Joshua D. Picazo

Berkeley, San Francisco

Reporter at EdSource

Reporter at The Almanac

Reporter at El Tecolote

Articles

From Burlingame to Broadway

1 month ago | smdailyjournal.com | Joshua D. Picazo

As the Bobby Darin musical "Just in Time" hits New York City this spring, Broadway will soon get a taste of Bay Area flavor. Leading the charge is Burlingame-based real estate broker Joey Oliva. Before joining his family firm, OMarshall Inc., Oliva spent a decade in New York City’s theater industry. Now, alongside local arts leaders, he is stepping into Broadway production as a co-producer of “Just in Time,” a new musical celebrating Bobby Darin’s life and music.
Redwood City moves to curb displacement as homelessness rises

2 months ago | rwcpulse.com | Joshua D. Picazo

The Redwood City Council unanimously approved updates to its anti-displacement strategy at its Jan. 27 meeting, aiming to protect tenants and preserve affordable housing. “In 2022, the City Council approved the comprehensive ADS policy, which addresses protection and preservation [to protect tenants],” Assistant City Manager Patrick Hesinger said. Since then, housing issues have become more pressing as homelessness and displacement have increased.
Once ‘Deadwood City,’ Redwood City inches closer to a new ferry hub

2 months ago | rwcpulse.com | Joshua D. Picazo

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has added the Redwood City Ferry Terminal and Service Project to Plan Bay Area 2050+, moving it closer to securing federal funding and becoming a reality. The project, which has been in development since a 2021 feasibility study, would establish a ferry route connecting Redwood City to Oakland, San Francisco, and other ports.
How is Laurel Street closure doing in San Carlos?

2 months ago | smdailyjournal.com | Joshua D. Picazo

The permanent closure to cars of the 700 block of Laurel Street in San Carlos was lauded for its pedestrian-friendly design but has sparked mixed reactions from business owners and residents who lament declining business and parking challenges. Launched in June 2020 during COVID-19 restrictions, the move to close a section of Laurel Street to car traffic was praised for helping restaurants with outdoor dining. The city experimented with different closures before making the change permanent.
Burlingame native helps others navigate challenges

Dec 24, 2024 | smdailyjournal.com | Joshua D. Picazo

Burlingame native Kerry Romano Zall turned a departure from corporate America into a movement of “empowerment and connection,” founding Corporate Hippie Connection in 2019 to help people navigate challenges through conscious living and community support. The Corporate Hippie Connection is described as a “positive empowerment movement.”During the COVID-19 pandemic, like-minded people who were suffering “focused their time on positive empowerment,” as Romano Zall said.
Big plans ahead: Redwood City tackles parks, roads, and downtown growth

Dec 20, 2024 | rwcpulse.com | Joshua D. Picazo

During the final City Council meeting of the year, officials discussed adopting an updated list of projects funded by park and transportation impact fees, approving a community engagement plan, and receiving an update on the State Route 84/U.S. 101 Interchange Reimagined project. The council unanimously approved the revised lists of impact fee-funded projects.
Highway project closer to full funding, projected to begin in ‘27

Oct 31, 2024 | rwcpulse.com | Joshua D. Picazo

A three-year construction effort to improve safety received a massive boost as Redwood City’s SR 84/US 101 interchange project was recently awarded millions in new federal funding. According to Redwood City’s fact sheet, the U.S. 101 freeway has experienced 95 collisions at the State Route 84 interchange over a four-year period. On Thursday, Sen. Alex Padilla announced that Caltrans had received over $200 million for two projects, including $105 million for the Redwood City interchange.
High schoolers seek to fill AI education gap

Oct 30, 2024 | smdailyjournal.com | Joshua D. Picazo

When three Bay Area high school students noticed gaps in education in technology and artificial intelligence, they took action. They started Robotics For Change, a group that seeks to teach students in grades 6-12 about those subjects. The program, founded by American High School students Jishnuu Senthil Kumar, Taj Singh and Rohan Bhagra, began in 2022. “We started locally, offering classes at nearby libraries and saw great engagement,” Kumar said.
Local grows pickleball business in San Mateo County

Oct 28, 2024 | smdailyjournal.com | Joshua D. Picazo

Ivan Hsin used to play pickleball in Hillsborough as far back as the 1990s, before the sport exploded across the world. He and his friends fell in love with the sport when he attended Crocker Middle School in Hillsborough and Aragon High School in San Mateo. Hsin was the MVP on Aragon’s tennis team but his love for pickleball never dissipated. Fast-forward three decades, and he now runs EveryDay Social, a company that sells pickleball supplies in Asia and soon in the United States.
Meet the candidates: Redwood City School District

Oct 16, 2024 | rwcpulse.com | Joshua D. Picazo

The Board of Trustees for the Redwood City School District had three seats up for election in November, with one incumbent and a newcomer seeking two seats. The board recently appointed David Li to fill the Area III seat, for which there were no candidates. Trustees serve four-year terms. Area I: Jennifer Ng Kwing King The sole Area I candidate is Jennifer Ng Kwing King, an engineer and parent who is seeking to replace longtime Trustee Alisa Greene MacAvoy, who has served on the board since 2007.