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The Bay

Bay Area-raised host Ericka Cruz Guevarra talks with local journalists about what’s happening in the greatest region in the country. It’s the context and analysis you need to make sense of the news, with help from the people who know it best. New episodes drop Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.
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Episodes

Olympic Legends for Black Power Salute, Now Hall of Famers

John Carlos and Tommie Smith were shunned after their infamous Black Power salute on the podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. The were kicked out of the Olympics and lost their track and field careers. Now, 50 years later, they've been inducted into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, where their athletic feats are being honored as much as their courage. Guest: Rachael Myrow, Senior Editor of KQED's Silicon Valley Desk Tap here to see pictures and video of San Jose State University...

Nov 04, 201913 min

The Tiny Radio Station Relaying Critical Kincade Fire Information in Indigenous Languages

During the 2017 North Bay fires, bilingual radio station KBBF in Santa Rosa became a lifeline for many Spanish speakers in Sonoma County. At the time, emergency alerts and information were poorly translated, if at all. Now, KBBF has been filling another gap in the emergency response to the Kincade Fire by interpreting information on air in even more languages. Guests: Maribel Merino, Gervacio Peña Lopez, and Xulio Soriano, volunteers at KBBF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Nov 01, 201913 min

A Bay Farewell to Editor Erika Aguilar

Some bittersweet news from The Bay team: Our editor Erika Aguilar is leaving to head KQED’s new Housing and Affordability Desk. Erika is a founding member of The Bay and helped launch the podcast in March 2018. In this episode, The Bay team talks with Erika about making the show and why it sounds the way it does. And we get a sneak peek at Erika’s plans editing one of the biggest stories in the Bay Area right now. Guest: Erika Aguilar, Senior Editor of KQED's Housing and Affordability Desk Learn...

Oct 28, 201916 min

Living Between Fires and Blackouts

PG&E said there were failures on one of its high-voltage transmission lines just minutes before the Kincaid Fire erupted in Sonoma County. It's renewed concern that PG&E equipment is implicated. This comes at a time when the utility has been turning off power to reduce the risk of another wildfire. More than 200,000 Bay Area PG&E customers had their power shut off this week in the latest response to dangerous weather conditions that are aiding the fire in Sonoma County. The shutdowns...

Oct 25, 201912 min

San Francisco’s Car-Free Market Street Makeover

Starting in January, San Francisco will ban private cars from Market Street as part of a major overhaul to make the city’s main thoroughfare safer for pedestrians, cyclists and public transit. The plan has taken a decade to approve. What can we expect Market Street to look like not just in six months, but fifteen years? We asked Dan Brekke, transportation editor for KQED News. Subscribe to The Bay to hear more local Bay Area stories like this one. New episodes are released Monday, Wednesday and ...

Oct 23, 201916 min

Why the S.F. District Attorney’s Race Matters and What You Need to Know

This year’s race for San Francisco district attorney has been a doozy. The four-way race to replace George Gascón is wide-open. The Nov. 5 election took on some extra controversy this month when Gascón abruptly resigned. The next day, Mayor London Breed named Suzy Loftus interim DA -- just weeks before the polls close. What does this mean for the city? And why the DA position is way more important than you might think. Guest: Scott Shafer, Editor of KQED's Politics & Government Desk Subscrib...

Oct 21, 201917 min

Shaky Shaky Shaky: How to Prepare for the Next Earthquake

This week, the Bay Area felt a series of earthquakes in less than 24 hours. Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. That prompted KQED Science reporter Peter Arcuni to come up with a disaster plan. Over the course of four days, Arcuni secured his house, gathered supplies and got his family on board with an earthquake plan. And he documented the whole thing. Guest: Peter Arcuni, reporter for KQED Science Subscribe to The Bay to hear more local, Bay Area stories like th...

Oct 18, 201914 min

‘We’re Still Here’: Canoe Journey to Alcatraz to Remember the Native American Occupation 50 Years Ago

On Monday, Native people from across the West Coast gathered in San Francisco for a ceremonial canoe journey to Alcatraz Island. Each canoe represented a territory, tribe, community or family. They paddled to celebrate culture and values on Indigenous Peoples' Day, and to commemorate the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz. Guest: Alice Woelfle, KQED reporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 201917 min

KQED’s Podcast #Rightnowish Tackles How Art Shapes the Bay

Bay Area artists have a tendency to embed politics and messages for society into their creative work. KQED's newest podcast Rightnowish highlights those artists -- and how what they make is shapes (and has been shaped by) where we are. Author and KQED Arts writer Pendarvis Harshaw brings us into his conversations with artists, creatives and thinkers who teach us about Bay Area life and culture. Guest: Pendarvis Harshaw, KQED Arts writer and Host of Rightnowish Subscribe to Rightnowish on Apple P...

Oct 14, 201913 min

In Paradise, Power Shutoffs and PG&E’s Unreliability Feel Like the New Normal

PG&E shut off the lights to 800,000 customers in Northern California, including 141,000 in the Bay Area. The utility company says the goal is to reduce the risk of wildfires. These latest shutdowns come almost a year after the deadly Camp Fire in Paradise, which was caused by PG&E transmission lines. Some residents in Paradise say living with shutoffs is the new normal at a time when public trust in the utility is low. Guest: Michelle Wiley, reporter for KQED For more information about t...

Oct 11, 201915 min

Should San Francisco Force People With Mental Illness Into Treatment?

San Francisco is moving forward with a conservatorship program that would force people experiencing chronic homelessness, substance abuse and severe mental illness to get treatment even if they don't want to. A new state law allows San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego counties to create these five-year pilot programs. It's seen as a way to help people on the street who are suffering crisis, while some advocates for homeless people say conservatorships take away a person's civil liberties whe...

Oct 09, 201916 min

How Nancy Pelosi’s Beginnings Prepared Her to Lead Democrats on Impeachment

Although Nancy Pelosi didn’t run for elected office until she was 47, politics is in her blood. Born into a prominent Baltimore political family, Pelosi learned at a young age the chess-maneuvering of politics. That skill has served her well throughout her life — from raising five kids in San Francisco, to becoming the first female speaker of the house. And that skill is also what makes her the right person to lead the Democrats in this moment as they work to impeach President Donald Trump. Gues...

Oct 07, 201915 min

How the Fair Pay to Play Act Could (Finally) Lead to a Profitable Future for Female Athletes

Female athletes in the Bay Area are at a disadvantage when it comes to opportunities to play at the professional level. There are no professional women's sports teams in the Bay, compared to seven professional sports teams for men. So female athletes thrive at the collegiate level, where athletes aren't allowed to make money off of their talents. This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to change that. Advocates of female athletes say: it's good news for students, but especially women. Guest: ...

Oct 04, 201913 min

What Boulders Say About San Francisco’s Inability to Find a Solution to Homelessness

Residents with a place to live on Clinton Park, a street in San Francisco, pooled their money together to buy boulders for the neighborhood's sidewalks.* The residents have complained that people living in an encampment across the street were committing crimes and using drugs. So, the boulders were placed on the sidewalks to deter that. But others reject that argument saying rocks are not a solution to the city's housing and affordability crisis. Guest: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Columnist for th...

Oct 02, 201915 min

Why Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto Is a Problem (For Some)

North Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto” is considered the birthplace of California cuisine. It’s where the original Peet’s Coffee is located, and the neighborhood is home to Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse. For years, the culinary nickname remained a part of the neighborhood’s identity, until a new coffee shop owner said he wanted it to change, pointing to its offensive, racial context. Now, the neighborhood business association has decided to remove the name from its branding, but residents still seem spl...

Sep 30, 201913 min

When Should Vallejo Officers Be Required to Test for Drugs or Alcohol?

Vallejo residents attended a city council meeting this week wearing bright yellow stickers that read "Coked Cops Kill." They opposed efforts by the police union to delete a section of its contract that outlines when an officer could be ordered to receive drug and alcohol testing. Councilors approved the new contract, limiting when officers may be subject to drug and alcohol tests. Guest: Ericka Cruz Guevarra, producer for The Bay Read Ericka's full story on the meeting here. And below are links ...

Sep 27, 201918 min

Unplugged: PG&E Shuts Down Power In Several Northern California Cities

It’s hot. It’s dry. And your power might get shut off. PG&E has been making daily decisions this week on whether to shut off power to wildland areas in Northern California that are at risk of fire. The utility announced shutoffs in portions of Butte, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sonoma, and Yuba counties starting Wednesday. That's almost 50,000 customers. Some worry if you pull the plug, the sick and elderly could suffer without power. On the other hand, no one wants to see another deadly f...

Sep 25, 201914 min

The Voice Behind ‘I Got 5 On It’

Mike Marshall has a voice you've probably heard before. He was the vocal on the 90s anthem I’ve Got Five On It. More recently, Marshall covered San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) in the movie The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Marshall waited decades to feel recognized for his voice. And it took two movies that take place around the Bay Area to make that happen. Guest: Chloe Veltman, arts and culture reporter for KQED Click here to read Chloe's full story. Subscribe to The Ba...

Sep 23, 201917 min

Ordered Out But Fighting for Her Life to Stay

Maria Isabel Bueso immigrated to the United States from Guatemala 16 years ago so she could receive treatment in the Bay Area for a rare genetic disease. Her family has been able to stay here legally under "medical deferred action," which offers humanitarian relief to people often seeking life-saving medical treatment in the U.S. But in August, Bueso and her family received a deportation order. After she and other advocates pushed back on the Trump administration policy, the immigration agency w...

Sep 20, 201918 min

Housing is Healthcare: One Doctor’s Prescription for Solving Homelessness

President Trump and HUD Secretary Ben Carson visited the Bay Area on Tuesday. Trump attended a fundraiser but made time to call attention to the state's housing and homeless crisis. Carson toured a public housing project in San Francisco that's under construction through a public-private partnership. He said the state should look *to* the private sector for money to build housing. But one family medicine doctor and advocate for people living on the streets says solving the issue of homelessness ...

Sep 18, 201919 min

Living With Parents (Cause the Rent is Too Dang High)

In California, living with parents has become necessary for many young adults trying to save money on rent. Around 37 percent of young people ages 18 to 34 are living with their parents, according to Census data. And increasingly, those living at home are from richer coastal areas. So what does that mean for black and brown people who have been historically denied access to home ownership -- the gateway to wealth in America? Guest: Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALMatters and cohost ...

Sep 16, 201912 min

The Gig is Up: Lawmakers Pass AB 5 to Protect Gig Workers

Tech companies like Lyft and Uber have introduced America to a new way of working. They've touted a flexible, be-your-own boss work model -- though without benefits or worker protections. This week, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 5 -- a landmark bill that will extend protections and benefits for workers in the state's gig economy. But it protects workers in other industries too. Guest: Katie Orr, reporter for KQED's Politics and Government Desk Subscribe to The Bay to hear more local,...

Sep 13, 201914 min

Out of the Blocks Takes Us On A Listening Tour Through West Oakland

Heritage and gentrification intersect in West Oakland's Lower Bottoms neighborhood. That's the historical headquarters of the Black Panther Party, and the last train stop in the East Bay before San Francisco. The rising cost of housing in the Bay Area is changing the character of the Lower Bottoms, and we introduce you to the podcast Out of the Blocks to hear just how. Out of the Blocks is an immersive listening experience built from a mosaic of voices and soundscapes from inside a neighborhood....

Sep 11, 201914 min

The Conception Had An Excellent Reputation. One Bay Area Diver Asks ‘What Happened?’

The tragedy of the Conception boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast has rippled throughout the diving community. Several of the 34 people who died on Labor Day were from the Bay Area. The boat and Truth Aquatics operators are highly regarded by divers. One local dive instructor who has been on the Conception wonders how a boat with such a good reputation caught fire and caused so much destruction. Guest: Mauricio Muñoz, President of CaliDivers Scuba Diving Club and owner of Pacific Ocean Water S...

Sep 09, 201912 min

‘I’m in Shock’: What the Ghost Ship Verdict Means to Those Who Survived

The Ghost Ship trial is over, for now. The jury acquitted Max Harris, one of the two men accused of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the 2016 warehouse fire that killed 36 people. The other defendant, master tenant Derick Almena, is still locked up after a hung jury couldn’t decide whether he was guilty or innocent. The fire devastated Oakland’s artist community as the city began cracking down on unsafe living conditions. So how do artists and those who were at the Ghost Ship warehouse t...

Sep 06, 201912 min

Local Officials Calling to Bring Home SF Activist Shot in Philippines

Brandon Lee remains in critical condition after he was shot outside his home in the Philippines last month. The San Francisco native warned that the Philippine government had been intimidating him for working as a human rights advocate for indigenous communities in the Ifugao province in northern Philippines. San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney recently visited Brandon in the hospital and he joined the family in asking for government help to bring Lee back to the U.S. for care and protection. Gu...

Sep 04, 201917 min

‘There’s a Lot of Mistrust and Fear on Both Sides.’ Vallejo Residents React to Police Violence

Our reporting on deadly police shootings that have happened in Vallejo has struck a nerve with listeners, especially those who live in the city. A police shooting will ripple throughout a community and touch everyone. Instead of city landmarks, some see spots where police violence occurred. They've written us to say they are frustrated but say this is a solvable problem. Today, we'll feature some of their voices and discuss how some Vallejo residents are feeling and what they're talking about. G...

Aug 30, 201915 min

My Kid Has Anxiety. Can Their Schools Help?

Brianna Sedillo is a student at El Cerrito High School in the East Bay. After her grandfather passed away, the pressures of high school intensified for her. Her depression and anxiety kicked into high gear leaving her with few coping mechanisms to succeed in class. It's a feeling that many teenagers in school experience, and a topic that KQED's education podcast MindShift is taking on as part of it's fourth season. MindShift explores the future of learning in all its dimensions. The hosts report...

Aug 28, 201915 min

The Oakland Property Owners Who Chose Ethics Over Money

When the Cabellos listed their Oakland property for sale, they got offers from developers and corporate businesses. The property sits in the gentrified Temescal neighborhood, which is part of the reason they closed their business Baby World in 2017. The family was holding out for a buyer who understood the plight and the struggle that many people – like the Cabellos, who came to Oakland as political refugees - are going through in a rapidly gentrifying city. Then they found the perfect buyer. Gu...

Aug 26, 201918 min
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