The Bay

Crisis pregnancy centers, or anti-abortion centers, are designed to look like community health clinics. But the vast majority of them don’t have a medical license, and all of them have an explicit goal: to persuade people to not have an abortion. There are thousands of these centers all over the country. They advertise aggressively — especially in lower-income communities of color — and are in many cases located directly next to abortion clinics. And despite California’s reputation as a sanctuary state for abortion rights, there are more crisis pregnancy centers than abortion centers in our state. Guest: Emma Silvers, KQED digital editor/producer This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November 2020, then-San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed criminal charges against former SFPD officer Christopher Samayoa. In 2017, Samayoa, who had been on the force for just 4 days, shot and killed 42-year old Keita O’Neil through a police vehicle window. But now, Boudin’s successor, Brooke Jenkins, has announced she plans to drop the charges, arguing that Boudin pursued the case for "political reasons and not in the interests of justice." Meanwhile, O’Neil’s aunt, April Green, says she told the DA “all that blood from killing and murders you're justifying from police are going to be on your head.” She has stated that she does not trust Jenkins to prosecute the officer who killed her nephew. Guest: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED politics reporter Links: The Bay Survey Blaming Boudin, SF DA Brooke Jenkins Wants to Dismiss Historic Case Against SFPD Officer Who Killed Keita O'Neil This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last spring, workers at Chevron’s Richmond refinery went on strike for 10 weeks, demanding higher pay, better health benefits, and safer working conditions. When the strike ended, union leaders say that Chevron initially encouraged managers and workers to put the strike behind them. But now, USW Local 5, the union representing Richmond refinery workers, alleges Chevron has fired at least 5 workers for their role in the strikes, a claim that Chevron denies. Guest: Ted Goldberg, KQED supervising senior editor for news Links: ‘Union Says Chevron Fired Several Richmond Refinery Workers Who Went on Strike,’ by Ted Goldberg, Feb. 5, 2023. The Bay Survey This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Here/There homeless encampment was familiar to anybody who drove between Oakland and Berkeley. The camp had its roots in the Bay Area’s Occupy movements in the early 2010s, and was founded in 2017 to highlight the problem of homelessness. It once had its own structure, rules, and a good relationship with the neighborhood. But over the last few years, the camp changed. Its founders passed away and people moved on. And last week, the city officially closed it down. Read the episode transcript Guest: Supriya Yelimeli, Berkeleyside housing and homelessness reporter Links: ‘South Berkeley Here There encampment closed after 6 years,’ by Supriya Yelimeli, Feb. 2, 2023. The Bay Survey Berkeley, 94700”: a deep historical dive into South Berkeley’s Here There community encampment This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong was placed on administrative leave last month, after an external investigation into the handling of two police misconduct cases found he failed to hold officers accountable. This latest chapter comes two decades into the department’s reform efforts under the oversight of a federal court. Recent headlines have focused mostly on Armstrong’s suspension and his efforts to get reinstated. But as journalist and author Ali Winston puts it, this latest scandal is really a symptom of longstanding issues within OPD. Read the episode transcript Guest: Ali Winston, independent journalist and co-author of the book The Riders Come Out At Night This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandra Castañeda was convicted for a murder she didn’t commit and was sentenced to 40 years to life. She thought she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison. In 2018, she got hopeful news: California dismissed her sentence and ordered her release. But instead of finding freedom, she was immediately detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being released from prison. Even though her crimes were dismissed in California, federal immigration authorities still consider Sandra deportable. In this months-long investigation, KQED’s Tyche Hendricks reports on the thousands of immigrants whose cases have been dismissed at the state level but whose cases are still being pursued by ICE. Read the episode transcript This episode originally aired on KQED's The California Report Magazine on Jan. 27, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mass shooting last Monday in Half Moon Bay that left 7 farmworkers dead has brought renewed attention to the living conditions of California farmworkers. State and local officials say they plan to investigate potential wage theft and safety violations at the two farms. But more broadly, the issues that this mass shooting highlighted are not new: farmworkers across California make very low wages, struggle to afford housing, and are vulnerable to exploitation. And looming over it all is the fact that a majority are undocumented immigrants, with less power than most Americans. Guest: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED