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 info...
Oct 01, 2021•24 min
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 prod...
Sep 29, 2021•23 min
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 host...
Sep 27, 2021•23 min
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 b...
Sep 24, 2021•18 min
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. Gues...
Sep 22, 2021•19 min
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 abo...
Sep 20, 2021•20 min
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
Sep 17, 2021•19 min
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 Episo...
Sep 15, 2021•16 min
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: h...
Sep 13, 2021•31 min
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 tra...
Sep 10, 2021•23 min
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 Fitzge...
Sep 08, 2021•19 min
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 ...
Sep 03, 2021•26 min
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...
Sep 01, 2021•19 min
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 me...
Aug 30, 2021•18 min
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/ad...
Aug 27, 2021•18 min
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. T...
Aug 25, 2021•28 min
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 he...
Aug 23, 2021•24 min
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 Ag...
Aug 20, 2021•20 min
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 he...
Aug 18, 2021•15 min
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
Aug 16, 2021•18 min
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
Aug 13, 2021•21 min
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 he...
Aug 11, 2021•21 min
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 ...
Aug 09, 2021•22 min
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 Flui...
Aug 06, 2021•21 min
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, Wed...
Aug 04, 2021•19 min
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
Aug 02, 2021•16 min
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 thebay@kqed.org. 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 n...
Jul 05, 2021•3 min
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 ...
Jul 02, 2021•44 min
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 ...
Jun 30, 2021•18 min
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 newsl...
Jun 28, 2021•19 min
