housing property.

The Vallejo City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan for a developer to issue bonds to convert the Bay Village Apartments in South Vallejo into mostly affordable housing in the coming years.
www.vallejosun.com/nonprofit-pl...

Bambino’s drag brunch lights up downtown Vallejo Owner Ismael Palacio said community support has been overwhelming since it debuted in June.

Vallejo’s drag brunch is a monthly event hosted by Bambino’s that is centered around dance, comedy, and self-expression.

The Halloween show featured costumes from “Hocus Pocus" and a comedic reenactment of “Scream.”
www.vallejosun.com/bambinos-dra...

Vallejo celebra el Día de Muertos pese a temores de redadas Organizers expected a lower turnout in Vallejo this year amid the community’s heightened fear of immigration raids.

Las festividades del Día de Muertos llenó las calles de Vallejo con música, comida y arte latinoamericanos durante el fin de semana, a pesar de los temores constantes de la comunidad ante las redadas federales de inmigración.
www.vallejosun.com/es/vallejo-c...

Vallejo celebrates Día de Muertos despite raid fears Organizers expected a lower turnout in Vallejo this year amid the community’s heightened fear of immigration raids.

The annual tradition of honoring the dead with Día de Muertos festivities filled the streets of Vallejo with Latin American music, food and art over the weekend, despite ongoing community fears of federal immigration raids.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-cele...

Vallejo leaders call for ‘guardrails’ before purchasing gunshot detection tech The city council on Tuesday unanimously rejected a $210,000 contract to use Flock Safety’s Raven gunshot detection technology for 18 months,

The Vallejo City Council balked at approving a contract to purchase controversial gunshot detection technology, flagging concerns about Flock, the company providing the technology, and the privacy of the data it collects.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-lead...

Vallejo council greenlights new police station design despite rising costs The City Council expressed astonishment and frustration at already escalating costs and delays.

The Vallejo City Council approved funding for a proposed design on a new police headquarters building, despite calling the long-awaited plan presented Tuesday a “disaster.”
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-coun...

State supreme court declines to review ruling for Vallejo to release badge bending report "The badge-bending investigation and information about Vallejo officers’ involvement in badge-bending must be released to the public.”

“The thrust of the court of appeal’s opinion is clear: the badge-bending investigation and information about Vallejo officers’ involvement in badge-bending must be released to the public,” said Emi Young of the @aclu-norcal.bsky.social
www.vallejosun.com/state-suprem...

Vallejo considers new city fees amid staffing, economic strains The city may revise fees charged for services performed by the fire, water and planning and development departments.

Vallejo city leaders are considering adjusting or adding new fees for services from several heavily impacted city departments, including the fire, water and planning and development departments.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-cons...

Solano County braces for federal cuts to safety net Thousands of Solano County residents could lose health insurance and face higher thresholds for programs like food stamps.

Thousands of Solano County residents could lose health insurance and face higher thresholds for programs like food stamps under the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last month, according to a report to the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
www.vallejosun.com/solano-count...

Vallejo surveillance board recommends ongoing use of gunshot detection tech The department has been using Flock Safety’s gunshot detection technology for the past year through a beta test.

Vallejo’s Surveillance Advisory Board recommended last week that the City Council approve continuing use of a controversial gunshot detection technology, despite limited evidence of how effective the technology is for crime management and solving cases.
www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-surv...

Sheriff’s deputy union negotiations further delay policing contract for Vallejo The Solano County Board of Supervisors postponed a discussion of the county’s proposed $11.2 million contract with Vallejo.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors delayed a vote for the third time Tuesday on a contentious contract intended for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to provide temporary law enforcement support for the city of Vallejo.
www.vallejosun.com/sheriffs-dep...

PACER and CM/ECF are a Threat to National Security and Must be Urgently Overhauled Why Congress must finally act to urgently and properly fix PACER/CM/ECF.

Well, PACER was hacked again, probably by a nation state: www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Luckily, our blog post from 2021 still holds up. If only we could have known this might happen. free.law/2021/10/05/p...

New by me: A deeper look into the potential crisis facing Vallejo and other California cities’ Housing Authority departments under Trump administration cuts.

Feds give Vallejo rental assistance lifeline but hint at cuts to come While Vallejo’s programs remain funded this year, cities across California fear sweeping cuts to federal housing dollars.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agreed this week to cover a $1 million shortfall to rental assistance programs in Vallejo.

But it also instructed the city not to issue any new housing vouchers and cuts could be on. the horizon.
www.vallejosun.com/feds-give-va...

Vallejo passed a police oversight ordinance with a catch -- the police union had to sign off before the commission could do any work. Nearly three years later, it hasn't done anything. One attorney called it a "poison pill."
bsky.app/profile/nhan...

How Vallejo blocked its police commission Nearly three years after the Vallejo City Council voted to create a police oversight commission, it remains in limbo with no end in sight.

NEW @thevallejosun.bsky.social :

Vallejo has had a police oversight commission for 3 years. Yet somehow it’s never held a public meeting. Former & current commissioners blame the city’s ordinance which lets a meeting process with the police union prevent business. www.vallejosun.com/how-vallejo-...