Bay Area

Repair Plans for Damaged McNears Pier Move Forward with Board of Supervisors Vote

Preparations for emergency repairs to the McNears Beach Fishing Pier in San Rafael were approved Tuesday by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, about three months after a concrete vessel came unmoored and smashed into the pier, causing structural damage.

Published

3 years ago

June 24, 2023

Oakland Post

The end of the pier at McNears Beach Park was closed following the March 21 storm damage because of concerns the pier might collapse, but people have been ignoring fencing and signage and passing underneath in kayaks and on the beach at low tide, according to Chris Chamberlain, a Marin County Parks representative.

By Thomas Hughes
Bay City News

“We’re concerned about their safety,” Chamberlain told the board.

That added urgency for the Parks department, which requested up to $1.2 million from the board.

The unanimous vote Tuesday allows the director to move forward with putting the project out for competitive bids.

Assessments made by the engineering firm Liftech Consultants Inc. determined the deck of the pier is about 4 inches lower than before the impact and is supported by remaining, damaged concrete piles. Damage was sustained to a critical concrete pile and joint at the pier head, where the vessel collided. Curbs were damaged, some railings were ruined, and a water line was broken.

But most concerning is the overall structural integrity of the pier, which Liftech’s assessment said was at risk of partial or total collapse.

The damage “poses an imminent risk to property, human life, and the environment,” the assessment said.

The 40-foot vessel came unmoored during a severe storm. It broke apart upon impact and parts of the boat sank. Submerged wreckage is leaning against another pile and needs to be cleared to determine if further work will be needed.

The situation is even more precarious because of seismic blasts from nearby Dutra San Rafael Rock Quarry that can be felt around the pier, according to the Parks Department report.

Usually, the vessel’s owner would be liable for such repair costs, but the owner did not have insurance, Chamberlain said, in response to a question from Supervisor Eric Lucan.

Permits from regional, state and federal regulators are also needed before construction can begin. Once the work starts, repairs are expected to take 83 days, according to the Parks Department.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

5 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.