Ethan Varian

Accountability Reporter for @mercnews/@EastBayTimes | [email protected] | Signal: evarian.62

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

@adampnathan Here's another non-paywalled link: https://t.co/zvttLFWGg3

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered CA agencies to ramp up encampment closures. But data we obtained through a public records request shows sweeps declined after the order:
https://t.co/9d1On3tSvc

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

@adampnathan According to the gov's office, it may well be because there are fewer encampments of state property. (Some areas have reported recent declines in homelessness.) But city officials told me they've struggled to coordinate with Caltrans to close dangerous camps

[Mark Z. Barabak @markzbarabak]

As catastrophic wildfires spur insurance companies to raise homeowner premiums and drop policyholders across California, the industry has blamed climate change for fueling the blazes. Yet insurers continue to invest billions in oil and gas

@ethanvarian

https://t.co/0YxM8TBirZ

[Kate Talerico @k_talerico]

A great story by my colleague @ethanvarian on the early results of Prop 36 — which CA passed with 70% of the vote — so far: https://t.co/NMLwAY1fru

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

At the same time, prosecutors in San Francisco and Alameda County -- two places at the heart of the homelessness crisis -- have mostly refrained from charging drug possession felonies. Neither DA's office would explain why.

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

I requested charging and treatment data from across the Bay Area + CA to see whether Prop 36 is compelling homeless drug offenders into care.

I found the law is off to a slow start, largely due to a lack of treatment options. @mercnews/@EastBayTimes
https://t.co/9pB5zyQ2bN

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

That creates "great incentives for defendants to just plead out for a short sentence,” one county prosecutor explained to me. “Of course, if there were no wait list and robust services, their decisions might be different.”

[Robert Salonga @robertsalonga]

Really important accountability piece by @ethanvarian on the slow uptake of the treatment pillar of Prop. 36
@mercnews

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

I wrote about Adrian Gutierrez, who died on the street in Contra Costa County despite multiple attempts to get him to help.

Could new statewide drug and mental health reforms have saved him? https://t.co/CkJ6qgAcFG

https://t.co/CkJ6qgAcFG

[Mercury News @mercnews]

Fremont council walks back controversial ‘aiding and abetting’ clause in recent camping ban https://t.co/W1znmeIpes

[Mercury News @mercnews]

Does Fremont’s camping ban make it a crime to help homeless people? https://t.co/gpA7NQTGbG

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

Still, Cordell said she stands by her findings in the report, including the possible conflict of interest, Corpus/Aenlle retaliating against staff and using racist/sexist slurs in the workplace.

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

SCOOP: I obtained an email confirming the FBI has asked about a property deal at the center of the San Mateo County sheriff scandal. https://t.co/bW74Eb5wZt

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

But the author of the report, retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, acknowledged to me she made an error about Aellne’s role in the deal.

[Ethan Varian @ethanvarian]

If approved, Fremont's camping ban would appear to be among the very strictest anywhere in CA. Story by @Kyle_Martin35

[Mercury News @mercnews]

New Fremont camping ban could leave homeless residents with no place to go https://t.co/bY2xp2StQe

[Mercury News @mercnews]

After record surge in homelessness, Bay Area counties tackle new count of unhoused populations https://t.co/NSiAIZr3Wl