Phil Matier

From boom to bust. San Francisco Mayor London Breed says the City is now facing a 728 million dollar budget shortfall over the next two years. Phil, a year ago, the mayor released her budget projections and back then it showed a 108 million dollar surplus. What happened? To find out, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart and Pat Thurston spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier. 

The City of Oakland is facing over 200 million dollars in financial shortfalls over the next two years according to a new report by the city and that could cause problems for Mayor-elect Sheng Thao.  For more, KCBS Radio Anchor Eric Thomas speaks with KCBS Insider Phil Matier...

First it was JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. Now some activists are eyeing San Francisco's Embarcadero as the City's next car-free zone. For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkahrt and Pat Thurston spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

The Oakland NAACP wants a recount in the Oakland Mayor's race but the 100-thousand dollar price tag for that might be hard to sell. For more, KCBS' Eric Thomas spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

President Joe Biden has signed legislation giving federal recognition to same-sex and interracial marriages. Governor Gavin Newsom was an early supporter, when as Mayor of San Francisco he decided to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It was a move that nearly backfired.  KCBS Radio news anchors Pat Thurston and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier for more. 

Senator Dianne Feinstein said yesterday that she doesn't plan to step down ahead of the end of her term two years from now and she isn't sure if she's even planning to retire then. This is despite heavy pressure from other members of her party to replace her.  For more, KCBS Radio's Eric Thomas is joined with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

Two San Francisco renters are getting a nice payout to move out of the Pacific Heights apartment. The landlord is buying out their lease for 410,000 dollars, which is the largest buyout out so far this year. How common is this?

Karen Bass made history as the first female mayor of Los Angeles as she was sworn in yesterday and the ceremony included appearances from other women who have broken barriers in California political history, including Vice President Kamala Harris. For more KCBS Radio's Eric Thomas is joined by KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

Kyrsten Sinema announced today that she'll be changing her party designation to Independent, saying that's who she's always been, making us wonder why she would switch and who she is doing it for. For more we're joined on the KCBS Ring Central Newsline by KCBS Insider Phil Matier and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.  

San Francisco building inspectors paid a visit to Twitter headquarters earlier this week, finding beds in two rooms. This comes after someone called the city's 311 service and reported that several offices had apparently been turned into motel rooms for workers to live in. KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkart and Pat Thurston spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier for more on this developing story.

San Jose hit a grim milestone, its 61st traffic death this year. In San Francisco, new data shows slow streets made roadways safer for pedestrians. For more KCBS Radio's Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke to KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

Following a backlash, San Francisco supervisors have reversed plans that would have allowed the police department to equip robots with deadly weapons to take out dangerous suspects. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with KCBS Political Analyst Larry Gerston.

The fast food industry says its collected enough signatures to have voters in the state decide the fate of a recently passed law which would set standards for employee pay, hours and other labor conditions. For more, KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkart and Pat Thurston spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

As we've been reporting, Governor Newsom is trying to keep gas prices from spiking again by threatening oil companies with a plan to penalize excessive profits. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer spoke with KCBS insider Phil Matier.

The San Francisco Police Commission is set to take up a proposal which would stop officers for pulling people over for certain types of traffic offenses. But the debate now is over just which offenses they should be. KCBS Radio news reporter Phil Matier joins KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart with more.   

Bay Area public transit systems are trying to predict how their service could change if enough riders don't come back, and federal funding runs out. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier.

President Biden is looking to reorder the presidential process for Democrats, by bringing an end to Iowa's reign as the party's first nominating contest, and turning instead towards South Carolina. For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

Contractors hired to install a suicide net on the Golden Gate Bridge say the agency in charge of the span is to blame for its installation not only running behind schedule, but also costing more than twice what was estimated.  For more, KCBS Radio's Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Insider Phil Matier. 

There were no answers to be found at yesterday's state hearing on why gas prices jumped so high this fall. Governor Newsom has convened a special session for December 5th to pass a price gouging penalty on oil companies. For more KCBS news anchors Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas are joined by KCBS Insider Phil Matier.  

Oil company executives were a no-show at a hearing yesterday to look into the high price of gas in the state. The hearing comes as the state legislature is set to reconvene for a special session next week. For more, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS isnider Phil Matier.