The Bay

Less than six weeks after our KQED colleagues from On Our Watch published an episode that revealed new information about the police killing of Oscar Grant, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he was opening an external investigation into the 12-year old case, which he says remains unsolved. KQED's Sukey Lewis spoke with Bonta to discuss systemic issues in California policing, and how he wants them to be addressed. She also covers some upcoming police reforms that could lead to more accountability and transparency. Listen and subscribe to On Our Watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, hundreds of workers at Foster Farms plants in California tested positive for COVID-19. 16 people have died and at least 20 others have been hospitalized. A KQED investigation found that as Foster Farms' Central Valley plants stayed open, and essential workers got sick, or even died, the company didn’t always give a complete picture of the problem to health officials, state regulators and their own employees. KQED’s Alex Hall has been following the story since the start, and in this episode of The California Report Magazine, she shares the findings of her reporting — from tense conversations with Foster Farms, to the families of the workers who died from the coronavirus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past few days, the Chevron refinery in Richmond has been intermittently sending flames and toxic fumes into the air, and people living in the area have complained of a strong gas smell. Meanwhile, the public still has not received details about the cause behind another incident at the same refinery more than 8 months ago: a pipeline leak on Feb. 9 that sent 750 gallons of fuel into the San Francisco Bay. Guest: Ted Goldberg, supervising senior editor for news and newscasts at KQED More Resources: 8 Months After Chevron Oil Refinery Spill, Few Details Surface About Cause This episode originally aired on February 24, 2021 and was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Kate Wolffe, Shaylyn Martos, and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Devin Katayama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the pandemic, the meal kit delivery company HelloFresh has made record profits. But some employees at HelloFresh factory kitchens like the one in Richmond say they’re not sharing in those gains, and that they feel invisible and underappreciated. Instead, they say they’re being asked to work harder and faster as more white-collar employees working remotely use the service. Now, they want to form what would be the first union in the meal kit industry. Guest: Sam Harnett, KQED tech reporter This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Kate Wolffe, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re getting an unusual amount of rain this week, with the potential for strong storms during the weekend. And after a summer of drought and wildfires, the rain’s just got us feeling some type of way. So this all begs the question: Could this rain actually put a dent in this year’s fire season or our drought? Guest: Dan Brekke, KQED editor and reporter This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Kate Wolffe, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. More Resources: Sign up for Bay Area emergency alerts in your county. National Weather Service, San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey‘ 'Jersey Rain,’ by Robert Pinsky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Oct. 19, 1991, a fire started to burn and spread in the Oakland Hills. By the time it was done, an estimated 25 people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed. 30 years later, a warmer climate and drier conditions mean that another wildfire could break out in or near the city of Oakland. So, are we more prepared this time? Guest: Brian Krans, contributing reporter for The Oaklandside Listen: Remembering the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm This episode was produced by Kate Wolffe and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly a decade ago, Vallejo launched an experiment: what if citizens played a more active role in deciding how to spend public money? It's a process called 'participatory budgeting', and Vallejo is the first city in the nation to try this citywide. Now, more local governments in California are considering this approach, too. Today, we're sharing an episode of California State of Mind, a podcast from Capital Public Radio and CalMatters. Hosts Nicole Nixon and Nigel Duara explore this topic with CapRadio's News and Features Editor Pauline Bartolone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s Reparations Task Force has a huge challenge before them: to study and recommend reparation proposals for Black Californians and descendants of enslaved people. The task force wrapped up a series of meetings this week ranging from housing discrimination, to environmental racism to educational inequities. But this formal public process is also a time for people to share their personal emotions and experiences — and tell the state what reparations would mean to them. View past meetings and see more about upcoming meetings of the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans Guest: Lakshmi Sarah, KQED digital producer and reporter This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Kate Wolffe, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, homicides in the Bay Area increased by about 25%, according to a Guardian analysis of census and state data. Many of those deaths involved guns. The majority of people killed were Black and Latino, and some of the largest increases took place in Oakland, Vallejo, and Stockton. We don't yet know all of the reasons why this increase occurred, but many local practitioners of gun violence prevention point to factors like economic hardship, and the closures of important community spaces during the pandemic. Guest: Abené Clayton, lead reporter of The Guardian’s ‘Guns & Lies in America’ series Read Abené's full piece in The Guardian This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Kate Wolffe, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Caldor Fire came very close to burning thousands of homes and businesses in South Lake Tahoe. But in the end, while the wildfire has done a lot of damage, the city was largely spared. That’s no accident. South Lake Tahoe was protected from the Caldor Fire thanks to the hard work of firefighters, some favorable wind shifts, and years of forest preparation. Guest: Danielle Venton, KQED climate reporter This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Adhiti Bandlamudi, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vineyard workers already have hard jobs that usually don’t pay high wages. And as wildfire season increasingly overlaps with harvest season, their work has gotten even more dangerous. Now, advocates and farmworkers in Sonoma County are demanding that wine businesses provide stronger protections for the laborers who make the industry possible in the first place. Guest: Nashelly Chavez, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reporter for the Press Democrat Follow The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Find The Bay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, NPR One or via Alexa. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Adhiti Bandlamudi, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Currently, there's little stopping a police officer accused of serious misconduct from simply resigning and moving to a new department. But that's about to change. The Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act of 2021, named after a Black man who was shot in the back by an exonerated Gardena Police Officer in 2018, makes it possible for the state to strip bad cops of their badges so they are barred from working in law enforcement for good. Guest: Sukey Lewis, KQED criminal justice reporter and host of On Our Watch This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Adhiti Bandlamudi, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The news about COVID-19 booster shots has been confusing. In mid-August, President Biden announced that a COVID-19 booster shot would roll out to all eligible U.S. residents starting the week of Sept. 20. But then, amid disagreement among federal health officials, that plan was scaled back. Now, the federal government is recommending that some people get a third shot. Today, we break down who is eligible, and how to get one. Read more about the COVID vaccine rollout and information on how to get a COVID booster shot. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED senior engagement editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since July, at least 2,000 refugees from Afghanistan have arrived in California, with most settling in Northern California and the Bay Area. Since the Taliban took over Kabul in mid-August, the pace of resettlement has ramped up, and many of the people supporting newly arrived refugees come from already-established communities of Afghan Americans in the Bay — who know what it means to be displaced and start anew. Guest: Tyche Hendricks, KQED immigration senior editor Click here to find more information about Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay's efforts to help resettle newly arrived Afghan refugees. This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Adhiti Bandlamudi, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s eviction moratorium is set to expire tomorrow, September 30. But in many parts of the Bay, Latino immigrant tenants have still been getting evicted by their landlords. That’s because protections on paper haven’t necessarily added up to protections in practice, as many renters have not been made aware of their rights and face barriers to receiving rental assistance. Guest: Madeleine Bair, founding director of El Tímpano Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3F3jQTW This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Adhiti Bandlamudi, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Translation assistance was provided by Madeleine Bair and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí, with additional editorial and production help from Erika Kelly, Erin Baldassari, and Molly Solomon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wineries have been affected by heat, drought and wildfires. Many have seen lower yields and have even lost grapes. But winemakers are also adapting, and finding creative ways to make sure their livelihoods continue. Today, we follow two wineries in the North Bay and learn how they're experiencing and adapting to climate change. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED climate reporter Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3zQBiXD This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Mary Franklin Harvin, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two days after the recall election, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 9, which effectively ends single-family zoning in California. The law is part of a larger effort to increase the supply of housing, at a time when prices are at an all-time high and rents remain unaffordable for many people. Guest: Erika Kelly, senior editor of KQED’s housing affordability desk Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/2W84lZ0 This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Mary Franklin Harvin, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland Unified’s Board of Education is considering a proposal that would require all students 12 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Some say it’s a necessary step to make schools safer, while others worry that it will create another barrier to in-person learning. The resolution could be voted on as early as tonight, and if passed, OUSD would become the first district in Northern California to mandate vaccines for students. OUSD's Board of Education meeting today starts at 4 p.m. Guest: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED education reporter Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3CBwLKx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Mountain View, residents of mobile home parks are on the verge of winning protections under the city’s rent control law — which they have been excluded from so far. But in this expensive Silicon Valley city, the political fight about rent control in mobile homes is far from over. Guest: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Silicon Valley reporter Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/2XHJcWu This episode was produced by Christopher Beale and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most Bay Area residents rely on water that travels a long way to get here. And as we experience another drought, it’s more important than ever to understand how our water works, especially in our different local communities. Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Bay Curious. This is one episode in their six-part series on drought. Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 months, 46 candidates, and hundreds of millions of dollars later, Gov. Gavin Newsom has easily defeated the effort to remove him from office. It marks the end of a campaign that was first launched in February 2020 by a retired Yolo County sheriff’s deputy. The governor will stay in office until at least January 2023, when his first term ends — or longer, if he wins re-election next year. Guest: Marisa Lagos, political correspondent for KQED and co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast Episode transcript. This episode was produced by Christopher Beale and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Latinos are roughly 28% of the voting public in California. And over the past 20 years or so, most have voted for Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom. Now, the recall election is here, and millions of Latino voters across California are deciding how to vote (or whether to vote). Today, we meet two families — one from Modesto, and one from Oakland. Guests: Maria Peña, producer for KQED en Español, and Scott Shafer, senior editor of KQED’s politics and government desk Episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/3huNIy7 This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Christopher Beale, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last day to vote in the recall election is Tuesday, Sept. 14. And if Gov. Gavin Newsom is replaced, his most likely successor is conservative talk radio host Larry Elder — who, if elected, would be the only Republican statewide elected official. He would also have just one year before the next election in 2022. So how much could a new Republican governor actually do in that time? Guest: Marisa Lagos, political correspondent for KQED, and co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast Episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/3lfdA2g This episode was cut by Alan Montecillo, scored and produced by Christopher Beale, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Residents of communal housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown are organizing to keep their students home. According to a survey of residents living in Single Room Occupancy hotels in Chinatown (or SROs) by the Chinatown Community Development Center, 70% of families in communal housing oppose in-person learning for their kids. A combination of factors — like a reliance on public transportation and the inability to quarantine in communal housing — are contributing to these feelings. Guest: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, producer and reporter for KQED Epiosde transcript here: https://bit.ly/3BRgdxR This episode was produced by Christopher Beale, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 2020, 30-year old Angelo Quinto died after an encounter with Antioch police. His family says that, after calling 911 for help, they witnessed officers using a knee-to-neck restraint, causing Quinto to die of asphyxiation in the hospital days later. In August, a coroner’s inquest for Contra Costa County declared Quinto’s death an accident. But the inquest process itself had some significant red flags — and it has left Quinto’s family and many other Antioch residents feeling like that process is rigged. Guest: Sandhya Dirks, race and equity reporter for KQED Episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/3BDNX1B This episode was produced by Christopher Beale and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Caldor Fire continues to burn, and tens of thousands of people have evacuated areas around Lake Tahoe, including the 22,000 residents of the city of South Lake Tahoe. The fire is threatening homes, livelihoods, and a place that so many in California know and love. Guest: Ezra David Romero, climate reporter for KQED Episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/3mQugiP This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Christopher Beale, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Listen and subscribe to the TahoeLand podcast from Capital Public Radio here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early August, 8 Bay Area counties reinstated mask mandates in indoor public spaces due to the spread of the Delta variant. Solano County was the only one that didn't. Last week, the city of Benicia broke with the county by approving its own indoor mask mandate. Today, we speak with the city's mayor about this decision, and what it says about differences within Solano County. Guest: Steve Young, Mayor of Benicia Transcript here: https://bit.ly/38oe6VJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to say goodbye to our host. Devin Katayama is leaving The Bay to become KQED’s first Editor of Talent and Development, where he'll help support interns and on-call staff develop their careers. To commemorate his three and a half years on the show, The Bay team took a field trip to a couple of Devin's treasured spots in the Bay Area to reflect on his time on the show, and what's next for him. Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3gErxFl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When California voters look at their ballots for the Sept. 14 recall election, they will see 46 candidates who are running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. If a majority of voters mark “Yes” on the recall, Newsom will be removed from office, and 1 of these 46 people will become the state’s next leader. Today, we’ll meet the top 6 candidates: Larry Elder, Kevin Faulconer, John Cox, Kevin Kiley, Caitlyn Jenner, and Kevin Paffrath. Guest: Katie Orr, reporter with KQED’s Politics and Government Desk. To learn more about the recall election and the candidates mentioned in this episode click here. Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3DeJy6T Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Santa Clara County, there are a series of controversies surrounding Sheriff Laurie Smith. They range from abuse in jails, to bribery — to even potential allegations of corruption and political influence. Now some South Bay leaders are saying enough is enough. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wants Smith to resign, and county supervisors want her office investigated. Guests: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Silicon Valley reporter, and Alex Emslie, KQED criminal justice editor Read the episode transcript here. Follow The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several wildfires are burning in Northern California — again. Fire is now a regular part of our lives, and we need to address it with the nuance and complexity it deserves. But in order to do that, we need to rethink how we talk about and report on fire in the first place. Today, KQED Science reporter Danielle Venton shares what she’s learned in 6 years of wildfire reporting — and what needs to change. More Resources: The Karuk Used to Manage the Forest for Centuries. Now They Want To Do That Again Map: Here's Your Daily Air Quality Report for the Bay Area What to Pack in Your Emergency Bag — With COVID-19 in Mind Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay Area is home to some of the largest Afghan communities in the U.S. And now, as the Taliban have taken over control of Afghanistan, refugee resettlement organizations here like Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay say the pace of people seeking refuge is "like nothing we've seen in recent years." Guest: Fouzia Azizi, Director of Refugee Services for Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay You can find opportunities to donate or help JFCS here. Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recall election is coming. Ballots have been mailed out and the last day to vote in Sept. 14. Feeling unprepared? Here’s a primer with nitty-gritty voting details, some context for the campaign, and what you’ll find on your ballot from our friends at Bay Curious. Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3sdB4I2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the vast majority of families, this fall means a return to in-person school. But some have opted to stick with remote learning because of concerns over COVID-19. And in many cases — including in Oakland — the rollout of virtual learning this time around has been rocky. Guest: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED education reporter Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3sgb8vn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area teachers have been preparing to teach in-person again. There’s so much to get ready for — whether it’s taking steps to keep people safe from COVID-19, or figuring out how to navigate student group projects. But above all, these two Bay Area teachers are excited to return to what was lost: connecting in person with their students. Guests: Andreanna Yanez-Vierra, 1st grade teacher at Hoover Elementary School in Burlingame; Ralph Bedwell, English teacher at Pinole Valley High Transcript here: https://bit.ly/3fRDmHO Follow The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Find The Bay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, NPR One or via Alexa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Bay Area students are starting school this week, and in California, classes will mostly be in-person. At the same time, COVID cases are rising due to the delta variant. But after a year of remote learning, families and students have mixed feelings about going back to school in person. Guest: Julia McEvoy, KQED senior editor of education and equity. Read the episode transcript here. Follow The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Find The Bay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, NPR One or via Alexa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before the pandemic, public transit did not feel safe to many women and girls. That’s why the #NotOneMoreGirl initiative was launched and spearheaded by Bay Area youth — and they've already helped create changes at BART. As BART service resumes at near pre-pandemic hours, advocates say keeping vulnerable people safe is more important than ever. Guests: Haleema Bharoocha, senior advocacy manager at Alliance for Girls and Santana Tapia, with the #NotOneMoreGirl campaign and co-founder of Fluid Coffee and Events Click here to watch the bystander intervention training video produced by the Not One More Girl Campaign. Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when there was a palpable sense that everything might be OK, the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 came along. The race to vaccinate more people is now even more urgent; healthcare workers who are seeing more patients say another surge is entirely preventable, if only more people would get vaccinated. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED science reporter Read the episode transcript here. Follow The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Find The Bay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, NPR One or via Alexa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, fueled by the contagious Delta variant. And over the past few weeks, many Bay Area restaurants and bars have responded by requiring customers to prove they've been fully vaccinated before dining inside. Today, we visit one San Francisco business that recently made this decision. Guests: Eduardo Sandoval and Eva Lee of Santería margarita bar in San Francisco Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the next few weeks, we’re taking a break from making new episodes. It’s a lot of work to bring you 3 shows a week, and we’re going to use this time to rest up and reflect. We’re still going to be accessible if you want to hit us up with questions, comments or story ideas. We’re on Twitter @TheBayKQED, and reachable via email at [email protected]. Our next episode will be on Monday, August 2. Thank you all so much for listening and for supporting the show, and we’re looking forward to sharing new episodes with you all when we come back. Episode transcript here: https://bit.ly/3hwPZbA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our colleagues at KQED and NPR have spent countless hours analyzing the world of police discipline, thanks to a police transparency law that unsealed thousands of files. And over the past few weeks, they’ve been sharing that work in the form of On Our Watch, a limited-run podcast that brings you into the rooms where officers are interrogated and witnesses are questioned, to find out who this shadow system of police accountability really serves, and who it protects. Many episodes of On Our Watch also focus on Bay Area police departments. And today, we wanted to share an episode that focuses on Antioch — and what happened when a veteran detective spent years leaking operational secrets. Subscribe to On Our Watch here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law that extends California’s eviction protections for people economically impacted by COVID-19 — and who have paid at least 25% of the rent they owe — until Sept. 30. The state also has a plan to use $5.2 billion in federal money to pay for 100% of rental debt owed by eligible tenants. So for now, California has prevented thousands of landlords from evicting tenants who have been behind on rent due to the pandemic. But if we don’t want to be in the same situation in 3 months, the state needs to get relief money to the people who need it — and fast. Guest: Molly Solomon, KQED housing affordability reporter and co-host of Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America Episode transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is in a second year of drought. And depending on where you live, you might already have water restrictions in place. Healdsburg, for example, has a mandatory 40% water restriction, while Santa Rosa has a voluntary 20%. In Mendocino County, and in areas of the North Bay that rely on the Russian River for water, cities, farmers and residents are trying to save for current and future droughts. Guest: Ezra David Romero, KQED climate reporter Episode transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s our 500th episode! One of the great joys of working on the show has been using our space to help people in the Bay Area get excited about or involved in issues they care about. Often that starts with local government. So we want to share one of our favorite episodes with you from earlier this year with tips about how to publicly address your elected leaders. Then, after that, we all hop on the mic to talk a little bit about why we love this episode, and share some stories from The Bay's early days. Guest: LaTonda Simmons, Oakland city clerk from 2004 to 2020, currently assistant city administrator Episode transcript here. This episode of our By the People series first published on January 4, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forty years after the AIDS epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens those most at risk in the LGBTQ community across the world. Community organizers in the Bay Area have been building on the work of people like Bobbi Campbell, a San Francisco nurse who became the first person to go public with a cancer associated with AIDS. His work to educate the other gay men in the city was the beginning of an activist-led campaign that helped protect the queer community from AIDS even before the federal government acknowledged the disease. Guest: Sarah Hotchkiss, KQED Arts’ Senior associate editor Read more of KQED Arts’ series Pride as Protest. Episode transcript here. This episode originally aired on June 26, 2019. Subscribe to The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3 a.m. Find The Bay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, NPR One or via Alexa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 2, so many people spoke during a Bay Area Air Quality Management District board meeting that the agency had to postpone a vote to regulate air pollution from two Bay Area refineries — one run by Chevron in Richmond, and one run by PBF Energy in Martinez. The proposal would force Chevron and PBF Energy to install potentially hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment to clean the particulate matter released every day by their refineries. Now, the Air District board is has been rescheduled for July 21, in this pivotal decision that affects health, jobs, and our climate. Guest: Ted Goldberg, KQED senior editor Episode transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, San Jose’s City Council will vote on a plan to rezone parts of the Flea Market on Berryessa Road, where hundreds of immigrant vendors have set up shop for more than 60 years. The new development would include commercial and residential space near transit, including some affordable housing units. But it would also shrink the space for vendors dramatically, so much so that many fear they will lose their businesses altogether. Guests: Adhiti Bandlamudi, KQED Silicon Valley reporter and Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli, KQED en Español reporter Episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many live concerts and events are returning to the Bay Area, as COVID-19 cases remain low and the state ends capacity limits, social distancing and mask requirements in most places. But not everyone working in live events is comfortable with the idea of working indoors with unmasked guests, and independent venues are still waiting for federal relief money that was promised months ago. Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED arts and culture associate editor Episode transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California will fully reopen for “business as usual”on June 15. That means, among other things, that fully vaccinated people will no longer be required to masks in most places around the state. But there are plenty of reasons you’ll still see people in the Bay Area continuing to wear masks. We’ll tell you about some of them. Guest: Carly Severn, KQED senior engagement editor Episode transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians doesn’t have its own reservation. Like many Native communities, many members also struggle with poverty and homelessness. But recently, using funds from California’s ‘Project Homekey,’ the tribe bought an apartment building in Lake County to house members most in need. And leaders are also hoping it’ll be the start of a new community hub for the tribe. Guest: Molly Solomon, KQED housing affordability reporter Read the transcript here. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices