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"slug": "fleet-week-2026-practice-schedule-blue-angels-ship-tours-where-events",
"title": "Fleet Week 2026: What to Know About the Schedule, Events and the Blue Angels",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Love it for its extravagant airshows or hate it for its decibel level, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">Fleet Week 2026\u003c/a> has arrived in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This annual weeklong event that “honors the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/about-us/\">the men and women of the United States Armed Forces\u003c/a>,” according to organizers, runs through Tuesday, Oct. 12. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those interested, Fleet Week 2026 brings a whole host of events across the city that mark the occasion, including ship tours, air shows and live music. Read on to find out more about Fleet Week and how to attend its celebrations (or just if you’re looking to avoid the noise and the traffic). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the schedule of events for Fleet Week 2026? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11697029\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left: Jackson Buttler, 4; Wyatt Buttler, 3; and Kai Super, 4, play with toy Blue Angel jets as a little girl looks on during the Fleet Week air show at the Marina Green in San Francisco. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/calendar-of-events/\">the full calendar of official Fleet Week events online\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/free-concert-series/\">A free concert series\u003c/a> featuring the musicians of the U.S. Navy and Marines — many of which are free to attend in the city’s public spaces\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/parade-of-ships/\">A parade of ships\u003c/a> in San Francisco Bay on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where the vessels will be sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/k9-heroes/\">A celebration of the military’s working dogs\u003c/a> at Duboce Park on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are a lot of events scattered throughout the city, you’ll find many of them happening \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/fleet-fest/\">at Fisherman’s Wharf for Fleet Fest\u003c/a>: A large event by the SkyStar Wheel with food, live demonstrations, music and family activities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When are the Fleet Week air shows with the Blue Angels?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s when to expect roaring overhead: The Fleet Week \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/air-show/\">air shows\u003c/a>, headlined by the Navy’s Blue Angels, will take place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week — all from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, flights could start as early as 10 a.m. those days, \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport\u003c/a>, which is playing host to these aircraft during Fleet Week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The air shows will take place between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you want to get a view of the lineup of military aircraft (and one United 777) during the air shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sftravel.com/article/where-you-need-to-watch-blue-angels-fly-over-san-francisco-during-fleet-week\">classic viewing spots\u003c/a> include Crissy Field, the Marin Headlands and Treasure Island — but prepare for traffic and crowds in these areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping for a guaranteed good spot, \u003ca href=\"https://event.attendstar.com/event/show/san-francisco-fleet-week-2026/?c=ICYMC3\">you can get VIP tickets online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When else could the skies get noisy during Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098363\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The aerobatic team performs in the sky over the Golden Gate Bridge during the Fleet Week Air Show on Oct. 11, 2025, in San Francisco. (Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice for the air shows on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to OAK. \u003c/a>There’ll also be media flights the day before, on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are live music performances across the city, the louder celebrations — like those airshows — are focused in the northern parts of San Francisco. So while neighborhoods like the Marina and Pacific Heights may be hearing a lot of noise, districts deeper in the city like the Mission, Dogpatch and Noe Valley may be quieter. If you’re concerned about noise, you can consult the \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/map-of-events/\">map of Fleet Week events\u003c/a> to see which areas will experience the loudest sounds this week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED also has a guide on how to keep \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">an eye on your pets’ safety during loud celebrations\u003c/a> like fireworks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I do a ship tour for Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another major feature of Fleet Week is its \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">multiple free ship tours\u003c/a>, where visitors can explore massive military vessels docked at the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tours are available on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, they are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While ship tours are free, they are also first-come, first-served. If you are interested in attending, \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">be sure to check out the bag and item policy beforehand\u003c/a>. For example, large backpacks are not allowed on the ships, and you can’t wear high heels onboard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Everyone age 18 and over must bring a valid government-issued ID, and anyone age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I know about Fleet Week 2026 traffic?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With a massive event like Fleet Week, there will be crowds. Some San Francisco officials even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">expressed concern\u003c/a> earlier this year that the city could see a repeat of the gridlock and bathroom shortages that plagued July 4 celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You should expect to encounter a lot of people around Fisherman’s Wharf in particular for Fleet Fest. Fleet Week organizers advise visitors to \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/transportation/\">consider using public transportation\u003c/a> to its events. You can \u003ca href=\"http://511.org\">map out your route on 511.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFMTA has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fleet-week-october-9-11-2026\">a regularly updated advisory page\u003c/a> of transit options on its website, with special options for the airshows and the ship parade.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Love it for its extravagant airshows or hate it for its decibel level, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">Fleet Week 2026\u003c/a> has arrived in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Love it for its extravagant airshows or hate it for its decibel level, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">Fleet Week 2026\u003c/a> has arrived in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This annual weeklong event that “honors the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/about-us/\">the men and women of the United States Armed Forces\u003c/a>,” according to organizers, runs through Tuesday, Oct. 12. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This annual weeklong event that “honors the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/about-us/\">the men and women of the United States Armed Forces\u003c/a>,” according to organizers, runs through Tuesday, Oct. 12. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For those interested, Fleet Week 2026 brings a whole host of events across the city that mark the occasion, including ship tours, air shows and live music. Read on to find out more about Fleet Week and how to attend its celebrations (or just if you’re looking to avoid the noise and the traffic). \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For those interested, Fleet Week 2026 brings a whole host of events across the city that mark the occasion, including ship tours, air shows and live music. Read on to find out more about Fleet Week and how to attend its celebrations (or just if you’re looking to avoid the noise and the traffic). \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "What’s the schedule of events for Fleet Week 2026? ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the schedule of events for Fleet Week 2026? \u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the schedule of events for Fleet Week 2026? \u003c/h2>\n"
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11697029\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left: Jackson Buttler, 4; Wyatt Buttler, 3; and Kai Super, 4, play with toy Blue Angel jets as a little girl looks on during the Fleet Week air show at the Marina Green in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11697029\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left: Jackson Buttler, 4; Wyatt Buttler, 3; and Kai Super, 4, play with toy Blue Angel jets as a little girl looks on during the Fleet Week air show at the Marina Green in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/calendar-of-events/\">the full calendar of official Fleet Week events online\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/calendar-of-events/\">the full calendar of official Fleet Week events online\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n"
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"A free concert series featuring the musicians of the U.S. Navy and Marines — many of which are free to attend in the city’s public spaces",
"A parade of ships in San Francisco Bay on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where the vessels will be sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge",
"A celebration of the military’s working dogs at Duboce Park on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/free-concert-series/\">A free concert series\u003c/a> featuring the musicians of the U.S. Navy and Marines — many of which are free to attend in the city’s public spaces\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/free-concert-series/\">A free concert series\u003c/a> featuring the musicians of the U.S. Navy and Marines — many of which are free to attend in the city’s public spaces\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/parade-of-ships/\">A parade of ships\u003c/a> in San Francisco Bay on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where the vessels will be sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/parade-of-ships/\">A parade of ships\u003c/a> in San Francisco Bay on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where the vessels will be sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/k9-heroes/\">A celebration of the military’s working dogs\u003c/a> at Duboce Park on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/k9-heroes/\">A celebration of the military’s working dogs\u003c/a> at Duboce Park on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While there are a lot of events scattered throughout the city, you’ll find many of them happening \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/fleet-fest/\">at Fisherman’s Wharf for Fleet Fest\u003c/a>: A large event by the SkyStar Wheel with food, live demonstrations, music and family activities.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While there are a lot of events scattered throughout the city, you’ll find many of them happening \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/fleet-fest/\">at Fisherman’s Wharf for Fleet Fest\u003c/a>: A large event by the SkyStar Wheel with food, live demonstrations, music and family activities.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "When are the Fleet Week air shows with the Blue Angels?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When are the Fleet Week air shows with the Blue Angels?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When are the Fleet Week air shows with the Blue Angels?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here’s when to expect roaring overhead: The Fleet Week \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/air-show/\">air shows\u003c/a>, headlined by the Navy’s Blue Angels, will take place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week — all from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, flights could start as early as 10 a.m. those days, \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport\u003c/a>, which is playing host to these aircraft during Fleet Week.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Here’s when to expect roaring overhead: The Fleet Week \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/air-show/\">air shows\u003c/a>, headlined by the Navy’s Blue Angels, will take place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week — all from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, flights could start as early as 10 a.m. those days, \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport\u003c/a>, which is playing host to these aircraft during Fleet Week.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The air shows will take place between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you want to get a view of the lineup of military aircraft (and one United 777) during the air shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sftravel.com/article/where-you-need-to-watch-blue-angels-fly-over-san-francisco-during-fleet-week\">classic viewing spots\u003c/a> include Crissy Field, the Marin Headlands and Treasure Island — but prepare for traffic and crowds in these areas. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The air shows will take place between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you want to get a view of the lineup of military aircraft (and one United 777) during the air shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sftravel.com/article/where-you-need-to-watch-blue-angels-fly-over-san-francisco-during-fleet-week\">classic viewing spots\u003c/a> include Crissy Field, the Marin Headlands and Treasure Island — but prepare for traffic and crowds in these areas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping for a guaranteed good spot, \u003ca href=\"https://event.attendstar.com/event/show/san-francisco-fleet-week-2026/?c=ICYMC3\">you can get VIP tickets online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping for a guaranteed good spot, \u003ca href=\"https://event.attendstar.com/event/show/san-francisco-fleet-week-2026/?c=ICYMC3\">you can get VIP tickets online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "When else could the skies get noisy during Fleet Week 2026?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When else could the skies get noisy during Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When else could the skies get noisy during Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098363\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The aerobatic team performs in the sky over the Golden Gate Bridge during the Fleet Week Air Show on Oct. 11, 2025, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098363\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The aerobatic team performs in the sky over the Golden Gate Bridge during the Fleet Week Air Show on Oct. 11, 2025, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice for the air shows on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to OAK. \u003c/a>There’ll also be media flights the day before, on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice for the air shows on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to OAK. \u003c/a>There’ll also be media flights the day before, on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While there are live music performances across the city, the louder celebrations — like those airshows — are focused in the northern parts of San Francisco. So while neighborhoods like the Marina and Pacific Heights may be hearing a lot of noise, districts deeper in the city like the Mission, Dogpatch and Noe Valley may be quieter. If you’re concerned about noise, you can consult the \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/map-of-events/\">map of Fleet Week events\u003c/a> to see which areas will experience the loudest sounds this week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While there are live music performances across the city, the louder celebrations — like those airshows — are focused in the northern parts of San Francisco. So while neighborhoods like the Marina and Pacific Heights may be hearing a lot of noise, districts deeper in the city like the Mission, Dogpatch and Noe Valley may be quieter. If you’re concerned about noise, you can consult the \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/map-of-events/\">map of Fleet Week events\u003c/a> to see which areas will experience the loudest sounds this week. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>KQED also has a guide on how to keep \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">an eye on your pets’ safety during loud celebrations\u003c/a> like fireworks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>KQED also has a guide on how to keep \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">an eye on your pets’ safety during loud celebrations\u003c/a> like fireworks.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "How can I do a ship tour for Fleet Week 2026?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I do a ship tour for Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Another major feature of Fleet Week is its \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">multiple free ship tours\u003c/a>, where visitors can explore massive military vessels docked at the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Another major feature of Fleet Week is its \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">multiple free ship tours\u003c/a>, where visitors can explore massive military vessels docked at the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tours are available on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, they are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Tours are available on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, they are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While ship tours are free, they are also first-come, first-served. If you are interested in attending, \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">be sure to check out the bag and item policy beforehand\u003c/a>. For example, large backpacks are not allowed on the ships, and you can’t wear high heels onboard. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While ship tours are free, they are also first-come, first-served. If you are interested in attending, \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">be sure to check out the bag and item policy beforehand\u003c/a>. For example, large backpacks are not allowed on the ships, and you can’t wear high heels onboard. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Everyone age 18 and over must bring a valid government-issued ID, and anyone age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With a massive event like Fleet Week, there will be crowds. Some San Francisco officials even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">expressed concern\u003c/a> earlier this year that the city could see a repeat of the gridlock and bathroom shortages that plagued July 4 celebrations.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With a massive event like Fleet Week, there will be crowds. Some San Francisco officials even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">expressed concern\u003c/a> earlier this year that the city could see a repeat of the gridlock and bathroom shortages that plagued July 4 celebrations.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You should expect to encounter a lot of people around Fisherman’s Wharf in particular for Fleet Fest. Fleet Week organizers advise visitors to \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/transportation/\">consider using public transportation\u003c/a> to its events. You can \u003ca href=\"http://511.org\">map out your route on 511.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You should expect to encounter a lot of people around Fisherman’s Wharf in particular for Fleet Fest. Fleet Week organizers advise visitors to \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/transportation/\">consider using public transportation\u003c/a> to its events. You can \u003ca href=\"http://511.org\">map out your route on 511.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>SFMTA has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fleet-week-october-9-11-2026\">a regularly updated advisory page\u003c/a> of transit options on its website, with special options for the airshows and the ship parade.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "With Fleet Week kicking off, here’s how you can catch (or avoid) the events happening across the city.",
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"title": "Fleet Week 2026: What to Know About the Schedule, Events and the Blue Angels | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Love it for its extravagant airshows or hate it for its decibel level, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">Fleet Week 2026\u003c/a> has arrived in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This annual weeklong event that “honors the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/about-us/\">the men and women of the United States Armed Forces\u003c/a>,” according to organizers, runs through Tuesday, Oct. 12. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those interested, Fleet Week 2026 brings a whole host of events across the city that mark the occasion, including ship tours, air shows and live music. Read on to find out more about Fleet Week and how to attend its celebrations (or just if you’re looking to avoid the noise and the traffic). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the schedule of events for Fleet Week 2026? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11697029\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/RS33070_10052018_AW_FleetWeek_08-qut-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left: Jackson Buttler, 4; Wyatt Buttler, 3; and Kai Super, 4, play with toy Blue Angel jets as a little girl looks on during the Fleet Week air show at the Marina Green in San Francisco. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/calendar-of-events/\">the full calendar of official Fleet Week events online\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/free-concert-series/\">A free concert series\u003c/a> featuring the musicians of the U.S. Navy and Marines — many of which are free to attend in the city’s public spaces\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/parade-of-ships/\">A parade of ships\u003c/a> in San Francisco Bay on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where the vessels will be sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/k9-heroes/\">A celebration of the military’s working dogs\u003c/a> at Duboce Park on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are a lot of events scattered throughout the city, you’ll find many of them happening \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/fleet-fest/\">at Fisherman’s Wharf for Fleet Fest\u003c/a>: A large event by the SkyStar Wheel with food, live demonstrations, music and family activities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When are the Fleet Week air shows with the Blue Angels?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s when to expect roaring overhead: The Fleet Week \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/air-show/\">air shows\u003c/a>, headlined by the Navy’s Blue Angels, will take place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week — all from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, flights could start as early as 10 a.m. those days, \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport\u003c/a>, which is playing host to these aircraft during Fleet Week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The air shows will take place between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you want to get a view of the lineup of military aircraft (and one United 777) during the air shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sftravel.com/article/where-you-need-to-watch-blue-angels-fly-over-san-francisco-during-fleet-week\">classic viewing spots\u003c/a> include Crissy Field, the Marin Headlands and Treasure Island — but prepare for traffic and crowds in these areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re hoping for a guaranteed good spot, \u003ca href=\"https://event.attendstar.com/event/show/san-francisco-fleet-week-2026/?c=ICYMC3\">you can get VIP tickets online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When else could the skies get noisy during Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098363\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Fleet-Week-SF-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The aerobatic team performs in the sky over the Golden Gate Bridge during the Fleet Week Air Show on Oct. 11, 2025, in San Francisco. (Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice for the air shows on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., \u003ca href=\"https://flyquietoak.com/2026-fleet-week-flight-operations-at-oakland-san-francisco-bay-airport-oak/\">according to OAK. \u003c/a>There’ll also be media flights the day before, on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While there are live music performances across the city, the louder celebrations — like those airshows — are focused in the northern parts of San Francisco. So while neighborhoods like the Marina and Pacific Heights may be hearing a lot of noise, districts deeper in the city like the Mission, Dogpatch and Noe Valley may be quieter. If you’re concerned about noise, you can consult the \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/map-of-events/\">map of Fleet Week events\u003c/a> to see which areas will experience the loudest sounds this week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED also has a guide on how to keep \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">an eye on your pets’ safety during loud celebrations\u003c/a> like fireworks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I do a ship tour for Fleet Week 2026?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another major feature of Fleet Week is its \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">multiple free ship tours\u003c/a>, where visitors can explore massive military vessels docked at the Port of San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tours are available on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, they are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While ship tours are free, they are also first-come, first-served. If you are interested in attending, \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/\">be sure to check out the bag and item policy beforehand\u003c/a>. For example, large backpacks are not allowed on the ships, and you can’t wear high heels onboard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Everyone age 18 and over must bring a valid government-issued ID, and anyone age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I know about Fleet Week 2026 traffic?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With a massive event like Fleet Week, there will be crowds. Some San Francisco officials even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097824/could-san-francisco-see-july-4-crowds-for-fleet-week-city-leaders-say-not-exactly\">expressed concern\u003c/a> earlier this year that the city could see a repeat of the gridlock and bathroom shortages that plagued July 4 celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You should expect to encounter a lot of people around Fisherman’s Wharf in particular for Fleet Fest. Fleet Week organizers advise visitors to \u003ca href=\"https://fleetweeksf.org/transportation/\">consider using public transportation\u003c/a> to its events. You can \u003ca href=\"http://511.org\">map out your route on 511.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFMTA has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/fleet-week-october-9-11-2026\">a regularly updated advisory page\u003c/a> of transit options on its website, with special options for the airshows and the ship parade.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "golden-gate-fields-on-track-to-become-waterfront-park",
"title": "Golden Gate Fields on Track to Become Waterfront Park",
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"headTitle": "Golden Gate Fields on Track to Become Waterfront Park | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>East Bay officials took a goodbye tour on Monday of the shuttered Golden Gate Fields racetrack, which is slated to take the first step toward becoming a vast public open space for residents later this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In July, California agreed to foot the bulk of the $175 million bill for the nonprofit Trust for Public Land to purchase the 160-acre parcel at the border of Albany and Berkeley, with hopes to transform the Bay Area’s final horseracing track into a waterfront park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The officials picture walking trails, sports fields and cafes replacing the iconic red and green grandstands and milelong oval track that drew horseracing fans — and college students looking for a cheap beer — for more than 80 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This place is so intertwined with so many people’s memories, and it’s super exciting to be… protecting this place for generations to come to continue to play,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, the Trust for Public Land’s state director. “But play something different — bet on kids running and not necessarily horses going around a racetrack.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103025\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103139\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103148\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103148\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June of 2024, Golden Gate Fields held its final race, bringing an 83-year run and horse racing in the Bay Area, to an end. Rodriguez recalled that as a UC Berkeley student in the 1990s, attending the track’s Sunday “Dollar Days,” featuring $1 entry tickets, hot dogs and beers, was a “rite of passage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s where we filled up with all our carbs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the bay, the racetrack at Tanforan in San Bruno shuttered more than 60 years ago. Bay Meadows in San Mateo closed in 2008 as interest in the sport waned and concerns grew about the safety of the horses at the tracks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Animal rights activists estimated that \u003ca href=\"https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/06/07/golden-gate-fields-bows-out-storied-horse-track-goes-dark-after-final-race-this-sunday/\">thousands of horses died\u003c/a> at Golden Gate Fields during its operation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both other tracks have been replaced with massive developments — a sprawling shopping center where Tanforan once stood and mixed-use housing and commercial space at Bay Meadows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said that while those uses make sense for their locations, when Golden Gate Fields shuttered, it was the public’s turn to get a new open space. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trust for Public Land announced earlier this year that it would purchase the property from the Canadian-owned Stronach Group, which still operates Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While restoration and recreation will be at the forefront, what exactly will become of the parcel that once housed more than 1,000 horses and hundreds of workers in its “backstretch” hasn’t yet been decided. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said there will be a robust community engagement process with nearby cities, which already began in Albany last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mayor Peggy McQuaid said between the 100 people who packed into the Albany Community Center in person and even more who joined the meeting virtually, there were “a lot of different ideas from the community” — from public access to revenue-generating development.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everyone is excited about what’s really possible and exploring all the options,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The elected officials who toured the site on Monday expressed similar hopes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m really excited to have it go back to nature, to have this open shoreline, to have beautiful fields. There are a lot of folks interested in having sports fields,” Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii said. “I have three dogs, so I’m very excited to be able to bring them here and walk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California State Senator Jesse Arreguín said he would love to see some sort of museum or educational site focused on the natural habitat and role of the waterfront, which was wetlands before the racetrack was built. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103029\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103147\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103147\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor of Albany Peggy McQuaid takes photos at Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also expressed support for some commercial use, especially since Golden Gate Fields generated more than $1 million in special revenue for the city of Albany, and about $700,000 for its school district.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would see some level of development in terms of restaurants or cafes … that also I think add to the attractiveness of open space,” East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks said. “That also gives more revenue-generating opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot that can be done with this, and I think the mayor of Albany said it best — It’s such an enormous space that we can have all of these things,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103143\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assemblymember Buffy Wicks speaks at Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Wicks said that when she first learned the track would close and land use would transition, she immediately asked whether it could be used for housing. While residential development isn’t entirely off the table, she said, it would come with “unique challenges.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because of the land’s zoning, Albany voters would have to approve any residential development, according to Wicks. Adding the infrastructure needed to support housing on the land would also come with a significant cost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These are not insurmountable things, but they also just present a different kind of reality,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103031\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>There are also parameters to the funding that the Trust for Public Land will use to purchase the $175 million parcel. Nearly three-fourths will come from statewide funds for Proposition 4, a voter-approved bond for climate projects, including land conservation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The park district has pledged $20 million for the project, and the nonprofit is raising the remaining $30 million through private donors and additional public funding.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The East Bay Regional Park District is expected to formally accept that it will take ownership of the property at a meeting on Oct. 20. The California Wildlife Conservation Board and California State Coastal Conservancy, two of the entities responsible for the state funds, will both hold votes on whether to approve the appropriations in November and December, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After all three votes, Rodriguez said the Trust for Public Land has until Dec. 15 to exercise its option agreement to purchase the property.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re ending the preamble, and now the work begins,” McQuaid, the Albany mayor, said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Across the bay, the racetrack at Tanforan in San Bruno shuttered more than 60 years ago. Bay Meadows in San Mateo closed in 2008 as interest in the sport waned and concerns grew about the safety of the horses at the tracks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Across the bay, the racetrack at Tanforan in San Bruno shuttered more than 60 years ago. Bay Meadows in San Mateo closed in 2008 as interest in the sport waned and concerns grew about the safety of the horses at the tracks. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Animal rights activists estimated that \u003ca href=\"https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/06/07/golden-gate-fields-bows-out-storied-horse-track-goes-dark-after-final-race-this-sunday/\">thousands of horses died\u003c/a> at Golden Gate Fields during its operation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Both other tracks have been replaced with massive developments — a sprawling shopping center where Tanforan once stood and mixed-use housing and commercial space at Bay Meadows.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said that while those uses make sense for their locations, when Golden Gate Fields shuttered, it was the public’s turn to get a new open space. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trust for Public Land announced earlier this year that it would purchase the property from the Canadian-owned Stronach Group, which still operates Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While restoration and recreation will be at the forefront, what exactly will become of the parcel that once housed more than 1,000 horses and hundreds of workers in its “backstretch” hasn’t yet been decided. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said there will be a robust community engagement process with nearby cities, which already began in Albany last week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mayor Peggy McQuaid said between the 100 people who packed into the Albany Community Center in person and even more who joined the meeting virtually, there were “a lot of different ideas from the community” — from public access to revenue-generating development.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Everyone is excited about what’s really possible and exploring all the options,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The elected officials who toured the site on Monday expressed similar hopes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m really excited to have it go back to nature, to have this open shoreline, to have beautiful fields. There are a lot of folks interested in having sports fields,” Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii said. “I have three dogs, so I’m very excited to be able to bring them here and walk.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California State Senator Jesse Arreguín said he would love to see some sort of museum or educational site focused on the natural habitat and role of the waterfront, which was wetlands before the racetrack was built. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He also expressed support for some commercial use, especially since Golden Gate Fields generated more than $1 million in special revenue for the city of Albany, and about $700,000 for its school district.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I would see some level of development in terms of restaurants or cafes … that also I think add to the attractiveness of open space,” East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks said. “That also gives more revenue-generating opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot that can be done with this, and I think the mayor of Albany said it best — It’s such an enormous space that we can have all of these things,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103143\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assemblymember Buffy Wicks speaks at Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wicks said that when she first learned the track would close and land use would transition, she immediately asked whether it could be used for housing. While residential development isn’t entirely off the table, she said, it would come with “unique challenges.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Wicks said that when she first learned the track would close and land use would transition, she immediately asked whether it could be used for housing. While residential development isn’t entirely off the table, she said, it would come with “unique challenges.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Because of the land’s zoning, Albany voters would have to approve any residential development, according to Wicks. Adding the infrastructure needed to support housing on the land would also come with a significant cost.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These are not insurmountable things, but they also just present a different kind of reality,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103031\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are also parameters to the funding that the Trust for Public Land will use to purchase the $175 million parcel. Nearly three-fourths will come from statewide funds for Proposition 4, a voter-approved bond for climate projects, including land conservation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The park district has pledged $20 million for the project, and the nonprofit is raising the remaining $30 million through private donors and additional public funding.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The East Bay Regional Park District is expected to formally accept that it will take ownership of the property at a meeting on Oct. 20. The California Wildlife Conservation Board and California State Coastal Conservancy, two of the entities responsible for the state funds, will both hold votes on whether to approve the appropriations in November and December, respectively. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The East Bay Regional Park District is expected to formally accept that it will take ownership of the property at a meeting on Oct. 20. The California Wildlife Conservation Board and California State Coastal Conservancy, two of the entities responsible for the state funds, will both hold votes on whether to approve the appropriations in November and December, respectively. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After all three votes, Rodriguez said the Trust for Public Land has until Dec. 15 to exercise its option agreement to purchase the property.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After all three votes, Rodriguez said the Trust for Public Land has until Dec. 15 to exercise its option agreement to purchase the property.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re ending the preamble, and now the work begins,” McQuaid, the Albany mayor, said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>East Bay officials took a goodbye tour on Monday of the shuttered Golden Gate Fields racetrack, which is slated to take the first step toward becoming a vast public open space for residents later this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In July, California agreed to foot the bulk of the $175 million bill for the nonprofit Trust for Public Land to purchase the 160-acre parcel at the border of Albany and Berkeley, with hopes to transform the Bay Area’s final horseracing track into a waterfront park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The officials picture walking trails, sports fields and cafes replacing the iconic red and green grandstands and milelong oval track that drew horseracing fans — and college students looking for a cheap beer — for more than 80 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This place is so intertwined with so many people’s memories, and it’s super exciting to be… protecting this place for generations to come to continue to play,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, the Trust for Public Land’s state director. “But play something different — bet on kids running and not necessarily horses going around a racetrack.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103025\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103139\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103148\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103148\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-63-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June of 2024, Golden Gate Fields held its final race, bringing an 83-year run and horse racing in the Bay Area, to an end. Rodriguez recalled that as a UC Berkeley student in the 1990s, attending the track’s Sunday “Dollar Days,” featuring $1 entry tickets, hot dogs and beers, was a “rite of passage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s where we filled up with all our carbs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the bay, the racetrack at Tanforan in San Bruno shuttered more than 60 years ago. Bay Meadows in San Mateo closed in 2008 as interest in the sport waned and concerns grew about the safety of the horses at the tracks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Animal rights activists estimated that \u003ca href=\"https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/06/07/golden-gate-fields-bows-out-storied-horse-track-goes-dark-after-final-race-this-sunday/\">thousands of horses died\u003c/a> at Golden Gate Fields during its operation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both other tracks have been replaced with massive developments — a sprawling shopping center where Tanforan once stood and mixed-use housing and commercial space at Bay Meadows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said that while those uses make sense for their locations, when Golden Gate Fields shuttered, it was the public’s turn to get a new open space. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trust for Public Land announced earlier this year that it would purchase the property from the Canadian-owned Stronach Group, which still operates Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While restoration and recreation will be at the forefront, what exactly will become of the parcel that once housed more than 1,000 horses and hundreds of workers in its “backstretch” hasn’t yet been decided. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said there will be a robust community engagement process with nearby cities, which already began in Albany last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mayor Peggy McQuaid said between the 100 people who packed into the Albany Community Center in person and even more who joined the meeting virtually, there were “a lot of different ideas from the community” — from public access to revenue-generating development.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Everyone is excited about what’s really possible and exploring all the options,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The elected officials who toured the site on Monday expressed similar hopes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m really excited to have it go back to nature, to have this open shoreline, to have beautiful fields. There are a lot of folks interested in having sports fields,” Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii said. “I have three dogs, so I’m very excited to be able to bring them here and walk.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California State Senator Jesse Arreguín said he would love to see some sort of museum or educational site focused on the natural habitat and role of the waterfront, which was wetlands before the racetrack was built. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103029\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-30_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12103147\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103147\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-51-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor of Albany Peggy McQuaid takes photos at Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also expressed support for some commercial use, especially since Golden Gate Fields generated more than $1 million in special revenue for the city of Albany, and about $700,000 for its school district.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would see some level of development in terms of restaurants or cafes … that also I think add to the attractiveness of open space,” East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks said. “That also gives more revenue-generating opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot that can be done with this, and I think the mayor of Albany said it best — It’s such an enormous space that we can have all of these things,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103143\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GOLDENGATEFIELDS-NG-35-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Assemblymember Buffy Wicks speaks at Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Wicks said that when she first learned the track would close and land use would transition, she immediately asked whether it could be used for housing. While residential development isn’t entirely off the table, she said, it would come with “unique challenges.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because of the land’s zoning, Albany voters would have to approve any residential development, according to Wicks. Adding the infrastructure needed to support housing on the land would also come with a significant cost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These are not insurmountable things, but they also just present a different kind of reality,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103031\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261005-GoldenGateFields-NG-54_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden Gate Fields, a former horse racing track, on the border of Albany and Berkeley on Oct. 5, 2026. The Trust for Public Land plans to buy the $175 million property by the end of the year. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>There are also parameters to the funding that the Trust for Public Land will use to purchase the $175 million parcel. Nearly three-fourths will come from statewide funds for Proposition 4, a voter-approved bond for climate projects, including land conservation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The park district has pledged $20 million for the project, and the nonprofit is raising the remaining $30 million through private donors and additional public funding.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The East Bay Regional Park District is expected to formally accept that it will take ownership of the property at a meeting on Oct. 20. The California Wildlife Conservation Board and California State Coastal Conservancy, two of the entities responsible for the state funds, will both hold votes on whether to approve the appropriations in November and December, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After all three votes, Rodriguez said the Trust for Public Land has until Dec. 15 to exercise its option agreement to purchase the property.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re ending the preamble, and now the work begins,” McQuaid, the Albany mayor, said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say",
"title": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say",
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"headTitle": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>County election officials this week began mailing ballots to every registered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> voter for the Nov. 3 midterm election, kicking off a monthlong vote-by-mail stretch — albeit one shadowed by a series of federal challenges to the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mail-in-ballot\">So how \u003cem>do \u003c/em>election officials recommend I submit my mail-in ballot?\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at a voting site as an in-person ballot. The option, known as “Sign, Scan and Go” voting, allows voters to bring their mail ballot to a vote center and sign a roster under penalty of perjury — just as you would for in-person voting. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded the option this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to this service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said this approach sidesteps time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s envelope, and the envelope isn’t necessary with Sign, Scan and Go — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>County election officials this week began mailing ballots to every registered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> voter for the Nov. 3 midterm election, kicking off a monthlong vote-by-mail stretch — albeit one shadowed by a series of federal challenges to the system. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"text": "What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at a voting site as an in-person ballot. The option, known as “Sign, Scan and Go” voting, allows voters to bring their mail ballot to a vote center and sign a roster under penalty of perjury — just as you would for in-person voting. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at a voting site as an in-person ballot. The option, known as “Sign, Scan and Go” voting, allows voters to bring their mail ballot to a vote center and sign a roster under penalty of perjury — just as you would for in-person voting. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded the option this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to this service.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded the option this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to this service.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alexander said this approach sidesteps time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s envelope, and the envelope isn’t necessary with Sign, Scan and Go — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alexander said this approach sidesteps time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s envelope, and the envelope isn’t necessary with Sign, Scan and Go — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "How can I track my ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "With recent changes to how the U.S. Postal Service operates and President Trump’s attacks on mail voting, here’s what to know.",
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"title": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>County election officials this week began mailing ballots to every registered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> voter for the Nov. 3 midterm election, kicking off a monthlong vote-by-mail stretch — albeit one shadowed by a series of federal challenges to the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mail-in-ballot\">So how \u003cem>do \u003c/em>election officials recommend I submit my mail-in ballot?\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at a voting site as an in-person ballot. The option, known as “Sign, Scan and Go” voting, allows voters to bring their mail ballot to a vote center and sign a roster under penalty of perjury — just as you would for in-person voting. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded the option this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to this service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said this approach sidesteps time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s envelope, and the envelope isn’t necessary with Sign, Scan and Go — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Prop 42: Bans New State Taxes on Personal Property and Investments",
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"content": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode Transcript:\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Really wealthy people in America don’t just earn a regular paycheck and chuck those earnings into a savings account. Most of their net worth is tied up in assets like stocks and bonds.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>These assets are worth whatever the market says they’re worth on any given day. And if they increase in value…current law says that growth isn’t taxed while it sits there—it only gets taxed when an asset is actually sold.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because the wealthy hold most of their fortunes as these paper assets, much of their growing wealth goes untaxed year after year. Is that a problem to fix? Or an essential part of the economy that keeps businesses humming?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> How we tax \u003cem>wealth\u003c/em> is exactly what’s under discussion in Prop 42. Here’s how it reads on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over:\u003c/strong> Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz-Gavarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We are back with another edition of Prop Fest … where our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious break down each statewide proposition on the California ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, we’re going through Proposition 42, which aims to prevent a wealth tax. Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. Big picture. What is Prop 42 about?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Property too has to do with what taxes you pay on sort of what you own in California. This is specifically targeting monetary assets. So think about like you pay personal taxes on things like your car, right? Car registration is a type of tax. Part of that bill is based on the value of your car. You might pay property taxes, for example, right. But there are other types of personal property that aren’t taxed right now. And one big example is financial assets like stocks or investment accounts. So you’re not taxed on your retirement account just for having one, right? You get taxed that money when you take it out to spend it. People with stock portfolios are not tax on that either until they try to remove the money and you pay capital gains on whatever the increase has been. So, the investments themselves, though, are not taxed right now. Prop 42 wants to codify the status quo in the Constitution in California, basically by saying you cannot tax monetary assets. And it also does a second thing, which is what opponents say is the real reason it’s on the ballot, is it would prevent California from enacting any kind of new wealth tax on its citizens. Prop 40, of course, that billionaire tax that’s on ballot as well. Is exactly that. It’s a tax on people’s overall wealth, regardless of sort of where it sits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So this is a clap back to Prop 40, the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Absolutely. This is one of two ballot measures actually before voters on this ballot that really seeks to undercut or potentially nullify altogether that proposed wealth tax on billionaires. So if Prop 41 or Prop 42 passes with more votes, they could essentially prevent the state from collecting the billionaire tax, even if that also passes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>Prop 42 isn’t just about billionaires. It bans new taxes on all wealth, and that includes stock portfolios, IRAs, 401Ks, 403Bs, stuff that a lot of everyday Californians have.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> That’s right. And I think that’s what you’re going to be hearing from Prop 42 proponents is that this isn’t about billionaires. This is about your retirement account and, you know, protecting it. You know, I will say right now, we don’t, you know, there’s no serious proposals out there that I’ve seen to do something like this. Although when I talked to proponents, they did, you know, mention that there have been some attempts in the legislature, at least introductions of, you know, potential laws that would tax some assets. So. It’s not a totally like out there idea, but I think it’s hard to see this as only about, you know, that issue and all of our 401Ks when you would really have to climb a lot of hurdles in order to get a sort of tax on assets passed as it stands right now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So, aside from Prop 40, if you kind of put that to the side and just think about how California or the federal government do tax people in America. The income tax is primarily how things are done. But if we did want to raise taxes on high earners, super high earners, these billionaires, is there even a way to do it that isn’t through a wealth tax that looks at not liquid funds?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> I don’t think so, because that’s how these folks have built their wealth. Once you get to that level of wealth, it’s largely because you got stock options from the company that you founded or invested in. And then because of the tax code we have, there’s no incentive to sell that. There’s an incentive not to sell it, right? And so I think that these, that is why we’re seeing something like this billionaire We’ve created a tax code that makes it very easy to avoid paying high taxes if you have this much money. And a lot of the ways that, you know, people sort of go about managing their wealth are with the intention of avoiding taxes that you would otherwise face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’re going to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 42. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, we’re back with Marisa Lagos talking about Proposition 42. Marisa, who is supporting this measure that makes it harder to tax wealth here in California, and why?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So it’s really the same people that are supporting Prop 41 and that oppose Prop 40, the billionaire tax. Building a Better California, which is a PAC that was created by Sergey Brin and others, is funding the campaigns for this measure. They’ve raised almost $50 million to try to get Prop 42 over the finish line. So I sat down with Josh Rauh. He’s a Stanford University finance professor. He’s senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he thinks that leaving the door open for a wealth tax could cost the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Rauh: \u003c/strong>We’re driving people away. We’re doing with the income taxes, and we’re doing it with this with the proposed wealth taxes So we would have to look for for for other measures economics is pretty clear about what some of the more efficient types of taxes are some of these have to do with consumption taxes meaning taxes on sales, which if you want to Make them progressive could be targeted towards luxury goods\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And there are some groups who are supporting this one who I wasn’t expecting, like California Professional Firefighters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. Why are some of those folks supporting 42?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I mean, what they would say is that they want to protect their retirement accounts, their pensions. You know, one of the trade offs you make being a public servant is often you might make a lower wage than you would in the private sector, but you have good retirement benefits. You have a decent sized pension fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is fighting this and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so SEIU, United Health Care Workers West is the biggest opposition. They’re the ones that wrote Prop 40, the billionaire tax, and they are obviously invested in ensuring not only that it passes, but that these competing measures do not undercut it. So they’re really using the Prop 40 campaign to also campaign against Prop 41 and Prop 42. And, you know, they say that this is not really about protecting average people’s retirement, that this essentially just a red herring to get normal California voters to vote for something that would nullify the wealth tax, the billionaire tax, and that, you know, that they’re essentially just using this threat of taxing your retirement account in order to convince you to do so. I spoke with Emanuel Sayez. He’s a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He actually helped craft Prop 40, the wealth tax proposal. And he thinks that these concerns about taxing all of our 401Ks are way overblown. He points out the legislature has had the ability to do that, to enact a wealth tax for decades and has never done so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Emanuel Saez:\u003c/strong> It’s almost impossible to imagine that they would, by themselves, you know, increase one’s taxes. They are too scared of increasing taxes. Taxes in California are now increased almost suddenly through ballot initiatives.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>And that’s true. We rarely see the legislature and governor back tax increases. Most of the time, if they do, it’s to put it on the ballot in front of voters. I think the other thing to point out here is that even if this ballot measure passes, you can still go back to the voters and overturn it. So the idea that this is like putting your retirement in a lockbox and there will never be another attempt to do it, not totally true. You can always go back the voters and change things regardless of, you know, what they voted on before. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now when it comes to campaign spending. What are we seeing on 42?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Well, the Yes on 42 side has raised and spent most of almost the 50 million dollars in their account. But we’re also seeing some crossover spending. As I said, building a better California, which is that PAC funded by the billionaires, is donating in all three campaigns. They’re putting money against Prop 40 through that PAC. They’re funding money for Props 41 and 42. And I would expect to see Building A Better California to continue. To contribute to the Yes on 42 campaign.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters will be thinking about 40, 41, and 42? Do you think they’re always going to be connecting one to the other? Or could people be, you know, for or against the billionaire attacks and then find something they either like or don’t like in 41 or 42? How connected truly are these?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The intention of the folks who wrote 41 and 42 is to not talk about the connection to the billionaire tax. They want to just promote what they see as good government measures, and they thought that this was the most politically expedient way to make an argument in a year where billionaires are not super popular, that essentially you don’t have to talk about Prop 40. You can just talk about these. I think on the other side, you’re going to see these labor unions really try to yoke all three measures in voters’ minds in order to ensure that if you support the billionaire tax, you don’t then take a second or third vote that undercuts it. But I think that that is sort of an open question. And given the uneven amount of money, how much more money you have to fight the billionaire tax from the billionaires, it’s going to be a challenge for the labor unions and others to make that case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 42 means you want no new taxes on investment accounts or personal assets. You also want no retroactive state taxes on paper assets. A no vote means that things stay as they are now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are gonna be dropping breakdowns of all of the statewide propositions on your ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>PrepFest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by and me, Olivia Ellen Price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, and Ethan Tovin-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] And the whole KQED family. You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you appreciate the work that we’re doing here on PropFest, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQEd. We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. I’m Olivia Ellen Price. And I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 43, which would raise the threshold for special tax measures. We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Really wealthy people in America don’t just earn a regular paycheck and chuck those earnings into a savings account. Most of their net worth is tied up in assets like stocks and bonds.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Really wealthy people in America don’t just earn a regular paycheck and chuck those earnings into a savings account. Most of their net worth is tied up in assets like stocks and bonds.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>These assets are worth whatever the market says they’re worth on any given day. And if they increase in value…current law says that growth isn’t taxed while it sits there—it only gets taxed when an asset is actually sold.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>These assets are worth whatever the market says they’re worth on any given day. And if they increase in value…current law says that growth isn’t taxed while it sits there—it only gets taxed when an asset is actually sold.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because the wealthy hold most of their fortunes as these paper assets, much of their growing wealth goes untaxed year after year. Is that a problem to fix? Or an essential part of the economy that keeps businesses humming?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because the wealthy hold most of their fortunes as these paper assets, much of their growing wealth goes untaxed year after year. Is that a problem to fix? Or an essential part of the economy that keeps businesses humming?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> How we tax \u003cem>wealth\u003c/em> is exactly what’s under discussion in Prop 42. Here’s how it reads on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> How we tax \u003cem>wealth\u003c/em> is exactly what’s under discussion in Prop 42. Here’s how it reads on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over:\u003c/strong> Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over:\u003c/strong> Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz-Gavarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We are back with another edition of Prop Fest … where our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious break down each statewide proposition on the California ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, we’re going through Proposition 42, which aims to prevent a wealth tax. Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. Big picture. What is Prop 42 about?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Property too has to do with what taxes you pay on sort of what you own in California. This is specifically targeting monetary assets. So think about like you pay personal taxes on things like your car, right? Car registration is a type of tax. Part of that bill is based on the value of your car. You might pay property taxes, for example, right. But there are other types of personal property that aren’t taxed right now. And one big example is financial assets like stocks or investment accounts. So you’re not taxed on your retirement account just for having one, right? You get taxed that money when you take it out to spend it. People with stock portfolios are not tax on that either until they try to remove the money and you pay capital gains on whatever the increase has been. So, the investments themselves, though, are not taxed right now. Prop 42 wants to codify the status quo in the Constitution in California, basically by saying you cannot tax monetary assets. And it also does a second thing, which is what opponents say is the real reason it’s on the ballot, is it would prevent California from enacting any kind of new wealth tax on its citizens. Prop 40, of course, that billionaire tax that’s on ballot as well. Is exactly that. It’s a tax on people’s overall wealth, regardless of sort of where it sits.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Property too has to do with what taxes you pay on sort of what you own in California. This is specifically targeting monetary assets. So think about like you pay personal taxes on things like your car, right? Car registration is a type of tax. Part of that bill is based on the value of your car. You might pay property taxes, for example, right. But there are other types of personal property that aren’t taxed right now. And one big example is financial assets like stocks or investment accounts. So you’re not taxed on your retirement account just for having one, right? You get taxed that money when you take it out to spend it. People with stock portfolios are not tax on that either until they try to remove the money and you pay capital gains on whatever the increase has been. So, the investments themselves, though, are not taxed right now. Prop 42 wants to codify the status quo in the Constitution in California, basically by saying you cannot tax monetary assets. And it also does a second thing, which is what opponents say is the real reason it’s on the ballot, is it would prevent California from enacting any kind of new wealth tax on its citizens. Prop 40, of course, that billionaire tax that’s on ballot as well. Is exactly that. It’s a tax on people’s overall wealth, regardless of sort of where it sits.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So this is a clap back to Prop 40, the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So this is a clap back to Prop 40, the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Absolutely. This is one of two ballot measures actually before voters on this ballot that really seeks to undercut or potentially nullify altogether that proposed wealth tax on billionaires. So if Prop 41 or Prop 42 passes with more votes, they could essentially prevent the state from collecting the billionaire tax, even if that also passes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Absolutely. This is one of two ballot measures actually before voters on this ballot that really seeks to undercut or potentially nullify altogether that proposed wealth tax on billionaires. So if Prop 41 or Prop 42 passes with more votes, they could essentially prevent the state from collecting the billionaire tax, even if that also passes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>Prop 42 isn’t just about billionaires. It bans new taxes on all wealth, and that includes stock portfolios, IRAs, 401Ks, 403Bs, stuff that a lot of everyday Californians have.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> That’s right. And I think that’s what you’re going to be hearing from Prop 42 proponents is that this isn’t about billionaires. This is about your retirement account and, you know, protecting it. You know, I will say right now, we don’t, you know, there’s no serious proposals out there that I’ve seen to do something like this. Although when I talked to proponents, they did, you know, mention that there have been some attempts in the legislature, at least introductions of, you know, potential laws that would tax some assets. So. It’s not a totally like out there idea, but I think it’s hard to see this as only about, you know, that issue and all of our 401Ks when you would really have to climb a lot of hurdles in order to get a sort of tax on assets passed as it stands right now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> That’s right. And I think that’s what you’re going to be hearing from Prop 42 proponents is that this isn’t about billionaires. This is about your retirement account and, you know, protecting it. You know, I will say right now, we don’t, you know, there’s no serious proposals out there that I’ve seen to do something like this. Although when I talked to proponents, they did, you know, mention that there have been some attempts in the legislature, at least introductions of, you know, potential laws that would tax some assets. So. It’s not a totally like out there idea, but I think it’s hard to see this as only about, you know, that issue and all of our 401Ks when you would really have to climb a lot of hurdles in order to get a sort of tax on assets passed as it stands right now.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So, aside from Prop 40, if you kind of put that to the side and just think about how California or the federal government do tax people in America. The income tax is primarily how things are done. But if we did want to raise taxes on high earners, super high earners, these billionaires, is there even a way to do it that isn’t through a wealth tax that looks at not liquid funds?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So, aside from Prop 40, if you kind of put that to the side and just think about how California or the federal government do tax people in America. The income tax is primarily how things are done. But if we did want to raise taxes on high earners, super high earners, these billionaires, is there even a way to do it that isn’t through a wealth tax that looks at not liquid funds?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> I don’t think so, because that’s how these folks have built their wealth. Once you get to that level of wealth, it’s largely because you got stock options from the company that you founded or invested in. And then because of the tax code we have, there’s no incentive to sell that. There’s an incentive not to sell it, right? And so I think that these, that is why we’re seeing something like this billionaire We’ve created a tax code that makes it very easy to avoid paying high taxes if you have this much money. And a lot of the ways that, you know, people sort of go about managing their wealth are with the intention of avoiding taxes that you would otherwise face.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> I don’t think so, because that’s how these folks have built their wealth. Once you get to that level of wealth, it’s largely because you got stock options from the company that you founded or invested in. And then because of the tax code we have, there’s no incentive to sell that. There’s an incentive not to sell it, right? And so I think that these, that is why we’re seeing something like this billionaire We’ve created a tax code that makes it very easy to avoid paying high taxes if you have this much money. And a lot of the ways that, you know, people sort of go about managing their wealth are with the intention of avoiding taxes that you would otherwise face.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’re going to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 42. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’re going to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 42. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, we’re back with Marisa Lagos talking about Proposition 42. Marisa, who is supporting this measure that makes it harder to tax wealth here in California, and why?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, we’re back with Marisa Lagos talking about Proposition 42. Marisa, who is supporting this measure that makes it harder to tax wealth here in California, and why?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So it’s really the same people that are supporting Prop 41 and that oppose Prop 40, the billionaire tax. Building a Better California, which is a PAC that was created by Sergey Brin and others, is funding the campaigns for this measure. They’ve raised almost $50 million to try to get Prop 42 over the finish line. So I sat down with Josh Rauh. He’s a Stanford University finance professor. He’s senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he thinks that leaving the door open for a wealth tax could cost the state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So it’s really the same people that are supporting Prop 41 and that oppose Prop 40, the billionaire tax. Building a Better California, which is a PAC that was created by Sergey Brin and others, is funding the campaigns for this measure. They’ve raised almost $50 million to try to get Prop 42 over the finish line. So I sat down with Josh Rauh. He’s a Stanford University finance professor. He’s senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he thinks that leaving the door open for a wealth tax could cost the state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Rauh: \u003c/strong>We’re driving people away. We’re doing with the income taxes, and we’re doing it with this with the proposed wealth taxes So we would have to look for for for other measures economics is pretty clear about what some of the more efficient types of taxes are some of these have to do with consumption taxes meaning taxes on sales, which if you want to Make them progressive could be targeted towards luxury goods\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Rauh: \u003c/strong>We’re driving people away. We’re doing with the income taxes, and we’re doing it with this with the proposed wealth taxes So we would have to look for for for other measures economics is pretty clear about what some of the more efficient types of taxes are some of these have to do with consumption taxes meaning taxes on sales, which if you want to Make them progressive could be targeted towards luxury goods\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And there are some groups who are supporting this one who I wasn’t expecting, like California Professional Firefighters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. Why are some of those folks supporting 42?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And there are some groups who are supporting this one who I wasn’t expecting, like California Professional Firefighters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. Why are some of those folks supporting 42?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I mean, what they would say is that they want to protect their retirement accounts, their pensions. You know, one of the trade offs you make being a public servant is often you might make a lower wage than you would in the private sector, but you have good retirement benefits. You have a decent sized pension fund.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I mean, what they would say is that they want to protect their retirement accounts, their pensions. You know, one of the trade offs you make being a public servant is often you might make a lower wage than you would in the private sector, but you have good retirement benefits. You have a decent sized pension fund.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is fighting this and why? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so SEIU, United Health Care Workers West is the biggest opposition. They’re the ones that wrote Prop 40, the billionaire tax, and they are obviously invested in ensuring not only that it passes, but that these competing measures do not undercut it. So they’re really using the Prop 40 campaign to also campaign against Prop 41 and Prop 42. And, you know, they say that this is not really about protecting average people’s retirement, that this essentially just a red herring to get normal California voters to vote for something that would nullify the wealth tax, the billionaire tax, and that, you know, that they’re essentially just using this threat of taxing your retirement account in order to convince you to do so. I spoke with Emanuel Sayez. He’s a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He actually helped craft Prop 40, the wealth tax proposal. And he thinks that these concerns about taxing all of our 401Ks are way overblown. He points out the legislature has had the ability to do that, to enact a wealth tax for decades and has never done so.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so SEIU, United Health Care Workers West is the biggest opposition. They’re the ones that wrote Prop 40, the billionaire tax, and they are obviously invested in ensuring not only that it passes, but that these competing measures do not undercut it. So they’re really using the Prop 40 campaign to also campaign against Prop 41 and Prop 42. And, you know, they say that this is not really about protecting average people’s retirement, that this essentially just a red herring to get normal California voters to vote for something that would nullify the wealth tax, the billionaire tax, and that, you know, that they’re essentially just using this threat of taxing your retirement account in order to convince you to do so. I spoke with Emanuel Sayez. He’s a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He actually helped craft Prop 40, the wealth tax proposal. And he thinks that these concerns about taxing all of our 401Ks are way overblown. He points out the legislature has had the ability to do that, to enact a wealth tax for decades and has never done so.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Emanuel Saez:\u003c/strong> It’s almost impossible to imagine that they would, by themselves, you know, increase one’s taxes. They are too scared of increasing taxes. Taxes in California are now increased almost suddenly through ballot initiatives.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Emanuel Saez:\u003c/strong> It’s almost impossible to imagine that they would, by themselves, you know, increase one’s taxes. They are too scared of increasing taxes. Taxes in California are now increased almost suddenly through ballot initiatives.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>And that’s true. We rarely see the legislature and governor back tax increases. Most of the time, if they do, it’s to put it on the ballot in front of voters. I think the other thing to point out here is that even if this ballot measure passes, you can still go back to the voters and overturn it. So the idea that this is like putting your retirement in a lockbox and there will never be another attempt to do it, not totally true. You can always go back the voters and change things regardless of, you know, what they voted on before. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>And that’s true. We rarely see the legislature and governor back tax increases. Most of the time, if they do, it’s to put it on the ballot in front of voters. I think the other thing to point out here is that even if this ballot measure passes, you can still go back to the voters and overturn it. So the idea that this is like putting your retirement in a lockbox and there will never be another attempt to do it, not totally true. You can always go back the voters and change things regardless of, you know, what they voted on before. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now when it comes to campaign spending. What are we seeing on 42?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now when it comes to campaign spending. What are we seeing on 42?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Well, the Yes on 42 side has raised and spent most of almost the 50 million dollars in their account. But we’re also seeing some crossover spending. As I said, building a better California, which is that PAC funded by the billionaires, is donating in all three campaigns. They’re putting money against Prop 40 through that PAC. They’re funding money for Props 41 and 42. And I would expect to see Building A Better California to continue. To contribute to the Yes on 42 campaign.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Well, the Yes on 42 side has raised and spent most of almost the 50 million dollars in their account. But we’re also seeing some crossover spending. As I said, building a better California, which is that PAC funded by the billionaires, is donating in all three campaigns. They’re putting money against Prop 40 through that PAC. They’re funding money for Props 41 and 42. And I would expect to see Building A Better California to continue. To contribute to the Yes on 42 campaign.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters will be thinking about 40, 41, and 42? Do you think they’re always going to be connecting one to the other? Or could people be, you know, for or against the billionaire attacks and then find something they either like or don’t like in 41 or 42? How connected truly are these?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters will be thinking about 40, 41, and 42? Do you think they’re always going to be connecting one to the other? Or could people be, you know, for or against the billionaire attacks and then find something they either like or don’t like in 41 or 42? How connected truly are these?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The intention of the folks who wrote 41 and 42 is to not talk about the connection to the billionaire tax. They want to just promote what they see as good government measures, and they thought that this was the most politically expedient way to make an argument in a year where billionaires are not super popular, that essentially you don’t have to talk about Prop 40. You can just talk about these. I think on the other side, you’re going to see these labor unions really try to yoke all three measures in voters’ minds in order to ensure that if you support the billionaire tax, you don’t then take a second or third vote that undercuts it. But I think that that is sort of an open question. And given the uneven amount of money, how much more money you have to fight the billionaire tax from the billionaires, it’s going to be a challenge for the labor unions and others to make that case.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The intention of the folks who wrote 41 and 42 is to not talk about the connection to the billionaire tax. They want to just promote what they see as good government measures, and they thought that this was the most politically expedient way to make an argument in a year where billionaires are not super popular, that essentially you don’t have to talk about Prop 40. You can just talk about these. I think on the other side, you’re going to see these labor unions really try to yoke all three measures in voters’ minds in order to ensure that if you support the billionaire tax, you don’t then take a second or third vote that undercuts it. But I think that that is sort of an open question. And given the uneven amount of money, how much more money you have to fight the billionaire tax from the billionaires, it’s going to be a challenge for the labor unions and others to make that case.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Thank you. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Thank you. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 42 means you want no new taxes on investment accounts or personal assets. You also want no retroactive state taxes on paper assets. A no vote means that things stay as they are now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 42 means you want no new taxes on investment accounts or personal assets. You also want no retroactive state taxes on paper assets. A no vote means that things stay as they are now.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are gonna be dropping breakdowns of all of the statewide propositions on your ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are gonna be dropping breakdowns of all of the statewide propositions on your ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>PrepFest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by and me, Olivia Ellen Price.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>PrepFest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by and me, Olivia Ellen Price.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, and Ethan Tovin-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, and Ethan Tovin-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] And the whole KQED family. You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] And the whole KQED family. You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you appreciate the work that we’re doing here on PropFest, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQEd. We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. I’m Olivia Ellen Price. And I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 43, which would raise the threshold for special tax measures. We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you appreciate the work that we’re doing here on PropFest, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQEd. We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. I’m Olivia Ellen Price. And I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 43, which would raise the threshold for special tax measures. We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n"
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode Transcript:\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Really wealthy people in America don’t just earn a regular paycheck and chuck those earnings into a savings account. Most of their net worth is tied up in assets like stocks and bonds.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>These assets are worth whatever the market says they’re worth on any given day. And if they increase in value…current law says that growth isn’t taxed while it sits there—it only gets taxed when an asset is actually sold.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because the wealthy hold most of their fortunes as these paper assets, much of their growing wealth goes untaxed year after year. Is that a problem to fix? Or an essential part of the economy that keeps businesses humming?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> How we tax \u003cem>wealth\u003c/em> is exactly what’s under discussion in Prop 42. Here’s how it reads on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over:\u003c/strong> Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz-Gavarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We are back with another edition of Prop Fest … where our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious break down each statewide proposition on the California ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, we’re going through Proposition 42, which aims to prevent a wealth tax. Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. Big picture. What is Prop 42 about?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Property too has to do with what taxes you pay on sort of what you own in California. This is specifically targeting monetary assets. So think about like you pay personal taxes on things like your car, right? Car registration is a type of tax. Part of that bill is based on the value of your car. You might pay property taxes, for example, right. But there are other types of personal property that aren’t taxed right now. And one big example is financial assets like stocks or investment accounts. So you’re not taxed on your retirement account just for having one, right? You get taxed that money when you take it out to spend it. People with stock portfolios are not tax on that either until they try to remove the money and you pay capital gains on whatever the increase has been. So, the investments themselves, though, are not taxed right now. Prop 42 wants to codify the status quo in the Constitution in California, basically by saying you cannot tax monetary assets. And it also does a second thing, which is what opponents say is the real reason it’s on the ballot, is it would prevent California from enacting any kind of new wealth tax on its citizens. Prop 40, of course, that billionaire tax that’s on ballot as well. Is exactly that. It’s a tax on people’s overall wealth, regardless of sort of where it sits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So this is a clap back to Prop 40, the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Absolutely. This is one of two ballot measures actually before voters on this ballot that really seeks to undercut or potentially nullify altogether that proposed wealth tax on billionaires. So if Prop 41 or Prop 42 passes with more votes, they could essentially prevent the state from collecting the billionaire tax, even if that also passes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>Prop 42 isn’t just about billionaires. It bans new taxes on all wealth, and that includes stock portfolios, IRAs, 401Ks, 403Bs, stuff that a lot of everyday Californians have.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> That’s right. And I think that’s what you’re going to be hearing from Prop 42 proponents is that this isn’t about billionaires. This is about your retirement account and, you know, protecting it. You know, I will say right now, we don’t, you know, there’s no serious proposals out there that I’ve seen to do something like this. Although when I talked to proponents, they did, you know, mention that there have been some attempts in the legislature, at least introductions of, you know, potential laws that would tax some assets. So. It’s not a totally like out there idea, but I think it’s hard to see this as only about, you know, that issue and all of our 401Ks when you would really have to climb a lot of hurdles in order to get a sort of tax on assets passed as it stands right now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So, aside from Prop 40, if you kind of put that to the side and just think about how California or the federal government do tax people in America. The income tax is primarily how things are done. But if we did want to raise taxes on high earners, super high earners, these billionaires, is there even a way to do it that isn’t through a wealth tax that looks at not liquid funds?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> I don’t think so, because that’s how these folks have built their wealth. Once you get to that level of wealth, it’s largely because you got stock options from the company that you founded or invested in. And then because of the tax code we have, there’s no incentive to sell that. There’s an incentive not to sell it, right? And so I think that these, that is why we’re seeing something like this billionaire We’ve created a tax code that makes it very easy to avoid paying high taxes if you have this much money. And a lot of the ways that, you know, people sort of go about managing their wealth are with the intention of avoiding taxes that you would otherwise face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’re going to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 42. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, we’re back with Marisa Lagos talking about Proposition 42. Marisa, who is supporting this measure that makes it harder to tax wealth here in California, and why?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So it’s really the same people that are supporting Prop 41 and that oppose Prop 40, the billionaire tax. Building a Better California, which is a PAC that was created by Sergey Brin and others, is funding the campaigns for this measure. They’ve raised almost $50 million to try to get Prop 42 over the finish line. So I sat down with Josh Rauh. He’s a Stanford University finance professor. He’s senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he thinks that leaving the door open for a wealth tax could cost the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Rauh: \u003c/strong>We’re driving people away. We’re doing with the income taxes, and we’re doing it with this with the proposed wealth taxes So we would have to look for for for other measures economics is pretty clear about what some of the more efficient types of taxes are some of these have to do with consumption taxes meaning taxes on sales, which if you want to Make them progressive could be targeted towards luxury goods\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And there are some groups who are supporting this one who I wasn’t expecting, like California Professional Firefighters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. Why are some of those folks supporting 42?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I mean, what they would say is that they want to protect their retirement accounts, their pensions. You know, one of the trade offs you make being a public servant is often you might make a lower wage than you would in the private sector, but you have good retirement benefits. You have a decent sized pension fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is fighting this and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so SEIU, United Health Care Workers West is the biggest opposition. They’re the ones that wrote Prop 40, the billionaire tax, and they are obviously invested in ensuring not only that it passes, but that these competing measures do not undercut it. So they’re really using the Prop 40 campaign to also campaign against Prop 41 and Prop 42. And, you know, they say that this is not really about protecting average people’s retirement, that this essentially just a red herring to get normal California voters to vote for something that would nullify the wealth tax, the billionaire tax, and that, you know, that they’re essentially just using this threat of taxing your retirement account in order to convince you to do so. I spoke with Emanuel Sayez. He’s a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He actually helped craft Prop 40, the wealth tax proposal. And he thinks that these concerns about taxing all of our 401Ks are way overblown. He points out the legislature has had the ability to do that, to enact a wealth tax for decades and has never done so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Emanuel Saez:\u003c/strong> It’s almost impossible to imagine that they would, by themselves, you know, increase one’s taxes. They are too scared of increasing taxes. Taxes in California are now increased almost suddenly through ballot initiatives.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>And that’s true. We rarely see the legislature and governor back tax increases. Most of the time, if they do, it’s to put it on the ballot in front of voters. I think the other thing to point out here is that even if this ballot measure passes, you can still go back to the voters and overturn it. So the idea that this is like putting your retirement in a lockbox and there will never be another attempt to do it, not totally true. You can always go back the voters and change things regardless of, you know, what they voted on before. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now when it comes to campaign spending. What are we seeing on 42?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Well, the Yes on 42 side has raised and spent most of almost the 50 million dollars in their account. But we’re also seeing some crossover spending. As I said, building a better California, which is that PAC funded by the billionaires, is donating in all three campaigns. They’re putting money against Prop 40 through that PAC. They’re funding money for Props 41 and 42. And I would expect to see Building A Better California to continue. To contribute to the Yes on 42 campaign.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters will be thinking about 40, 41, and 42? Do you think they’re always going to be connecting one to the other? Or could people be, you know, for or against the billionaire attacks and then find something they either like or don’t like in 41 or 42? How connected truly are these?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The intention of the folks who wrote 41 and 42 is to not talk about the connection to the billionaire tax. They want to just promote what they see as good government measures, and they thought that this was the most politically expedient way to make an argument in a year where billionaires are not super popular, that essentially you don’t have to talk about Prop 40. You can just talk about these. I think on the other side, you’re going to see these labor unions really try to yoke all three measures in voters’ minds in order to ensure that if you support the billionaire tax, you don’t then take a second or third vote that undercuts it. But I think that that is sort of an open question. And given the uneven amount of money, how much more money you have to fight the billionaire tax from the billionaires, it’s going to be a challenge for the labor unions and others to make that case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 42 means you want no new taxes on investment accounts or personal assets. You also want no retroactive state taxes on paper assets. A no vote means that things stay as they are now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>(music)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are gonna be dropping breakdowns of all of the statewide propositions on your ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>PrepFest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by and me, Olivia Ellen Price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, and Ethan Tovin-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:12:38] And the whole KQED family. You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you appreciate the work that we’re doing here on PropFest, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQEd. We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. I’m Olivia Ellen Price. And I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 43, which would raise the threshold for special tax measures. We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You’re going to see a lot about taxes on this year’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yesterday we talked about Prop 40, which would be a one-time tax on billionaires. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you go give it a listen, because today we’re dropping episodes on Props 41 and 42. And both of those are related to Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, Prop 41 would require more audits on the programs that are funded by special taxes. Is it good governance or red tape meant to make it harder to pass new taxes?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This is how Prop 41 reads on your ballot, and just a warning, it’s pretty wonky.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenues from state spending limit. Requires audits for new state special taxes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Ellen Price, host of Bay Curious. You’re listening to PropFest, our special series that goes through the statewide propositions on your ballot. They can be so confusing and consequential. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’ll explain the ins and outs of each one in hopes that you feel confident in your vote, no matter which side you come down on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Here to walk us through Prop 41 is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. So the language of Prop 41 sort of sounds like gobbledygook to some voters. And we will straighten that out pretty soon. But maybe before we dive into all those specifics of this ballot measure, give us some context about who put this on the ballot and why.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this was placed on the ballot, essentially by the billionaires who were opposing Prop 40. That’s the billionaire tax. And both Prop 41 and another measure, Prop 42, were written after the billionaire proposal was already out collecting signatures. So they were crafted really as an attempt to undercut that ballot measure. And so it’s kind of impossible to talk about them without talking about the billionaire tax and the billionaires who are trying to kill the tax. Got it. OK, helpful context. So now let’s get into what Prop 41 does. So Prop 41 has kind of three main provisions. The first one is it’s going to require ongoing audits of state programs that are funded by what’s called special taxes. So in California, when tax money comes in, most of it goes to the general fund. That is the main spending account that pays for K-12 schools and most of the things the state does. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, sometimes that revenue has been sort of written into law as a special tax, and those are earmarked for specific programs. You can think of something like the gas tax, which, you know, funds roads and infrastructure. That is not money that goes into the general fund. This measure says that before voters even weigh in on a proposed special tax they need to have an audit of what the money would be spent on. And then it requires ongoing audits in the future if a tax is actually passed. And so it’s being framed by proponents as a good government measure, right? This gives more transparency. Why are we spending billions of dollars in state money and not knowing where it goes essentially? Prop 41 has two other important provisions, and these are the ones that would conflict with the billionaire tax and potentially nullify them. And they both have something to do with the GAN limit, otherwise known as the state spending limit. This was a law put in place by voters in the 1970s, and it puts a cap on how much revenue the state can spend every year. It essentially says that if state revenues grow too fast, you gotta give some of that money back to taxpayers. Some special taxes are excluded from that limit, including the gas tax example. So one of the provisions in Prop 41 says new special taxes would all be subject to the state’s spending limit. So you can imagine if the billionaire tax passes and we have $100 billion in new spending, that would really increase the state revenue, right? So then the other provision prohibits the state from enforcing taxes that are not subject to the spending limit, so. Basically, either of these things would undercut Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Let’s dig in a little bit more on that first provision about the audits, because there is a state auditor whose job is to audit what are they doing, are these new audits necessary?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think opponents would say they’re not. You do have the ability of the legislature to request an audit of anything that they vote to. And yeah, we have an auditor who very regularly looks at state agencies and programs and spending and comes out with reports based on what the legislature has decided are the priorities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We need to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 41. If PropFest is helping you out, let us know by supporting our work. Your donations help keep projects like PropFast going. Contribute at donate.kqed.org. And you can get some sweet podcast swag as a thank you gift.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Welcome back. We’re talking with KQED’s Marisa Lagos about Proposition 41, the tax audit prop. Marisa, let’s get into who supports and opposes this prop. First up, what does support look like?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This was crafted by the folks who are opposing Proposition 40. It’s been largely funded by the same billionaires who are opposing that, again, sort of led by Sergey Brin. But a lot of familiar names here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Names like Larry Page, who, with Sergey Brin, co-founded Alphabet, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Ellison of Oracle, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, mostly a who’s who of Silicon Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah,\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>but you also have folks like the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Taxpayers Association supporting this, and you know, these are groups that generally think that California spends too much money and have questions about whether it’s being properly spent. I mean, we’ve heard a lot of talk about this around homeless funding, right, in the governor’s race. Like, why are we spending billions of dollars and not addressing the underlying problem or making progress? So I think groups like the Chamber, the Cal Taxpayers Association, first of all, you know, just. Are pretty opposed to higher taxes and regulation, but also think that there would be some benefit in auditing all state spending, especially these special taxes, which, you know, arguably in some cases may not be getting sort of the scrutiny that they could. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is lining up against Prop 41 and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so the opponents are the same groups that are supporting Prop 40 that put the billionaire tax on the ballot. So SEIU, HW West, the State Democratic Party. The California Federation of Labor Unions, they see this really as an attempt to undercut, to nullify the billionaire tax proposal and that it’s not really as much about good government as it is about that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So if Prop 40 and 41 were both to pass, how does that play out?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>On which one gets more votes. If Prop 40 got more votes, then it would stand and the only provisions of Prop 41 I believe that would take effect would be, you know, the audits and the spending limit. It would affect future special taxes, not this one. If 41 got more vote than 40, it would make it sort of unenforceable because so many provisions in 41 conflict with 40 and under California law, if something is on the same ballot together and they’re in a certain way, whatever gets more votes is kind of the law of the land. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But in the past, I know that’s gone to a judge, ultimately, to decide. Is that what would happen here, too?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think regardless of whether any of these pass individually, I believe that there will be court challenges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters are going to be thinking about this suite of three props, proposition 40, 41 and 42? Will they be connecting them all and voting in one direction, or could it go like we’ve seen in the past, where sometimes you get this mixed message from voters on sort of opposing props? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think that’s really gonna depend on how well the Yes on 40 campaign can draw a straight line between getting someone’s support and getting them to oppose these other measures. The billionaires and other folks who oppose the billionaire tax are not gonna wanna talk about Prop 40 when they talk about props 41 and 42. They wanna make these sort of just standalone good government measures. And so I think that’s sort of an outstanding question because you don’t have a traditional campaign against 41 and 40 too. Can the Yes on 40 folks really make clear in voters’ minds that these are all tied together, and even if you like some of the provisions of these other ballot measures, that by supporting them, you would essentially be casting another vote against the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When it comes to campaign spending, what are we seeing here?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This one is very lopsided. We’ve seen the folks pushing Prop 41, yes on 41, raise more than 46 million so far. Most of that is coming from the same pack that is fighting the billionaire tax. It’s called Building a Better California. It was founded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other billionaires. And I think one thing that’s important to note is that We’re probably going to be seeing some crossover messaging. So a lot of the money being spent on the other ballot measures will also affect this one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But sounds like really no spending on the no side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>No, and I think what you’re seeing is really that these are sort of a combined campaign for the other side. The unions that are pushing the billionaire tax are also pushing back against 41 and 42, but there isn’t that same level of like an organized campaign against each of them, in part because these are good government measures that sound very good on their face. I think it’s not something that you have the same sort of coalition. Able to sort of raise money and stand up against the way you might in some other sort of more traditional fights between the business community and labor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It was my pleasure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 41 would create new rules about auditing state programs that would receive revenue from special taxes. It would also make new special taxes part of the state’s spending limit. A vote no means things would stay the same as they are now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for PropFest today. This series is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s produced by Erika Cruz Guevara, Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and me, Olivia Allen-Price. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Support for the bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Some members of the KQD podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 42, which aims to make it harder to create a wealth tax in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ll get into all that tomorrow. See you then.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You’re going to see a lot about taxes on this year’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You’re going to see a lot about taxes on this year’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yesterday we talked about Prop 40, which would be a one-time tax on billionaires. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you go give it a listen, because today we’re dropping episodes on Props 41 and 42. And both of those are related to Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yesterday we talked about Prop 40, which would be a one-time tax on billionaires. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you go give it a listen, because today we’re dropping episodes on Props 41 and 42. And both of those are related to Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, Prop 41 would require more audits on the programs that are funded by special taxes. Is it good governance or red tape meant to make it harder to pass new taxes?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, Prop 41 would require more audits on the programs that are funded by special taxes. Is it good governance or red tape meant to make it harder to pass new taxes?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This is how Prop 41 reads on your ballot, and just a warning, it’s pretty wonky.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This is how Prop 41 reads on your ballot, and just a warning, it’s pretty wonky.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenues from state spending limit. Requires audits for new state special taxes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenues from state spending limit. Requires audits for new state special taxes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Ellen Price, host of Bay Curious. You’re listening to PropFest, our special series that goes through the statewide propositions on your ballot. They can be so confusing and consequential. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Ellen Price, host of Bay Curious. You’re listening to PropFest, our special series that goes through the statewide propositions on your ballot. They can be so confusing and consequential. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’ll explain the ins and outs of each one in hopes that you feel confident in your vote, no matter which side you come down on.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’ll explain the ins and outs of each one in hopes that you feel confident in your vote, no matter which side you come down on.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Here to walk us through Prop 41 is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. So the language of Prop 41 sort of sounds like gobbledygook to some voters. And we will straighten that out pretty soon. But maybe before we dive into all those specifics of this ballot measure, give us some context about who put this on the ballot and why.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Here to walk us through Prop 41 is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. So the language of Prop 41 sort of sounds like gobbledygook to some voters. And we will straighten that out pretty soon. But maybe before we dive into all those specifics of this ballot measure, give us some context about who put this on the ballot and why.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this was placed on the ballot, essentially by the billionaires who were opposing Prop 40. That’s the billionaire tax. And both Prop 41 and another measure, Prop 42, were written after the billionaire proposal was already out collecting signatures. So they were crafted really as an attempt to undercut that ballot measure. And so it’s kind of impossible to talk about them without talking about the billionaire tax and the billionaires who are trying to kill the tax. Got it. OK, helpful context. So now let’s get into what Prop 41 does. So Prop 41 has kind of three main provisions. The first one is it’s going to require ongoing audits of state programs that are funded by what’s called special taxes. So in California, when tax money comes in, most of it goes to the general fund. That is the main spending account that pays for K-12 schools and most of the things the state does. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this was placed on the ballot, essentially by the billionaires who were opposing Prop 40. That’s the billionaire tax. And both Prop 41 and another measure, Prop 42, were written after the billionaire proposal was already out collecting signatures. So they were crafted really as an attempt to undercut that ballot measure. And so it’s kind of impossible to talk about them without talking about the billionaire tax and the billionaires who are trying to kill the tax. Got it. OK, helpful context. So now let’s get into what Prop 41 does. So Prop 41 has kind of three main provisions. The first one is it’s going to require ongoing audits of state programs that are funded by what’s called special taxes. So in California, when tax money comes in, most of it goes to the general fund. That is the main spending account that pays for K-12 schools and most of the things the state does. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But, sometimes that revenue has been sort of written into law as a special tax, and those are earmarked for specific programs. You can think of something like the gas tax, which, you know, funds roads and infrastructure. That is not money that goes into the general fund. This measure says that before voters even weigh in on a proposed special tax they need to have an audit of what the money would be spent on. And then it requires ongoing audits in the future if a tax is actually passed. And so it’s being framed by proponents as a good government measure, right? This gives more transparency. Why are we spending billions of dollars in state money and not knowing where it goes essentially? Prop 41 has two other important provisions, and these are the ones that would conflict with the billionaire tax and potentially nullify them. And they both have something to do with the GAN limit, otherwise known as the state spending limit. This was a law put in place by voters in the 1970s, and it puts a cap on how much revenue the state can spend every year. It essentially says that if state revenues grow too fast, you gotta give some of that money back to taxpayers. Some special taxes are excluded from that limit, including the gas tax example. So one of the provisions in Prop 41 says new special taxes would all be subject to the state’s spending limit. So you can imagine if the billionaire tax passes and we have $100 billion in new spending, that would really increase the state revenue, right? So then the other provision prohibits the state from enforcing taxes that are not subject to the spending limit, so. Basically, either of these things would undercut Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But, sometimes that revenue has been sort of written into law as a special tax, and those are earmarked for specific programs. You can think of something like the gas tax, which, you know, funds roads and infrastructure. That is not money that goes into the general fund. This measure says that before voters even weigh in on a proposed special tax they need to have an audit of what the money would be spent on. And then it requires ongoing audits in the future if a tax is actually passed. And so it’s being framed by proponents as a good government measure, right? This gives more transparency. Why are we spending billions of dollars in state money and not knowing where it goes essentially? Prop 41 has two other important provisions, and these are the ones that would conflict with the billionaire tax and potentially nullify them. And they both have something to do with the GAN limit, otherwise known as the state spending limit. This was a law put in place by voters in the 1970s, and it puts a cap on how much revenue the state can spend every year. It essentially says that if state revenues grow too fast, you gotta give some of that money back to taxpayers. Some special taxes are excluded from that limit, including the gas tax example. So one of the provisions in Prop 41 says new special taxes would all be subject to the state’s spending limit. So you can imagine if the billionaire tax passes and we have $100 billion in new spending, that would really increase the state revenue, right? So then the other provision prohibits the state from enforcing taxes that are not subject to the spending limit, so. Basically, either of these things would undercut Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Let’s dig in a little bit more on that first provision about the audits, because there is a state auditor whose job is to audit what are they doing, are these new audits necessary?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Let’s dig in a little bit more on that first provision about the audits, because there is a state auditor whose job is to audit what are they doing, are these new audits necessary?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think opponents would say they’re not. You do have the ability of the legislature to request an audit of anything that they vote to. And yeah, we have an auditor who very regularly looks at state agencies and programs and spending and comes out with reports based on what the legislature has decided are the priorities.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think opponents would say they’re not. You do have the ability of the legislature to request an audit of anything that they vote to. And yeah, we have an auditor who very regularly looks at state agencies and programs and spending and comes out with reports based on what the legislature has decided are the priorities.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We need to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 41. If PropFest is helping you out, let us know by supporting our work. Your donations help keep projects like PropFast going. Contribute at donate.kqed.org. And you can get some sweet podcast swag as a thank you gift.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We need to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 41. If PropFest is helping you out, let us know by supporting our work. Your donations help keep projects like PropFast going. Contribute at donate.kqed.org. And you can get some sweet podcast swag as a thank you gift.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Welcome back. We’re talking with KQED’s Marisa Lagos about Proposition 41, the tax audit prop. Marisa, let’s get into who supports and opposes this prop. First up, what does support look like?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Welcome back. We’re talking with KQED’s Marisa Lagos about Proposition 41, the tax audit prop. Marisa, let’s get into who supports and opposes this prop. First up, what does support look like?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This was crafted by the folks who are opposing Proposition 40. It’s been largely funded by the same billionaires who are opposing that, again, sort of led by Sergey Brin. But a lot of familiar names here. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This was crafted by the folks who are opposing Proposition 40. It’s been largely funded by the same billionaires who are opposing that, again, sort of led by Sergey Brin. But a lot of familiar names here. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Names like Larry Page, who, with Sergey Brin, co-founded Alphabet, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Ellison of Oracle, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, mostly a who’s who of Silicon Valley.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Names like Larry Page, who, with Sergey Brin, co-founded Alphabet, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Ellison of Oracle, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, mostly a who’s who of Silicon Valley.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah,\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>but you also have folks like the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Taxpayers Association supporting this, and you know, these are groups that generally think that California spends too much money and have questions about whether it’s being properly spent. I mean, we’ve heard a lot of talk about this around homeless funding, right, in the governor’s race. Like, why are we spending billions of dollars and not addressing the underlying problem or making progress? So I think groups like the Chamber, the Cal Taxpayers Association, first of all, you know, just. Are pretty opposed to higher taxes and regulation, but also think that there would be some benefit in auditing all state spending, especially these special taxes, which, you know, arguably in some cases may not be getting sort of the scrutiny that they could. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah,\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>but you also have folks like the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Taxpayers Association supporting this, and you know, these are groups that generally think that California spends too much money and have questions about whether it’s being properly spent. I mean, we’ve heard a lot of talk about this around homeless funding, right, in the governor’s race. Like, why are we spending billions of dollars and not addressing the underlying problem or making progress? So I think groups like the Chamber, the Cal Taxpayers Association, first of all, you know, just. Are pretty opposed to higher taxes and regulation, but also think that there would be some benefit in auditing all state spending, especially these special taxes, which, you know, arguably in some cases may not be getting sort of the scrutiny that they could. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is lining up against Prop 41 and why? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is lining up against Prop 41 and why? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so the opponents are the same groups that are supporting Prop 40 that put the billionaire tax on the ballot. So SEIU, HW West, the State Democratic Party. The California Federation of Labor Unions, they see this really as an attempt to undercut, to nullify the billionaire tax proposal and that it’s not really as much about good government as it is about that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so the opponents are the same groups that are supporting Prop 40 that put the billionaire tax on the ballot. So SEIU, HW West, the State Democratic Party. The California Federation of Labor Unions, they see this really as an attempt to undercut, to nullify the billionaire tax proposal and that it’s not really as much about good government as it is about that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So if Prop 40 and 41 were both to pass, how does that play out?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So if Prop 40 and 41 were both to pass, how does that play out?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>On which one gets more votes. If Prop 40 got more votes, then it would stand and the only provisions of Prop 41 I believe that would take effect would be, you know, the audits and the spending limit. It would affect future special taxes, not this one. If 41 got more vote than 40, it would make it sort of unenforceable because so many provisions in 41 conflict with 40 and under California law, if something is on the same ballot together and they’re in a certain way, whatever gets more votes is kind of the law of the land. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>On which one gets more votes. If Prop 40 got more votes, then it would stand and the only provisions of Prop 41 I believe that would take effect would be, you know, the audits and the spending limit. It would affect future special taxes, not this one. If 41 got more vote than 40, it would make it sort of unenforceable because so many provisions in 41 conflict with 40 and under California law, if something is on the same ballot together and they’re in a certain way, whatever gets more votes is kind of the law of the land. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But in the past, I know that’s gone to a judge, ultimately, to decide. Is that what would happen here, too?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But in the past, I know that’s gone to a judge, ultimately, to decide. Is that what would happen here, too?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think regardless of whether any of these pass individually, I believe that there will be court challenges.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think regardless of whether any of these pass individually, I believe that there will be court challenges.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters are going to be thinking about this suite of three props, proposition 40, 41 and 42? Will they be connecting them all and voting in one direction, or could it go like we’ve seen in the past, where sometimes you get this mixed message from voters on sort of opposing props? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters are going to be thinking about this suite of three props, proposition 40, 41 and 42? Will they be connecting them all and voting in one direction, or could it go like we’ve seen in the past, where sometimes you get this mixed message from voters on sort of opposing props? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think that’s really gonna depend on how well the Yes on 40 campaign can draw a straight line between getting someone’s support and getting them to oppose these other measures. The billionaires and other folks who oppose the billionaire tax are not gonna wanna talk about Prop 40 when they talk about props 41 and 42. They wanna make these sort of just standalone good government measures. And so I think that’s sort of an outstanding question because you don’t have a traditional campaign against 41 and 40 too. Can the Yes on 40 folks really make clear in voters’ minds that these are all tied together, and even if you like some of the provisions of these other ballot measures, that by supporting them, you would essentially be casting another vote against the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think that’s really gonna depend on how well the Yes on 40 campaign can draw a straight line between getting someone’s support and getting them to oppose these other measures. The billionaires and other folks who oppose the billionaire tax are not gonna wanna talk about Prop 40 when they talk about props 41 and 42. They wanna make these sort of just standalone good government measures. And so I think that’s sort of an outstanding question because you don’t have a traditional campaign against 41 and 40 too. Can the Yes on 40 folks really make clear in voters’ minds that these are all tied together, and even if you like some of the provisions of these other ballot measures, that by supporting them, you would essentially be casting another vote against the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When it comes to campaign spending, what are we seeing here?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When it comes to campaign spending, what are we seeing here?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This one is very lopsided. We’ve seen the folks pushing Prop 41, yes on 41, raise more than 46 million so far. Most of that is coming from the same pack that is fighting the billionaire tax. It’s called Building a Better California. It was founded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other billionaires. And I think one thing that’s important to note is that We’re probably going to be seeing some crossover messaging. So a lot of the money being spent on the other ballot measures will also affect this one. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This one is very lopsided. We’ve seen the folks pushing Prop 41, yes on 41, raise more than 46 million so far. Most of that is coming from the same pack that is fighting the billionaire tax. It’s called Building a Better California. It was founded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other billionaires. And I think one thing that’s important to note is that We’re probably going to be seeing some crossover messaging. So a lot of the money being spent on the other ballot measures will also affect this one. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But sounds like really no spending on the no side.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But sounds like really no spending on the no side.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>No, and I think what you’re seeing is really that these are sort of a combined campaign for the other side. The unions that are pushing the billionaire tax are also pushing back against 41 and 42, but there isn’t that same level of like an organized campaign against each of them, in part because these are good government measures that sound very good on their face. I think it’s not something that you have the same sort of coalition. Able to sort of raise money and stand up against the way you might in some other sort of more traditional fights between the business community and labor.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>No, and I think what you’re seeing is really that these are sort of a combined campaign for the other side. The unions that are pushing the billionaire tax are also pushing back against 41 and 42, but there isn’t that same level of like an organized campaign against each of them, in part because these are good government measures that sound very good on their face. I think it’s not something that you have the same sort of coalition. Able to sort of raise money and stand up against the way you might in some other sort of more traditional fights between the business community and labor.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 41 would create new rules about auditing state programs that would receive revenue from special taxes. It would also make new special taxes part of the state’s spending limit. A vote no means things would stay the same as they are now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 41 would create new rules about auditing state programs that would receive revenue from special taxes. It would also make new special taxes part of the state’s spending limit. A vote no means things would stay the same as they are now.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for PropFest today. This series is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for PropFest today. This series is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s produced by Erika Cruz Guevara, Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and me, Olivia Allen-Price. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Some members of the KQD podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 42, which aims to make it harder to create a wealth tax in California. \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You’re going to see a lot about taxes on this year’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yesterday we talked about Prop 40, which would be a one-time tax on billionaires. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you go give it a listen, because today we’re dropping episodes on Props 41 and 42. And both of those are related to Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, Prop 41 would require more audits on the programs that are funded by special taxes. Is it good governance or red tape meant to make it harder to pass new taxes?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This is how Prop 41 reads on your ballot, and just a warning, it’s pretty wonky.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prohibits new state taxes that exclude revenues from state spending limit. Requires audits for new state special taxes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Ellen Price, host of Bay Curious. You’re listening to PropFest, our special series that goes through the statewide propositions on your ballot. They can be so confusing and consequential. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’ll explain the ins and outs of each one in hopes that you feel confident in your vote, no matter which side you come down on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Here to walk us through Prop 41 is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. Hey. So the language of Prop 41 sort of sounds like gobbledygook to some voters. And we will straighten that out pretty soon. But maybe before we dive into all those specifics of this ballot measure, give us some context about who put this on the ballot and why.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this was placed on the ballot, essentially by the billionaires who were opposing Prop 40. That’s the billionaire tax. And both Prop 41 and another measure, Prop 42, were written after the billionaire proposal was already out collecting signatures. So they were crafted really as an attempt to undercut that ballot measure. And so it’s kind of impossible to talk about them without talking about the billionaire tax and the billionaires who are trying to kill the tax. Got it. OK, helpful context. So now let’s get into what Prop 41 does. So Prop 41 has kind of three main provisions. The first one is it’s going to require ongoing audits of state programs that are funded by what’s called special taxes. So in California, when tax money comes in, most of it goes to the general fund. That is the main spending account that pays for K-12 schools and most of the things the state does. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, sometimes that revenue has been sort of written into law as a special tax, and those are earmarked for specific programs. You can think of something like the gas tax, which, you know, funds roads and infrastructure. That is not money that goes into the general fund. This measure says that before voters even weigh in on a proposed special tax they need to have an audit of what the money would be spent on. And then it requires ongoing audits in the future if a tax is actually passed. And so it’s being framed by proponents as a good government measure, right? This gives more transparency. Why are we spending billions of dollars in state money and not knowing where it goes essentially? Prop 41 has two other important provisions, and these are the ones that would conflict with the billionaire tax and potentially nullify them. And they both have something to do with the GAN limit, otherwise known as the state spending limit. This was a law put in place by voters in the 1970s, and it puts a cap on how much revenue the state can spend every year. It essentially says that if state revenues grow too fast, you gotta give some of that money back to taxpayers. Some special taxes are excluded from that limit, including the gas tax example. So one of the provisions in Prop 41 says new special taxes would all be subject to the state’s spending limit. So you can imagine if the billionaire tax passes and we have $100 billion in new spending, that would really increase the state revenue, right? So then the other provision prohibits the state from enforcing taxes that are not subject to the spending limit, so. Basically, either of these things would undercut Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Let’s dig in a little bit more on that first provision about the audits, because there is a state auditor whose job is to audit what are they doing, are these new audits necessary?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think opponents would say they’re not. You do have the ability of the legislature to request an audit of anything that they vote to. And yeah, we have an auditor who very regularly looks at state agencies and programs and spending and comes out with reports based on what the legislature has decided are the priorities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We need to take a quick break, but when we get back, more on Prop 41. If PropFest is helping you out, let us know by supporting our work. Your donations help keep projects like PropFast going. Contribute at donate.kqed.org. And you can get some sweet podcast swag as a thank you gift.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Welcome back. We’re talking with KQED’s Marisa Lagos about Proposition 41, the tax audit prop. Marisa, let’s get into who supports and opposes this prop. First up, what does support look like?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This was crafted by the folks who are opposing Proposition 40. It’s been largely funded by the same billionaires who are opposing that, again, sort of led by Sergey Brin. But a lot of familiar names here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Names like Larry Page, who, with Sergey Brin, co-founded Alphabet, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Ellison of Oracle, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, mostly a who’s who of Silicon Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah,\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>but you also have folks like the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Taxpayers Association supporting this, and you know, these are groups that generally think that California spends too much money and have questions about whether it’s being properly spent. I mean, we’ve heard a lot of talk about this around homeless funding, right, in the governor’s race. Like, why are we spending billions of dollars and not addressing the underlying problem or making progress? So I think groups like the Chamber, the Cal Taxpayers Association, first of all, you know, just. Are pretty opposed to higher taxes and regulation, but also think that there would be some benefit in auditing all state spending, especially these special taxes, which, you know, arguably in some cases may not be getting sort of the scrutiny that they could. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Who is lining up against Prop 41 and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so the opponents are the same groups that are supporting Prop 40 that put the billionaire tax on the ballot. So SEIU, HW West, the State Democratic Party. The California Federation of Labor Unions, they see this really as an attempt to undercut, to nullify the billionaire tax proposal and that it’s not really as much about good government as it is about that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So if Prop 40 and 41 were both to pass, how does that play out?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>On which one gets more votes. If Prop 40 got more votes, then it would stand and the only provisions of Prop 41 I believe that would take effect would be, you know, the audits and the spending limit. It would affect future special taxes, not this one. If 41 got more vote than 40, it would make it sort of unenforceable because so many provisions in 41 conflict with 40 and under California law, if something is on the same ballot together and they’re in a certain way, whatever gets more votes is kind of the law of the land. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But in the past, I know that’s gone to a judge, ultimately, to decide. Is that what would happen here, too?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think regardless of whether any of these pass individually, I believe that there will be court challenges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>How do you think voters are going to be thinking about this suite of three props, proposition 40, 41 and 42? Will they be connecting them all and voting in one direction, or could it go like we’ve seen in the past, where sometimes you get this mixed message from voters on sort of opposing props? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>I think that’s really gonna depend on how well the Yes on 40 campaign can draw a straight line between getting someone’s support and getting them to oppose these other measures. The billionaires and other folks who oppose the billionaire tax are not gonna wanna talk about Prop 40 when they talk about props 41 and 42. They wanna make these sort of just standalone good government measures. And so I think that’s sort of an outstanding question because you don’t have a traditional campaign against 41 and 40 too. Can the Yes on 40 folks really make clear in voters’ minds that these are all tied together, and even if you like some of the provisions of these other ballot measures, that by supporting them, you would essentially be casting another vote against the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When it comes to campaign spending, what are we seeing here?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>This one is very lopsided. We’ve seen the folks pushing Prop 41, yes on 41, raise more than 46 million so far. Most of that is coming from the same pack that is fighting the billionaire tax. It’s called Building a Better California. It was founded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other billionaires. And I think one thing that’s important to note is that We’re probably going to be seeing some crossover messaging. So a lot of the money being spent on the other ballot measures will also affect this one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But sounds like really no spending on the no side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>No, and I think what you’re seeing is really that these are sort of a combined campaign for the other side. The unions that are pushing the billionaire tax are also pushing back against 41 and 42, but there isn’t that same level of like an organized campaign against each of them, in part because these are good government measures that sound very good on their face. I think it’s not something that you have the same sort of coalition. Able to sort of raise money and stand up against the way you might in some other sort of more traditional fights between the business community and labor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It was my pleasure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 41 would create new rules about auditing state programs that would receive revenue from special taxes. It would also make new special taxes part of the state’s spending limit. A vote no means things would stay the same as they are now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for PropFest today. This series is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s produced by Erika Cruz Guevara, Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and me, Olivia Allen-Price. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from Katie Springer, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Support for the bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Some members of the KQD podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Erika Cruz Guevara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 42, which aims to make it harder to create a wealth tax in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ll get into all that tomorrow. See you then.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>When you buy a shirt, the tag tells you the price. Whether it’s clothing, food or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098620/even-in-a-hot-rental-market-what-renters-shouldnt-settle-on-when-looking-for-new-home\">rent\u003c/a>, knowing how much you will spend is a pretty straightforward question … for most items. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But buying a car — new or used — has always been trickier. The number you may see in television ads or plastered on the car’s windshield at the dealership is not always what you end up paying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the manufacturer’s suggested retail price — or MSRP — is, as the name suggests, just a \u003cem>suggestion\u003c/em>. And it doesn’t include extra costs, like government fees or markups from the dealers for certain features.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But now, a new California law limits how much dealers can add on and potentially makes things clearer for consumers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2212146950-scaled-e1791219079940.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102812\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vehicles for sale are parked in a lot at a CarMax dealership on April 24, 2025, in San Diego. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>As of Thursday, the \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766\">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act\u003c/a> prohibits a dealer from misrepresenting the total cost of the vehicle they’re selling you. And if you’re planning to lease the car, a dealer cannot mislead you about the terms of the lease.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what does this new law mean exactly, making your next experience at a car dealership less stressful — and potentially cheaper? Here’s what to look for if you or someone you know is buying a car after Oct. 1, 2026:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The total price, with no surprises\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Car sellers must now provide you with a “total price,” which has to include “any dealer price adjustment and the cost of any item installed on the vehicle.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/registering-a-vehicle-purchased-from-a-dealer/california-combating-auto-retail-scams-act/\">the DMV\u003c/a>, the total price must show up in ads or in any initial written communication, which includes “email, text, document, or any form mentioning the vehicle or financing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transparency about add-ons\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As you’re choosing a car, the dealer now must tell you — at least once — which add-ons are not actually required. They also have to be transparent that you can purchase or lease the vehicle \u003cem>without \u003c/em>that extra feature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This disclosure, the law states, has to be “in writing and shall be clear and conspicuous.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frankness about financing\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When you’re talking about financing, the seller has to confirm what the total cost will be after the financing term — how much will you have paid the dealer altogether, once you’re done with all the monthly payments? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re leasing the car, the dealership also has to tell you the total cost after the leasing term ends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More clarity on leasing vs. buying\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now that this new law has passed, there cannot be any confusion about whether you are leasing or buying the car. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The seller must be straightforward with the consumer about the terms of the final agreement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A right to change your mind\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a \u003cem>used \u003c/em>car, the law now gives you the right to a three-day “cool-down period” where the purchase can be canceled — for any reason. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there are a few conditions:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>The vehicle must be valued at less than $50,000\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>The seller is permitted to set mileage limits (the DMV estimates around 400 miles)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>The seller can charge you a restocking fee (the DMV estimates something around $200) \u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation has received the support of legal aid groups and bar associations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Car buyers will enjoy stronger consumer protections, including a clearer understanding of the total cost of the vehicle before signing the paperwork,” wrote attorney Stefan Lawrence in \u003ca href=\"https://calawyers.org/business-law/california-combating-auto-retail-scams-cars-act-signed-into-law/\">a bulletin\u003c/a> for the California Lawyers Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, Lawrence added that the CARS Act could add more work for car dealerships, as it “introduces a new layer of regulatory complexity with respect to advertising, sales practices, and add-on products.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you suspect a car dealership is not complying with the new law, the DMV recommends you \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/occupational-licensing/driving-school-and-traffic-violator-school-complaints/\">file a complaint online\u003c/a> or call 1-800-777-0133.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As of Thursday, the \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766\">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act\u003c/a> prohibits a dealer from misrepresenting the total cost of the vehicle they’re selling you. And if you’re planning to lease the car, a dealer cannot mislead you about the terms of the lease.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>When you buy a shirt, the tag tells you the price. Whether it’s clothing, food or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098620/even-in-a-hot-rental-market-what-renters-shouldnt-settle-on-when-looking-for-new-home\">rent\u003c/a>, knowing how much you will spend is a pretty straightforward question … for most items. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But buying a car — new or used — has always been trickier. The number you may see in television ads or plastered on the car’s windshield at the dealership is not always what you end up paying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the manufacturer’s suggested retail price — or MSRP — is, as the name suggests, just a \u003cem>suggestion\u003c/em>. And it doesn’t include extra costs, like government fees or markups from the dealers for certain features.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But now, a new California law limits how much dealers can add on and potentially makes things clearer for consumers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/GettyImages-2212146950-scaled-e1791219079940.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102812\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vehicles for sale are parked in a lot at a CarMax dealership on April 24, 2025, in San Diego. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>As of Thursday, the \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766\">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act\u003c/a> prohibits a dealer from misrepresenting the total cost of the vehicle they’re selling you. And if you’re planning to lease the car, a dealer cannot mislead you about the terms of the lease.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what does this new law mean exactly, making your next experience at a car dealership less stressful — and potentially cheaper? Here’s what to look for if you or someone you know is buying a car after Oct. 1, 2026:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The total price, with no surprises\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Car sellers must now provide you with a “total price,” which has to include “any dealer price adjustment and the cost of any item installed on the vehicle.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/registering-a-vehicle-purchased-from-a-dealer/california-combating-auto-retail-scams-act/\">the DMV\u003c/a>, the total price must show up in ads or in any initial written communication, which includes “email, text, document, or any form mentioning the vehicle or financing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transparency about add-ons\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As you’re choosing a car, the dealer now must tell you — at least once — which add-ons are not actually required. They also have to be transparent that you can purchase or lease the vehicle \u003cem>without \u003c/em>that extra feature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This disclosure, the law states, has to be “in writing and shall be clear and conspicuous.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frankness about financing\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When you’re talking about financing, the seller has to confirm what the total cost will be after the financing term — how much will you have paid the dealer altogether, once you’re done with all the monthly payments? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re leasing the car, the dealership also has to tell you the total cost after the leasing term ends.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More clarity on leasing vs. buying\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now that this new law has passed, there cannot be any confusion about whether you are leasing or buying the car. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The seller must be straightforward with the consumer about the terms of the final agreement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A right to change your mind\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a \u003cem>used \u003c/em>car, the law now gives you the right to a three-day “cool-down period” where the purchase can be canceled — for any reason. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there are a few conditions:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>The vehicle must be valued at less than $50,000\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>The seller is permitted to set mileage limits (the DMV estimates around 400 miles)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>The seller can charge you a restocking fee (the DMV estimates something around $200) \u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation has received the support of legal aid groups and bar associations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Car buyers will enjoy stronger consumer protections, including a clearer understanding of the total cost of the vehicle before signing the paperwork,” wrote attorney Stefan Lawrence in \u003ca href=\"https://calawyers.org/business-law/california-combating-auto-retail-scams-cars-act-signed-into-law/\">a bulletin\u003c/a> for the California Lawyers Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, Lawrence added that the CARS Act could add more work for car dealerships, as it “introduces a new layer of regulatory complexity with respect to advertising, sales practices, and add-on products.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you suspect a car dealership is not complying with the new law, the DMV recommends you \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/occupational-licensing/driving-school-and-traffic-violator-school-complaints/\">file a complaint online\u003c/a> or call 1-800-777-0133.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "7-5b-california-science-agency-plan-free-from-trumps-influence-will-go-to-voters",
"title": "$7.5B California Science Agency Plan Free From Trump’s Influence Will Go to Voters",
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"headTitle": "$7.5B California Science Agency Plan Free From Trump’s Influence Will Go to Voters | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>could create its own multi-billion-dollar science and health research agency under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last Wednesday, helping to fill a gap left by the politicization of science under the second Trump administration. Voters will decide in a year and a half whether to fund the idea, which the University of California has championed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Approved by state lawmakers at a time when federal science funding has become increasingly unpredictable, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB895\">the bill places a $7.5 billion bond measure on the March 2028 ballot\u003c/a> to pay for the creation of the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. The new state agency would provide grants and loans for projects in public health, climate science, agriculture and other areas. Panels of scientists would review proposals, and the agency would develop rules allowing the state to share in some of the profits from inventions made with its support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12027563\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks during a press conference announcing legislation to increase nightlife in Downtown San Francisco to help the recovery of the neighborhood, in Union Square, San Francisco, on Feb. 18, 2025. Wiener is the author of the $7.5B proposal. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Scientific advancements are curing and preventing diseases, improving the lives of people living with chronic conditions, protecting our communities from wildfires, lowering the cost of food, and powering our economy,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, said in a statement. “We cannot allow the federal government to throw away that hope for a better future.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom joined Wiener to sign the bill atop the Golden Gate Bridge, a landmark built with voter-approved bond money in the 1930s that his press office described as a symbol of California ingenuity. He said the proposed science agency “does the opposite of what Donald Trump is doing (and) will allow us to double down on what makes this state great.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was a dramatic comeback for a measure that \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/29/12b-science-bond-to-offset-trump-research-cuts-misses-california-ballot-deadline\">almost died in the Legislature earlier this year\u003c/a>, when a more ambitious $23 billion version of the plan failed to make it onto the November ballot despite bipartisan support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers from UC Berkeley and elsewhere had joined with UC leadership to lobby for the bond, hosting rallies and \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/02/03/california-foundation-for-science-and-health-research-bond-ballot-measure\">inviting lawmakers to a science fair\u003c/a> highlighting projects that had seen their funding stalled or canceled by the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There were plenty to choose from: The Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/07/research-grants-california-2/\">canceled nearly $2 billion in research grants to the University of California beginning in early 2025\u003c/a>, later acknowledging in court that officials searched for keywords such as “health equity” and “sexual orientation” in order to decide what to cut. While a court order restored much of the money, the National Science Foundation has since \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/09/21/nsf-over-billion-behind-grants-ies-says-will\">slowed grantmaking nationwide\u003c/a>, and President Trump has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/politics/trump-nih-science-grants.html\">proposed giving political appointees more power to veto National Institutes of Health grants\u003c/a> that don’t align with his agenda.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This spring, the National Science Foundation \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/08/donald-trump-uc-berkeley-research-grants-national-science-foundation\">canceled an additional $21 million in grants to UC Berkeley\u003c/a>, accusing the projects’ lead researchers of accepting foreign funding without disclosing it, a charge some of those scientists denied. UC President James Milliken has called the disruption of federal research funding “one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lawmakers nevertheless declined to move the science bond forward this spring amid worries about competing demands on state funds – including a housing bond on the November ballot and the possible need to backfill other federal cuts. But negotiations among bill supporters, legislative leaders and the governor over the summer led to the scaled-down version that Newsom signed Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with the University of California, California State University, private universities, and independent labs would all be potentially eligible for grants from the new state fund. A $7.5 billion state fund would not by itself make up for the instability in federal grants – the UC alone \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143\">received nearly $5 billion in federal research funding in fiscal year 2024-25\u003c/a>. But supporters say it could be especially helpful to researchers in fields such as climate science that are critical to the state’s future but have run afoul of Trump administration priorities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Berkeleyside partners with the nonprofit newsroom \u003ca href=\"https://www.opencampus.org/\">Open Campus\u003c/a> on higher education coverage.\u003c/em> \u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/\">Berkeleyside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Approved by state lawmakers at a time when federal science funding has become increasingly unpredictable, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB895\">the bill places a $7.5 billion bond measure on the March 2028 ballot\u003c/a> to pay for the creation of the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. The new state agency would provide grants and loans for projects in public health, climate science, agriculture and other areas. Panels of scientists would review proposals, and the agency would develop rules allowing the state to share in some of the profits from inventions made with its support.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Approved by state lawmakers at a time when federal science funding has become increasingly unpredictable, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB895\">the bill places a $7.5 billion bond measure on the March 2028 ballot\u003c/a> to pay for the creation of the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. The new state agency would provide grants and loans for projects in public health, climate science, agriculture and other areas. Panels of scientists would review proposals, and the agency would develop rules allowing the state to share in some of the profits from inventions made with its support.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12027563\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks during a press conference announcing legislation to increase nightlife in Downtown San Francisco to help the recovery of the neighborhood, in Union Square, San Francisco, on Feb. 18, 2025. Wiener is the author of the $7.5B proposal.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Scientific advancements are curing and preventing diseases, improving the lives of people living with chronic conditions, protecting our communities from wildfires, lowering the cost of food, and powering our economy,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, said in a statement. “We cannot allow the federal government to throw away that hope for a better future.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom joined Wiener to sign the bill atop the Golden Gate Bridge, a landmark built with voter-approved bond money in the 1930s that his press office described as a symbol of California ingenuity. He said the proposed science agency “does the opposite of what Donald Trump is doing (and) will allow us to double down on what makes this state great.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was a dramatic comeback for a measure that \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/29/12b-science-bond-to-offset-trump-research-cuts-misses-california-ballot-deadline\">almost died in the Legislature earlier this year\u003c/a>, when a more ambitious $23 billion version of the plan failed to make it onto the November ballot despite bipartisan support.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Researchers from UC Berkeley and elsewhere had joined with UC leadership to lobby for the bond, hosting rallies and \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/02/03/california-foundation-for-science-and-health-research-bond-ballot-measure\">inviting lawmakers to a science fair\u003c/a> highlighting projects that had seen their funding stalled or canceled by the federal government.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There were plenty to choose from: The Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/07/research-grants-california-2/\">canceled nearly $2 billion in research grants to the University of California beginning in early 2025\u003c/a>, later acknowledging in court that officials searched for keywords such as “health equity” and “sexual orientation” in order to decide what to cut. While a court order restored much of the money, the National Science Foundation has since \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/09/21/nsf-over-billion-behind-grants-ies-says-will\">slowed grantmaking nationwide\u003c/a>, and President Trump has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/politics/trump-nih-science-grants.html\">proposed giving political appointees more power to veto National Institutes of Health grants\u003c/a> that don’t align with his agenda.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This spring, the National Science Foundation \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/08/donald-trump-uc-berkeley-research-grants-national-science-foundation\">canceled an additional $21 million in grants to UC Berkeley\u003c/a>, accusing the projects’ lead researchers of accepting foreign funding without disclosing it, a charge some of those scientists denied. UC President James Milliken has called the disruption of federal research funding “one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lawmakers nevertheless declined to move the science bond forward this spring amid worries about competing demands on state funds – including a housing bond on the November ballot and the possible need to backfill other federal cuts. But negotiations among bill supporters, legislative leaders and the governor over the summer led to the scaled-down version that Newsom signed Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Along with the University of California, California State University, private universities, and independent labs would all be potentially eligible for grants from the new state fund. A $7.5 billion state fund would not by itself make up for the instability in federal grants – the UC alone \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143\">received nearly $5 billion in federal research funding in fiscal year 2024-25\u003c/a>. But supporters say it could be especially helpful to researchers in fields such as climate science that are critical to the state’s future but have run afoul of Trump administration priorities.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Along with the University of California, California State University, private universities, and independent labs would all be potentially eligible for grants from the new state fund. A $7.5 billion state fund would not by itself make up for the instability in federal grants – the UC alone \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143\">received nearly $5 billion in federal research funding in fiscal year 2024-25\u003c/a>. But supporters say it could be especially helpful to researchers in fields such as climate science that are critical to the state’s future but have run afoul of Trump administration priorities.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Berkeleyside partners with the nonprofit newsroom \u003ca href=\"https://www.opencampus.org/\">Open Campus\u003c/a> on higher education coverage.\u003c/em> \u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/\">Berkeleyside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Voters will get to weigh in on the plan in early 2028. ",
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"title": "$7.5B California Science Agency Plan Free From Trump’s Influence Will Go to Voters | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>could create its own multi-billion-dollar science and health research agency under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last Wednesday, helping to fill a gap left by the politicization of science under the second Trump administration. Voters will decide in a year and a half whether to fund the idea, which the University of California has championed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Approved by state lawmakers at a time when federal science funding has become increasingly unpredictable, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB895\">the bill places a $7.5 billion bond measure on the March 2028 ballot\u003c/a> to pay for the creation of the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. The new state agency would provide grants and loans for projects in public health, climate science, agriculture and other areas. Panels of scientists would review proposals, and the agency would develop rules allowing the state to share in some of the profits from inventions made with its support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12027563\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250218-SFDowntown-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks during a press conference announcing legislation to increase nightlife in Downtown San Francisco to help the recovery of the neighborhood, in Union Square, San Francisco, on Feb. 18, 2025. Wiener is the author of the $7.5B proposal. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Scientific advancements are curing and preventing diseases, improving the lives of people living with chronic conditions, protecting our communities from wildfires, lowering the cost of food, and powering our economy,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, said in a statement. “We cannot allow the federal government to throw away that hope for a better future.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom joined Wiener to sign the bill atop the Golden Gate Bridge, a landmark built with voter-approved bond money in the 1930s that his press office described as a symbol of California ingenuity. He said the proposed science agency “does the opposite of what Donald Trump is doing (and) will allow us to double down on what makes this state great.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was a dramatic comeback for a measure that \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/06/29/12b-science-bond-to-offset-trump-research-cuts-misses-california-ballot-deadline\">almost died in the Legislature earlier this year\u003c/a>, when a more ambitious $23 billion version of the plan failed to make it onto the November ballot despite bipartisan support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers from UC Berkeley and elsewhere had joined with UC leadership to lobby for the bond, hosting rallies and \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/02/03/california-foundation-for-science-and-health-research-bond-ballot-measure\">inviting lawmakers to a science fair\u003c/a> highlighting projects that had seen their funding stalled or canceled by the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There were plenty to choose from: The Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/07/research-grants-california-2/\">canceled nearly $2 billion in research grants to the University of California beginning in early 2025\u003c/a>, later acknowledging in court that officials searched for keywords such as “health equity” and “sexual orientation” in order to decide what to cut. While a court order restored much of the money, the National Science Foundation has since \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/09/21/nsf-over-billion-behind-grants-ies-says-will\">slowed grantmaking nationwide\u003c/a>, and President Trump has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/politics/trump-nih-science-grants.html\">proposed giving political appointees more power to veto National Institutes of Health grants\u003c/a> that don’t align with his agenda.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This spring, the National Science Foundation \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/08/donald-trump-uc-berkeley-research-grants-national-science-foundation\">canceled an additional $21 million in grants to UC Berkeley\u003c/a>, accusing the projects’ lead researchers of accepting foreign funding without disclosing it, a charge some of those scientists denied. UC President James Milliken has called the disruption of federal research funding “one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lawmakers nevertheless declined to move the science bond forward this spring amid worries about competing demands on state funds – including a housing bond on the November ballot and the possible need to backfill other federal cuts. But negotiations among bill supporters, legislative leaders and the governor over the summer led to the scaled-down version that Newsom signed Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Along with the University of California, California State University, private universities, and independent labs would all be potentially eligible for grants from the new state fund. A $7.5 billion state fund would not by itself make up for the instability in federal grants – the UC alone \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143\">received nearly $5 billion in federal research funding in fiscal year 2024-25\u003c/a>. But supporters say it could be especially helpful to researchers in fields such as climate science that are critical to the state’s future but have run afoul of Trump administration priorities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Berkeleyside partners with the nonprofit newsroom \u003ca href=\"https://www.opencampus.org/\">Open Campus\u003c/a> on higher education coverage.\u003c/em> \u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/\">Berkeleyside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bernie-sanders-makes-the-case-in-san-francisco-for-statewide-billionaire-tax",
"title": "Bernie Sanders Makes the Case in San Francisco for Statewide Billionaire Tax",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Voters are getting their first chance today to weigh in on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097032/splitting-with-state-party-san-francisco-democrats-oppose-billionaire-tax\">a statewide billionaire tax that has split Democrats\u003c/a>. That’s as proponents like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., make their latest push to pass the measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders, one of Proposition 40’s earliest supporters, appeared at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre on Saturday as part of a California tour promoting the tax. The event, dubbed “Ballots over Billionaires,” included former San Francisco supervisor and current candidate for state insurance commissioner Jane Kim, and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents parts of Silicon Valley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders told a packed crowd that the initiative “deals with the most important issue facing this country,” prompting cheers and applause. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093728\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A T-shirt with a campaign message during the campaign kickoff for the California Billionaire Tax Act at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026. Sanders is seeking the support of California voters for a November ballot initiative of an emergency tax on billionaires to help the state’s healthcare system. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Can the American people sustain democracy, take on the greed and power of of the billionaire class and create an economy and government that works for all, or are we destined to live in an oligarchic society where our economic and political lives are controlled by a handful of the wealthiest people in the world?” Sanders said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on individuals with a net worth of more than $1 billion who lived in the state on Jan. 1, 2026. Ninety percent of the tax’s revenue — projected to be tens of billions of dollars — would go toward healthcare. The rest would be used for food assistance and education-related programs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The initiative has won the support of the state’s Democratic Party, and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099825/california-billionaires-tax-has-a-slim-lead-in-new-poll-but-still-a-lot-of-work-to-do\">recent poll\u003c/a> shows it as slightly favored by likely voters. Proponents like Sanders say the tax is necessary to support the state’s healthcare system following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084669/lurie-eyes-34-million-to-cushion-h-r-1-blows-to-medi-cal-and-calfresh\">federal cuts\u003c/a> related to the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088085\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Signs reading “A Billionaire Tax Now” rest on chairs at a Billionaire Tax Now rally Feb. 18, 2026. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Gov. Gavin Newsom and both remaining candidates for his seat, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Beccera, have come out in opposition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some opponents say it would actually mean a decrease in revenue because it could force billionaires away. Others, like the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and the California Medical Association, \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/10/02/why-some-california-healthcare-groups-oppose-a-tax-that-would-send-90-of-its-money-to-healthcare/\">have raised concerns\u003c/a> about how the money will be distributed and how much discretion lawmakers will have about its use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, said Saturday at a virtual event hosted by the No on 40 Coalition that every Democrat in the state wants billionaires to “pay their fair share,” but that Prop 40 is not a stable or lasting solution to federal cuts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter echoed Tung’s comments at the event, saying that people are “understandably desperate” for a solution to healthcare challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prop 40 promises to do that, but it absolutely does not,” Porter said. “In fact, it locks in a lot of the problematic aspects of our current healthcare system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even if voters pass the measure, it could be moot. Two other initiatives on the ballot are Propositions 41 and 42, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/california-billionaire-tax-explainer/\">direct responses to Proposition 40 funded by billionaires\u003c/a> like Google cofounder Sergey Brin. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prop 41 would prohibit new state taxes that exempt their revenues from the state spending limit. Prop 42 would prohibit retroactive taxes and new taxes on financial assets and personal property. If either one passes and receives more votes than Proposition 40, the billionaire tax would be nullified.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders, who’s also urging people to oppose Prop 41 and 42, will finish off his support tour for the measure and progressive candidates in the state in Los Angeles tonight. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jmelido\">\u003cem>Janea Melido\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093728\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A T-shirt with a campaign message during the campaign kickoff for the California Billionaire Tax Act at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026. Sanders is seeking the support of California voters for a November ballot initiative of an emergency tax on billionaires to help the state’s healthcare system.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093728\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A T-shirt with a campaign message during the campaign kickoff for the California Billionaire Tax Act at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026. Sanders is seeking the support of California voters for a November ballot initiative of an emergency tax on billionaires to help the state’s healthcare system.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Can the American people sustain democracy, take on the greed and power of of the billionaire class and create an economy and government that works for all, or are we destined to live in an oligarchic society where our economic and political lives are controlled by a handful of the wealthiest people in the world?” Sanders said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on individuals with a net worth of more than $1 billion who lived in the state on Jan. 1, 2026. Ninety percent of the tax’s revenue — projected to be tens of billions of dollars — would go toward healthcare. The rest would be used for food assistance and education-related programs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on individuals with a net worth of more than $1 billion who lived in the state on Jan. 1, 2026. Ninety percent of the tax’s revenue — projected to be tens of billions of dollars — would go toward healthcare. The rest would be used for food assistance and education-related programs. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The initiative has won the support of the state’s Democratic Party, and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099825/california-billionaires-tax-has-a-slim-lead-in-new-poll-but-still-a-lot-of-work-to-do\">recent poll\u003c/a> shows it as slightly favored by likely voters. Proponents like Sanders say the tax is necessary to support the state’s healthcare system following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084669/lurie-eyes-34-million-to-cushion-h-r-1-blows-to-medi-cal-and-calfresh\">federal cuts\u003c/a> related to the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088085\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Signs reading “A Billionaire Tax Now” rest on chairs at a Billionaire Tax Now rally Feb. 18, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Gov. Gavin Newsom and both remaining candidates for his seat, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Beccera, have come out in opposition. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some opponents say it would actually mean a decrease in revenue because it could force billionaires away. Others, like the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and the California Medical Association, \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/10/02/why-some-california-healthcare-groups-oppose-a-tax-that-would-send-90-of-its-money-to-healthcare/\">have raised concerns\u003c/a> about how the money will be distributed and how much discretion lawmakers will have about its use. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, said Saturday at a virtual event hosted by the No on 40 Coalition that every Democrat in the state wants billionaires to “pay their fair share,” but that Prop 40 is not a stable or lasting solution to federal cuts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, said Saturday at a virtual event hosted by the No on 40 Coalition that every Democrat in the state wants billionaires to “pay their fair share,” but that Prop 40 is not a stable or lasting solution to federal cuts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter echoed Tung’s comments at the event, saying that people are “understandably desperate” for a solution to healthcare challenges. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter echoed Tung’s comments at the event, saying that people are “understandably desperate” for a solution to healthcare challenges. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Prop 40 promises to do that, but it absolutely does not,” Porter said. “In fact, it locks in a lot of the problematic aspects of our current healthcare system.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Prop 40 promises to do that, but it absolutely does not,” Porter said. “In fact, it locks in a lot of the problematic aspects of our current healthcare system.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even if voters pass the measure, it could be moot. Two other initiatives on the ballot are Propositions 41 and 42, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/california-billionaire-tax-explainer/\">direct responses to Proposition 40 funded by billionaires\u003c/a> like Google cofounder Sergey Brin. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Even if voters pass the measure, it could be moot. Two other initiatives on the ballot are Propositions 41 and 42, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/california-billionaire-tax-explainer/\">direct responses to Proposition 40 funded by billionaires\u003c/a> like Google cofounder Sergey Brin. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prop 41 would prohibit new state taxes that exempt their revenues from the state spending limit. Prop 42 would prohibit retroactive taxes and new taxes on financial assets and personal property. If either one passes and receives more votes than Proposition 40, the billionaire tax would be nullified.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prop 41 would prohibit new state taxes that exempt their revenues from the state spending limit. Prop 42 would prohibit retroactive taxes and new taxes on financial assets and personal property. If either one passes and receives more votes than Proposition 40, the billionaire tax would be nullified.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sanders, who’s also urging people to oppose Prop 41 and 42, will finish off his support tour for the measure and progressive candidates in the state in Los Angeles tonight. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sanders, who’s also urging people to oppose Prop 41 and 42, will finish off his support tour for the measure and progressive candidates in the state in Los Angeles tonight. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jmelido\">\u003cem>Janea Melido\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Nov. 3 election is less than a month away, and voters will get their first chance today to have a say on the proposal as voting starts. ",
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"title": "Bernie Sanders Makes the Case in San Francisco for Statewide Billionaire Tax | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Voters are getting their first chance today to weigh in on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097032/splitting-with-state-party-san-francisco-democrats-oppose-billionaire-tax\">a statewide billionaire tax that has split Democrats\u003c/a>. That’s as proponents like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., make their latest push to pass the measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders, one of Proposition 40’s earliest supporters, appeared at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre on Saturday as part of a California tour promoting the tax. The event, dubbed “Ballots over Billionaires,” included former San Francisco supervisor and current candidate for state insurance commissioner Jane Kim, and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents parts of Silicon Valley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders told a packed crowd that the initiative “deals with the most important issue facing this country,” prompting cheers and applause. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093728\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CaliforniaBillionairesTaxGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A T-shirt with a campaign message during the campaign kickoff for the California Billionaire Tax Act at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, on Feb. 18, 2026. Sanders is seeking the support of California voters for a November ballot initiative of an emergency tax on billionaires to help the state’s healthcare system. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Can the American people sustain democracy, take on the greed and power of of the billionaire class and create an economy and government that works for all, or are we destined to live in an oligarchic society where our economic and political lives are controlled by a handful of the wealthiest people in the world?” Sanders said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on individuals with a net worth of more than $1 billion who lived in the state on Jan. 1, 2026. Ninety percent of the tax’s revenue — projected to be tens of billions of dollars — would go toward healthcare. The rest would be used for food assistance and education-related programs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The initiative has won the support of the state’s Democratic Party, and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12099825/california-billionaires-tax-has-a-slim-lead-in-new-poll-but-still-a-lot-of-work-to-do\">recent poll\u003c/a> shows it as slightly favored by likely voters. Proponents like Sanders say the tax is necessary to support the state’s healthcare system following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084669/lurie-eyes-34-million-to-cushion-h-r-1-blows-to-medi-cal-and-calfresh\">federal cuts\u003c/a> related to the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088085\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/021826-Billionaires-Tax-GETTY-CM-01-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Signs reading “A Billionaire Tax Now” rest on chairs at a Billionaire Tax Now rally Feb. 18, 2026. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Gov. Gavin Newsom and both remaining candidates for his seat, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Beccera, have come out in opposition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some opponents say it would actually mean a decrease in revenue because it could force billionaires away. Others, like the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and the California Medical Association, \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/10/02/why-some-california-healthcare-groups-oppose-a-tax-that-would-send-90-of-its-money-to-healthcare/\">have raised concerns\u003c/a> about how the money will be distributed and how much discretion lawmakers will have about its use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, said Saturday at a virtual event hosted by the No on 40 Coalition that every Democrat in the state wants billionaires to “pay their fair share,” but that Prop 40 is not a stable or lasting solution to federal cuts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter echoed Tung’s comments at the event, saying that people are “understandably desperate” for a solution to healthcare challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prop 40 promises to do that, but it absolutely does not,” Porter said. “In fact, it locks in a lot of the problematic aspects of our current healthcare system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even if voters pass the measure, it could be moot. Two other initiatives on the ballot are Propositions 41 and 42, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/california-billionaire-tax-explainer/\">direct responses to Proposition 40 funded by billionaires\u003c/a> like Google cofounder Sergey Brin. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prop 41 would prohibit new state taxes that exempt their revenues from the state spending limit. Prop 42 would prohibit retroactive taxes and new taxes on financial assets and personal property. If either one passes and receives more votes than Proposition 40, the billionaire tax would be nullified.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sanders, who’s also urging people to oppose Prop 41 and 42, will finish off his support tour for the measure and progressive candidates in the state in Los Angeles tonight. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jmelido\">\u003cem>Janea Melido\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "proposition-40-imposes-a-one-time-tax-on-billionaires-to-fund-healthcare-and-education",
"title": "Proposition 40: Imposes a One-Time Tax on Billionaires to Fund Healthcare and Education",
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"content": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you live in California right now, it’s pretty hard to avoid the ads about Proposition 40, otherwise known as the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>No on 40 ad clip: \u003c/strong>You have questions about the wealth tax, Prop 40. So here are some facts. Newsom, Becerra, and Hilton are all voting no, calling it sketchy policy that will damage our economy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Yes on 40 ad clip: \u003c/strong>We must work together to pass this tax and ensure that our health care services are protected. The billionaire class cannot have it all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Proposition 40 is a one-time 5% tax on the billionaires currently living in California. It’s a hotly debated measure with folks like Bernie Sanders and Governor Gavin Newsom taking sides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s an interesting one because traditional allies are not lining up the way you might expect on this one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to PropFest. It’s a new week and we’ve got six propositions left to discuss. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of the statewide propositions on the California ballot, so you can vote with confidence in the November election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> There are 14 propositions on the ballot this year, and we’ll be taking you through all of them. We’ll be looking at how they got on the ballot, the arguments for and against each one, really talk about how things could play out if they pass, and the money fueling it all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re discussing Proposition 40, a one-time tax on the wealthiest Californians. It reads like this on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prop 40 imposes one-time tax on certain taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Hey, glad to be here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot to get into on Proposition 40, but before we start on the measure itself, can you give us some context for why this is on our ballot this year?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so this dates back to last year after President Trump took office, he and Republicans in Congress passed what’s known as H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill. That included a reform of the tax code that enacted massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. To pay for those tax cuts, they took billions and billions of dollars out of Medicaid and assistance programs. In California, those cuts will probably be around $30 billion a year that will not be going specifically to Medi-Cal, which is California’s Medicaid program. That’s the health insurance program for low-income Americans. This is basically aimed at replacing that money. Proponents of this tax estimate it would collect around $100 billion over a five-year period. That money would basically go to backfill the cuts from the H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:03:03] And so where does Prop 40 come into all this?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>SEIU-UHW, which is a health care union that represents a lot of rank-and-file health care workers, they saw these cuts coming and decided that they wanted to try to backfill them. And so they came up with this idea to impose a one-time tax on the billionaires in California. It would apply to anyone who has a net worth of over a billion dollars and was living in the state as of January 1 of 2026. So this is a one time tax that would sort of be paid out over a couple of years and the union says it would help essentially avoid massive cuts to the healthcare system, at least for the next few years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how many billionaires do we have in California? And give us a sense of who these people are.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There’s an estimated 200 or so people like Larry Page and Sergey Brin who founded Google, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Basically the people you hear about the most as being the wealthiest kind of Silicon Valley folks are the ones who are going to be subject to this tax if it passes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they assessing wealth in this scenario? Because I understand this is like, it’s a little bit interesting how they’re planning to get at the wealth of these people because it’s not necessarily the way that sort of everyday people hold their cash.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos \u003c/strong>[00:04:16] Right, so maybe to back up, let’s just talk a little bit about how we pay taxes as sort of average working people, right? If you and I make a salary out of every paycheck, there’s an income tax that is taken by the state. If we have money in the stock market and we sell that stock and we make some capital gains, we would pay based on those capital gains that we realized. And then of course, there are things like property taxes, sales taxes, other things. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The critique of billionaires and really wealthy people is that they don’t make money through the same way that normal people do, right? I think there’s been reporting that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon salary, for example, is like $85,000. So he might actually qualify for some low-income programs based on that. But a lot of the ways that these folks have built their wealth is through stocks and other assets that are being played on Wall Street. And they don’t sort of realize the increase in those numbers unless they were to go and sell them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So how do these billionaires pay for their yachts and their mansions? Well, if you’re that rich, you don’t need an income to essentially go to a bank and say, “hey, look, I’m worth a billion dollars, two billion dollars 100 billion dollars. So you should just give me some loans,” and they get basically loans in really low rates that the rest of us wouldn’t qualify for that help pay for life styles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This tax would say when you file your taxes as a California resident, you have to check a box to declare whether you’re worth more than a billion dollars. And if you are worth more than a billion dollars, it essentially wants you to tell them how much that overall wealth is. So how much money do you have in your Google stocks if you’re a Sergey brand? How much money have you invested in other companies? You know, if you were Elon Musk, it would be Tesla and SpaceX. And then they want to impose a 5% tax on that overall wealth. So this is a really different kind of novel approach that is not how we have historically taxed people in the United States in general. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Dave Reagan — who is the head of the union and the guy who basically wrote this proposition — this is like a really simple argument.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Just so everyone understands, the billionaires in California pay a tiny percentage of their financial holdings in income tax. They pay two and a half percent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> \u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>When you look at sort of what we pay as average Californians and our income tax rates and others, and you compare that to the overall wealth of these folks and how little they pay, that this is just like a simple math problem that this proposition would help fix.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Seven years ago in 2019, the aggregate wealth of California billionaires was $700 billion. Today it’s $2.3 trillion. It has more than tripled in the last seven years. Your wages aren’t tripling. My wages aren’t tripling. I don’t know anybody whose salary is tripling.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they Proposing that the money from this one-time tax be used?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It’s actually pretty vague in the measure. It says that 90% of it would go to healthcare, and then the legislature would have a lot of say over how that money is actually allocated, aimed at helping all those people who would be losing their healthcare or access to it because of the federal cuts. 10% is set aside for other programs, namely food assistance, which was also cut by HR1, as well as schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But I understand, like, one critique is that because it is more vague or it’s left to legislators to spend, Californians to some degree, like don’t know exactly what they’re getting with this tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think that’s right. The health care system is incredibly expensive and complicated. And I think, you know, because of the way HR1 was written, there’s also a lot of uncertainty in how it’ll actually be carried out. And so I do think that some of that flexibility was built in to account for what we don’t know about how the HR1 cuts would actually play out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And now, I know you’ve spoken to some of the people who are behind this measure, who wrote it. Why are they proposing this as a one-time tax and not something ongoing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this is a question I really had because it seems like if you’re trying to push back on what are permanent federal cuts, you would want something permanent yourself. And that also, if you are going to go to the trouble of picking this very big fight with the most wealthy people, really in the world, that like, is it worth it for one time? But when I sat down with Dave Reagan, he said that there’s a couple of reasons. One was that he wanted this to be a one-time thing. He didn’t want to give billionaires an incentive to leave California to avoid this. He understands that we are part of a 50 state system and that these are people who can move their wealth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>We wanted to fix a crisis, solve a problem, and then have enough time to figure out what’s the permanent solution. We wanted, to the extent possible, to take the issue off the table, that the billionaires threatening everybody that they’re gonna leave, there is no incentive for them to leave under our proposal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The other thing that he and proponents say is that they don’t think these will be permanent cuts, that they want to get Democrats back in power in Congress and win the White House in 2028, and that they wanna see those cuts restored at the federal level, that that is the better way to be funding them. And so they felt that this should just be a one-time tax in order to kind of bridge that gap that they hope is a gap and not a permanent reduction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ve got to take a quick break, but when we return, more on Proposition 40, including what those opposing it are saying. Stay with us. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And we’re back with Prop Fest, talking proposition 40. Marisa, other than the union that put this on the ballot, who else is supporting Prop 40 and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So in addition to SEIU-UHW, you do have some of the biggest progressive national voices supporting this. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In the Bay Area, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna is behind it. The California Federation of Labor, which represents, you know, thousands of unions, did vote to endorse it. The California Democratic Party did vote to endorse Prop 40, but it is largely being driven by SEIU-UHW. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, and then who is against it? And what are they arguing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa:\u003c/strong> Everybody else in California. So at the top of the list are the billionaires. Sergey Brin has really taken the lead on this. He’s donated the most money and helped create some organizations that are really funneling money to oppose Prop 40 and push two other ballot measures that they put on the ballot in order to try to undercut Prop 40. But in addition to the billionaires themselves, you do have a really interesting list of folks up to Governor Gavin Newsom who says he opposes this tax. Most of the more high-profile Democrats in California, so in addition to Newsom, you have Xavier Becerra, the likely next governor. You have a lot of people in the legislature and others who are opposing it. And then you have some kind of surprising names. You have the California Teachers Association. You have Planned Parenthood of California. You have some other unions, firefighters and police officers and others that traditionally would probably be on the side of these taxes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then, of course, groups you would expect. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Republican Party, conservative groups who generally just oppose raising taxes in any way.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That’s such an eclectic group. What are their arguments against this measure?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so we’ve really seen a lot of frustration by the governor on down at the fact that this was pushed through. And I think what they say is that it is a poorly designed one-time measure that potentially has the effect of hurting the progressive movement long-term. So their arguments include the idea that it’s gonna be hard to enforce, that this is like only a one-time thing for this ongoing problem, that it could actually essentially hurt California’s ability to stay competitive and to really, you know, be an innovator in the tech space, especially as we see this AI boom happening, that this will sort of scare people off. Newsom himself is trying to thread this needle where he says that he does support a national wealth tax. But that it’s just not the right way to do it at the state level. That this should be a national attack so that you wouldn’t have the ability to sort of avoid it by moving somewhere else.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One concern that I keep reading about this, Prop 40, is how it could impact California in the future. Can you explain?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>One of the bigger arguments against it, too, is this idea that it could do longer-term damage to the state budget. If, indeed, you buy the argument that this will drive billionaires out of California or other wealthy people, even if it’s not to avoid this one-time tax, but that it’s just creating an environment that is less, you know, that is hostile to developing businesses, the concern is that if you have a lot of wealthy people flee the state, that would result in a huge hit to the state’s operating budget every single year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I spoke to Joshua Rauh. He’s a Stanford University Finance Professor, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and he is very critical of Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong>The costs, in this case, with the billionaire tax are that we’re driving billionaires out of the state and we’re also discouraging new entrepreneurs from growing their businesses here. And so that’s really the way to see it. The benefits would potentially be revenue, but we calculate that actually the state’s gonna lose $25 billion from doing this tax.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Mmm so essentially the concern is this wealth tax could drive rich people out of the state, and so California would lose out on the yearly taxes they do pay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> We do have a very progressive tax system here. The highest earners do pay the most into the state budget. And if that pool of folks shrinks, it could have an impact on overall spending every year, which of course goes not just to healthcare, but to. Police and fire and education and all these other areas. So I think part of what Newsom and a lot of the people on his side of things on the Democratic side who oppose this are worried about is that in the short term, this would help shore up the healthcare system, but in the long term, it would really undercut our overall ability to support all those programs that people depend on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another issue Rauh takes with Prop 40 is with how it may force billionaires to make more of their money liquid.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong> If someone has a business that has a value of $1 billion, they’re going to be subject to this tax. They’re going to have to pay $50 million because of this tax, and they may not have that money liquid. That means that they’re gonna have to actually sell off some of this company and you know that that actually removes capital from growing companies. It’s bad for the companies and bad for economy. It’s bad to the labor force.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now I understand that this would be the first of its kind tax if this is passed in the United States, but similar stuff has been tried elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There was an attempt a few decades ago to levy wealth taxes in some European countries. Most of those, I believe, were repealed. They were much broader. They were not just aimed at billionaires. Billionaires didn’t actually exist in the 90s, let’s not forget. So I think one of what you’ll hear from critics is that you should look at a place like France, which abolished its tax in 2018. After they did see sort of an exodus of a lot of businesses and business people who brought in, you know, a lot money. The flip side to that is that, you know, this is a one-time tax. It is in a state that is the center of these industries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now we’re gonna get into props 41 and 42 in detail in some future episodes, but because they are related to prop 40, can you briefly explain how they conflict?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, both Prop 41 and 42 have various other provisions, but they include language that says if they get more votes than Proposition 40, they supersede it. And in both cases, they would sort of undercut key provisions in Prop 40, and essentially make it impossible for the state to enforce the billionaire tax. So if all three pass, but 40 gets fewer votes, it essentially is like it didn’t pass in a lot of ways.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And like we mentioned at the top of this episode, there have been a lot of ads about this measure, which means money. How is campaign spending shaking out on this?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So there has been money spent so far, and you might already feel like you’re seeing a lot of ads, but actually how much has been spent pales in comparison to what’s going to be spent. There are some estimates that this could be the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history, so those ads you’re seeing are not going away anytime soon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the pro side, the healthcare unions, their allies, have spent, I think, over $30 million by the end of August. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the other side, just the committee created by the billionaires to fight Prop 40 and push those other competing ballot measures, it’s called Building A Better California, they’ve raised $118 million so far. Most of that has not been spent, a little less than the other side has been spent so far, around $21 million. But they have reserved $87 million in TV and radio time leading up to the fall election. And so you can expect that money is all going to be put out there. Obviously these billionaires have a lot of money and that’s just the money that they’ve put in so far.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I understand that this proposition is polling pretty close right now. So it could seem like a good investment if you can move a couple of voters this way or that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>A hundred percent. I mean, what we’ve seen is that more Californians in these polls tend to favor this than oppose it. However, those numbers are pretty squishy. The kind of common wisdom is that if you’re going into a ballot measure campaign with a well-funded opposition, you want to start around 60% support. This is more in the mid to low fifties in terms of the support and some of the public polling we’ve seen. For both sides, people just get fatigued when they hear too much about any ballot measure and they start getting angry. And that sometimes can lead people to vote no, but if all they’re hearing is a no message, does that flip them the other way? I think there’s a saturation point that the campaigns may have to be concerned about on either side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcas, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>My pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 40 means you want to levy a one-time tax of 5% on California’s 200 billionaires, with 90% of the revenue going to support health care in the state, and the other 10% going to fund public education and food assistance programs. A no vote means you do not want to levy a one time tax on billionaires. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you wanna hear more about Prop 40, the billionaire tax, check out Marisa’s podcast, Political Breakdown. She has in-depth interviews with Dave Reagan, who authored Prop 40 and Joshua Rauh, a Stanford economist who’s critical of it. You can find both in the Political Break Down podcast feed and we’ll link in our show notes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter? Feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of all the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay and be curious so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by: Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and the whole KQED family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash propfest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Learn more at donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Support for the Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I’m Erika Cruz-Gabara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 41, which takes aim at new special taxes, including the billionaire tax we just talked about. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ll see you then!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you live in California right now, it’s pretty hard to avoid the ads about Proposition 40, otherwise known as the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>No on 40 ad clip: \u003c/strong>You have questions about the wealth tax, Prop 40. So here are some facts. Newsom, Becerra, and Hilton are all voting no, calling it sketchy policy that will damage our economy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Proposition 40 is a one-time 5% tax on the billionaires currently living in California. It’s a hotly debated measure with folks like Bernie Sanders and Governor Gavin Newsom taking sides.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Proposition 40 is a one-time 5% tax on the billionaires currently living in California. It’s a hotly debated measure with folks like Bernie Sanders and Governor Gavin Newsom taking sides.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s an interesting one because traditional allies are not lining up the way you might expect on this one.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s an interesting one because traditional allies are not lining up the way you might expect on this one.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to PropFest. It’s a new week and we’ve got six propositions left to discuss. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of the statewide propositions on the California ballot, so you can vote with confidence in the November election.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to PropFest. It’s a new week and we’ve got six propositions left to discuss. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of the statewide propositions on the California ballot, so you can vote with confidence in the November election.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> There are 14 propositions on the ballot this year, and we’ll be taking you through all of them. We’ll be looking at how they got on the ballot, the arguments for and against each one, really talk about how things could play out if they pass, and the money fueling it all.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> There are 14 propositions on the ballot this year, and we’ll be taking you through all of them. We’ll be looking at how they got on the ballot, the arguments for and against each one, really talk about how things could play out if they pass, and the money fueling it all.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re discussing Proposition 40, a one-time tax on the wealthiest Californians. It reads like this on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re discussing Proposition 40, a one-time tax on the wealthiest Californians. It reads like this on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prop 40 imposes one-time tax on certain taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prop 40 imposes one-time tax on certain taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Hey, glad to be here. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Hey, glad to be here. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot to get into on Proposition 40, but before we start on the measure itself, can you give us some context for why this is on our ballot this year?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot to get into on Proposition 40, but before we start on the measure itself, can you give us some context for why this is on our ballot this year?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so this dates back to last year after President Trump took office, he and Republicans in Congress passed what’s known as H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill. That included a reform of the tax code that enacted massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. To pay for those tax cuts, they took billions and billions of dollars out of Medicaid and assistance programs. In California, those cuts will probably be around $30 billion a year that will not be going specifically to Medi-Cal, which is California’s Medicaid program. That’s the health insurance program for low-income Americans. This is basically aimed at replacing that money. Proponents of this tax estimate it would collect around $100 billion over a five-year period. That money would basically go to backfill the cuts from the H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so this dates back to last year after President Trump took office, he and Republicans in Congress passed what’s known as H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill. That included a reform of the tax code that enacted massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. To pay for those tax cuts, they took billions and billions of dollars out of Medicaid and assistance programs. In California, those cuts will probably be around $30 billion a year that will not be going specifically to Medi-Cal, which is California’s Medicaid program. That’s the health insurance program for low-income Americans. This is basically aimed at replacing that money. Proponents of this tax estimate it would collect around $100 billion over a five-year period. That money would basically go to backfill the cuts from the H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:03:03] And so where does Prop 40 come into all this?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:03:03] And so where does Prop 40 come into all this?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>SEIU-UHW, which is a health care union that represents a lot of rank-and-file health care workers, they saw these cuts coming and decided that they wanted to try to backfill them. And so they came up with this idea to impose a one-time tax on the billionaires in California. It would apply to anyone who has a net worth of over a billion dollars and was living in the state as of January 1 of 2026. So this is a one time tax that would sort of be paid out over a couple of years and the union says it would help essentially avoid massive cuts to the healthcare system, at least for the next few years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>SEIU-UHW, which is a health care union that represents a lot of rank-and-file health care workers, they saw these cuts coming and decided that they wanted to try to backfill them. And so they came up with this idea to impose a one-time tax on the billionaires in California. It would apply to anyone who has a net worth of over a billion dollars and was living in the state as of January 1 of 2026. So this is a one time tax that would sort of be paid out over a couple of years and the union says it would help essentially avoid massive cuts to the healthcare system, at least for the next few years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how many billionaires do we have in California? And give us a sense of who these people are.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how many billionaires do we have in California? And give us a sense of who these people are.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There’s an estimated 200 or so people like Larry Page and Sergey Brin who founded Google, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Basically the people you hear about the most as being the wealthiest kind of Silicon Valley folks are the ones who are going to be subject to this tax if it passes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There’s an estimated 200 or so people like Larry Page and Sergey Brin who founded Google, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Basically the people you hear about the most as being the wealthiest kind of Silicon Valley folks are the ones who are going to be subject to this tax if it passes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they assessing wealth in this scenario? Because I understand this is like, it’s a little bit interesting how they’re planning to get at the wealth of these people because it’s not necessarily the way that sort of everyday people hold their cash.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they assessing wealth in this scenario? Because I understand this is like, it’s a little bit interesting how they’re planning to get at the wealth of these people because it’s not necessarily the way that sort of everyday people hold their cash.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos \u003c/strong>[00:04:16] Right, so maybe to back up, let’s just talk a little bit about how we pay taxes as sort of average working people, right? If you and I make a salary out of every paycheck, there’s an income tax that is taken by the state. If we have money in the stock market and we sell that stock and we make some capital gains, we would pay based on those capital gains that we realized. And then of course, there are things like property taxes, sales taxes, other things. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos \u003c/strong>[00:04:16] Right, so maybe to back up, let’s just talk a little bit about how we pay taxes as sort of average working people, right? If you and I make a salary out of every paycheck, there’s an income tax that is taken by the state. If we have money in the stock market and we sell that stock and we make some capital gains, we would pay based on those capital gains that we realized. And then of course, there are things like property taxes, sales taxes, other things. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The critique of billionaires and really wealthy people is that they don’t make money through the same way that normal people do, right? I think there’s been reporting that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon salary, for example, is like $85,000. So he might actually qualify for some low-income programs based on that. But a lot of the ways that these folks have built their wealth is through stocks and other assets that are being played on Wall Street. And they don’t sort of realize the increase in those numbers unless they were to go and sell them. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The critique of billionaires and really wealthy people is that they don’t make money through the same way that normal people do, right? I think there’s been reporting that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon salary, for example, is like $85,000. So he might actually qualify for some low-income programs based on that. But a lot of the ways that these folks have built their wealth is through stocks and other assets that are being played on Wall Street. And they don’t sort of realize the increase in those numbers unless they were to go and sell them. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So how do these billionaires pay for their yachts and their mansions? Well, if you’re that rich, you don’t need an income to essentially go to a bank and say, “hey, look, I’m worth a billion dollars, two billion dollars 100 billion dollars. So you should just give me some loans,” and they get basically loans in really low rates that the rest of us wouldn’t qualify for that help pay for life styles. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So how do these billionaires pay for their yachts and their mansions? Well, if you’re that rich, you don’t need an income to essentially go to a bank and say, “hey, look, I’m worth a billion dollars, two billion dollars 100 billion dollars. So you should just give me some loans,” and they get basically loans in really low rates that the rest of us wouldn’t qualify for that help pay for life styles. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This tax would say when you file your taxes as a California resident, you have to check a box to declare whether you’re worth more than a billion dollars. And if you are worth more than a billion dollars, it essentially wants you to tell them how much that overall wealth is. So how much money do you have in your Google stocks if you’re a Sergey brand? How much money have you invested in other companies? You know, if you were Elon Musk, it would be Tesla and SpaceX. And then they want to impose a 5% tax on that overall wealth. So this is a really different kind of novel approach that is not how we have historically taxed people in the United States in general. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This tax would say when you file your taxes as a California resident, you have to check a box to declare whether you’re worth more than a billion dollars. And if you are worth more than a billion dollars, it essentially wants you to tell them how much that overall wealth is. So how much money do you have in your Google stocks if you’re a Sergey brand? How much money have you invested in other companies? You know, if you were Elon Musk, it would be Tesla and SpaceX. And then they want to impose a 5% tax on that overall wealth. So this is a really different kind of novel approach that is not how we have historically taxed people in the United States in general. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Dave Reagan — who is the head of the union and the guy who basically wrote this proposition — this is like a really simple argument.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For Dave Reagan — who is the head of the union and the guy who basically wrote this proposition — this is like a really simple argument.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Just so everyone understands, the billionaires in California pay a tiny percentage of their financial holdings in income tax. They pay two and a half percent. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Just so everyone understands, the billionaires in California pay a tiny percentage of their financial holdings in income tax. They pay two and a half percent. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> \u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>When you look at sort of what we pay as average Californians and our income tax rates and others, and you compare that to the overall wealth of these folks and how little they pay, that this is just like a simple math problem that this proposition would help fix.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> \u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>When you look at sort of what we pay as average Californians and our income tax rates and others, and you compare that to the overall wealth of these folks and how little they pay, that this is just like a simple math problem that this proposition would help fix.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Seven years ago in 2019, the aggregate wealth of California billionaires was $700 billion. Today it’s $2.3 trillion. It has more than tripled in the last seven years. Your wages aren’t tripling. My wages aren’t tripling. I don’t know anybody whose salary is tripling.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Seven years ago in 2019, the aggregate wealth of California billionaires was $700 billion. Today it’s $2.3 trillion. It has more than tripled in the last seven years. Your wages aren’t tripling. My wages aren’t tripling. I don’t know anybody whose salary is tripling.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they Proposing that the money from this one-time tax be used?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they Proposing that the money from this one-time tax be used?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It’s actually pretty vague in the measure. It says that 90% of it would go to healthcare, and then the legislature would have a lot of say over how that money is actually allocated, aimed at helping all those people who would be losing their healthcare or access to it because of the federal cuts. 10% is set aside for other programs, namely food assistance, which was also cut by HR1, as well as schools.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It’s actually pretty vague in the measure. It says that 90% of it would go to healthcare, and then the legislature would have a lot of say over how that money is actually allocated, aimed at helping all those people who would be losing their healthcare or access to it because of the federal cuts. 10% is set aside for other programs, namely food assistance, which was also cut by HR1, as well as schools.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But I understand, like, one critique is that because it is more vague or it’s left to legislators to spend, Californians to some degree, like don’t know exactly what they’re getting with this tax.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But I understand, like, one critique is that because it is more vague or it’s left to legislators to spend, Californians to some degree, like don’t know exactly what they’re getting with this tax.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think that’s right. The health care system is incredibly expensive and complicated. And I think, you know, because of the way HR1 was written, there’s also a lot of uncertainty in how it’ll actually be carried out. And so I do think that some of that flexibility was built in to account for what we don’t know about how the HR1 cuts would actually play out.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think that’s right. The health care system is incredibly expensive and complicated. And I think, you know, because of the way HR1 was written, there’s also a lot of uncertainty in how it’ll actually be carried out. And so I do think that some of that flexibility was built in to account for what we don’t know about how the HR1 cuts would actually play out.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And now, I know you’ve spoken to some of the people who are behind this measure, who wrote it. Why are they proposing this as a one-time tax and not something ongoing?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And now, I know you’ve spoken to some of the people who are behind this measure, who wrote it. Why are they proposing this as a one-time tax and not something ongoing?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this is a question I really had because it seems like if you’re trying to push back on what are permanent federal cuts, you would want something permanent yourself. And that also, if you are going to go to the trouble of picking this very big fight with the most wealthy people, really in the world, that like, is it worth it for one time? But when I sat down with Dave Reagan, he said that there’s a couple of reasons. One was that he wanted this to be a one-time thing. He didn’t want to give billionaires an incentive to leave California to avoid this. He understands that we are part of a 50 state system and that these are people who can move their wealth.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this is a question I really had because it seems like if you’re trying to push back on what are permanent federal cuts, you would want something permanent yourself. And that also, if you are going to go to the trouble of picking this very big fight with the most wealthy people, really in the world, that like, is it worth it for one time? But when I sat down with Dave Reagan, he said that there’s a couple of reasons. One was that he wanted this to be a one-time thing. He didn’t want to give billionaires an incentive to leave California to avoid this. He understands that we are part of a 50 state system and that these are people who can move their wealth.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>We wanted to fix a crisis, solve a problem, and then have enough time to figure out what’s the permanent solution. We wanted, to the extent possible, to take the issue off the table, that the billionaires threatening everybody that they’re gonna leave, there is no incentive for them to leave under our proposal.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>We wanted to fix a crisis, solve a problem, and then have enough time to figure out what’s the permanent solution. We wanted, to the extent possible, to take the issue off the table, that the billionaires threatening everybody that they’re gonna leave, there is no incentive for them to leave under our proposal.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The other thing that he and proponents say is that they don’t think these will be permanent cuts, that they want to get Democrats back in power in Congress and win the White House in 2028, and that they wanna see those cuts restored at the federal level, that that is the better way to be funding them. And so they felt that this should just be a one-time tax in order to kind of bridge that gap that they hope is a gap and not a permanent reduction.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The other thing that he and proponents say is that they don’t think these will be permanent cuts, that they want to get Democrats back in power in Congress and win the White House in 2028, and that they wanna see those cuts restored at the federal level, that that is the better way to be funding them. And so they felt that this should just be a one-time tax in order to kind of bridge that gap that they hope is a gap and not a permanent reduction.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ve got to take a quick break, but when we return, more on Proposition 40, including what those opposing it are saying. Stay with us. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ve got to take a quick break, but when we return, more on Proposition 40, including what those opposing it are saying. Stay with us. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And we’re back with Prop Fest, talking proposition 40. Marisa, other than the union that put this on the ballot, who else is supporting Prop 40 and why? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And we’re back with Prop Fest, talking proposition 40. Marisa, other than the union that put this on the ballot, who else is supporting Prop 40 and why? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So in addition to SEIU-UHW, you do have some of the biggest progressive national voices supporting this. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In the Bay Area, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna is behind it. The California Federation of Labor, which represents, you know, thousands of unions, did vote to endorse it. The California Democratic Party did vote to endorse Prop 40, but it is largely being driven by SEIU-UHW. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So in addition to SEIU-UHW, you do have some of the biggest progressive national voices supporting this. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In the Bay Area, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna is behind it. The California Federation of Labor, which represents, you know, thousands of unions, did vote to endorse it. The California Democratic Party did vote to endorse Prop 40, but it is largely being driven by SEIU-UHW. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, and then who is against it? And what are they arguing?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, and then who is against it? And what are they arguing?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa:\u003c/strong> Everybody else in California. So at the top of the list are the billionaires. Sergey Brin has really taken the lead on this. He’s donated the most money and helped create some organizations that are really funneling money to oppose Prop 40 and push two other ballot measures that they put on the ballot in order to try to undercut Prop 40. But in addition to the billionaires themselves, you do have a really interesting list of folks up to Governor Gavin Newsom who says he opposes this tax. Most of the more high-profile Democrats in California, so in addition to Newsom, you have Xavier Becerra, the likely next governor. You have a lot of people in the legislature and others who are opposing it. And then you have some kind of surprising names. You have the California Teachers Association. You have Planned Parenthood of California. You have some other unions, firefighters and police officers and others that traditionally would probably be on the side of these taxes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa:\u003c/strong> Everybody else in California. So at the top of the list are the billionaires. Sergey Brin has really taken the lead on this. He’s donated the most money and helped create some organizations that are really funneling money to oppose Prop 40 and push two other ballot measures that they put on the ballot in order to try to undercut Prop 40. But in addition to the billionaires themselves, you do have a really interesting list of folks up to Governor Gavin Newsom who says he opposes this tax. Most of the more high-profile Democrats in California, so in addition to Newsom, you have Xavier Becerra, the likely next governor. You have a lot of people in the legislature and others who are opposing it. And then you have some kind of surprising names. You have the California Teachers Association. You have Planned Parenthood of California. You have some other unions, firefighters and police officers and others that traditionally would probably be on the side of these taxes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And then, of course, groups you would expect. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Republican Party, conservative groups who generally just oppose raising taxes in any way.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And then, of course, groups you would expect. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Republican Party, conservative groups who generally just oppose raising taxes in any way.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That’s such an eclectic group. What are their arguments against this measure?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That’s such an eclectic group. What are their arguments against this measure?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so we’ve really seen a lot of frustration by the governor on down at the fact that this was pushed through. And I think what they say is that it is a poorly designed one-time measure that potentially has the effect of hurting the progressive movement long-term. So their arguments include the idea that it’s gonna be hard to enforce, that this is like only a one-time thing for this ongoing problem, that it could actually essentially hurt California’s ability to stay competitive and to really, you know, be an innovator in the tech space, especially as we see this AI boom happening, that this will sort of scare people off. Newsom himself is trying to thread this needle where he says that he does support a national wealth tax. But that it’s just not the right way to do it at the state level. That this should be a national attack so that you wouldn’t have the ability to sort of avoid it by moving somewhere else.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so we’ve really seen a lot of frustration by the governor on down at the fact that this was pushed through. And I think what they say is that it is a poorly designed one-time measure that potentially has the effect of hurting the progressive movement long-term. So their arguments include the idea that it’s gonna be hard to enforce, that this is like only a one-time thing for this ongoing problem, that it could actually essentially hurt California’s ability to stay competitive and to really, you know, be an innovator in the tech space, especially as we see this AI boom happening, that this will sort of scare people off. Newsom himself is trying to thread this needle where he says that he does support a national wealth tax. But that it’s just not the right way to do it at the state level. That this should be a national attack so that you wouldn’t have the ability to sort of avoid it by moving somewhere else.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One concern that I keep reading about this, Prop 40, is how it could impact California in the future. Can you explain?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One concern that I keep reading about this, Prop 40, is how it could impact California in the future. Can you explain?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>One of the bigger arguments against it, too, is this idea that it could do longer-term damage to the state budget. If, indeed, you buy the argument that this will drive billionaires out of California or other wealthy people, even if it’s not to avoid this one-time tax, but that it’s just creating an environment that is less, you know, that is hostile to developing businesses, the concern is that if you have a lot of wealthy people flee the state, that would result in a huge hit to the state’s operating budget every single year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>One of the bigger arguments against it, too, is this idea that it could do longer-term damage to the state budget. If, indeed, you buy the argument that this will drive billionaires out of California or other wealthy people, even if it’s not to avoid this one-time tax, but that it’s just creating an environment that is less, you know, that is hostile to developing businesses, the concern is that if you have a lot of wealthy people flee the state, that would result in a huge hit to the state’s operating budget every single year. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I spoke to Joshua Rauh. He’s a Stanford University Finance Professor, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and he is very critical of Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I spoke to Joshua Rauh. He’s a Stanford University Finance Professor, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and he is very critical of Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong>The costs, in this case, with the billionaire tax are that we’re driving billionaires out of the state and we’re also discouraging new entrepreneurs from growing their businesses here. And so that’s really the way to see it. The benefits would potentially be revenue, but we calculate that actually the state’s gonna lose $25 billion from doing this tax.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Mmm so essentially the concern is this wealth tax could drive rich people out of the state, and so California would lose out on the yearly taxes they do pay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong>The costs, in this case, with the billionaire tax are that we’re driving billionaires out of the state and we’re also discouraging new entrepreneurs from growing their businesses here. And so that’s really the way to see it. The benefits would potentially be revenue, but we calculate that actually the state’s gonna lose $25 billion from doing this tax.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Mmm so essentially the concern is this wealth tax could drive rich people out of the state, and so California would lose out on the yearly taxes they do pay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> We do have a very progressive tax system here. The highest earners do pay the most into the state budget. And if that pool of folks shrinks, it could have an impact on overall spending every year, which of course goes not just to healthcare, but to. Police and fire and education and all these other areas. So I think part of what Newsom and a lot of the people on his side of things on the Democratic side who oppose this are worried about is that in the short term, this would help shore up the healthcare system, but in the long term, it would really undercut our overall ability to support all those programs that people depend on.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> We do have a very progressive tax system here. The highest earners do pay the most into the state budget. And if that pool of folks shrinks, it could have an impact on overall spending every year, which of course goes not just to healthcare, but to. Police and fire and education and all these other areas. So I think part of what Newsom and a lot of the people on his side of things on the Democratic side who oppose this are worried about is that in the short term, this would help shore up the healthcare system, but in the long term, it would really undercut our overall ability to support all those programs that people depend on.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Another issue Rauh takes with Prop 40 is with how it may force billionaires to make more of their money liquid.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong> If someone has a business that has a value of $1 billion, they’re going to be subject to this tax. They’re going to have to pay $50 million because of this tax, and they may not have that money liquid. That means that they’re gonna have to actually sell off some of this company and you know that that actually removes capital from growing companies. It’s bad for the companies and bad for economy. It’s bad to the labor force.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Another issue Rauh takes with Prop 40 is with how it may force billionaires to make more of their money liquid.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong> If someone has a business that has a value of $1 billion, they’re going to be subject to this tax. They’re going to have to pay $50 million because of this tax, and they may not have that money liquid. That means that they’re gonna have to actually sell off some of this company and you know that that actually removes capital from growing companies. It’s bad for the companies and bad for economy. It’s bad to the labor force.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now I understand that this would be the first of its kind tax if this is passed in the United States, but similar stuff has been tried elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now I understand that this would be the first of its kind tax if this is passed in the United States, but similar stuff has been tried elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There was an attempt a few decades ago to levy wealth taxes in some European countries. Most of those, I believe, were repealed. They were much broader. They were not just aimed at billionaires. Billionaires didn’t actually exist in the 90s, let’s not forget. So I think one of what you’ll hear from critics is that you should look at a place like France, which abolished its tax in 2018. After they did see sort of an exodus of a lot of businesses and business people who brought in, you know, a lot money. The flip side to that is that, you know, this is a one-time tax. It is in a state that is the center of these industries.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There was an attempt a few decades ago to levy wealth taxes in some European countries. Most of those, I believe, were repealed. They were much broader. They were not just aimed at billionaires. Billionaires didn’t actually exist in the 90s, let’s not forget. So I think one of what you’ll hear from critics is that you should look at a place like France, which abolished its tax in 2018. After they did see sort of an exodus of a lot of businesses and business people who brought in, you know, a lot money. The flip side to that is that, you know, this is a one-time tax. It is in a state that is the center of these industries.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now we’re gonna get into props 41 and 42 in detail in some future episodes, but because they are related to prop 40, can you briefly explain how they conflict?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now we’re gonna get into props 41 and 42 in detail in some future episodes, but because they are related to prop 40, can you briefly explain how they conflict?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, both Prop 41 and 42 have various other provisions, but they include language that says if they get more votes than Proposition 40, they supersede it. And in both cases, they would sort of undercut key provisions in Prop 40, and essentially make it impossible for the state to enforce the billionaire tax. So if all three pass, but 40 gets fewer votes, it essentially is like it didn’t pass in a lot of ways.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, both Prop 41 and 42 have various other provisions, but they include language that says if they get more votes than Proposition 40, they supersede it. And in both cases, they would sort of undercut key provisions in Prop 40, and essentially make it impossible for the state to enforce the billionaire tax. So if all three pass, but 40 gets fewer votes, it essentially is like it didn’t pass in a lot of ways.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And like we mentioned at the top of this episode, there have been a lot of ads about this measure, which means money. How is campaign spending shaking out on this?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And like we mentioned at the top of this episode, there have been a lot of ads about this measure, which means money. How is campaign spending shaking out on this?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So there has been money spent so far, and you might already feel like you’re seeing a lot of ads, but actually how much has been spent pales in comparison to what’s going to be spent. There are some estimates that this could be the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history, so those ads you’re seeing are not going away anytime soon. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So there has been money spent so far, and you might already feel like you’re seeing a lot of ads, but actually how much has been spent pales in comparison to what’s going to be spent. There are some estimates that this could be the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history, so those ads you’re seeing are not going away anytime soon. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On the pro side, the healthcare unions, their allies, have spent, I think, over $30 million by the end of August. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On the pro side, the healthcare unions, their allies, have spent, I think, over $30 million by the end of August. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On the other side, just the committee created by the billionaires to fight Prop 40 and push those other competing ballot measures, it’s called Building A Better California, they’ve raised $118 million so far. Most of that has not been spent, a little less than the other side has been spent so far, around $21 million. But they have reserved $87 million in TV and radio time leading up to the fall election. And so you can expect that money is all going to be put out there. Obviously these billionaires have a lot of money and that’s just the money that they’ve put in so far.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On the other side, just the committee created by the billionaires to fight Prop 40 and push those other competing ballot measures, it’s called Building A Better California, they’ve raised $118 million so far. Most of that has not been spent, a little less than the other side has been spent so far, around $21 million. But they have reserved $87 million in TV and radio time leading up to the fall election. And so you can expect that money is all going to be put out there. Obviously these billionaires have a lot of money and that’s just the money that they’ve put in so far.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I understand that this proposition is polling pretty close right now. So it could seem like a good investment if you can move a couple of voters this way or that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I understand that this proposition is polling pretty close right now. So it could seem like a good investment if you can move a couple of voters this way or that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>A hundred percent. I mean, what we’ve seen is that more Californians in these polls tend to favor this than oppose it. However, those numbers are pretty squishy. The kind of common wisdom is that if you’re going into a ballot measure campaign with a well-funded opposition, you want to start around 60% support. This is more in the mid to low fifties in terms of the support and some of the public polling we’ve seen. For both sides, people just get fatigued when they hear too much about any ballot measure and they start getting angry. And that sometimes can lead people to vote no, but if all they’re hearing is a no message, does that flip them the other way? I think there’s a saturation point that the campaigns may have to be concerned about on either side.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>A hundred percent. I mean, what we’ve seen is that more Californians in these polls tend to favor this than oppose it. However, those numbers are pretty squishy. The kind of common wisdom is that if you’re going into a ballot measure campaign with a well-funded opposition, you want to start around 60% support. This is more in the mid to low fifties in terms of the support and some of the public polling we’ve seen. For both sides, people just get fatigued when they hear too much about any ballot measure and they start getting angry. And that sometimes can lead people to vote no, but if all they’re hearing is a no message, does that flip them the other way? I think there’s a saturation point that the campaigns may have to be concerned about on either side.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcas, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcas, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>My pleasure.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>My pleasure.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 40 means you want to levy a one-time tax of 5% on California’s 200 billionaires, with 90% of the revenue going to support health care in the state, and the other 10% going to fund public education and food assistance programs. A no vote means you do not want to levy a one time tax on billionaires. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 40 means you want to levy a one-time tax of 5% on California’s 200 billionaires, with 90% of the revenue going to support health care in the state, and the other 10% going to fund public education and food assistance programs. A no vote means you do not want to levy a one time tax on billionaires. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you wanna hear more about Prop 40, the billionaire tax, check out Marisa’s podcast, Political Breakdown. She has in-depth interviews with Dave Reagan, who authored Prop 40 and Joshua Rauh, a Stanford economist who’s critical of it. You can find both in the Political Break Down podcast feed and we’ll link in our show notes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you wanna hear more about Prop 40, the billionaire tax, check out Marisa’s podcast, Political Breakdown. She has in-depth interviews with Dave Reagan, who authored Prop 40 and Joshua Rauh, a Stanford economist who’s critical of it. You can find both in the Political Break Down podcast feed and we’ll link in our show notes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter? Feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of all the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay and be curious so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter? Feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of all the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay and be curious so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by: Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by: Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and the whole KQED family.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Learn more at donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I’m Erika Cruz-Gabara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 41, which takes aim at new special taxes, including the billionaire tax we just talked about. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Prop 40 would impose a one-time tax on the state's billionaires to backfill federal cuts to healthcare.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you live in California right now, it’s pretty hard to avoid the ads about Proposition 40, otherwise known as the billionaire tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>No on 40 ad clip: \u003c/strong>You have questions about the wealth tax, Prop 40. So here are some facts. Newsom, Becerra, and Hilton are all voting no, calling it sketchy policy that will damage our economy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Yes on 40 ad clip: \u003c/strong>We must work together to pass this tax and ensure that our health care services are protected. The billionaire class cannot have it all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Proposition 40 is a one-time 5% tax on the billionaires currently living in California. It’s a hotly debated measure with folks like Bernie Sanders and Governor Gavin Newsom taking sides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s an interesting one because traditional allies are not lining up the way you might expect on this one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to PropFest. It’s a new week and we’ve got six propositions left to discuss. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of the statewide propositions on the California ballot, so you can vote with confidence in the November election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> There are 14 propositions on the ballot this year, and we’ll be taking you through all of them. We’ll be looking at how they got on the ballot, the arguments for and against each one, really talk about how things could play out if they pass, and the money fueling it all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re discussing Proposition 40, a one-time tax on the wealthiest Californians. It reads like this on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Prop 40 imposes one-time tax on certain taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Here to walk us through it is KQED political correspondent and co-host of the podcast, Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos. Welcome, Marissa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> Hey, glad to be here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot to get into on Proposition 40, but before we start on the measure itself, can you give us some context for why this is on our ballot this year?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so this dates back to last year after President Trump took office, he and Republicans in Congress passed what’s known as H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill. That included a reform of the tax code that enacted massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. To pay for those tax cuts, they took billions and billions of dollars out of Medicaid and assistance programs. In California, those cuts will probably be around $30 billion a year that will not be going specifically to Medi-Cal, which is California’s Medicaid program. That’s the health insurance program for low-income Americans. This is basically aimed at replacing that money. Proponents of this tax estimate it would collect around $100 billion over a five-year period. That money would basically go to backfill the cuts from the H.R.1 or the Big Beautiful Bill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>[00:03:03] And so where does Prop 40 come into all this?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>SEIU-UHW, which is a health care union that represents a lot of rank-and-file health care workers, they saw these cuts coming and decided that they wanted to try to backfill them. And so they came up with this idea to impose a one-time tax on the billionaires in California. It would apply to anyone who has a net worth of over a billion dollars and was living in the state as of January 1 of 2026. So this is a one time tax that would sort of be paid out over a couple of years and the union says it would help essentially avoid massive cuts to the healthcare system, at least for the next few years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how many billionaires do we have in California? And give us a sense of who these people are.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There’s an estimated 200 or so people like Larry Page and Sergey Brin who founded Google, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Basically the people you hear about the most as being the wealthiest kind of Silicon Valley folks are the ones who are going to be subject to this tax if it passes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they assessing wealth in this scenario? Because I understand this is like, it’s a little bit interesting how they’re planning to get at the wealth of these people because it’s not necessarily the way that sort of everyday people hold their cash.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos \u003c/strong>[00:04:16] Right, so maybe to back up, let’s just talk a little bit about how we pay taxes as sort of average working people, right? If you and I make a salary out of every paycheck, there’s an income tax that is taken by the state. If we have money in the stock market and we sell that stock and we make some capital gains, we would pay based on those capital gains that we realized. And then of course, there are things like property taxes, sales taxes, other things. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The critique of billionaires and really wealthy people is that they don’t make money through the same way that normal people do, right? I think there’s been reporting that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon salary, for example, is like $85,000. So he might actually qualify for some low-income programs based on that. But a lot of the ways that these folks have built their wealth is through stocks and other assets that are being played on Wall Street. And they don’t sort of realize the increase in those numbers unless they were to go and sell them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So how do these billionaires pay for their yachts and their mansions? Well, if you’re that rich, you don’t need an income to essentially go to a bank and say, “hey, look, I’m worth a billion dollars, two billion dollars 100 billion dollars. So you should just give me some loans,” and they get basically loans in really low rates that the rest of us wouldn’t qualify for that help pay for life styles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This tax would say when you file your taxes as a California resident, you have to check a box to declare whether you’re worth more than a billion dollars. And if you are worth more than a billion dollars, it essentially wants you to tell them how much that overall wealth is. So how much money do you have in your Google stocks if you’re a Sergey brand? How much money have you invested in other companies? You know, if you were Elon Musk, it would be Tesla and SpaceX. And then they want to impose a 5% tax on that overall wealth. So this is a really different kind of novel approach that is not how we have historically taxed people in the United States in general. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Dave Reagan — who is the head of the union and the guy who basically wrote this proposition — this is like a really simple argument.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Just so everyone understands, the billionaires in California pay a tiny percentage of their financial holdings in income tax. They pay two and a half percent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> \u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>When you look at sort of what we pay as average Californians and our income tax rates and others, and you compare that to the overall wealth of these folks and how little they pay, that this is just like a simple math problem that this proposition would help fix.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>Seven years ago in 2019, the aggregate wealth of California billionaires was $700 billion. Today it’s $2.3 trillion. It has more than tripled in the last seven years. Your wages aren’t tripling. My wages aren’t tripling. I don’t know anybody whose salary is tripling.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And how are they Proposing that the money from this one-time tax be used?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>It’s actually pretty vague in the measure. It says that 90% of it would go to healthcare, and then the legislature would have a lot of say over how that money is actually allocated, aimed at helping all those people who would be losing their healthcare or access to it because of the federal cuts. 10% is set aside for other programs, namely food assistance, which was also cut by HR1, as well as schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But I understand, like, one critique is that because it is more vague or it’s left to legislators to spend, Californians to some degree, like don’t know exactly what they’re getting with this tax.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I think that’s right. The health care system is incredibly expensive and complicated. And I think, you know, because of the way HR1 was written, there’s also a lot of uncertainty in how it’ll actually be carried out. And so I do think that some of that flexibility was built in to account for what we don’t know about how the HR1 cuts would actually play out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And now, I know you’ve spoken to some of the people who are behind this measure, who wrote it. Why are they proposing this as a one-time tax and not something ongoing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, this is a question I really had because it seems like if you’re trying to push back on what are permanent federal cuts, you would want something permanent yourself. And that also, if you are going to go to the trouble of picking this very big fight with the most wealthy people, really in the world, that like, is it worth it for one time? But when I sat down with Dave Reagan, he said that there’s a couple of reasons. One was that he wanted this to be a one-time thing. He didn’t want to give billionaires an incentive to leave California to avoid this. He understands that we are part of a 50 state system and that these are people who can move their wealth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Regan: \u003c/strong>We wanted to fix a crisis, solve a problem, and then have enough time to figure out what’s the permanent solution. We wanted, to the extent possible, to take the issue off the table, that the billionaires threatening everybody that they’re gonna leave, there is no incentive for them to leave under our proposal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>The other thing that he and proponents say is that they don’t think these will be permanent cuts, that they want to get Democrats back in power in Congress and win the White House in 2028, and that they wanna see those cuts restored at the federal level, that that is the better way to be funding them. And so they felt that this should just be a one-time tax in order to kind of bridge that gap that they hope is a gap and not a permanent reduction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ve got to take a quick break, but when we return, more on Proposition 40, including what those opposing it are saying. Stay with us. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And we’re back with Prop Fest, talking proposition 40. Marisa, other than the union that put this on the ballot, who else is supporting Prop 40 and why? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So in addition to SEIU-UHW, you do have some of the biggest progressive national voices supporting this. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In the Bay Area, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna is behind it. The California Federation of Labor, which represents, you know, thousands of unions, did vote to endorse it. The California Democratic Party did vote to endorse Prop 40, but it is largely being driven by SEIU-UHW. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All right, and then who is against it? And what are they arguing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa:\u003c/strong> Everybody else in California. So at the top of the list are the billionaires. Sergey Brin has really taken the lead on this. He’s donated the most money and helped create some organizations that are really funneling money to oppose Prop 40 and push two other ballot measures that they put on the ballot in order to try to undercut Prop 40. But in addition to the billionaires themselves, you do have a really interesting list of folks up to Governor Gavin Newsom who says he opposes this tax. Most of the more high-profile Democrats in California, so in addition to Newsom, you have Xavier Becerra, the likely next governor. You have a lot of people in the legislature and others who are opposing it. And then you have some kind of surprising names. You have the California Teachers Association. You have Planned Parenthood of California. You have some other unions, firefighters and police officers and others that traditionally would probably be on the side of these taxes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then, of course, groups you would expect. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Republican Party, conservative groups who generally just oppose raising taxes in any way.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That’s such an eclectic group. What are their arguments against this measure?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, so we’ve really seen a lot of frustration by the governor on down at the fact that this was pushed through. And I think what they say is that it is a poorly designed one-time measure that potentially has the effect of hurting the progressive movement long-term. So their arguments include the idea that it’s gonna be hard to enforce, that this is like only a one-time thing for this ongoing problem, that it could actually essentially hurt California’s ability to stay competitive and to really, you know, be an innovator in the tech space, especially as we see this AI boom happening, that this will sort of scare people off. Newsom himself is trying to thread this needle where he says that he does support a national wealth tax. But that it’s just not the right way to do it at the state level. That this should be a national attack so that you wouldn’t have the ability to sort of avoid it by moving somewhere else.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One concern that I keep reading about this, Prop 40, is how it could impact California in the future. Can you explain?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>One of the bigger arguments against it, too, is this idea that it could do longer-term damage to the state budget. If, indeed, you buy the argument that this will drive billionaires out of California or other wealthy people, even if it’s not to avoid this one-time tax, but that it’s just creating an environment that is less, you know, that is hostile to developing businesses, the concern is that if you have a lot of wealthy people flee the state, that would result in a huge hit to the state’s operating budget every single year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I spoke to Joshua Rauh. He’s a Stanford University Finance Professor, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and he is very critical of Prop 40.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong>The costs, in this case, with the billionaire tax are that we’re driving billionaires out of the state and we’re also discouraging new entrepreneurs from growing their businesses here. And so that’s really the way to see it. The benefits would potentially be revenue, but we calculate that actually the state’s gonna lose $25 billion from doing this tax.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Mmm so essentially the concern is this wealth tax could drive rich people out of the state, and so California would lose out on the yearly taxes they do pay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos:\u003c/strong> We do have a very progressive tax system here. The highest earners do pay the most into the state budget. And if that pool of folks shrinks, it could have an impact on overall spending every year, which of course goes not just to healthcare, but to. Police and fire and education and all these other areas. So I think part of what Newsom and a lot of the people on his side of things on the Democratic side who oppose this are worried about is that in the short term, this would help shore up the healthcare system, but in the long term, it would really undercut our overall ability to support all those programs that people depend on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another issue Rauh takes with Prop 40 is with how it may force billionaires to make more of their money liquid.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Joshua Rauh: \u003c/strong> If someone has a business that has a value of $1 billion, they’re going to be subject to this tax. They’re going to have to pay $50 million because of this tax, and they may not have that money liquid. That means that they’re gonna have to actually sell off some of this company and you know that that actually removes capital from growing companies. It’s bad for the companies and bad for economy. It’s bad to the labor force.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now I understand that this would be the first of its kind tax if this is passed in the United States, but similar stuff has been tried elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>There was an attempt a few decades ago to levy wealth taxes in some European countries. Most of those, I believe, were repealed. They were much broader. They were not just aimed at billionaires. Billionaires didn’t actually exist in the 90s, let’s not forget. So I think one of what you’ll hear from critics is that you should look at a place like France, which abolished its tax in 2018. After they did see sort of an exodus of a lot of businesses and business people who brought in, you know, a lot money. The flip side to that is that, you know, this is a one-time tax. It is in a state that is the center of these industries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now we’re gonna get into props 41 and 42 in detail in some future episodes, but because they are related to prop 40, can you briefly explain how they conflict?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>Yeah, both Prop 41 and 42 have various other provisions, but they include language that says if they get more votes than Proposition 40, they supersede it. And in both cases, they would sort of undercut key provisions in Prop 40, and essentially make it impossible for the state to enforce the billionaire tax. So if all three pass, but 40 gets fewer votes, it essentially is like it didn’t pass in a lot of ways.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And like we mentioned at the top of this episode, there have been a lot of ads about this measure, which means money. How is campaign spending shaking out on this?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>So there has been money spent so far, and you might already feel like you’re seeing a lot of ads, but actually how much has been spent pales in comparison to what’s going to be spent. There are some estimates that this could be the most expensive ballot measure campaign in state history, so those ads you’re seeing are not going away anytime soon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the pro side, the healthcare unions, their allies, have spent, I think, over $30 million by the end of August. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the other side, just the committee created by the billionaires to fight Prop 40 and push those other competing ballot measures, it’s called Building A Better California, they’ve raised $118 million so far. Most of that has not been spent, a little less than the other side has been spent so far, around $21 million. But they have reserved $87 million in TV and radio time leading up to the fall election. And so you can expect that money is all going to be put out there. Obviously these billionaires have a lot of money and that’s just the money that they’ve put in so far.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And I understand that this proposition is polling pretty close right now. So it could seem like a good investment if you can move a couple of voters this way or that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>A hundred percent. I mean, what we’ve seen is that more Californians in these polls tend to favor this than oppose it. However, those numbers are pretty squishy. The kind of common wisdom is that if you’re going into a ballot measure campaign with a well-funded opposition, you want to start around 60% support. This is more in the mid to low fifties in terms of the support and some of the public polling we’ve seen. For both sides, people just get fatigued when they hear too much about any ballot measure and they start getting angry. And that sometimes can lead people to vote no, but if all they’re hearing is a no message, does that flip them the other way? I think there’s a saturation point that the campaigns may have to be concerned about on either side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Marisa Lagos is a political correspondent at KQED and co-host of the podcas, Political Breakdown. Thanks, Marisa.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Lagos: \u003c/strong>My pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 40 means you want to levy a one-time tax of 5% on California’s 200 billionaires, with 90% of the revenue going to support health care in the state, and the other 10% going to fund public education and food assistance programs. A no vote means you do not want to levy a one time tax on billionaires. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you wanna hear more about Prop 40, the billionaire tax, check out Marisa’s podcast, Political Breakdown. She has in-depth interviews with Dave Reagan, who authored Prop 40 and Joshua Rauh, a Stanford economist who’s critical of it. You can find both in the Political Break Down podcast feed and we’ll link in our show notes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s it for our latest episode of PropFest. How we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter? Feeling ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 9th, the Bay and Bay Curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of all the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the Bay and be curious so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by: Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Gabriella Glueck, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We get extra support from, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and the whole KQED family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org slash propfest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Learn more at donate.kqed.org slash podcasts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Support for the Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I’m Erika Cruz-Gabara. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 41, which takes aim at new special taxes, including the billionaire tax we just talked about. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We’ll see you then!\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "doctors-insurers-sue-newsom-over-health-insurance-premium-increases",
"title": "Doctors, Insurers Sue Newsom Over Health Insurance Premium Increases",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doctors and health insurers filed a lawsuit Friday alleging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and the Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums for Californians.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuit claims the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">recently passed tax on health plans\u003c/a>, known as the managed care organization tax or MCO tax, circumvents a 2024 initiative that limits healthcare taxes and directs revenue toward specific purposes. The California Medical Association and California Association of Health Plans \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcotaxlawsuitfacts.com/assets/cahp-v-dhcs-petition-for-writ-of-mandate.pdf\">filed the complaint with the California Supreme Court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California voters passed Proposition 35 and made it law. The state does not get to ignore that law simply because following the law is inconvenient,” medical association CEO Dustin Corcoran said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12056974\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the media at Downey Memorial Christian Church in Downey on July 16, 2025. Doctors and health insurers say Newsom and state lawmakers violated the law by approving a healthcare tax. (Ted Soqui/CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Newsom, said the tax allows the state to make changes to fund healthcare. “The state disagrees with their claims, and we believe the courts will too,” Gallegos said in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said in a previous statement to CalMatters that the state wanted to balance the affordability concerns of privately insured patients against large-scale federal Medi-Cal cuts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12008703/proposition-35-aims-to-improve-health-care-for-low-income-californians-critics-warn-it-could-backfire\">Newsom stopped short of opposing the 2024 initiative \u003c/a>when it was on the ballot, but he warned at the time it would “hamstring” the state budget.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For more than 20 years, California has levied taxes on health insurers to help fund Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income people. The state historically taxed private health plans at a lower rate than Medi-Cal insurers, but in June, the Legislature passed \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb125\">a bill\u003c/a> substantially raising the tax on private plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Health insurers said they will pass the cost directly on to consumers, spiking premiums by about $100 per person each year. That means a family of four could pay a $400 annual increase. That would come on top of the rate increases people typically see year to year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California is breaking the law by blowing through a tax limit voters put in place to protect Californians and businesses from higher health care costs,” said Charles Bacchi, CEO of the health plans association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doctors, hospitals, clinics and Medi-Cal insurers have argued for many years that the revenue from the tax should go toward improving Medi-Cal. They said that the state was inappropriately using the money to replace general fund spending, and that many providers were being paid far less than their services cost. In 2024, they asked voters to approve a limited tax that would be reserved for Medi-Cal improvements.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Congress last year changed the rules on taxes used to generate revenue for healthcare, including the ones imposed on health plans. Rather than lose the money generated by the tax, Newsom proposed and the Legislature agreed to submit two taxes to the federal government for approval: one that complied with the 2024 initiative but would be rejected by the feds, and one that complied with federal regulations and largely disregarded the initiative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was updated three hours after publication with a response from the governor’s office. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/10/california-mco-tax-lawsuit-premiums/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Doctors and health insurers filed a lawsuit Friday alleging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and the Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums for Californians.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The lawsuit claims the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">recently passed tax on health plans\u003c/a>, known as the managed care organization tax or MCO tax, circumvents a 2024 initiative that limits healthcare taxes and directs revenue toward specific purposes. The California Medical Association and California Association of Health Plans \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcotaxlawsuitfacts.com/assets/cahp-v-dhcs-petition-for-writ-of-mandate.pdf\">filed the complaint with the California Supreme Court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The lawsuit claims the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">recently passed tax on health plans\u003c/a>, known as the managed care organization tax or MCO tax, circumvents a 2024 initiative that limits healthcare taxes and directs revenue toward specific purposes. The California Medical Association and California Association of Health Plans \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcotaxlawsuitfacts.com/assets/cahp-v-dhcs-petition-for-writ-of-mandate.pdf\">filed the complaint with the California Supreme Court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“California voters passed Proposition 35 and made it law. The state does not get to ignore that law simply because following the law is inconvenient,” medical association CEO Dustin Corcoran said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12056974\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the media at Downey Memorial Christian Church in Downey on July 16, 2025. Doctors and health insurers say Newsom and state lawmakers violated the law by approving a healthcare tax. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Ted Soqui/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Newsom, said the tax allows the state to make changes to fund healthcare. “The state disagrees with their claims, and we believe the courts will too,” Gallegos said in an email.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said in a previous statement to CalMatters that the state wanted to balance the affordability concerns of privately insured patients against large-scale federal Medi-Cal cuts.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said in a previous statement to CalMatters that the state wanted to balance the affordability concerns of privately insured patients against large-scale federal Medi-Cal cuts.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12008703/proposition-35-aims-to-improve-health-care-for-low-income-californians-critics-warn-it-could-backfire\">Newsom stopped short of opposing the 2024 initiative \u003c/a>when it was on the ballot, but he warned at the time it would “hamstring” the state budget.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For more than 20 years, California has levied taxes on health insurers to help fund Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income people. The state historically taxed private health plans at a lower rate than Medi-Cal insurers, but in June, the Legislature passed \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb125\">a bill\u003c/a> substantially raising the tax on private plans.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Health insurers said they will pass the cost directly on to consumers, spiking premiums by about $100 per person each year. That means a family of four could pay a $400 annual increase. That would come on top of the rate increases people typically see year to year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Doctors, hospitals, clinics and Medi-Cal insurers have argued for many years that the revenue from the tax should go toward improving Medi-Cal. They said that the state was inappropriately using the money to replace general fund spending, and that many providers were being paid far less than their services cost. In 2024, they asked voters to approve a limited tax that would be reserved for Medi-Cal improvements.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Doctors, hospitals, clinics and Medi-Cal insurers have argued for many years that the revenue from the tax should go toward improving Medi-Cal. They said that the state was inappropriately using the money to replace general fund spending, and that many providers were being paid far less than their services cost. In 2024, they asked voters to approve a limited tax that would be reserved for Medi-Cal improvements.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Congress last year changed the rules on taxes used to generate revenue for healthcare, including the ones imposed on health plans. Rather than lose the money generated by the tax, Newsom proposed and the Legislature agreed to submit two taxes to the federal government for approval: one that complied with the 2024 initiative but would be rejected by the feds, and one that complied with federal regulations and largely disregarded the initiative.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/10/california-mco-tax-lawsuit-premiums/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The California Medical Association and California Association of Health Plans say in a new lawsuit that a healthcare tax violates Proposition 35, passed by voters in 2024.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doctors and health insurers filed a lawsuit Friday alleging \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> and the Legislature violated the law when they approved a healthcare tax that could substantially increase insurance premiums for Californians.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lawsuit claims the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/california-health-tax-medi-cal-premiums/\">recently passed tax on health plans\u003c/a>, known as the managed care organization tax or MCO tax, circumvents a 2024 initiative that limits healthcare taxes and directs revenue toward specific purposes. The California Medical Association and California Association of Health Plans \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcotaxlawsuitfacts.com/assets/cahp-v-dhcs-petition-for-writ-of-mandate.pdf\">filed the complaint with the California Supreme Court\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California voters passed Proposition 35 and made it law. The state does not get to ignore that law simply because following the law is inconvenient,” medical association CEO Dustin Corcoran said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12056974\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/071625_Newsom-ICE-Raids_CM_36-copy-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the media at Downey Memorial Christian Church in Downey on July 16, 2025. Doctors and health insurers say Newsom and state lawmakers violated the law by approving a healthcare tax. (Ted Soqui/CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Newsom, said the tax allows the state to make changes to fund healthcare. “The state disagrees with their claims, and we believe the courts will too,” Gallegos said in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said in a previous statement to CalMatters that the state wanted to balance the affordability concerns of privately insured patients against large-scale federal Medi-Cal cuts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12008703/proposition-35-aims-to-improve-health-care-for-low-income-californians-critics-warn-it-could-backfire\">Newsom stopped short of opposing the 2024 initiative \u003c/a>when it was on the ballot, but he warned at the time it would “hamstring” the state budget.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For more than 20 years, California has levied taxes on health insurers to help fund Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income people. The state historically taxed private health plans at a lower rate than Medi-Cal insurers, but in June, the Legislature passed \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb125\">a bill\u003c/a> substantially raising the tax on private plans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Health insurers said they will pass the cost directly on to consumers, spiking premiums by about $100 per person each year. That means a family of four could pay a $400 annual increase. That would come on top of the rate increases people typically see year to year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California is breaking the law by blowing through a tax limit voters put in place to protect Californians and businesses from higher health care costs,” said Charles Bacchi, CEO of the health plans association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doctors, hospitals, clinics and Medi-Cal insurers have argued for many years that the revenue from the tax should go toward improving Medi-Cal. They said that the state was inappropriately using the money to replace general fund spending, and that many providers were being paid far less than their services cost. In 2024, they asked voters to approve a limited tax that would be reserved for Medi-Cal improvements.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Congress last year changed the rules on taxes used to generate revenue for healthcare, including the ones imposed on health plans. Rather than lose the money generated by the tax, Newsom proposed and the Legislature agreed to submit two taxes to the federal government for approval: one that complied with the 2024 initiative but would be rejected by the feds, and one that complied with federal regulations and largely disregarded the initiative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was updated three hours after publication with a response from the governor’s office. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/10/california-mco-tax-lawsuit-premiums/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "households-will-pay-more-for-energy-due-to-federal-policy-changes-think-tank-says",
"title": "Households Will Pay More for Energy Due to Federal Policy Changes, Think Tank Says",
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"headTitle": "Households Will Pay More for Energy Due to Federal Policy Changes, Think Tank Says | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Households in the contiguous United States will pay thousands of dollars more for energy through 2040 because of federal policy changes since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">President Donald Trump\u003c/a> returned to office such as canceling new clean energy projects, according to modeling released Friday by a nonpartisan think tank.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>An analysis from the California-based \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/economic-consumer-cost-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes-in-48-u-s-states/\">Energy Innovation\u003c/a> found that households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy, cumulatively through 2040. In five states, households will pay roughly $9,000 more: Oregon, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The think tank said there will be more demand for natural gas for electricity because the administration is canceling new \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb\">wind, solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a> and there will be more gasoline demand for transportation because \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-gas-mileage-electric-vehicles-pollution-403742074c3f3140aaa1d10829daf35f\">Trump and Congress are revoking policies\u003c/a> that incentivized efficient and lower-emissions vehicles. Higher demand increases prices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks about American energy production during a visit to the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig on July 29, 2020, in Midland, Texas. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Energy prices are elevated in many countries. The International Energy Agency said after Russia invaded Ukraine, record prices were observed between 2022 and 2024 in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea. In many countries, the rise has outpaced income growth and inflation since 2019, including the European Union and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In some areas of the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/electricity-prices-data-centers-artificial-intelligence-fbf213a915fb574a4f3e5baaa7041c3a\">demand from data centers\u003c/a> is being blamed. The Iran war has sent oil and gasoline prices sharply higher, too. The Energy Information Administration expects residential U.S. customers to pay about 18.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2027, compared to 17.3 cents in 2025 and 18.2 cents in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The independent research firm Rhodium Group has also examined the issue, saying in April the U.S. has entered a new period of rising electricity prices. It cited increasing price volatility in natural gas, which is increasingly used to generate power; needed grid improvements; inflation; storm recovery and wildfire mitigation; and shifting policies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Absent significant policy action, electricity prices likely will continue their significant rise over the next five years, \u003ca href=\"https://rhg.com/research/us-electricity-prices-drivers/\">the firm said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Wednesday that lowering electricity prices remains a top priority and Trump is unleashing reliable energy like coal and natural gas to reverse the damage Democrats did to the grid by increasing clean energy. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security\">2025 Department of Energy report\u003c/a>, mandated by Trump, warned of increasing blackouts if the U.S. continued closing coal and natural gas plants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Joe Biden created a grid crisis; President Trump is fixing it,” Rogers wrote in an email. “If the Democrats had their way, these costly and unreliable renewable energy projects would still be failing our grid and our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Republican president prioritizes \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-mining-power-plant-climate-electricity-0a7126d66de97b10f32eaa39b1af669f\">fossil fuels to produce electricity\u003c/a>, unlike Biden, who saw clean energy as a climate solution. The conservative Institute for Energy Research said in December that \u003ca href=\"https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/blue-states-high-rates/\">blue states have high rates\u003c/a> because they have embraced aggressive renewable mandates, 100% carbon-free targets, premature coal and nuclear retirements and restrictions on natural gas infrastructure. It said high electricity prices are not an inevitability; they are a choice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Analysis examined impact on states solely from federal policy changes\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It focused on \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/elections-trump-republicans-big-bill-tax-cuts-4127f86db9aa557ae9316913aed7d80e\">the sweeping package of tax breaks\u003c/a> that slashed funding for clean energy tax credits, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump signed; \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/epa-power-plants-trump-coal-gas-climate-cac1c2c75f8656d8eaf5f0a240edae15\">environmental rollbacks\u003c/a>, including clean air and power plant rules and the revocation of a scientific finding that underpinned the U.S. fight against climate change; the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/trump-midterm-elections-xi-china-news-updates-09-28-2026\">loosening of fuel economy standards\u003c/a> and blocking of California’s novel rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035; and federal actions to stop wind, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-hydrogen-hub-newsom-0223cb4469508bcea4f689c18c9ab65d\">solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These changes will result in annual household energy costs rising in every state in the contiguous U.S., plus job losses in 47 of 48 states and losses to the gross domestic product in 46 states, Energy Innovation said. It’s projecting 37,000 additional premature deaths from air pollution, $72 billion in additional healthcare costs and more than 9 billion tons of additional carbon pollution because of the environmental rollbacks. The analysis did not include Alaska or Hawaii because key federal data is not available for those two states, said Robbie Orvis, senior director for modeling and analysis.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1307\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg\" alt=\"Traffic on US-101 toward the downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2019.\" class=\"wp-image-11750905\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-800x545.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1020x694.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1200x817.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traffic on U.S. 101 toward downtown San Francisco on March 8, 2019. California banned the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, but has been challenged by the federal government. (Lindsey Moore/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Across pretty much every state, things are worse. The outlook now is worse for states and the affordability crisis will be worse because of the combined set of policies,” Orvis said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climate Justice Alliance legislative director Mar Zepeda said her Washington, D.C., electric bill increased $200 in the past month. Zepeda blames electricity demands from data centers, and said federal “affordability” policies only exacerbate this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They may call it affordability, but affordable for whom and at what cost? Not for regular people,” Zepeda said in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">White House says the think tank is partisan\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rogers said it is “irresponsible” to classify Energy Innovation as nonpartisan because its employees have donated to Democrats and worked with Democrats on climate policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spokesman Silvio Marcacci said Energy Innovation works with policymakers who want to cut emissions and lower bills, regardless of party. He said multiple Republican-led states have used their tool designed to model policies affecting energy use and emissions. Much of their data comes from government sources, including the EIA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rogers also said states led by Democrats that have embraced aggressive renewable mandates see higher energy costs, notably California and New York. She said this proves Republican policies are working.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, in the Energy Innovation analysis, three of the five states facing the highest costs have Republican governors. Its research has found that states with high levels of wind and solar generation, including Republican-led Iowa and Oklahoma, have experienced the lowest rate increases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The average price residential customers pay for electricity increased during Biden’s term and has continued to rise under Trump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_03\">according to EIA data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oregon households’ annual energy spending slated to increase the most\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The modeling projects federal policy changes will increase \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/oregon-economic-consumer-cost-and-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes/\">annual energy spending in Oregon\u003c/a> by $840 per household in 2035 and $1,200 per household in 2040, with a cumulative $9,300 increase from 2026 to 2040 — the highest of any state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board advocates for residential utility customers. Executive Director Bob Jenks called those numbers “frightening” because Oregon already has an energy affordability problem. He cited steep rate increases as utilities make upgrades and data centers use more power.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As costs rise, Jenks expects utilities to disconnect more customers who can’t afford their bills.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jenks said wind and solar are essential for affordable electricity, and he wants the federal government to partner with states to develop the energy they need.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to optimize among the resource options we have, and they’re trying to take things away and raise the costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>An analysis from the California-based \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/economic-consumer-cost-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes-in-48-u-s-states/\">Energy Innovation\u003c/a> found that households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy, cumulatively through 2040. In five states, households will pay roughly $9,000 more: Oregon, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The think tank said there will be more demand for natural gas for electricity because the administration is canceling new \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb\">wind, solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a> and there will be more gasoline demand for transportation because \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-gas-mileage-electric-vehicles-pollution-403742074c3f3140aaa1d10829daf35f\">Trump and Congress are revoking policies\u003c/a> that incentivized efficient and lower-emissions vehicles. Higher demand increases prices.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The think tank said there will be more demand for natural gas for electricity because the administration is canceling new \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb\">wind, solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a> and there will be more gasoline demand for transportation because \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-gas-mileage-electric-vehicles-pollution-403742074c3f3140aaa1d10829daf35f\">Trump and Congress are revoking policies\u003c/a> that incentivized efficient and lower-emissions vehicles. Higher demand increases prices.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks about American energy production during a visit to the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig on July 29, 2020, in Midland, Texas.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014668\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks about American energy production during a visit to the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig on July 29, 2020, in Midland, Texas.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Energy prices are elevated in many countries. The International Energy Agency said after Russia invaded Ukraine, record prices were observed between 2022 and 2024 in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea. In many countries, the rise has outpaced income growth and inflation since 2019, including the European Union and the United States.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Energy prices are elevated in many countries. The International Energy Agency said after Russia invaded Ukraine, record prices were observed between 2022 and 2024 in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea. In many countries, the rise has outpaced income growth and inflation since 2019, including the European Union and the United States.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In some areas of the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/electricity-prices-data-centers-artificial-intelligence-fbf213a915fb574a4f3e5baaa7041c3a\">demand from data centers\u003c/a> is being blamed. The Iran war has sent oil and gasoline prices sharply higher, too. The Energy Information Administration expects residential U.S. customers to pay about 18.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2027, compared to 17.3 cents in 2025 and 18.2 cents in 2026.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In some areas of the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/electricity-prices-data-centers-artificial-intelligence-fbf213a915fb574a4f3e5baaa7041c3a\">demand from data centers\u003c/a> is being blamed. The Iran war has sent oil and gasoline prices sharply higher, too. The Energy Information Administration expects residential U.S. customers to pay about 18.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2027, compared to 17.3 cents in 2025 and 18.2 cents in 2026.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The independent research firm Rhodium Group has also examined the issue, saying in April the U.S. has entered a new period of rising electricity prices. It cited increasing price volatility in natural gas, which is increasingly used to generate power; needed grid improvements; inflation; storm recovery and wildfire mitigation; and shifting policies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The independent research firm Rhodium Group has also examined the issue, saying in April the U.S. has entered a new period of rising electricity prices. It cited increasing price volatility in natural gas, which is increasingly used to generate power; needed grid improvements; inflation; storm recovery and wildfire mitigation; and shifting policies.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Absent significant policy action, electricity prices likely will continue their significant rise over the next five years, \u003ca href=\"https://rhg.com/research/us-electricity-prices-drivers/\">the firm said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Absent significant policy action, electricity prices likely will continue their significant rise over the next five years, \u003ca href=\"https://rhg.com/research/us-electricity-prices-drivers/\">the firm said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Wednesday that lowering electricity prices remains a top priority and Trump is unleashing reliable energy like coal and natural gas to reverse the damage Democrats did to the grid by increasing clean energy. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security\">2025 Department of Energy report\u003c/a>, mandated by Trump, warned of increasing blackouts if the U.S. continued closing coal and natural gas plants.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Wednesday that lowering electricity prices remains a top priority and Trump is unleashing reliable energy like coal and natural gas to reverse the damage Democrats did to the grid by increasing clean energy. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security\">2025 Department of Energy report\u003c/a>, mandated by Trump, warned of increasing blackouts if the U.S. continued closing coal and natural gas plants.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Joe Biden created a grid crisis; President Trump is fixing it,” Rogers wrote in an email. “If the Democrats had their way, these costly and unreliable renewable energy projects would still be failing our grid and our communities.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Joe Biden created a grid crisis; President Trump is fixing it,” Rogers wrote in an email. “If the Democrats had their way, these costly and unreliable renewable energy projects would still be failing our grid and our communities.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Republican president prioritizes \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-mining-power-plant-climate-electricity-0a7126d66de97b10f32eaa39b1af669f\">fossil fuels to produce electricity\u003c/a>, unlike Biden, who saw clean energy as a climate solution. The conservative Institute for Energy Research said in December that \u003ca href=\"https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/blue-states-high-rates/\">blue states have high rates\u003c/a> because they have embraced aggressive renewable mandates, 100% carbon-free targets, premature coal and nuclear retirements and restrictions on natural gas infrastructure. It said high electricity prices are not an inevitability; they are a choice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Republican president prioritizes \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-mining-power-plant-climate-electricity-0a7126d66de97b10f32eaa39b1af669f\">fossil fuels to produce electricity\u003c/a>, unlike Biden, who saw clean energy as a climate solution. The conservative Institute for Energy Research said in December that \u003ca href=\"https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/blue-states-high-rates/\">blue states have high rates\u003c/a> because they have embraced aggressive renewable mandates, 100% carbon-free targets, premature coal and nuclear retirements and restrictions on natural gas infrastructure. It said high electricity prices are not an inevitability; they are a choice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Analysis examined impact on states solely from federal policy changes",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Analysis examined impact on states solely from federal policy changes\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It focused on \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/elections-trump-republicans-big-bill-tax-cuts-4127f86db9aa557ae9316913aed7d80e\">the sweeping package of tax breaks\u003c/a> that slashed funding for clean energy tax credits, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump signed; \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/epa-power-plants-trump-coal-gas-climate-cac1c2c75f8656d8eaf5f0a240edae15\">environmental rollbacks\u003c/a>, including clean air and power plant rules and the revocation of a scientific finding that underpinned the U.S. fight against climate change; the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/trump-midterm-elections-xi-china-news-updates-09-28-2026\">loosening of fuel economy standards\u003c/a> and blocking of California’s novel rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035; and federal actions to stop wind, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-hydrogen-hub-newsom-0223cb4469508bcea4f689c18c9ab65d\">solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It focused on \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/elections-trump-republicans-big-bill-tax-cuts-4127f86db9aa557ae9316913aed7d80e\">the sweeping package of tax breaks\u003c/a> that slashed funding for clean energy tax credits, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump signed; \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/epa-power-plants-trump-coal-gas-climate-cac1c2c75f8656d8eaf5f0a240edae15\">environmental rollbacks\u003c/a>, including clean air and power plant rules and the revocation of a scientific finding that underpinned the U.S. fight against climate change; the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/trump-midterm-elections-xi-china-news-updates-09-28-2026\">loosening of fuel economy standards\u003c/a> and blocking of California’s novel rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035; and federal actions to stop wind, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-hydrogen-hub-newsom-0223cb4469508bcea4f689c18c9ab65d\">solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These changes will result in annual household energy costs rising in every state in the contiguous U.S., plus job losses in 47 of 48 states and losses to the gross domestic product in 46 states, Energy Innovation said. It’s projecting 37,000 additional premature deaths from air pollution, $72 billion in additional healthcare costs and more than 9 billion tons of additional carbon pollution because of the environmental rollbacks. The analysis did not include Alaska or Hawaii because key federal data is not available for those two states, said Robbie Orvis, senior director for modeling and analysis.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These changes will result in annual household energy costs rising in every state in the contiguous U.S., plus job losses in 47 of 48 states and losses to the gross domestic product in 46 states, Energy Innovation said. It’s projecting 37,000 additional premature deaths from air pollution, $72 billion in additional healthcare costs and more than 9 billion tons of additional carbon pollution because of the environmental rollbacks. The analysis did not include Alaska or Hawaii because key federal data is not available for those two states, said Robbie Orvis, senior director for modeling and analysis.\u003c/p>\n"
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"alt": "Traffic on US-101 toward the downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2019.",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg\" alt=\"Traffic on US-101 toward the downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2019.\" class=\"wp-image-11750905\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-800x545.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1020x694.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1200x817.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traffic on U.S. 101 toward downtown San Francisco on March 8, 2019. California banned the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, but has been challenged by the federal government.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Lindsey Moore/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Across pretty much every state, things are worse. The outlook now is worse for states and the affordability crisis will be worse because of the combined set of policies,” Orvis said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Across pretty much every state, things are worse. The outlook now is worse for states and the affordability crisis will be worse because of the combined set of policies,” Orvis said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climate Justice Alliance legislative director Mar Zepeda said her Washington, D.C., electric bill increased $200 in the past month. Zepeda blames electricity demands from data centers, and said federal “affordability” policies only exacerbate this.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climate Justice Alliance legislative director Mar Zepeda said her Washington, D.C., electric bill increased $200 in the past month. Zepeda blames electricity demands from data centers, and said federal “affordability” policies only exacerbate this.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They may call it affordability, but affordable for whom and at what cost? Not for regular people,” Zepeda said in an email.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They may call it affordability, but affordable for whom and at what cost? Not for regular people,” Zepeda said in an email.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "White House says the think tank is partisan",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rogers said it is “irresponsible” to classify Energy Innovation as nonpartisan because its employees have donated to Democrats and worked with Democrats on climate policy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Spokesman Silvio Marcacci said Energy Innovation works with policymakers who want to cut emissions and lower bills, regardless of party. He said multiple Republican-led states have used their tool designed to model policies affecting energy use and emissions. Much of their data comes from government sources, including the EIA.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Spokesman Silvio Marcacci said Energy Innovation works with policymakers who want to cut emissions and lower bills, regardless of party. He said multiple Republican-led states have used their tool designed to model policies affecting energy use and emissions. Much of their data comes from government sources, including the EIA.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rogers also said states led by Democrats that have embraced aggressive renewable mandates see higher energy costs, notably California and New York. She said this proves Republican policies are working.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rogers also said states led by Democrats that have embraced aggressive renewable mandates see higher energy costs, notably California and New York. She said this proves Republican policies are working.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, in the Energy Innovation analysis, three of the five states facing the highest costs have Republican governors. Its research has found that states with high levels of wind and solar generation, including Republican-led Iowa and Oklahoma, have experienced the lowest rate increases.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>However, in the Energy Innovation analysis, three of the five states facing the highest costs have Republican governors. Its research has found that states with high levels of wind and solar generation, including Republican-led Iowa and Oklahoma, have experienced the lowest rate increases.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The average price residential customers pay for electricity increased during Biden’s term and has continued to rise under Trump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_03\">according to EIA data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The average price residential customers pay for electricity increased during Biden’s term and has continued to rise under Trump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_03\">according to EIA data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Oregon households’ annual energy spending slated to increase the most",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The modeling projects federal policy changes will increase \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/oregon-economic-consumer-cost-and-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes/\">annual energy spending in Oregon\u003c/a> by $840 per household in 2035 and $1,200 per household in 2040, with a cumulative $9,300 increase from 2026 to 2040 — the highest of any state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The modeling projects federal policy changes will increase \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/oregon-economic-consumer-cost-and-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes/\">annual energy spending in Oregon\u003c/a> by $840 per household in 2035 and $1,200 per household in 2040, with a cumulative $9,300 increase from 2026 to 2040 — the highest of any state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board advocates for residential utility customers. Executive Director Bob Jenks called those numbers “frightening” because Oregon already has an energy affordability problem. He cited steep rate increases as utilities make upgrades and data centers use more power.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board advocates for residential utility customers. Executive Director Bob Jenks called those numbers “frightening” because Oregon already has an energy affordability problem. He cited steep rate increases as utilities make upgrades and data centers use more power.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As costs rise, Jenks expects utilities to disconnect more customers who can’t afford their bills.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jenks said wind and solar are essential for affordable electricity, and he wants the federal government to partner with states to develop the energy they need.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to optimize among the resource options we have, and they’re trying to take things away and raise the costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Households in the contiguous United States will pay thousands of dollars more for energy through 2040 because of federal policy changes since President Donald Trump returned to office, such as canceling new clean energy projects. ",
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"title": "Households Will Pay More for Energy Due to Federal Policy Changes, Think Tank Says | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Households in the contiguous United States will pay thousands of dollars more for energy through 2040 because of federal policy changes since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">President Donald Trump\u003c/a> returned to office such as canceling new clean energy projects, according to modeling released Friday by a nonpartisan think tank.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>An analysis from the California-based \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/economic-consumer-cost-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes-in-48-u-s-states/\">Energy Innovation\u003c/a> found that households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy, cumulatively through 2040. In five states, households will pay roughly $9,000 more: Oregon, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The think tank said there will be more demand for natural gas for electricity because the administration is canceling new \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb\">wind, solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a> and there will be more gasoline demand for transportation because \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-gas-mileage-electric-vehicles-pollution-403742074c3f3140aaa1d10829daf35f\">Trump and Congress are revoking policies\u003c/a> that incentivized efficient and lower-emissions vehicles. Higher demand increases prices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/TrumpOilGasRegulationsAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks about American energy production during a visit to the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig on July 29, 2020, in Midland, Texas. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Energy prices are elevated in many countries. The International Energy Agency said after Russia invaded Ukraine, record prices were observed between 2022 and 2024 in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea. In many countries, the rise has outpaced income growth and inflation since 2019, including the European Union and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In some areas of the U.S., \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/electricity-prices-data-centers-artificial-intelligence-fbf213a915fb574a4f3e5baaa7041c3a\">demand from data centers\u003c/a> is being blamed. The Iran war has sent oil and gasoline prices sharply higher, too. The Energy Information Administration expects residential U.S. customers to pay about 18.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2027, compared to 17.3 cents in 2025 and 18.2 cents in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The independent research firm Rhodium Group has also examined the issue, saying in April the U.S. has entered a new period of rising electricity prices. It cited increasing price volatility in natural gas, which is increasingly used to generate power; needed grid improvements; inflation; storm recovery and wildfire mitigation; and shifting policies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Absent significant policy action, electricity prices likely will continue their significant rise over the next five years, \u003ca href=\"https://rhg.com/research/us-electricity-prices-drivers/\">the firm said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Wednesday that lowering electricity prices remains a top priority and Trump is unleashing reliable energy like coal and natural gas to reverse the damage Democrats did to the grid by increasing clean energy. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security\">2025 Department of Energy report\u003c/a>, mandated by Trump, warned of increasing blackouts if the U.S. continued closing coal and natural gas plants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Joe Biden created a grid crisis; President Trump is fixing it,” Rogers wrote in an email. “If the Democrats had their way, these costly and unreliable renewable energy projects would still be failing our grid and our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Republican president prioritizes \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-mining-power-plant-climate-electricity-0a7126d66de97b10f32eaa39b1af669f\">fossil fuels to produce electricity\u003c/a>, unlike Biden, who saw clean energy as a climate solution. The conservative Institute for Energy Research said in December that \u003ca href=\"https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/blue-states-high-rates/\">blue states have high rates\u003c/a> because they have embraced aggressive renewable mandates, 100% carbon-free targets, premature coal and nuclear retirements and restrictions on natural gas infrastructure. It said high electricity prices are not an inevitability; they are a choice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Analysis examined impact on states solely from federal policy changes\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It focused on \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/elections-trump-republicans-big-bill-tax-cuts-4127f86db9aa557ae9316913aed7d80e\">the sweeping package of tax breaks\u003c/a> that slashed funding for clean energy tax credits, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump signed; \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/epa-power-plants-trump-coal-gas-climate-cac1c2c75f8656d8eaf5f0a240edae15\">environmental rollbacks\u003c/a>, including clean air and power plant rules and the revocation of a scientific finding that underpinned the U.S. fight against climate change; the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/trump-midterm-elections-xi-china-news-updates-09-28-2026\">loosening of fuel economy standards\u003c/a> and blocking of California’s novel rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035; and federal actions to stop wind, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-hydrogen-hub-newsom-0223cb4469508bcea4f689c18c9ab65d\">solar and hydrogen projects\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These changes will result in annual household energy costs rising in every state in the contiguous U.S., plus job losses in 47 of 48 states and losses to the gross domestic product in 46 states, Energy Innovation said. It’s projecting 37,000 additional premature deaths from air pollution, $72 billion in additional healthcare costs and more than 9 billion tons of additional carbon pollution because of the environmental rollbacks. The analysis did not include Alaska or Hawaii because key federal data is not available for those two states, said Robbie Orvis, senior director for modeling and analysis.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1307\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg\" alt=\"Traffic on US-101 toward the downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2019.\" class=\"wp-image-11750905\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-800x545.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1020x694.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/05/05292019_traffic-gas-powered-cars-fuel-emission-standards-Trump-EPA-1200x817.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traffic on U.S. 101 toward downtown San Francisco on March 8, 2019. California banned the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, but has been challenged by the federal government. (Lindsey Moore/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Across pretty much every state, things are worse. The outlook now is worse for states and the affordability crisis will be worse because of the combined set of policies,” Orvis said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climate Justice Alliance legislative director Mar Zepeda said her Washington, D.C., electric bill increased $200 in the past month. Zepeda blames electricity demands from data centers, and said federal “affordability” policies only exacerbate this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They may call it affordability, but affordable for whom and at what cost? Not for regular people,” Zepeda said in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">White House says the think tank is partisan\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rogers said it is “irresponsible” to classify Energy Innovation as nonpartisan because its employees have donated to Democrats and worked with Democrats on climate policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Spokesman Silvio Marcacci said Energy Innovation works with policymakers who want to cut emissions and lower bills, regardless of party. He said multiple Republican-led states have used their tool designed to model policies affecting energy use and emissions. Much of their data comes from government sources, including the EIA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rogers also said states led by Democrats that have embraced aggressive renewable mandates see higher energy costs, notably California and New York. She said this proves Republican policies are working.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, in the Energy Innovation analysis, three of the five states facing the highest costs have Republican governors. Its research has found that states with high levels of wind and solar generation, including Republican-led Iowa and Oklahoma, have experienced the lowest rate increases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The average price residential customers pay for electricity increased during Biden’s term and has continued to rise under Trump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_03\">according to EIA data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oregon households’ annual energy spending slated to increase the most\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The modeling projects federal policy changes will increase \u003ca href=\"https://energyinnovation.org/report/oregon-economic-consumer-cost-and-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes/\">annual energy spending in Oregon\u003c/a> by $840 per household in 2035 and $1,200 per household in 2040, with a cumulative $9,300 increase from 2026 to 2040 — the highest of any state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board advocates for residential utility customers. Executive Director Bob Jenks called those numbers “frightening” because Oregon already has an energy affordability problem. He cited steep rate increases as utilities make upgrades and data centers use more power.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As costs rise, Jenks expects utilities to disconnect more customers who can’t afford their bills.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jenks said wind and solar are essential for affordable electricity, and he wants the federal government to partner with states to develop the energy they need.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to optimize among the resource options we have, and they’re trying to take things away and raise the costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "newsom-signs-coal-terminal-law-as-oakland-wins-key-court-fight",
"title": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight",
"publishDate": 1791111600,
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"headTitle": "Newsom Signs Coal Terminal Law as Oakland Wins Key Court Fight | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The developer must now contend with environmental review red tape, as concerns grow over coal dust and health risks.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A controversial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914067/trump-administration-shovels-75-million-into-controversial-oakland-coal-terminal\">proposed coal terminal\u003c/a> in West Oakland was dealt two major blows this week, presenting new obstacles for the Trump administration-backed project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a Kentucky federal court threw out a $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland from one of the developers behind the proposed export facility. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company in that case, Insight Terminal Solutions, argued that the city interfered with its plans to build a facility that would process millions of tons of coal, leading to the company’s bankruptcy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, which requires that developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. The law applies to any such new facility in the state but its author, Oakland Assemblymember Mia Bonta, designed the bill to apply to the so-called West Gateway Terminal project. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084670\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Newsom signed AB 40 into law this week, which requires developers prepare an environmental impact report before building a large-volume bulk coal facility. (Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If approved, more than 13 million tons of coal per year would be shipped overseas from the facility and stored in the open, according to a recent \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">report\u003c/a> prepared for investors. After lawsuits from the city of Oakland bogged the project down for decades, the Trump administration announced a $75 million investment into the project in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The project, which would be built on part of the former Oakland Army Base, is being pushed by developer Oakland Bulk Oversized Terminal, and formerly by Kentucky-based ITS, which was contracted to ship the coal out of the terminal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After a years-long legal battle with the city, OBOT succeeded through appeals last year and is still moving forward with the project. But the court drama didn’t end there. In 2025, a Kentucky bankruptcy judge found that Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/oakland-coal-port-budget-bankruptcy.html#commentsContainer\">burdened\u003c/a> ITS, and could owe the company between $230 and $654 million. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kicked from Kentucky court \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a higher court, however, ITS’s case ran into challenges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton said he chose to abstain from the case because it likely belonged in a California court instead, and vacated the 2025 bankruptcy ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ITS’s decision to file an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court in Kentucky, rather than to sue in the California courts, carries at least a whiff of forum shopping,” Beaton wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087608\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The City of Oakland maintained from the start that this case was improper and should be dismissed,” the Oakland city attorney’s office said in a statement. “The district court agreed, and we’re pleased with the result.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Had Oakland been forced to pay ITS, it also could have also pushed the city to bankruptcy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is wonderful news for Oakland, and I think it takes the sword off of their neck,” said Ben Eichenberg, a senior staff attorney for pollution watchdog group San Francisco Baykeeper. “It’s my hope that what this means is that the city feels it can once again take a stand representing the majority of people in Oakland who do not want this terminal.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New roadblocks and concerns \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though the coal would not be burned in Oakland, residents and environmental justice advocates worry that coal dust from uncovered trains blowing through the city could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11749299/asthma-rates-higher-in-californias-historically-redlined-communities-new-study-finds\">add to existing health burdens\u003c/a>. Parts of West and East Oakland already suffer from some of the highest asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalization \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/ab617-community-health/air-pollution-and-health-risks_oakland-060418-pdf.pdf?la=en\">rates\u003c/a> in the country due to pollution from highways and industrial operations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bonta’s Community First Coal Review Act specifically addresses West Oakland’s environmental justice concerns. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods,” reads part of the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Local advocates who have been opposing the development for years applauded the governor’s signing of AB 40. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This clears the way for a very comprehensive examination of the environmental impacts and requirements for mitigating all of those impacts,” Ted Franklin, an organizer with No Coal in Oakland said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 2023 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/coal-trains-increase-air-pollution-san-francisco-bay-area\">study\u003c/a> by UC Davis researchers looked at trains carrying coal on the way to a terminal in Richmond and found that the transportation, handling and storage of coal all significantly increase community exposure to PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particulate matter can \u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740125/\">cause\u003c/a> asthma and respiratory inflammation, jeopardize lung functions and even promote cancers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The adverse effects are borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable, including infants, children and the elderly, people of color, those with low incomes, and those with underlying health conditions,” the study’s authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Advocates have repeatedly raised those concerns despite assurances from developers that they would make a state-of-the-art facility to minimize health impacts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least some of the concerns were validated by the \u003ca href=\"https://ruic.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Study-RUIC-Bulk-Commodity-Ocean-Terminals-Study.pdf\">recent\u003c/a> investor report, which contained a surprising revelation: that the coal would be stored in “open-air bunkers.” That appeared to contradict previous assurances from developers that they would store the coal in covered silos to minimize the spread of toxic dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this incredibly windy area we live in, all that coal is gonna get blown all around and really impact the community,” Eichenberg said “And the developer had promised to have a state-of-the-art facility with everything covered. So we’re deeply disappointed that these kinds of impacts are being imposed on the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"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. ",
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"marketplace": {
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"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.",
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"mindshift": {
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"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>",
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"order": 12
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"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?",
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"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",
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},
"perspectives": {
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"order": 14
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"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.",
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"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",
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"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/",
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
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},
"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",
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},
"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.",
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},
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