The Bay

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Alan, and intern Ellie talk about a possible tax on oil refining in Richmond, the debate over farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay, and Berkeley’s baby falcons. Plus, an interview with Tamuna Chkareuli, a visiting journalist from the Republic of Georgia who has been working at KQED for the past few weeks. Links: After 'Foreign Agent' Law Defeat, Georgian Protesters Set Sights on Elections Richmond Oil Refining Tax on Chevron, a Major Polluter, Moves Closer to Ballot Half Moon Bay Farmworker Housing Gains Approval After Push by Newsom Meet the falcons: Aurora, Eclipse, Nox and Sol Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ride BART, you may have seen uniformed employees with the words ‘Crisis Intervention Specialist” on their backs. About 20 of these ‘CIS-es’ — who are not police officers — can be seen walking through trains, seeking out and offering help to the many people in the sprawling transit system struggling with lack of shelter, mental health problems or addiction. KQED’s Matthew Green joins us to talk about what he learned about this program, and what a morning on the job was like. Links: 'We Approach in Peace': Are BART's Efforts to Help People in Crisis Working? This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie-Prickett Morgan, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and Tamuna Chkareuli, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his 12 years with The Golden State Warriors, DJ D Sharp has seen it all — from the team’s lowest point to the championship rings. Raised in East Oakland, D Sharp talks Rightnowish host Pendarvis Harshaw about his journey, inspiration and a go-to Warriors song. This episode originally aired May 2, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, California voters passed Proposition 22, which allowed app-based companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors and not employees with full benefits. It was a big win for companies like Uber and Lyft, who spent unprecedented amounts of money to get the measure passed. Now, the issue is back — this time before the California Supreme Court, which heard a case on Prop. 22 this Tuesday. KQED’s Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos explain in an episode of the Political Breakdown podcast. Links: Nov, 13, 2020: With Prop. 22 Approved, Regulating Gig Companies Just Got a Lot Harder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Less than half of all San Francisco pharmacies carry buprenorphine, one of the most powerful medications used to treat opioid addiction, according to San Francisco’s Department of Public Health. The city hopes to change that. This episode was produced by Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, protesters blocked the entrance of Google’s largest development conference in Mountain View to protest the tech giant’s ties with the Israeli government. At issue is Project Nimbus, Google and Amazon’s $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, including the Israeli Defense Ministry. But as KQED’s Rachael Myrow explains, Silicon Valley’s ties to Israel run much deeper — which makes divesting a tall order. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the 60s, BART was just a plan in the making. And located through its path were communities of mostly low income people of color. But thanks to a legal tool known as eminent domain, many in that community were forced to sell their homes or face eviction. This is an episode of Bay Curious that originally aired on May 16, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Jacobo was a rising star in the progressive wing of San Francisco politics when a colleague publicly accused him of rape in 2021. At that time, he largely escaped scrutiny from members of his own party. But as Josh Koehn of the San Francisco Standard reported in mid-April, three more women have publicly accused Jacobo of sexual abuse and domestic violence. And they say that leaders treated their allegations with indifference. Links: Episode Transcript Women accused a rising SF political star of rape and abuse—and met a wall of silence San Francisco created an agency to fight sexual crimes. It’s never met with police San Francisco Democrats are having a #MeToo moment as women share stories of rape, abuse This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Ellie Prickett-Morgan and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, we’re replaying this look back at a thriving Indian American theater company in the South Bay. This episode originally aired Sept. 9, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel testified before Congress on the district’s handling of antisemitism allegations in public schools. The hearing comes after a group of Jewish parents, along with the Brandeis Center and Anti-Defamation League, filed a federal complaint in February alleging “severe” antisemitism in the district. However, many pro-Palestinian parents, educators and students have pushed back, arguing that the complaint unfairly conflates critiques of Israel with antisemitism. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Forever, the billionaire-backed group behind an effort to build a city from scratch in Eastern Solano County, is plowing ahead in its campaign to convince voters. Last week, the company announced that it has gathered enough signatures to qualify its measure for the November ballot. KQED’s Adhiti Bandlamundi unpacks the last few months of campaigning and speaks to voters. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ellie-Prickett Morgan, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Links: Episode transcript The Bay: California Forever Unveils Ballot Measure Plans for Its New City The Bay: The Silicon Valley Giants Who Want to Build a New City in Solano County Become a KQED member Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making this podcast is a lot of work, but we do it because we care. Help us keep it going by becoming a KQED member. Today, we take you behind the scenes and show you how an episode gets made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pro-Palestine protests have popped up on college campuses nationwide, with some becoming the epicenters of violent counter-protests and arrests by police. In the Bay Area, however, what have become known as ‘solidarity encampments’ have remained largely peaceful so far. Today, we hear from student journalists at San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, and Sonoma State about what’s been happening on their respective campuses. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the state’s sickest patients are stranded in hospitals for weeks, months, and even years as they wait to be moved into nursing homes and psychiatric facilities. This backup is caused in part by nursing home staffing shortages, coupled with a rapidly aging population. KQED’s Lesley McClurg tells us the story of one Berkeley resident’s struggle to find adequate care for his wife. Links: Episode Transcript Systemic Neglect: How Staffing Shortages In Nursing Homes Leave Patients Trapped in Hospitals This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, Ericka, Maria and Alan talk about Berkeley’s newest (and youngest) District 7 city councilmember, allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in death row sentencing in Alameda County, and efforts to bring giant pandas to San Francisco. Episode Transcript Links: Cecilia Lunaparra declares victory in District 7 race for Berkeley City Council Allegations of Prosecutorial Bias Spark Review of Death Penalty Convictions in Alameda County SF Mayor Breed Talks Crime, Tourism and Pandas Ahead of China Trip A grizzly bear chase. A dead penguin. Behind the scenes, the S.F. Zoo is in turmoil over safety This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca, Alan Montecillo and Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, in what’s been described as the most significant case on homelessness in decades. Many Californians are watching this case closely — from politicians, to advocates, to unhoused residents. KQED housing reporter Vanessa Rancaño breaks down the basics of this case, and why people in the Bay are closing following it. Episode Transcript This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballots are being recounted in the race for California’s 16th Congressional house seat, which ended in a tie for second between Assemblymember Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. One or both of them will move on to face former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in November. KQED’s Guy Marzorati explains how the recount is working, and why it’s gotten a little ugly. Episode transcript This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Ellie Prickett-Morgan, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakland officials are moving ahead with a plan to rename the city’s airport to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” Residents, business groups, and airlines all have a lot to say about it, and San Francisco has also filed a lawsuit to try and stop the renaming from happening. The Oaklandside’s Eli Wolfe joins us to talk about why the name change feels existential. Episode transcript Editor’s note: Oakland International Airport is a financial supporter of KQED. This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After last year’s mass shooting at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, officials learned that some of the farmworkers had been living in shipping containers. State, federal, and local officials promised to do something about it. Now, the city is close to breaking ground on housing for the survivors and other low-wage farmworkers in the area. Links: Episode transcript Half Moon Bay Prepares to Break Ground on Farmworker Housing Become a KQED member This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Bureau of Prisons abruptly announced that it will shut down Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, the federal women’s prison infamous for an alleged culture of sexual abuse. KQED's Alex Hall tells us why this news took many people by surprise, and what it could mean for the hundreds of women inside. This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Ellie Prickett-Morgan, with production support from Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Episode transcript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices