window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"arts_13919422": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13919422",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919422",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13919403,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1024
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
}
},
"publishDate": 1663781260,
"modified": 1663781379,
"caption": "A bill before Gov. Gavin Newsom would force prosecutors to seek a judge’s approval to introduce rap lyrics to a jury.",
"description": null,
"title": "Rap-Lyrics-Illo_Take-5",
"credit": "Photo illustration by Martin do Nascimento/CalMatters/iStock",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "an illustration in blue and white of a rapper with lyrics",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13919319": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13919319",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919319",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13919318,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-160x105.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 105
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-scaled.jpg",
"width": 2560,
"height": 1687
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-2048x1350.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1350
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-1020x672.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 672
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-1536x1012.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1012
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-1920x1265.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1265
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-800x527.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 527
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/touringmusicians1c_custom-20a6ed7e81330ba9f402f7daa4a4585c551d6106-768x506.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 506
}
},
"publishDate": 1663692051,
"modified": 1663692051,
"caption": null,
"description": null,
"title": "The Oakland artist Spellling is one of countless musicians this year to have tours disrupted by a band member catching COVID-19, with costly and draining consequences.",
"credit": null,
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": null,
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13919298": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13919298",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919298",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13919294,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 799
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-1020x679.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 679
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/rembe-768x511.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 511
}
},
"publishDate": 1663626242,
"modified": 1663626309,
"caption": "Banners along the facade of the former Geary Theater announce the building's new name. ",
"description": null,
"title": "rembe",
"credit": "Kevin Berne / A.C.T.",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": null,
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13918961": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13918961",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13918961",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13918908,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-160x116.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 116
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1.jpg",
"width": 1673,
"height": 1211
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1020x738.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 738
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1536x1112.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1112
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x579.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 579
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-768x556.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 556
}
},
"publishDate": 1662683884,
"modified": 1663005259,
"caption": "Los Rakas perform at Town Nights in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ).",
"description": null,
"title": "RS57312_053_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": null,
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13918807": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13918807",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13918807",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13916410,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-160x105.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 105
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-scaled.jpg",
"width": 2560,
"height": 1685
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-2048x1348.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1348
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-1020x672.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 672
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-1536x1011.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1011
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-1920x1264.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1264
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-800x527.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 527
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/GettyImages-1395829870-768x506.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 506
}
},
"publishDate": 1662572054,
"modified": 1662572366,
"caption": "Elvis Costello, seen here during the 2022 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, is set to perform at the 2022 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park. ",
"description": null,
"title": "2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival",
"credit": "Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage/Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "a man with a guitar and sunglasses on stage",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13918339": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13918339",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13918339",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13918308,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-1038x576.jpeg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-160x84.jpeg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 84
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-672x372.jpeg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler.jpeg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1006
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-1020x534.jpeg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 534
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-1536x805.jpeg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 805
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-800x419.jpeg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 419
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler-768x402.jpeg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 402
}
},
"publishDate": 1661890400,
"modified": 1662075638,
"caption": "Rajiv Nema plays Raavan in Ramayan, the 100th production of the South Bay theater company Naatak.",
"description": "Rajiv Nema plays Raavan in Ramayan, the 100th production of the South Bay theater company Naatak.",
"title": "RajivNema_as_Raavan_photo_by_KyleAdler",
"credit": "Photo by Kyler Adler / digital art by Vikas Dhurka",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A playful row of human heads, all from the same actor, depicting multiple facial expressions.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13917626": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13917626",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917626",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13917506,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1024
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.MAIN_-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
}
},
"publishDate": 1660586747,
"modified": 1660586932,
"caption": "Phillip Garcia in 'Sprung,' the new TV series premiering Friday, Aug. 19. ",
"description": null,
"title": "Garcia.MAIN",
"credit": "Freevee/Amazon",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A Latino man sits on a fence, looking left, with lush green hills in the background",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13917570": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13917570",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917570",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13917567,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-1024x576.jpg",
"width": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1.jpg",
"width": 1024,
"height": 683
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-800x534.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 534
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/GettyImages-1175417838-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
}
},
"publishDate": 1660324000,
"modified": 1660324192,
"caption": "Salman Rushdie in 2019, appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in England.",
"description": null,
"title": "Cheltenham Literature Festival 2019",
"credit": "David Levenson/Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "An Indian man with receding hairline, spectacles and a closely cropped white beard, looks to the camera.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13917429": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13917429",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917429",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13917362,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-160x90.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 90
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-1020x574.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 574
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-1536x864.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 864
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-800x450.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 450
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.crop_-768x432.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 432
}
},
"publishDate": 1660236265,
"modified": 1660236278,
"caption": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Castro.MAIN.crop",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": null,
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13917099": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13917099",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917099",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13917098,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-160x90.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 90
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-scaled-e1659634556593.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-2048x1152.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1152
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-1020x574.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 574
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-1536x864.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 864
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-1920x1080.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1080
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-800x450.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 450
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/gettyimages-1242298627_wide-7d0c267577af423be7db600d28e062085fb3aa6f-768x432.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 432
}
},
"publishDate": 1659634278,
"modified": 1659634622,
"caption": "Brittney Griner holds a picture of her Russian basketball team as she stands inside a defendants' cell before a court hearing in Khimki, outside Moscow.",
"description": null,
"title": "Brittney Griner holds a picture of her Russian basketball team as she stands inside a defendants' cell before a court hearing in Khimki, outside Moscow.",
"credit": "EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": null,
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13916831": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13916831",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13916831",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13916823,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-1024x576.jpg",
"width": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-160x100.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 100
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_.jpg",
"width": 1024,
"height": 640
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-1020x638.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 638
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-800x500.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 500
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.BW_-768x480.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 480
}
},
"publishDate": 1659292499,
"modified": 1659293104,
"caption": "Bill Russell pictured in 1956, near the end of his time at the University of San Francisco. The basketball great and McClymonds High School graduate died Sunday, July 31, according to a family announement.",
"description": null,
"title": "BillRussell.BW",
"credit": "Bettman Collection/Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A young Black man in a white T-shirt and taped fingers aims a basketball upward, against a black background",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"arts_13917016": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "arts_13917016",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917016",
"found": true
},
"parent": 13916810,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-160x104.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 104
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie.jpg",
"width": 1269,
"height": 826
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-1020x664.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 664
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-800x521.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 521
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Festival.Selfie-768x500.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 500
}
},
"publishDate": 1659463335,
"modified": 1659463403,
"caption": "While risk of monkeypox is relatively low in crowd settings, experts say, there are certain precautions one can take.",
"description": null,
"title": "Festival.Selfie",
"credit": "iStock",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A group of six young friends dogpile for a selfie in a field.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"byline_arts_13919403": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_arts_13919403",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_arts_13919403",
"name": "\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/nigelduara/\">Nigel Duara\u003c/a>",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_arts_13917506": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_arts_13917506",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_arts_13917506",
"name": "Brian Watt and Alexander Gonzalez",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_arts_13917567": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_arts_13917567",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_arts_13917567",
"name": "The Associated Press",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_arts_13917098": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_arts_13917098",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_arts_13917098",
"name": "Rachel Treisman",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_arts_13916823": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_arts_13916823",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_arts_13916823",
"name": "Jimmy Golen, Associated Press",
"isLoading": false
},
"gmeline": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "185",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "185",
"found": true
},
"name": "Gabe Meline",
"firstName": "Gabe",
"lastName": "Meline",
"slug": "gmeline",
"email": "gmeline@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"arts"
],
"title": "Senior Editor, KQED Arts & Culture",
"bio": "Gabe Meline entered journalism at age 15 making photocopied zines, and has since earned awards from the Edward R. Murrow Awards, the Society for Professional Journalists, the Online Journalism Awards, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Prior to KQED, he was the editor of the \u003cem>North Bay Bohemian\u003c/em> and a touring musician. He lives with his wife and daughter in his hometown of Santa Rosa, CA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5bebe57be0d8bc2dd318934feb47299e2d2d10cba28d09d8d7afb389a2ce2bdd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "artschool",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "hiphop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Gabe Meline | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor, KQED Arts & Culture",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5bebe57be0d8bc2dd318934feb47299e2d2d10cba28d09d8d7afb389a2ce2bdd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5bebe57be0d8bc2dd318934feb47299e2d2d10cba28d09d8d7afb389a2ce2bdd?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/gmeline"
},
"rachael-myrow": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "251",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "251",
"found": true
},
"name": "Rachael Myrow",
"firstName": "Rachael",
"lastName": "Myrow",
"slug": "rachael-myrow",
"email": "rmyrow@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Senior Editor of KQED's Silicon Valley News Desk",
"bio": "• I write and edit stories about how Silicon Valley power and policies shape everyday life in California. I’m also passionate about making Bay Area history and culture more accessible to a broad public. • I’ve been a journalist for most of my life, starting in high school with The Franklin Press in Los Angeles, where I grew up. While earning my first degree in English at UC Berkeley, I got my start in public radio at KALX-FM. After completing a second degree in journalism at Cal, I landed my first professional job at Marketplace, then moved on to KPCC (now LAist), and then KQED, where I hosted The California Report for more than seven years. • My reporting has appeared on NPR, The World, WBUR’s \u003ci>Here & Now\u003c/i>, and the BBC. I also guest host for KQED’s \u003ci>Forum\u003c/i>, as well as the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. • I speak periodically on media, democracy and technology issues, and do voiceover work for documentaries and educational video projects. • Outside of the studio, you'll find me hiking Bay Area trails and whipping up Insta-ready meals in my kitchen. • I do not accept gifts, money, or favors from anyone connected to my reporting, I don't pay people for information, and I do not support or donate to political causes. • I strive to treat the people I report on with fairness, honesty, and respect. I also recognize there are often multiple sides to a story and work to verify information through multiple sources and documentation. If I get something wrong, I correct it.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3ed8a3c5f26025e4a805ba634cda8cd764906b97438a6d9ce216b044e340da4e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "rachaelmyrow",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelmyrow/",
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"edit_others_posts",
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Rachael Myrow | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor of KQED's Silicon Valley News Desk",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3ed8a3c5f26025e4a805ba634cda8cd764906b97438a6d9ce216b044e340da4e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3ed8a3c5f26025e4a805ba634cda8cd764906b97438a6d9ce216b044e340da4e?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/rachael-myrow"
},
"esilvers": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "7237",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "7237",
"found": true
},
"name": "Emma Silvers",
"firstName": "Emma",
"lastName": "Silvers",
"slug": "esilvers",
"email": "esilvers@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Emma Silvers is an editor at KQED Arts and a former digital producer at KQED News. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she has previously been an arts and entertainment editor at the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>, \u003cem>SF Weekly\u003c/em> and the \u003cem>San Francisco Bay Guardian.\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.emmasilvers.com\">Her work\u003c/a> has also appeared in \u003cem>Rolling Stone\u003c/em>, Pitchfork and \u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>. In 2017 she was the recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists-Northern California's award for arts and culture reporting. In 1993 she \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/16759/wait-what-my-coworker-was-a-voice-over-hyperventilator-for-jurassic-park\">hyperventilated in \u003cem>Jurassic Park\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/247beada39b88ea5759db1f51dba05cf?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "emmaruthless",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Emma Silvers | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/247beada39b88ea5759db1f51dba05cf?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/247beada39b88ea5759db1f51dba05cf?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/esilvers"
},
"nvoynovskaya": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11387",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11387",
"found": true
},
"name": "Nastia Voynovskaya",
"firstName": "Nastia",
"lastName": "Voynovskaya",
"slug": "nvoynovskaya",
"email": "nvoynovskaya@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"arts"
],
"title": "Editor and reporter",
"bio": "Nastia Voynovskaya is a reporter, editor and host at KQED Arts & Culture. She's been covering the arts in the Bay Area for over a decade, with a focus on music, queer culture, labor issues and grassroots organizing. She has edited KQED story series such as Trans Bay: A History of San Francisco's Gender-Diverse Community, and co-created KQED's Bay Area hip-hop history project, That's My Word. Nastia's work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and San Francisco Press Club. She regularly appears on podcasts and radio programs, including NPR's All Songs Considered, and hosts live events where music, culture and conversation meet.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5025ee460e5a85d69ca20ea6c6f2f80d7e17795c828f61ea3aecfcd924e9042e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": "https://www.instagram.com/nananastia/",
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "podcasts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "hiphop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Nastia Voynovskaya | KQED",
"description": "Editor and reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5025ee460e5a85d69ca20ea6c6f2f80d7e17795c828f61ea3aecfcd924e9042e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5025ee460e5a85d69ca20ea6c6f2f80d7e17795c828f61ea3aecfcd924e9042e?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/nvoynovskaya"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"arts_category_news": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_235",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "235",
"score": 10.810253
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 236,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "News",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "arts",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 49
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/arts?category=news",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 49
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"arts_13919403": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13919403",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919403",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1663785984000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1663785984,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Rap on Trial: California Bill Would Limit Prosecutors’ Use of Lyrics As Evidence",
"headTitle": "Rap on Trial: California Bill Would Limit Prosecutors’ Use of Lyrics As Evidence | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>UPDATE\u003c/strong>: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2799 on Sept. 30, 2022.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gary Bryant Jr. exchanged gunfire with a man in an Antioch apartment parking lot on a July afternoon in 2014. Both were struck by bullets. Bryant survived and the other man died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police said it was part of a string of gang shootings in the East Bay. At trial, prosecutors alleged—and a jury agreed—that Bryant and an accomplice were guilty of first-degree murder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant, then 28, was a local rapper in Pittsburg who uploaded music videos to YouTube. In his lyrics, he talked about gang war, shooting at rivals and challenging other rappers. At Bryant’s trial, an Antioch police officer testified that the lyrics were key to understanding his criminal mindset.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Bryant said the phrase “geeked up,” the police officer alleged, he meant he was armed with guns. His words “lay a demo,” the officer said, meant shooting at someone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A University of California, Irvine, professor acting as a witness for Bryant disagreed, saying that “geeked up” was commonly understood to mean intoxicated, and “laying a demo” meant to record a track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant may have been convicted without the introduction of rap lyrics—prosecutors and police said he and another man were in the parking lot to rob a carload of people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But readily using such lyrics as evidence in a criminal case may soon change in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A bill before Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> would force prosecutors who want to use rap lyrics, or any other form of creative expression, to hold a pretrial hearing away from the jury to prove that the lyrics or other artistic expression are relevant to the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill by Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer of Los Angeles would require judges to balance the value of the evidence with the “undue prejudice” and racial bias possible when that evidence is presented to a jury. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Assembly Bill 2799\u003c/a> passed the Legislature late last month, with no registered opposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Civil liberties advocates are also challenging the practice \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/rap-lyrics-law-passes-new-york-senate-young-thug/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in New York\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a pretty large body of information and a pretty strong body of opinion that prosecutors and their gang experts have their heads on backwards,” said Stephen Munkelt, executive director of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, which wrote in support of the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Munkelt compared gang investigations to evidence that has begun to be rooted out of courtrooms, like bite-mark analysis or polygraph tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919423\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1568px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919423\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg\" alt=\"a young Black man in a brown tank top stands with his arm around his mother, a petite woman in a green top\" width=\"1568\" height=\"1045\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1568px) 100vw, 1568px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gary Bryant Jr. with his mother, Denise Holdman. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Denise Holdman)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/arz62&div=26&id=&page=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As early as 1991\u003c/a>, prosecutors have used rap lyrics both to reveal a defendant’s mindset and as confessionals: They wanted juries to believe that rappers quite literally did the things they were rapping about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 2000s, Louisiana prosecutors repeatedly used the lyrics of New Orleans rappers against them in murder trials, including Corey Miller, McKinley Phipps Jr. and, most recently, Torrence Hatch, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.spin.com/2012/04/lil-boosies-lyrics-will-be-used-against-him-murder-trial/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">raps as Lil Boosie\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationwide, researchers have found approximately \u003ca href=\"https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/346447748.pdf\">500 cases\u003c/a> of lyrics—almost always rap—introduced in state or federal trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Looking back, Bryant’s attorney, Evan Kuluk, said he would have challenged the introduction of lyrics at the 2017 trial, but research into the use of creative expression was in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I wish I had the information and the materials I have now with which to make the objection at that time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, when Mr. Bryant tried to explain to the jury the bigger cultural picture of rap music, he was shut down by prosecution objections that were mostly sustained.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kuluk’s office searched all Contra Costa County trials that resulted in appeal, and found that lyrics were introduced in 13 of them, all related to rap music. Ten of the defendants were Black and three were Latino. None was white.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton declined to comment on the bill or Bryant’s case. Becton took office in September 2017, months after Bryant’s conviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becton is a member of the progressive \u003ca href=\"https://prosecutorsalliance.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prosecutors Alliance of California\u003c/a>, a small group of district attorneys that supports alternatives to incarceration. The Prosecutors Alliance also declined to comment on the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Evan Kuluk, Gary Bryant's attorney\"]‘When Mr. Bryant tried to explain to the jury the bigger cultural picture of rap music, he was shut down by prosecution objections that were mostly sustained.’[/pullquote]Bryant, sentenced to life in prison, is appealing his conviction, though his case isn’t explicitly about rap lyrics. Instead, he’s using a broader law from 2020, arguing that the original trial violated AB 2452, the \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Racial Justice Act\u003c/a>. The act allows individuals to appeal their convictions if they can show prosecutors or their witnesses used racially discriminatory language to get a conviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant is also seeking to remove the gang enhancements to his conviction, arguing both were improperly influenced by racist stereotypes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrea Dennis, a University of Georgia law professor who pioneered the analysis of creative expression in criminal trials and wrote the 2019 book \u003cem>Rap on Trial\u003c/em>, reviewed Bryant’s trial’s transcripts for his appeal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The prosecution utilized racially coded and inaccurate assumptions of rap music as criminal confessions and autobiographies and stereotypes of Black men as inherently dangerous criminals to secure Gary Bryant’s conviction,” she wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To show the mindset of prosecutors who use rap lyrics at trial, Dennis quoted from Bureau of Justice Assistance guidance to local prosecutors in 2004.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Invariably, by the time the jury sees the defendant at trial, his hair has grown out to a normal length, his clothes are nicely tailored, and he will have taken on the aura of an altar boy,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/prosecuting-gang-cases-what-local-prosecutors-need-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote Alan Jackson\u003c/a> for the American Prosecutors Research Institute. “But the real defendant is a criminal wearing a do-rag and throwing a gang sign. Gang evidence can take a prosecutor a long way toward introducing that jury to that person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Kuluk, that’s exactly what happened to Bryant: In court, his music videos and Facebook posts were introduced to the jury. He was photographed in a do-rag, and he made a letter “B” with his hands, which prosecutors alleged was a local gang sign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Denise Holdman, Bryant's mother\"]‘The whole music industry uses violence in their songs, you know? But my son is not violent. Those lyrics don’t portray who he is.’[/pullquote]The bill before the governor also highlights the role of gang investigators, who tend to be working police officers, academics or retired members of law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Bryant’s case, his attorney has challenged the prosecution’s use of an officer without academic training in gang investigations working in the department that investigated Bryant’s case. The officer later testified to the lyrics’ so-called meaning, which were contested by the defense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Robert Grant III, a former Los Angeles police officer who now does consulting work in gang investigations, said the bill before Newsom would “narrow” the way gang investigators do their jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is really, what is the person rapping about?” Grant said. “Is it literally their participation in gang activities in this incident? Is what the substance is close enough to their actual physical activity?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant said police officers often are legitimate experts in gang investigations. As beat cops or supervisors, they’re closest to the people they’re investigating, and most familiar with the use and intent of what might be very local slang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Defense attorneys always want to describe us officers as a bunch of knuckle-dragging thugs that just come up with opinions out of our butt,” Grant said. “We are a lot more intelligent about what we try to do in the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Robert Grant III, former Los Angeles police officer\"]‘As much as they would like for (rap lyrics) to be outside of the consideration for us as experts, I still get to consider it now and I still will.’[/pullquote]“The whole music industry uses violence in their songs, you know?” Holdman said. “But my son is not violent. Those lyrics don’t portray who he is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Holdman will be in court Sept. 30, when Bryant has a hearing for a new trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant, the gang investigator, said proponents of the bill “hoping gang investigations will be minimized or destroyed” will be disappointed by the outcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s going to be a lot of people upset when they realize that for me as an expert, I get to use both admissible and inadmissible evidence to describe my opinion,” Grant said, meaning he can still interpret what lyrics or gang signs mean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As much as they would like for (rap lyrics) to be outside of the consideration for us as experts, I still get to consider it now and I still will.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1556,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 42
},
"modified": 1705006355,
"excerpt": "A bill on Gov. Newsom's desk could change of the life of people like East Bay rapper Gary Bryant Jr., whose music was cited in a 2017 trial that ultimately saw the artist convicted of murder.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "A bill on Gov. Newsom's desk could change of the life of people like East Bay rapper Gary Bryant Jr., whose music was cited in a 2017 trial that ultimately saw the artist convicted of murder.",
"title": "Rap on Trial: California Bill Would Limit Prosecutors’ Use of Lyrics As Evidence | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Rap on Trial: California Bill Would Limit Prosecutors’ Use of Lyrics As Evidence",
"datePublished": "2022-09-21T11:46:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:52:35-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "rap-on-trial-california-bill-would-limit-prosecutors-use-of-lyrics-as-evidence",
"status": "publish",
"sourceUrl": "https://calmatters.org/",
"templateType": "standard",
"nprByline": "\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/author/nigelduara/\">Nigel Duara\u003c/a>",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"source": "CalMatters",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"path": "/arts/13919403/rap-on-trial-california-bill-would-limit-prosecutors-use-of-lyrics-as-evidence",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>UPDATE\u003c/strong>: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2799 on Sept. 30, 2022.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gary Bryant Jr. exchanged gunfire with a man in an Antioch apartment parking lot on a July afternoon in 2014. Both were struck by bullets. Bryant survived and the other man died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police said it was part of a string of gang shootings in the East Bay. At trial, prosecutors alleged—and a jury agreed—that Bryant and an accomplice were guilty of first-degree murder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant, then 28, was a local rapper in Pittsburg who uploaded music videos to YouTube. In his lyrics, he talked about gang war, shooting at rivals and challenging other rappers. At Bryant’s trial, an Antioch police officer testified that the lyrics were key to understanding his criminal mindset.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Bryant said the phrase “geeked up,” the police officer alleged, he meant he was armed with guns. His words “lay a demo,” the officer said, meant shooting at someone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A University of California, Irvine, professor acting as a witness for Bryant disagreed, saying that “geeked up” was commonly understood to mean intoxicated, and “laying a demo” meant to record a track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant may have been convicted without the introduction of rap lyrics—prosecutors and police said he and another man were in the parking lot to rob a carload of people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But readily using such lyrics as evidence in a criminal case may soon change in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A bill before Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> would force prosecutors who want to use rap lyrics, or any other form of creative expression, to hold a pretrial hearing away from the jury to prove that the lyrics or other artistic expression are relevant to the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill by Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer of Los Angeles would require judges to balance the value of the evidence with the “undue prejudice” and racial bias possible when that evidence is presented to a jury. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Assembly Bill 2799\u003c/a> passed the Legislature late last month, with no registered opposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Civil liberties advocates are also challenging the practice \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/rap-lyrics-law-passes-new-york-senate-young-thug/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in New York\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a pretty large body of information and a pretty strong body of opinion that prosecutors and their gang experts have their heads on backwards,” said Stephen Munkelt, executive director of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, which wrote in support of the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Munkelt compared gang investigations to evidence that has begun to be rooted out of courtrooms, like bite-mark analysis or polygraph tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919423\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1568px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919423\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg\" alt=\"a young Black man in a brown tank top stands with his arm around his mother, a petite woman in a green top\" width=\"1568\" height=\"1045\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Gary-Bryant-Jr-CM-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1568px) 100vw, 1568px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gary Bryant Jr. with his mother, Denise Holdman. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Denise Holdman)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/arz62&div=26&id=&page=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As early as 1991\u003c/a>, prosecutors have used rap lyrics both to reveal a defendant’s mindset and as confessionals: They wanted juries to believe that rappers quite literally did the things they were rapping about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 2000s, Louisiana prosecutors repeatedly used the lyrics of New Orleans rappers against them in murder trials, including Corey Miller, McKinley Phipps Jr. and, most recently, Torrence Hatch, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.spin.com/2012/04/lil-boosies-lyrics-will-be-used-against-him-murder-trial/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">raps as Lil Boosie\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationwide, researchers have found approximately \u003ca href=\"https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/346447748.pdf\">500 cases\u003c/a> of lyrics—almost always rap—introduced in state or federal trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Looking back, Bryant’s attorney, Evan Kuluk, said he would have challenged the introduction of lyrics at the 2017 trial, but research into the use of creative expression was in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I wish I had the information and the materials I have now with which to make the objection at that time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, when Mr. Bryant tried to explain to the jury the bigger cultural picture of rap music, he was shut down by prosecution objections that were mostly sustained.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kuluk’s office searched all Contra Costa County trials that resulted in appeal, and found that lyrics were introduced in 13 of them, all related to rap music. Ten of the defendants were Black and three were Latino. None was white.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton declined to comment on the bill or Bryant’s case. Becton took office in September 2017, months after Bryant’s conviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Becton is a member of the progressive \u003ca href=\"https://prosecutorsalliance.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prosecutors Alliance of California\u003c/a>, a small group of district attorneys that supports alternatives to incarceration. The Prosecutors Alliance also declined to comment on the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "‘When Mr. Bryant tried to explain to the jury the bigger cultural picture of rap music, he was shut down by prosecution objections that were mostly sustained.’",
"name": "pullquote",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"align": "right",
"size": "medium",
"citation": "Evan Kuluk, Gary Bryant's attorney",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Bryant, sentenced to life in prison, is appealing his conviction, though his case isn’t explicitly about rap lyrics. Instead, he’s using a broader law from 2020, arguing that the original trial violated AB 2452, the \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Racial Justice Act\u003c/a>. The act allows individuals to appeal their convictions if they can show prosecutors or their witnesses used racially discriminatory language to get a conviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bryant is also seeking to remove the gang enhancements to his conviction, arguing both were improperly influenced by racist stereotypes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrea Dennis, a University of Georgia law professor who pioneered the analysis of creative expression in criminal trials and wrote the 2019 book \u003cem>Rap on Trial\u003c/em>, reviewed Bryant’s trial’s transcripts for his appeal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The prosecution utilized racially coded and inaccurate assumptions of rap music as criminal confessions and autobiographies and stereotypes of Black men as inherently dangerous criminals to secure Gary Bryant’s conviction,” she wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To show the mindset of prosecutors who use rap lyrics at trial, Dennis quoted from Bureau of Justice Assistance guidance to local prosecutors in 2004.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Invariably, by the time the jury sees the defendant at trial, his hair has grown out to a normal length, his clothes are nicely tailored, and he will have taken on the aura of an altar boy,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/prosecuting-gang-cases-what-local-prosecutors-need-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote Alan Jackson\u003c/a> for the American Prosecutors Research Institute. “But the real defendant is a criminal wearing a do-rag and throwing a gang sign. Gang evidence can take a prosecutor a long way toward introducing that jury to that person.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Kuluk, that’s exactly what happened to Bryant: In court, his music videos and Facebook posts were introduced to the jury. He was photographed in a do-rag, and he made a letter “B” with his hands, which prosecutors alleged was a local gang sign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "‘The whole music industry uses violence in their songs, you know? But my son is not violent. Those lyrics don’t portray who he is.’",
"name": "pullquote",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"align": "right",
"size": "medium",
"citation": "Denise Holdman, Bryant's mother",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The bill before the governor also highlights the role of gang investigators, who tend to be working police officers, academics or retired members of law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Bryant’s case, his attorney has challenged the prosecution’s use of an officer without academic training in gang investigations working in the department that investigated Bryant’s case. The officer later testified to the lyrics’ so-called meaning, which were contested by the defense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Robert Grant III, a former Los Angeles police officer who now does consulting work in gang investigations, said the bill before Newsom would “narrow” the way gang investigators do their jobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is really, what is the person rapping about?” Grant said. “Is it literally their participation in gang activities in this incident? Is what the substance is close enough to their actual physical activity?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant said police officers often are legitimate experts in gang investigations. As beat cops or supervisors, they’re closest to the people they’re investigating, and most familiar with the use and intent of what might be very local slang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Defense attorneys always want to describe us officers as a bunch of knuckle-dragging thugs that just come up with opinions out of our butt,” Grant said. “We are a lot more intelligent about what we try to do in the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "‘As much as they would like for (rap lyrics) to be outside of the consideration for us as experts, I still get to consider it now and I still will.’",
"name": "pullquote",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"align": "right",
"size": "medium",
"citation": "Robert Grant III, former Los Angeles police officer",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“The whole music industry uses violence in their songs, you know?” Holdman said. “But my son is not violent. Those lyrics don’t portray who he is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Holdman will be in court Sept. 30, when Bryant has a hearing for a new trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant, the gang investigator, said proponents of the bill “hoping gang investigations will be minimized or destroyed” will be disappointed by the outcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s going to be a lot of people upset when they realize that for me as an expert, I get to use both admissible and inadmissible evidence to describe my opinion,” Grant said, meaning he can still interpret what lyrics or gang signs mean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As much as they would like for (rap lyrics) to be outside of the consideration for us as experts, I still get to consider it now and I still will.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13919403/rap-on-trial-california-bill-would-limit-prosecutors-use-of-lyrics-as-evidence",
"authors": [
"byline_arts_13919403"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235"
],
"tags": [
"arts_8505",
"arts_10328",
"arts_974"
],
"featImg": "arts_13919422",
"label": "source_arts_13919403"
},
"arts_13919318": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13919318",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919318",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1663693539000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts",
"term": 137
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1663693539,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Musicians Are Back On the Road, But Every Day Is a Gamble",
"headTitle": "Musicians Are Back On the Road, But Every Day Is a Gamble | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Last year was a career-defining one for Tia Cabral, the experimental singer-songwriter known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.spelllingmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spellling\u003c/a>. With her 2021 album \u003cem>The Turning Wheel\u003c/em>, she evolved from bedroom artist to maximalist composer, enlisting over two dozen instrumentalists to execute her surreal vision. It caught on: The album got rave reviews, and by the end of the year, new fans from across the world had begun asking when they would see her in concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cabral had hesitations about pandemic-era touring. The infection rates for COVID-19 had returned with a force after receding that summer, and she knew that indoor gatherings of strangers are the exact setting where risk of exposure to the virus multiplies. But she also sensed a moment of hard-won opportunity that would not last forever. “It was too hard to turn it down [because of] my eagerness to share the music that I spent so long writing,” the Oakland artist says. “I’m like, I just want to do it.” She booked a short European trip for May and June 2022 consisting of outdoor festival gigs, which she figured would be safer than playing clubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Things went well at first: Cabral and her band kept interactions outside their bubble to a minimum, wore masks as much as possible and agreed to test for COVID immediately if anyone felt unwell. But the mood changed in early June, when they arrived in Barcelona for the sprawling Primavera Sound festival. “It’s called Primavera in the City—it’s literally all over the city. There are so many people everywhere you go,” Cabral says. “So it became really hard to avoid, and stick to our regimen.” Finally, at a stop in Portugal, a bandmate tested positive. Cabral made the tough call to cancel her remaining shows, and paid for her collaborator’s quarantine in a hotel. “It just isn’t right to move forward into the unknown and into this risk for ourselves and other people,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Obstacles like the ones Cabral encountered are now features of life on the road. COVID rates in the U.S. stayed relatively high this spring and summer, and have only recently begun to dip (though the official stats don’t account for unreported home tests). But beyond the numbers, many musicians have found a set of complex and wearying tradeoffs await them on tour lately. The maze-like logistics of COVID safety are theirs to navigate, with little support from governments or their industry. Mask mandates and similar risk-reduction policies have evaporated. And audiences, perhaps starved for social connection and a sense of normalcy, have largely reverted to pre-pandemic behavior. For those operating below the very highest levels of success and infrastructure, the increased health and financial risks of mounting live music—and the burden of trying to avoid them—tend to fall hardest on the individual performers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not health officials or experts,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.panacherock.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panache Booking\u003c/a>‘s Michelle Cable, who manages Spellling, Ty Segall, Mac DeMarco and others, and books tours for artists such as Bikini Kill and Ezra Furman. “It’s added a whole other extra layer of complication and stress to touring, which is already stressful without what’s happened in the last two to three years.” [aside postid='arts_13918908']\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>A domino effect of financial losses\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Brijean Murphy is one half of the Los Angeles disco-house duo Brijean and a touring percussionist with the bands Poolside and Toro y Moi. Prior to the pandemic, Murphy toured six months out of the year, and was well-acquainted with the job’s common headaches: the busy travel schedules, cramped conditions and missed sleep, often without a huge financial payoff at the end. But lately, she says even the more mundane parts of road life—like flying on planes, where masks are no longer required—now come with “financial, personal and spiritual repercussions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the bands Murphy works with have avoided going on long runs like they used to; she’s played a few Brijean shows and some one-offs with Poolside. Despite masking and regular testing, she came down with COVID-19 in May after a string of European concerts, and had to quarantine on the East Coast. As if it weren’t enough to be sick, alone and burning money while stranded far from home, healing time from COVID can be unpredictable—the CDC estimates that nearly one in five U.S. adults experiences \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">symptoms lasting more than three months\u003c/a>—which can delay a musician’s return to the stage well after they’ve ceased to be contagious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are just so many moving parts,” Brijean says, describing her stress. “And I think on top of everybody being worked so hard, your dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Indeed, inflation hit a 40-year high in June and has come down only slightly, adding more financial pressure as musicians attempt to bounce back from two years without performance income. And as the BA.5 variant spread, show cancellations due to COVID were commonplace throughout the summer. Bikini Kill called off nearly two dozen shows when several members got sick. Blondie, touring in support of a career-spanning box set, canceled or postponed dates in Boston, New York and Connecticut. Rakim canceled his European tour, which was supposed to take place in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After a month in which we have had several COVID cases in our crew and even more close contacts requiring quarantine, it is our sad consensus that extensive foreign travel (in my case by cruise ship) is neither safe nor logistically possible,” the \u003ca href=\"https://rockthebells.com/articles/rakim-cancels-his-2022-european-tour-amid-covid-concerns/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rap veteran wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happens when shows are canceled due to COVID? If they aren’t able to reschedule lost dates, artists are obligated to refund tickets and, if applicable, give venues back their deposits. Cable says musicians who travel with a crew typically have agreements for how to compensate them in the event of cancellations; these vary, but a typical one might require paying everyone half their wages. Travel may need to be rebooked, and quarantine hotels secured. Any money already spent on promotion is likely non-refundable. Additionally, if a show doesn’t happen, a booking agent like Cable doesn’t collect her commission after putting in as much as three years of work to make a concert happen. [aside postid='arts_13918796']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If only to avoid these headaches, many artists take extra pains to keep themselves safe from COVID on the road as much as possible—although Cable says that even among musicians, that vigilance has waned. When we spoke in June, she shared that it was common for artists to request that venues require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test at the door, whether or not the local government had a mandate in place. As the summer progressed, she says, fewer clubs made this a regular practice, and performers began to follow suit. Some of her artists still ask for signage requesting that showgoers wear masks, and may even provide face coverings for audiences—but she says few patrons actually wear them, and those who do often shed them while eating, drinking, dancing or moshing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artists with bigger budgets may hire COVID compliance officers to ensure that health measures are observed, or travel separately from the rest of the touring party to further minimize exposure. These added precautions, of course, all come at a price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID tests are expensive, masks are expensive, extra hotel rooms are expensive,” Cable says. “When you’re checking at the door, it’s an extra expense of having extra people hired. … That comes out of the show settlement, meaning it ultimately comes out of the band’s payments.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’s another, less obvious cost to these arrangements: Musicians who close off backstage areas and stay away from the merch table miss out on potential networking and connections that could lead to future work. “A big part of being a freelancer and being in this field, like many fields probably, is that you can meet up with people, have social interactions, connect with people and then follow that connection,” Murphy says, “[whether] it’s working on an album together later or getting hired to go on their tour or collaborate on a different session.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13905554\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13905554\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brijean performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>Independent venues struggle, too\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Cultural attitudes toward the virus vary widely from place to place, and even in cases where the artist and venue are in total agreement on enforcing COVID safety, the social and political climate of the surrounding area can create its own hurdles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In April 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an \u003ca href=\"https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EO-21-81.pdf\">executive order\u003c/a> making it illegal for businesses in his state to ask for proof of vaccination. In response, Tom DeGeorge, owner of the 300-capacity Tampa club Crowbar, got together with venue owners from his state and Texas—where there are similar restrictions—and discovered a legal loophole that enables them to request negative PCR tests from customers. “We had to be very careful with the wording because if we screwed up, it was a $5,000 fine per infraction. So it was a risk in and of itself,” DeGeorge says. “But it did definitely help me get certain artists for shows that wanted a special requirement.” (Still, as cultural tides have turned, DeGeorge says he hasn’t had any artist ask him to check COVID tests since spring.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2020, DeGeorge led a coalition called \u003ca href=\"https://www.cltampa.com/music/here-are-the-tampa-bay-music-venues-whove-joined-the-safe-sound-responsible-concert-coalition-12213333\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Safe & Sound\u003c/a>, where Tampa music venues banded together to enforce masking and social distancing at their businesses. From about October 2020 to February 2022, DeGeorge says, he and his staff dealt with extensive backlash. “My place was tagged up. I had my beer garden destroyed. One day I had a woman spit in my face at a concert,” DeGeorge says. “I would regularly come in to work and have voicemails on the phone telling me I was a Nazi and they were going to burn my club down. I mean, it was relentless.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steven Severin says he’s found the prevailing attitude to be more cautious in Seattle, where he owns the 650-capacity concert hall \u003ca href=\"https://www.neumos.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neumos\u003c/a>. Still, like the musicians they host, venues like his have to prepare for the unpredictable: “People keep pushing tours back or canceling them,” he says. “I can’t imagine being an artist and having to navigate this stuff.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although governments and private funders created some grants to help the live music industry at the beginning of the pandemic, most relief funding has dried up—even as professionals across the industry say it still needs institutional support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DeGeorge and Severin are both members of the National Independent Venue Association, which lobbied for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), through which eligible venues could apply for emergency assistance. Throughout 2021, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13898639/further-federal-grant-delays-put-independent-venues-in-dire-straits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SVOG rollout hit numerous delays\u003c/a>, and venue owners took on debt to keep their operations going or simply closed their doors. In June, a national coalition of mayors led by San Francisco’s London Breed and Chicago’s Lori Lightfoot \u003ca href=\"https://legacy.usmayors.org/resolutions/90th_Conference/proposed-review-list-full-print-committee-individual.asp?resid=a0F4N00000QhBotUAF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">called on Congress to support the arts and culture sector’s recovery\u003c/a>, recommending that the U.S. Small Business Administration expand the time allowed for venues to use SVOG funding to cover costs incurred through March 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It will be at least till the beginning of 2023 before we get back to some type of normal,” Severin says. “That’s what I was saying like three months ago. And now I’m starting to worry that that’s going to push out even further.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919324\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13919324\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spellling performs at Primavera Sounds in Barcelona in June 2022. \u003ccite>(Sharon Lopez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>Musicians fend for themselves\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>As much as venues have struggled, there’s no comparable federal relief funding for individual artists, who are the engines driving the live music economy. Many grants from state and local governments and foundations are no longer taking applications. “I think there’s more of this attitude of like, ‘You have to deal with it. You took on this risk,’ ” Tia Cabral says. “That’s disappointing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For now, artists and their teams are left to figure things out on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brijean Murphy is still pursuing her musical aspirations while also leaning into her second, more pandemic-friendly career as an illustrator and visual artist, a job she can do without stepping foot into a crowd. “I feel like I’m still just watching [the situation] unfold and seeing how people, bands, companies, venues are reacting to this wave that we’re in, this phase of what it is to be in entertainment today,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being a live musician in 2022 “can be challenging, can be a grind, can be soul-crushing at times,” Murphy adds. But there are also moments of transcendence. “We played in San Diego, and it was this outdoor venue on the beach. It was sunset and it was sold out, and everyone was having the best time. So I feel like there are a lot of highs and lows still.” [aside postid='arts_13919062']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the lows, musicians are finding ways to stay motivated and push forward. Spellling is embarking on a headlining U.S. tour in late September that will take Cabral and her band to 15 venues from North Carolina to Oregon. This time, she knows that the liberatory feeling of performing must be tempered with constant risk assessment and caution. But she plans to make the best of the situation by using what would have been social time for introspection and songwriting on the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just have to accept that there isn’t any cutting loose, and that’s OK,” she says. “And try to turn that into a creative meditation, instead of this other picture of tour that is about dancing with strangers, crashing in people’s houses and, you know, sharing drinks and making new friends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 2458,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 31
},
"modified": 1705006363,
"excerpt": "Although President Biden declared the pandemic over, COVID can still derail musicians' careers and health. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"socialTitle": "The Daily Crisis Facing Touring Musicians Right Now %%page%% %%sep%% KQED",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "Although President Biden declared the pandemic over, COVID can still derail musicians' careers and health. ",
"title": "The Daily Crisis Facing Touring Musicians Right Now | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Musicians Are Back On the Road, But Every Day Is a Gamble",
"datePublished": "2022-09-20T10:05:39-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:52:43-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "musicians-are-back-on-the-road-but-every-day-is-a-gamble",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=1122947022&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"templateType": "standard",
"nprStoryDate": "Mon, 19 Sep 2022 09:30:30 -0400",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:37:29 -0400",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"nprHtmlLink": "https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1122947022/tour-canceled-covid-safety-concerts-masks?ft=nprml&f=1122947022",
"nprImageAgency": "NPR/Courtesy of the artist",
"nprStoryId": "1122947022",
"sticky": false,
"nprImageCredit": "Illustration by Jackie Lay/Photo by Sharon Lopez",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Mon, 19 Sep 2022 10:37:00 -0400",
"path": "/arts/13919318/musicians-are-back-on-the-road-but-every-day-is-a-gamble",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Last year was a career-defining one for Tia Cabral, the experimental singer-songwriter known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.spelllingmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spellling\u003c/a>. With her 2021 album \u003cem>The Turning Wheel\u003c/em>, she evolved from bedroom artist to maximalist composer, enlisting over two dozen instrumentalists to execute her surreal vision. It caught on: The album got rave reviews, and by the end of the year, new fans from across the world had begun asking when they would see her in concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cabral had hesitations about pandemic-era touring. The infection rates for COVID-19 had returned with a force after receding that summer, and she knew that indoor gatherings of strangers are the exact setting where risk of exposure to the virus multiplies. But she also sensed a moment of hard-won opportunity that would not last forever. “It was too hard to turn it down [because of] my eagerness to share the music that I spent so long writing,” the Oakland artist says. “I’m like, I just want to do it.” She booked a short European trip for May and June 2022 consisting of outdoor festival gigs, which she figured would be safer than playing clubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Things went well at first: Cabral and her band kept interactions outside their bubble to a minimum, wore masks as much as possible and agreed to test for COVID immediately if anyone felt unwell. But the mood changed in early June, when they arrived in Barcelona for the sprawling Primavera Sound festival. “It’s called Primavera in the City—it’s literally all over the city. There are so many people everywhere you go,” Cabral says. “So it became really hard to avoid, and stick to our regimen.” Finally, at a stop in Portugal, a bandmate tested positive. Cabral made the tough call to cancel her remaining shows, and paid for her collaborator’s quarantine in a hotel. “It just isn’t right to move forward into the unknown and into this risk for ourselves and other people,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Obstacles like the ones Cabral encountered are now features of life on the road. COVID rates in the U.S. stayed relatively high this spring and summer, and have only recently begun to dip (though the official stats don’t account for unreported home tests). But beyond the numbers, many musicians have found a set of complex and wearying tradeoffs await them on tour lately. The maze-like logistics of COVID safety are theirs to navigate, with little support from governments or their industry. Mask mandates and similar risk-reduction policies have evaporated. And audiences, perhaps starved for social connection and a sense of normalcy, have largely reverted to pre-pandemic behavior. For those operating below the very highest levels of success and infrastructure, the increased health and financial risks of mounting live music—and the burden of trying to avoid them—tend to fall hardest on the individual performers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not health officials or experts,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.panacherock.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panache Booking\u003c/a>‘s Michelle Cable, who manages Spellling, Ty Segall, Mac DeMarco and others, and books tours for artists such as Bikini Kill and Ezra Furman. “It’s added a whole other extra layer of complication and stress to touring, which is already stressful without what’s happened in the last two to three years.” \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13918908",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>A domino effect of financial losses\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Brijean Murphy is one half of the Los Angeles disco-house duo Brijean and a touring percussionist with the bands Poolside and Toro y Moi. Prior to the pandemic, Murphy toured six months out of the year, and was well-acquainted with the job’s common headaches: the busy travel schedules, cramped conditions and missed sleep, often without a huge financial payoff at the end. But lately, she says even the more mundane parts of road life—like flying on planes, where masks are no longer required—now come with “financial, personal and spiritual repercussions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the bands Murphy works with have avoided going on long runs like they used to; she’s played a few Brijean shows and some one-offs with Poolside. Despite masking and regular testing, she came down with COVID-19 in May after a string of European concerts, and had to quarantine on the East Coast. As if it weren’t enough to be sick, alone and burning money while stranded far from home, healing time from COVID can be unpredictable—the CDC estimates that nearly one in five U.S. adults experiences \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">symptoms lasting more than three months\u003c/a>—which can delay a musician’s return to the stage well after they’ve ceased to be contagious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are just so many moving parts,” Brijean says, describing her stress. “And I think on top of everybody being worked so hard, your dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Indeed, inflation hit a 40-year high in June and has come down only slightly, adding more financial pressure as musicians attempt to bounce back from two years without performance income. And as the BA.5 variant spread, show cancellations due to COVID were commonplace throughout the summer. Bikini Kill called off nearly two dozen shows when several members got sick. Blondie, touring in support of a career-spanning box set, canceled or postponed dates in Boston, New York and Connecticut. Rakim canceled his European tour, which was supposed to take place in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After a month in which we have had several COVID cases in our crew and even more close contacts requiring quarantine, it is our sad consensus that extensive foreign travel (in my case by cruise ship) is neither safe nor logistically possible,” the \u003ca href=\"https://rockthebells.com/articles/rakim-cancels-his-2022-european-tour-amid-covid-concerns/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rap veteran wrote\u003c/a> in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happens when shows are canceled due to COVID? If they aren’t able to reschedule lost dates, artists are obligated to refund tickets and, if applicable, give venues back their deposits. Cable says musicians who travel with a crew typically have agreements for how to compensate them in the event of cancellations; these vary, but a typical one might require paying everyone half their wages. Travel may need to be rebooked, and quarantine hotels secured. Any money already spent on promotion is likely non-refundable. Additionally, if a show doesn’t happen, a booking agent like Cable doesn’t collect her commission after putting in as much as three years of work to make a concert happen. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13918796",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If only to avoid these headaches, many artists take extra pains to keep themselves safe from COVID on the road as much as possible—although Cable says that even among musicians, that vigilance has waned. When we spoke in June, she shared that it was common for artists to request that venues require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test at the door, whether or not the local government had a mandate in place. As the summer progressed, she says, fewer clubs made this a regular practice, and performers began to follow suit. Some of her artists still ask for signage requesting that showgoers wear masks, and may even provide face coverings for audiences—but she says few patrons actually wear them, and those who do often shed them while eating, drinking, dancing or moshing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Artists with bigger budgets may hire COVID compliance officers to ensure that health measures are observed, or travel separately from the rest of the touring party to further minimize exposure. These added precautions, of course, all come at a price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID tests are expensive, masks are expensive, extra hotel rooms are expensive,” Cable says. “When you’re checking at the door, it’s an extra expense of having extra people hired. … That comes out of the show settlement, meaning it ultimately comes out of the band’s payments.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’s another, less obvious cost to these arrangements: Musicians who close off backstage areas and stay away from the merch table miss out on potential networking and connections that could lead to future work. “A big part of being a freelancer and being in this field, like many fields probably, is that you can meet up with people, have social interactions, connect with people and then follow that connection,” Murphy says, “[whether] it’s working on an album together later or getting hired to go on their tour or collaborate on a different session.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13905554\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13905554\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Brijean-Performs-at-Outside-Lands-on-Saturday-Oct.-30-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brijean performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>Independent venues struggle, too\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Cultural attitudes toward the virus vary widely from place to place, and even in cases where the artist and venue are in total agreement on enforcing COVID safety, the social and political climate of the surrounding area can create its own hurdles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In April 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an \u003ca href=\"https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EO-21-81.pdf\">executive order\u003c/a> making it illegal for businesses in his state to ask for proof of vaccination. In response, Tom DeGeorge, owner of the 300-capacity Tampa club Crowbar, got together with venue owners from his state and Texas—where there are similar restrictions—and discovered a legal loophole that enables them to request negative PCR tests from customers. “We had to be very careful with the wording because if we screwed up, it was a $5,000 fine per infraction. So it was a risk in and of itself,” DeGeorge says. “But it did definitely help me get certain artists for shows that wanted a special requirement.” (Still, as cultural tides have turned, DeGeorge says he hasn’t had any artist ask him to check COVID tests since spring.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2020, DeGeorge led a coalition called \u003ca href=\"https://www.cltampa.com/music/here-are-the-tampa-bay-music-venues-whove-joined-the-safe-sound-responsible-concert-coalition-12213333\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Safe & Sound\u003c/a>, where Tampa music venues banded together to enforce masking and social distancing at their businesses. From about October 2020 to February 2022, DeGeorge says, he and his staff dealt with extensive backlash. “My place was tagged up. I had my beer garden destroyed. One day I had a woman spit in my face at a concert,” DeGeorge says. “I would regularly come in to work and have voicemails on the phone telling me I was a Nazi and they were going to burn my club down. I mean, it was relentless.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steven Severin says he’s found the prevailing attitude to be more cautious in Seattle, where he owns the 650-capacity concert hall \u003ca href=\"https://www.neumos.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neumos\u003c/a>. Still, like the musicians they host, venues like his have to prepare for the unpredictable: “People keep pushing tours back or canceling them,” he says. “I can’t imagine being an artist and having to navigate this stuff.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although governments and private funders created some grants to help the live music industry at the beginning of the pandemic, most relief funding has dried up—even as professionals across the industry say it still needs institutional support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>DeGeorge and Severin are both members of the National Independent Venue Association, which lobbied for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), through which eligible venues could apply for emergency assistance. Throughout 2021, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13898639/further-federal-grant-delays-put-independent-venues-in-dire-straits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SVOG rollout hit numerous delays\u003c/a>, and venue owners took on debt to keep their operations going or simply closed their doors. In June, a national coalition of mayors led by San Francisco’s London Breed and Chicago’s Lori Lightfoot \u003ca href=\"https://legacy.usmayors.org/resolutions/90th_Conference/proposed-review-list-full-print-committee-individual.asp?resid=a0F4N00000QhBotUAF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">called on Congress to support the arts and culture sector’s recovery\u003c/a>, recommending that the U.S. Small Business Administration expand the time allowed for venues to use SVOG funding to cover costs incurred through March 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It will be at least till the beginning of 2023 before we get back to some type of normal,” Severin says. “That’s what I was saying like three months ago. And now I’m starting to worry that that’s going to push out even further.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919324\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13919324\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/SPELLLING-Razzmatazz-1-Sharon-Lopez11-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spellling performs at Primavera Sounds in Barcelona in June 2022. \u003ccite>(Sharon Lopez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>Musicians fend for themselves\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>As much as venues have struggled, there’s no comparable federal relief funding for individual artists, who are the engines driving the live music economy. Many grants from state and local governments and foundations are no longer taking applications. “I think there’s more of this attitude of like, ‘You have to deal with it. You took on this risk,’ ” Tia Cabral says. “That’s disappointing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For now, artists and their teams are left to figure things out on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brijean Murphy is still pursuing her musical aspirations while also leaning into her second, more pandemic-friendly career as an illustrator and visual artist, a job she can do without stepping foot into a crowd. “I feel like I’m still just watching [the situation] unfold and seeing how people, bands, companies, venues are reacting to this wave that we’re in, this phase of what it is to be in entertainment today,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being a live musician in 2022 “can be challenging, can be a grind, can be soul-crushing at times,” Murphy adds. But there are also moments of transcendence. “We played in San Diego, and it was this outdoor venue on the beach. It was sunset and it was sold out, and everyone was having the best time. So I feel like there are a lot of highs and lows still.” \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13919062",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the lows, musicians are finding ways to stay motivated and push forward. Spellling is embarking on a headlining U.S. tour in late September that will take Cabral and her band to 15 venues from North Carolina to Oregon. This time, she knows that the liberatory feeling of performing must be tempered with constant risk assessment and caution. But she plans to make the best of the situation by using what would have been social time for introspection and songwriting on the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just have to accept that there isn’t any cutting loose, and that’s OK,” she says. “And try to turn that into a creative meditation, instead of this other picture of tour that is about dancing with strangers, crashing in people’s houses and, you know, sharing drinks and making new friends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13919318/musicians-are-back-on-the-road-but-every-day-is-a-gamble",
"authors": [
"11387"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_69",
"arts_235"
],
"tags": [
"arts_10589",
"arts_11014",
"arts_10342",
"arts_10278",
"arts_11080",
"arts_1420",
"arts_6387",
"arts_11031",
"arts_2021",
"arts_18635"
],
"affiliates": [
"arts_137"
],
"featImg": "arts_13919319",
"label": "arts_137"
},
"arts_13919294": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13919294",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13919294",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1663627485000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1663627485,
"format": "standard",
"title": "The Geary Theater Has a New Name: The Toni Rembe Theater",
"headTitle": "The Geary Theater Has a New Name: The Toni Rembe Theater | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco’s Geary Theater is getting a new name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The theater, built in 1910 as the Columbia Theater, will be renamed the Toni Rembe Theater, after the San Francisco philanthropist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), which operates the building, made the announcement on Monday. The renaming is “in recognition of a $35 million gift from an anonymous donor,” the largest single gift in A.C.T.’s history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The funds provided are transformational for the future of American Conservatory Theater and the impact of our programming throughout the San Francisco Bay Area,” A.C.T. Executive Director Jennifer Bielstein said in a statement. “Toni is a role model, and we are honored to recognize her in such a deserving and significant way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A.C.T. has made the theater at 415 Geary Street its home since 1967. In 1989, the theater suffered major damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake, requiring a $28.5 million restoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919301\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919301\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/9e2af0cc-6f4a-0d8d-2869-55ff3e90f438.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Banners along the facade of the former Geary Theater announce the building’s new name. \u003ccite>(Kevin Berne / A.C.T.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The renaming of the Geary Theater follows other high-profile venue name changes in San Francisco, such as the 2019 renaming of the Giants’ ballpark, previously known as AT&T Park, to Oracle Park. Other renamings are not so corporate, including a 2018 renaming of the Nourse Auditorium, home to City Arts & Lectures. That theater is now known as the Sydney Goldstein Theater, in honor of City Arts & Lectures’ late founder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pam MacKinnon, A.C.T.’s artistic director, said in a statement: “Toni Rembe has been central to the health and wellbeing of the Bay Area theater scene. Her wide-ranging artistic taste and appreciation of artists and the special act of audiences coming together for a story make her a true theater lover.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rembe, president of the van Lӧben Sels/Rembe Rock Foundation, has served on A.C.T.’s Board of Trustees for over 20 years. She is a past president and chair of A.C.T.’s board, a past president of the Commonwealth Club, and a a retired partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 380,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 10
},
"modified": 1705006366,
"excerpt": "The renaming of the 112-year-old theater comes after a $35 million gift to American Conservatory Theater.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The renaming of the 112-year-old theater comes after a $35 million gift to American Conservatory Theater.",
"title": "The Geary Theater Has a New Name: The Toni Rembe Theater | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "The Geary Theater Has a New Name: The Toni Rembe Theater",
"datePublished": "2022-09-19T15:44:45-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:52:46-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "geary-theater-new-name-toni-rembe-act",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"path": "/arts/13919294/geary-theater-new-name-toni-rembe-act",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco’s Geary Theater is getting a new name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The theater, built in 1910 as the Columbia Theater, will be renamed the Toni Rembe Theater, after the San Francisco philanthropist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), which operates the building, made the announcement on Monday. The renaming is “in recognition of a $35 million gift from an anonymous donor,” the largest single gift in A.C.T.’s history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The funds provided are transformational for the future of American Conservatory Theater and the impact of our programming throughout the San Francisco Bay Area,” A.C.T. Executive Director Jennifer Bielstein said in a statement. “Toni is a role model, and we are honored to recognize her in such a deserving and significant way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A.C.T. has made the theater at 415 Geary Street its home since 1967. In 1989, the theater suffered major damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake, requiring a $28.5 million restoration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13919301\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13919301\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/9e2af0cc-6f4a-0d8d-2869-55ff3e90f438.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Banners along the facade of the former Geary Theater announce the building’s new name. \u003ccite>(Kevin Berne / A.C.T.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The renaming of the Geary Theater follows other high-profile venue name changes in San Francisco, such as the 2019 renaming of the Giants’ ballpark, previously known as AT&T Park, to Oracle Park. Other renamings are not so corporate, including a 2018 renaming of the Nourse Auditorium, home to City Arts & Lectures. That theater is now known as the Sydney Goldstein Theater, in honor of City Arts & Lectures’ late founder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pam MacKinnon, A.C.T.’s artistic director, said in a statement: “Toni Rembe has been central to the health and wellbeing of the Bay Area theater scene. Her wide-ranging artistic taste and appreciation of artists and the special act of audiences coming together for a story make her a true theater lover.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rembe, president of the van Lӧben Sels/Rembe Rock Foundation, has served on A.C.T.’s Board of Trustees for over 20 years. She is a past president and chair of A.C.T.’s board, a past president of the Commonwealth Club, and a a retired partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13919294/geary-theater-new-name-toni-rembe-act",
"authors": [
"185"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235",
"arts_967"
],
"tags": [
"arts_1238",
"arts_1175",
"arts_2883",
"arts_1072"
],
"featImg": "arts_13919298",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13918908": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13918908",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13918908",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1663005694000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1663005694,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say",
"headTitle": "Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Josie de la Cruz Park in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood was bustling for five Friday nights in June and July. Kids jumped in a bounce house and chased baby goats in a petting zoo. Families ate free nachos and took home school supplies and diapers. DJs spun records, graffiti artists battled and event-goers admired the sparkling paint jobs on custom cars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the event series’ closer on July 15, Grammy-nominated, Oakland-raised rap duo \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13861579/before-urbano-took-over-the-airwaves-oakland-had-los-rakas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Rakas\u003c/a> delivered an arena-worthy performance in Spanish and English as attendees of all ages danced in the low-key neighborhood park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they called us for this event, we tried to make it and perform for our people and give it 100%, like we’re performing for 100,000 people, you know,” Raka Dun, one of the MCs, told KQED while taking pictures with fans. “This is really the community that raised us and that made us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918945\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918945\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Dun and Raka Rich (left to right) of Los Rakas perform at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These gatherings weren’t put on by an entertainment company or backed by a corporate brand. They were part of a new event series called Town Nights, sponsored by Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/departments/violence-prevention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Department of Violence Prevention\u003c/a> (DVP). Rather than sending in city officials, the DVP worked with trusted community groups like \u003ca href=\"https://curyj.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice\u003c/a> (CURYJ, pronounced “courage”), which organized Town Nights in Fruitvale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s right there in their hood and it’s for the hood, by the hood,” says CURYJ co-founder and executive director George Galvis. “The people who are organizing it are their neighbors, are their community members, are people who’ve been there, done that, and there’s no otherization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional organizations—including \u003ca href=\"http://www.homiesempowerment.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Homies Empowerment\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.familybridges.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Family Bridges\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://blackculturalzone.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Black Cultural Zone\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.self-sufficiency.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://urbanpeacemovement.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Urban Peace Movement\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://hoover-fosterrac.com/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hoover Foster Resident Action Council\u003c/a> and others—\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/news/2022/dvp-summer-town-nights-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">threw their own celebrations\u003c/a> this summer with DVP funding in East Oakland, West Oakland and Chinatown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While neighbors getting together and having fun may not immediately read as a form of activism, community organizers see these types of gatherings as a vital part of combating gun violence, which rose sharply during the pandemic in Oakland, San Francisco and \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/28/san-francisco-bay-area-gun-violence-murders-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other major cities nationwide\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2021/12/23/2021-oakland-deadliest-year-since-2006-homicides-shootings-gun-violence/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2021 was Oakland’s deadliest year since 2006\u003c/a>. In addition to the pandemic’s economic impacts, experts attribute the jump in homicide rates to cuts in social services and fewer violence interrupters on the streets while COVID restrictions were in effect. [pullquote align='right' citation='George Galvis, CURYJ executive director']‘The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources.’[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For advocates, Town Nights and other free, inclusive community events are part of a larger effort to improve Oakland’s quality of life and, by extension, its public safety. To that end, community groups are keeping the momentum going with events this fall and into the holiday season, and studying the impacts of Town Nights as the political debate around public safety, mass incarceration and alternatives to policing continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918932\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918932\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ingredients for public safety: jobs and community-building\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>DVP Chief Guillermo Cespedes says that using $1.1 million of his $25 million 2021–2022 budget to fund cultural activities was a “no-brainer.” Under his leadership, the DVP takes a \u003ca href=\"https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Attachment-A-DVP-Strategic-Spending-Plan-FY-22-24-for-Report-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">public health approach to gun violence\u003c/a> that focuses on prevention and active intervention alike. DVP’s violence interrupters mediate conflicts and provide support to shooting victims in order to stop retaliation, and the department also focuses on long-term, systemic changes. That’s where programs like Town Nights come in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The small percentage of people that are committing violence … we’re concerned with changing their behavior,” Cespedes says. “At the same time, we have to change the conditions in which that behavior takes place. To do one without the other, it’s not sustainable. So I’m really hopeful in the direction that we’re going in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To understand why events like Town Nights are part of Oakland’s public safety strategy, it’s important to look at the root causes of crime, activists say. “The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources,” says Galvis of CURYJ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918937\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman picks up her prizes from a free raffle at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He and other restorative justice practitioners see those underlying factors as lack of access to food, clothing and shelter, as well as social and emotional health, educational opportunities and jobs. In his view, both political parties in America are “guilty of treating poor people as disposable”—that’s visible in Oakland, where encampments line the streets and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11904618/oakland-moves-to-close-seven-schools-despite-fierce-community-opposition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">majority-Black and Brown schools are the first to shut down\u003c/a> when the school district decides to downsize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And so when you are constantly treated in that manner, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy sometimes, and life feels more disposable,” says Galvis. “And people act in ways that are self-destructive and can be destructive to their community and their peers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Galvis knows this himself. He was incarcerated at age 17 because of his role in a drive-by shooting, but he went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Berkeley, and became a leader in his community. In addition to co-founding CURYJ, he has co-authored criminal justice reform legislation such as \u003ca href=\"https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=c82e2c981cf7d17f9f5b9c705&id=39d1cc7744\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prop 57\u003c/a>, which increased opportunities for parole for nonviolent offenders, among other changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to interrupting cycles of violence, “we don’t necessarily subscribe to this white social worker paradigm,” Galvis says. “We are in relationship with [people]. We don’t see our people as cases to be managed. … We’re extending a piece of our heart to them. That becomes a very sacred agreement. And that makes all the difference in the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918934\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lucia, 4, gets her face painted by Maria Jose at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>CURYJ helps teens and young adults find purpose through life-coaching and internships, and holds healing circles to cope with grief and trauma. The group also empowers young people to lead change by educating them on Indigenous and Black traditions and history, and campaigning for legislation that combats mass incarceration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neighborhood gatherings have long been part of what CURYJ does. And this summer, city funding allowed them to hire dozens of young people to check in visitors, clean up Josie de la Cruz Park and run activities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The young folks we’re working with are actually helping out their families with bills, with rent or food, helping out their mom and dad,” says CURYJ’s other co-founder and community healing manager Michael Muscadine, noting the Bay Area’s cost of living is an even greater burden now because of inflation. “A lot of them are going to college, it’s very challenging for them—so anything that helps.” [aside postid='arts_13884771']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beyond employing these young people for five Fridays, Town Nights was designed to get them involved in CURYJ’s other programs, including paid \u003ca href=\"https://curyj.org/programs/homies-4-justice/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Homies 4 Justice internships\u003c/a>, which are still accepting applications through Sept. 24.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I see myself in every single one of them,” says Muscadine. “I’m very patient with them. So when I see them show up for week one, week two, week three, week four, week five, and they’re out there just grinding, and then they’re checking in with me like, ‘Hey, what’s next? How can I get involved in the garden? What are you guys doing?’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s when a party in a park becomes part of healing a community, or as CURYJ life coaches like to say, “La cultura cura.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CURYJ co-founders Michael Muscadine (center) and George Galvis (right) pose for a photo with Jose Rivera of Oakland Latinos United (left) at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Tracking the impact of violence prevention\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke with community organizers from Family Bridges in Chinatown, BOSS and Black Cultural Zone in East Oakland and Urban Peace Movement in West Oakland. All shared powerful examples of Town Nights’ positive impact on their respective neighborhoods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The events brought life back to Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown, an area shaken by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11862544/does-oakland-chinatown-need-more-police-after-assaults-a-generational-divide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">high-profile attacks on elders\u003c/a> in recent years. “It was an opportunity for community members to see [others] maybe not like themselves in a safe and playful environment,” says Heidi Wong, community health home program director at Family Bridges, which serves low-income, non-English-proficient immigrants. Their events were also a way to support local small businesses still struggling from the fallout of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Verdese Carter Park in Deep East Oakland, near the San Leandro border, organizers were heartened to see people unselfconsciously having fun. “A lot of folks didn’t even have a chance to experience their childhood, right, because we’re dealing with just a number of things,” says John Jones III, director of reentry and violence prevention programs at BOSS. One young man Jones sometimes runs into on the street corner even jumped in the bounce house. “For him to feel safe enough to, what we call, ‘take his cool off’ and climb in our bouncy house—that for me was just so transformative,” Jones says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918939\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918939\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When it comes to tracking the success of Town Nights, the anecdotal evidence is there. “I think the challenge that we have is that it’s terribly expensive to do our scientific evidence to prove the connection between all those activities and violence reduction,” DVP’s Chief Cespedes says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some data is already emerging. The Department of Violence Prevention shared its findings with KQED about crime rates during Town Nights. It counted the numbers of homicides and assaults with a firearm in the police beats where the events took place, as well as adjacent police beats. Then it compared those numbers with violent events in the same areas during corresponding dates in 2021. The DVP found that during Town Nights this summer, homicides and assaults with a firearm were down 40% during event hours and down 42% the entire weekend of each event. Across the four weeks that Town Nights took place, homicides and assaults with a firearm were down in West, Central and East Oakland by 37%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918958\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918958\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-800x475.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-800x475.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-1020x605.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-160x95.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-768x456.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14.png 1284w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Data from the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention shows that assaults with a firearm and homicides dropped 40% during Town Nights celebrations compared to the same Fridays in 2021. \u003ccite>(Oakland Department of Violence Prevention)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But there’s still a lot of work to do. Despite an optimistic outlook during Town Nights, there have been 85 murders in Oakland in 2022 according to an Oakland Police Department report from Sept. 11—up from 83 at this time in 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, violence prevention experts say statistics are only part of the picture. While it’s fairly straightforward for police to tally up the number of shooting victims in a given week, it’s more difficult to quantify how many violent incidents \u003ci>could have\u003c/i> happened but didn’t, and why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“How do you prove that person A was going to shoot person B, and I intervened?” BOSS’ Jones says. “Person A is not going to go to OPD and raise their hand or go to the media and say, ‘John is right, I was going to kill this guy.’ No, they’re not going to convict themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The future of violence prevention policies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Conversations about violence prevention are happening as inequality continues to increase in the Bay Area, which experts say is the underlying cause of many public safety issues. A history of civic disinvestment in marginalized communities has only gotten worse in the pandemic. The 2010s saw a drop in homicides across California, with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2019/jun/03/gun-violence-bay-area-drop-30-percent-why-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">30% decrease in the entire Bay Area\u003c/a>. But when 2020 arrived, much of that progress reversed course. Joblessness and food insecurity soared, and people were cut off from social services and positive social outlets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s not an uncanny correlation,” says CURYJ’s Galvis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also in 2020, racial justice protests sparked calls to reexamine the role of policing and incarceration in public safety. Although the United States imprisons people at higher rates than any other country, research shows this \u003ca href=\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-prisons-make-us-safer/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">isn’t successful at deterring violent crime\u003c/a>. This prompted some Oakland residents to question whether increasing the police budget every year is the most effective way to spend city resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Law enforcement is the only institution in the United States that could fail year over year,” says Sikander Iqbal, deputy director of Urban Peace Movement, an organization that works with youth to transform social conditions that lead to community violence and mass incarceration. “Crime goes up—‘We don’t have enough resources. We need more money.’ Crime goes down—‘We’re doing a great job. We need more money to sustain our resources.’ So it’s the only institution that gets money without even having to be held to the same standard around deliverables.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the Oakland Police Department was never actually defunded despite calls to do so (it saw a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2021/06/25/oakland-2021-2023-budget-defund-police-alternatives-violence-prevention/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$38 million increase\u003c/a> in the 2021-2023 budget cycle, and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/07/covid-relief-funds-california-cities-police\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$5 million increase\u003c/a> from federal COVID relief funds), Oakland’s Reimagining Public Safety Task Force came up with 88 recommendations to divest from policing and invest in social services, which led to an influx of funding for the DVP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, other parts of the Bay Area have recently swung back to “tough-on-crime” policies, as San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11918804/breed-taps-boudin-critic-brooke-jenkins-as-new-san-francisco-da\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin\u003c/a> has demonstrated. In Oakland, the November election will show which way the political winds are blowing. The city will get a new mayor. Three city council seats are up for grabs. Alameda County will also get a new district attorney. Depending on those results, there may be an opportunity to make the kind of progressive change restorative justice advocates hope for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918938\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918938\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan Cortez and his son Diego, 5, listen to Los Rakas perform at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As policy conversations continue, the organizations that took part in Town Nights are continuing the momentum of these warm-weather get-togethers. In addition to campaigning for legislation such as \u003ca href=\"https://youthlaw.org/laws-policy/end-endless-probation-2021-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AB 503\u003c/a>, which would cut down probation time for youth, CURYJ is getting ready for a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway and some smaller neighborhood events this fall. Urban Peace Movement and Black Cultural Zone are planning an \u003ca href=\"https://blackculturalzone.org/event/the-playground-at-the-bridge-yard/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oakland Family Reunion\u003c/a> with live music and kids’ activities at the Bridge Yard in West Oakland on Sept. 17. And the city-sponsored Town Nights will be back across Oakland next summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is all part of changing that narrative of fear,” says Cespedes. “Coming together. Breaking bread. … All of that is good medicine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918936\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918936\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Armando Miranda wipes down his ’73 Chevy Caprice at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918935\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918935\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pinky La Payasita makes balloon art for children at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918947\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918947\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918943\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918943\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A dancer joins Los Rakas on stage at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918988\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918988\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Rich performs at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918989\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Dun performs at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918957\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manuel Garcia puts feathers in a headpiece before closing the night dancing with In Lak’ech Danza Azteca at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918986\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918986\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A family hangs out with various animals at the Cute and Cuddly Mobile Petting Zoo at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918987\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A goat at the Cute and Cuddly Mobile Petting Zoo at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 3100,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 39
},
"modified": 1705006396,
"excerpt": "“The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources,” says George Galvis of CURYJ.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say",
"socialTitle": "Why Oakland Invests in Arts and Culture to Reduce Gun Violence %%page%% %%sep%% KQED",
"ogTitle": "Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "“The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources,” says George Galvis of CURYJ.",
"title": "Why Oakland Invests in Arts and Culture to Reduce Gun Violence | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture, Experts Say",
"datePublished": "2022-09-12T11:01:34-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:53:16-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "oakland-department-violence-prevention-curyj-restorative-justice-town-nights",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"path": "/arts/13918908/oakland-department-violence-prevention-curyj-restorative-justice-town-nights",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Josie de la Cruz Park in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood was bustling for five Friday nights in June and July. Kids jumped in a bounce house and chased baby goats in a petting zoo. Families ate free nachos and took home school supplies and diapers. DJs spun records, graffiti artists battled and event-goers admired the sparkling paint jobs on custom cars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the event series’ closer on July 15, Grammy-nominated, Oakland-raised rap duo \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13861579/before-urbano-took-over-the-airwaves-oakland-had-los-rakas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Rakas\u003c/a> delivered an arena-worthy performance in Spanish and English as attendees of all ages danced in the low-key neighborhood park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they called us for this event, we tried to make it and perform for our people and give it 100%, like we’re performing for 100,000 people, you know,” Raka Dun, one of the MCs, told KQED while taking pictures with fans. “This is really the community that raised us and that made us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918945\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918945\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57307_050_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Dun and Raka Rich (left to right) of Los Rakas perform at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These gatherings weren’t put on by an entertainment company or backed by a corporate brand. They were part of a new event series called Town Nights, sponsored by Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/departments/violence-prevention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Department of Violence Prevention\u003c/a> (DVP). Rather than sending in city officials, the DVP worked with trusted community groups like \u003ca href=\"https://curyj.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice\u003c/a> (CURYJ, pronounced “courage”), which organized Town Nights in Fruitvale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s right there in their hood and it’s for the hood, by the hood,” says CURYJ co-founder and executive director George Galvis. “The people who are organizing it are their neighbors, are their community members, are people who’ve been there, done that, and there’s no otherization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional organizations—including \u003ca href=\"http://www.homiesempowerment.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Homies Empowerment\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.familybridges.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Family Bridges\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://blackculturalzone.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Black Cultural Zone\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.self-sufficiency.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://urbanpeacemovement.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Urban Peace Movement\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://hoover-fosterrac.com/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hoover Foster Resident Action Council\u003c/a> and others—\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/news/2022/dvp-summer-town-nights-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">threw their own celebrations\u003c/a> this summer with DVP funding in East Oakland, West Oakland and Chinatown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While neighbors getting together and having fun may not immediately read as a form of activism, community organizers see these types of gatherings as a vital part of combating gun violence, which rose sharply during the pandemic in Oakland, San Francisco and \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/28/san-francisco-bay-area-gun-violence-murders-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other major cities nationwide\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2021/12/23/2021-oakland-deadliest-year-since-2006-homicides-shootings-gun-violence/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2021 was Oakland’s deadliest year since 2006\u003c/a>. In addition to the pandemic’s economic impacts, experts attribute the jump in homicide rates to cuts in social services and fewer violence interrupters on the streets while COVID restrictions were in effect. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "‘The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources.’",
"name": "pullquote",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"align": "right",
"citation": "George Galvis, CURYJ executive director",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For advocates, Town Nights and other free, inclusive community events are part of a larger effort to improve Oakland’s quality of life and, by extension, its public safety. To that end, community groups are keeping the momentum going with events this fall and into the holiday season, and studying the impacts of Town Nights as the political debate around public safety, mass incarceration and alternatives to policing continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918932\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918932\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57285_028_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ingredients for public safety: jobs and community-building\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>DVP Chief Guillermo Cespedes says that using $1.1 million of his $25 million 2021–2022 budget to fund cultural activities was a “no-brainer.” Under his leadership, the DVP takes a \u003ca href=\"https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Attachment-A-DVP-Strategic-Spending-Plan-FY-22-24-for-Report-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">public health approach to gun violence\u003c/a> that focuses on prevention and active intervention alike. DVP’s violence interrupters mediate conflicts and provide support to shooting victims in order to stop retaliation, and the department also focuses on long-term, systemic changes. That’s where programs like Town Nights come in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The small percentage of people that are committing violence … we’re concerned with changing their behavior,” Cespedes says. “At the same time, we have to change the conditions in which that behavior takes place. To do one without the other, it’s not sustainable. So I’m really hopeful in the direction that we’re going in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To understand why events like Town Nights are part of Oakland’s public safety strategy, it’s important to look at the root causes of crime, activists say. “The safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources,” says Galvis of CURYJ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918937\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57277_020_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman picks up her prizes from a free raffle at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He and other restorative justice practitioners see those underlying factors as lack of access to food, clothing and shelter, as well as social and emotional health, educational opportunities and jobs. In his view, both political parties in America are “guilty of treating poor people as disposable”—that’s visible in Oakland, where encampments line the streets and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11904618/oakland-moves-to-close-seven-schools-despite-fierce-community-opposition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">majority-Black and Brown schools are the first to shut down\u003c/a> when the school district decides to downsize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And so when you are constantly treated in that manner, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy sometimes, and life feels more disposable,” says Galvis. “And people act in ways that are self-destructive and can be destructive to their community and their peers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Galvis knows this himself. He was incarcerated at age 17 because of his role in a drive-by shooting, but he went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Berkeley, and became a leader in his community. In addition to co-founding CURYJ, he has co-authored criminal justice reform legislation such as \u003ca href=\"https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=c82e2c981cf7d17f9f5b9c705&id=39d1cc7744\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prop 57\u003c/a>, which increased opportunities for parole for nonviolent offenders, among other changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to interrupting cycles of violence, “we don’t necessarily subscribe to this white social worker paradigm,” Galvis says. “We are in relationship with [people]. We don’t see our people as cases to be managed. … We’re extending a piece of our heart to them. That becomes a very sacred agreement. And that makes all the difference in the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918934\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57271_012_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lucia, 4, gets her face painted by Maria Jose at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>CURYJ helps teens and young adults find purpose through life-coaching and internships, and holds healing circles to cope with grief and trauma. The group also empowers young people to lead change by educating them on Indigenous and Black traditions and history, and campaigning for legislation that combats mass incarceration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neighborhood gatherings have long been part of what CURYJ does. And this summer, city funding allowed them to hire dozens of young people to check in visitors, clean up Josie de la Cruz Park and run activities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The young folks we’re working with are actually helping out their families with bills, with rent or food, helping out their mom and dad,” says CURYJ’s other co-founder and community healing manager Michael Muscadine, noting the Bay Area’s cost of living is an even greater burden now because of inflation. “A lot of them are going to college, it’s very challenging for them—so anything that helps.” \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13884771",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beyond employing these young people for five Fridays, Town Nights was designed to get them involved in CURYJ’s other programs, including paid \u003ca href=\"https://curyj.org/programs/homies-4-justice/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Homies 4 Justice internships\u003c/a>, which are still accepting applications through Sept. 24.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I see myself in every single one of them,” says Muscadine. “I’m very patient with them. So when I see them show up for week one, week two, week three, week four, week five, and they’re out there just grinding, and then they’re checking in with me like, ‘Hey, what’s next? How can I get involved in the garden? What are you guys doing?’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s when a party in a park becomes part of healing a community, or as CURYJ life coaches like to say, “La cultura cura.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57316_060_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CURYJ co-founders Michael Muscadine (center) and George Galvis (right) pose for a photo with Jose Rivera of Oakland Latinos United (left) at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Tracking the impact of violence prevention\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke with community organizers from Family Bridges in Chinatown, BOSS and Black Cultural Zone in East Oakland and Urban Peace Movement in West Oakland. All shared powerful examples of Town Nights’ positive impact on their respective neighborhoods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The events brought life back to Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown, an area shaken by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11862544/does-oakland-chinatown-need-more-police-after-assaults-a-generational-divide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">high-profile attacks on elders\u003c/a> in recent years. “It was an opportunity for community members to see [others] maybe not like themselves in a safe and playful environment,” says Heidi Wong, community health home program director at Family Bridges, which serves low-income, non-English-proficient immigrants. Their events were also a way to support local small businesses still struggling from the fallout of the pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Verdese Carter Park in Deep East Oakland, near the San Leandro border, organizers were heartened to see people unselfconsciously having fun. “A lot of folks didn’t even have a chance to experience their childhood, right, because we’re dealing with just a number of things,” says John Jones III, director of reentry and violence prevention programs at BOSS. One young man Jones sometimes runs into on the street corner even jumped in the bounce house. “For him to feel safe enough to, what we call, ‘take his cool off’ and climb in our bouncy house—that for me was just so transformative,” Jones says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918939\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918939\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57286_030_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When it comes to tracking the success of Town Nights, the anecdotal evidence is there. “I think the challenge that we have is that it’s terribly expensive to do our scientific evidence to prove the connection between all those activities and violence reduction,” DVP’s Chief Cespedes says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some data is already emerging. The Department of Violence Prevention shared its findings with KQED about crime rates during Town Nights. It counted the numbers of homicides and assaults with a firearm in the police beats where the events took place, as well as adjacent police beats. Then it compared those numbers with violent events in the same areas during corresponding dates in 2021. The DVP found that during Town Nights this summer, homicides and assaults with a firearm were down 40% during event hours and down 42% the entire weekend of each event. Across the four weeks that Town Nights took place, homicides and assaults with a firearm were down in West, Central and East Oakland by 37%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918958\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918958\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-800x475.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-800x475.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-1020x605.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-160x95.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14-768x456.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screenshot-14.png 1284w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Data from the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention shows that assaults with a firearm and homicides dropped 40% during Town Nights celebrations compared to the same Fridays in 2021. \u003ccite>(Oakland Department of Violence Prevention)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But there’s still a lot of work to do. Despite an optimistic outlook during Town Nights, there have been 85 murders in Oakland in 2022 according to an Oakland Police Department report from Sept. 11—up from 83 at this time in 2021.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, violence prevention experts say statistics are only part of the picture. While it’s fairly straightforward for police to tally up the number of shooting victims in a given week, it’s more difficult to quantify how many violent incidents \u003ci>could have\u003c/i> happened but didn’t, and why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“How do you prove that person A was going to shoot person B, and I intervened?” BOSS’ Jones says. “Person A is not going to go to OPD and raise their hand or go to the media and say, ‘John is right, I was going to kill this guy.’ No, they’re not going to convict themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The future of violence prevention policies\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Conversations about violence prevention are happening as inequality continues to increase in the Bay Area, which experts say is the underlying cause of many public safety issues. A history of civic disinvestment in marginalized communities has only gotten worse in the pandemic. The 2010s saw a drop in homicides across California, with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2019/jun/03/gun-violence-bay-area-drop-30-percent-why-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">30% decrease in the entire Bay Area\u003c/a>. But when 2020 arrived, much of that progress reversed course. Joblessness and food insecurity soared, and people were cut off from social services and positive social outlets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s not an uncanny correlation,” says CURYJ’s Galvis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also in 2020, racial justice protests sparked calls to reexamine the role of policing and incarceration in public safety. Although the United States imprisons people at higher rates than any other country, research shows this \u003ca href=\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-prisons-make-us-safer/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">isn’t successful at deterring violent crime\u003c/a>. This prompted some Oakland residents to question whether increasing the police budget every year is the most effective way to spend city resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Law enforcement is the only institution in the United States that could fail year over year,” says Sikander Iqbal, deputy director of Urban Peace Movement, an organization that works with youth to transform social conditions that lead to community violence and mass incarceration. “Crime goes up—‘We don’t have enough resources. We need more money.’ Crime goes down—‘We’re doing a great job. We need more money to sustain our resources.’ So it’s the only institution that gets money without even having to be held to the same standard around deliverables.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although the Oakland Police Department was never actually defunded despite calls to do so (it saw a \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2021/06/25/oakland-2021-2023-budget-defund-police-alternatives-violence-prevention/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$38 million increase\u003c/a> in the 2021-2023 budget cycle, and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/07/covid-relief-funds-california-cities-police\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$5 million increase\u003c/a> from federal COVID relief funds), Oakland’s Reimagining Public Safety Task Force came up with 88 recommendations to divest from policing and invest in social services, which led to an influx of funding for the DVP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, other parts of the Bay Area have recently swung back to “tough-on-crime” policies, as San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11918804/breed-taps-boudin-critic-brooke-jenkins-as-new-san-francisco-da\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin\u003c/a> has demonstrated. In Oakland, the November election will show which way the political winds are blowing. The city will get a new mayor. Three city council seats are up for grabs. Alameda County will also get a new district attorney. Depending on those results, there may be an opportunity to make the kind of progressive change restorative justice advocates hope for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918938\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918938\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57284_025_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Juan Cortez and his son Diego, 5, listen to Los Rakas perform at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As policy conversations continue, the organizations that took part in Town Nights are continuing the momentum of these warm-weather get-togethers. In addition to campaigning for legislation such as \u003ca href=\"https://youthlaw.org/laws-policy/end-endless-probation-2021-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AB 503\u003c/a>, which would cut down probation time for youth, CURYJ is getting ready for a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway and some smaller neighborhood events this fall. Urban Peace Movement and Black Cultural Zone are planning an \u003ca href=\"https://blackculturalzone.org/event/the-playground-at-the-bridge-yard/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oakland Family Reunion\u003c/a> with live music and kids’ activities at the Bridge Yard in West Oakland on Sept. 17. And the city-sponsored Town Nights will be back across Oakland next summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is all part of changing that narrative of fear,” says Cespedes. “Coming together. Breaking bread. … All of that is good medicine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918936\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918936\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57275_016_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Armando Miranda wipes down his ’73 Chevy Caprice at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918935\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918935\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57273_011_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pinky La Payasita makes balloon art for children at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918947\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918947\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57315_054_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd dances to Los Rakas at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918943\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918943\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57301_045_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A dancer joins Los Rakas on stage at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918988\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918988\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57276_022_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Rich performs at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918989\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57291_035_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raka Dun performs at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918957\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57283_026_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manuel Garcia puts feathers in a headpiece before closing the night dancing with In Lak’ech Danza Azteca at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918986\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918986\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57261_001_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A family hangs out with various animals at the Cute and Cuddly Mobile Petting Zoo at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13918987\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/RS57267_005_KQEDArts_OaklandTownNightsFruitvale_07152022-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A goat at the Cute and Cuddly Mobile Petting Zoo at Town Nights in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on July 15, 2022. The free event was hosted by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13918908/oakland-department-violence-prevention-curyj-restorative-justice-town-nights",
"authors": [
"11387"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235"
],
"tags": [
"arts_4459",
"arts_10342",
"arts_10278",
"arts_10422",
"arts_3081",
"arts_2151",
"arts_1143",
"arts_10166",
"arts_5718"
],
"featImg": "arts_13918961",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13916410": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13916410",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13916410",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1662570019000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1662570019,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Alison Brown and More to Play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2022",
"headTitle": "Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Alison Brown and More to Play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2022 | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, Sept. 7, 2022: \u003c/strong>A new round of artists has been announced as part of the lineup for this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, set to take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. Acts include Elvis Costello, Steve Earle & the Dukes, The Travelin’ McCourys, Bob Schneider, Moonalice, Cymande, Arooj Aftab, Cedric Watson, Alison Brown and Jim Lauderdale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steve Earle is scheduled to host a tribute to longtime festival regulars who have died over the past few years, like John Prine, Justin Townes Earle and Nancy Bechtle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And Elvis Costello has added a night show: “Elvis Sings Hunter-Garcia,” a tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, is set for Sept. 30 at the Great American Music Hall, with two shows at 7 and 10pm. The evening is a benefit for the nonprofit Prader-Willi Homes of California, which funds residential facilities for people with developmental disabilities. \u003ca href=\"https://gamh.com/shows-elvis-costello-sings-hunter-garcia/\">Tickets and more info here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizers say the full festival lineup will be announced Sept. 13. Check out the lineup (so far) on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\">HSB website here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, Aug. 10, 2022: \u003c/strong>Festival organizers have rolled out a second installment of the lineup for this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and it’s a good one, with a strong local showing. Artists added to the slate include festival veteran Emmylou Harris, Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew performing songs from “Remain In Light,” Sacramento’s Tré Burt, San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13817300/the-10-best-bay-area-albums-of-2017-meklit-when-the-people-move-the-music-moves-too\">Meklit\u003c/a>, Petaluma-born \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13838086/the-brothers-comatoses-trade-deal-with-china-bluegrass\">the Brothers Comatose\u003c/a>, Seratones, the Tallest Man On Earth, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2022/02/22/1082325550/jake-blount-the-man-was-burning\">Jake Blount\u003c/a>, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers and Antibalas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Playing Hardly Strictly for the first time ever this year feels a bit like coming home,” Tré Burt told organizers. “I used to sneak in and play for as long as I could on the footpaths before eventually being kicked out by security back in the day, so it feels great to actually be invited onto the stage!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Expect at least one or two more lineup announcements in the coming weeks, teased on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\">festival’s website here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, July 27, 2022:\u003c/strong> Hardly Strictly Bluegrass organizers have released \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\">an initial lineup\u003c/a> for this year’s festival. Artists slated to perform include Marcus Mumford, Allison Russell, Las Cafeteras, Lucius, Galactic, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Joy Oladokun, Charley Crockett, Buddy Miller and Dashawn Hickman. Further lineup announcements are expected in the coming weeks, teased \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via song medleys on the festival’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Original story, July 21, 2022:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the free music festival, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\">is scheduled to return in-person\u003c/a> to Golden Gate Park this year for the first time since 2019. The festival will run Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lineup of performers at this year’s Hardly Strictly festival has yet to be announced, with organizers planning to roll out artist announcements—via hint-filled song medleys—beginning July 26.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The all-ages festival was founded in 2001 by the late venture capitalist and bluegrass fan Warren Hellman, and has become a beginning-of-fall \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13810342/where-have-all-the-warren-hellmans-gone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tradition for a generation of San Franciscans\u003c/a> ever since. In pre-pandemic years, the fest reliably drew more than half a million people to Golden Gate Park for performances by folk and bluegrass icons like Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Steve Earle and Mavis Staples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='arts_13810342']The 2020 and 2021 Hardly Strictly festivals were held virtually online due to COVID, with livestreams of performances by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Chuck Prophet, Fantastic Negrito and Rainbow Girls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still funded by the Hellman Foundation more than a decade after its founder’s death, the festival remains free to attendees, and has never taken on corporate sponsors, making it a cherished anomaly in the current music festival landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Visit the festival’s website\u003c/a> for more information and lineup announcements beginning next week.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 663,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 17
},
"modified": 1705006409,
"excerpt": "After two years of livestreamed events, the free music festival will return to Golden Gate Park Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "After two years of livestreamed events, the free music festival will return to Golden Gate Park Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.",
"title": "Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Alison Brown and More to Play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2022 | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Alison Brown and More to Play Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2022",
"datePublished": "2022-09-07T10:00:19-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:53:29-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "hardly-strictly-bluegrass-to-return-in-person-to-golden-gate-park-in-2022",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"path": "/arts/13916410/hardly-strictly-bluegrass-to-return-in-person-to-golden-gate-park-in-2022",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, Sept. 7, 2022: \u003c/strong>A new round of artists has been announced as part of the lineup for this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, set to take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. Acts include Elvis Costello, Steve Earle & the Dukes, The Travelin’ McCourys, Bob Schneider, Moonalice, Cymande, Arooj Aftab, Cedric Watson, Alison Brown and Jim Lauderdale.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Steve Earle is scheduled to host a tribute to longtime festival regulars who have died over the past few years, like John Prine, Justin Townes Earle and Nancy Bechtle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And Elvis Costello has added a night show: “Elvis Sings Hunter-Garcia,” a tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, is set for Sept. 30 at the Great American Music Hall, with two shows at 7 and 10pm. The evening is a benefit for the nonprofit Prader-Willi Homes of California, which funds residential facilities for people with developmental disabilities. \u003ca href=\"https://gamh.com/shows-elvis-costello-sings-hunter-garcia/\">Tickets and more info here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizers say the full festival lineup will be announced Sept. 13. Check out the lineup (so far) on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\">HSB website here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, Aug. 10, 2022: \u003c/strong>Festival organizers have rolled out a second installment of the lineup for this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and it’s a good one, with a strong local showing. Artists added to the slate include festival veteran Emmylou Harris, Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew performing songs from “Remain In Light,” Sacramento’s Tré Burt, San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13817300/the-10-best-bay-area-albums-of-2017-meklit-when-the-people-move-the-music-moves-too\">Meklit\u003c/a>, Petaluma-born \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13838086/the-brothers-comatoses-trade-deal-with-china-bluegrass\">the Brothers Comatose\u003c/a>, Seratones, the Tallest Man On Earth, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2022/02/22/1082325550/jake-blount-the-man-was-burning\">Jake Blount\u003c/a>, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers and Antibalas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Playing Hardly Strictly for the first time ever this year feels a bit like coming home,” Tré Burt told organizers. “I used to sneak in and play for as long as I could on the footpaths before eventually being kicked out by security back in the day, so it feels great to actually be invited onto the stage!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Expect at least one or two more lineup announcements in the coming weeks, teased on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\">festival’s website here\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Update, July 27, 2022:\u003c/strong> Hardly Strictly Bluegrass organizers have released \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\">an initial lineup\u003c/a> for this year’s festival. Artists slated to perform include Marcus Mumford, Allison Russell, Las Cafeteras, Lucius, Galactic, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Joy Oladokun, Charley Crockett, Buddy Miller and Dashawn Hickman. Further lineup announcements are expected in the coming weeks, teased \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/headline/hsb22-artist-medley-1/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via song medleys on the festival’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Original story, July 21, 2022:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the free music festival, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\">is scheduled to return in-person\u003c/a> to Golden Gate Park this year for the first time since 2019. The festival will run Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lineup of performers at this year’s Hardly Strictly festival has yet to be announced, with organizers planning to roll out artist announcements—via hint-filled song medleys—beginning July 26.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The all-ages festival was founded in 2001 by the late venture capitalist and bluegrass fan Warren Hellman, and has become a beginning-of-fall \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13810342/where-have-all-the-warren-hellmans-gone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tradition for a generation of San Franciscans\u003c/a> ever since. In pre-pandemic years, the fest reliably drew more than half a million people to Golden Gate Park for performances by folk and bluegrass icons like Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Steve Earle and Mavis Staples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13810342",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The 2020 and 2021 Hardly Strictly festivals were held virtually online due to COVID, with livestreams of performances by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Chuck Prophet, Fantastic Negrito and Rainbow Girls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still funded by the Hellman Foundation more than a decade after its founder’s death, the festival remains free to attendees, and has never taken on corporate sponsors, making it a cherished anomaly in the current music festival landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Visit the festival’s website\u003c/a> for more information and lineup announcements beginning next week.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13916410/hardly-strictly-bluegrass-to-return-in-person-to-golden-gate-park-in-2022",
"authors": [
"7237"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_69",
"arts_235"
],
"tags": [
"arts_8746",
"arts_2427",
"arts_2688",
"arts_18123",
"arts_1694",
"arts_585"
],
"featImg": "arts_13918807",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13918308": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13918308",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13918308",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1662066856000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1662066856,
"format": "audio",
"title": "South Bay’s Naatak Debuts Its 100th Theater Production: The Epic ‘Ramayan’",
"headTitle": "South Bay’s Naatak Debuts Its 100th Theater Production: The Epic ‘Ramayan’ | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>The Bay Area is home to one of the largest Indian American communities in the country\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">—\u003c/span>and, as it happens, one of the largest amateur Indian American theater companies. \u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naatak\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">—\u003c/span>which means theater, or drama, in Hindi—is about to stage its 100th production.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this COVID-era world, where small arts organizations continue to struggle, it’s worth taking a moment to note the remarkable resiliency of a theater troupe launched by a couple of college students back in 1996. One of them was Sujit Saraf, who is still today the artistic director of Naatak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A close friend of mine and I were doing our Ph.D.s at Berkeley and Stanford. We had done a fair amount of theater as undergraduates in India, in Delhi. We thought it would be wonderful to recreate those days,” he says at a recent rehearsal in the modest warehouse space the theater rents in Santa Clara. “And we held an audition, and the first audition was held in my dorm at U.C. Berkeley.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>27 years later, Naatak is still going strong—as a volunteer operation. There’s nobody on payroll. Ticket sales go to covering costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918340\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2541px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918340\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three Indian dancers in bright orange costumes pose together\" width=\"2541\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-scaled.jpg 2541w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-800x806.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1020x1028.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-160x161.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-768x774.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1524x1536.jpg 1524w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-2032x2048.jpg 2032w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1920x1935.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2541px) 100vw, 2541px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Medha Acharya, Archana Kamath and Sushmita Shrikanth will perform in ‘Ramayan,’ the 100th production by South Bay theater company Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Kyle Adler )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I run a little software development company. I do this [Naatak] in my off hours,” says Saraf. “I’m a techie, I’m an engineer, like, I would say, 90% of Nataak members and perhaps even 80% of Naatak’s audience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, Silicon Valley has provided the free labor, and also the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/11511800/south-indian-arts-scene-booms-in-silicon-valley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">audiences\u003c/a>, for a host of productions over the years that include original work, Western classics with Indian American flair and Indian classics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naatak’s 100th production will be \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>, attributed to the poet Valmiki (who may be a composite of several poets, not unlike the ancient Greek Homer). The version Naatak will be performing is known as the \u003cem>Tulasi Ramayan\u003c/em> by the poet Tulsidas, an abridged version crafted by Saraf himself. [aside postid='arts_13918445']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We chose one of our two great epics which have permeated into the Indian consciousness over 2,500 years,” says Saraf, who added you cannot grow up in India without being exposed to \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s about a prince’s quest to rescue his beloved wife from the clutches of a demon king with the help of an army of monkeys and bears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918344\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2191px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918344\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Two men in classical Indian costume pretend to fight each other\" width=\"2191\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-scaled.jpeg 2191w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-800x935.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1020x1192.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-160x187.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-768x897.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1314x1536.jpeg 1314w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1753x2048.jpeg 1753w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1920x2244.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2191px) 100vw, 2191px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Abhishek Sharma and Dinesh Rao will play the brothers Bali and Sugreev in ‘Ramayan,’ the 100th production of South Bay theater company Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I grew up with stories of the \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>,” he adds. “My mother recited one of the seven chapters in \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em> every day of her life, from the age of 12, when she learned it, to the age of 61 when she died.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saraf says the story resonates with Indian and Indian American audience members alike, who have demonstrated an appetite for a wide variety of works in a wide variety of of languages; in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, as well as ancient Awadhi. “However, the vast majority of our plays are in Hindi,” Saraf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13866378']And pre-COVID, he observed that, the bigger the Naatak production, the bigger the audience. “People like musicals.” People also like to \u003cem>perform\u003c/em> musicals, and as the troupe has become more experienced over the years, Naatak is game to produce ever more ambitious works. “This play would not be possible at this scale 15 years ago,” Saraf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soumya Agastya, the producer and dance director for this production of \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>, says that, here in the South Bay, there’s a wealth of classically trained musicians and dancers to call upon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918342\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1286px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918342\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians.png\" alt=\"A row of singers and musicians rehearses in a warehouse\" width=\"1286\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians.png 1286w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-800x435.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-1020x555.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-160x87.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-768x418.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1286px) 100vw, 1286px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ambhranee Yakkundi, Tanmayi Rao, Savitha Gayathri, Nachiketa Yakkundi, Anitha Dixit, Surya Saraf, Amit Shenoy, Ajay Sundar Raj (partially cut off) rehearse ‘Ramayan’ ahead of its performance in September 2022. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I host the dance auditions and I always ask them to be six years classically trained, in Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi,” she says. “Those are the two dance forms of classical dance that we’re using today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_12808122']By day, Agastya’s an account manager in sales for Synopsis, a software company in Mountain View. Nights and weekends? Her heart belongs to Naatak. For the last 25 years, in fact. “When you do all of this hard work, and you put out a product and you have, like, 3-4,000 people who watch it and they come to you and say that was an outstanding production, or you guys did a fabulous job. Oh, it’s so rewarding. So satisfying. It’s really worth it, every bit of sweat that we put into this I think is all worth that,” Agastya says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ganapriya.com/ny/ny.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nachiketa Yakkundi\u003c/a> would agree. The Oracle software engineer has performed all over India and North America, and runs a music school in Cupertino. And he’s also in charge of the music for this production. “It is so fulfilling. It touches the heart,” he says. “It is very much what I love doing, and applying what I love already to something that is so tangible. And we have all these youngsters who are so enthusiastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An estimated 1,000 people have worked with Naatak over the years. “Our musicians and dancers are very well trained,” Saraf says, adding most of Naatak’s actors are experienced too, having performed in dozens of plays over the years. “You obviously acquire certain skills. We’ve done this many, many, many times, so we do feel that the quality of our productions is superb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918343\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918343\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"A headshot of a middle-aged, Indian-American man\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1020x1020.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-160x160.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1920x1920.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sujit Saraf is co-founder and artistic director of the South Bay theater company, Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_10971776']The pandemic has been hard on Naatak. Like other theater companies, they switched to Zoom for a year and a half. Even after a year after lockdowns lifted, Saraf estimates ticket sales are off by about 30%. But there’s nobody on the company’s payroll and no overhead except for the warehouse space in Santa Clara. “When we shut down, our only loss was the useless rent we were paying in these two spaces,” says Saraf. “Also over the years, we have been extremely frugal with our money. So we are not in any danger of shutting down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As other live entertainment operations wheeze on their last legs, Saraf says he can see the volunteer-run Naatak outlasting two or three more pandemics, and maybe even his own retirement, when that day comes. [aside postid='arts_13917757']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Well, I’ve become older, but the average age in Naatak has not increased much,” Saraf says. “Some of the new people call me ‘sir’ because they see my gray hair, and they are aware of my age, so they feel a certain distance from me. I’m waiting for the day they call me ‘uncle.’ That’s when I think it will be the time to hang up!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not quite yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-12127869\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-800x78.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"78\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-768x75.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/2022-ramayan/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naatak performs \u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/2022-ramayan/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ramayan\u003c/a>\u003cem> at Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto September 4-25, 2022. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1270,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 25