labor correspondent Links: Half Moon Bay Victims Fund 'Deplorable, Heartbreaking': Officials Pledge to Investigate Labor Conditions at Mushroom Farms Targeted in Half Moon Bay Shootings The Bay Survey: Help Make The Bay Better! This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve seen the news by now: tech companies are laying people off in droves. Nearly 60,000 people have been laid off from Bay Area-based tech companies since November 2022, according to the latest estimates from Layoffs.fyi, a website that has tracked tech layoffs since the start of the pandemic. Companies cite everything from the need to cut costs, to over-hiring during the pandemic, to fears of a looming recession. But what's really going on? And what does it mean for the tens of thousands of people who once worked in an industry that is famous for the perks, fancy offices, high pay, and stability? Guest: Kevin Vu Nguyen, Bay Area journalist whose work has appeared in the SF Standard, the Sacramento Bee, and the Guardian This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Jehlen Herdman, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: READ: Laid-Off Tech Workers Are Bracing for a Difficult Future, by Kevin V. Nguyen LISTEN: A Frantic Job Hunt for H-1B Visa Holders in Tech, by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Rachael Myrow, and Alan Montecillo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An estimated 62 million gallons of sewage — or about 94 Olympic-sized swimming pools — spilled into the San Francisco Bay during the storms in late December and January. Those storms are now behind us, and officials say the water is now safe. But now is actually the perfect time to unpack what went wrong with our sewage system, and how we can better prepare our infrastructure for the next big storm. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED health correspondent This episode was produced and edited by Alan Montecillo and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Take The Bay Survey 'Our Worst Nightmare': As Storms Raged, Some 62 Million Gallons of Sewage Spilled Into Bay Area Waterways, Streets and Yards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Organizers of Oakland’s Lunar New Year Parade hope it marks a new start for Chinatown and the city’s Asian communities. Over the past few years, the neighborhood has been hit hard by the pandemic and violent attacks on Asians. Now, the mass shootings in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and East Oakland this past week have revived fears over safety. But Stewart Chen, who is involved in organizing the parade, hopes that the city and the Bay Area truly show up for Oakland Chinatown this Sunday — and that people keep coming back in the future. Guest: Stewart Chen, board president of Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council Oakland’s Lunar New Year Parade begins at 11:00 am at Wilma Chan Park on Sunday, Jan. 29. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Christina Chen at (510) 570-9155. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 people were killed and 1 injured in a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon. The suspect, 66-year old Chunli Zhao, is in police custody. County Sheriff Christina Corpus says all evidence points to a workplace dispute. Half Moon Bay, known both as a tourist destination and an agricultural community, is still recovering from the impact of the massive storms in the past few weeks. Law enforcement say the victims were Latino and Asian, and that some were migrant workers. This shooting happened on the heels of the Monterey Park mass shooting, where 11 people were killed in the mostly-Asian suburban community on Saturday night. And later on Monday, 1 person was killed and 7 injured in a mass shooting in Oakland. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED politics and government reporter/producer Links: Half Moon Bay Strong Victims Fund Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sun is back, and it’s a huge relief. And while the state largely avoided widespread, catastrophic disaster, communities all over California were hit hard. Cities are estimating tens of millions of dollars in damage, and at least 21 people have died since Dec. 26. Meanwhile, one silver lining: all this rain has put a meaningful dent in the drought. So, with the rain gone for now, what did we learn these past few weeks? Guest: Dan Brekke, KQED editor and reporter Episode Transcript Links: Take The Bay Survey The Great Soaking is Almost Over. Let the Great Dry-Out Begin This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pamela Price has been sworn in as Alameda County District Attorney. In the 2022 Election, Price won the seat with 53% of the vote, defeating her more tough-on-crime opponent, Terry Wiley. She is the first Black woman ever elected to this position and promises to make a big shift in the office's approach to prosecution; Price’s campaign emphasized changing the system in favor of a more holistic approach to public safety. What exactly are the new DA’s plans for criminal justice reform? And what roadblocks could she face in the process? Guest: Annelise Finney, producer and reporter for KQED Links: Pamela Price Becomes First African American DA of Alameda County Take The Bay Survey Correction: an earlier version of this episode included Walnut Creek as part of Alameda County. It is part of Contra Costa County. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the rain storms first started to hit Hannah Hagemann’s community in the Santa Cruz mountains, she was lucky enough to evacuate before landslides could block the only roads in and out of her neighborhood in Felton. Those left behind were left without electricity and internet for several days, virtually cutting the community off from the rest of the region. Clean up from landslides, high winds and downed power lines are the immediate focus; But surviving another storm in this remote mountain community is going to take more systemic change. Guest: Hannah Hagemann, weather and science editor for the San Francisco Chronicle Links: The Great Soaking Is Almost Over. Let the Great Dry-Out Begin Renters: Was Your Home Damaged by Rain or Floods? Here's What to Do This episode was produced by Adhiti Bandlamudi and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Etta James, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker all played in Russell City, a once thriving blues town located in Hayward. The town was home to Black and Latino residents who couldn’t find a residence elsewhere due to redlining and other racist housing policies. The city of Hayward used eminent domain to take the land and by 1966, the town had been annexed and replaced by an industrial park that is still there. In 2021 the Hayward city council voted unanimously to issue a formal apology to the residents who were pushed out. This episode first aired on Bay Curious Aug. 11, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rare showcase of archives and memorabilia from the life of Angela Davis is on display at the Oakland Museum of California. The exhibit includes photos, speeches and posters collected over the span of several years. The archive highlights Davis’ legacy and a fight for abolition and Black lives — one that is still relevant today. Guest: Ariana Proehl, Culture Reporter for KQED This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Adhiti Bandlamudi. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s temperate weather is one reason why homelessness is so visible. But with climate change, warmer and wetter weather are making the emergency on the streets even more dire. At what remains of the Wood Street encampment in West Oakland, people without shelter are experiencing flooding and a fight to stay warm amid a series of atmospheric rivers hitting the Bay Area in recent weeks. Residents of Wood Street say the services the city is offering doesn’t meet their needs. But it’s not just the threat of another rainstorm looming over the encampment; the city has plans to evict those remaining at Wood Street once and for all. Guest: Erin Baldassari, Housing Affordability Reporter for KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, Oakland will swear in Sheng Thao as the city’s new mayor and now one of the most prominent Hmong-American politicians in the country. Last November, she narrowly won the election against fellow-council member Loren Taylor by fewer than 700 votes and is getting ready to lead one of the largest cities in the Bay Area. In a recent episode of Political Breakdown, hosts Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer spoke with Thao about her journey to the mayor’s seat and how her experiences as a daughter of Laotian refugees, a single mother and a person who experienced homelessness will shape her approach to the job. This episode of the Political Breakdown podcast first aired on Dec. 29, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Storms caused by back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled the Bay Area this week;, prompting evacuation orders, heavy flooding on roads and in rivers, and bringing down power for 100 thousand PG&E customers Thursday. More atmospheric rivers are expected this weekend. Guest: Ezra David Romero, climate reporter for KQED Links: How to Prepare for This Week's Atmospheric River Storm: Sandbags, Emergency Kits and More This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Adhiti Bandlamudi. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new mayor of the Bay Area’s biggest city started his new job this week, and he has to work fast. Matt Mahan’s first job is to address a winter storm hitting San Jose, which could bring floods and heavy rains. What can we expect from Mahan in his first year in office? And what roadblocks could he face in accomplishing the goals he ran on? Guest: Guy Marzorati, Producer and Reporter for KQED’s Politics and Government Desk This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Adhiti Bandlamudi. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s our last episode of the year! Today, host Ericka Cruz Guevarra, producer Maria Esquinca, and senior editor Alan Montecillo unpack 2022 and share their favorite episodes. We’ll have new episodes for you starting Jan. 4, 2023! Links: The Bay Survey (it takes just 8 minutes!) Alan’s favorite: ‘It’s an Unimaginable Amount of Fish,’ Sep. 2, 2022. Ericka’s favorite: An Audio Love Letter to Traxamillion, an Architect of the Hyphy Movement, Jan. 10, 2022. Maria’s Favorite: He Designed a Garden at UC Santa Cruz From Death Row. Now Students Want Him Free, Jun. 17, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a bad few months for people in Vallejo who are fighting for police accountability. The police chief who promised reforms abruptly stepped down. A police union president who allegedly threatened a journalist has been reinstated. And the city recently revealed that it “inadvertently” destroyed records of 5 police shootings. Now the city is trying to move forward with a model for police oversight, which many have wanted for a long time. But members of the public are pushing back, arguing that the proposed commission has no real power and that the process is being rushed before the holiday season and newly-elected city councilors begin their terms in the new year. Guest: John Glidden, Vallejo Sun reporter Links: 'Vallejo City Council to vote on police oversight after tweaks,' by John Glidden, Dec. 13, 2022. Survey: Help Make The Bay Even Better! This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teenagers like Elise Muchowski aspired to the “Clean Girl Aesthetic,” a trend that blew up on TikTok and that prioritizes looking clean and effortless, with videos of skincare, makeup routines, and a minimalist wardrobe. Today, we're sharing an episode of the tbh podcast from KALW. In it, teenagers unpack what's behind the clean girl aesthetic, why it's harmful, and what role social media plays in their lives right now. Links: tbh: The Dirty Truth About the Clean Girl Aesthetic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood has a reputation for drug addiction, poverty, and homelessness — all big problems that have not been solved by city and state leaders. But the neighborhood’s image is also shaped by disturbing pictures and videos of people taking drugs outside that go viral on social media. These images, which circulate around the world, can evoke anger, fear, and frustration. They also shape opinion about what should be done and galvanize support for harsher, tougher crackdowns on drug dealing and drug use. Some believe that sharing these photos on social media is necessary to document this ongoing problem. Others say they only show one side of drug addiction, and leave those photographed without agency in how their stories are used. Guest: Holly J. McDede, KQED reporter/producer This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Read the transcript Links: Advocacy or Exploitation? The Ethical Concerns Around Posting Images of Poverty and Addiction in the Tenderloin Survey: Help Make The Bay Even Better! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the pandemic, there were a few ways to endure the traffic into downtown San Francisco. One very Bay Area method was the casual carpool, a completely organic system of riding with strangers to get across the bridge faster and for cheap. But after March 2020, those long lines at casual carpool stops vanished — and they haven’t come back. Guest: Nico Savidge, senior City Hall reporter for Berkeleyside This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Read the transcript Links: 'Casual Carpool was a Bay Area tradition before COVID. Can it make a comeback?' by Nico Savidge, Nov. 20, 2022. Survey: Help Make The Bay Even Better! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silicon Valley companies rely on thousands of H-1B visa holders who have come to the Bay Area from all over the world. H-1B visas grant temporary status to work and live in the U.S. But in the wake of mass layoffs in the tech industry, visa holders have 60 days to find a new job or face the threat of deportation. Guest: Rachael Myrow, KQED Silicon Valley senior editor Read the transcript Links: Mass Bay Area Tech Layoffs Thrust Thousands of H-1B Visa Holders Into Frantic Job Hunt Survey: Help Make The Bay Even Better! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even in the Bay Area, it’s a big risk for Chinese residents to protest against the Chinese Communist Party. Many fear retaliation against themselves and their loved ones in China. But over the past week, hundreds of people have attended candlelight vigils in multiple cities, including San Jose and San Francisco. These protests have been held to support people in China and to remember the 10 people who died in an apartment fire in China’s Xinjiang province. The public outrage from these deaths — which many believe were caused by China’s strict COVID lockdowns — sparked protests across the nation. Today, we hear from a Chinese university student in the Bay Area who attended a vigil in San Jose. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Read the transcript Links: Xinjiang Victims Database Survey: Help Make The Bay Even Better! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders from nearly 200 countries recently met during COP27, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. While some gains were made, like the creation of a “loss and damage” fund to help vulnerable countries, negotiations were stalled by oil-producing nations. The overwhelming scope of Climate Change and the inevitable losses on the planet can lead to feelings of paralysis, discouragement, sadness and stress. In this episode from November of last year, KQED climate reporter Laura Kilvans, urges listeners to sit with their feelings, and offers the possibility of turning to a place of hope. Guest: Laura Klivans, KQED climate reporter Episode Transcript This episode originally aired on Nov. 17, 2021. More Resources: ‘Climate Change is Here. It’s Bad. Here’s What You Can Do’ Submit a Bay Area climate change question for KQED reporters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland is on the verge of returning 5 acres of Joaquin Miller Park to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and the Confederated Villages of Lisjan. This would be the first time a California city has returned land to Native American tribes. Despite no significant opposition to this plan, this process has taken more than 5 years. So what does it actually take to return land back to tribes? Guest: Annelise Finney, KQED reporter Episode Transcript Apply to be an intern with The Bay! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, with support from Maria Esquinca. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Universities across the country rely on students and academic workers to grade papers, run classes, conduct research, and provide student support. It’s demanding work, often for little pay. But now, the unions representing 48,000 University of California students and academic workers say they’ve had enough, and on Monday thousands of people across the system's 10 campuses went on strike. Guest: Bria Suggs, journalist and graduate student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism Links: 'Thousands of UC Academic Workers Continue Massive Statewide Strike in Demand for Living Wage,' by Matthew Green, Nov. 16, 2022. We're hiring an intern! Please submit your resume by Monday, Nov. 28. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has led to complete chaos: layoffs, advertiser panic, and concerns all around the world about what this means for speech on the internet. But here in the Bay, what happens at Twitter has ripple effects too. Not only has the company laid off thousands of employees and contractors, but the company’s donations and charitable programs are in disarray, leaving dozens of Bay Area nonprofits stunned, confused and angry. Guest: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED politics reporter Read the transcript Links: 'Thousands of Dollars in Donations to Veterans, Unhoused People May Be the Latest Victims of Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover,' by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Nov. 12, 2022. We're hiring an intern! This position pays $16.99 an hour and is 16 hours a week, lasting from Jan. 9, 2023 to Jul. 1, 2023. Please submit a resume and cover letter by Monday, Nov. 28. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The city of Vallejo is notorious for being forced to pay out millions in legal settlements to victims of police violence. In the latest example, The Vallejo Sun reports that the city reached a $2.8 million dollar settlement with the family of Angel Ramos, the 21-year-old shot and killed by Vallejo Police during a family gathering in January 2017. It’s the latest update in the long, grueling process for families left with the aftermath of a police killing. Today, we’re re-running an episode from our series on Vallejo Police, which first published in August of 2019, detailing how Ramos’ family challenged the police’s narrative of what happened the night Angel was killed. Links: Our series on Vallejo Police The original article: In Vallejo, a Sister Challenges the Police Narrative of Her Brother's Shooting Vallejo reaches $2.8M settlement for police killing of Angel Ramos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Votes are still being counted, but the races for all 7 statewide propositions have been called. Californians approved Prop. 1 (abortion rights), Prop. 28 (arts education funding), and Prop. 31 (ban flavored tobacco), and shot down Props. 26 and 27 (sports betting), Prop. 29 (dialysis regulations), and Prop. 30 (green infrastructure). Today, we’ll break down these results. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED politics and government reporter/producer Links: KQED Election Results page This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last day to vote in the 2022 election has come and gone. Californians overwhelmingly approved an amendment to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution, and both Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Alex Padilla have been reelected. But it’ll be a minute before we know the full results. Today, we hear from voters, and then take you inside the KQED newsroom on Tuesday night. Read the transcript Links: KQED Election Results page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past few years, a handful of California cities have explored allowing noncitizens to vote in various local elections. The most famous example has been San Francisco, which passed a measure allowing noncitizen parents of public school students to vote for school board. This momentum to expand the vote has stalled as of late, thanks to lawsuits brought forward by a conservative group based in Southern California. Nevertheless, Oakland voters are about to weigh in on Measure S, which would amend the city charter to let the city council legalize noncitizen voting in school board elections. Guest: Annelise Finney, KQED reporter/producer Links: Playlist: The Bay x Bay Curious’ Prop Fest KQED’s Voter Guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland voters will decide on a new mayor this month. It’s a packed race; 10 candidates are vying for the seat, including 4 current and former members of Oakland City Council. The issue taking center stage in this election? Public safety. Guest: Maria Fernanda Bernal, KQED reporter Links: Playlist: The Bay x Bay Curious’ Prop Fest KQED’s Voter Guide Correction: the original version of this episode stated that it is too late to register to vote. Voters can still register in person at a voting center or at their polling place. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced charges against David DePape, the 42-year-old man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood before attacking her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer. Speaker Pelosi was in Washington D.C. at the time. Rep. Jackie Speier, a survivor of violence herself, says preventing something like this from happening again will require a “wholesale change” in how business is done in American politics. Rep. Speier, who survived gunfire during the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, said vitriol and lies spread on social media is fueling domestic terrorism, and that leaders — especially Republicans — need to call it out. Read the transcript Links: 'Officials: Suspect in Pelosi Attack Was on a 'Suicide Mission' and Had More Targets,' by Olga R. Rodriguez and Stefanie Dazio, Nov. 1, 2022. LISTEN: 'The California Republicans Who Helped Enable Wednesday's Attack on the Capitol,' Jan. 8, 2021. LISTEN: 'An Extremist Plot to Blow Up the Democratic Party HQ,' May 18, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The roots of Día de los Muertos celebrations in San Francisco can be traced back to 1972, when a collective of Chicano artists formed the first day of the dead show not only in California but the entire West Coast. The collective opened up their own gallery; Galeria La Raza. Inspired by a film that showcased the massive day of the dead altars in Oaxaca, Mexico, Rene Yañez and Ralph Maradiaga set up their own altar outside Galeria la Raza, laying down the foundation for a much larger celebration that would include altars, exhibits, films. In 1981 Rene Yañez organized the first Day of the Dead procession. Rio Yañez, the son of Rene Yañez, joins Rightnowish in conversation with Marisol Medina-Cadena. They talk about family legacy, tradition, and commemorating our loved ones. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Bay’s most populous county, Laurie Smith has served as sheriff since 1998. But in this election, amid a wave of scandals and an ongoing corruption trial, she will not be on the ballot. Now, two men are running to take over the office. Kevin Jansen, a retired sheriff’s captain, says he knows the department well enough to make changes that will restore public trust. Bob Jonsen, the former Palo Alto police chief, says his perspective from outside the department will lead to real reforms. Whoever wins will inherit an office plagued with allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the county jails. Guests: Guy Marzorati, KQED politics and government reporter/producer, and Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED reporter This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo and hosted by Alan Montecillo, who also edited. Links: KQED Voter Guide LISTEN: Prop Fest Spotify Playlist LISTEN: 'Santa Clara's County Sheriff is Being Investigated,' Jan. 24, 2022. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 states have attempted to limit, ban, or criminalize access to medical care for transgender and nonbinary youth. California is going in the opposite direction. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that ensures transgender kids from out-of-state can safely access hormones or puberty blocker. The law also shields families from child abuse investigations or from being prosecuted for seeking gender affirming care. It’s the first law of its kind in the nation. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED health correspondent Links: 'California Becomes First Sanctuary State for Transgender Youth Seeking Medical Care,' by Lesley McClurg, Oct. 18, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Sunday afternoon, incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom debated his Republican challenger, State Senator Brian Dahle. This was their first and only debate, which was held at KQED's headquarters in San Francisco. The conversation was moderated by KQED's Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer. Links: 'Newsom, Dahle Spar Over Abortion, Gas Tax and Crime in California Governor Debate,' by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Oct. 23, 2022. KQED Voter Guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in June, San Francisco voters recalled Chesa Boudin from the office of District Attorney. In his place, Mayor London Breed appointed Brooke Jenkins, who once worked in Boudin’s office and became a paid spokesperson in the recall effort. Now, as many San Francisco residents worry about public safety, voters will weigh in about the city’s chief prosecutor once again in the November election. And the results could tell us what kind of law enforcement approach people want. Guest: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, KQED politics reporter Correction: The original version of this episode stated that Reserve Police Officers served in a "civilian" position. The episode has been updated with a more accurate description. Links: KQED Voter Guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benicia is home to an oil refinery operated by Valero, which employs hundreds of people and contributes tax revenue totaling an estimated 20% of the city’s general budget. The company has also played a very active role in local elections. Valero’s political action committee spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2018 and 2020. Now, with this year's city council race underway — and residents frustrated over recent controversies at the refinery — Valero’s role in Benicia looms large once again. Guest: Scott Morris, reporter for the Vallejo Sun Links: ‘Valero looms over Benicia City Council candidates forum,’ by Scott Morris, Oct. 13, 2022. ‘'First I Had Heard of It': Valero's Benicia Refinery Secretly Released Toxic Chemicals for Years,’ by Ted Goldberg, Feb. 24, 2022. LISTEN: For 15 Years, Valero’s Benicia Refinery Released Toxic Chemicals — And No One Knew, Mar. 1, 2022. WATCH: Benicia City Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 12, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This November, San Jose residents will make a big decision about the future of the nation’s 10th largest city. The San Jose’s mayor’s race is between two candidates: Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and San Jose City Councilmember Matt Mahan. Whoever becomes mayor will be responsible for big issues like homelessness, affordable housing, policing, and the future of the city’s downtown. Today, we’re sharing a mayoral forum hosted by KQED in partnership with Univision, where Chavez and Mahan discuss their visions for the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unless you work on cars for a living, you probably weren’t very familiar with catalytic converters until the last few years, when reported thefts of this particular car part started to skyrocket. It’s part of the exhaust system and contains valuable metals. These thefts have set car owners back thousands of dollars, and some people lose access to their car for months while it’s getting fixed. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two laws last month in an attempt to address the problem, but whether or not it’ll actually help is up in the air. Guest: Jose Fermoso, The Oaklandside senior systems reporter Links: ‘Oakland residents cheer new catalytic converter law, but some worry it won’t end thefts,’ by Jose Fermoso Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After protests erupted in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old Kurdish Iranian woman who died in police custody after being arrested for not wearing a proper hijab, the Iranian government responded with police crackdowns and internet blockages. California is home to one of the largest populations of Iranians outside of Iran. And for many, including here in the Bay Area, protesting and sharing on social media is a critical tool for keeping momentum of this moment alive. Guest: Ida Mojadad, education reporter for the San Francisco Standard Links: Four Ways to Take Action in Solidarity With the People of Iran ‘We Can’t Let This Die’: Why San Franciscans Keep Protesting for Iranian Freedom Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several Bay Area cities, including Oakland, are dealing with increased levels of gun violence. In Oakland, the city has hit triple-digit homicides for the third straight year. This has reversed years of positive progress, which was happening in part because of violence intervention work in communities — work that was disrupted during the pandemic. Communities are trying to do what they can to stop violence before it happens. One important piece of the puzzle? Investing in culture, and in events that provide resources and positive social outlets. Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, associate editor at KQED arts & culture Links: Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say Prop Fest Spotify Playlist! This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, California lawmakers passed SB 793, which banned the retail sale of flavored tobacco products that can be smoked, vaped, or eaten statewide. But shortly after that, tobacco companies worked to put Prop. 31 on the ballot, taking the issue directly to the voters. It asks California voters whether to uphold that 2020 ban, or do away with it. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED health correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We need to spend a lot of money on green infrastructure if we want to lower emissions and adapt to the climate crisis. Supporters of Proposition 30 say this measure would help the state do just that — by raising the state income tax by 1.75% on Californians who make more than $2 million a year. That money would be guaranteed for 3 things: electric car debates, electric car charging, and wildfire suppression. The political coalitions on this one are super confusing: The ‘Yes” side includes environmental justice groups, prominent Democrats, and the ride-hailing app Lyft. The “No” side includes groups that oppose tax increases like the California Republican Party, the Chamber of Commerce, and — perhaps surprisingly — Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Teachers’ Association. Guest: Kevin Stark, KQED science senior editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Launched for a third time by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, Prop. 29 would add new rules on dialysis clinics. If approved, dialysis clinics would be required to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site during all treatment hours, among other requirements. Opponents say Prop. 29 imposes unnecessary requirements and would cause clinics to shut down. Guest: Kevin Stark, KQED science senior editor Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices