The Bay

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we unpack the razor-thin election results in San José’s District 3 and the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Plus, we learn more about how roughly 900 Berkeley homeowners will need to clear vegetation in order to protect their houses against wildfire damage. Links: After Recount, Tordillos Advances to Runoff Election for San José Council Seat San Francisco Chinatown Businesses Enter Survival Mode During Trade War Berkeley Moves to Require Vegetation Removal Near Homes in Fire Zones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Head Start was founded 60 years ago to help America’s poorest families break the cycle of poverty. Now, it’s one of many federal programs that the Trump administration wants to reduce or cut altogether. KQED’s Daisy Nguyen tells the story of one federal employee in the Bay Area who was laid off from Head Start — and how the program changed her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of Youth Takeover Week at KQED, The Bay and Bay Curious have teamed up to collaborate with four high school students who live in San Pablo, Fremont, Walnut Creek and San Jose. For several months, these teenagers — two juniors and two seniors — have shared what’s going on in their lives, what’s got them worried, what’s making them excited and what they're passionate about. This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Alan Montecillo, Katrina Schwartz, Olivia Allen-Price, and Christopher Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Xorje Andrés Olivares and guests to explore what it means to live within a hyphenation. Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to have easy conversations about hard things: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. Hyphenación—where conversation and cultura meet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After running on a promise to unite Oakland, former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee has defeated former city councilmember Loren Taylor in a tight race for mayor. Lee will complete the term of former Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled in November. Today, The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe joins us to discuss what to expect from Mayor-Elect Barbara Lee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, the oil giant Valero announced that it will “idle, restructure, or cease operations” at its Benicia refinery that employs more than 400 workers by April 2026. KQED’s Julie Small tells us how officials are reacting, and why many view this decision as a response to state and local regulations. Links: Oil Giant Valero Looks to Shutter Troubled Bay Area Refinery. It’s ‘a Big Surprise’ Bay Area Air District Hits Valero's Benicia Refinery With 'Historic' $82 Million Fine Benicia Moves Toward Tougher Oversight of Valero Refinery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture an all-electric home with smart appliances that talk to each other via WiFi to figure out when to pull power from the grid. That’s the idea behind something called ‘virtual power plant’ technology. While it’s not new, the technology’s advocates hope it will power many more homes in the coming years. KQED’s Laura Klivans takes us inside one such home in north Richmond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, San Francisco officially opened Sunset Dunes Park on the city’s west side. It replaces a 2-mile section of the Great Highway, 5 months after voters approved a citywide measure to permanently close it to motor vehicles. But many residents, still furious about the decision to close the road, haven’t given up. Some are even campaigning to recall their local supervisor. Links: Sunset Dunes: San Francisco's Controversial New Park Officially Opens SF Supervisor Faces a Recall Campaign Over Great Highway Closure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-driving Waymo robotaxis are now commonplace on the streets of San Francisco. Feelings about these autonomous vehicles vary — from excitement, to amusement, to outright hostility. Some have even gone so far as to vandalize the cars. In this episode from KQED’s Close All Tabs podcast, Morgan Sung speaks with Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet and law professor Ryan Calo to explore the rise of Waymo vandalism, and its roots in our collective anxiety over AI. Links: Waymo’s Expansion Provokes Anxieties of AI Takeover – Ellen Huet, Bloomberg The next big robotaxi push is almost here — Harri Weber, Quartz The Courts Can Handle the Deadly Uber Self-Driving Car Crash. But that doesn’t mean the law is ready for autonomous vehicles. — Ryan Calo, Slate Good Robot, Bad Robot: Dark and Creepy Sides of Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, and AI — Jo Ann Oravec, Professor at the University of Wisconsin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas across the country, claiming many have participated in ‘pro-Hamas’ activism on college campuses. Now, two international students at California colleges are suing the federal government after their student visas were revoked and their records in a federal database were terminated, effectively stripping them of their ability to continue studying in the U.S. Links: California Students, Blindsided by Visa Cancellations, Sue Trump Administration What Should International Students on Visas and Green Cards Know Right Now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports go into effect today, and businesses around the Bay Area are already feeling the impact. Some worry that the costs will trickle down to consumers and discourage businesses already struggling to afford operating in the Bay Area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the A’s begin their first season in Sacramento, KQED found that some Coliseum workers promised financial assistance from the A’s ahead of