},
"modified": 1705006421,
"excerpt": "The Indian American theater company is a Silicon Valley engineer's labor of love, powered by volunteers.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The Indian American theater company is a Silicon Valley engineer's labor of love, powered by volunteers.",
"title": "South Bay’s Naatak Debuts Its 100th Theater Production: The Epic ‘Ramayan’ | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "South Bay’s Naatak Debuts Its 100th Theater Production: The Epic ‘Ramayan’",
"datePublished": "2022-09-01T14:14:16-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:53:41-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "south-bays-naatak-debuts-its-100th-theater-production-the-epic-ramayan",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-4[…]f-aaef00f5a073/3cf94dbf-3875-49b0-b5e6-af0401232438/audio.mp3",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"path": "/arts/13918308/south-bays-naatak-debuts-its-100th-theater-production-the-epic-ramayan",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Bay Area is home to one of the largest Indian American communities in the country\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">—\u003c/span>and, as it happens, one of the largest amateur Indian American theater companies. \u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naatak\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">—\u003c/span>which means theater, or drama, in Hindi—is about to stage its 100th production.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this COVID-era world, where small arts organizations continue to struggle, it’s worth taking a moment to note the remarkable resiliency of a theater troupe launched by a couple of college students back in 1996. One of them was Sujit Saraf, who is still today the artistic director of Naatak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A close friend of mine and I were doing our Ph.D.s at Berkeley and Stanford. We had done a fair amount of theater as undergraduates in India, in Delhi. We thought it would be wonderful to recreate those days,” he says at a recent rehearsal in the modest warehouse space the theater rents in Santa Clara. “And we held an audition, and the first audition was held in my dorm at U.C. Berkeley.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>27 years later, Naatak is still going strong—as a volunteer operation. There’s nobody on payroll. Ticket sales go to covering costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918340\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2541px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918340\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three Indian dancers in bright orange costumes pose together\" width=\"2541\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-scaled.jpg 2541w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-800x806.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1020x1028.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-160x161.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-768x774.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1524x1536.jpg 1524w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-2032x2048.jpg 2032w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/MedhaAcharya_ArchanaKamath_SushmitaShrikanth_photo_by_Kyle_Adler-2-1920x1935.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2541px) 100vw, 2541px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Medha Acharya, Archana Kamath and Sushmita Shrikanth will perform in ‘Ramayan,’ the 100th production by South Bay theater company Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Kyle Adler )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I run a little software development company. I do this [Naatak] in my off hours,” says Saraf. “I’m a techie, I’m an engineer, like, I would say, 90% of Nataak members and perhaps even 80% of Naatak’s audience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, Silicon Valley has provided the free labor, and also the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/11511800/south-indian-arts-scene-booms-in-silicon-valley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">audiences\u003c/a>, for a host of productions over the years that include original work, Western classics with Indian American flair and Indian classics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Naatak’s 100th production will be \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>, attributed to the poet Valmiki (who may be a composite of several poets, not unlike the ancient Greek Homer). The version Naatak will be performing is known as the \u003cem>Tulasi Ramayan\u003c/em> by the poet Tulsidas, an abridged version crafted by Saraf himself. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13918445",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We chose one of our two great epics which have permeated into the Indian consciousness over 2,500 years,” says Saraf, who added you cannot grow up in India without being exposed to \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s about a prince’s quest to rescue his beloved wife from the clutches of a demon king with the help of an army of monkeys and bears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918344\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2191px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918344\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Two men in classical Indian costume pretend to fight each other\" width=\"2191\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-scaled.jpeg 2191w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-800x935.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1020x1192.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-160x187.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-768x897.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1314x1536.jpeg 1314w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1753x2048.jpeg 1753w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1-1920x2244.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2191px) 100vw, 2191px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Abhishek Sharma and Dinesh Rao will play the brothers Bali and Sugreev in ‘Ramayan,’ the 100th production of South Bay theater company Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I grew up with stories of the \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>,” he adds. “My mother recited one of the seven chapters in \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em> every day of her life, from the age of 12, when she learned it, to the age of 61 when she died.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saraf says the story resonates with Indian and Indian American audience members alike, who have demonstrated an appetite for a wide variety of works in a wide variety of of languages; in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, as well as ancient Awadhi. “However, the vast majority of our plays are in Hindi,” Saraf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13866378",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>And pre-COVID, he observed that, the bigger the Naatak production, the bigger the audience. “People like musicals.” People also like to \u003cem>perform\u003c/em> musicals, and as the troupe has become more experienced over the years, Naatak is game to produce ever more ambitious works. “This play would not be possible at this scale 15 years ago,” Saraf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soumya Agastya, the producer and dance director for this production of \u003cem>Ramayan\u003c/em>, says that, here in the South Bay, there’s a wealth of classically trained musicians and dancers to call upon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918342\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1286px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918342\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians.png\" alt=\"A row of singers and musicians rehearses in a warehouse\" width=\"1286\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians.png 1286w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-800x435.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-1020x555.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-160x87.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Pic-1-Musicians-768x418.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1286px) 100vw, 1286px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ambhranee Yakkundi, Tanmayi Rao, Savitha Gayathri, Nachiketa Yakkundi, Anitha Dixit, Surya Saraf, Amit Shenoy, Ajay Sundar Raj (partially cut off) rehearse ‘Ramayan’ ahead of its performance in September 2022. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I host the dance auditions and I always ask them to be six years classically trained, in Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi,” she says. “Those are the two dance forms of classical dance that we’re using today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_12808122",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>By day, Agastya’s an account manager in sales for Synopsis, a software company in Mountain View. Nights and weekends? Her heart belongs to Naatak. For the last 25 years, in fact. “When you do all of this hard work, and you put out a product and you have, like, 3-4,000 people who watch it and they come to you and say that was an outstanding production, or you guys did a fabulous job. Oh, it’s so rewarding. So satisfying. It’s really worth it, every bit of sweat that we put into this I think is all worth that,” Agastya says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ganapriya.com/ny/ny.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nachiketa Yakkundi\u003c/a> would agree. The Oracle software engineer has performed all over India and North America, and runs a music school in Cupertino. And he’s also in charge of the music for this production. “It is so fulfilling. It touches the heart,” he says. “It is very much what I love doing, and applying what I love already to something that is so tangible. And we have all these youngsters who are so enthusiastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An estimated 1,000 people have worked with Naatak over the years. “Our musicians and dancers are very well trained,” Saraf says, adding most of Naatak’s actors are experienced too, having performed in dozens of plays over the years. “You obviously acquire certain skills. We’ve done this many, many, many times, so we do feel that the quality of our productions is superb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918343\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918343\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"A headshot of a middle-aged, Indian-American man\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1020x1020.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-160x160.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/image-1920x1920.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sujit Saraf is co-founder and artistic director of the South Bay theater company, Naatak. \u003ccite>(Photo: Courtesy of Naatak)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_10971776",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The pandemic has been hard on Naatak. Like other theater companies, they switched to Zoom for a year and a half. Even after a year after lockdowns lifted, Saraf estimates ticket sales are off by about 30%. But there’s nobody on the company’s payroll and no overhead except for the warehouse space in Santa Clara. “When we shut down, our only loss was the useless rent we were paying in these two spaces,” says Saraf. “Also over the years, we have been extremely frugal with our money. So we are not in any danger of shutting down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As other live entertainment operations wheeze on their last legs, Saraf says he can see the volunteer-run Naatak outlasting two or three more pandemics, and maybe even his own retirement, when that day comes. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13917757",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Well, I’ve become older, but the average age in Naatak has not increased much,” Saraf says. “Some of the new people call me ‘sir’ because they see my gray hair, and they are aware of my age, so they feel a certain distance from me. I’m waiting for the day they call me ‘uncle.’ That’s when I think it will be the time to hang up!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not quite yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-12127869\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-800x78.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"78\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/Q.Logo_.Break_-768x75.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/2022-ramayan/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naatak performs \u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.naatak.org/2022-ramayan/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ramayan\u003c/a>\u003cem> at Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto September 4-25, 2022. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13918308/south-bays-naatak-debuts-its-100th-theater-production-the-epic-ramayan",
"authors": [
"251"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235",
"arts_967"
],
"tags": [
"arts_879",
"arts_10278",
"arts_16154",
"arts_4642",
"arts_3001",
"arts_585"
],
"featImg": "arts_13918339",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13917506": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13917506",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917506",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1660587602000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1660587602,
"format": "audio",
"title": "Raised in San Jose, Phillip Garcia Stars in New Pandemic Comedy Series 'Sprung'",
"headTitle": "Raised in San Jose, Phillip Garcia Stars in New Pandemic Comedy Series ‘Sprung’ | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>When Phillip Garcia landed a starring role in the new TV comedy \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, which premieres this Friday on Amazon subsidiary Freevee, he couldn’t wait to tell his grandma—and not just because he knew she’d be proud. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 34-year-old actor, who’s guest starred on crime dramas like \u003cem>Criminal Minds\u003c/em> and \u003cem>CSI: Vegas\u003c/em>, was excited about something else: “I could spare her not having to see me die on TV anymore,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='news_11908377']Garcia, originally from San Jose, says family is important to him—on and off screen. In \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, his character Rooster is released from prison due to COVID, and he ends up sheltering in place with a group of formerly incarcerated folks. Those include the show’s hero and Rooster’s former cellmate Jack (Garret Dillahunt), Rooster’s mom Barb (Martha Plimpton) and Gloria, Jack’s former prison girlfriend (Shakira Barrera).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The show, created by Greg Garcia (\u003cem>My Name Is Earl\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Raising Hope\u003c/em>), follows Jack as he navigates life outside prison and bands together with this new family, using their criminal expertise to do some good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It becomes this Robin Hood story, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor,” said Garcia, who got his start in musical theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Brian Watt caught up with Garcia to talk about \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, his Bay Area roots and the possibility of a 49ers film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917624\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_.jpg\" alt=\"A Latino man in headshot against a dark background\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917624\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_.jpg 600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phillip Garcia. \u003ccite>(Anderson Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BRIAN WATT: Was there ever a moment of trepidation about doing a show that basically laughs at the expense of the pandemic?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PHILLIP GARCIA: Without getting too political, Greg [Garcia] did a great job, not hitting you over the head with it. The story is truly about these characters going through something that we all went through. I think we need something like this right now. We need to poke fun at ourselves a little bit, and to say, “Hey, remember when we didn’t know whether we could touch our faces?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What is it about your character Rooster that you connect with?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Initially, I auditioned for the villain character, and all my friends, they all said, “Oh, Phillip is so sweet. He has such a positive outlook.” I think that’s Rooster. He’s the good guy, but he’s misunderstood at times. If there’s something that he could mess up along the way, oh, he’ll definitely mess it up: He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. And it’s funny because my mom, Barb, played by Martha Plimpton, I think the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, in terms of the IQ perspective. Greg did a good job, making Barb and Rooster the butt of every joke.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You’re based in L.A. now, but you started in eastern San Jose, in Alum Rock. What was it like growing up there?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s predominantly Latino, more blue-collar people who are working everyday to try and make ends meet. You saw people struggling. My dad worked three jobs to try and support my brother and me. For me, to be the change, it’s a lot of weight. I just want to make my city proud. I want to make my family proud. I think about the way I grew up and the things I was surrounded by, and thank God for my family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917625\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A Latino man holds a flower in the middle of the street looking forlorn \" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phillip Garcia, seen in an episode of ‘Sprung.’ \u003ccite>(Freevee/Amazon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You’re right next to the tech sector. At one point did your dad ever look at you and say, “Hey, I hear there’s a bunch of tech jobs just right over there. If you get into tech, you know, there’s some real money to be made!”\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wanted the best for his kids. He was a positive influence on me. When he figured out I wanted to be an actor, which happened maybe in the sixth grade, I played Mogwli in \u003cem>The Jungle Book\u003c/em>. Since there were no actors or singers in my family, my dad would drive me every Sunday to a commercial acting class for kids. He was a disciplinarian, and I remember car rides on the way to an audition for a musical. He would be like, “Okay, you got to make sure you hit that note.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Throughout your career, how have you dealt with the issue of representation? There aren’t many roles for Latinos. According to a 2021 UCLA report, Latinos appeared in only about 6 percent of roles, despite making up 19 percent of the population in the United States.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I feel honored to be a part of the change. Latinx is the new wave of representation. We’re seeing a lot more diversity in film and TV. When I was growing up, all I saw on TV was George Lopez and Cheech and Chong. On our show, we have two Latinos in the lead cast—Shakira Barrera and I. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I hope there’s a young man or woman who lives on the east side of San Jose and watches \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em> and sees me, brown skin, and says, “Oh, wow, I could do that, too. You work so hard, grinding at your career and then to finally get to a point where you can give back and effect some change. That’s the dream.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>As I understand it, you’re still loyal to Bay Area sports teams. So if someone decided to make a biopic or TV show about an era for one of those teams, who would you want to play?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know! I’d want to help produce. Maybe the passing of the torch from [Joe] Montana to Steve Young [both former 49ers quarterbacks]. Those are the 49ers’ glory days, man.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"39\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12904247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-160x16.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-240x23.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-375x37.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Sprung’ premieres on Friday, Aug. 19, on the free streaming service Freevee. \u003ca href=\"https://press.amazonstudios.com/us/en/amazon-freevee-series/sprung/1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Details here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1031,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 24
},
"modified": 1705006491,
"excerpt": "The actor talks with Brian Watt about his South Bay roots, family expectations, and Latino representation. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The actor talks with Brian Watt about his South Bay roots, family expectations, and Latino representation. ",
"title": "Raised in San Jose, Phillip Garcia Stars in New Pandemic Comedy Series 'Sprung' | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Raised in San Jose, Phillip Garcia Stars in New Pandemic Comedy Series 'Sprung'",
"datePublished": "2022-08-15T11:20:02-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:54:51-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "phillip-garcia-san-jose-sprung",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-4[…]f-aaef00f5a073/7a803c56-07a2-44f9-b7a5-aef700170292/audio.mp3",
"nprByline": "Brian Watt and Alexander Gonzalez",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "Yes",
"WpOldSlug": "raised-in-san-jose-philip-garcia-stars-in-new-pandemic-comedy-series-sprung",
"path": "/arts/13917506/phillip-garcia-san-jose-sprung",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When Phillip Garcia landed a starring role in the new TV comedy \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, which premieres this Friday on Amazon subsidiary Freevee, he couldn’t wait to tell his grandma—and not just because he knew she’d be proud. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 34-year-old actor, who’s guest starred on crime dramas like \u003cem>Criminal Minds\u003c/em> and \u003cem>CSI: Vegas\u003c/em>, was excited about something else: “I could spare her not having to see me die on TV anymore,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11908377",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Garcia, originally from San Jose, says family is important to him—on and off screen. In \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, his character Rooster is released from prison due to COVID, and he ends up sheltering in place with a group of formerly incarcerated folks. Those include the show’s hero and Rooster’s former cellmate Jack (Garret Dillahunt), Rooster’s mom Barb (Martha Plimpton) and Gloria, Jack’s former prison girlfriend (Shakira Barrera).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The show, created by Greg Garcia (\u003cem>My Name Is Earl\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Raising Hope\u003c/em>), follows Jack as he navigates life outside prison and bands together with this new family, using their criminal expertise to do some good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It becomes this Robin Hood story, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor,” said Garcia, who got his start in musical theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Brian Watt caught up with Garcia to talk about \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em>, his Bay Area roots and the possibility of a 49ers film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917624\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_.jpg\" alt=\"A Latino man in headshot against a dark background\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917624\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_.jpg 600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.headshot.sq_-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phillip Garcia. \u003ccite>(Anderson Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BRIAN WATT: Was there ever a moment of trepidation about doing a show that basically laughs at the expense of the pandemic?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PHILLIP GARCIA: Without getting too political, Greg [Garcia] did a great job, not hitting you over the head with it. The story is truly about these characters going through something that we all went through. I think we need something like this right now. We need to poke fun at ourselves a little bit, and to say, “Hey, remember when we didn’t know whether we could touch our faces?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What is it about your character Rooster that you connect with?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Initially, I auditioned for the villain character, and all my friends, they all said, “Oh, Phillip is so sweet. He has such a positive outlook.” I think that’s Rooster. He’s the good guy, but he’s misunderstood at times. If there’s something that he could mess up along the way, oh, he’ll definitely mess it up: He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. And it’s funny because my mom, Barb, played by Martha Plimpton, I think the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, in terms of the IQ perspective. Greg did a good job, making Barb and Rooster the butt of every joke.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You’re based in L.A. now, but you started in eastern San Jose, in Alum Rock. What was it like growing up there?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s predominantly Latino, more blue-collar people who are working everyday to try and make ends meet. You saw people struggling. My dad worked three jobs to try and support my brother and me. For me, to be the change, it’s a lot of weight. I just want to make my city proud. I want to make my family proud. I think about the way I grew up and the things I was surrounded by, and thank God for my family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917625\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A Latino man holds a flower in the middle of the street looking forlorn \" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Garcia.rose_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phillip Garcia, seen in an episode of ‘Sprung.’ \u003ccite>(Freevee/Amazon)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You’re right next to the tech sector. At one point did your dad ever look at you and say, “Hey, I hear there’s a bunch of tech jobs just right over there. If you get into tech, you know, there’s some real money to be made!”\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He wanted the best for his kids. He was a positive influence on me. When he figured out I wanted to be an actor, which happened maybe in the sixth grade, I played Mogwli in \u003cem>The Jungle Book\u003c/em>. Since there were no actors or singers in my family, my dad would drive me every Sunday to a commercial acting class for kids. He was a disciplinarian, and I remember car rides on the way to an audition for a musical. He would be like, “Okay, you got to make sure you hit that note.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Throughout your career, how have you dealt with the issue of representation? There aren’t many roles for Latinos. According to a 2021 UCLA report, Latinos appeared in only about 6 percent of roles, despite making up 19 percent of the population in the United States.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I feel honored to be a part of the change. Latinx is the new wave of representation. We’re seeing a lot more diversity in film and TV. When I was growing up, all I saw on TV was George Lopez and Cheech and Chong. On our show, we have two Latinos in the lead cast—Shakira Barrera and I. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I hope there’s a young man or woman who lives on the east side of San Jose and watches \u003cem>Sprung\u003c/em> and sees me, brown skin, and says, “Oh, wow, I could do that, too. You work so hard, grinding at your career and then to finally get to a point where you can give back and effect some change. That’s the dream.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>As I understand it, you’re still loyal to Bay Area sports teams. So if someone decided to make a biopic or TV show about an era for one of those teams, who would you want to play?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t know! I’d want to help produce. Maybe the passing of the torch from [Joe] Montana to Steve Young [both former 49ers quarterbacks]. Those are the 49ers’ glory days, man.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"39\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12904247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-160x16.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-240x23.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-375x37.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Sprung’ premieres on Friday, Aug. 19, on the free streaming service Freevee. \u003ca href=\"https://press.amazonstudios.com/us/en/amazon-freevee-series/sprung/1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Details here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13917506/phillip-garcia-san-jose-sprung",
"authors": [
"byline_arts_13917506"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235",
"arts_990"
],
"tags": [
"arts_2210",
"arts_10278",
"arts_1084",
"arts_585",
"arts_2792"
],
"featImg": "arts_13917626",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13917567": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13917567",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917567",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1660324326000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts",
"term": 137
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1660324326,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Author Salman Rushdie Was Attacked on a Lecture Stage in New York",
"headTitle": "Author Salman Rushdie Was Attacked on a Lecture Stage in New York | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/tags/164986320/salman-rushdie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Salman Rushdie\u003c/a>, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man confront Rushdie on stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing him 10 to 15 times as he was being introduced. The 75-year-old author was pushed or fell to the floor, and the man was arrested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie was taken by helicopter to a hospital, state police said. His condition was not immediately known.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rabbi Charles Savenor was among the hundreds of people in the audience. Amid gasps, spectators were ushered out of the outdoor amphitheater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This guy ran on to platform and started pounding on Mr. Rushdie. At first you’re like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then it became abundantly clear in a few seconds that he was being beaten,” Savenor said. He said the attack lasted about 20 seconds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bloodied Rushdie was quickly surrounded by a small group of people who held up his legs, presumably to send more blood to his chest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie has been a prominent spokesman for free expression and liberal causes. He is a former president of PEN America, which said it was “reeling from shock and horror” at the attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can think of no comparable incident of a public violent attack on a literary writer on American soil,” CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His 1988 book \u003cem>The Satanic Verses\u003c/em> was viewed as blasphemous by many Muslims. Often-violent protests against Rushdie erupted around the world, including a riot that killed 12 people in Mumbai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The novel was banned in Iran, where the late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a 1989 fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bounty of over $3 million has also been offered for anyone who kills Rushdie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='forum_201509101000']The death threats and bounty led Rushdie to go into hiding under a British government protection program, including a round-the-clock armed guard. Rushdie emerged after nine years of seclusion and cautiously resumed more public appearances, maintaining his outspoken criticism of religious extremism overall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iran’s government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini’s decree, but anti-Rushdie sentiment has lingered. The Index on Censorship, an organization promoting free expression, said money was raised to boost the reward for his killing as recently as 2016, underscoring that the fatwa for his death still stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2012, Rushdie \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2012/09/18/161172489/becoming-anton-or-how-rushdie-survived-a-fatwa\">published a memoir, \u003cem>Joseph Anton\u003c/em>, about the fatwa\u003c/a>. The title came from the pseudonym Rushdie had used while in hiding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie rose to prominence with his Booker Prize-winning 1981 novel \u003cem>Midnight’s Children\u003c/em>, but his name became known around the world after \u003cem>The Satanic Verses\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Chautauqua Institution, about 55 miles southwest of Buffalo in a rural corner of New York, is known for its summertime lecture series. Rushdie has spoken there before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Author+Salman+Rushdie+was+attacked+on+a+lecture+stage+in+New+York&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 548,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 19
},
"modified": 1705006498,
"excerpt": "The author has been receiving death threats since the 1980s, when he wrote 'The Satanic Verses.'",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The author has been receiving death threats since the 1980s, when he wrote 'The Satanic Verses.'",
"title": "Author Salman Rushdie Was Attacked on a Lecture Stage in New York | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Author Salman Rushdie Was Attacked on a Lecture Stage in New York",
"datePublished": "2022-08-12T10:12:06-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:54:58-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "author-salman-rushdie-was-attacked-on-a-lecture-stage-in-new-york",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=1117164727&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"templateType": "standard",
"nprStoryDate": "Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:23:32 -0400",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:38:10 -0400",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"nprHtmlLink": "https://www.npr.org/2022/08/12/1117164727/author-salman-rushdie-was-attacked-on-a-lecture-stage-in-new-york?ft=nprml&f=1117164727",
"nprStoryId": "1117164727",
"nprByline": "The Associated Press",
"sticky": false,
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:38:00 -0400",
"path": "/arts/13917567/author-salman-rushdie-was-attacked-on-a-lecture-stage-in-new-york",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/tags/164986320/salman-rushdie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Salman Rushdie\u003c/a>, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked and apparently stabbed in the neck Friday by a man who rushed the stage as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man confront Rushdie on stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing him 10 to 15 times as he was being introduced. The 75-year-old author was pushed or fell to the floor, and the man was arrested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie was taken by helicopter to a hospital, state police said. His condition was not immediately known.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rabbi Charles Savenor was among the hundreds of people in the audience. Amid gasps, spectators were ushered out of the outdoor amphitheater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This guy ran on to platform and started pounding on Mr. Rushdie. At first you’re like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then it became abundantly clear in a few seconds that he was being beaten,” Savenor said. He said the attack lasted about 20 seconds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bloodied Rushdie was quickly surrounded by a small group of people who held up his legs, presumably to send more blood to his chest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie has been a prominent spokesman for free expression and liberal causes. He is a former president of PEN America, which said it was “reeling from shock and horror” at the attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can think of no comparable incident of a public violent attack on a literary writer on American soil,” CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His 1988 book \u003cem>The Satanic Verses\u003c/em> was viewed as blasphemous by many Muslims. Often-violent protests against Rushdie erupted around the world, including a riot that killed 12 people in Mumbai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The novel was banned in Iran, where the late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a 1989 fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bounty of over $3 million has also been offered for anyone who kills Rushdie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "forum_201509101000",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The death threats and bounty led Rushdie to go into hiding under a British government protection program, including a round-the-clock armed guard. Rushdie emerged after nine years of seclusion and cautiously resumed more public appearances, maintaining his outspoken criticism of religious extremism overall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iran’s government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini’s decree, but anti-Rushdie sentiment has lingered. The Index on Censorship, an organization promoting free expression, said money was raised to boost the reward for his killing as recently as 2016, underscoring that the fatwa for his death still stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2012, Rushdie \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2012/09/18/161172489/becoming-anton-or-how-rushdie-survived-a-fatwa\">published a memoir, \u003cem>Joseph Anton\u003c/em>, about the fatwa\u003c/a>. The title came from the pseudonym Rushdie had used while in hiding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rushdie rose to prominence with his Booker Prize-winning 1981 novel \u003cem>Midnight’s Children\u003c/em>, but his name became known around the world after \u003cem>The Satanic Verses\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Chautauqua Institution, about 55 miles southwest of Buffalo in a rural corner of New York, is known for its summertime lecture series. Rushdie has spoken there before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Author+Salman+Rushdie+was+attacked+on+a+lecture+stage+in+New+York&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13917567/author-salman-rushdie-was-attacked-on-a-lecture-stage-in-new-york",
"authors": [
"byline_arts_13917567"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_73",
"arts_235"
],
"affiliates": [
"arts_137"
],
"featImg": "arts_13917570",
"label": "arts_137"
},
"arts_13917362": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13917362",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917362",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1660238904000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1660238904,
"format": "aside",
"title": "There’s Only One Castro Theatre. Why Change It Now?",
"headTitle": "There’s Only One Castro Theatre. Why Change It Now? | KQED",
"content": "\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917427\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917427\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">F\u003c/span>irst things first: Everybody loves the Castro Theatre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That much should be evident during a town hall this Thursday, Aug. 11, hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13908311/castro-theatre-to-become-live-music-and-events-venue-after-renovation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the theater’s new operators\u003c/a>, the live-music promoters \u003ca href=\"https://apeconcerts.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Another Planet Entertainment\u003c/a>. But love for the Castro Theatre may be where consensus ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another Planet Entertainment (APE) is proposing a restoration and renovation of the 100-year-old theater, which includes the ceiling, marquee, proscenium, dressing rooms, bathrooms, ADA compliance and more—upgrades widely welcomed. One part of APE’s proposal, however, has inspired over 5,000 opponents to sign \u003ca href=\"https://www.change.org/p/save-the-castro-theatre\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a petition\u003c/a> launched by the nonprofit Castro Theatre Conservancy, which names famous film directors like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola among its supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#castrotheatre\">Want to share your thoughts on the Castro Theatre with KQED?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The controversy comes down to the raked theater floor and the Castro’s traditional orchestra-style theater seating, which APE has proposed replacing with removable seats on multi-level, flat platforms more conducive to standing-room concerts. (\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Plans-429-Castro-Street.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The plans submitted\u003c/a> to San Francisco’s planning department \u003ca href=\"https://meyersound.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fox_theater_7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">look similar to the Fox Theater in Oakland\u003c/a>, which APE helped restore and now operates.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917433\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917433\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating-768x532.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Detail of plans for the Castro Theatre submitted to the Planning Department, showing concession/bar areas in the back of the theater and multi-level tiers, which would be equipped for removable seating. The building’s new operators call the plans “very, very preliminary.” \u003ccite>(San Francisco Planning Department)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Why in the world would anyone change a historic theater that everyone loves? In short, APE’s answer is that the Castro needs some TLC, which APE can offer, but only if it’s allowed to present more than just film, including live music. And in order to present live music in a profitable, sustainable way, APE believes it needs to install a multi-level floor, or else audiences won’t come and it won’t make enough money to keep the doors open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why a bunch of seats stir such passion, you can get an earful of answers on Thursday night, sitting in those very seats where a century of San Francisco moviegoers have gazed up at a flickering screen and had life-changing experiences. As APE sees it, they’re preserving a crown jewel of the neighborhood, and paving a way to keep it open for another 100 years. But to so many who love it, the Castro is church, and altering its seating would be like ripping out the pews at Grace Cathedral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917424\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917424\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The seats and carpet on the orchestra level of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">P\u003c/span>eter Pastreich is among the film congregation. “If they are able to flatten the floors and remove all of those seats, the building will no longer be suitable for film,” Pastreich says. “They’ll make it great for rock concerts and other events, and virtually unusable for all kinds of other things, particularly film.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pastreich is the executive director of the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.savethecastrotheatre.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Castro Theatre Conservancy\u003c/a>, formed in June, which opposes APE’s floor plans. He admits that it’s virtually impossible in the modern day to keep a large, single-screen movie theater running on movies alone, at least with a for-profit model. In 2020, he says, members of his group approached the owners of the theater—Bay Properties, Inc., run by the Nasser family, whose ancestors built the theater in 1922—with a proposal to operate the Castro as a nonprofit, similar to the Roxie Theater in San Francisco or Film Forum in New York City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='arts_13908311']“Instead, they made a deal with APE. Which isn’t really a problem, until APE converts the theater,” Pastreich says, noting that while APE plans to present film at the Castro, it operates no other venues that regularly show film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve heard Gregg Perloff from Another Planet say, ‘The public will tell us what they want to see, and we will respond to that.’ Well, what that means, I fear, is if they can sell 1,400 tickets to Metallica, and only 300 tickets to a showing of \u003cem>Casablanca\u003c/em>, of course they’re going to bring in Metallica and not \u003cem>Casablanca\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917446\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Conservancy is asking District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to amend his enhanced landmark designation for the theater, which preserves “the full historical, architectural, aesthetic and cultural interest and value of the Castro Theatre,” to specifically include preservation of the orchestra-style seating. (Mandelman did not reply to a request for comment.) They are joined by the Castro LGBTQ+ Cultural District, which warns against “the intangible assets that are in danger of being lost if film repertory programming is ended at the theater.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re not alone in their worries, as evidenced by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CY69fTPrI4G/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">online comments\u003c/a> on the announcement of the Castro’s new management. And the Conservancy boasts the support of legendary film directors including Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola, Joel Coen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg, Barry Jenkins, Guillermo del Toro, Terry Zwigoff, and John Waters, as well as San Francisco figures like Art Agnos, Jello Biafra, Cleve Jones, Sister Roma and Rebecca Solnit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Thursday’s town hall hosted by APE, Pastreich is dismayed at the lack of a livestreaming option, as well as the format. His group has been given just five minutes to present, he says. “And the Q&A is handled by [former Supervisor] Bevan Dufty, who’s on the APE payroll, so he can recognize or not recognize whomever he wishes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, he’s hoping for a minor miracle: that film fans will voice such overwhelming opposition that APE will change their plans. “And realize,” he says, “that they’ve miscalculated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917426\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Century projector at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">O\u003c/span>n the phone, David Perry is adamant: “Film is, has been and always will be part of the Castro Theatre experience,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The owner of a public relations firm, Perry, like former Supervisor Dufty, was hired by APE this year specifically to manage controversy about the Castro Theatre. Like many, he recalls fondly his first visit to the theatre, in 1986. But in 2022, he says, “single-screen theaters around the country are on life support. That’s the reality in which we live.” A 1,400 seat theater, he says, needs to diversify its offerings to be sustainable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perry insists that the floor plans submitted to the city “are very, very much preliminary plans,” subject to input from sightline specialists, architects, and the film community. He denies the charge made by the Castro Theatre Conservancy that smaller film festivals and LGBTQ+ organizations will be “priced out” of using the Castro as a community resource, and clarifies that APE will keep the Castro’s rare 70mm projector that visiting filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson have utilized in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917425\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917425\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The original 1922 proscenium of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022, which Another Planet plans to restore. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Perry takes issue with the criticism that APE is a giant, corporate promoter that’s out of step with the independent, community-focused history and spirit of the theater. (The company puts on the Outside Lands music festival every year, which \u003ca href=\"https://news.pollstar.com/2019/08/27/by-the-numbers-outside-lands-grosses-highest-yet-29-6-million/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in 2019 grossed $29.6 million\u003c/a>.) Perry describes APE as a “small, local business” that “understands the Castro.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the Paramount in Oakland or the Orpheum in Los Angeles, the Castro could theoretically host concerts, comedy, events and film with the theatre seating intact, as it’s already done for years. Asked why APE couldn’t simply keep the current seats—and consider removing the first five to eight rows for concerts—Perry defers to APE’s experience, and their “good sense of what it takes to program a multi-use venue.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>APE also has a good sense of what it takes to compete in the live music market. Their two direct rivals, Live Nation and Goldenvoice, operate multiple theaters and ballrooms in San Francisco: the Warfield (capacity 2,300), the Masonic Auditorium (3,481), the Fillmore (1,300), and the Regency Ballroom (1,400). APE, on the other hand, operates the small Independent (500) and the large Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (8,500), with no mid-sized options in between.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917434\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917434\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another Planet Entertainment plans restorations of both the marquee and neon “blade” of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco’s Castro District, pictured here on July 28, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So, in San Francisco, APE needs a venue like the Castro to stay competitive. Which explains why, as APE CEO Gregg Perloff told KQED in January, APE approached the Nassers during the pandemic with a proposal to operate the theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They were looking for the right stewardship for the theater,” Perloff said. “This is their baby. And we need to respect the tremendous work they’ve done in making the theater a part of the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Castro has become such a part of the community, in fact, that generations of moviegoers feel a strong sense of ownership over the theater. Part of what’s happening now is the shock that they are not the owners; the Nassers are, and they’re entitled to do what they want with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the way the Castro Theatre has become such a community asset is primarily through film. As Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence asks, “Do we really need another concrete concert hall when glamorous film houses are disappearing around the country?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words: while there are already plenty of music venues in San Francisco, there’s only one Castro Theatre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12904247\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-160x16.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-240x23.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-375x37.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.castrotheatre.com/community-meeting/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Town Hall on the future of the Castro Theatre\u003c/a> takes place at 6pm on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Questions and comments for the Q&A must be submitted at the event via an online portal. \u003ca href=\"https://www.castrotheatre.com/community-meeting/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Details here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"castrotheatre\">\u003c/a>Share your thoughts\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>However the future may look for the Castro Theatre, a live-music promoter taking over its operations marks an end of an era for this iconic space. And ahead of these potential changes, here at KQED we want to take a moment to highlight your memories of the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tell us using the box below: \u003cstrong>What was your favorite movie you saw at the Castro Theatre? The most memorable night you had? The best (or worst) date you went on?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Share your thoughts, and we’d love to feature your words here on KQED.org and on our social media channels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=”9857″ src=”https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/9857.js”]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1898,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": true,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 33
},
"modified": 1705006510,
"excerpt": "A concert promoter’s plan to remove the theater’s current seating is the subject of a town hall Thursday night. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "A concert promoter’s plan to remove the theater’s current seating is the subject of a town hall Thursday night. ",
"title": "There’s Only One Castro Theatre. Why Change It Now? | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "There’s Only One Castro Theatre. Why Change It Now?",
"datePublished": "2022-08-11T10:28:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:55:10-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "castro-theatre-seating-renovation-town-hall",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"WpOldSlug": "theres-only-one-castro-theatre-why-change-it-now",
"path": "/arts/13917362/castro-theatre-seating-renovation-town-hall",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917427\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917427\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.MAIN_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">F\u003c/span>irst things first: Everybody loves the Castro Theatre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That much should be evident during a town hall this Thursday, Aug. 11, hosted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13908311/castro-theatre-to-become-live-music-and-events-venue-after-renovation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the theater’s new operators\u003c/a>, the live-music promoters \u003ca href=\"https://apeconcerts.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Another Planet Entertainment\u003c/a>. But love for the Castro Theatre may be where consensus ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another Planet Entertainment (APE) is proposing a restoration and renovation of the 100-year-old theater, which includes the ceiling, marquee, proscenium, dressing rooms, bathrooms, ADA compliance and more—upgrades widely welcomed. One part of APE’s proposal, however, has inspired over 5,000 opponents to sign \u003ca href=\"https://www.change.org/p/save-the-castro-theatre\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a petition\u003c/a> launched by the nonprofit Castro Theatre Conservancy, which names famous film directors like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola among its supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#castrotheatre\">Want to share your thoughts on the Castro Theatre with KQED?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The controversy comes down to the raked theater floor and the Castro’s traditional orchestra-style theater seating, which APE has proposed replacing with removable seats on multi-level, flat platforms more conducive to standing-room concerts. (\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Plans-429-Castro-Street.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The plans submitted\u003c/a> to San Francisco’s planning department \u003ca href=\"https://meyersound.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fox_theater_7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">look similar to the Fox Theater in Oakland\u003c/a>, which APE helped restore and now operates.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917433\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13917433\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating-160x111.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.seating-768x532.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Detail of plans for the Castro Theatre submitted to the Planning Department, showing concession/bar areas in the back of the theater and multi-level tiers, which would be equipped for removable seating. The building’s new operators call the plans “very, very preliminary.” \u003ccite>(San Francisco Planning Department)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Why in the world would anyone change a historic theater that everyone loves? In short, APE’s answer is that the Castro needs some TLC, which APE can offer, but only if it’s allowed to present more than just film, including live music. And in order to present live music in a profitable, sustainable way, APE believes it needs to install a multi-level floor, or else audiences won’t come and it won’t make enough money to keep the doors open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why a bunch of seats stir such passion, you can get an earful of answers on Thursday night, sitting in those very seats where a century of San Francisco moviegoers have gazed up at a flickering screen and had life-changing experiences. As APE sees it, they’re preserving a crown jewel of the neighborhood, and paving a way to keep it open for another 100 years. But to so many who love it, the Castro is church, and altering its seating would be like ripping out the pews at Grace Cathedral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917424\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917424\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Seatsfromavobe.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The seats and carpet on the orchestra level of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">P\u003c/span>eter Pastreich is among the film congregation. “If they are able to flatten the floors and remove all of those seats, the building will no longer be suitable for film,” Pastreich says. “They’ll make it great for rock concerts and other events, and virtually unusable for all kinds of other things, particularly film.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pastreich is the executive director of the nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.savethecastrotheatre.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Castro Theatre Conservancy\u003c/a>, formed in June, which opposes APE’s floor plans. He admits that it’s virtually impossible in the modern day to keep a large, single-screen movie theater running on movies alone, at least with a for-profit model. In 2020, he says, members of his group approached the owners of the theater—Bay Properties, Inc., run by the Nasser family, whose ancestors built the theater in 1922—with a proposal to operate the Castro as a nonprofit, similar to the Roxie Theater in San Francisco or Film Forum in New York City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13908311",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Instead, they made a deal with APE. Which isn’t really a problem, until APE converts the theater,” Pastreich says, noting that while APE plans to present film at the Castro, it operates no other venues that regularly show film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve heard Gregg Perloff from Another Planet say, ‘The public will tell us what they want to see, and we will respond to that.’ Well, what that means, I fear, is if they can sell 1,400 tickets to Metallica, and only 300 tickets to a showing of \u003cem>Casablanca\u003c/em>, of course they’re going to bring in Metallica and not \u003cem>Casablanca\u003c/em>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917446\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917446\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/015_kqed_castrotheatreinterior_08102022.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Conservancy is asking District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to amend his enhanced landmark designation for the theater, which preserves “the full historical, architectural, aesthetic and cultural interest and value of the Castro Theatre,” to specifically include preservation of the orchestra-style seating. (Mandelman did not reply to a request for comment.) They are joined by the Castro LGBTQ+ Cultural District, which warns against “the intangible assets that are in danger of being lost if film repertory programming is ended at the theater.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re not alone in their worries, as evidenced by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CY69fTPrI4G/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">online comments\u003c/a> on the announcement of the Castro’s new management. And the Conservancy boasts the support of legendary film directors including Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola, Joel Coen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg, Barry Jenkins, Guillermo del Toro, Terry Zwigoff, and John Waters, as well as San Francisco figures like Art Agnos, Jello Biafra, Cleve Jones, Sister Roma and Rebecca Solnit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Thursday’s town hall hosted by APE, Pastreich is dismayed at the lack of a livestreaming option, as well as the format. His group has been given just five minutes to present, he says. “And the Q&A is handled by [former Supervisor] Bevan Dufty, who’s on the APE payroll, so he can recognize or not recognize whomever he wishes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, he’s hoping for a minor miracle: that film fans will voice such overwhelming opposition that APE will change their plans. “And realize,” he says, “that they’ve miscalculated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917426\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Projector.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Century projector at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 4.6875em; float: left; line-height: 0.733em; padding: 0.05em 0.1em 0 0; font-family: times, serif, georgia;\">O\u003c/span>n the phone, David Perry is adamant: “Film is, has been and always will be part of the Castro Theatre experience,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The owner of a public relations firm, Perry, like former Supervisor Dufty, was hired by APE this year specifically to manage controversy about the Castro Theatre. Like many, he recalls fondly his first visit to the theatre, in 1986. But in 2022, he says, “single-screen theaters around the country are on life support. That’s the reality in which we live.” A 1,400 seat theater, he says, needs to diversify its offerings to be sustainable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perry insists that the floor plans submitted to the city “are very, very much preliminary plans,” subject to input from sightline specialists, architects, and the film community. He denies the charge made by the Castro Theatre Conservancy that smaller film festivals and LGBTQ+ organizations will be “priced out” of using the Castro as a community resource, and clarifies that APE will keep the Castro’s rare 70mm projector that visiting filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson have utilized in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917425\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917425\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Proscenium.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The original 1922 proscenium of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2022, which Another Planet plans to restore. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Perry takes issue with the criticism that APE is a giant, corporate promoter that’s out of step with the independent, community-focused history and spirit of the theater. (The company puts on the Outside Lands music festival every year, which \u003ca href=\"https://news.pollstar.com/2019/08/27/by-the-numbers-outside-lands-grosses-highest-yet-29-6-million/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in 2019 grossed $29.6 million\u003c/a>.) Perry describes APE as a “small, local business” that “understands the Castro.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the Paramount in Oakland or the Orpheum in Los Angeles, the Castro could theoretically host concerts, comedy, events and film with the theatre seating intact, as it’s already done for years. Asked why APE couldn’t simply keep the current seats—and consider removing the first five to eight rows for concerts—Perry defers to APE’s experience, and their “good sense of what it takes to program a multi-use venue.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>APE also has a good sense of what it takes to compete in the live music market. Their two direct rivals, Live Nation and Goldenvoice, operate multiple theaters and ballrooms in San Francisco: the Warfield (capacity 2,300), the Masonic Auditorium (3,481), the Fillmore (1,300), and the Regency Ballroom (1,400). APE, on the other hand, operates the small Independent (500) and the large Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (8,500), with no mid-sized options in between.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13917434\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13917434\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Castro.Marquee.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another Planet Entertainment plans restorations of both the marquee and neon “blade” of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco’s Castro District, pictured here on July 28, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So, in San Francisco, APE needs a venue like the Castro to stay competitive. Which explains why, as APE CEO Gregg Perloff told KQED in January, APE approached the Nassers during the pandemic with a proposal to operate the theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They were looking for the right stewardship for the theater,” Perloff said. “This is their baby. And we need to respect the tremendous work they’ve done in making the theater a part of the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Castro has become such a part of the community, in fact, that generations of moviegoers feel a strong sense of ownership over the theater. Part of what’s happening now is the shock that they are not the owners; the Nassers are, and they’re entitled to do what they want with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the way the Castro Theatre has become such a community asset is primarily through film. As Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence asks, “Do we really need another concrete concert hall when glamorous film houses are disappearing around the country?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words: while there are already plenty of music venues in San Francisco, there’s only one Castro Theatre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12904247\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-160x16.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-240x23.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Q.Logo_.Break_-400x39-375x37.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.castrotheatre.com/community-meeting/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Town Hall on the future of the Castro Theatre\u003c/a> takes place at 6pm on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Questions and comments for the Q&A must be submitted at the event via an online portal. \u003ca href=\"https://www.castrotheatre.com/community-meeting/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Details here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"castrotheatre\">\u003c/a>Share your thoughts\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>However the future may look for the Castro Theatre, a live-music promoter taking over its operations marks an end of an era for this iconic space. And ahead of these potential changes, here at KQED we want to take a moment to highlight your memories of the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tell us using the box below: \u003cstrong>What was your favorite movie you saw at the Castro Theatre? The most memorable night you had? The best (or worst) date you went on?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Share your thoughts, and we’d love to feature your words here on KQED.org and on our social media channels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "hearken",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"id": "”9857″",
"src": "”https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/9857.js”",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13917362/castro-theatre-seating-renovation-town-hall",
"authors": [
"185"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_74",
"arts_235"
],
"tags": [
"arts_10589",
"arts_6192",
"arts_3547",
"arts_6476",
"arts_10342",
"arts_10278",
"arts_977",
"arts_5544",
"arts_3465"
],
"featImg": "arts_13917429",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13917098": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13917098",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13917098",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1659634639000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts",
"term": 137
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1659634639,
"format": "standard",
"title": "A Russian Court Sentences WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9 Years on Drug Charges",
"headTitle": "A Russian Court Sentences WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9 Years on Drug Charges | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>A Russian court has found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. The widely expected verdict comes after a monthlong trial and nearly six months after the basketball star was arrested at a Moscow-area airport with cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge sentenced Griner to nine years in prison. Her charges carried up to 10 years, and the Russian prosecution had requested a sentence of nine years and six months in a penal colony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial’s outcome was not unusual given that Russian criminal courts have a reported conviction rate of 99%. But it appears that Griner’s fate will now be decided in the political arena.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13916823']The Biden administration, under public pressure to secure her release, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/27/1114050040/brittney-griner-russia-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">has tried to negotiate with Russia\u003c/a> to free her as well as another jailed American, Paul Whelan. Russia has said any potential deal—including a rumored prisoner swap that could see the U.S. release notorious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/28/1114236683/who-is-viktor-bout-the-prisoner-the-u-s-may-trade-for-brittany-griner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout\u003c/a>—would have to wait until after the court’s verdict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/04/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-sentencing-of-wrongfully-detained-american-brittney-griner/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a statement\u003c/a> released shortly after the verdict, President Biden called Griner’s sentence “one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” he added. “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed that pledge in a statement of his own, in which he said the court’s decision “puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Russia, and any country engaging in wrongful detention, represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working, and living abroad,” Blinken continued. “The United States opposes this practice everywhere. ”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Griner admitted to making ‘an honest mistake’\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Earlier on Thursday, as the two sides delivered closing remarks, Griner’s defense attorney called for her to be acquitted, or for the court to show leniency in any punishment she’s given. The 31-year-old also spoke on her own behalf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13916267']The Olympian and NBA champion says she must have put the cannabis in her bag by mistake. Her defense team notes that Griner has a medical marijuana card in Arizona to help her cope with injuries sustained over years of competition. But personal cannabis possession is illegal under any circumstances in Russia, similar to U.S. federal law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their closing arguments, Griner’s defense attorneys cited Griner’s contributions to the growth of Russian women’s basketball and detailed irregularities in her arrest and detention including a lack of access to qualified translators—in arguing for Griner’s acquittal or at least a lenient sentence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her lawyers also noted that the basketball star was prescribed medical marijuana by a U.S. doctor to treat chronic pain in the offseason—and still had never failed a drug test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What does this show?” said defense counsel Maria Blagovolina. “It shows that Brittney Griner used marijuana only at home and only in very small doses and that she had no intention to bring the substance into Russia.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In her final statement to the judge, Griner reiterated that she never intended to break any laws or hurt anyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She apologized to her Russian teammates for any damage she may have caused, adding that “this is my second home and all I wanted to do was win championships and make them proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Her ordeal began just before Russia invaded Ukraine\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Griner was arrested in February, one week before Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Her detention quickly led to speculation that Putin’s government wants to use her as leverage against the U.S. Griner alluded to that in her closing remarks to the judge on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this courtroom,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a quick recap of Griner’s ordeal:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Feb. 17: Griner is detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 3: The U.S. State Department declares Griner wrongfully detained\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 28: U.S. Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan calls Griner a “bargaining chip” amid talk of a possible prisoner exchange\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 1: Prosecutors unseal their case in court as the trial begins\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 7: Griner \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/07/1110229049/brittney-griner-trial-hearing-russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pleads guilty\u003c/a> to drug charges as talk of a prisoner swap grows\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 27: Griner testifies, saying she inadvertently brought the cannabis to Russia\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 27: The U.S. says it offered Russia \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/27/1114050040/brittney-griner-russia-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a deal\u003c/a> to free Griner and another jailed American, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/876966569/american-paul-whelan-held-in-russia-on-spy-charges-is-sentenced-to-16-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul Whelan\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug. 4: Closing arguments begin\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch3>Athletes and activists at home are calling for her release\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Griner is a star center for the Phoenix Mercury. But like many WNBA players, she plays in overseas leagues during the U.S. league’s offseason, earning far more than her WNBA salary. In recent years, she has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian team owned by oligarch Iskander Makhmudov. The team has had \u003ca href=\"http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/espnw-russia160505/brittney-griner-diana-taurasi-opted-play-russia-money-escape-spotlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">longstanding ties\u003c/a> to Griner’s U.S. club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Griner was returning to her Russian team from the U.S. when she was detained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='arts_13914214']WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Thursday that the verdict and sentencing are “unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States,” they added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The effort to free Griner has grown from her fans and fellow basketball players to include a much broader circle. This summer, dozens of rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Organization for Women and National LGBTQ Task Force \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1107151056/biden-faces-pressure-to-help-get-wnba-star-brittney-griner-released-from-russian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote a letter to President Biden\u003c/a> urging him to treat her case with urgency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Maynes reported from Russia. Chappell and Treisman reported from Washington, D.C.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=A+Russian+court+sentences+WNBA+star+Brittney+Griner+to+9+years+on+drug+charges&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1134,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 28
},
"modified": 1705006535,
"excerpt": "Russia has indicated that any potential deal to secure Griner's release would have to wait until a verdict.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "Russia has indicated that any potential deal to secure Griner's release would have to wait until a verdict.",
"title": "A Russian Court Sentences WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9 Years on Drug Charges | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "A Russian Court Sentences WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9 Years on Drug Charges",
"datePublished": "2022-08-04T10:37:19-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:55:35-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "a-russian-court-sentences-wnba-star-brittney-griner-to-9-years-on-drug-charges",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=1115541890&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"templateType": "standard",
"nprStoryDate": "Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:23:00 -0400",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:45:49 -0400",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"nprHtmlLink": "https://www.npr.org/2022/08/04/1115541890/brittney-griner-russia-drug-trial?ft=nprml&f=1115541890",
"nprImageAgency": "AFP via Getty Images",
"nprStoryId": "1115541890",
"nprByline": "Rachel Treisman",
"sticky": false,
"nprImageCredit": "Evgenia Novozhenina",
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:45:00 -0400",
"path": "/arts/13917098/a-russian-court-sentences-wnba-star-brittney-griner-to-9-years-on-drug-charges",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A Russian court has found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. The widely expected verdict comes after a monthlong trial and nearly six months after the basketball star was arrested at a Moscow-area airport with cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The judge sentenced Griner to nine years in prison. Her charges carried up to 10 years, and the Russian prosecution had requested a sentence of nine years and six months in a penal colony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial’s outcome was not unusual given that Russian criminal courts have a reported conviction rate of 99%. But it appears that Griner’s fate will now be decided in the political arena.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13916823",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Biden administration, under public pressure to secure her release, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/27/1114050040/brittney-griner-russia-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">has tried to negotiate with Russia\u003c/a> to free her as well as another jailed American, Paul Whelan. Russia has said any potential deal—including a rumored prisoner swap that could see the U.S. release notorious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/28/1114236683/who-is-viktor-bout-the-prisoner-the-u-s-may-trade-for-brittany-griner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout\u003c/a>—would have to wait until after the court’s verdict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/04/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-sentencing-of-wrongfully-detained-american-brittney-griner/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a statement\u003c/a> released shortly after the verdict, President Biden called Griner’s sentence “one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” he added. “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed that pledge in a statement of his own, in which he said the court’s decision “puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Russia, and any country engaging in wrongful detention, represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working, and living abroad,” Blinken continued. “The United States opposes this practice everywhere. ”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Griner admitted to making ‘an honest mistake’\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Earlier on Thursday, as the two sides delivered closing remarks, Griner’s defense attorney called for her to be acquitted, or for the court to show leniency in any punishment she’s given. The 31-year-old also spoke on her own behalf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13916267",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Olympian and NBA champion says she must have put the cannabis in her bag by mistake. Her defense team notes that Griner has a medical marijuana card in Arizona to help her cope with injuries sustained over years of competition. But personal cannabis possession is illegal under any circumstances in Russia, similar to U.S. federal law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their closing arguments, Griner’s defense attorneys cited Griner’s contributions to the growth of Russian women’s basketball and detailed irregularities in her arrest and detention including a lack of access to qualified translators—in arguing for Griner’s acquittal or at least a lenient sentence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her lawyers also noted that the basketball star was prescribed medical marijuana by a U.S. doctor to treat chronic pain in the offseason—and still had never failed a drug test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What does this show?” said defense counsel Maria Blagovolina. “It shows that Brittney Griner used marijuana only at home and only in very small doses and that she had no intention to bring the substance into Russia.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In her final statement to the judge, Griner reiterated that she never intended to break any laws or hurt anyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She apologized to her Russian teammates for any damage she may have caused, adding that “this is my second home and all I wanted to do was win championships and make them proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Her ordeal began just before Russia invaded Ukraine\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Griner was arrested in February, one week before Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Her detention quickly led to speculation that Putin’s government wants to use her as leverage against the U.S. Griner alluded to that in her closing remarks to the judge on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this courtroom,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a quick recap of Griner’s ordeal:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Feb. 17: Griner is detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 3: The U.S. State Department declares Griner wrongfully detained\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 28: U.S. Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan calls Griner a “bargaining chip” amid talk of a possible prisoner exchange\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 1: Prosecutors unseal their case in court as the trial begins\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 7: Griner \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/07/1110229049/brittney-griner-trial-hearing-russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pleads guilty\u003c/a> to drug charges as talk of a prisoner swap grows\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 27: Griner testifies, saying she inadvertently brought the cannabis to Russia\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 27: The U.S. says it offered Russia \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/07/27/1114050040/brittney-griner-russia-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a deal\u003c/a> to free Griner and another jailed American, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/876966569/american-paul-whelan-held-in-russia-on-spy-charges-is-sentenced-to-16-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul Whelan\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug. 4: Closing arguments begin\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch3>Athletes and activists at home are calling for her release\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Griner is a star center for the Phoenix Mercury. But like many WNBA players, she plays in overseas leagues during the U.S. league’s offseason, earning far more than her WNBA salary. In recent years, she has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian team owned by oligarch Iskander Makhmudov. The team has had \u003ca href=\"http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/espnw-russia160505/brittney-griner-diana-taurasi-opted-play-russia-money-escape-spotlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">longstanding ties\u003c/a> to Griner’s U.S. club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Griner was returning to her Russian team from the U.S. when she was detained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13914214",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Thursday that the verdict and sentencing are “unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States,” they added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The effort to free Griner has grown from her fans and fellow basketball players to include a much broader circle. This summer, dozens of rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Organization for Women and National LGBTQ Task Force \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/23/1107151056/biden-faces-pressure-to-help-get-wnba-star-brittney-griner-released-from-russian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote a letter to President Biden\u003c/a> urging him to treat her case with urgency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Maynes reported from Russia. Chappell and Treisman reported from Washington, D.C.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visit NPR\u003c/a>.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=A+Russian+court+sentences+WNBA+star+Brittney+Griner+to+9+years+on+drug+charges&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13917098/a-russian-court-sentences-wnba-star-brittney-griner-to-9-years-on-drug-charges",
"authors": [
"byline_arts_13917098"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235",
"arts_13238"
],
"tags": [
"arts_746",
"arts_4090",
"arts_4506"
],
"affiliates": [
"arts_137"
],
"featImg": "arts_13917099",
"label": "arts_137"
},
"arts_13916823": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13916823",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13916823",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1659293208000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1659293208,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Bill Russell, Basketball Great and Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 88",
"headTitle": "Bill Russell, Basketball Great and Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 88 | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Bill Russell, the NBA great who began his career in Oakland, anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years—the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport—and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday. He was 88.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His family \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/RealBillRussell/status/1553790050839588865\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">posted the news on social media\u003c/a>, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said. “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,” Silver said. “Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-13916830\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A tall Black man in a blue suit stands in a wing of the White House with the President and First Lady.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, Russell in 1980 was voted the greatest player in the NBA history by basketball writers. He remains the sport’s most prolific winner and an archetype of selflessness who won with defense and rebounding while leaving the scoring to others. Often, that meant Wilt Chamberlain, the only player of the era who was a worthy rival for Russell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Russell dominated in the only stat he cared about: 11 championships to two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The native of Louisiana also left a lasting mark as a Black athlete in a city—and country—where race is often a flash point. He was at the March on Washington in 1963, when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and he backed Muhammad Ali when the boxer was pilloried for refusing induction into the military draft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom alongside Congressman John Lewis, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and baseball great Stan Musial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,” Obama said at the ceremony. “He marched with King; he stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the Black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players and made possible the success of so many who would follow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='news_11725053']Russell said that when he was growing up in the segregated South and later California his parents instilled in him the calm confidence that allowed him to brush off \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/austin_walker/status/1553795496002682884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">racist taunts and abuse\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Years later, people asked me what I had to go through,” Russell said in 2008. “Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’ve never been through anything. From my first moment of being alive was the notion that my mother and father loved me.” It was Russell’s mother who would tell him to disregard comments from those who might see him playing in the yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whatever they say, good or bad, they don’t know you,” he recalled her saying. “They’re wrestling with their own demons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it was Jackie Robinson who gave Russell a road map for dealing with racism in his sport: “Jackie was a hero to us. He always conducted himself as a man. He showed me the way to be a man in professional sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The feeling was mutual, Russell learned, when Robinson’s widow, Rachel, called and asked him to be a pallbearer at her husband’s funeral in 1972.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She hung the phone up and I asked myself, ‘How do you get to be a hero to Jackie Robinson?’” Russell said. “I was so flattered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13916829\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13916829\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-800x598.jpg\" alt=\"A young Black athlete barely clears a high-jump car against a white background\" width=\"800\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-800x598.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-1020x762.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-768x574.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bill Russell clears a high jump bar at six feet, eight inches in a University of San Francisco-College of the Pacific track meet in the early 1950s. \u003ccite>(Bettmann Collection/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>William Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. He was a child when his family moved to the West Coast, and he went to McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, where Russell’s basketball career got off to an uneven start. He was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School, and later, at McClymonds, played as an extra during his senior year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Russell often spoke highly of McClymonds’ coach, George Powles, as an inspiration, and made appearances in Oakland regularly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After graduating early from McClymonds, Russell attended the University of San Francisco. He led the Dons to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956 and won a gold medal in 1956 at the Melbourne Olympics in Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celtics coach and general manager Red Auerbach so coveted Russell that he worked out a trade with the St. Louis Hawks for the second pick in the draft. He promised the Rochester Royals, who owned the No. 1 pick, a lucrative visit by the Ice Capades, which were also run by Celtics owner Walter Brown. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Russell arrived in Boston to complaints that he wasn’t that good. “People said it was a wasted draft choice, wasted money,” he recalled. “They said, ‘He’s no good. All he can do is block shots and rebound.’ And Red said, ‘That’s enough.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Celtics also picked up Tommy Heinsohn and K.C. Jones, Russell’s college teammate, in the same draft. Although Russell joined the team late because he was leading the U.S. to the Olympic gold, Boston finished the regular season with the league’s best record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Celtics won the NBA championship—their first of 17—in a double-overtime seventh game against Bob Pettit’s St. Louis Hawks. Russell won his first MVP award the next season, but the Hawks won the title in a finals rematch. The Celtics won it all again in 1959, starting an unprecedented string of eight consecutive NBA crowns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 6-foot-10 center, Russell never averaged more than 18.9 points during his 13 seasons, each year averaging more rebounds per game than points. For 10 seasons he averaged more than 20 rebounds. He once had 51 rebounds in a game; Chamberlain holds the record with 55.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13916828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13916828\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-800x589.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"589\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-800x589.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-1020x751.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-160x118.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-768x566.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Basketball Hall of Fame member Bill Russell attends a game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces on July 21, 2019 in Las Vegas. \u003ccite>(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Auerbach retired after winning the 1966 title, and Russell became the player-coach—the first Black head coach in NBA history, and almost a decade before Frank Robinson took over baseball’s Cleveland Indians. Boston finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA, but its title streak ended with a loss to Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell led the Celtics back to titles in 1968 and ’69, each time winning seven-game playoff series against Chamberlain. Russell retired after the ’69 finals, returning for a relatively successful—but unfulfilling—four-year stint as coach and GM of the Seattle SuperSonics and a less fruitful half season as coach of the Sacramento Kings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell’s No. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1972. He earned spots on the NBA’s 25th anniversary all-time team in 1970, 35th anniversary team in 1980 and 75th anniversary team. In 1996, he was hailed as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players. In 2009, the MVP trophy of the NBA Finals was named in his honor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2013, a statue was unveiled on Boston’s City Hall Plaza of Russell surrounded by blocks of granite with quotes on leadership and character. Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 but did not attend the ceremony, saying he should not have been the first African American elected. (Chuck Cooper, the NBA’s first Black player, was his choice.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2019, Russell accepted his Hall of Fame ring in a private gathering. “I felt others before me should have had that honor,” he tweeted. “Good to see progress.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I cherished my friendship with Bill and was thrilled when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Silver said in his statement. “I often called him basketball’s Babe Ruth for how he transcended time. Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His family said that arrangements for Russell’s memorial service will be announced in the coming days.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1636,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 34
},
"modified": 1705006551,
"excerpt": "The graduate of Oakland's McClymonds High School went on to a defining basketball career and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The graduate of Oakland's McClymonds High School went on to a defining basketball career and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. ",
"title": "Bill Russell, Basketball Great and Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 88 | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Bill Russell, Basketball Great and Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 88",
"datePublished": "2022-07-31T11:46:48-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:55:51-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "bill-russell-basketball-oakland-icon-dies-at-88",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"nprByline": "Jimmy Golen, Associated Press",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"showOnAuthorArchivePages": "No",
"WpOldSlug": "bill-russell-basketball-great-and-oakland-icon-dies-at-88",
"path": "/arts/13916823/bill-russell-basketball-oakland-icon-dies-at-88",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Bill Russell, the NBA great who began his career in Oakland, anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years—the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport—and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday. He was 88.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His family \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/RealBillRussell/status/1553790050839588865\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">posted the news on social media\u003c/a>, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said. “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,” Silver said. “Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-13916830\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A tall Black man in a blue suit stands in a wing of the White House with the President and First Lady.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.ObamaWH.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, Russell in 1980 was voted the greatest player in the NBA history by basketball writers. He remains the sport’s most prolific winner and an archetype of selflessness who won with defense and rebounding while leaving the scoring to others. Often, that meant Wilt Chamberlain, the only player of the era who was a worthy rival for Russell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Russell dominated in the only stat he cared about: 11 championships to two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The native of Louisiana also left a lasting mark as a Black athlete in a city—and country—where race is often a flash point. He was at the March on Washington in 1963, when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and he backed Muhammad Ali when the boxer was pilloried for refusing induction into the military draft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom alongside Congressman John Lewis, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and baseball great Stan Musial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,” Obama said at the ceremony. “He marched with King; he stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the Black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players and made possible the success of so many who would follow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11725053",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Russell said that when he was growing up in the segregated South and later California his parents instilled in him the calm confidence that allowed him to brush off \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/austin_walker/status/1553795496002682884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">racist taunts and abuse\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Years later, people asked me what I had to go through,” Russell said in 2008. “Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’ve never been through anything. From my first moment of being alive was the notion that my mother and father loved me.” It was Russell’s mother who would tell him to disregard comments from those who might see him playing in the yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whatever they say, good or bad, they don’t know you,” he recalled her saying. “They’re wrestling with their own demons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it was Jackie Robinson who gave Russell a road map for dealing with racism in his sport: “Jackie was a hero to us. He always conducted himself as a man. He showed me the way to be a man in professional sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The feeling was mutual, Russell learned, when Robinson’s widow, Rachel, called and asked him to be a pallbearer at her husband’s funeral in 1972.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She hung the phone up and I asked myself, ‘How do you get to be a hero to Jackie Robinson?’” Russell said. “I was so flattered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13916829\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13916829\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-800x598.jpg\" alt=\"A young Black athlete barely clears a high-jump car against a white background\" width=\"800\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-800x598.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-1020x762.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump-768x574.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.USF_.HighJump.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bill Russell clears a high jump bar at six feet, eight inches in a University of San Francisco-College of the Pacific track meet in the early 1950s. \u003ccite>(Bettmann Collection/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>William Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. He was a child when his family moved to the West Coast, and he went to McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, where Russell’s basketball career got off to an uneven start. He was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School, and later, at McClymonds, played as an extra during his senior year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Russell often spoke highly of McClymonds’ coach, George Powles, as an inspiration, and made appearances in Oakland regularly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After graduating early from McClymonds, Russell attended the University of San Francisco. He led the Dons to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956 and won a gold medal in 1956 at the Melbourne Olympics in Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Celtics coach and general manager Red Auerbach so coveted Russell that he worked out a trade with the St. Louis Hawks for the second pick in the draft. He promised the Rochester Royals, who owned the No. 1 pick, a lucrative visit by the Ice Capades, which were also run by Celtics owner Walter Brown. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Russell arrived in Boston to complaints that he wasn’t that good. “People said it was a wasted draft choice, wasted money,” he recalled. “They said, ‘He’s no good. All he can do is block shots and rebound.’ And Red said, ‘That’s enough.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Celtics also picked up Tommy Heinsohn and K.C. Jones, Russell’s college teammate, in the same draft. Although Russell joined the team late because he was leading the U.S. to the Olympic gold, Boston finished the regular season with the league’s best record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Celtics won the NBA championship—their first of 17—in a double-overtime seventh game against Bob Pettit’s St. Louis Hawks. Russell won his first MVP award the next season, but the Hawks won the title in a finals rematch. The Celtics won it all again in 1959, starting an unprecedented string of eight consecutive NBA crowns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 6-foot-10 center, Russell never averaged more than 18.9 points during his 13 seasons, each year averaging more rebounds per game than points. For 10 seasons he averaged more than 20 rebounds. He once had 51 rebounds in a game; Chamberlain holds the record with 55.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13916828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13916828\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-800x589.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"589\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-800x589.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-1020x751.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-160x118.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands-768x566.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/BillRussell.Stands.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Basketball Hall of Fame member Bill Russell attends a game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces on July 21, 2019 in Las Vegas. \u003ccite>(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Auerbach retired after winning the 1966 title, and Russell became the player-coach—the first Black head coach in NBA history, and almost a decade before Frank Robinson took over baseball’s Cleveland Indians. Boston finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA, but its title streak ended with a loss to Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell led the Celtics back to titles in 1968 and ’69, each time winning seven-game playoff series against Chamberlain. Russell retired after the ’69 finals, returning for a relatively successful—but unfulfilling—four-year stint as coach and GM of the Seattle SuperSonics and a less fruitful half season as coach of the Sacramento Kings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell’s No. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1972. He earned spots on the NBA’s 25th anniversary all-time team in 1970, 35th anniversary team in 1980 and 75th anniversary team. In 1996, he was hailed as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players. In 2009, the MVP trophy of the NBA Finals was named in his honor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2013, a statue was unveiled on Boston’s City Hall Plaza of Russell surrounded by blocks of granite with quotes on leadership and character. Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 but did not attend the ceremony, saying he should not have been the first African American elected. (Chuck Cooper, the NBA’s first Black player, was his choice.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2019, Russell accepted his Hall of Fame ring in a private gathering. “I felt others before me should have had that honor,” he tweeted. “Good to see progress.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I cherished my friendship with Bill and was thrilled when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Silver said in his statement. “I often called him basketball’s Babe Ruth for how he transcended time. Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His family said that arrangements for Russell’s memorial service will be announced in the coming days.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13916823/bill-russell-basketball-oakland-icon-dies-at-88",
"authors": [
"byline_arts_13916823"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_235",
"arts_1564",
"arts_13238"
],
"tags": [
"arts_5786",
"arts_10278",
"arts_10422",
"arts_5787",
"arts_1143"
],
"featImg": "arts_13916831",
"label": "arts"
},
"arts_13916810": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "arts_13916810",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13916810",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1659130504000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "arts"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1659130504,
"format": "standard",
"title": "Going to a Club or Festival? Monkeypox Risk In Crowds is Relatively Low, Experts Say",
"headTitle": "Going to a Club or Festival? Monkeypox Risk In Crowds is Relatively Low, Experts Say | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and San Francisco’s monkeypox outbreak, health risks are on the minds of Bay Area residents—including those with tickets to music festivals, concerts and other large gatherings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to rising monkeypox cases, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920764/an-epicenter-for-the-country-san-francisco-declares-state-of-emergency-over-monkeypox-outbreak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a state of emergency\u003c/a> on Thursday. It goes into effect Aug. 1, and empowers the mayor’s office to mobilize personnel and resources to fight the outbreak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#monkeypoxquestions\">What questions do you have around monkeypox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The monkeypox virus spreads primarily through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin contact where infected lesions are present, prolonged, face-to-face contact (including close conversations) via respiratory droplets, and sharing items like clothing or bedding. So far, the outbreak has disproportionately affected men and trans people who have sex with men. But monkeypox can impact anyone, and with large gatherings coming up—including the Dore Alley queer fetish fair (July 31), the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa Valley (July 29-31) and the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park (Aug. 5-7)—it’s important to learn the risks before you go. KQED spoke with medical experts about how to best navigate the ongoing situation. [aside postid='news_11919070']\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Gathering in crowds is still relatively safe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor and infectious disease physician at UCSF, says people should be aware of what he describes as the different tiers of monkeypox transmission risk. High risk includes prolonged, skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. Medium risk includes prolonged contact with sheets or bedding that a person with lesions may have used. Medium-to-low risk includes respiratory droplets. And low risk includes touching shared surfaces on transit, the gym and other public spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Packing into a large crowd at a club, concert or festival “is a low risk, but it’s not a zero risk at this moment,” Chin-Hong says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, the most efficient way to get monkeypox isn’t going to a music event,” he explains. “It’s from skin-to-skin contact over several hours with an open sore in an intimate contact situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip says people who develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know#monkeypoxsymptoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">symptoms such as unexplained rashes\u003c/a> or are feeling sick should avoid large gatherings. “Cover the areas with clothing or with bandages so that the skin [with the rash] is not exposed to other people,” she says. “And wear a mask and go see a provider for evaluation, because cases are increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health offers \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/resource/2022/monkeypox-outreach-toolkit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an informational toolkit\u003c/a> which includes posters about monkeypox that event producers can download and display at gatherings.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Masking helps reduce risk\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At a festival or gathering, “you’re much more likely to get COVID than monkeypox,” Chin-Hong says. Masking helps reduce risk of both. While N95, KF94 or K95 masks have proven effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission, Chin-Hong says, a surgical mask or simple cloth mask can protect you from monkeypox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even at clubs and festivals, where people tend to lean in close to talk over the music, Chin-Hong says respiratory transmission is relatively low-risk. “[Someone] must be shouting at you for hours, probably, for that to occur,” he says, adding that kissing would create a higher risk of transmission through saliva than conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although simply standing in a crowd creates a low risk of transmission, wearing clothes that cover the skin can be another form of protection. “If people are concerned about monkeypox, it’s good to keep some distance between them and other people in crowds,” says Philip. “To wear clothing that covers the skin is also another way to protect themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The biggest risk is intimate contact\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While going out on the town in and of itself isn’t a high risk, intimate behaviors before or after a show can be, Chin-Hong explains. “If somebody has an open sore and you have a break in the skin, that’s probably the most efficient way to get it,” he says. “That’s why people getting together in intimate ways is so efficient, because even though it’s not always transmitted through bodily fluids and sex per se, rubbing up against somebody can cause micro abrasions, and therefore you can get exposed in that way from an open sore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, people who travel to events and stay in someone’s home or at an Airbnb should ensure the sheets have been washed properly. “Those are simple things I think people can feel some agency over,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Vaccine availability will increase\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>[aside postid='news_11920455'] The monkeypox vaccine offered in the U.S. right now is called Jynneos, which is also used to prevent smallpox. The CDC recommends that the monkeypox vaccine be given to a person within four days of the date they were exposed to monkeypox, for the best chance of preventing onset of the disease. (If a person gets the vaccine between four and 14 days of being exposed, the vaccine may reduce the symptoms of monkeypox, but may not prevent the disease altogether.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has so far received 12,000 vaccine doses, and 4,000 of those have come in the last few days. Long lines for vaccine doses have frustrated those attempting to get their shot. But Philip says more doses are on the way. “We asked as a city for 35,000 vaccines as a starting point for what we need,” Philip says. “We feel that the total number we need would be closer to 70,000. And so we’re making our need known, and the emergency declaration is going to be a way of really reinforcing that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are currently 10 \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/information/monkeypox-vaccine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">vaccine sites in San Francisco\u003c/a>. Eligible people include men and trans people who have sex with men; sex workers of any orientation or gender identity; people who might have been exposed to monkeypox within the past 14 days; and laboratory staff and clinicians at risk of occupational exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many who’ve already endured a pandemic are fearful of another virus spreading in the community, Chin-Hong says there’s reason to be optimistic that monkeypox can be contained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not like the early days of COVID where we didn’t have a lot of tools,” he says. “We actually do have a PCR test, we do have a vaccine, and we’re getting more and more of it. … And we do have drugs for people who are seriously ill. So in the event that you did get exposed, all is not lost.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"monkeypoxquestions\">\u003c/a>What other questions do you have about monkeypox?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Do you have a question about monkeypox and can’t find an answer in this story, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920455/where-can-i-find-a-monkeypox-vaccine-near-me\">our guide to where to find a monkeypox vaccine near you\u003c/a>, or in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">our explainer on monkeypox symptoms and how the virus spreads\u003c/a>?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use the box below to submit your question. What you send us will make our reporting on monkeypox stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please know that we can’t reach back out directly to everyone who asks a question, and we can’t give out individual medical advice. If you’re concerned about monkeypox or another health matter, we urge you to reach out to your health care provider, or a local community clinic if you don’t have insurance. (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920455/where-can-i-find-a-monkeypox-vaccine-near-me#wheremonkeypoxvaccinenearme\">See our list of community clinics in your county.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=”9840″ src=”https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/9840.js”]\u003c/p>\n\n",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1326,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": true,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 24
},
"modified": 1705006553,
"excerpt": "The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact, shared bedding and, less commonly, respiratory droplets.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact, shared bedding and, less commonly, respiratory droplets.",
"title": "Going to a Club or Festival? Monkeypox Risk In Crowds is Relatively Low, Experts Say | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Going to a Club or Festival? Monkeypox Risk In Crowds is Relatively Low, Experts Say",
"datePublished": "2022-07-29T14:35:04-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-01-11T12:55:53-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "monkeypox-gatherings-festivals-concerts-san-francisco-bay-area-state-of-emergency",
"status": "publish",
"templateType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"sticky": false,
"path": "/arts/13916810/monkeypox-gatherings-festivals-concerts-san-francisco-bay-area-state-of-emergency",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and San Francisco’s monkeypox outbreak, health risks are on the minds of Bay Area residents—including those with tickets to music festivals, concerts and other large gatherings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to rising monkeypox cases, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920764/an-epicenter-for-the-country-san-francisco-declares-state-of-emergency-over-monkeypox-outbreak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a state of emergency\u003c/a> on Thursday. It goes into effect Aug. 1, and empowers the mayor’s office to mobilize personnel and resources to fight the outbreak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#monkeypoxquestions\">What questions do you have around monkeypox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The monkeypox virus spreads primarily through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin contact where infected lesions are present, prolonged, face-to-face contact (including close conversations) via respiratory droplets, and sharing items like clothing or bedding. So far, the outbreak has disproportionately affected men and trans people who have sex with men. But monkeypox can impact anyone, and with large gatherings coming up—including the Dore Alley queer fetish fair (July 31), the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa Valley (July 29-31) and the Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park (Aug. 5-7)—it’s important to learn the risks before you go. KQED spoke with medical experts about how to best navigate the ongoing situation. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11919070",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Gathering in crowds is still relatively safe\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor and infectious disease physician at UCSF, says people should be aware of what he describes as the different tiers of monkeypox transmission risk. High risk includes prolonged, skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. Medium risk includes prolonged contact with sheets or bedding that a person with lesions may have used. Medium-to-low risk includes respiratory droplets. And low risk includes touching shared surfaces on transit, the gym and other public spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Packing into a large crowd at a club, concert or festival “is a low risk, but it’s not a zero risk at this moment,” Chin-Hong says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, the most efficient way to get monkeypox isn’t going to a music event,” he explains. “It’s from skin-to-skin contact over several hours with an open sore in an intimate contact situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip says people who develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know#monkeypoxsymptoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">symptoms such as unexplained rashes\u003c/a> or are feeling sick should avoid large gatherings. “Cover the areas with clothing or with bandages so that the skin [with the rash] is not exposed to other people,” she says. “And wear a mask and go see a provider for evaluation, because cases are increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health offers \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/resource/2022/monkeypox-outreach-toolkit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an informational toolkit\u003c/a> which includes posters about monkeypox that event producers can download and display at gatherings.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Masking helps reduce risk\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At a festival or gathering, “you’re much more likely to get COVID than monkeypox,” Chin-Hong says. Masking helps reduce risk of both. While N95, KF94 or K95 masks have proven effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission, Chin-Hong says, a surgical mask or simple cloth mask can protect you from monkeypox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even at clubs and festivals, where people tend to lean in close to talk over the music, Chin-Hong says respiratory transmission is relatively low-risk. “[Someone] must be shouting at you for hours, probably, for that to occur,” he says, adding that kissing would create a higher risk of transmission through saliva than conversation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although simply standing in a crowd creates a low risk of transmission, wearing clothes that cover the skin can be another form of protection. “If people are concerned about monkeypox, it’s good to keep some distance between them and other people in crowds,” says Philip. “To wear clothing that covers the skin is also another way to protect themselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The biggest risk is intimate contact\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While going out on the town in and of itself isn’t a high risk, intimate behaviors before or after a show can be, Chin-Hong explains. “If somebody has an open sore and you have a break in the skin, that’s probably the most efficient way to get it,” he says. “That’s why people getting together in intimate ways is so efficient, because even though it’s not always transmitted through bodily fluids and sex per se, rubbing up against somebody can cause micro abrasions, and therefore you can get exposed in that way from an open sore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, people who travel to events and stay in someone’s home or at an Airbnb should ensure the sheets have been washed properly. “Those are simple things I think people can feel some agency over,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Vaccine availability will increase\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11920455",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> The monkeypox vaccine offered in the U.S. right now is called Jynneos, which is also used to prevent smallpox. The CDC recommends that the monkeypox vaccine be given to a person within four days of the date they were exposed to monkeypox, for the best chance of preventing onset of the disease. (If a person gets the vaccine between four and 14 days of being exposed, the vaccine may reduce the symptoms of monkeypox, but may not prevent the disease altogether.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has so far received 12,000 vaccine doses, and 4,000 of those have come in the last few days. Long lines for vaccine doses have frustrated those attempting to get their shot. But Philip says more doses are on the way. “We asked as a city for 35,000 vaccines as a starting point for what we need,” Philip says. “We feel that the total number we need would be closer to 70,000. And so we’re making our need known, and the emergency declaration is going to be a way of really reinforcing that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are currently 10 \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/information/monkeypox-vaccine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">vaccine sites in San Francisco\u003c/a>. Eligible people include men and trans people who have sex with men; sex workers of any orientation or gender identity; people who might have been exposed to monkeypox within the past 14 days; and laboratory staff and clinicians at risk of occupational exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many who’ve already endured a pandemic are fearful of another virus spreading in the community, Chin-Hong says there’s reason to be optimistic that monkeypox can be contained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not like the early days of COVID where we didn’t have a lot of tools,” he says. “We actually do have a PCR test, we do have a vaccine, and we’re getting more and more of it. … And we do have drugs for people who are seriously ill. So in the event that you did get exposed, all is not lost.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"monkeypoxquestions\">\u003c/a>What other questions do you have about monkeypox?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Do you have a question about monkeypox and can’t find an answer in this story, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920455/where-can-i-find-a-monkeypox-vaccine-near-me\">our guide to where to find a monkeypox vaccine near you\u003c/a>, or in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">our explainer on monkeypox symptoms and how the virus spreads\u003c/a>?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use the box below to submit your question. What you send us will make our reporting on monkeypox stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please know that we can’t reach back out directly to everyone who asks a question, and we can’t give out individual medical advice. If you’re concerned about monkeypox or another health matter, we urge you to reach out to your health care provider, or a local community clinic if you don’t have insurance. (\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11920455/where-can-i-find-a-monkeypox-vaccine-near-me#wheremonkeypoxvaccinenearme\">See our list of community clinics in your county.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "hearken",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"id": "”9840″",
"src": "”https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/9840.js”",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/arts/13916810/monkeypox-gatherings-festivals-concerts-san-francisco-bay-area-state-of-emergency",
"authors": [
"11387"
],
"categories": [
"arts_1",
"arts_69",
"arts_235",
"arts_967"
],
"tags": [
"arts_10342",
"arts_10278",
"arts_1694"
],
"featImg": "arts_13917016",
"label": "arts"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/arts?category=news": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 576,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 3717,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"arts_13919403",
"arts_13919318",
"arts_13919294",
"arts_13918908",
"arts_13916410",
"arts_13918308",
"arts_13917506",
"arts_13917567",
"arts_13917362",
"arts_13917098",
"arts_13916823",
"arts_13916810"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts_category_news": {
"isLoading": true
},
"arts_235": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_235",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "235",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 236,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/news"
},
"source_arts_13919403": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_arts_13919403",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "CalMatters",
"link": "https://calmatters.org/",
"isLoading": false
},
"arts_1": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1,
"slug": "arts",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/arts"
},
"arts_8505": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_8505",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "8505",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "bay area hip-hop",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "bay area hip-hop Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8517,
"slug": "bay-area-hip-hop",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/bay-area-hip-hop"
},
"arts_10328": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10328",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10328",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "gavin newsom",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "gavin newsom Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10340,
"slug": "gavin-newsom",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/gavin-newsom"
},
"arts_974": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_974",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "974",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "rap",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "rap Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 992,
"slug": "rap",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/rap"
},
"arts_69": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_69",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "69",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Music",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Music Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 70,
"slug": "music",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/music"
},
"arts_10589": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10589",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10589",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "&Music",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "&Music Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10601,
"slug": "music",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/music"
},
"arts_11014": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_11014",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "11014",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "COVID",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "COVID Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 11026,
"slug": "covid",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/covid"
},
"arts_10342": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10342",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10342",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "editorspick",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "editorspick Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10354,
"slug": "editorspick",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/editorspick"
},
"arts_10278": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10278",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10278",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-arts",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-arts Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10290,
"slug": "featured-arts",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/featured-arts"
},
"arts_11080": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_11080",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "11080",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "independent venues",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "independent venues Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 11092,
"slug": "independent-venues",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/independent-venues"
},
"arts_1420": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1420",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1420",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "jazz",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "jazz Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1432,
"slug": "jazz",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/jazz"
},
"arts_6387": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_6387",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "6387",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "music venues",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "music venues Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6399,
"slug": "music-venues",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/music-venues"
},
"arts_11031": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_11031",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "11031",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "national independent venue association",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "national independent venue association Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 11043,
"slug": "national-independent-venue-association",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/national-independent-venue-association"
},
"arts_2021": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2021",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2021",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "spellling",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "spellling Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2033,
"slug": "spellling",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/spellling"
},
"arts_18635": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_18635",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "18635",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "touring",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "touring Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18647,
"slug": "touring",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/touring"
},
"arts_137": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_137",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "137",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/logo-npr-lg1.png",
"name": "NPR",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "affiliate",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "NPR Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 138,
"slug": "npr",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/affiliate/npr"
},
"arts_967": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_967",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "967",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Theater",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Theater Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 985,
"slug": "theater",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/theater"
},
"arts_1238": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1238",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1238",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "ACT",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "ACT Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1250,
"slug": "act",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/act"
},
"arts_1175": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1175",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1175",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "American Conservatory Theater",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "American Conservatory Theater Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1187,
"slug": "american-conservatory-theater",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/american-conservatory-theater"
},
"arts_2883": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2883",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2883",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "city arts and lectures",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "City Arts & Lectures is the Bay Area's premier forum for the arts, presenting live talks with today's leading artists, writers, thinkers, and performers.",
"title": "City Arts and Lectures Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2895,
"slug": "city-arts-and-lectures",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/city-arts-and-lectures"
},
"arts_1072": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1072",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1072",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "theater",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "theater Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1089,
"slug": "theater",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/theater"
},
"arts_4459": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_4459",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "4459",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "activism",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "activism Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4471,
"slug": "activism",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/activism"
},
"arts_10422": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10422",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10422",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10434,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/featured-news"
},
"arts_3081": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_3081",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "3081",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "gun violence",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "gun violence Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3093,
"slug": "gun-violence",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/gun-violence"
},
"arts_2151": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2151",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2151",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Los Rakas",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Los Rakas Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2163,
"slug": "los-rakas",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/los-rakas"
},
"arts_1143": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1143",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1143",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Oakland",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Oakland Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 692,
"slug": "oakland",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/oakland"
},
"arts_10166": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_10166",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "10166",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "pandemic",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "pandemic Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10178,
"slug": "pandemic",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/pandemic"
},
"arts_5718": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_5718",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "5718",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "restorative justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "restorative justice Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5730,
"slug": "restorative-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/restorative-justice"
},
"arts_8746": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_8746",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "8746",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "bay area music festivals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "bay area music festivals Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8758,
"slug": "bay-area-music-festivals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/bay-area-music-festivals"
},
"arts_2427": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2427",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2427",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Golden Gate Park",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Golden Gate Park Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2439,
"slug": "golden-gate-park",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/golden-gate-park"
},
"arts_2688": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2688",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2688",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2700,
"slug": "hardly-strictly-bluegrass",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass"
},
"arts_18123": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_18123",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "18123",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "hardly strictly bluegrass 2022",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "hardly strictly bluegrass 2022 Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18135,
"slug": "hardly-strictly-bluegrass-2022",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/hardly-strictly-bluegrass-2022"
},
"arts_1694": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1694",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1694",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "music festivals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "music festivals Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1706,
"slug": "music-festivals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/music-festivals"
},
"arts_585": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_585",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "585",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "thedolist",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "thedolist Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 590,
"slug": "thedolist",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/thedolist"
},
"arts_879": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_879",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "879",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "dance",
"description": "Covering dance events in the Bay Area and more.",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Covering dance events in the Bay Area and more.",
"title": "dance Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 897,
"slug": "dance",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/dance"
},
"arts_16154": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_16154",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "16154",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Indian diaspora",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Indian diaspora Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 16166,
"slug": "indian-diaspora",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/indian-diaspora"
},
"arts_4642": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_4642",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "4642",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Rachael Myrow",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Rachael Myrow Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4654,
"slug": "rachael-myrow",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/rachael-myrow"
},
"arts_3001": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_3001",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "3001",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "silicon valley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "silicon valley Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3013,
"slug": "silicon-valley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/silicon-valley"
},
"arts_990": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_990",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "990",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "TV",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "TV Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1008,
"slug": "tv",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/tv"
},
"arts_2210": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2210",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2210",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Amazon",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Amazon Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2222,
"slug": "amazon",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/amazon"
},
"arts_1084": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1084",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1084",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Jose",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Jose Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1101,
"slug": "san-jose",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/san-jose"
},
"arts_2792": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_2792",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "2792",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "tv",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "tv Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2804,
"slug": "tv",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/tv"
},
"arts_73": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_73",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "73",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Books",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Books Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 74,
"slug": "literature",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/literature"
},
"arts_74": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_74",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "74",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Movies",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Movies Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 75,
"slug": "movies",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/movies"
},
"arts_6192": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_6192",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "6192",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "another planet entertainment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "another planet entertainment Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6204,
"slug": "another-planet-entertainment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/another-planet-entertainment"
},
"arts_3547": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_3547",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "3547",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "castro",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "castro Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3559,
"slug": "castro",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/castro"
},
"arts_6476": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_6476",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "6476",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "castro theatre",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "castro theatre Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6488,
"slug": "castro-theatre",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/castro-theatre"
},
"arts_977": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_977",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "977",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Film",
"slug": "film",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Film Archives | KQED Arts",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 995,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/film"
},
"arts_5544": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_5544",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "5544",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "movie theaters",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "movie theaters Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5556,
"slug": "movie-theaters",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/movie-theaters"
},
"arts_3465": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_3465",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "3465",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "movies",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "movies Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3477,
"slug": "movies",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/movies"
},
"arts_13238": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_13238",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "13238",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Sports Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 13250,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/sports"
},
"arts_746": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_746",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "746",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "news Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 764,
"slug": "news-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/news-2"
},
"arts_4090": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_4090",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "4090",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "russia",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "russia Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4102,
"slug": "russia",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/russia"
},
"arts_4506": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_4506",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "4506",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Sports Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4518,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/sports"
},
"arts_1564": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_1564",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "1564",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Remembrance",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Remembrance Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1576,
"slug": "remembrance",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/category/remembrance"
},
"arts_5786": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_5786",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "5786",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Basketball",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Basketball Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5798,
"slug": "basketball",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/basketball"
},
"arts_5787": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts_5787",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "arts",
"id": "5787",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "NBA",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "NBA Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5799,
"slug": "nba",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/arts/tag/nba"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
}
}
