The Bay

Black churches in the Bay Area are taking the lead on retrofitting their buildings with clean energy 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. Links: Apply to be The Bay's next intern! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Keller Fire, which ignited last Friday in the Oakland Hills, has been contained after burning 15 acres. It temporarily displaced more than 500 residents and damaged two homes. 33 years ago — almost to the day — a much larger and more catastrophic fire burned through the Oakland Hills, killing 25 people and destroying thousands of buildings. It’s a stark reminder of what can happen when wildfires spread in an urban area. This episode originally aired on Oct. 20, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new superintendent is taking the helm of the embattled San Francisco Unified School District as it faces a December deadline to close a $113 million budget deficit. That’s after a series of crises, including a botched process around school closures, led to the resignation of Superintendent Matt Wayne over the weekend. Links: Apply to be The Bay's next intern! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Sonoma County, no ballot measure has gotten more attention than Measure J. Put on the ballot by animal rights groups, Measure J would ban “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” in the county. It would be the first law of its kind in the nation. Supporters say this ban on so-called factory farms is an issue of animal welfare and environmental protection, while opponents see it as an existential threat to the farming economy. Links: Apply to be our intern! KQED voter guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Night markets have exploded in popularity over the past few years in the Bay Area. Many local downtowns and shopping districts have invested in night markets as a way to regain the foot traffic of the pre-pandemic years. In this episode, we go to the Story Road Night Market in San Jose’s Little Saigon neighborhood to eat some delicious food and talk about whether night markets are here to stay. Links: Bay Area Night Markets Fall Guide Apply to be our intern! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters in Alameda County and the city of Oakland could recall District Attorney Pamela Price and Mayor Sheng Thao in November. Price and Thao are progressives who some residents blame for issues like crime, homelessness, and drug use. Opponents say the recalls are undemocratic and unfairly target two women of color who took office less than 2 years ago. Links: Apply to be our intern! Vote for us in the Signal Awards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online campaigning has changed dramatically since the early days of dial-up modems. In a new miniseries from KQED called Close All Tabs, internet culture journalist Morgan Sung takes us on a trip down digital memory lane to understand how internet culture is influencing this year’s election. Links: Listen to Close All Tabs on KQED's Political Breakdown feed, every Saturday until the election. Apply to be our intern! Vote for us in the Signal Awards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep East Oakland used to be a thriving community with movie theaters and bowling alleys. But the crack cocaine epidemic and decades of disinvestment hit the community hard. Now, a $100 million philanthropic investment is coming to this part of Oakland, and people from the community will decide how to use it. Reporter Olivia Cruz Mayeda joins us to talk about ‘Deep Down,’ a new series on KQED Arts and Culture that explores the hopes and dreams of Deep East Oakland residents as they look towards this new investment. Links: Vote for us in the Signal Awards Apply to be our next intern Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Bay Area cities like Oakland and San Francisco use a system known as ranked choice voting in the November election. Ranked choice voting is also used in Alaska and Maine and dozens of other American cities. Today, KQED Political Breakdown host Scott Shafer speaks with Lisa Bryant, professor of political science at California State University, Fresno, about how ranked choice voting works. Links: Vote for us in the Signal Awards Apply to be our next intern Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One year ago, Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in an attack on Israel and took at least 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and displaced millions. This conflict has sparked huge reactions all over the world, especially here in California. Today, we hear from four local residents about how it has affected them over the past year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 years ago, Californians passed Prop. 47, which reclassified certain petty theft and drug possession crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. At the time, it was part of an effort to reduce prison overcrowding and promote alternatives to incarceration. Supporters of Prop. 36 say that it's time to roll back parts of that ballot measure in order to address drug crimes and retail theft. Opponents fear that it will take money away from rehabilitation services and revive the War on Drugs. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, the expansion of Medi-Cal has allowed millions of low-income Californians to get access to health care. But while demand for services has increased dramatically, providers have not seen the same increase in payments, leading to many patients being denied care. Prop 35 would make an existing tax on health insurance companies permanent and restrict the allocation of funds to certain Medi-Cal providers. Supporters say it will help address health inequities and guarantee Medi-Cal funding. Opponents worry that it creates winners and losers by prioritizing certain patients over others. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prop. 34 takes aim at how revenues earned through a federal drug pricing program are spent by a very specific number of providers. On the surface, it seems like a health care ballot measure — but underneath it all is a proxy war over rent control. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 1995, California has banned certain types of local rent control laws — specifically, on single family homes, condos, properties built after 1995, and new tenants. If Prop. 33 passes, this ban would be repealed and cities would be allowed to impose these kinds of new rent control laws in the future. Links: Is Rent Control Working and Should We Have More or Less of It? Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Editor's Note: An earlier version of this podcast episode said that nothing would change immediately if Prop 33 passes. In fact, several communities have laws that would immediately go into effect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California is an expensive place to live. That's why advocates for Prop. 32 believe it's important to raise the minimum wage for all employees to $18 an hour. Some business groups warn that it will lead to job losses and increased prices. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 57 years, the A’s played their final game in the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday afternoon. Next season, they’ll begin play in Sacramento ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. Today, we bring you sounds from the Oakland A’s last home game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for convicted crimes. In dozens of states, including California, this exception has meant that thousands of incarcerated people have been forced to work or risk punishment, oftentimes for less than $1 per hour. Prop. 6 would amend the state constitution to ban forced labor in prisons. This episode has been updated to clarify the status of California's volunteer firefighter program. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Right now, passing a local bond measure requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Supporters of Prop. 5 this should be easier, and want to amend the state constitution to lower the threshold for local bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure. If Prop. 5 passes, local bonds would require 55% of voter support instead of two-thirds. This episode has been updated to clarify ramifications of Proposition 13. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a $10 billion climate bond on the ballot. Supporters of Prop. 4 say it is urgently needed to address the wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events that are becoming more commonplace in the state. Opponents say the state should not incur more debt to pay for these projects. Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED’s Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Same-sex marriage is already legal in the state and across the nation. But thanks to Prop. 8, passed in 2008, California still has an unenforceable "zombie law" on the books that bans it. Prop. 3 would formally repeal that ban and explicitly establish marriage as a fundamental right afforded to everyone in the state constitution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the next 2 weeks, we're collaborating with our friends at Bay Curious to bring you Prop Fest — a breakdown of all 10 statewide ballot measures. First up: Proposition 2. Roof leaks, faulty air conditioning and contaminated water are just some of the issues facing many California school buildings. Supporters of Prop. 2 want the state to borrow $10 billion to help address these problems, especially in lower-income districts. But a similar bond measure failed in 2020. Will voters accept it this year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thursday night, KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle hosted an hourlong debate with 5 of the candidates for mayor of San Francisco: London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie, Aaron Peskin, and Ahsha Safai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Palestinian Americans have been trying — for nearly a year — to evacuate family members out of Gaza. But evacuating loved ones is an opaque process with rapidly changing conditions at the borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big changes are coming to the Oakland Coliseum. Next Thursday, the A’s will play their last home game there. And earlier this month, the stadium was sold to the African American Sports and Entertainment Group, whose vision for the land includes a $5 billion housing and business development. The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe explains what this sale means for the future of the Coliseum — and for the city of Oakland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 1 in 5 San Francisco residents are Chinese American. So if you want to be mayor, you need to win over the city’s Chinese communities. KQED’s Sydney Johnson tells us how the candidates are trying to woo voters in this year’s mayoral race, especially when it comes to public safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moonridge is an affordable housing community of 160 homes for low-income residents and farmworkers just outside of Half Moon Bay. It was built more than 20 years ago. As Half Moon Bay debates the issue of farmworker housing construction, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli visits Moonridge to see how living there stacks up with negative comments from city residents. Links: Take a closer look at Moonridge More Than a Year After Shooting, Half Moon Bay is Making Progress on Farmworker Housing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This summer, activists and families of people who have lost loved ones to suicide commemorated the official completion of a stainless steel safety net under the Golden Gate Bridge. Back in January, KQED’s Lesley McClurg told us the story of how family members advocated for this addition to the bridge. This episode originally aired on Jan. 16, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, a new right to repair law went into effect in California, giving consumers more access to information and tools to fix their own electronics and appliances. In one of our most popular episodes (ever!) from February, KQED’s Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman takes us to a Fixit Clinic in Redwood City. Links: Fixit Clinic Calendar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been 4 years since Alameda County voters passed Measure C, a sales tax measure aimed at increasing access to social services for low-income families. After years of legal battles, the county can finally use the money it has been collecting, and advocates hope it will provide relief to families struggling with child care costs. Links: As state cuts loom, a court ruling provides a lifeline for child care access in Alameda County Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode contains explicit language. This Labor Day, Bay Curious brings us the story of Carol Leigh — better known as “Scarlot Harlot” — the woman who coined the term “sex work,” and the history of the sex worker rights movement in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, KQED California politics and government senior editor Molly Solomon joins us to talk about how Kamala Harris tells her life story to a national audience — and why she might be reluctant to mention Berkeley. Also, we discuss a lead water crisis at Oakland schools, and why some journalists are dismayed with a deal Google just reached with state lawmakers to pay millions of dollars to support local news. Links: As Kamala Harris Claims Oakland, Berkeley Forgives ‘OUSD has failed at its most basic job’: Families, teachers demand answers on lead California tried to make Google pay news outlets. The company cut a deal that includes funding AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2016 and 2020, Berkeley and Oakland passed ballot measures giving 16 and 17-year olds the right to vote in local school board races. It took years — and a lot of pressure from student activists — but in this election, Alameda County is finally ready to let students cast their ballots. Links: Register to vote online (click “pre-register”) How Teen Voters in Berkeley, Oakland Can Shape Upcoming School Board Elections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seemed like California Forever, the billionaire-backed company intent on building a brand new city in Solano County, was going full speed ahead with a ballot measure that would have authorized construction. But late last month, the group abruptly pulled the measure, promising to bring it back in 2026. So what changed? Background: This Tech-Backed Company Tried to Disrupt California’s Housing Crisis. It Couldn’t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1973, the Black Panthers opened the Oakland Community School in East Oakland. It is regarded as one of the nation’s first community schools — a model where public schools partner with community organizations to provide comprehensive support services alongside academic instruction. Many of the school’s practices formed the blueprint for community schools today. Today, our friends at KQED’s Mindshift podcast dive into the pioneering initiatives of the Black Panthers, and show how Oakland schools are using this model now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, the Richmond City Council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have imposed a new oil-refining tax on the nearby Chevron refinery. Instead, the council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with the company. KQED’s Dan Brekke explains why city leaders chose to strike a deal instead of taking the issue to the ballot box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 500 Californians are in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, where Democrats will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris as their party’s nominee for president. One of them is Igor Tregub, a newly elected member of the Berkeley City Council and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever driven an electric vehicle, you know that finding a public charging station can be stressful. But we’ll need a lot more of them soon. California plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035, and by then the charging crunch could get much worse. Today, our friends at Bay Curious explore what it will take to get more charging stations across the Bay Area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 Bay Area public schools are already at risk of being inundated with ocean and groundwater, according to a new analysis by KQED and Climate Central. KQED’s Ezra David Romero tells us how the threat of sea level rise has already ignited a debate over rebuilding a middle school in Marin County. This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Alan Montecillo, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Schools in Deep Water: Bay Area Faces Uphill Battle Against Climate Change Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Jon Jacobo, a once-rising star in the progressive wing of San Francisco politics, was arrested on charges of sexual assault and domestic violence. These charges come nearly 3 years after a former colleague, Sasha Perigo, publicly accused him of rape. Earlier this year, reporting in the San Francisco Standard found that three more women filed police reports against Jacobo, detailing allegations of stalking, harassment, and physical violence. On Tuesday, Jacobo pleaded not guilty. Today, we’re sharing an episode with Josh Koehn, who reported this story for the San Francisco Standard earlier this year, about the women who say their stories were ignored. This episode originally aired on May 15, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mohammad Subeh, a Palestinian-American ER doctor from the South Bay city of Saratoga, went to Gaza for his first medical mission in February. When we spoke with him back in April, his next steps were clear: he wanted to go back. Today, Dr. Subeh tells us about his second trip to Gaza. This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has promised ‘very aggressive’ sweeps of homeless encampments this month, on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that gives cities more leeway to fine or jail people for camping in public. KQED’s Sara Hossaini joins us to talk about what’s changed on the ground — and what hasn’t. This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. But before she burst onto the national stage, Harris got her start here in the Bay Area. She was born in Oakland, raised in Berkeley, and worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and in San Francisco, where she served as District Attorney from 2004 to 2010. So today, we're revisiting this episode from January 2019 — back when Harris first ran for president — about how Bay Area politics shaped her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late July, voters in the city of Millbrae, in northern San Mateo County, overwhelmingly recalled 2 of their 5 city councilmembers. It’s a fight that started nearly a year ago, when former Councilmembers Angelina Cahalan and Maurice Goodman declined to publicly oppose a permanent supportive housing project. KQED’s Adhiti Bandlamudi tells us how that dispute snowballed into yet another recall election in the Bay Area. 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

We’re still technically on our July break, but...breaking news is breaking. Today, we bring you reactions to Sunday’s news that President Joe Biden will not be running for re-election. Links: How San Francisco Shaped VP Nominee Kamala Harris Biden Drops Out, Endorses Kamala Harris. Now What? This episode was hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and produced by Alan Montecillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We work really hard to bring you 3 episodes a week. But we’ll admit: sometimes it's good to take a break from the news. We won't be making new episodes during the month of July. We’re using this time to reset, rest, do some team bonding, and brainstorm what we want to make for you in the coming year. We will resume our regular schedule starting on Friday, August 2. You can still reach us on Twitter at @thebaykqed or via e-mail [email protected]. We always love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss last week’s FBI raid on the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, what lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom cut in order to close California’s budget deficit, and what climate experts are expecting this fire season. Plus, we. say goodbye to our intern, Ellie Prickett-Morgan. In this episode we state that the FBI raided three homes belonging to the Duong family. The FBI raided two homes belonging to the Duong family, along with the corporate headquarters of their company California Waste Solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past 5 years, KQED’s Rightnowish podcast spotlighted artists and culture keepers from all over the Bay Area. In doing so, Host Pendarvis Harshaw and producer Marisol Medina-Cadena showed a love for the culture that is unmatched. On July 18, Rightnowish will air its last episode. Today, we sit down with Pen and Marisol to reflect on the rich archive of culture they’ve built. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many queer people, the Bay Area is seen as a place of safety and community. This Pride month, we hear the story of one queer person’s journey to the Bay, in their own words. This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan, Adhiti Bandlamudi, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Alan Montecillo. Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willie Mays, the San Francisco Giants’ baseball legend, died Tuesday at age 93. Mays played 21 seasons with the Giants and is considered by many to be the greatest all-around baseball player ever. Today, KQED Morning Edition host Brian Watt brings us a tribute to the ‘Say Hey Kid’. Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An election to recall 2 school board members is underway in the 900-person town of Sunol in Alameda County. The recall targets 2 of the town's 3 school board members, who voted in September to ban all flags other than the state and federal flags, which recall supporters saw as an attempt to prevent a LGBTQ Pride flag from being flown at the district's only school. Links: California Recall Elections Test Strength of Conservative School Board Movement Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Adhiti Bandlamudi and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices