t >> the mayor responded in the last hour or so. announcing a an overhaul of fire safety inspections. >> she plans to double the size of the city's fire prevention bureau. changes are an effort to clear the backlog of inspections and put an urgent priority on known problem properties. >> east bay times report firefighters had been trying to shut this building down because of violations since february. or since january i should say. sabrina landrith released a statement saying while the cause of the deadly fire at 2551 san b pablo avenue has been ruled an accident be it is clear that overdemand and inadequate needs a remedy. >> my dad, there was a fire that took him --

>> 64-year-old ed anderson died of smoke inhalation, one of four in this residential building who died in a four-alarm fire early monday morning. anderson's son and daughter described their dad as an air force veteran. they were devastated to see sheets hanging from windows where trapped residents tried to escape escape. the cause of the deadly blaze is a lit candle in an apartment. there is a long history of complaints and fires documented, many describing leaks and exposed wires. >> even if you have a burning candle that starts something on fire, if some of the issues were fixed, that we were in dispute about, maybe the devastation wouldn't have been so bad. >> displaced residents say they are having problems getting aid without cell phones and ids. they say they aren't getting the kind of support as the victims of the ghost ship fire. >> you don't see stef curry, you

know, auctioning off a shoe for us. >> many are now living at this red cross shelter waiting for financial help. casandra robertson also died in the fire. the names of the other victims have not yet been released. >> i have two children that will never get know their grandfather. it's something you can't replace. >> in oakland, i'm leslie brinkley, abc 7 news. >> we have posted e-mails just released by the city of oakland about the past problems at this building on our website. when have you a moment go to abc7news.com. >> police in san jose are working to figure out what caused an accident that killed a father right in front of his daughter. witnesses pulled his 10-year-old daughter out of a car after slamming into the big rig at mcavoid street. the truck driver was turning to back into a construction site. the son may have been in the father's eyes. media partners at san jose

mercury news report the victim is a 41-year-old man from san jose. >> gilbert baker, the man who designed the rainbow flag died. fellow activist cleef jones said my dearest friend in the world is gone. gilbert baker gave the world the rainbow flag, gave me 40 years of love and friendship. abc news is live in san francisco with more on his legacy. he created a symbol for an entire movement. >> dan let me tell through is a vigil planned this evening for gilbert baker beginning at 7:00 a.m. at castro and market. you were right, this has been a surprise to so many people. a friend of his called me over the phone to let me know gilbert baker passed today. he died in his sleep in his apartment in new york. and what can i say? what a life. he described the flag as symbol of hope. it was gay activist harvey milk who pushed him to make something

positive for the gay community. he told me he picked the rainbow because it is the one thing that everyone loves to see up in the sky. so he spent days and days dyeing and sewing that flag. it finally went up in june 1978. now his good friend cleve jones was there with him. so was jeff shee hee. his flag is seen all over the world. not only as a symbol of hope but as a symbol of tolerance. >> you know, i told him when i came up with it that he should patent it. he said, no, it was his gift to the world. and lived most of his life in poverty as a result. but i think it is quite a remarkable thing to think of the impact that one person can have with just one idea. >> there were all sort of rin bow symbols for the community. and for many of us, that's part of our coming into the community. and gilbert created that. >> and the gay community here

and in new york is asking that all rainbow flags be lowered. i talked to cleve jones and he said that baker would not like that. he always wanted that flag it fly high and proud. let me add one more thing. i had the chance, opportunity it talk to gilbert baker several times and i just know he would be tickled pink knowing that he's getting all this attention. live in san francisco, abc 7 news. >> tickled pink and every other color too. ed lee offered this statement on baker. at a time of great uncertainty and lgbt community, gilbert's act of sewing together mutt eye colored materials un find that and empowered individuals across the country. helping bring them together under a common cause. the mayor putting gilbert action as and perspectives come

together. can you leave messages on our facebook page. facebook.com/abc7news. >> a triple shooting left a b bystander ded. two men were shot but survived. police arrested a suspect less than a half hour after the shooting p. meeting set for tuesday april 4th at the mini and love ward recreational center. police need your help identifying a jewel thief. they say he broke the front window last friday and took approximately 100 thousand in jewelry. last seen running southbound on waverly place. police describe the suspect as male in his 20s wearing jeans, dark jacket and red and green top. sky 77 was over an unusual hit and run. chp is looking for a driver who

fwot hit bay capital corridor train. it happened this morning right next to san lorenzo high school. can you see pumper of the car left behind. the crash caused train delays up to an hour. >> we know bay area traffic is bad. now it is worse. this is a look at the skyway. you know it is horribly busy like this on friday. bumper to bumper as usual. here is a situation with the maze. and look from emeryville camera. you can see it is busy as well. and in san jose, 101, busy as people head out or back home. a new poll out tonight shows more drivers are now willing to pay more taxes to help solve the bay a area's traffic crisis. chris nguyen has the story. >> you' >> reporter: you've been here before, stuck in traffic with no end in sight. these days it is harder to get around and new poll numbers from

the bay area counsel confirm the frustration. >> they want us to treat it as an emergency because it is frustrating theirs lives. >> about 70% think they need regional transportation even if it means raising taxes. >> honestly, that the biggest problem we are facing around here is infrastructure. >> people reached a point of frustration that kind of reflects a breaking point. >> but others aren't as enthusiastic. saying enough is enough. >> people already pay a lot just to live here. that's a real nightmare. that's not okay for people to take more. >> 60% of drivers say it is harder to get around now than a year ago. despite more people ride sharing than ever before. that's up 35 percentage points from 2014. >> time for serious action we need to invest, be innovative use technology. >> a call for bay area leaders

to work together. >> some big tax increases taking effect. won't have anyone laughing. sales tax going up in self ral cities and counties. approved initiatives raising money for infrastructure and servicees. pleasant hill, san jose, martinez, newark and east palo alto agreed to tax hikes last year. that will cost smoke ears lot more to light up. tax rate is jumping $2. a sandard cost for a pack of cigarette will cost between $8 and $9. abc 7 news was at unified school district headquarters for introduction of vincent matthews named next superintendent as we reported to you recently. he worked for oakland schools and headed san jose schools as well. they want to expand capacity with a high level of student

achievement. >> how do we make that more rigorous? how do we make that as high capacity as possible? how do we make sure it is happening in the highest quality way so students are receiving the education they deserve. >> board is expected to vote on his contract next week. >> you've heard the phrase roller coaster economy. it is about to become more literal. >> how it is about it shape the future of santa clara. >> kids with a serious. >> there is a new warning about best pesticides. >> decreasing winds mean increasing temperatures. i'll he show you how warm when abc news at 5:00 continues.

great america announcing plans to expand today. the theme park has big projects in the works including this new ride. an area similar to downtown disney bp abc 7 news reporters joins us live from santa clara to explain. hi, janine. >> reporter: the park is open tonight to season pass holders. they get to tryout the new roller coaster there that you see behind me. right now the tallest ride in the park is the star tower. city just approved rides to be 30 feet taller than that. great america's ride is the for floorless roller coaster. called the patriot, they had military as their first riders. >> it was quite an experience.

they hit us with fireworks as we went around. >> there is expansion plans and rezoning the park. one of the biggest is an entertainment area in front of the park similar it downtown disney. the public can access it without having to go inside the park. >> we are lacking in entertainment. restaurants, food and beverage. this type of activity for families and p em that live and worth in santa clara. this is a destination point for us. >> planning to ride 20 rides and attractions in the next two decades, rides up to 250 tall. right now the tallest topsssss at 110 feet. >> we will be able to build it heights we could never do before. bring latest technologies, at a marketplace concept and enhance the overall experience at great america. >> another project called city place which includes hotel, retail, restaurants and housing

is across the street from great america. expected to be built in the next four years right around the time new attractions will be ready at the theme park. >> it is going to stimulate our local economy by taxes and filling up hotels. >> a city looking to make its mark by filling up with crowds. >> getting around on b.a.r.t. is going to require some patience next month. b.a.r.t. needs to replace tracks aej oth and other equipment. no train service between 12th street and fruit veil and saturdays and sundays and april 8 and 9. may 13 and 14. and saturday through monday of who moral day june 10 and 11 and july 1 and 2. >> meals on wheels got a shot out from some east bay kids today.

♪ hey, hey, who ho, ho, meals on wheels is the way to go ♪ . >> at civic park as student began taking to the streets have a message about meals on wheels. the program is facing cuts in white house budget proposal. >> meals on wheels isn't just an association that helps with food and hunger of senior citizens but also helps with their isolation and house because they can't get out and get their own food. so they come and they talk to them and get a helping hand and a friend. >> well spoken. student marched through downtown before meeting with the mayor. >> central valley environmental advocacy group is planning on a pesticide that the eba said is unsafe. now the trump administration is going in a different direction. reporter corey james has more on why the epa is reversing the

ban. >> reporter: while many farmers are growing almond and fruits, one has popular chemical use to keep crops alive. scheduled to be pulled off the market at the end of march after obama administration revealed it could harm children's brains and create respiratory problems, the central california asthma collaborative does not understand of the epa is now making down when for nearly 20 years the pesticide has been banned for home use. >> if it is not allowed to be used at home u shouldn't use it right next to schools where thousands of children go to school everyday. >> an almond grower, his farm stopped using the pesticide more than a decade ago because of health concerns. >> it was a dangerous material. it smelled really bad. it was dangerous. >> but citrus farmer tells us having this chemical in the tool

box helped stop resistance issues. >> using the same material over and over again or pest become resistant to it. >> epa releasing a statement saying quote reversing the steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world we are returning to using sound science in decision making rather than predetermined results. however this environmental group those small in size is not taking that message lightly. their hope is to convince governor jerry brown to ban it. >> hello, everyone. it is warmer day today. most of us got up into the 60s and 70s. high clouds passing through the bay area right now. no rain on our radar. still gusty in spots. 35 miles an hour in fairfield. only area a wind advisory remains up is salono county.

gust up to 40 miles an hour may cause downed tree limbs and difficulty driving if you are going out of town. perspective, just lots of blue skies from our camera there looking towards mount debe a low. 61 in san francisco. 70s still. oak lapd san jose. if you are heading to tahoe, weather looks nice. on sunday slight possibility of showers. temperatures low to mid 70s. santa rosa, napa, con cord, here is your hour by hour evening planner. just a beautiful day if you are stepping out for dinner. 8:00 still nice. clear skies. gets still windy in spots for 10:00 hour. starry night cooling down around midnight. can you see the trees blowing around in the wind. looking toward each beach.

winds will ease overnight tonight. sunny and warmer and child temperatures continue into next week. when you look at the hour by hour wind forecast, you will notice it is still breezy. winds come up around 11:00 p.m. gusting to about 30 miles per hour then dive back down again. by tomorrow morning decrease and this trend carries over in the afternoon as winds temperatures will rise. even warmer saturday. when you get going in you have early plans you need a extra layer but for the afternoon pleasant, warmer, breezy only around fairfield. 88 in napa. 82 in sapt rosa. livermore close to 80 degrees. if you're going to the holy

festival in san francisco on sunday, a huge event, it is sold out. lots of sunshine. 6 1 at 11 oblg a.m. it is going to be warm one. 70 degrees. in san francisco. at least not raining because if it is raining that color gets sticky and messy everywhere. here is a look at the accuweather seven-day forecast. >> you can check out temperatures and the rain chances, as thing change around here. >> thanks. >> homemade bread and fun way to walk it off. finney's friday free stuff is next. >> then abc world news with david muir.

>> has isis been testing airport security equipment? and the fire on board a passenger jet. kra os inside the plane coming up. >> the reason of this call is tt inform you the irs is starting lawsuit against you. >> new at 6:00, confusing decision the irs just made tp would made you

. you know that advice when you're stretched out to just breath. researchers at stanford figured out why taking slow deep breaths can calm us down. because slowing down your breathing also slows down your mind. scientists found a cluster of nerves in the brain responsible for controlling breathing. has a direct connection to the arousal center in the brain. so when you breath in slowly your brain's overall activity

level slows down as well. >> well it's been 75 years since the uss hornet left alameda air station to begin the do little raid on tokyo. to mark that event a b-25 will fly over former station tomorrow. look to the skies at 11:35. attack is in retaliation for the attack on pearl harbor. >> april fool's day is tomorrow but you can play pacman around your neighborhood on google maps. the game is complete with ghosts, sound effects and music. >> that's fun. >> yeah. >> getting around the city on city streets is part of finney's free stuff. >> michael is back with that and more. >> we like that. this has been called simple meals. they have different product. this is a chocolate muffin and cake almond nix. chocolate frosting. this stuff is amazing. check it out.

$8 value. you get one of these product. natural baking mixes and crackers combine whole food goodne goodness. great taste and texture. 7 on your side office we all tried the chocolate frosting. we think it is more like a mousse. >> fantastic. sold. >> it is time to walk it off so we've got you handled there too. we've got wild sf walking tours. you will get a free tour that a two-hour whirl wind through the city history with practical advice along the way and explores and has story telling on founding of the city. it is really a fun, fun trip as you can see by taking a look here. >> what do we do to get this -- >> fabulous stuff. .

>> wuch this station. >> go to the finney's friday free stuff page. >> thanks. >> sure. >> there are workouts, then how zuckerberg hits the gym next. >> we want to thank jessica for this picture she calls duck, duck, tug. you may see

all right. coming up tonight on abc 7 news at 6:00, seeking solidarity at albany high school the day after a racist instagram account threw that campus into chaos. >> the rise in mailbox theft. thieves aren't just taking packages and letters, but the entire box as well. >> you have any experience with unity and virtual reality, combine those two things, i know a hundred people who will hire

you today. >> the new frontier off the tech i industry. all coming up at 6:00. >> tonight, facebook owner mark zuckerberg met his match when it comes to working out. >> he posted this workout. on facebook, where else? it showed imdoing pull-ups with his daughter hanging from a backpack. >> he said she yells, more, more. >> zuckerberg called his daughter easily the most demanding trainer i've ever had. let's see if when she is eight or nine if he could still pull her up. >> exactly. world news tonight with david muir is up next. >> from all of us here, we appreciate your time. >> our next newscast is at 6:00. until then a live look outside at the rainbow flag. >> the creator of that flag died

today. more at 6:00. tonight, we have breaking developments as we come on the air. the new terror concern. after we reported on laptops, ipads and other electronic devices being banned from certain flights because of terror fears, tonight, what we've just learned. has isis been testing laptops on airport security equipment? pierre thomas is standing by. also tonight, fired by the white house, now lieutenant general michael flynn is asking for immunity in exchange for his testimony about russia and any possible collusion, after it was flynn himself who said this about immunity. >> when you are given immunity, that means that you probably committed a crime. >> tonight, what president trump is now saying. the fiery highway collapse in the middle of rush hour. 250,000 vehicles a day over that bridge. the fire onboard a passenger jet. and tonight, for the first time,