the team’s transition out of Oakland haven’t gotten anything. Links: Some Oakland Coliseum Workers Say They Never Received Assistance From A’s Farewell Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In San Francisco, Black men born between 1951 and 1970 accounted for 12% of overdose deaths between January 2020 and October 2024, despite representing less than 1% of the city's population. The disparity in San Francisco is greater than any other major city. Today, we hear from Richard Beal, director of recovery services at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, about his personal story of addiction and recovery, and later talk with The San Francisco Standard’s David Sjostedt about what’s behind this trend of Black overdose deaths in the city. Links: SF is losing a generation of Black men to overdoses. It’s worse here than anywhere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s executive orders and rhetoric have created a climate of fear in queer and transgender communities, including here in the Bay Area. KQED’s Bianca Taylor reports on a self-defense class in San Francisco’s Transgender District that teaches people skills to protect themselves while also building community. Links: Amid Rising Threats, Transgender Community Builds Bonds at This SF Self-Defense Class Where LGBTQ+ people can find self-defense classes in the Bay Area Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this month’s edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Alan, Jessica, and Ericka talk about what happened when a Marin County school board member questioned the term “toxic masculinity,” delays in finding a new site for San Jose’s iconic flea market, and an Eid festival coming to San Francisco’s Tenderloin. Plus, we discuss threats to public media funding. Links: Watch: NPR, PBS Heads Answer Lawmakers' Allegations of Bias A Marin School Board Questioned the Term ‘Toxic Masculinity.’ Then Came the Backlash State law blocks potential San Jose flea market site San Francisco’s Tenderloin Is Bringing a New Eid Festival to Its Streets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month, San Francisco rolled out speed cameras at dozens of locations throughout the city. After seeing one of SF's deadliest years on the road, advocates hope the cameras will make walking and driving in San Francisco safer. This episode first ran on Jan 15, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for Oakland voters to pick a new mayor. Voting is underway in Oakland’s special election until April 15. Once a mayor is picked, they’ll have to hit the ground running in order to balance the city’s budget and address voters’ concerns about public safety and homelessness. Links: Oakland Special Election: Candidate Guide and How to Vote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Day laborers, or jornaleros, can often be found standing at specific street corners, where they are hired on the spot for inexpensive manual labor. Most are Latino migrants and can be found all over the Bay Area. Berkeleyside’s Ximena Natera joins us to talk about how jornaleros in Berkeley are dealing with increased fears of deportation, and where these workers are finding support in difficult times. Links: For Berkeley day laborers with bills and fears, staying home is not an option Para los jornaleros de Berkeley, quedarse en casa no es opción, a pesar del miedo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Christmas Eve, 58-year-old James Oakley was crushed to death during a Vallejo city-run trash cleanup, sparking shock and outrage among homeless residents and advocates. Three months after his death, the city of Vallejo has put a temporary pause on encampment sweeps. Links: Report: Unhoused Man Seen Alive Before Being Crushed During Vallejo Cleanup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters in San José’s downtown, north side, Guadalupe-Washington, and Japantown neighborhoods are already casting ballots to fill an empty city council seat left open by former Councilmember Omar Torres, who resigned in November and faces child sex abuse charges. The future of downtown San José — and possibly Mayor Matt Mahan’s agenda — hangs in the balance. Links: San José District 3 Special Election: Who’s Running and How to Vote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a competitive karaoke league in the East Bay that's about more than just singing. Every Monday at KaraOakland, teams perform songs on specific themes. Then, participants used ranked choice voting to pick the best performances — like Oakland voters will in the city's special election next month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate 1000 episodes of the podcast, The Bay team took a little field trip. We reflect on the show, and listen to voicemails from listeners and colleagues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, more than 1,500 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus drivers, light rail operators and other employees went on strike for the first time in the agency’s history after more than six months of failed negotiations over wages and other issues. Links: VTA Sues to End Historic South Bay Transit Workers' Strike Send us a voice memo for our 1000th episode to [email protected], or leave a voicemail at 415-710-9223! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has laid off more than a thousand National Park Service employees in the past few weeks as part of its broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce. KQED’s Sarah Mohamad talks about how these layoffs are affecting workers — and how your next visit to a national park might be a little different. Links: What You Should Know About Visiting National Parks Right Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re celebrating 1000 episodes of The Bay with a very special episode and we want to hear from you! Tell us what you love about the show. Leave us a voicemail at 415-710-9223, or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Tell us your name, your city, and how long you’ve been listening to The Bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An investigation by CalMatters found that homeless shelters are dangerous, chaotic, and ineffective at getting people into permanent housing. The lead reporter behind the investigation, Lauren Hepler, spoke with KQED’s Political Breakdown about what’s gone wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop to the politics of memes, Close All Tabs covers it all. How will AI change our jobs and lives? Is the government watching what I post? Is there life beyond TikTok? Host Morgan Sung pulls from experts, the audience, and history to add context to the trends and depth to the memes. And she’ll wrestle with as many browser tabs as it takes to explain the cultural moment we’re all collectively living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area public schools are struggling, especially in Oakland and San Francisco. Both districts are among only a handful across California with negative budgets, and as a result recently voted to approve preliminary layoff notices for teachers, counselors, and other staff. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Mel Velasquez, Jessica Kariisa, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: How Oakland and SF Ended Up Among 7 CA School Districts Who Can’t Pay Their Bills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San José leaders have announced a new and controversial plan as part of their efforts to end street homelessness. ‘Homeward Bound’ will offer to send unhoused residents to family or friends who are willing to take them in. Mayor Matt Mahan says it’s an additional tool to get people off the streets, while some homelessness advocates say it’s an ineffective and inhumane approach. This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Mel Velasquez, and Tessa Paoli, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of the Bay’s monthly news roundup, Alan, Jessica, and intern Mel talk about renewed fears of real estate development at San Francisco’s Presidio, an increase in FasTrak scam texts, and concerns around two famous peregrine falcons at UC Berkeley. Links: Trump Order Revives Fears of Real Estate Push for San Francisco’s Presidio Bay Area FasTrak scams are surging — again: ‘It’s been nonstop’ UC Berkeley falcons Annie and Archie are missing. Is bird flu the cause? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new “triage center” in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood opened in early February. It’s one of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first tangible initiatives to address the city’s fentanyl crisis as he embarks on his first year in office. A second center is also planned in the Tenderloin. KQED’s Sydney Johnson visited the new center and tells us what she saw. This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Mel Velasquez, and Tessa Paoli, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco’s sanctuary policies have been contested repeatedly since they were first enacted in the 1980s following an immigration raid at a Mission District dance club that left dozens of people detained for hours — some U.S. citizens. So what can the history of challenges against the city’s sanctuary policies tell us about President Donald Trump’s threats to it today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Affected faculty and students at Sonoma State University were caught off guard over plans to slash entire academic departments and NCAA sports programs last month. Could these cuts at SSU signal what’s to come for more campuses in the California State University system? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cities across California are cracking down on homeless encampments following a Supreme Court ruling last year giving local governments the O.K. to do so. Fremont recently took a bigger step than most, by also prohibiting anyone from “aiding and abetting” camping on public property and private land. This episode was hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and produced by Mel Velasquez, Jessica Kariisa and Alexander Gonzales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Black churches in the Bay Area are retrofitting themselves to become “resilience hubs” in the event of a major storm or climate-related event. It’s part of a national movement called Green The Church, an organization merging the Black faith community and environmental justice. This episode first ran on Oct. 28, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we asked listeners to share their stories about dating in the Bay Area. Today, we meet some daters from all around the region and hear how they're navigating the highs and lows of the Bay Area dating scene. This episode was hosted by Jessica Kariisa. Mel Velasquez and Dana Cronin produced this episode, with additional support from Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soaring demand for AI has accelerated the building of massive data centers to support the technology, including in the Bay Area. As more centers are built, local residents and environmentalists are concerned about how they disrupt local communities and pose significant health and environmental risks. Links As California AI Data Centers Grow, So Does Dirty Energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 5, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, fulfilling a promise he made on the campaign trail. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into San Jose State University for allowing a transgender athlete to play on the volleyball team. Today, we’re revisiting an episode from December 2024 about how San Jose State’s volleyball team got caught up in the fight over women’s sports. This episode first ran on Dec. 4, 2024. Links: NCAA Bars Trans Athletes as Federal Officials Launch Investigation of San José State Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 1, 2025 a massive fire broke out at the Martinez Refinery Company’s petroleum refinery leading to unsafe air conditions and a shelter in place order. It’s the third major incident at the refinery in the past five years. KQED’s Julie Small explains what led to the fire and how residents are responding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ursula Jones Dickson, a superior court judge, has been chosen as Alameda County’s new District Attorney, 3 months after voters recalled Pamela Price from office. KQED’s Samantha Lim explains why Jones Dickson was picked, and how she promises to be different from her predecessor. This episode was produced by Mel Velasquez and Jessica Kariisa, and guest hosted by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump has vowed to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as part of his plans for mass deportations. During World War II, this law was one of several legal tools the government used to imprison nearly 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry. Now, Japanese Americans in the Bay Area are drawing on their stories of trauma and survival to resist the Trump administration's immigration plans. Links: Bay Area Japanese Americans Draw on WWII Trauma to Resist Deportation Threats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we hear how President Trump’s immigration rhetoric is impacting farmworker communities in Half Moon Bay. Later, we discuss why so many Walgreens are closing San Francisco and how a major budget shortfall is impacting academic and athletic departments at Sonoma State. Links: ‘Trump's Coming’: California Farmworker Groups Rattled by Threatening Postcards Walgreens closures leave entire SF neighborhoods without a pharmacy Sonoma State Is Reeling After Huge Cuts. Where Does the School Go From Here? ‘They’re Scared to See Our Faces’: Angry Sonoma State Community Protests Wide Cuts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians started returning to northern Gaza after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire is currently in its first stage; 33 hostages will be returned to Israel and 2,000 Palestinian prisoners will be released. Despite initial celebrations, many are nervous about whether this ceasefire will hold, and what Gaza’s future will look like. Today, we hear reactions to the ceasefire from three Palestinians in northern California who have family in Gaza. This episode was produced by Jessica Kariisa, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Mel Velasquez. It was edited by Alan Montecillo and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Tentative Relief and Fear: 4 Bay Area Palestinian Americans React to the Gaza Ceasefire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Vallejo to Richmond, Concord to Alameda, military bases were once huge parts of life in the Bay Area. These days, it can be hard to believe whole cities were built around them. So why are there so many abandoned military bases today? KQED's Pauline Bartolone looked into it for Bay Curious. Links: Part II: Surprising Ways Former Bay Area Military Bases Are Transforming (and Why It Takes So Long) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working on an episode about dating in the Bay Area — the good, the bad, and everything in between — and we’d love to hear from you. What’s your experience been like? What’s dating like in your city? Leave us a voicemail at 415-710-9223, or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Let us know your name, your city, and your story. Also, if you’re open to being interviewed for the podcast, tell us and we may follow up with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled from office in the November election, has been charged with eight counts of conspiracy and bribery. Last week, federal officials unsealed an indictment which includes Thao, her longtime romantic partner, and two prominent businessmen affiliated with the city’s recycling contractor. KQED's Alex Hall breaks down this news. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, and Mel Velasquez, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the biggest names in tech — Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai — got priority seating at President Donald Trump’s inauguration this week. But what will Silicon Valley’s turn towards Trump mean for the rest of us? This episode was hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and produced by Alan Montecillo and Jessica Kariisa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Donald Trump is sworn in as president for the second time, we hear from Bay Area residents and officials about their hopes and fears for the next 4 years. Special thanks to Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, Juan Carlos Lara, Alastair Boone, Tessa Paoli, and KQED's Forum team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wildfires in Los Angeles County have placed renewed attention on the dangerous, low-wage work of California’s inmate firefighters. In 2021, a new law aimed to help formerly incarcerated people get firefighting jobs after release. But many still face significant barriers. Links: Join us on Wed, Jan. 22 for our Fixit Clinic event at KQED HQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting in March, San Francisco will have speed cameras at 33 different locations throughout the city. Many advocates and city officials hope these cameras will help improve road safety in San Francisco, which saw its highest traffic death toll in nearly two decades last year. Links: Join us on Wed, Jan. 22 for our Fixit Clinic live event! This episode was hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and produced by Jessica Kariisa and Alan Montecillo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices