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"content": "\u003cp>President Donald Trump’s administration has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to increase immigration arrests and raids to meet a quota of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">3,000 arrests per day\u003c/a> — with a stated special focus on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043346/sf-rallies-for-david-huerta-california-union-leader-arrested-in-la-immigration-raid\">Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">And according to NPR and local attorneys\u003c/a>, one strategy ICE agents have used to meet those demands is to arrest people — or fast-track their removal — at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041473/unprecedented-ice-officers-operating-inside-bay-area-immigration-courts-lawyers-say\">their immigration court hearings\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is no exception. In San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/sf-ice-arrests-tracker/\">at least six people\u003c/a> have been arrested and detained at the city’s immigration court since June — prompting protests by activists that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043596/protesters-swarm-sf-immigration-court-after-more-ice-arrests\">shut down the building for a day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been [in] immigration law for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Jordan Weiner, the legal director of the Removal Defense Program at \u003ca href=\"https://www.lrcl.org/\">La Raza Centro Legal\u003c/a> in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Risk levels for deportation are always changing, Weiner said. But currently, the most vulnerable immigrant groups she’s seeing are people who have received deportation orders, those who’ve been deported then returned and people who’ve been in the U.S. for less than two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=forum_2010101910383 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2025/06/immigrationupdate.png']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the \u003ca href=\"https://deportationdata.org/about.html\">Deportation Data Project\u003c/a>, a database led by a UC Berkeley law professor, ICE has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/27/us/ice-arrests-trump.html\">arrested over 5,800 immigrants statewide\u003c/a> since the inauguration — \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/27/us/ice-arrests-trump.html?smid=url-share&rsrc=deeplink#ice_arrests_California\">a 123% increase\u003c/a> from 2024 — in locations ranging from private homes and bus stops to job sites and store parking lots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The crackdowns have especially sparked a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045336/growing-south-bay-ice-fears-lead-to-surge-in-immigrant-hotline-calls\">wave of fear\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12044426/no-kings-protests-draw-thousands-across-the-bay-area-to-rally-against-president-trump\">anger\u003c/a> across California, the state with \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/\">the largest share of immigrants in the country\u003c/a>. According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/\">a Public Policy Institute of California report\u003c/a>, more than a quarter of California’s population is foreign-born, and nearly half of California’s children have at least one immigrant parent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘An impossible decision’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Showing up for immigration court is a routine reality for many, including those who entered the United States to apply for asylum for reasons including fear of persecution in their home country. Immigration court proceedings are already a stressful process that can take years, especially in a place like San Francisco, where the court faces a backlog of \u003ca href=\"https://tracreports.org/phptools/immigration/backlog/\">over 123,000 pending cases\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in recent weeks, ICE appears to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">collaborating with Department of Homeland Security lawyers\u003c/a> to get judges to dismiss asylum cases, Weiner said. If the applicant has been in the United States for less than two years, having their case dismissed this way makes them immediately subject to expedited removal — deportation without the right to see a judge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046556\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046556\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordan Weiner at Centro Legal de la Raza in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Homeland Security lawyers will “ask the immigration judge to dismiss their case in the courtroom,” Weiner said. “And if the judge agrees, the person will walk out in the hallway and ICE is waiting there for them to arrest them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, judges have given applicants at least 10 days to respond to ICE’s request to dismiss. However, the impact is already apparent, Weiner said. Her office is also receiving fewer calls from prospective asylum applicants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If people have to decide between fighting their asylum case and potentially getting deported to a country where they fear persecution, or just missing court and living in the shadows — that’s an impossible decision,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigration court is just over,” Weiner said. “I don’t know how the institution can recover from this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Amid fear, volunteers show up\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Milli Atkinson, the director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program with the Bar Association of San Francisco, said the organization has observers in the courtroom “every day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, Atkinson said they have also anecdotally observed “a marked increase in the number of individuals not appearing for their hearings at the hearings we are able to cover.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In these cases, time is of the essence. Since immigration courts are generally open to the public, an extra pair of eyes from a volunteer can help lawyers form a quick response plan, said Autumn Gonzalez, a Sacramento-based lawyer who volunteers with \u003ca href=\"https://www.norcalresist.org/\">NorCal Resist\u003c/a>, a nonprofit that organizes bail funds, food distribution and asylum workshops.[aside postID=news_12044592 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/240206-IMMIGRATIONCOURT-26-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg']“Those instances where people are going in for their usual check-in, and not being released — having someone there accompanying you means that we can immediately request legal assistance,” Gonzalez said. “We can make sure your family knows what happened to you … and hopefully prevent expedited deportations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alison Maciejewski Cortez is one of those volunteers. After 13 years outside the United States, she moved to Sacramento last September and almost immediately began volunteering for NorCal Resist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Coming back this time, I knew the political climate was going to be scary for my community,” said Maciejewski Cortez, who has experience working with Latin American, immigrant and refugee organizations. “I wanted to make sure that I had a way to give back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an American citizen who is fluent in several languages, including English, Spanish and Thai, Maciejewski Cortez particularly works with people going through the asylum-seeking process. Primed by NorCal Resist on what the organization calls “accompaniment training,” Maciejewski Cortez helps people with the administrative side of court hearings, including translating, going through paperwork and taking notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just want to make sure that they have the best chance at being heard,” Maciejewski Cortez said. “I have perfect English and \u003cem>I\u003c/em> still find some of these forms and terminology to be confusing and complicated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to supporting court logistics, accompaniment volunteers like Maciejewski Cortez also help provide a sense of protection and safety for the asylum seeker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been in a lot of immigration offices around the world, and it’s really scary to go alone,” she said. “I can’t imagine how somebody, who has recently arrived and has lived through a traumatic life experience, [is] trying to navigate this system,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046555\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1998px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046555\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Centro Legal de la Raza offices in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘I don’t know what would have happened to him’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The idea of accompaniment work grew from faith communities in the 1980s, Gonzalez said. Volunteers would help new immigrants and refugees find apartments and enroll their kids into schools — supporting every step of settling into a new country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, accompaniment to immigration court — and to check-ins with ICE — has become the primary need, Gonzalez said. And in recent months, volunteers have found themselves with an increasingly important extra role: keeping watch on applicants in the event that ICE detains a person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that point, the volunteer then immediately alerts the person’s legal support team or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12024332/ice-raids-in-california-how-to-sort-fact-from-rumor-online\">a local Rapid Response Network\u003c/a>, a separate group of dedicated volunteers and attorneys who respond to reports of possible ICE activity around the clock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully, the fact that we have folks there with their eyes on what’s going on will provide deterrence to ICE from taking these actions,” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is something Maciejewski Cortez witnessed. In mid-June, while accompanying an applicant to immigration court in Sacramento, she saw ICE agents walking down the hall with handcuffs “hanging off their side.” After turning to follow them, she watched them apprehend a man whose case had been dismissed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maciejewski Cortez immediately tracked down the man’s details and alerted the local Rapid Response network. A pro bono lawyer with NorCal Resist promptly arrived at the courthouse and met with the detainee “and they both were out of the courthouse in two hours,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I hadn’t seen who it was or caught the name of the man in the court, I don’t know what would have happened to him,” she said. “I don’t know how long he would have been in their custody.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12043500\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12043500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters march down Mission Street in San Francisco in opposition to the Trump Administration’s immigration policy and enforcement on June 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Access and alternatives\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some advocates are now reporting they’re having trouble even accessing courtrooms to accompany immigrants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigration court hearings are “generally open to the public but can be closed or held with limited attendance at any time,” according to a representative of the federal Department of Justice’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/eoir\">Executive Office for Immigration Review\u003c/a>. Scenarios where \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1333591/dl?inline\">proceedings can be closed\u003c/a> include cases involving protective orders or domestic abuse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gonzalez said that the court in Sacramento has had “inconsistent rules regarding our access.” Maciejewski Cortez said she’d experienced being denied access to the Sacramento immigration courtroom in late June during the start of a hearing after court staff told her the courtroom would be full. Despite this, she said she saw empty seats still available.[aside postID=news_12043596 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-12-KQED.jpg']“This arbitrary restriction makes it difficult to catch important information announced by the judge within the early minutes of proceedings, such as the name of the DHS attorney or the respondents to be addressed first,” Maciejewski Cortez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amid this uncertainty and the anxiety caused by in-person appearances, lawyers are scrambling to find other ways to support their clients and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\">remind them of their civil rights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>La Raza Centro Legal’s Weiner said her “first line of defense” is to file motions for all of her cases to be heard online, rather than at the courthouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moving a case online — using \u003ca href=\"https://help.asylumadvocacy.org/virtual-hearings-in-immigration-court/\">the Zoom-like application WebEx —\u003c/a> is actually something anyone with an immigration court hearing can do, Weiner said, by filing \u003ca href=\"https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/pro-se-web.pdf\">a “Motion to Change Hearing Format\u003c/a>” and mailing it to their court. Applicants can work with a nonprofit to help them fill out this legal document. (KQED has a guide to seeking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\">free legal aid in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just filing the motion isn’t enough to get a person’s hearing moved online, Weiner said— an applicant still needs to wait for the judge’s decision to grant it or not. While “you don’t need a special reason to ask for your hearing to be online,” Weiner recommended that applicants still provide one — which could include a \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/asylum-video-court-heari/\">lack of child care or transportation\u003c/a> — “because it gives the judge more of a reason to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an applicant \u003cem>is \u003c/em>detained at court and ICE immediately begins the expedited removal process, the applicant should ask the immigration officer for a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/questions-and-answers-credible-fear-screening\">credible fear interview\u003c/a>” — loudly and clearly, since \u003ca href=\"https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-analysis-of-the-trump-administrations-initial-immigration-executive-actions/\">the officer may not ask if they want one\u003c/a>, Weiner said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The applicant will have to prove they are afraid to return to their country for safety reasons, either due to persecution or torture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they can pass that interview, then they may be able to see a judge again,” Weiner said. “They might be detained during that process, but at least they just won’t be quickly deported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047029\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047029\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pamphlets at Centro Legal de la Raza in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘Hope for the best and prepare for the worst’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Weiner said that while she didn’t want to “be part of scaring people from going to court,” immigrants should nonetheless be as prepared as possible before heading to any court appearance — not just for their individual asylum case, but also for the very real risk of detention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This includes having a plan for any children they may have, key phone numbers for lawyers and family on hand or memorized, and leaving copies of all of their documents with their lawyer. (KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026817/ice-schools-and-children-what-families-should-know\">a thorough guide on how to create a family preparedness plan\u003c/a> in the event that a parent is deported.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a scenario Maciejewski Cortez said terrifies the people she works with. They often ask her, “‘Can ICE do this? I read in the news that this happened. Is that allowed? Can that happen to me?’” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel awful because I’d love to tell them, ‘No, that’s not going to happen to you. You have a current case status. You’ve already submitted your application for asylum. You’re in good standing. You have no criminal history,’” she said. “None of these things matter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She continued: “And so I have to tell them, ‘Honestly, anything can happen. But we will be there in case it does.’ We’re going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"headline": "When ICE Is Waiting at Immigration Court, What Can Advocates Do?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>President Donald Trump’s administration has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to increase immigration arrests and raids to meet a quota of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">3,000 arrests per day\u003c/a> — with a stated special focus on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043346/sf-rallies-for-david-huerta-california-union-leader-arrested-in-la-immigration-raid\">Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">And according to NPR and local attorneys\u003c/a>, one strategy ICE agents have used to meet those demands is to arrest people — or fast-track their removal — at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041473/unprecedented-ice-officers-operating-inside-bay-area-immigration-courts-lawyers-say\">their immigration court hearings\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is no exception. In San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/sf-ice-arrests-tracker/\">at least six people\u003c/a> have been arrested and detained at the city’s immigration court since June — prompting protests by activists that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043596/protesters-swarm-sf-immigration-court-after-more-ice-arrests\">shut down the building for a day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been [in] immigration law for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Jordan Weiner, the legal director of the Removal Defense Program at \u003ca href=\"https://www.lrcl.org/\">La Raza Centro Legal\u003c/a> in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Risk levels for deportation are always changing, Weiner said. But currently, the most vulnerable immigrant groups she’s seeing are people who have received deportation orders, those who’ve been deported then returned and people who’ve been in the U.S. for less than two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the \u003ca href=\"https://deportationdata.org/about.html\">Deportation Data Project\u003c/a>, a database led by a UC Berkeley law professor, ICE has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/27/us/ice-arrests-trump.html\">arrested over 5,800 immigrants statewide\u003c/a> since the inauguration — \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/27/us/ice-arrests-trump.html?smid=url-share&rsrc=deeplink#ice_arrests_California\">a 123% increase\u003c/a> from 2024 — in locations ranging from private homes and bus stops to job sites and store parking lots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The crackdowns have especially sparked a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045336/growing-south-bay-ice-fears-lead-to-surge-in-immigrant-hotline-calls\">wave of fear\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12044426/no-kings-protests-draw-thousands-across-the-bay-area-to-rally-against-president-trump\">anger\u003c/a> across California, the state with \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/\">the largest share of immigrants in the country\u003c/a>. According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/\">a Public Policy Institute of California report\u003c/a>, more than a quarter of California’s population is foreign-born, and nearly half of California’s children have at least one immigrant parent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘An impossible decision’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Showing up for immigration court is a routine reality for many, including those who entered the United States to apply for asylum for reasons including fear of persecution in their home country. Immigration court proceedings are already a stressful process that can take years, especially in a place like San Francisco, where the court faces a backlog of \u003ca href=\"https://tracreports.org/phptools/immigration/backlog/\">over 123,000 pending cases\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in recent weeks, ICE appears to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5409403/trump-immigration-courts-arrests\">collaborating with Department of Homeland Security lawyers\u003c/a> to get judges to dismiss asylum cases, Weiner said. If the applicant has been in the United States for less than two years, having their case dismissed this way makes them immediately subject to expedited removal — deportation without the right to see a judge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046556\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046556\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-6_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordan Weiner at Centro Legal de la Raza in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Homeland Security lawyers will “ask the immigration judge to dismiss their case in the courtroom,” Weiner said. “And if the judge agrees, the person will walk out in the hallway and ICE is waiting there for them to arrest them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, judges have given applicants at least 10 days to respond to ICE’s request to dismiss. However, the impact is already apparent, Weiner said. Her office is also receiving fewer calls from prospective asylum applicants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If people have to decide between fighting their asylum case and potentially getting deported to a country where they fear persecution, or just missing court and living in the shadows — that’s an impossible decision,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigration court is just over,” Weiner said. “I don’t know how the institution can recover from this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Amid fear, volunteers show up\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Milli Atkinson, the director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program with the Bar Association of San Francisco, said the organization has observers in the courtroom “every day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, Atkinson said they have also anecdotally observed “a marked increase in the number of individuals not appearing for their hearings at the hearings we are able to cover.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In these cases, time is of the essence. Since immigration courts are generally open to the public, an extra pair of eyes from a volunteer can help lawyers form a quick response plan, said Autumn Gonzalez, a Sacramento-based lawyer who volunteers with \u003ca href=\"https://www.norcalresist.org/\">NorCal Resist\u003c/a>, a nonprofit that organizes bail funds, food distribution and asylum workshops.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Those instances where people are going in for their usual check-in, and not being released — having someone there accompanying you means that we can immediately request legal assistance,” Gonzalez said. “We can make sure your family knows what happened to you … and hopefully prevent expedited deportations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alison Maciejewski Cortez is one of those volunteers. After 13 years outside the United States, she moved to Sacramento last September and almost immediately began volunteering for NorCal Resist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Coming back this time, I knew the political climate was going to be scary for my community,” said Maciejewski Cortez, who has experience working with Latin American, immigrant and refugee organizations. “I wanted to make sure that I had a way to give back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an American citizen who is fluent in several languages, including English, Spanish and Thai, Maciejewski Cortez particularly works with people going through the asylum-seeking process. Primed by NorCal Resist on what the organization calls “accompaniment training,” Maciejewski Cortez helps people with the administrative side of court hearings, including translating, going through paperwork and taking notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just want to make sure that they have the best chance at being heard,” Maciejewski Cortez said. “I have perfect English and \u003cem>I\u003c/em> still find some of these forms and terminology to be confusing and complicated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to supporting court logistics, accompaniment volunteers like Maciejewski Cortez also help provide a sense of protection and safety for the asylum seeker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been in a lot of immigration offices around the world, and it’s really scary to go alone,” she said. “I can’t imagine how somebody, who has recently arrived and has lived through a traumatic life experience, [is] trying to navigate this system,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046555\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1998px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046555\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-3_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Centro Legal de la Raza offices in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘I don’t know what would have happened to him’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The idea of accompaniment work grew from faith communities in the 1980s, Gonzalez said. Volunteers would help new immigrants and refugees find apartments and enroll their kids into schools — supporting every step of settling into a new country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, accompaniment to immigration court — and to check-ins with ICE — has become the primary need, Gonzalez said. And in recent months, volunteers have found themselves with an increasingly important extra role: keeping watch on applicants in the event that ICE detains a person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that point, the volunteer then immediately alerts the person’s legal support team or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12024332/ice-raids-in-california-how-to-sort-fact-from-rumor-online\">a local Rapid Response Network\u003c/a>, a separate group of dedicated volunteers and attorneys who respond to reports of possible ICE activity around the clock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hopefully, the fact that we have folks there with their eyes on what’s going on will provide deterrence to ICE from taking these actions,” Gonzalez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is something Maciejewski Cortez witnessed. In mid-June, while accompanying an applicant to immigration court in Sacramento, she saw ICE agents walking down the hall with handcuffs “hanging off their side.” After turning to follow them, she watched them apprehend a man whose case had been dismissed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maciejewski Cortez immediately tracked down the man’s details and alerted the local Rapid Response network. A pro bono lawyer with NorCal Resist promptly arrived at the courthouse and met with the detainee “and they both were out of the courthouse in two hours,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I hadn’t seen who it was or caught the name of the man in the court, I don’t know what would have happened to him,” she said. “I don’t know how long he would have been in their custody.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12043500\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12043500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250609-SF-IMMIGRATION-PROTESTS-MD-17-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters march down Mission Street in San Francisco in opposition to the Trump Administration’s immigration policy and enforcement on June 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Access and alternatives\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some advocates are now reporting they’re having trouble even accessing courtrooms to accompany immigrants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigration court hearings are “generally open to the public but can be closed or held with limited attendance at any time,” according to a representative of the federal Department of Justice’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/eoir\">Executive Office for Immigration Review\u003c/a>. Scenarios where \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1333591/dl?inline\">proceedings can be closed\u003c/a> include cases involving protective orders or domestic abuse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gonzalez said that the court in Sacramento has had “inconsistent rules regarding our access.” Maciejewski Cortez said she’d experienced being denied access to the Sacramento immigration courtroom in late June during the start of a hearing after court staff told her the courtroom would be full. Despite this, she said she saw empty seats still available.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“This arbitrary restriction makes it difficult to catch important information announced by the judge within the early minutes of proceedings, such as the name of the DHS attorney or the respondents to be addressed first,” Maciejewski Cortez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amid this uncertainty and the anxiety caused by in-person appearances, lawyers are scrambling to find other ways to support their clients and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\">remind them of their civil rights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>La Raza Centro Legal’s Weiner said her “first line of defense” is to file motions for all of her cases to be heard online, rather than at the courthouse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moving a case online — using \u003ca href=\"https://help.asylumadvocacy.org/virtual-hearings-in-immigration-court/\">the Zoom-like application WebEx —\u003c/a> is actually something anyone with an immigration court hearing can do, Weiner said, by filing \u003ca href=\"https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/pro-se-web.pdf\">a “Motion to Change Hearing Format\u003c/a>” and mailing it to their court. Applicants can work with a nonprofit to help them fill out this legal document. (KQED has a guide to seeking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12013522/free-legal-aid-in-the-bay-area-how-it-works-where-to-find-it\">free legal aid in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just filing the motion isn’t enough to get a person’s hearing moved online, Weiner said— an applicant still needs to wait for the judge’s decision to grant it or not. While “you don’t need a special reason to ask for your hearing to be online,” Weiner recommended that applicants still provide one — which could include a \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/asylum-video-court-heari/\">lack of child care or transportation\u003c/a> — “because it gives the judge more of a reason to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an applicant \u003cem>is \u003c/em>detained at court and ICE immediately begins the expedited removal process, the applicant should ask the immigration officer for a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/questions-and-answers-credible-fear-screening\">credible fear interview\u003c/a>” — loudly and clearly, since \u003ca href=\"https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-analysis-of-the-trump-administrations-initial-immigration-executive-actions/\">the officer may not ask if they want one\u003c/a>, Weiner said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The applicant will have to prove they are afraid to return to their country for safety reasons, either due to persecution or torture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they can pass that interview, then they may be able to see a judge again,” Weiner said. “They might be detained during that process, but at least they just won’t be quickly deported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047029\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047029\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250629-IMMIGRANT-ADVOCATES-MD-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pamphlets at Centro Legal de la Raza in San Francisco on June 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>‘Hope for the best and prepare for the worst’\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Weiner said that while she didn’t want to “be part of scaring people from going to court,” immigrants should nonetheless be as prepared as possible before heading to any court appearance — not just for their individual asylum case, but also for the very real risk of detention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This includes having a plan for any children they may have, key phone numbers for lawyers and family on hand or memorized, and leaving copies of all of their documents with their lawyer. (KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026817/ice-schools-and-children-what-families-should-know\">a thorough guide on how to create a family preparedness plan\u003c/a> in the event that a parent is deported.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a scenario Maciejewski Cortez said terrifies the people she works with. They often ask her, “‘Can ICE do this? I read in the news that this happened. Is that allowed? Can that happen to me?’” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel awful because I’d love to tell them, ‘No, that’s not going to happen to you. You have a current case status. You’ve already submitted your application for asylum. You’re in good standing. You have no criminal history,’” she said. “None of these things matter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She continued: “And so I have to tell them, ‘Honestly, anything can happen. But we will be there in case it does.’ We’re going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Despite working in health care administration and describing herself as “a little type A,” first-time mother Rabiha Ahmed-Sheikh of Hayward said neither proved an advantage when wrestling with her maternity leave options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is such a confusing thing if you’ve not gone through it before,” Ahmed-Sheikh said. “It’s really hard to know if you’re doing the right thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh struggled for years with infertility and miscarriages before becoming pregnant with her first child last year. Like many moms, she said she got more valuable information from chatting with coworkers in the hallway than from the parental leave webinar her employer offered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh had not yet emerged from sleepless nights and what she referred to as an emotional funk when she returned to work in April, five months after giving birth by emergency cesarean section. She learned that she’d inadvertently used up her employer-provided paid time off while she was out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I felt kind of cheated,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Such a confusing thing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh hadn’t realized asking her company to bank her PTO for later was even an option. And after her physician recently referred her to a postpartum support group, she’s now exploring whether she might be eligible to resume paid disability benefits, which, in the most extreme cases, can be extended for up to a full year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And she’s not alone in this; navigating maternity leave can be incredibly confusing for many expectant parents. So KQED spoke to Julia Parish, senior staff attorney at \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/\">Legal Aid at Work\u003c/a>, a nonprofit advocacy group that helps people understand their workplace rights, to break down the parts of taking parental leave in California that can trip up parents-to-be, and the aspects that are often downright unexpected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please note that this isn’t legal advice, and you should always seek guidance on your specific situation. You’ll also find more resources and further reading at the bottom of this story.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don’t assume ‘parental leave’ \u003cem>always \u003c/em>means ‘paid time off’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Think of parental leave as falling into two categories: “pay” and “time off work,” with job protection, Parish said. In this context, “job protection” means you should return to the same position or a comparable one when you return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two categories have different eligibility requirements and timeframes, said Parish. Ideally, they’ll “line up and people get both at the same time for the same period of time.” But be warned: “It doesn’t always work that way,” she said.[aside postID=news_12046217 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/npr.brightspotcdn-copy-13-1020x680.jpg']The big picture: In an uncomplicated pregnancy and childbirth, your job protection will last longer than the money. In California, you can get up to 22–24 weeks of job protection and 17–19 weeks of pay, depending on how you deliver your baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you experience complications — such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745\">preeclampsia\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placenta-previa/symptoms-causes/syc-20352768\">placenta previa\u003c/a>, persistent postpartum depression, anxiety or even pregnancy loss — the paid portion of your leave can increase, up to a maximum of 52 weeks with seven months of job protection and pay for the whole disability period, minus five weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(The five-week gap in disability pay reflects the one-week waiting period for disability pay, plus the four-week gap between bonding pay and bonding job protection — more on this below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The paid portion of your leave may even eclipse the typical job protection thresholds noted above.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this point, unless your employer can prove hardship, you may be eligible for other disability-related job protections under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Not all employees get the same length of parental leave — or are even eligible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/workplace-protections-for-pregnant-and-parenting-federal-employees/\">Federal\u003c/a> employees, \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/FAQ_DI_State_Employees\">state employees\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/do-teachers-get-paid-maternity-leave-do-they-get-vacation-days-these-answers-and-more/2022/08\">teachers\u003c/a> all have different programs and policies around parental leave. If you’re in one of these roles, you can check in with your union about what your contract offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re an independent contractor\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>you may not even be entitled to any assistance with parental leave, although this may be different if you choose to contribute to the \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/Payroll_Taxes/Disability_Insurance_Elective_Coverage\">Disability Insurance Elective Coverage\u003c/a> program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1312\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007-1536x1050.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman turns to fix a play mat that her baby will use when it’s born. \u003ccite>(Lindsey Moore/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To determine if you’re eligible for pay, check your pay stubs. Do you contribute to California State Disability or SDI? Have you earned at least $300 in your \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/Calculating_PFL_Benefit_Payment_Amounts/\">“base period\u003c/a>”? If yes, you’re likely eligible for \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/guides/undocumented-workers-guide-to-applying-for-california-disability-insurance-paid-family-leave/\">paid leave regardless of immigration status\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To determine if you may be able to take protected time off, ask yourself:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Will you have worked for your employer for at least one year by the time you’re going on leave?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Does your employer have at least five employees?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Will you have worked 1,250 hours in the year before your leave starts?\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you answered “yes” to all of the questions, then it’s likely you’ll get the maximum benefit when it comes to your protected leave. If you answered “no” to any of them, that’ll affect how much time you’ll be able to get off work.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>In California, you’ll start your parental leave through programs intended for healing …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Californians can use these two programs to initially go on parental leave:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>State Disability Insurance, or SDI (for your pay) \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Pregnancy Disability Leave, or PDL (for your job protection) \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>How it works: Unless your doctor orders you to take it easy even earlier, you’ll temporarily retire from your job four weeks before your due date. Parish said there’s no advantage to not doing this, unless, of course, you need your full pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046885\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12046885 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Parental leave in California comes with a tangle of rules, acronyms and timelines that can catch expectant parents off guard. \u003ccite>(iStock/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She also said that it’s also a common misconception among employers that starting SDI and PDL before the birth — rather than when it happens — will mean you’ll lose four weeks of paid leave on the other side, which isn’t true. That’s because California’s laws are actually more robust than the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which offers a total of 12 weeks. The \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/faqs-fmla-cfra/\">FMLA\u003c/a> isn’t really relevant to Californians unless they are federal employees, said Parish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since SDI has a one-week unpaid waiting period, you can apply on your first day of leave. You’ll continue to be paid through SDI for six to eight weeks after giving birth — with C-section births qualifying for the longer duration — minus a one-week unpaid waiting period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2025, SDI will cover 90% of wages for those earning under $60,000 a year and 70% for those with higher incomes, up to a cap of about $1,600 a week. There’s more on how SDI can be extended in certain circumstances below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, your time off is provided by PDL, which ensures that your job, or a comparable position, is secure for about four months from your first day out on leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>… followed by leave intended for bonding with your baby\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After using SDI and PDL for time to heal, a person can then use these two benefits, intended to allow a bonding period for a new family:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Paid Family Leave, or PFL (for your pay)\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>California Family Rights Act or CFRA (for your job protection).\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The benefits aren’t just for new moms. Parish said bonding benefits are “underused by other \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/workplace-rights-for-lgbtq-parents/\">parents\u003c/a>, like dads or \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/overview-taking-leave-from-work-for-foster-parents-in-california/\">foster parents \u003c/a>or adoptive parents and other people that are responsible for caring for the baby\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PFL pay lasts for eight weeks and can be taken intermittently up until your baby turns one. It uses the same pay formula as mothers get with SDI. That is to say, the amount you get paid by PFL is calculated using the highest earning quarter of your last year. (Those who work for a San Francisco employer may even be eligible to get their pay increased to 100% during this time, thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--paid-parental-leave-ordinance\">San Francisco’s Paid Parental Leave Ordinance\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CFRA, meanwhile, provides 12 weeks of job protection for bonding.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>You have options to extend parental leave due to pregnancy or birth-related disability\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Californians who have a \u003ca href=\"https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I682942735A0A11EC8227000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1\">health condition\u003c/a> after a birth that’s classified as a disability, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">postpartum depression and anxiety\u003c/a> that prevents them from working, can extend SDI disability pay up to 52 weeks in some cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware that the job protections from PDL and CFRA would only cover you for a total of seven months off the job, although other job \u003ca href=\"https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I6B027A235A0A11EC8227000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1\">protections\u003c/a>, such as \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/leave-pay-and-accommodations-for-pregnant-and-birthing-workers-in-california/\">reasonable disability accommodations\u003c/a>, might be possible unless your employer can prove hardship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mother and her 8-month-old baby play with Mahjong tiles at their home in Oakland on May 25, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To extend your disability for persistent postpartum depression or another condition, a certified medical provider — such as a doctor, doctor-supervised midwife, psychiatrist or psychologist — must submit documentation to the Employment Development Department. Be aware that while licensed marriage and family therapists or licensed clinical social workers can diagnose the conditions and may communicate with your doctor, they aren’t currently included in \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/Basics_for_Physicians-Practitioners/\">EDD’s list of professionals\u003c/a> approved to help you get extended wage replacement for your disability (However, therapists \u003cem>can\u003c/em> certify you for extended time off, which may be useful if you’re new to your workplace and not yet eligible for disability pay.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parish said that this extension also requires you to provide your \u003cem>employer \u003c/em>with a doctor’s note explaining that you’re still recovering from a pregnancy or childbirth-related disability, which doesn’t need to name the specific diagnosis.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How your existing PTO and sick leave relate to parental leave can depend on your employer\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is an area where employer rules can \u003cem>really \u003c/em>vary. For example, your employer may require you to only use sick or vacation time during certain periods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A good rule of thumb, said Parish, is to answer this question: Is your goal to maximize your time off? Or your pay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also work with your human resources department to \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/integration-coordination\">strategize how best to navigate this aspect\u003c/a>. If you still have questions, call Legal Aid at Work’s helpline at 800-880-8047.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Want more reading about taking leave after childbirth?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/pregnancy-parenting-my-job-in-california/\">Pregnancy/Parenting + My Job (in California)\u003c/a>, from Legal Aid at Work\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/videos/pregnant-and-parenting-employees-workplace-rights-to-paid-leave-and-accommodations-in-california/\">Video: Pregnant and Parenting Employees’ Workplace Rights to Paid Leave and Accommodations in California\u003c/a>, from Legal Aid at Work\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/employment/#faqPBody\">FAQ: Pregnancy Disability\u003c/a>, from California’s Civil Rights Department\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/integration-coordination\">Combined Wages With Benefits\u003c/a>, from EDD\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/faq_di_pregnancy/\">Disability Insurance — Pregnancy FAQs\u003c/a>, from EDD\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/s/\">Ask EDD\u003c/a>: Submit a question directly to EDD about your situation by selecting \u003cem>Paid Family Leave > Miscellaneous Inquiry > Other (Questions)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Navigating the options for taking time off after having a baby can be challenging — or downright confusing. Here’s an overview of your options.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Despite working in health care administration and describing herself as “a little type A,” first-time mother Rabiha Ahmed-Sheikh of Hayward said neither proved an advantage when wrestling with her maternity leave options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is such a confusing thing if you’ve not gone through it before,” Ahmed-Sheikh said. “It’s really hard to know if you’re doing the right thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh struggled for years with infertility and miscarriages before becoming pregnant with her first child last year. Like many moms, she said she got more valuable information from chatting with coworkers in the hallway than from the parental leave webinar her employer offered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh had not yet emerged from sleepless nights and what she referred to as an emotional funk when she returned to work in April, five months after giving birth by emergency cesarean section. She learned that she’d inadvertently used up her employer-provided paid time off while she was out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I felt kind of cheated,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Such a confusing thing’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ahmed-Sheikh hadn’t realized asking her company to bank her PTO for later was even an option. And after her physician recently referred her to a postpartum support group, she’s now exploring whether she might be eligible to resume paid disability benefits, which, in the most extreme cases, can be extended for up to a full year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And she’s not alone in this; navigating maternity leave can be incredibly confusing for many expectant parents. So KQED spoke to Julia Parish, senior staff attorney at \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/\">Legal Aid at Work\u003c/a>, a nonprofit advocacy group that helps people understand their workplace rights, to break down the parts of taking parental leave in California that can trip up parents-to-be, and the aspects that are often downright unexpected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Please note that this isn’t legal advice, and you should always seek guidance on your specific situation. You’ll also find more resources and further reading at the bottom of this story.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don’t assume ‘parental leave’ \u003cem>always \u003c/em>means ‘paid time off’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Think of parental leave as falling into two categories: “pay” and “time off work,” with job protection, Parish said. In this context, “job protection” means you should return to the same position or a comparable one when you return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two categories have different eligibility requirements and timeframes, said Parish. Ideally, they’ll “line up and people get both at the same time for the same period of time.” But be warned: “It doesn’t always work that way,” she said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The big picture: In an uncomplicated pregnancy and childbirth, your job protection will last longer than the money. In California, you can get up to 22–24 weeks of job protection and 17–19 weeks of pay, depending on how you deliver your baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you experience complications — such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745\">preeclampsia\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placenta-previa/symptoms-causes/syc-20352768\">placenta previa\u003c/a>, persistent postpartum depression, anxiety or even pregnancy loss — the paid portion of your leave can increase, up to a maximum of 52 weeks with seven months of job protection and pay for the whole disability period, minus five weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(The five-week gap in disability pay reflects the one-week waiting period for disability pay, plus the four-week gap between bonding pay and bonding job protection — more on this below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The paid portion of your leave may even eclipse the typical job protection thresholds noted above.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this point, unless your employer can prove hardship, you may be eligible for other disability-related job protections under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Not all employees get the same length of parental leave — or are even eligible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/workplace-protections-for-pregnant-and-parenting-federal-employees/\">Federal\u003c/a> employees, \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/FAQ_DI_State_Employees\">state employees\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/do-teachers-get-paid-maternity-leave-do-they-get-vacation-days-these-answers-and-more/2022/08\">teachers\u003c/a> all have different programs and policies around parental leave. If you’re in one of these roles, you can check in with your union about what your contract offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re an independent contractor\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>you may not even be entitled to any assistance with parental leave, although this may be different if you choose to contribute to the \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/Payroll_Taxes/Disability_Insurance_Elective_Coverage\">Disability Insurance Elective Coverage\u003c/a> program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1312\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/McClurgBirth_007-1536x1050.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman turns to fix a play mat that her baby will use when it’s born. \u003ccite>(Lindsey Moore/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To determine if you’re eligible for pay, check your pay stubs. Do you contribute to California State Disability or SDI? Have you earned at least $300 in your \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/Calculating_PFL_Benefit_Payment_Amounts/\">“base period\u003c/a>”? If yes, you’re likely eligible for \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/guides/undocumented-workers-guide-to-applying-for-california-disability-insurance-paid-family-leave/\">paid leave regardless of immigration status\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To determine if you may be able to take protected time off, ask yourself:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Will you have worked for your employer for at least one year by the time you’re going on leave?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Does your employer have at least five employees?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Will you have worked 1,250 hours in the year before your leave starts?\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you answered “yes” to all of the questions, then it’s likely you’ll get the maximum benefit when it comes to your protected leave. If you answered “no” to any of them, that’ll affect how much time you’ll be able to get off work.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>In California, you’ll start your parental leave through programs intended for healing …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Californians can use these two programs to initially go on parental leave:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>State Disability Insurance, or SDI (for your pay) \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Pregnancy Disability Leave, or PDL (for your job protection) \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>How it works: Unless your doctor orders you to take it easy even earlier, you’ll temporarily retire from your job four weeks before your due date. Parish said there’s no advantage to not doing this, unless, of course, you need your full pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046885\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12046885 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/iStock_000039661108_Large_qed-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Parental leave in California comes with a tangle of rules, acronyms and timelines that can catch expectant parents off guard. \u003ccite>(iStock/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She also said that it’s also a common misconception among employers that starting SDI and PDL before the birth — rather than when it happens — will mean you’ll lose four weeks of paid leave on the other side, which isn’t true. That’s because California’s laws are actually more robust than the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which offers a total of 12 weeks. The \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/faqs-fmla-cfra/\">FMLA\u003c/a> isn’t really relevant to Californians unless they are federal employees, said Parish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since SDI has a one-week unpaid waiting period, you can apply on your first day of leave. You’ll continue to be paid through SDI for six to eight weeks after giving birth — with C-section births qualifying for the longer duration — minus a one-week unpaid waiting period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2025, SDI will cover 90% of wages for those earning under $60,000 a year and 70% for those with higher incomes, up to a cap of about $1,600 a week. There’s more on how SDI can be extended in certain circumstances below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, your time off is provided by PDL, which ensures that your job, or a comparable position, is secure for about four months from your first day out on leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>… followed by leave intended for bonding with your baby\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After using SDI and PDL for time to heal, a person can then use these two benefits, intended to allow a bonding period for a new family:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Paid Family Leave, or PFL (for your pay)\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>California Family Rights Act or CFRA (for your job protection).\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The benefits aren’t just for new moms. Parish said bonding benefits are “underused by other \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/workplace-rights-for-lgbtq-parents/\">parents\u003c/a>, like dads or \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/overview-taking-leave-from-work-for-foster-parents-in-california/\">foster parents \u003c/a>or adoptive parents and other people that are responsible for caring for the baby\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PFL pay lasts for eight weeks and can be taken intermittently up until your baby turns one. It uses the same pay formula as mothers get with SDI. That is to say, the amount you get paid by PFL is calculated using the highest earning quarter of your last year. (Those who work for a San Francisco employer may even be eligible to get their pay increased to 100% during this time, thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--paid-parental-leave-ordinance\">San Francisco’s Paid Parental Leave Ordinance\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CFRA, meanwhile, provides 12 weeks of job protection for bonding.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>You have options to extend parental leave due to pregnancy or birth-related disability\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Californians who have a \u003ca href=\"https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I682942735A0A11EC8227000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1\">health condition\u003c/a> after a birth that’s classified as a disability, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">postpartum depression and anxiety\u003c/a> that prevents them from working, can extend SDI disability pay up to 52 weeks in some cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware that the job protections from PDL and CFRA would only cover you for a total of seven months off the job, although other job \u003ca href=\"https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I6B027A235A0A11EC8227000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)&bhcp=1\">protections\u003c/a>, such as \u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/leave-pay-and-accommodations-for-pregnant-and-birthing-workers-in-california/\">reasonable disability accommodations\u003c/a>, might be possible unless your employer can prove hardship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250525_OralHistory_GC-24_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mother and her 8-month-old baby play with Mahjong tiles at their home in Oakland on May 25, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To extend your disability for persistent postpartum depression or another condition, a certified medical provider — such as a doctor, doctor-supervised midwife, psychiatrist or psychologist — must submit documentation to the Employment Development Department. Be aware that while licensed marriage and family therapists or licensed clinical social workers can diagnose the conditions and may communicate with your doctor, they aren’t currently included in \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/Basics_for_Physicians-Practitioners/\">EDD’s list of professionals\u003c/a> approved to help you get extended wage replacement for your disability (However, therapists \u003cem>can\u003c/em> certify you for extended time off, which may be useful if you’re new to your workplace and not yet eligible for disability pay.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parish said that this extension also requires you to provide your \u003cem>employer \u003c/em>with a doctor’s note explaining that you’re still recovering from a pregnancy or childbirth-related disability, which doesn’t need to name the specific diagnosis.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How your existing PTO and sick leave relate to parental leave can depend on your employer\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is an area where employer rules can \u003cem>really \u003c/em>vary. For example, your employer may require you to only use sick or vacation time during certain periods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A good rule of thumb, said Parish, is to answer this question: Is your goal to maximize your time off? Or your pay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also work with your human resources department to \u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/integration-coordination\">strategize how best to navigate this aspect\u003c/a>. If you still have questions, call Legal Aid at Work’s helpline at 800-880-8047.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Want more reading about taking leave after childbirth?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/pregnancy-parenting-my-job-in-california/\">Pregnancy/Parenting + My Job (in California)\u003c/a>, from Legal Aid at Work\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://legalaidatwork.org/videos/pregnant-and-parenting-employees-workplace-rights-to-paid-leave-and-accommodations-in-california/\">Video: Pregnant and Parenting Employees’ Workplace Rights to Paid Leave and Accommodations in California\u003c/a>, from Legal Aid at Work\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/employment/#faqPBody\">FAQ: Pregnancy Disability\u003c/a>, from California’s Civil Rights Department\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/integration-coordination\">Combined Wages With Benefits\u003c/a>, from EDD\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/faq_di_pregnancy/\">Disability Insurance — Pregnancy FAQs\u003c/a>, from EDD\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/s/\">Ask EDD\u003c/a>: Submit a question directly to EDD about your situation by selecting \u003cem>Paid Family Leave > Miscellaneous Inquiry > Other (Questions)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Heading to the River This Summer? The Safety Advice to Know",
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"headTitle": "Heading to the River This Summer? The Safety Advice to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>There’s no better way to escape the summer heat than to head out to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976437/best-swimming-spots-public-pools-rivers-lakes-beaches-holes-bay-area\">the Bay Area’s best swimming spots.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re planning to get out of town for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and take a dip in a popular river like the South Yuba River in Nevada County or the American River outside Sacramento, take extra caution. As beautiful as they are, these rivers are \u003cem>cold\u003c/em> and fast-moving in some areas — and can even be deadly, experts warn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year,\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/yuba-county-drownings-19558245.php\"> two people drowned in the South Yuba River in a single day\u003c/a>. Already this year, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District \u003ca href=\"https://nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8218\">has performed four swift-water rescues\u003c/a> and responded to one likely fatality \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/search-continues-missing-woman-yuba-river/103-6934bb99-5ada-4d71-9562-6c3477aa002a\">after a woman was swept away by the Yuba waters over Memorial Day weekend\u003c/a>, said Fire Chief Jason Robitaille.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She still has not been found,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But these types of incidents are “very preventable,” Robitaille said, if visitors take a few important precautions when visiting the river. Read on for safety tips from him and other experts this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Copy-of-Guardian_Exceptional_Events_Rule_418-scaled-e1750453935878.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11964351\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Copy-of-Guardian_Exceptional_Events_Rule_418-scaled-e1750453935878.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a bridge with two pairs of people walking.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Highway 49 Bridge over the South Yuba River in Nevada County, California, is a popular area for hikers. \u003ccite>(Andri Tambunan/The Guardian)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatshouldIknowbeforeIgototheriverinsummer2025?\">What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowshouldIreactinanemergencyontheriver?\">How should I react in an emergency on the river?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whichriverspotscouldbesaferformeandmyfamilytovisitthissummer?\">Which river spots could be safer for me and my family to visit this summer?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatshouldIknowbeforeIgototheriverinsummer2025?\">\u003c/a>What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>David Spencer, commander with the Sacramento County Regional Park Rangers, said he fully encourages people to come out and enjoy the American River this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Pages/RulesRegulationsWaterSafety.aspx\">We just ask them to be safe and know the rules\u003c/a>,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes no alcohol at access beaches or on the river, he said. And anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket — \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Documents/LifePreserverBrochure.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no exceptions (PDF).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The South Yuba River, on the other hand, can be a truly dangerous place to swim this summer — just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">like last year\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953792/visiting-rivers-is-extra-dangerous-this-summer-if-you-were-planning-a-trip-heres-what-to-know\">the year before.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://x.com/NWSSacramento/status/1933615361632416122\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our message is: Swimming in the river is never safe,” said Daniel Elkin, communications and engagement director for advocacy group the \u003ca href=\"https://yubariver.org/\">South Yuba River Citizens League\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what makes the South Yuba so risky, even for strong swimmers? The flow of the river is aggressive and even if it’s warm outside, the water itself — which is mostly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995954/at-hidden-tahoe-lab-scientists-learn-the-art-of-measuring-snow\">snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains\u003c/a> — is very cold. The earlier in the season, the more dangerous being in or near these waters can be, so if you’re hoping to swim, consider waiting until later this summer, Elkin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know the waters are enticing,” Robitaille said. “However, the flows are pretty volatile and can easily overtake an experienced swimmer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The safety tips experts recommend when going to the river\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Always wear a life jacket, even if you’re a good swimmer, said Susan Hoek, District 4 supervisor for Nevada County. On both the South Yuba and American Rivers, free loaner life jackets are available at several locations nearby. And always swim with a buddy, Hoek said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because in addition to the cold and the rush of the water, rivers like the South Yuba — and the American, too — can have some unpredictable undercurrents, rocks or deep spots that may seem to come out of nowhere, Hoek said. Plus, rivers tend to get higher and faster later in the day when the most snow is melting higher upstream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just because you can get in [the water] in the early morning doesn’t mean you can later in the day as well,” Elkin added.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']Tip: Time of day matters for your safety. Rivers tend to get higher and faster later in the day, when the most snow is melting higher upstream.[/pullquote]Also, consider carpooling to the South Yuba — not just for safety in numbers, but also to cut down on the number of cars parked on the roadway that may be in the way of first responders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a problem with people parking along the river and having that limit the accessibility of emergency vehicles because people are parking illegally and emergency vehicles can’t get in,” Elkin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Regardless, it will take a while for emergency personnel to be there if there is a problem,” he said. That’s because there’s no cell service in much of the South Yuba’s canyon — so be aware of your location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re a mile up the river, the odds of your cell phone working are slim to none,” Hoek said.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']Tip: Life jackets are available to rent at several locations on both the South Yuba and American Rivers, and are strongly recommended.[/pullquote]Call boxes are \u003ca href=\"https://nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8218\">positioned at various parking lots and road intersections\u003c/a> along the South Yuba. Even so, response times from emergency personnel can range from 15 to 30 minutes, according to Robitaille, and help may be even further delayed depending on where the victim is located and what else the fire department is juggling at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These calls are very labor-intensive,” Robitaille said. “It takes a lot of resources, especially in the height of fire season. That will dilute our response if there’s another incident.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Robitaille said due to the steep terrain around the river and the wet, slippery rocks near the banks of the Yuba, “it’s easy for someone to lose their footing,” he said. Plus, hiking up and out of the steep canyon to use a call box or look for help can be treacherous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In many areas along the South Yuba and the American River on holiday weekends in particular, \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Pages/Alcohol.aspx\">alcohol is prohibited,\u003c/a> and ”State Parks and law enforcement are strictly enforcing those types of regulations,” Robitaille said.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']Tip: Cell service can be limited or non-existent at many spots around these rivers, so make a note of where your nearest call box may be, in case of an emergency.[/pullquote]That’s because drinking can impair judgement and turn an already dangerous situation into a deadly one, Spencer said — plus a day out on the river can lead to dehydration quickly. Drink water instead, experts advise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spencer said the majority of water rescue calls his department receives are \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/RossmoorBar.aspx\">along the El Manto, also known as Clay Banks, area of the American River,\u003c/a> where the water is deep and the currents can be tricky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current runs in almost a circular motion and it can suck you down under the water,” he said. “That’s where we have most of our drownings.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s also where the ranger boat is out on the weekends patrolling, and “if you have any concerns, you can wave them down,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mitigate your impact on the South Yuba’s ecosystem, Elkin also asks visitors to wear \u003ca href=\"https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html\">reef-safe sunscreen\u003c/a> to protect the waterway and pick up and pack out your trash. You should also be aware of fire safety, as a fire in the canyon would be “devastating,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Know that the Yuba has been very impacted lately — there have been a lot of visitors to the state park,” he said. “So it’s not quite as calm and serene as it used to be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11953825\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11953825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A dark-toned image of water in a river rushing over a small rapid\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Yuba River is a popular weekend excursion for many in the Bay Area. But this summer, at least right now, it’s not advised. \u003ccite>(Cavan Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How to check the safety conditions on the river before you go\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any local river, you can check websites \u003ca href=\"https://www.dreamflows.com/flows.php?page=real&zone=canv&form=maps\">Dreamflows \u003c/a>and \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-index\">American Whitewater\u003c/a>, which track the flow of any given river and offer weather and other condition reports for visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also check \u003ca href=\"https://gonevadacounty.com/travel-alerts-nevada-county/\">Go Nevada County\u003c/a> for travel alerts in the area and the\u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Pages/default.aspx\"> regional parks website for Sacramento County. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowshouldIreactinanemergencyontheriver?\">\u003c/a>What should I do in an emergency on the river?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you’re the one in trouble\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do find yourself caught in the current, the best move is to float on your back and position your feet downstream, and “don’t try to fight it too much,” Elkin said. Then, attempt to paddle to one side of the river toward shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yell for help if you can, and try to reach for any sort of flotation device or solid object like a branch or rock that may be nearby. \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=river+safety+yell+for+help&sca_esv=f7661461505a9ca6&rlz=1C1GCMA_en___US1162&ei=K7VVaKvSAo7D0PEPgMCiwA8&ved=0ahUKEwjrk6Dd3ICOAxWOITQIHQCgCPgQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=river+safety+yell+for+help&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGnJpdmVyIHNhZmV0eSB5ZWxsIGZvciBoZWxwMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiWMFDbBFi0LnAIeAGQAQCYAYcBoAGDG6oBBDYuMjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAiegAugcwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICEBAAGIAEGJECGIoFGEYY-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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&safe=active&ssui=on#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5cf873fd,vid:r0i6ZLCxJZA,st:4\">Raising one hand straight over your head instead of two\u003c/a> can both help you stay afloat and visible while signaling to others on shore that you are in need of rescue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEn73Aro7Bc&list=PLXPTjQ-jmMjUq8NT8-8AnS8ZfrBjGjwC9&index=8\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you see someone else in trouble\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It may seem counterintuitive, but if you see someone in the river struggling, experts warn against going in after them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of people that go in the river to save somebody are the ones that don’t come out,” Hoek said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, immediately call 911 from your cellphone if you have signal, or from a nearby callbox, Robitaille said. “Don’t hesitate. Get us rolling,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can do so safely, try to toss a rope or flotation device into the water. But Robitaille said his crew and the California Highway Patrol are fully equipped to perform rescues once they’ve arrived.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whichriverspotscouldbesaferformeandmyfamilytovisitthissummer?\">\u003c/a>Where should I go if I want the least dangerous swimming experience?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the American River, some access points like the \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/WattAvenueAccess.aspx\">Watt Avenue\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/HoweAveRiverAccess.aspx\">Howe River Access\u003c/a> points may be shallower and more approachable for less confident swimmers, Spencer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Life jackets are available to rent at several locations on both the South Yuba and American Rivers, and are strongly recommended.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']Tip: Alcohol is prohibited in many areas along the South Yuba and the American River, on holiday weekends in particular — and you can expect this to be actively enforced.[/pullquote]If you are set on swimming in the South Yuba, Elkin advised checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.southyubariverstatepark.org/RespWebPages/Swimming.html\">area around Bridgeport\u003c/a>, where a family-friendly beach offers a bit more shelter and shallow waters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For folks visiting Nevada County but reconsidering their South Yuba river plans, Hoek also suggested calmer nearby spots like \u003ca href=\"https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/1529\">Rollins Lake\u003c/a> (although it’s looking a bit low this year, she said), which can be accessed via \u003ca href=\"https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/1529\">a hike from Memorial Park\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.ymcasuperiorcal.org/GoldCountryYMCA\">even the Grass Valley swimming pool\u003c/a> for a family-friendly dip. For the Fourth of July weekend, there will also be \u003ca href=\"https://www.grassvalleychamber.com/visit/4th-of-july-festivities-2/\">a parade in downtown Grass Valley\u003c/a> and all the local movie theaters will be open if you’re looking for a cool escape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, if you want to enjoy the magnificent power of the Yuba without the danger, you can simply enjoy the view from shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Yuba is just the most magnificent thing to sit and watch,” Hoek said. “It’s crazy amazing, but on the same token, she’s unforgiving, she’s brutal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And she doesn’t have the ability to spit you back out,” she warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">Nisa Khan \u003c/a>and was originally published on June 21.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Headed to the river for the holiday weekend? First responders and local leaders have safety advice for you about hitting the American and South Yuba Rivers.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>There’s no better way to escape the summer heat than to head out to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976437/best-swimming-spots-public-pools-rivers-lakes-beaches-holes-bay-area\">the Bay Area’s best swimming spots.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re planning to get out of town for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and take a dip in a popular river like the South Yuba River in Nevada County or the American River outside Sacramento, take extra caution. As beautiful as they are, these rivers are \u003cem>cold\u003c/em> and fast-moving in some areas — and can even be deadly, experts warn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year,\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/yuba-county-drownings-19558245.php\"> two people drowned in the South Yuba River in a single day\u003c/a>. Already this year, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District \u003ca href=\"https://nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8218\">has performed four swift-water rescues\u003c/a> and responded to one likely fatality \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/search-continues-missing-woman-yuba-river/103-6934bb99-5ada-4d71-9562-6c3477aa002a\">after a woman was swept away by the Yuba waters over Memorial Day weekend\u003c/a>, said Fire Chief Jason Robitaille.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She still has not been found,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But these types of incidents are “very preventable,” Robitaille said, if visitors take a few important precautions when visiting the river. Read on for safety tips from him and other experts this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Copy-of-Guardian_Exceptional_Events_Rule_418-scaled-e1750453935878.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11964351\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Copy-of-Guardian_Exceptional_Events_Rule_418-scaled-e1750453935878.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a bridge with two pairs of people walking.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Highway 49 Bridge over the South Yuba River in Nevada County, California, is a popular area for hikers. \u003ccite>(Andri Tambunan/The Guardian)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatshouldIknowbeforeIgototheriverinsummer2025?\">What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowshouldIreactinanemergencyontheriver?\">How should I react in an emergency on the river?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whichriverspotscouldbesaferformeandmyfamilytovisitthissummer?\">Which river spots could be safer for me and my family to visit this summer?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatshouldIknowbeforeIgototheriverinsummer2025?\">\u003c/a>What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>David Spencer, commander with the Sacramento County Regional Park Rangers, said he fully encourages people to come out and enjoy the American River this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Pages/RulesRegulationsWaterSafety.aspx\">We just ask them to be safe and know the rules\u003c/a>,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes no alcohol at access beaches or on the river, he said. And anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket — \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Documents/LifePreserverBrochure.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no exceptions (PDF).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The South Yuba River, on the other hand, can be a truly dangerous place to swim this summer — just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">like last year\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11953792/visiting-rivers-is-extra-dangerous-this-summer-if-you-were-planning-a-trip-heres-what-to-know\">the year before.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>“Our message is: Swimming in the river is never safe,” said Daniel Elkin, communications and engagement director for advocacy group the \u003ca href=\"https://yubariver.org/\">South Yuba River Citizens League\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what makes the South Yuba so risky, even for strong swimmers? The flow of the river is aggressive and even if it’s warm outside, the water itself — which is mostly \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995954/at-hidden-tahoe-lab-scientists-learn-the-art-of-measuring-snow\">snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains\u003c/a> — is very cold. The earlier in the season, the more dangerous being in or near these waters can be, so if you’re hoping to swim, consider waiting until later this summer, Elkin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know the waters are enticing,” Robitaille said. “However, the flows are pretty volatile and can easily overtake an experienced swimmer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The safety tips experts recommend when going to the river\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Always wear a life jacket, even if you’re a good swimmer, said Susan Hoek, District 4 supervisor for Nevada County. On both the South Yuba and American Rivers, free loaner life jackets are available at several locations nearby. And always swim with a buddy, Hoek said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because in addition to the cold and the rush of the water, rivers like the South Yuba — and the American, too — can have some unpredictable undercurrents, rocks or deep spots that may seem to come out of nowhere, Hoek said. Plus, rivers tend to get higher and faster later in the day when the most snow is melting higher upstream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just because you can get in [the water] in the early morning doesn’t mean you can later in the day as well,” Elkin added.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "Tip: Time of day matters for your safety. Rivers tend to get higher and faster later in the day, when the most snow is melting higher upstream.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Also, consider carpooling to the South Yuba — not just for safety in numbers, but also to cut down on the number of cars parked on the roadway that may be in the way of first responders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have a problem with people parking along the river and having that limit the accessibility of emergency vehicles because people are parking illegally and emergency vehicles can’t get in,” Elkin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Regardless, it will take a while for emergency personnel to be there if there is a problem,” he said. That’s because there’s no cell service in much of the South Yuba’s canyon — so be aware of your location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re a mile up the river, the odds of your cell phone working are slim to none,” Hoek said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "Tip: Life jackets are available to rent at several locations on both the South Yuba and American Rivers, and are strongly recommended.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Call boxes are \u003ca href=\"https://nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8218\">positioned at various parking lots and road intersections\u003c/a> along the South Yuba. Even so, response times from emergency personnel can range from 15 to 30 minutes, according to Robitaille, and help may be even further delayed depending on where the victim is located and what else the fire department is juggling at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These calls are very labor-intensive,” Robitaille said. “It takes a lot of resources, especially in the height of fire season. That will dilute our response if there’s another incident.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Robitaille said due to the steep terrain around the river and the wet, slippery rocks near the banks of the Yuba, “it’s easy for someone to lose their footing,” he said. Plus, hiking up and out of the steep canyon to use a call box or look for help can be treacherous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In many areas along the South Yuba and the American River on holiday weekends in particular, \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Rangers/Pages/Alcohol.aspx\">alcohol is prohibited,\u003c/a> and ”State Parks and law enforcement are strictly enforcing those types of regulations,” Robitaille said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "Tip: Cell service can be limited or non-existent at many spots around these rivers, so make a note of where your nearest call box may be, in case of an emergency.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>That’s because drinking can impair judgement and turn an already dangerous situation into a deadly one, Spencer said — plus a day out on the river can lead to dehydration quickly. Drink water instead, experts advise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spencer said the majority of water rescue calls his department receives are \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/RossmoorBar.aspx\">along the El Manto, also known as Clay Banks, area of the American River,\u003c/a> where the water is deep and the currents can be tricky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current runs in almost a circular motion and it can suck you down under the water,” he said. “That’s where we have most of our drownings.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s also where the ranger boat is out on the weekends patrolling, and “if you have any concerns, you can wave them down,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mitigate your impact on the South Yuba’s ecosystem, Elkin also asks visitors to wear \u003ca href=\"https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html\">reef-safe sunscreen\u003c/a> to protect the waterway and pick up and pack out your trash. You should also be aware of fire safety, as a fire in the canyon would be “devastating,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Know that the Yuba has been very impacted lately — there have been a lot of visitors to the state park,” he said. “So it’s not quite as calm and serene as it used to be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11953825\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11953825\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A dark-toned image of water in a river rushing over a small rapid\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/RS66532_GettyImages-1307726709-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Yuba River is a popular weekend excursion for many in the Bay Area. But this summer, at least right now, it’s not advised. \u003ccite>(Cavan Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How to check the safety conditions on the river before you go\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any local river, you can check websites \u003ca href=\"https://www.dreamflows.com/flows.php?page=real&zone=canv&form=maps\">Dreamflows \u003c/a>and \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-index\">American Whitewater\u003c/a>, which track the flow of any given river and offer weather and other condition reports for visitors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also check \u003ca href=\"https://gonevadacounty.com/travel-alerts-nevada-county/\">Go Nevada County\u003c/a> for travel alerts in the area and the\u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Pages/default.aspx\"> regional parks website for Sacramento County. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowshouldIreactinanemergencyontheriver?\">\u003c/a>What should I do in an emergency on the river?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you’re the one in trouble\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do find yourself caught in the current, the best move is to float on your back and position your feet downstream, and “don’t try to fight it too much,” Elkin said. Then, attempt to paddle to one side of the river toward shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yell for help if you can, and try to reach for any sort of flotation device or solid object like a branch or rock that may be nearby. \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=river+safety+yell+for+help&sca_esv=f7661461505a9ca6&rlz=1C1GCMA_en___US1162&ei=K7VVaKvSAo7D0PEPgMCiwA8&ved=0ahUKEwjrk6Dd3ICOAxWOITQIHQCgCPgQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=river+safety+yell+for+help&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGnJpdmVyIHNhZmV0eSB5ZWxsIGZvciBoZWxwMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUiWMFDbBFi0LnAIeAGQAQCYAYcBoAGDG6oBBDYuMjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAiegAugcwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICEBAAGIAEGJECGIoFGEYY-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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&safe=active&ssui=on#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5cf873fd,vid:r0i6ZLCxJZA,st:4\">Raising one hand straight over your head instead of two\u003c/a> can both help you stay afloat and visible while signaling to others on shore that you are in need of rescue.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/OEn73Aro7Bc'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/OEn73Aro7Bc'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you see someone else in trouble\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It may seem counterintuitive, but if you see someone in the river struggling, experts warn against going in after them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of people that go in the river to save somebody are the ones that don’t come out,” Hoek said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, immediately call 911 from your cellphone if you have signal, or from a nearby callbox, Robitaille said. “Don’t hesitate. Get us rolling,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can do so safely, try to toss a rope or flotation device into the water. But Robitaille said his crew and the California Highway Patrol are fully equipped to perform rescues once they’ve arrived.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whichriverspotscouldbesaferformeandmyfamilytovisitthissummer?\">\u003c/a>Where should I go if I want the least dangerous swimming experience?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the American River, some access points like the \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/WattAvenueAccess.aspx\">Watt Avenue\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://regionalparks.saccounty.gov/Parks/Pages/HoweAveRiverAccess.aspx\">Howe River Access\u003c/a> points may be shallower and more approachable for less confident swimmers, Spencer said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Life jackets are available to rent at several locations on both the South Yuba and American Rivers, and are strongly recommended.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "Tip: Alcohol is prohibited in many areas along the South Yuba and the American River, on holiday weekends in particular — and you can expect this to be actively enforced.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If you are set on swimming in the South Yuba, Elkin advised checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.southyubariverstatepark.org/RespWebPages/Swimming.html\">area around Bridgeport\u003c/a>, where a family-friendly beach offers a bit more shelter and shallow waters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For folks visiting Nevada County but reconsidering their South Yuba river plans, Hoek also suggested calmer nearby spots like \u003ca href=\"https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/1529\">Rollins Lake\u003c/a> (although it’s looking a bit low this year, she said), which can be accessed via \u003ca href=\"https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/1529\">a hike from Memorial Park\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.ymcasuperiorcal.org/GoldCountryYMCA\">even the Grass Valley swimming pool\u003c/a> for a family-friendly dip. For the Fourth of July weekend, there will also be \u003ca href=\"https://www.grassvalleychamber.com/visit/4th-of-july-festivities-2/\">a parade in downtown Grass Valley\u003c/a> and all the local movie theaters will be open if you’re looking for a cool escape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, if you want to enjoy the magnificent power of the Yuba without the danger, you can simply enjoy the view from shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Yuba is just the most magnificent thing to sit and watch,” Hoek said. “It’s crazy amazing, but on the same token, she’s unforgiving, she’s brutal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And she doesn’t have the ability to spit you back out,” she warned.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">Nisa Khan \u003c/a>and was originally published on June 21.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Want to Get Into Backpacking? These 3 Bay Area Beginner Trails Are a Great Way to Start",
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"content": "\u003cp>After completing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101890826/hiking-the-pacific-crest-trail-is-hard-and-climate-change-is-making-it-harder\">2,500-mile Pacific Crest Trail\u003c/a> in 2019, I’d now consider myself an experienced backpacker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I always make sure to tell people that this five-month-long adventure was actually only my \u003cem>third-ever\u003c/em> backpacking trip — not to grandstand, but to make clear just how fast even a beginner can get the hang of things.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you like hiking or camping but have never made the leap to carrying everything you need on your back for a day or two, there are a few basics any first-time backpacker should know. And with a holiday weekend here for the Fourth of July, this could be the time to get started.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to plan your inaugural backpacking trip, with advice from experts and pro tips for having as much fun as possible — plus three achievable itineraries for a beginner’s backpacking adventure right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#backpacking-trails-near-me\">Three Bay Area trails for your first backpacking trip\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#backpacking-gear\">What you might not expect about backpacking gear\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Seven things to know about your first backpacking trip \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know that backpacking doesn’t have to mean a long, hard trip …\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any time you spend at least one night sleeping outdoors, and you’re carrying the gear you need to do that? That counts as backpacking — no matter how far you walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not every trip has to be at high elevations, either. Your first trip could be a one-mile hike to a picturesque lake or viewpoint or an easy stroll along a creek, for just one night. And if you’re itching to get out there for more than one night, consider setting up camp at one spot for multiple nights and exploring from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040037\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040037\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A backpacking tent sits in a field at Henry W. Coe State Park in 2019. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Richard Bothwell, owner of San Francisco-based guiding company \u003ca href=\"https://outdooradventureclub.com/\">Outdoor Adventure Club\u003c/a>, recommends you start your backpacking career “on a really easy trip”: “A single-night trip where you can get a backpack on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s a saying in backpacking: “Hike your own hike.” That is, don’t be swayed by your friends who want to attempt a long trail at high elevation for their first trip, when you were planning to keep it simple. Any night spent on the trail is bound to be an adventure, so make a plan that feels comfortable to you and make the most of it as a learning opportunity. And don’t judge others, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t head out solo — at least not at first\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s that simple: Backpacking is better — and safer — with friends. Having other people to help motivate you when the walking gets tough and to be a second set of eyes on navigation and decision-making (not to mention a source of support in case of emergency) is critical for any backpacker, not just first-timers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you prefer a solo challenge, don’t worry: Once you get the basics down, there are plenty of trails out there that will be ideal for exploring alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/trips/6-best-trails-for-your-first-solo-backpacking-trip/\">both near and far.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leave no trace\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out, be sure to review \u003ca href=\"http://lnt.org/why/7-principles/\">the seven principles of Leave No Trace\u003c/a>: a framework for safely enjoying the outdoors while minimizing your impact as a traveler in wild places. The guidelines include traveling only on established trails, properly disposing of waste, leaving natural objects as you found them and practicing safe fire use and wildlife observation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check the rules of any wilderness area you plan to enter. Many do not allow dogs, campfires or camping outside of designated campsite areas, and following the rules means these areas can remain open to future backpackers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Have a plan for water and navigation\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Knowing where you’re going is important, because this will also help you establish what water sources — often lakes, streams or spigots — that you can rely on in the backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Download maps and water information onto your phone: for paid apps, try AllTrails or Gaia GPS, or free options like Google Maps’ download function and online PDFs provided by wilderness areas. I recommend you also bring along backup physical maps and carry a fully charged backup phone battery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#backpacking-trails-near-me\">Three Bay Area trails for your first backpacking trip\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040035\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040035\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hiker sets up her tent near Wilson Peak at Henry W. Coe State Park on Feb. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joshua Dillen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Share your plans with someone at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you’re heading out in a big group, it’s important that someone back home knows where you plan to go, in case of an emergency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I tend to share the route map I’ll be using with that person, give them my anticipated hiking schedule and promise to check in when I leave the wilderness and get back into cell phone range. That way, if they haven’t heard from me by that designated time, they know to check in — and to consider notifying authorities if I don’t reply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Be realistic about the challenge … \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The more fitness you have, the better, said Bothwell. Being comfortable sleeping outside in a tent helps too, he said, well, noting that many people aren’t used to all the “sights, sounds and smells” of the woods — or new experiences like going more than a day without access to a real bathroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11910495 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/RS55017_GettyImages-1387412608-qut.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bothwell doesn’t sugar-coat it: “It is hard work to throw a bunch of weight on your back and then go hiking through the woods and hike up hills and down hills and across streams,” he said. “And [to] carry your kitchen and all your food and all of your bedroom with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what first-timers sometimes don’t realize, Bothwell said, is that backpacking is hard work for everyone — even experienced hikers and campers. The big difference is that those experienced backpackers already \u003cem>know \u003c/em>that indescribably satisfying feeling of arriving at camp, putting your pack down and enjoying being truly immersed in the outdoors — the feeling you’ll get to discover for yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even for the people who are smiling, it’s not easy for them,” he said. “They just know that they’re going to get through it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>… but don’t be intimidated \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If this all sounds like a lot to process, take a step back for a moment and think about \u003cem>why \u003c/em>you want to embark on your first trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is it for the adventure? The peace of the outdoors? A new challenge? You’ll find all of these things on your first trip, and you’ll also find that backpacking is really just walking with a few extra steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In short, do what you can to show up prepared, but remember: You’ve got this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040034\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-800x1067.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-1020x1360.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California Newt makes its way to a creek during the peak of mating season on Feb. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Wright/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"backpacking-trails-near-me\">\u003c/a>3 backpacking trip ideas for beginners — right here in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 1: Henry Coe State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561\">Henry Coe State Park\u003c/a> is ideal for beginners, being accessible from most of the Bay Area — especially the South Bay — and offering many trails to choose from. Plus, professionals like John Verhoeven, a state park peace officer/ranger stationed at the park, are there to help with planning a trip that feels manageable for all experience levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They just need to be flexible,” Verhoeven said. “We’ll find a place for them.” So don’t be shy about asking rangers what routes they recommend, either by calling ahead to their main line at (408) 779-2728 or stopping by the Visitor Center on your way in.[aside postID=news_12035515 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/GettyImages-1366211065_qed-1020x681.jpg']Verhoeven’s top suggestion for first-timers is heading \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/trips-from-headquarters/frog-lake/\">to Frog Lake\u003c/a>, a 4.3-mile mostly shaded round trip from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25818\">Coe Ranch Entrance/Visitor Center in Morgan Hill\u003c/a>. You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/561/files/HQToFrogLake_1.10.pdf\">a detailed, downloadable PDF full of information about the route\u003c/a> — perfect to bring with you on your trip, either on your phone or printed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll need a backpacking permit, but they’re easy to get at Coe (either \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/\">online at ReserveCalifornia\u003c/a>, by calling or walking up day-of) and don’t require advanced reservations — another reason Coe is perfect for beginners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be advised that Coe can get \u003cem>very \u003c/em>hot in the summer, so Verhoeven advised that this area is best enjoyed in spring, fall or winter, when daytime temperatures are relatively low. If you do go in the summer, plan to bring more water than you think — heat exhaustion can be common.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People bring way too little water,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some routes in Coe are quite long and steep, so make sure you know the elevation gain and mileage of the route you plan to take before you leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coe’s extremely thorough website makes planning your first backpacking trip here easy, with links to \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/planning-your-visit/trail-conditions/\">trail conditions\u003c/a>, plenty of \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/trips-from-headquarters/\">trip recommendations\u003c/a> and information about \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/\">fees and permits\u003c/a>. Backpacking is $5 per person per night plus entrance fees, which are either $8 or $6 per vehicle, depending on the entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040033\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040033\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from the Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail at Henry W. Coe State Park on Feb. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Wright/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Coe isn’t just great for beginners — it’s a unique experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the Bay Area’s natural landscape. With miles of open space surrounding the park and no cows allowed, it’s unusually peaceful and quiet given its proximity to urban areas of the Bay. From mountain lions to acorn woodpeckers to newts, wildlife is plentiful here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The sounds change throughout the year,” Verhoeven said. “Spring is extra quiet because the grass and oaks have not dried up yet. Because you’re in a place that’s really quiet, you can hear sounds that you normally can’t. They are usually drowned out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 2: Castle Rock State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a hideaway in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538\">Castle Rock State Park\u003c/a> might be for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hiking to the Castle Rock Trail Camp is the best bet for a beginner’s backpacking trip, only a 2.7-mile hike from the main parking lot via the Saratoga Gap Trail. Another bonus: Each campsite has a picnic table and drinking water, with vault toilets are situated nearby. Plus, if the weather gets unexpectedly dicey, there’s also a camp shelter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for making a reservation, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26658\">ample backcountry sites are available\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"http://untrytrailcamprequest\">to book via a handy online form\u003c/a> and some are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. The state park also has \u003ca href=\"https://localendar.com/public/fscsp\">a calendar\u003c/a> to help you pick a weekend best for you, and reservations are paid for over the phone — a great time to ask any questions you may have, as well as getting a water and trail conditions report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to keep in mind: Unlike at Henry Coe, no dispersed camping is allowed at Castle Rock — you must camp at designated camp spots only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hiker travels on a trail through Castle Rock State Park. \u003ccite>(California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 3: Point Reyes National Seashore\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bothwell’s recommendation — and mine — is \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm\">Point Reyes\u003c/a>. Not only is this stunning stretch of coastline a Bay Area must-visit generally, its ample and interconnected trails make it easy to build a backpacking route that’s right for your fitness and comfort levels. The catch: Camping reservations, which also serve as your backpacking and parking permit, can be tough to snag. Your best bet is to log onto \u003ca href=\"http://recreation.gov\">Recreation.gov\u003c/a> before 7 a.m. exactly two weeks before your trip to try for a slot. If you strike out, keep trying — people do cancel last-minute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Call or stop by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm\">Bear Valley Visitor Center\u003c/a> before you start your trip to get the most up-to-date information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_trail_advisories.htm\">trail conditions\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_guide.htm\">suggested routes\u003c/a> to your campsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Campsites in Point Reyes are $30 per night and include parking. Just like at Castle Rock, you’ll have to camp in designated areas only, but campsite amenities include water faucets with drinkable water and vault toilets. Bothwell said that, along with the achievable hikes-in, these campsite amenities are a big reason he recommends Point Reyes to beginners. “It’s a great way to remove the variable of, hey, can I carry my gear? And can I sleep in the woods without having to deal with things like peeing and pooping and water and food storage?” he said. You’ll also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/camping.htm#CP_JUMP_473748\">more information about camping in this area on Point Reyes’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040301\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040301\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Native plants grow in a section of dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore on June 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Be aware: There are black bears at Point Reyes, so make sure you’re following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12002429/california-camping-tahoe-yosemite-bears-safety-what-to-do-bear-spray\">basic bear safety advice\u003c/a>, including storing your food in the lockers available at the campsite. That includes any toothpaste and hygiene products, plus utensils or other gear that has any scent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"backpacking-gear\">\u003c/a>What gear should I bring backpacking?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can find many checklists for backpacking gear online — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html\">this Backpacking Gear List from REI\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/gear/the-ultimate-backpacking-checklist/\">Backpacker Magazine’s own list\u003c/a>. But remember: every item you bring, \u003cem>you\u003c/em> have to carry, so don’t overdo it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the stuff you don’t already own, consider renting or borrowing for your first time out. It’s worth getting used to the gear and deciding if you even \u003cem>like \u003c/em>backpacking before spending money on your own kit. “Allow yourself to have the mindset of a learner,” advised Bothwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some beyond-\u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/gear/the-ultimate-backpacking-checklist/\">the-basics\u003c/a> packing tips that you might not have anticipated:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Test-drive key items at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Load up your backpack itself with gear before you head out on your first trip to get used to the weight and how to pack it (remember, the heaviest items should go closest to your spine). If you’re using a new tent, make sure you do a test-run setting it up before your trip, so you’re not frantically searching for cell service to pull up a YouTube demo on your phone.[aside postID=news_12025848 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/07/RS57479_pexels-anastassiya-golovko-8659561-qut-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The heavier your pack, the sturdier the shoes you need\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For rockier terrain, you may want to use hiking boots, but make sure you’ve walked in them before. For trips on smoother trails or where you might be crossing creeks, well-cushioned running or athletic walking shoes will suffice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure your sleeping bag is rated well below the expected overnight temperatures\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/understanding-sleeping-bag-temperature-ratings.html\">The way gear companies fix their ratings has changed over the years\u003c/a>, and the last thing you want on your first overnight trip is to find out your bag isn’t as warm as you thought. So if the overnight lows are around 45 degrees, stay on the safe side and grab a 20-degree bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read up on the water filter and storage system you choose\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any kind of filtration will work, but make sure you read the fine print, as purification systems like Aquatabs and iodine can take more than an hour to work. This is why I choose filters that squeeze water through tiny tubes to eliminate bacteria and pathogens. It’s also not a bad idea to throw a few purification tabs in your bag as a backup if your filter fails. Water filters cannot sustain below-freezing temperatures and will break, so if it’s a cold night, store your filter with you in your sleeping bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bring a book or headphones\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Time \u003cem>really \u003c/em>slows down when you’re out backpacking. For your first time, you may find yourself fully immersed in the sounds and sights of nature and your hiking companions. But after the sun sets, I like to have a book or audiobook on hand to bring a sense of peace and normalcy to the trip and help me fall asleep. Plus, music can help me stay motivated on particularly strenuous uphill treks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on May 16.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "If you're a fan of camping and hiking but have never tried backpacking, here's how to get started — with three entry-level backpacking trails right here in the Bay Area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After completing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101890826/hiking-the-pacific-crest-trail-is-hard-and-climate-change-is-making-it-harder\">2,500-mile Pacific Crest Trail\u003c/a> in 2019, I’d now consider myself an experienced backpacker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I always make sure to tell people that this five-month-long adventure was actually only my \u003cem>third-ever\u003c/em> backpacking trip — not to grandstand, but to make clear just how fast even a beginner can get the hang of things.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you like hiking or camping but have never made the leap to carrying everything you need on your back for a day or two, there are a few basics any first-time backpacker should know. And with a holiday weekend here for the Fourth of July, this could be the time to get started.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for how to plan your inaugural backpacking trip, with advice from experts and pro tips for having as much fun as possible — plus three achievable itineraries for a beginner’s backpacking adventure right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#backpacking-trails-near-me\">Three Bay Area trails for your first backpacking trip\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#backpacking-gear\">What you might not expect about backpacking gear\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Seven things to know about your first backpacking trip \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know that backpacking doesn’t have to mean a long, hard trip …\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any time you spend at least one night sleeping outdoors, and you’re carrying the gear you need to do that? That counts as backpacking — no matter how far you walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not every trip has to be at high elevations, either. Your first trip could be a one-mile hike to a picturesque lake or viewpoint or an easy stroll along a creek, for just one night. And if you’re itching to get out there for more than one night, consider setting up camp at one spot for multiple nights and exploring from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040037\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040037\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/POINT-REYES2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A backpacking tent sits in a field at Henry W. Coe State Park in 2019. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Richard Bothwell, owner of San Francisco-based guiding company \u003ca href=\"https://outdooradventureclub.com/\">Outdoor Adventure Club\u003c/a>, recommends you start your backpacking career “on a really easy trip”: “A single-night trip where you can get a backpack on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s a saying in backpacking: “Hike your own hike.” That is, don’t be swayed by your friends who want to attempt a long trail at high elevation for their first trip, when you were planning to keep it simple. Any night spent on the trail is bound to be an adventure, so make a plan that feels comfortable to you and make the most of it as a learning opportunity. And don’t judge others, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t head out solo — at least not at first\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s that simple: Backpacking is better — and safer — with friends. Having other people to help motivate you when the walking gets tough and to be a second set of eyes on navigation and decision-making (not to mention a source of support in case of emergency) is critical for any backpacker, not just first-timers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you prefer a solo challenge, don’t worry: Once you get the basics down, there are plenty of trails out there that will be ideal for exploring alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/trips/6-best-trails-for-your-first-solo-backpacking-trip/\">both near and far.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leave no trace\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out, be sure to review \u003ca href=\"http://lnt.org/why/7-principles/\">the seven principles of Leave No Trace\u003c/a>: a framework for safely enjoying the outdoors while minimizing your impact as a traveler in wild places. The guidelines include traveling only on established trails, properly disposing of waste, leaving natural objects as you found them and practicing safe fire use and wildlife observation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check the rules of any wilderness area you plan to enter. Many do not allow dogs, campfires or camping outside of designated campsite areas, and following the rules means these areas can remain open to future backpackers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Have a plan for water and navigation\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Knowing where you’re going is important, because this will also help you establish what water sources — often lakes, streams or spigots — that you can rely on in the backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Download maps and water information onto your phone: for paid apps, try AllTrails or Gaia GPS, or free options like Google Maps’ download function and online PDFs provided by wilderness areas. I recommend you also bring along backup physical maps and carry a fully charged backup phone battery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#backpacking-trails-near-me\">Three Bay Area trails for your first backpacking trip\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040035\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040035\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-4-KQED-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hiker sets up her tent near Wilson Peak at Henry W. Coe State Park on Feb. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joshua Dillen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Share your plans with someone at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you’re heading out in a big group, it’s important that someone back home knows where you plan to go, in case of an emergency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I tend to share the route map I’ll be using with that person, give them my anticipated hiking schedule and promise to check in when I leave the wilderness and get back into cell phone range. That way, if they haven’t heard from me by that designated time, they know to check in — and to consider notifying authorities if I don’t reply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Be realistic about the challenge … \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The more fitness you have, the better, said Bothwell. Being comfortable sleeping outside in a tent helps too, he said, well, noting that many people aren’t used to all the “sights, sounds and smells” of the woods — or new experiences like going more than a day without access to a real bathroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bothwell doesn’t sugar-coat it: “It is hard work to throw a bunch of weight on your back and then go hiking through the woods and hike up hills and down hills and across streams,” he said. “And [to] carry your kitchen and all your food and all of your bedroom with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what first-timers sometimes don’t realize, Bothwell said, is that backpacking is hard work for everyone — even experienced hikers and campers. The big difference is that those experienced backpackers already \u003cem>know \u003c/em>that indescribably satisfying feeling of arriving at camp, putting your pack down and enjoying being truly immersed in the outdoors — the feeling you’ll get to discover for yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even for the people who are smiling, it’s not easy for them,” he said. “They just know that they’re going to get through it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>… but don’t be intimidated \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If this all sounds like a lot to process, take a step back for a moment and think about \u003cem>why \u003c/em>you want to embark on your first trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is it for the adventure? The peace of the outdoors? A new challenge? You’ll find all of these things on your first trip, and you’ll also find that backpacking is really just walking with a few extra steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In short, do what you can to show up prepared, but remember: You’ve got this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040034\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-800x1067.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-1020x1360.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-3-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California Newt makes its way to a creek during the peak of mating season on Feb. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Wright/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"backpacking-trails-near-me\">\u003c/a>3 backpacking trip ideas for beginners — right here in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 1: Henry Coe State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561\">Henry Coe State Park\u003c/a> is ideal for beginners, being accessible from most of the Bay Area — especially the South Bay — and offering many trails to choose from. Plus, professionals like John Verhoeven, a state park peace officer/ranger stationed at the park, are there to help with planning a trip that feels manageable for all experience levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They just need to be flexible,” Verhoeven said. “We’ll find a place for them.” So don’t be shy about asking rangers what routes they recommend, either by calling ahead to their main line at (408) 779-2728 or stopping by the Visitor Center on your way in.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Verhoeven’s top suggestion for first-timers is heading \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/trips-from-headquarters/frog-lake/\">to Frog Lake\u003c/a>, a 4.3-mile mostly shaded round trip from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25818\">Coe Ranch Entrance/Visitor Center in Morgan Hill\u003c/a>. You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/561/files/HQToFrogLake_1.10.pdf\">a detailed, downloadable PDF full of information about the route\u003c/a> — perfect to bring with you on your trip, either on your phone or printed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll need a backpacking permit, but they’re easy to get at Coe (either \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/\">online at ReserveCalifornia\u003c/a>, by calling or walking up day-of) and don’t require advanced reservations — another reason Coe is perfect for beginners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be advised that Coe can get \u003cem>very \u003c/em>hot in the summer, so Verhoeven advised that this area is best enjoyed in spring, fall or winter, when daytime temperatures are relatively low. If you do go in the summer, plan to bring more water than you think — heat exhaustion can be common.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People bring way too little water,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some routes in Coe are quite long and steep, so make sure you know the elevation gain and mileage of the route you plan to take before you leave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coe’s extremely thorough website makes planning your first backpacking trip here easy, with links to \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/planning-your-visit/trail-conditions/\">trail conditions\u003c/a>, plenty of \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/trips-from-headquarters/\">trip recommendations\u003c/a> and information about \u003ca href=\"https://coepark.net/backpacking/\">fees and permits\u003c/a>. Backpacking is $5 per person per night plus entrance fees, which are either $8 or $6 per vehicle, depending on the entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040033\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040033\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-1-KQED-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from the Lyman Wilson Ridge Trail at Henry W. Coe State Park on Feb. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Wright/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Coe isn’t just great for beginners — it’s a unique experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the Bay Area’s natural landscape. With miles of open space surrounding the park and no cows allowed, it’s unusually peaceful and quiet given its proximity to urban areas of the Bay. From mountain lions to acorn woodpeckers to newts, wildlife is plentiful here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The sounds change throughout the year,” Verhoeven said. “Spring is extra quiet because the grass and oaks have not dried up yet. Because you’re in a place that’s really quiet, you can hear sounds that you normally can’t. They are usually drowned out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 2: Castle Rock State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a hideaway in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538\">Castle Rock State Park\u003c/a> might be for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hiking to the Castle Rock Trail Camp is the best bet for a beginner’s backpacking trip, only a 2.7-mile hike from the main parking lot via the Saratoga Gap Trail. Another bonus: Each campsite has a picnic table and drinking water, with vault toilets are situated nearby. Plus, if the weather gets unexpectedly dicey, there’s also a camp shelter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for making a reservation, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26658\">ample backcountry sites are available\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"http://untrytrailcamprequest\">to book via a handy online form\u003c/a> and some are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. The state park also has \u003ca href=\"https://localendar.com/public/fscsp\">a calendar\u003c/a> to help you pick a weekend best for you, and reservations are paid for over the phone — a great time to ask any questions you may have, as well as getting a water and trail conditions report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to keep in mind: Unlike at Henry Coe, no dispersed camping is allowed at Castle Rock — you must camp at designated camp spots only.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-1020x678.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CASTLE-ROCK-SP-0826_24835803876_O-KQED-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hiker travels on a trail through Castle Rock State Park. \u003ccite>(California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Beginner backpacking idea 3: Point Reyes National Seashore\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bothwell’s recommendation — and mine — is \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm\">Point Reyes\u003c/a>. Not only is this stunning stretch of coastline a Bay Area must-visit generally, its ample and interconnected trails make it easy to build a backpacking route that’s right for your fitness and comfort levels. The catch: Camping reservations, which also serve as your backpacking and parking permit, can be tough to snag. Your best bet is to log onto \u003ca href=\"http://recreation.gov\">Recreation.gov\u003c/a> before 7 a.m. exactly two weeks before your trip to try for a slot. If you strike out, keep trying — people do cancel last-minute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Call or stop by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm\">Bear Valley Visitor Center\u003c/a> before you start your trip to get the most up-to-date information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_trail_advisories.htm\">trail conditions\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_guide.htm\">suggested routes\u003c/a> to your campsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Campsites in Point Reyes are $30 per night and include parking. Just like at Castle Rock, you’ll have to camp in designated areas only, but campsite amenities include water faucets with drinkable water and vault toilets. Bothwell said that, along with the achievable hikes-in, these campsite amenities are a big reason he recommends Point Reyes to beginners. “It’s a great way to remove the variable of, hey, can I carry my gear? And can I sleep in the woods without having to deal with things like peeing and pooping and water and food storage?” he said. You’ll also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/camping.htm#CP_JUMP_473748\">more information about camping in this area on Point Reyes’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040301\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040301\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/240604-InvasiveIcePlant-87-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Native plants grow in a section of dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore on June 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Be aware: There are black bears at Point Reyes, so make sure you’re following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12002429/california-camping-tahoe-yosemite-bears-safety-what-to-do-bear-spray\">basic bear safety advice\u003c/a>, including storing your food in the lockers available at the campsite. That includes any toothpaste and hygiene products, plus utensils or other gear that has any scent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"backpacking-gear\">\u003c/a>What gear should I bring backpacking?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can find many checklists for backpacking gear online — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html\">this Backpacking Gear List from REI\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/gear/the-ultimate-backpacking-checklist/\">Backpacker Magazine’s own list\u003c/a>. But remember: every item you bring, \u003cem>you\u003c/em> have to carry, so don’t overdo it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the stuff you don’t already own, consider renting or borrowing for your first time out. It’s worth getting used to the gear and deciding if you even \u003cem>like \u003c/em>backpacking before spending money on your own kit. “Allow yourself to have the mindset of a learner,” advised Bothwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some beyond-\u003ca href=\"https://www.backpacker.com/gear/the-ultimate-backpacking-checklist/\">the-basics\u003c/a> packing tips that you might not have anticipated:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Test-drive key items at home\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Load up your backpack itself with gear before you head out on your first trip to get used to the weight and how to pack it (remember, the heaviest items should go closest to your spine). If you’re using a new tent, make sure you do a test-run setting it up before your trip, so you’re not frantically searching for cell service to pull up a YouTube demo on your phone.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The heavier your pack, the sturdier the shoes you need\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For rockier terrain, you may want to use hiking boots, but make sure you’ve walked in them before. For trips on smoother trails or where you might be crossing creeks, well-cushioned running or athletic walking shoes will suffice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure your sleeping bag is rated well below the expected overnight temperatures\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/understanding-sleeping-bag-temperature-ratings.html\">The way gear companies fix their ratings has changed over the years\u003c/a>, and the last thing you want on your first overnight trip is to find out your bag isn’t as warm as you thought. So if the overnight lows are around 45 degrees, stay on the safe side and grab a 20-degree bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read up on the water filter and storage system you choose\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any kind of filtration will work, but make sure you read the fine print, as purification systems like Aquatabs and iodine can take more than an hour to work. This is why I choose filters that squeeze water through tiny tubes to eliminate bacteria and pathogens. It’s also not a bad idea to throw a few purification tabs in your bag as a backup if your filter fails. Water filters cannot sustain below-freezing temperatures and will break, so if it’s a cold night, store your filter with you in your sleeping bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bring a book or headphones\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Time \u003cem>really \u003c/em>slows down when you’re out backpacking. For your first time, you may find yourself fully immersed in the sounds and sights of nature and your hiking companions. But after the sun sets, I like to have a book or audiobook on hand to bring a sense of peace and normalcy to the trip and help me fall asleep. Plus, music can help me stay motivated on particularly strenuous uphill treks.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on May 16.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "2025-fourth-of-july-fireworks-san-francisco-bay-area-near-me-friday-pets-ptsd",
"title": "2025 Fourth of July Fireworks in the Bay Area: Official Shows and Cancellations (Plus Safety, PTSD and Pets)",
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"headTitle": "2025 Fourth of July Fireworks in the Bay Area: Official Shows and Cancellations (Plus Safety, PTSD and Pets) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Fourth of July weekend is here. And with it comes a whole host of official firework shows around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to know: Several official firework displays have now been canceled following\u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-fireworks-warehouse-catches-fire-explodes-rcna216401\"> a huge explosion at a Yolo County firework storage facility,\u003c/a> which has left seven people unaccounted for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Tuesday’s fire northwest of Sacramento destroyed fireworks intended for use in several firework shows across the wider Bay Area this weekend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/san-jose-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-lake-cunningham-canceled-due-to-yolo-county-explosion/\">San José announced the cancelation of the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show\u003c/a> at Lake Cunningham. Cloverdale and St. Helena have also canceled their official fireworks displays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re planning on buying your own fireworks, be careful. Since unofficial fireworks can cause \u003ca href=\"https://readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/fireworks-safety/#:~:text=Fireworks%20are%20illegal%20in%20certain,fires%20throughout%20all%20of%20California.\">truly dangerous situations \u003c/a> — burning and seriously injuring people, sparking wildfires, and causing major property damage — fireworks are also banned in many parts of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Contra Costa County for example, according to the Fire Protection District \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccfpd.org/cccfpd-july-4th-information/\">all fireworks are illegal\u003c/a>, even if they carry the “Safe and Sane” label. “Leave the fireworks shows to the pros this holiday and protect your home, family, and neighbors,” the district’s guidance urges. (\u003ca href=\"#fireworksillegal\">Read more on where fireworks are illegal in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about fireworks on the Fourth of July, 2025, from where you can safely view an official firework show, tips on comforting your pets, or navigating the holiday’s sights and sounds if you are living with post-traumatic stress disorder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#fireworkinjury\">The kinds of injuries doctors see every year from fireworks\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#fireworksillegal\">Which fireworks are illegal in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ptsd\">Firework risks for people living with PTSD\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pets\">How to keep your pets calm on the Fourth of July\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Fourth of July firework displays around the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fourth of July this year falls on a Friday, so most firework displays are taking place on the actual day, rather than later in the holiday weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several events may require ticketing in advance. Be sure to check the date and time of your show before heading out in case of any changes or updates to the programming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stay up-to-date with cancelations, too, following Tuesday’s huge explosion at a fireworks storage facility in Yolo County that has left seven people still unaccounted for, and was the intended supplier of several Bay Area firework shows. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/san-jose-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-lake-cunningham-canceled-due-to-yolo-county-explosion/\">San José has canceled its Lake Cunningham firework display\u003c/a>, after announcing in June that\u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-cancels-almaden-lake-park-4th-of-july-festival-independence-day-fireworks/\"> the city’s longstanding Almaden Lake Park firework display would be canceled for 2025\u003c/a> due to safety concerns, including wildfire fears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The North Bay cities of Cloverdale and St. Helena have also announced the cancelation of their official shows following the Yolo explosion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the events listed below also include festivals, vendors, and musical performances before the fireworks show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fishermanswharf.org/event/4th-of-july-fireworks-cruise/1348/\">Fisherman’s Wharf Fireworks Cruise: \u003c/a>7:15 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fishermanswharf.org/events/annual-events/4th-of-july/\">Fisherman’s Wharf: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmartinez.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/1032/399?curm=7&cury=2025\">Radke Martinez Shoreline in Martinez: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.antiochca.gov/fourth-of-july-celebration/\">Rivertown in Antioch:\u003c/a> 9:20 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://phjuly4.com/fireworks\">College Park High School in Pleasant Hill:\u003c/a> 8:45 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.concordjuly4th.com/home/festival/\">Mt. Diablo High School in Concord:\u003c/a> 9:15 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/cityofhercules/photos/-save-the-date-for-the-cityofhercules-fourth-of-july-fireworks-celebration-at-th/1019556570348883/\">Hercules Bayfront in Hercules:\u003c/a> after dusk on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/10335/1416\">Pittsburg Marina in Pittsburg:\u003c/a> 8:45 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/SWTS-Shoreline-4th\">Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View\u003c/a>: 8 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/city-manager/fourth-of-july-celebration\">Port of Redwood City in Redwood City: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cupertino.gov/Parks-Recreation/Events/Fourth-of-July\">Hyde Middle School in Cupertino: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cagreatamerica.com/events/fourth-of-july-celebration\">California’s Great America in Santa Clara\u003c/a>: 9:40 p.m. on July 4 and July 5\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-announce-inaugural-postgame-fireworks-show-at-paypal-park-for-july-5-match-vs-new-york-red-bulls\">Post-game fireworks at PayPal Park in San Jose: \u003c/a>July 5\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.suisun.com/Events-directory/4th-of-July-Celebration\">Suisun City Waterfront in Suisun City\u003c/a>: 9:15 p.m. on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://donapa.com/event/fourth-of-july-napa-drone-show/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22632002387&gbraid=0aaaaadlb7sbfabkokjrqsvc6du0xi8-x0&gclid=cjwkcajw9ancbhaweiwaqbj-c2xr3wy3hk8kfbbmu6t4351ovoe5zmiycvohzlqhihk0ak-i-h9ygboc2ogqavd_bwe&__hstc=31770721.79fbd7f1328bca5a72c8504d7cad1739.1750797064720.1750797064720.1750797064720.1&__hssc=31770721.1.1750797064721&__hsfp=2138463993&hsutk=79fbd7f1328bca5a72c8504d7cad1739&contenttype=standard-page\">Oxbow Commons Drone show in Napa:\u003c/a> 9:30 p.m. on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.napavalley.com/event/american-canyon-fourth-of-july-celebration/\">American Canyon\u003c/a>: after dusk on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"fireworkinjury\">\u003c/a>How personal fireworks — and bonfires — can injure or kill you\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Even before considering the huge risks of sparking a wildfire (more on this below), setting off your own fireworks — even when legally purchased in one of the areas that permits them — can be incredibly dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a 2023 safety briefing, Dr. Clifford Sheckter, Director of the Regional Burn Center at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, gave graphic examples of the kinds of injuries — and even deaths — that attempting to set off your own fireworks can incur. On mortar-style fireworks, Sheckter warned that “if those go off in your hand, you are losing fingers, if not your whole hand. If this goes off by your face, you could end up blind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while sparklers might strike many folks as a small, innocuous kind of personal firework on July Fourth, Sheckter noted that not only are they illegal in many areas, but sparklers can also pose massive threats to children. “Kids think it’s a popsicle: They put it in their mouths, they put it near their faces, they give themselves pretty severe burns and end up on the burn unit for one to two weeks,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, also told KQED in 2019 that sparklers are illegal in San Francisco. “Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees, which is [hot] enough to burn gold,” he says. “So if it can burn gold, you can imagine what it can do to your hand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheckter particularly stresses the importance of not mixing alcohol and drugs with fireworks or fire, noting that “one of the most common injuries” his burns unit sees around the Fourth of July is incurred by people “mixing alcohol and bonfires.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get wasted and fall into a bonfire, you’re either going to die, or you’re going to end up severely burned and on my burn unit for the next six months,” Sheckter says, warning of so-called sixth-degree burns that can extend down into a person’s bones. Injuries from these kinds of burns, Sheckter says, are very difficult to reconstruct and often necessitate tissue grafts or prostheses. Curious children wandering around campsites and grasping coals, embers or fire pit rings are also a common source of pediatric injuries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wildfirescalifornia\">\u003c/a>How personal fireworks can spark wildfires at this time of year\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11878946\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11878946\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg\" alt=\"A display of fireworks in the city.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1047\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-800x436.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-1020x556.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-160x87.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-1536x838.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unsanctioned fireworks displays are seen over the East Bay on July 4, 2013. \u003ccite>(Eugene Eric Kim/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://theconversation.com/skip-the-fireworks-this-record-dry-4th-of-july-over-150-wildfire-scientists-urge-the-us-west-163561\">over 150 fire scientists\u003c/a> were moved enough to join many fire officials across the West in urging residents to abandon their plans to launch personal fireworks on July Fourth because of the wildfire risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mishandled fireworks, specifically around the Fourth of July in California, have caused real damage in the past. In 2014, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/06/27/fourth-of-july-gone-bad-fireworks-casualty-warns-of-holiday-hazard/\">a reveler set off fireworks\u003c/a> in Yolo County near the Monticello Dam, igniting a 6,500-acre blaze that took days to put out, injured five firefighters and drove dozens of people from their homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1944577/keep-your-fireworks-from-becoming-a-wildfire-this-fourth-of-july\">full list of tips on preventing causing a wildfire with your fireworks\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/062923-fireworks?sc_lang=zh-TW&switch_lang=true\">Bay Area Air Quality Management District\u003c/a> also warned that “smoke from exploding fireworks results in elevated levels of particulate matter close to the ground, making it difficult for people to breathe, and may trigger asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing and eye irritation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the local level, personal fireworks can cause unhealthy buildup in particulate matter pollution over the July 4 holiday,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/062923-fireworks?sc_lang=zh-TW&switch_lang=true\">a 2023 statement reads\u003c/a>. “‘Safe and sane’ fireworks, like those purchased at pop-up fireworks stands, contain metal salts used to produce colors and can also cause excessive smoke.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether you’re planning to light up some fireworks or simply watch them from afar, here are a few safety tips compiled from experts around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"fireworksillegal\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Know the regulations in your community\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some types of fireworks — or any fireworks at all — are illegal in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A legal firework has gone under testing by the state to ensure that the characteristics of it are inherently safer than those that don’t get our safety seal,” Daniel Berlant, deputy director of community wildfire preparedness and mitigation at Cal Fire, told KQED in 2022. “Really, any firework that explodes, goes up in the air or moves around the ground uncontrollably are considered illegal fireworks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check this list to \u003ca href=\"https://ca-fireworks.presskit247.com/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=508\">find out whether fireworks are legal in your city\u003c/a> this Fourth of July (and be sure to check the date.) Check this 2024 list to see which\u003ca href=\"https://readyforwildfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fireworks-retailbooth-locations.pdf\"> communities allow the sale of “Safe and Sane” fireworks (PDF)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your community is not on this list, it is likely illegal — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/fire-department/public-education/seasonal-holiday-safety/fireworks-rules-laws#:~:text=All%20types%20of%20fireworks%E2%80%94even,most%20of%20Santa%20Clara%20County.\">San Jose\u003c/a>, for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Know that in some communities, even viewing an illegal fireworks show can get you into hot water. For example, in 2023, the City of San José began “holding spectators responsible for their role in the use of dangerous and illegal fireworks” by making anyone who is \u003ca href=\"https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10PUPEMOWE_CH10.17FI_PT2SAUSPOSTFI_10.17.105SPPRFIEX\">“knowingly present and watching a fireworks exhibition”\u003c/a> subject to a fine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fireworks are also \u003ci>not \u003c/i>permitted in \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1283#:~:text=No%20Fireworks%3A%20As%20a%20reminder,completely%20before%20leaving%20your%20site.\">California State Parks\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/news/use-and-possession-of-fireworks-are-illegal-on-all-land-managed-by-national-park-service.htm\">National Parks Service land.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Use only approved fireworks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although certain fireworks are legal in much of California, the state has a zero-tolerance policy for both the sale and use of illegal fireworks, and violators may face fines of up to $50,000 and jail time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label='Get More Guides from KQED' tag='audience-news']Illegal fireworks include firecrackers, Roman candles, skyrockets, bottle rockets, aerial shells and other fireworks that move on the ground or in the air uncontrollably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want to do a quick check? Look for the Safe and Sane label that indicates fire marshal approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Plan your location wisely\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As well as being sure whether fireworks are even legal in your city this Fourth of July, consider \u003cem>where\u003c/em> you’re setting them off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really are urging people to be extra cautious in wildland areas,” says Cal Fire’s Berlant, who notes that even in urban areas, fireworks can still spark a wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berlant recommends you make “sure that Safe and Sane fireworks are used in areas that are cleared from vegetation” and are lit in “parking lots or in driveways that are surrounded by nothing that could catch on fire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Be ready to douse a fire\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Never point fireworks at yourself or another person, and never attempt to relight or fix a firework that won’t light. Designate a sober, responsible adult to light up the fireworks. Light one firework at a time, far away from dry grass, and have a bucket of water or a hose handy in case something goes wrong. Also, this may sound obvious, but alcohol and fireworks do not mix well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Properly dispose of fireworks\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of the celebration, all used and misfired fireworks should be submerged in water for 15 minutes and wrapped in a plastic bag to keep them from drying up. Then, toss them in the household trash. Any unused fireworks that have not expired should be kept in a cool, dry place away from children.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ptsd\">\u003c/a>Firework risks for people living with PTSD\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11954350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11954350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"The silhouettes of two or more people are thrown into relief by the explosions of fireworks in the distance over a city setting.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illegal fireworks light up the sky in the Potrero Hill neighborhood on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fireworks can trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans or victims of gun violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Brian Mohlenhoff, a psychiatrist in the PTSD clinic at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, told KQED in 2020 that many of his patients struggle when there’s an uptick in fireworks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff says he encourages his patients to focus on the present, adding, “What I’m hoping is that after [fireworks] happen, they can quickly reorient and remind themselves that they’re in a safe place, and they’re not back there. So anything that can help with that is a good thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the inevitability of fireworks going off across the Bay Area on a nightly basis, Mohlenhoff shared advice with KQED for how people suffering from PTSD can prepare and cope.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Plan ahead (if you can)\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Preparation may be more difficult if you hear fireworks going off ahead of July Fourth—instead of being confined to a single holiday. With fireworks happening at unpredictable times, knowing when to expect them is impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s harder than the Fourth of July because that random explosion is very similar to a lot of people to what it’s like on a base,” Mohlenhoff says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can, try to reduce the noise by listening to music, watching a movie or playing video games with headphones on. If bright flashes also trigger you, close your curtains or blinds to block the light at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Focus on the present and ask for support\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most important mental health tip, Mohlenhoff says, is to ground in the present moment and remind yourself you’re safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use grounding techniques to focus on your surroundings, such as naming out loud five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff says it can also be helpful to orient toward what’s around you and tell yourself things like, “I’m here in my home. I’m here with my loved ones. I’m here with my dog. And that boom is just the fireworks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having a supportive friend or family member present (or that you can call) is often the most grounding for patients, Mohlenhoff says. It’s important for them to remind the person suffering from PTSD that they’re safe in the here and now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/helping-someone-with-ptsd.htm\">More tips on how to help a loved one cope with PTSD.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Download a mindfulness app\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re by yourself or need extra support, you can try a coaching app to guide you through grounding exercises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/mindfulcoach_app.asp\">Mindfulness Coach\u003c/a>, a free app created by the National Center for PTSD that offers guided meditations and coping strategies. Here is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/index.asp\">a list of more recommended apps from the National Center for PTSD\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Talk to a mental health professional\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re seeking professional help, the National Center for PTSD has \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/find_therapist.asp\">information on how to find a therapist, counselor or mental health provider\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here is a list of free hotlines to speak with a professional:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/\">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline\u003c/a>: \u003ca href=\"https://www.988california.org/\">988\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help\">National Institute of Mental Health\u003c/a>: 866-615-6464\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.crisistextline.org/\">Crisis Text Line\u003c/a>: Text HOME to 741741\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Here are Bay Area centers specializing in patients with PTSD:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/\">San Francisco VA Health Care System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.bayareatrauma.com/\">Bay Area Trauma Center \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.traumarecoveryclinic.org/\">Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"pets\">\u003c/a>Fireworks and dogs: How to keep your pets calm\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11992817\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11992817\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg\" alt=\"A white dog with two American flags and a Minnie Mouse toy on its back.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"747\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-800x584.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-1020x744.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-160x117.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hilda, owned by Kirstin and David Vasquez, of Huntington Beach, sports a Minnie Mouse doll holding American flags as hundreds of patriotic bicyclists cruise down Main Street during the 5th Annual Huntington Beach Locals Fourth of July Bicycle Cruise in advance of the annual Independence Day parade and fireworks in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 29, 2024. \u003ccite>(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fireworks are notorious for spooking animals, and shelters across the nation report \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/verify-are-more-pets-lost-during-4th-of-july-than-any-other-time-of-the-year/103-569349422\">an increase in lost pets every year on July Fourth\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">In 2019\u003c/a>, KQED spoke with a veterinarian from the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for advice on\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\"> keeping dogs and other pets happy while fireworks happen\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are her top tips:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Keep pets at home — or leave town\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s natural for animals to be fearful of loud noises,” Dr. Sophie Liu, San Francisco SPCA resident in behavior medicine, told KQED in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since fireworks have been so frequent, make sure your pets are secure inside your home, and you’re able to monitor them. But, if possible, she recommends going out of town with your pets for July Fourth — somewhere without fireworks, if possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Update your pet’s tag and microchip information\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu says shelters often receive microchipped animals but are unable to contact their owner because the pet’s microchip information is outdated. Your veterinarian can help if you don’t know how to update this information or if you don’t remember which microchip company you used.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Recognize fearful behavior\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pets may perceive loud, unexpected noises as a threat, and running away or hiding is a natural survival instinct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s important to know whether your animal is anxious in order to prevent them from accidentally injuring themselves. Animals may show signs of fear if they pant, lick their lips, whine, drool, shake, yawn, hide or do not accept a treat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Create a safe space\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not uncommon to see pets trying to tear through metal crates, chew through door frames or jump out of windows,” Liu warns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She suggests owners create a safe haven for their pets before and during fireworks celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Choose a comfortable room without windows or where you can close the curtains. Play soothing music or use a white noise machine,” Liu says. “The goal of these tools is to help your pet relax and stay calm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu says some pets may want to hide in the bathroom due to its extra insulation, which could make a great safe space if your pet is naturally attracted to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Give them treats — but watch what they eat\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Distract your furry friends with what they love most — treats. Even better: Try a treat-dispensing toy, like a Kong, to keep them distracted for long periods of time. “A pet that is comfortable enough to be eating is less likely to be panicked or worried,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But be aware of what they have access to, she warns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had animals come to our veterinary hospitals with severe injuries due to fireworks, including burns,” Liu says. “Pets should never be near fireworks — not only is it scary for animals, but fireworks have the potential to cause serious harm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dogs may also try to eat fireworks that aren’t safely stored, which contain chemicals and heavy metals. Also, keep your canines from munching on sparklers, glow sticks, charcoal, kabob skewers and \u003ca href=\"https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/foods-to-avoid.aspx\">even these common foods\u003c/a> that can be dangerous to pets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Consider over-the-counter medication \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can try using calming pheromones to relax your pet, such as sprays for cats and collars or plug-ins for dogs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If all else fails and your pet is exhibiting severe anxious behavior, Liu says to talk with your vet about medication options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>These tips were drawn from our 2019 story \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">\u003cstrong>6 Tips From a Vet to Keep Your Pets Safe on July Fourth\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Official firework displays in the Bay Area for the Fourth of July, with details of cancellations after this week's Yolo County storage fire. Plus: which fireworks are illegal in California and the safety risks of setting off your own personal firework display.",
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"title": "2025 Fourth of July Fireworks in the Bay Area: Official Shows and Cancellations (Plus Safety, PTSD and Pets) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Fourth of July weekend is here. And with it comes a whole host of official firework shows around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to know: Several official firework displays have now been canceled following\u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-fireworks-warehouse-catches-fire-explodes-rcna216401\"> a huge explosion at a Yolo County firework storage facility,\u003c/a> which has left seven people unaccounted for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Tuesday’s fire northwest of Sacramento destroyed fireworks intended for use in several firework shows across the wider Bay Area this weekend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/san-jose-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-lake-cunningham-canceled-due-to-yolo-county-explosion/\">San José announced the cancelation of the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show\u003c/a> at Lake Cunningham. Cloverdale and St. Helena have also canceled their official fireworks displays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re planning on buying your own fireworks, be careful. Since unofficial fireworks can cause \u003ca href=\"https://readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/fireworks-safety/#:~:text=Fireworks%20are%20illegal%20in%20certain,fires%20throughout%20all%20of%20California.\">truly dangerous situations \u003c/a> — burning and seriously injuring people, sparking wildfires, and causing major property damage — fireworks are also banned in many parts of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Contra Costa County for example, according to the Fire Protection District \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccfpd.org/cccfpd-july-4th-information/\">all fireworks are illegal\u003c/a>, even if they carry the “Safe and Sane” label. “Leave the fireworks shows to the pros this holiday and protect your home, family, and neighbors,” the district’s guidance urges. (\u003ca href=\"#fireworksillegal\">Read more on where fireworks are illegal in the Bay Area\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about fireworks on the Fourth of July, 2025, from where you can safely view an official firework show, tips on comforting your pets, or navigating the holiday’s sights and sounds if you are living with post-traumatic stress disorder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#fireworkinjury\">The kinds of injuries doctors see every year from fireworks\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#fireworksillegal\">Which fireworks are illegal in California\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ptsd\">Firework risks for people living with PTSD\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pets\">How to keep your pets calm on the Fourth of July\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Fourth of July firework displays around the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fourth of July this year falls on a Friday, so most firework displays are taking place on the actual day, rather than later in the holiday weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several events may require ticketing in advance. Be sure to check the date and time of your show before heading out in case of any changes or updates to the programming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stay up-to-date with cancelations, too, following Tuesday’s huge explosion at a fireworks storage facility in Yolo County that has left seven people still unaccounted for, and was the intended supplier of several Bay Area firework shows. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/san-jose-4th-of-july-fireworks-at-lake-cunningham-canceled-due-to-yolo-county-explosion/\">San José has canceled its Lake Cunningham firework display\u003c/a>, after announcing in June that\u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-cancels-almaden-lake-park-4th-of-july-festival-independence-day-fireworks/\"> the city’s longstanding Almaden Lake Park firework display would be canceled for 2025\u003c/a> due to safety concerns, including wildfire fears.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The North Bay cities of Cloverdale and St. Helena have also announced the cancelation of their official shows following the Yolo explosion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the events listed below also include festivals, vendors, and musical performances before the fireworks show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fishermanswharf.org/event/4th-of-july-fireworks-cruise/1348/\">Fisherman’s Wharf Fireworks Cruise: \u003c/a>7:15 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fishermanswharf.org/events/annual-events/4th-of-july/\">Fisherman’s Wharf: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmartinez.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/1032/399?curm=7&cury=2025\">Radke Martinez Shoreline in Martinez: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.antiochca.gov/fourth-of-july-celebration/\">Rivertown in Antioch:\u003c/a> 9:20 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://phjuly4.com/fireworks\">College Park High School in Pleasant Hill:\u003c/a> 8:45 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.concordjuly4th.com/home/festival/\">Mt. Diablo High School in Concord:\u003c/a> 9:15 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/cityofhercules/photos/-save-the-date-for-the-cityofhercules-fourth-of-july-fireworks-celebration-at-th/1019556570348883/\">Hercules Bayfront in Hercules:\u003c/a> after dusk on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pittsburgrec.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/10335/1416\">Pittsburg Marina in Pittsburg:\u003c/a> 8:45 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/SWTS-Shoreline-4th\">Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View\u003c/a>: 8 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/city-manager/fourth-of-july-celebration\">Port of Redwood City in Redwood City: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cupertino.gov/Parks-Recreation/Events/Fourth-of-July\">Hyde Middle School in Cupertino: \u003c/a>9:30 p.m., July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cagreatamerica.com/events/fourth-of-july-celebration\">California’s Great America in Santa Clara\u003c/a>: 9:40 p.m. on July 4 and July 5\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-announce-inaugural-postgame-fireworks-show-at-paypal-park-for-july-5-match-vs-new-york-red-bulls\">Post-game fireworks at PayPal Park in San Jose: \u003c/a>July 5\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2025 firework displays in North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.suisun.com/Events-directory/4th-of-July-Celebration\">Suisun City Waterfront in Suisun City\u003c/a>: 9:15 p.m. on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://donapa.com/event/fourth-of-july-napa-drone-show/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22632002387&gbraid=0aaaaadlb7sbfabkokjrqsvc6du0xi8-x0&gclid=cjwkcajw9ancbhaweiwaqbj-c2xr3wy3hk8kfbbmu6t4351ovoe5zmiycvohzlqhihk0ak-i-h9ygboc2ogqavd_bwe&__hstc=31770721.79fbd7f1328bca5a72c8504d7cad1739.1750797064720.1750797064720.1750797064720.1&__hssc=31770721.1.1750797064721&__hsfp=2138463993&hsutk=79fbd7f1328bca5a72c8504d7cad1739&contenttype=standard-page\">Oxbow Commons Drone show in Napa:\u003c/a> 9:30 p.m. on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.napavalley.com/event/american-canyon-fourth-of-july-celebration/\">American Canyon\u003c/a>: after dusk on July 4\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"fireworkinjury\">\u003c/a>How personal fireworks — and bonfires — can injure or kill you\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Even before considering the huge risks of sparking a wildfire (more on this below), setting off your own fireworks — even when legally purchased in one of the areas that permits them — can be incredibly dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a 2023 safety briefing, Dr. Clifford Sheckter, Director of the Regional Burn Center at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, gave graphic examples of the kinds of injuries — and even deaths — that attempting to set off your own fireworks can incur. On mortar-style fireworks, Sheckter warned that “if those go off in your hand, you are losing fingers, if not your whole hand. If this goes off by your face, you could end up blind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while sparklers might strike many folks as a small, innocuous kind of personal firework on July Fourth, Sheckter noted that not only are they illegal in many areas, but sparklers can also pose massive threats to children. “Kids think it’s a popsicle: They put it in their mouths, they put it near their faces, they give themselves pretty severe burns and end up on the burn unit for one to two weeks,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, also told KQED in 2019 that sparklers are illegal in San Francisco. “Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees, which is [hot] enough to burn gold,” he says. “So if it can burn gold, you can imagine what it can do to your hand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheckter particularly stresses the importance of not mixing alcohol and drugs with fireworks or fire, noting that “one of the most common injuries” his burns unit sees around the Fourth of July is incurred by people “mixing alcohol and bonfires.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get wasted and fall into a bonfire, you’re either going to die, or you’re going to end up severely burned and on my burn unit for the next six months,” Sheckter says, warning of so-called sixth-degree burns that can extend down into a person’s bones. Injuries from these kinds of burns, Sheckter says, are very difficult to reconstruct and often necessitate tissue grafts or prostheses. Curious children wandering around campsites and grasping coals, embers or fire pit rings are also a common source of pediatric injuries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"wildfirescalifornia\">\u003c/a>How personal fireworks can spark wildfires at this time of year\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11878946\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11878946\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg\" alt=\"A display of fireworks in the city.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1047\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-800x436.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-1020x556.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-160x87.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/OaklandFireworks-1536x838.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unsanctioned fireworks displays are seen over the East Bay on July 4, 2013. \u003ccite>(Eugene Eric Kim/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://theconversation.com/skip-the-fireworks-this-record-dry-4th-of-july-over-150-wildfire-scientists-urge-the-us-west-163561\">over 150 fire scientists\u003c/a> were moved enough to join many fire officials across the West in urging residents to abandon their plans to launch personal fireworks on July Fourth because of the wildfire risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mishandled fireworks, specifically around the Fourth of July in California, have caused real damage in the past. In 2014, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/06/27/fourth-of-july-gone-bad-fireworks-casualty-warns-of-holiday-hazard/\">a reveler set off fireworks\u003c/a> in Yolo County near the Monticello Dam, igniting a 6,500-acre blaze that took days to put out, injured five firefighters and drove dozens of people from their homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1944577/keep-your-fireworks-from-becoming-a-wildfire-this-fourth-of-july\">full list of tips on preventing causing a wildfire with your fireworks\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/062923-fireworks?sc_lang=zh-TW&switch_lang=true\">Bay Area Air Quality Management District\u003c/a> also warned that “smoke from exploding fireworks results in elevated levels of particulate matter close to the ground, making it difficult for people to breathe, and may trigger asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing and eye irritation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the local level, personal fireworks can cause unhealthy buildup in particulate matter pollution over the July 4 holiday,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/062923-fireworks?sc_lang=zh-TW&switch_lang=true\">a 2023 statement reads\u003c/a>. “‘Safe and sane’ fireworks, like those purchased at pop-up fireworks stands, contain metal salts used to produce colors and can also cause excessive smoke.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether you’re planning to light up some fireworks or simply watch them from afar, here are a few safety tips compiled from experts around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"fireworksillegal\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Know the regulations in your community\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some types of fireworks — or any fireworks at all — are illegal in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A legal firework has gone under testing by the state to ensure that the characteristics of it are inherently safer than those that don’t get our safety seal,” Daniel Berlant, deputy director of community wildfire preparedness and mitigation at Cal Fire, told KQED in 2022. “Really, any firework that explodes, goes up in the air or moves around the ground uncontrollably are considered illegal fireworks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check this list to \u003ca href=\"https://ca-fireworks.presskit247.com/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=508\">find out whether fireworks are legal in your city\u003c/a> this Fourth of July (and be sure to check the date.) Check this 2024 list to see which\u003ca href=\"https://readyforwildfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fireworks-retailbooth-locations.pdf\"> communities allow the sale of “Safe and Sane” fireworks (PDF)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your community is not on this list, it is likely illegal — like \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/fire-department/public-education/seasonal-holiday-safety/fireworks-rules-laws#:~:text=All%20types%20of%20fireworks%E2%80%94even,most%20of%20Santa%20Clara%20County.\">San Jose\u003c/a>, for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Know that in some communities, even viewing an illegal fireworks show can get you into hot water. For example, in 2023, the City of San José began “holding spectators responsible for their role in the use of dangerous and illegal fireworks” by making anyone who is \u003ca href=\"https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT10PUPEMOWE_CH10.17FI_PT2SAUSPOSTFI_10.17.105SPPRFIEX\">“knowingly present and watching a fireworks exhibition”\u003c/a> subject to a fine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fireworks are also \u003ci>not \u003c/i>permitted in \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1283#:~:text=No%20Fireworks%3A%20As%20a%20reminder,completely%20before%20leaving%20your%20site.\">California State Parks\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/news/use-and-possession-of-fireworks-are-illegal-on-all-land-managed-by-national-park-service.htm\">National Parks Service land.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Use only approved fireworks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although certain fireworks are legal in much of California, the state has a zero-tolerance policy for both the sale and use of illegal fireworks, and violators may face fines of up to $50,000 and jail time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Illegal fireworks include firecrackers, Roman candles, skyrockets, bottle rockets, aerial shells and other fireworks that move on the ground or in the air uncontrollably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want to do a quick check? Look for the Safe and Sane label that indicates fire marshal approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Plan your location wisely\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As well as being sure whether fireworks are even legal in your city this Fourth of July, consider \u003cem>where\u003c/em> you’re setting them off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really are urging people to be extra cautious in wildland areas,” says Cal Fire’s Berlant, who notes that even in urban areas, fireworks can still spark a wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berlant recommends you make “sure that Safe and Sane fireworks are used in areas that are cleared from vegetation” and are lit in “parking lots or in driveways that are surrounded by nothing that could catch on fire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Be ready to douse a fire\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Never point fireworks at yourself or another person, and never attempt to relight or fix a firework that won’t light. Designate a sober, responsible adult to light up the fireworks. Light one firework at a time, far away from dry grass, and have a bucket of water or a hose handy in case something goes wrong. Also, this may sound obvious, but alcohol and fireworks do not mix well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Properly dispose of fireworks\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of the celebration, all used and misfired fireworks should be submerged in water for 15 minutes and wrapped in a plastic bag to keep them from drying up. Then, toss them in the household trash. Any unused fireworks that have not expired should be kept in a cool, dry place away from children.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ptsd\">\u003c/a>Firework risks for people living with PTSD\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11954350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11954350\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"The silhouettes of two or more people are thrown into relief by the explosions of fireworks in the distance over a city setting.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/230628-SAN-FRANCISCO-FIREWORKS-GETTY-SM-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illegal fireworks light up the sky in the Potrero Hill neighborhood on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fireworks can trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans or victims of gun violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Brian Mohlenhoff, a psychiatrist in the PTSD clinic at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, told KQED in 2020 that many of his patients struggle when there’s an uptick in fireworks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff says he encourages his patients to focus on the present, adding, “What I’m hoping is that after [fireworks] happen, they can quickly reorient and remind themselves that they’re in a safe place, and they’re not back there. So anything that can help with that is a good thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the inevitability of fireworks going off across the Bay Area on a nightly basis, Mohlenhoff shared advice with KQED for how people suffering from PTSD can prepare and cope.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Plan ahead (if you can)\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Preparation may be more difficult if you hear fireworks going off ahead of July Fourth—instead of being confined to a single holiday. With fireworks happening at unpredictable times, knowing when to expect them is impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s harder than the Fourth of July because that random explosion is very similar to a lot of people to what it’s like on a base,” Mohlenhoff says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can, try to reduce the noise by listening to music, watching a movie or playing video games with headphones on. If bright flashes also trigger you, close your curtains or blinds to block the light at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Focus on the present and ask for support\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most important mental health tip, Mohlenhoff says, is to ground in the present moment and remind yourself you’re safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use grounding techniques to focus on your surroundings, such as naming out loud five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff says it can also be helpful to orient toward what’s around you and tell yourself things like, “I’m here in my home. I’m here with my loved ones. I’m here with my dog. And that boom is just the fireworks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having a supportive friend or family member present (or that you can call) is often the most grounding for patients, Mohlenhoff says. It’s important for them to remind the person suffering from PTSD that they’re safe in the here and now. \u003ca href=\"https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/helping-someone-with-ptsd.htm\">More tips on how to help a loved one cope with PTSD.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Download a mindfulness app\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re by yourself or need extra support, you can try a coaching app to guide you through grounding exercises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mohlenhoff recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/mindfulcoach_app.asp\">Mindfulness Coach\u003c/a>, a free app created by the National Center for PTSD that offers guided meditations and coping strategies. Here is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/index.asp\">a list of more recommended apps from the National Center for PTSD\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Talk to a mental health professional\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re seeking professional help, the National Center for PTSD has \u003ca href=\"https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/find_therapist.asp\">information on how to find a therapist, counselor or mental health provider\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here is a list of free hotlines to speak with a professional:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/\">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline\u003c/a>: \u003ca href=\"https://www.988california.org/\">988\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help\">National Institute of Mental Health\u003c/a>: 866-615-6464\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.crisistextline.org/\">Crisis Text Line\u003c/a>: Text HOME to 741741\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Here are Bay Area centers specializing in patients with PTSD:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/\">San Francisco VA Health Care System\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.bayareatrauma.com/\">Bay Area Trauma Center \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.traumarecoveryclinic.org/\">Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"pets\">\u003c/a>Fireworks and dogs: How to keep your pets calm\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11992817\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11992817\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg\" alt=\"A white dog with two American flags and a Minnie Mouse toy on its back.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"747\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-800x584.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-1020x744.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/GettyImages-2159247406-160x117.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hilda, owned by Kirstin and David Vasquez, of Huntington Beach, sports a Minnie Mouse doll holding American flags as hundreds of patriotic bicyclists cruise down Main Street during the 5th Annual Huntington Beach Locals Fourth of July Bicycle Cruise in advance of the annual Independence Day parade and fireworks in Huntington Beach on Saturday, June 29, 2024. \u003ccite>(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fireworks are notorious for spooking animals, and shelters across the nation report \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/verify-are-more-pets-lost-during-4th-of-july-than-any-other-time-of-the-year/103-569349422\">an increase in lost pets every year on July Fourth\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">In 2019\u003c/a>, KQED spoke with a veterinarian from the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for advice on\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\"> keeping dogs and other pets happy while fireworks happen\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are her top tips:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Keep pets at home — or leave town\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s natural for animals to be fearful of loud noises,” Dr. Sophie Liu, San Francisco SPCA resident in behavior medicine, told KQED in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since fireworks have been so frequent, make sure your pets are secure inside your home, and you’re able to monitor them. But, if possible, she recommends going out of town with your pets for July Fourth — somewhere without fireworks, if possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Update your pet’s tag and microchip information\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu says shelters often receive microchipped animals but are unable to contact their owner because the pet’s microchip information is outdated. Your veterinarian can help if you don’t know how to update this information or if you don’t remember which microchip company you used.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Recognize fearful behavior\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pets may perceive loud, unexpected noises as a threat, and running away or hiding is a natural survival instinct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s important to know whether your animal is anxious in order to prevent them from accidentally injuring themselves. Animals may show signs of fear if they pant, lick their lips, whine, drool, shake, yawn, hide or do not accept a treat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Create a safe space\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not uncommon to see pets trying to tear through metal crates, chew through door frames or jump out of windows,” Liu warns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She suggests owners create a safe haven for their pets before and during fireworks celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Choose a comfortable room without windows or where you can close the curtains. Play soothing music or use a white noise machine,” Liu says. “The goal of these tools is to help your pet relax and stay calm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liu says some pets may want to hide in the bathroom due to its extra insulation, which could make a great safe space if your pet is naturally attracted to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Give them treats — but watch what they eat\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Distract your furry friends with what they love most — treats. Even better: Try a treat-dispensing toy, like a Kong, to keep them distracted for long periods of time. “A pet that is comfortable enough to be eating is less likely to be panicked or worried,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But be aware of what they have access to, she warns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve had animals come to our veterinary hospitals with severe injuries due to fireworks, including burns,” Liu says. “Pets should never be near fireworks — not only is it scary for animals, but fireworks have the potential to cause serious harm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dogs may also try to eat fireworks that aren’t safely stored, which contain chemicals and heavy metals. Also, keep your canines from munching on sparklers, glow sticks, charcoal, kabob skewers and \u003ca href=\"https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/foods-to-avoid.aspx\">even these common foods\u003c/a> that can be dangerous to pets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Consider over-the-counter medication \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can try using calming pheromones to relax your pet, such as sprays for cats and collars or plug-ins for dogs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If all else fails and your pet is exhibiting severe anxious behavior, Liu says to talk with your vet about medication options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>These tips were drawn from our 2019 story \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11758991/6-tips-from-a-vet-to-keep-your-pets-safe-on-july-fourth\">\u003cstrong>6 Tips From a Vet to Keep Your Pets Safe on July Fourth\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "take-yourself-on-a-self-guided-tour-of-chinatowns-queer-past-and-present",
"title": "Take Yourself on a Self-Guided Tour of Chinatown’s Queer Past and Present",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated July 2\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046464/55th-annual-sf-pride-parade-focuses-on-queer-joy-as-resistance\">San Francisco’s iconic Pride celebrations\u003c/a> saw community groups and artists organize rallies, concerts and film festivals that explored the spectrum of experiences across the LGBTQ+ community in June.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s something you can do in San Francisco any day of the year: a self-guided tour of Chinatown’s historical queer landmarks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Heading out on this independent walking guide is also a particularly good option for anyone who missed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976447/chinatown-pride-san-francisco-lgbtq-chinese-culture-center\">second annual Chinatown Pride\u003c/a> back in May, organized by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccsf.us/\">Chinese Cultural Center\u003c/a> and contemporary arts organization \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/\">Edge on the Square\u003c/a>. As part of the celebration, drag queens with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ricerockettes/?hl=en\">Rice Rockettes\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.gapa.org/\">GLBTQ+ Asian Pacific Alliance\u003c/a> led a procession of hundreds of residents throughout the neighborhood on a six-stop tour of places connected to Chinatown’s LGBTQ+ community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chinatown holds so many untold queer stories,” said YY Zhu, director of galleries and programs at CCC, whose team spent months researching and talking to elders in the community to identify the places in the neighborhood where LGBTQ+ individuals lived, connected and organized. “This is really our invitation to people to come to Chinatown and interact with this history,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, for those who want to recreate this tour for themselves, we chatted to Chinatown Pride’s organizers to learn how folks can follow the procession’s footsteps. Each stop is only one or two blocks from the starting point, so if you are walking, the whole tour should take less than an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041664\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peipei Ma’Bilz performs outside of the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco during the 2025 Chinatown Pride celebration on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We might not recognize this landscape as queer — but now we do,” said Erika Pallasigue, art and public programs manager at Edge on the Square. “You don’t have to be queer, you don’t have to be Asian, you don’t need to be any of those identities — but think about which parts of \u003cem>you \u003c/em>are coming up as you’re in these spaces.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn the location of each stop and what motivated organizers to include it in the tour — and use our Google Map below to guide your journey:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe src=\"https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m52!1m12!1m3!1d3152.777105925208!2d-122.40876392411549!3d37.79526307198029!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m37!3e2!4m5!1s0x8085808b44883cad%3A0xd750b48a84be159b!2s800%20Grant%20Ave%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.7943718!2d-122.4062012!4m5!1s0x808580f4b208980f%3A0x79f4a6ea2653f493!2s916%20Grant%20Ave%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.795432!2d-122.4063589!4m5!1s0x8085808b4d0a5ab7%3A0x66e0e066e2685cbc!2s743%20Washington%20Street%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA!3m2!1d37.7950577!2d-122.4062732!4m5!1s0x808580f35bc71103%3A0x5c021c2e2c24075a!2s41%20Ross%20Alley%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.795611099999995!2d-122.40751829999999!4m5!1s0x808580f4d3d446af%3A0x3331b3be07e21a26!2s848%20Kearny%20Street%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA!3m2!1d37.7960717!2d-122.4049677!4m5!1s0x8085808b37612399%3A0xf31611c8c7750f1!2s745%20Kearny%20St%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.7948832!2d-122.4054149!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1750884488990!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1000\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #1: Edge on the Square, 800 Grant Ave.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A few feet away from Portsmouth Square, Edge on the Square is an art exhibition and performance space that first opened in 2021 — on the same corner once occupied by retail store Asian Image and the iconic Shing Chong market \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CqlwOixLIge/\">before that\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Edge on the Square is currently hosting the exhibit “All Eyes on Us: Invention & Ingenuity During Artistic Diasporas,” which features artists representing a wide range of mediums. This includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/yumei-hou\">Hou Yumei\u003c/a>’s art of paper cutting, installations by \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/sun-park\">Sun Park\u003c/a>, illustrations by Chinatown’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/leland-wong\">Leland Wong\u003c/a> and drawings by \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/jeanette-lazam\">Jeanette Lazam\u003c/a> — who you’ll see again later on in your tour, thanks to her role as \u003ca href=\"https://www.historypin.org/en/manilatown-heritage-foundation-s-collection/manilatown-manang-jeanette-gandiongco-lazam-2/geo/37.796126,-122.404933,17/bounds/37.793722,-122.4071,37.798529,-122.402766/paging/1/project/about\">an openly queer tenant organizer\u003c/a> in the struggle to \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/reel/DAt5-VRqL3z/?locale=uken1&hl=en\">save the neighborhood’s International Hotel\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibit, curated by Candace Huey, frames these artists as “hidden dragons,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/all-eyes-on-us\">producing their work\u003c/a> while adapting to the challenges of “immigration, assimilation and survival.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While social circumstances may have limited the visibility of some of these artists, Edge on the Square’s Pallasigue encourages visitors to also think about how staying under the radar can serve as a form of protection. “Marginalized communities — not just queer communities — have to negotiate what it means to be out or visible,” she said. “They may choose \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to be out or visible as a form of safety, protection and resilience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041654\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041654\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kotobuki Taiko performs during the inaugural Chinatown Pride procession through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The event, co-presented by the Chinese Culture Center and Edge on the Square, featured a walking tour highlighting historic queer landmarks and honored the neighborhood’s LGBTQIA+ history dating back to the 1930s. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Stop #2: Bars and shops along Grant Avenue\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>From Edge on the Square, head north on Grant Avenue. Along these next few blocks, you’ll see staple Chinatown bars Li Po Cocktail Lounge on your right and Buddha Lounge on your left.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These spots are remnants of the time when Chinatown was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904467/chinatown-nightclubs-showgirl-magic-museum\">a big nightlife destination\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From the 1930s to 1960s, clubs like Forbidden City and Chinese Sky Room threw glamorous shows featuring big bands and showgirl troupes — drawing in major celebrities like Frank Sinatra and \u003ca href=\"https://sfmuseum.org/hist10/forbidcity.html\">then-actor President Ronald Reagan\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12044243 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/017_KQED_SFPrideParade_06262022-1020x680.jpg']“But the queer history here is that there were several underground bars that served as gathering spaces for the community,” Pallasigue said. People who frequented these establishments often had to live a double life, she said, transforming into a version of themselves devoid of queerness during the daytime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Based on our research, it’s during the 1940s and ’50s that the queer nightlife in Chinatown was thriving,” Zhu said. “Chinatown was the go-to space where you could have a relatively safe environment to hang out and be yourself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groups like CCC continue working on recovering the history of these underground bars. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Chinatown’s nightlife boom and the Asian and Asian American performers behind it, visit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.theclarionsf.org/showgirl-magic-museum\">Showgirl Magic Museum\u003c/a> at 2 Waverly Place, a block away from the Grant and Sacramento street intersection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #3: East West Bank, formerly the site of Telephone Exchange, 743 Washington St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lotus speaks outside of East West Bank on Washington St, the 3rd stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From Buddha Lounge, cross Washington Street. On your left side, you’ll see a three-tiered pagoda painted in red and green. Now a branch office of East West Bank, this building served \u003ca href=\"https://hoodline.com/2016/04/plugged-in-the-fascinating-history-of-the-chinese-telephone-exchange/\">as the home of the Chinatown Telephone Exchange\u003c/a> from the end of the 19th century till 1949. Before cell phones or even landline telephones with dials, you would have to first call your local telephone exchange and ask the operator — \u003cem>an actual human\u003c/em> — to connect you to the person you were trying to reach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Chinatown Telephone Exchange, a team of dozens of women connected the neighborhood’s thousands of residents to the outside world. As part of their jobs, these female operators were required to wear traditional qipao dresses every day and be fluent in multiple languages, Zhu said.[aside postID=arts_13977169 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/glbths_1997_13_Box4_DE_PatronsAtComptons-cropped.png']During the Chinatown Pride procession, an elderly woman approached Zhu to share that she herself had worked at a telephone exchange in the city similar to the one located on Washington Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At work, “she saw women flirting with each other,” Zhu said. “While they connected the outside world to Chinatown, there was this concealed intimacy. She was sure that there were other queer women operators besides her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Exchange’s architecture is also a symbol of Chinatown’s ability to transform in order to survive, Pallasigue said. The 1906 earthquake destroyed most of Chinatown and local officials saw that as an opportunity to remove the Chinese community from this part of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Chinese and Chinese American business groups instead proposed that in order to boost tourism, the neighborhood \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinatown/resourceguide/story.html\">be protected and rebuilt\u003c/a> as an exaggerated version of what Westerners at the time imagined China to be like. Up went the paper lanterns, neon lights and pagodas — including those at the Chinatown Telephone Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is built into Chinatown’s DNA,” Pallasigue said: “Being creative with the use of space as a form of resilience in order to preserve the culture and community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #4: 41ross, 41 Ross Alley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041660\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041660\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kalypso (right) walks to Ross Alley, the 4th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From the old Telephone Exchange building, walk up the hill on Washington Street and turn right at Ross Alley. On the left side, you’ll find 41ross, a gallery space managed by CCC that has hosted the work of dozens of LGBTQ+ artists over its 11 years in operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal for this space is really to support artists and provide a platform for them — not only to showcase their work, but to also sell it,” she said, adding that 41ross includes a design store where visitors can find works by Jeanette Lazam, Hou Yumei, Leland Wong and other artists \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/all-eyes-on-us\">currently featured at Edge on the Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, 41ross collaborated with queer artist-activist Xiangqi Chen \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccsf.us/post/out-%E5%87%BA-museum-a-chinese-queer-museum-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E9%85%B7%E5%85%92%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8\">to host “OUT/出 MUSEUM,”\u003c/a> a museum prototype focused on Chinese queer art. Visitors can ask the 41ross staff to learn more about ongoing work to find a permanent home for Chen’s collection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #5: International Hotel Senior Housing, 848 Kearny St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stepping out of 41ross, take a left and then a right on Jackson Street. Walk downhill on Jackson until you reach the intersection with Kearny Street, where you’ll see a tall apartment building behind a Muni bus stop. This is International Hotel Senior Housing, an affordable housing complex that opened in 2005 for lower-income seniors — and it stands on the site of the former \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">International Hotel\u003c/a> (or I-Hotel), where \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/history/\">one of the most extensive struggles\u003c/a> between tenants and developers in the city’s history went down.[aside postID=science_1997508 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/06/250603-QUEERKAYAK-20-BL-KQED.jpg']Since the 1920s, the I-Hotel housed hundreds of elderly and impoverished Filipino and Chinese men who shared cramped living quarters known as single room occupancies, or SROs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the property owners decided in 1968 that they wanted to turn the hotel into a parking lot and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13964200/violeta-marasigan-bullet-filipina-activist-ihotel-manilatown-san-francisco-marcos\">started handing out eviction notices to residents\u003c/a>, students, activists and other community members quickly rallied in support of the hotel’s tenants, sparking \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/timeline/\">a nine-year battle\u003c/a> to prevent evictions. And although the owners ultimately succeeded in removing all residents in 1977, the struggle for the I-Hotel formed a generation of activists in Chinatown, Pallasigue said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The struggle for the I-Hotel was about displacement, gentrification and the question: who belongs here?,” she said — adding that even within this movement, “there weren’t many queer leaders at the forefront because they tended to be pushed out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the younger I-Hotel tenants at the time of the 1977 evictions was Jeanette Lazam — one of the artists currently featured at Edge on the Square. During the struggle to save the I-Hotel, she \u003ca href=\"https://convergencemag.com/articles/coming-home-jeanette-lazam-returns-to-the-i-hotel/\">pushed for Asian American activists from different generations to work together\u003c/a>, all the while \u003ca href=\"https://vdoc.pub/documents/san-franciscos-international-hotel-mobilizing-the-filipino-american-community-in-the-anti-eviction-movement-asian-american-history-cultu-k9benlnleos0\">defying homophobia and sexism\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when a group of nonprofits succeeded in transforming the former I-Hotel site into affordable housing, Lazam was one of the few surviving former tenants who returned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #6: Crossing Portsmouth Square pedestrian bridge, 745 Kearny St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alfred Twu and others gather on Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge, the 6th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To wrap up your tour, head south to Portsmouth Square and step on the pedestrian bridge over Kearny Street. During the procession, Pallasigue and Zhu recalled that drag queens led the crowd across the bridge to the sound of taiko drums, with Pride flags flying high in the air. “This is the immortal runway,” Zhu said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ending the procession at the bridge was intentional, Zhu said — because this landmark will soon disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As part of a city-led improvement project, the bridge is \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1911\">scheduled to be demolished later this year\u003c/a>. But “even if the bridge goes away, even if these landmarks, one day, are physically gone, we still have the fact that we’ve brought all of these different people together — and they’re now telling these stories,” Pallasigue said. “We’ve woven ourselves into it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peipei Ma’Bilz (center left) walks across Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge, the 6th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya and Rae Alexandra and NPR’s Chloe Veltman.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "For Chinatown Pride 2025, community groups visited the neighborhood’s queer landmarks. You can now follow their steps.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated July 2\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046464/55th-annual-sf-pride-parade-focuses-on-queer-joy-as-resistance\">San Francisco’s iconic Pride celebrations\u003c/a> saw community groups and artists organize rallies, concerts and film festivals that explored the spectrum of experiences across the LGBTQ+ community in June.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s something you can do in San Francisco any day of the year: a self-guided tour of Chinatown’s historical queer landmarks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Heading out on this independent walking guide is also a particularly good option for anyone who missed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976447/chinatown-pride-san-francisco-lgbtq-chinese-culture-center\">second annual Chinatown Pride\u003c/a> back in May, organized by the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccsf.us/\">Chinese Cultural Center\u003c/a> and contemporary arts organization \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/\">Edge on the Square\u003c/a>. As part of the celebration, drag queens with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ricerockettes/?hl=en\">Rice Rockettes\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.gapa.org/\">GLBTQ+ Asian Pacific Alliance\u003c/a> led a procession of hundreds of residents throughout the neighborhood on a six-stop tour of places connected to Chinatown’s LGBTQ+ community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Chinatown holds so many untold queer stories,” said YY Zhu, director of galleries and programs at CCC, whose team spent months researching and talking to elders in the community to identify the places in the neighborhood where LGBTQ+ individuals lived, connected and organized. “This is really our invitation to people to come to Chinatown and interact with this history,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, for those who want to recreate this tour for themselves, we chatted to Chinatown Pride’s organizers to learn how folks can follow the procession’s footsteps. Each stop is only one or two blocks from the starting point, so if you are walking, the whole tour should take less than an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041664\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG060_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peipei Ma’Bilz performs outside of the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco during the 2025 Chinatown Pride celebration on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We might not recognize this landscape as queer — but now we do,” said Erika Pallasigue, art and public programs manager at Edge on the Square. “You don’t have to be queer, you don’t have to be Asian, you don’t need to be any of those identities — but think about which parts of \u003cem>you \u003c/em>are coming up as you’re in these spaces.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn the location of each stop and what motivated organizers to include it in the tour — and use our Google Map below to guide your journey:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe src=\"https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m52!1m12!1m3!1d3152.777105925208!2d-122.40876392411549!3d37.79526307198029!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m37!3e2!4m5!1s0x8085808b44883cad%3A0xd750b48a84be159b!2s800%20Grant%20Ave%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.7943718!2d-122.4062012!4m5!1s0x808580f4b208980f%3A0x79f4a6ea2653f493!2s916%20Grant%20Ave%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.795432!2d-122.4063589!4m5!1s0x8085808b4d0a5ab7%3A0x66e0e066e2685cbc!2s743%20Washington%20Street%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA!3m2!1d37.7950577!2d-122.4062732!4m5!1s0x808580f35bc71103%3A0x5c021c2e2c24075a!2s41%20Ross%20Alley%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.795611099999995!2d-122.40751829999999!4m5!1s0x808580f4d3d446af%3A0x3331b3be07e21a26!2s848%20Kearny%20Street%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA!3m2!1d37.7960717!2d-122.4049677!4m5!1s0x8085808b37612399%3A0xf31611c8c7750f1!2s745%20Kearny%20St%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20CA%2094108!3m2!1d37.7948832!2d-122.4054149!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1750884488990!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1000\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #1: Edge on the Square, 800 Grant Ave.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A few feet away from Portsmouth Square, Edge on the Square is an art exhibition and performance space that first opened in 2021 — on the same corner once occupied by retail store Asian Image and the iconic Shing Chong market \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CqlwOixLIge/\">before that\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Edge on the Square is currently hosting the exhibit “All Eyes on Us: Invention & Ingenuity During Artistic Diasporas,” which features artists representing a wide range of mediums. This includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/yumei-hou\">Hou Yumei\u003c/a>’s art of paper cutting, installations by \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/sun-park\">Sun Park\u003c/a>, illustrations by Chinatown’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/leland-wong\">Leland Wong\u003c/a> and drawings by \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/jeanette-lazam\">Jeanette Lazam\u003c/a> — who you’ll see again later on in your tour, thanks to her role as \u003ca href=\"https://www.historypin.org/en/manilatown-heritage-foundation-s-collection/manilatown-manang-jeanette-gandiongco-lazam-2/geo/37.796126,-122.404933,17/bounds/37.793722,-122.4071,37.798529,-122.402766/paging/1/project/about\">an openly queer tenant organizer\u003c/a> in the struggle to \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/reel/DAt5-VRqL3z/?locale=uken1&hl=en\">save the neighborhood’s International Hotel\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibit, curated by Candace Huey, frames these artists as “hidden dragons,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/all-eyes-on-us\">producing their work\u003c/a> while adapting to the challenges of “immigration, assimilation and survival.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While social circumstances may have limited the visibility of some of these artists, Edge on the Square’s Pallasigue encourages visitors to also think about how staying under the radar can serve as a form of protection. “Marginalized communities — not just queer communities — have to negotiate what it means to be out or visible,” she said. “They may choose \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to be out or visible as a form of safety, protection and resilience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041654\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041654\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG025_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kotobuki Taiko performs during the inaugural Chinatown Pride procession through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The event, co-presented by the Chinese Culture Center and Edge on the Square, featured a walking tour highlighting historic queer landmarks and honored the neighborhood’s LGBTQIA+ history dating back to the 1930s. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Stop #2: Bars and shops along Grant Avenue\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>From Edge on the Square, head north on Grant Avenue. Along these next few blocks, you’ll see staple Chinatown bars Li Po Cocktail Lounge on your right and Buddha Lounge on your left.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These spots are remnants of the time when Chinatown was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904467/chinatown-nightclubs-showgirl-magic-museum\">a big nightlife destination\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From the 1930s to 1960s, clubs like Forbidden City and Chinese Sky Room threw glamorous shows featuring big bands and showgirl troupes — drawing in major celebrities like Frank Sinatra and \u003ca href=\"https://sfmuseum.org/hist10/forbidcity.html\">then-actor President Ronald Reagan\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“But the queer history here is that there were several underground bars that served as gathering spaces for the community,” Pallasigue said. People who frequented these establishments often had to live a double life, she said, transforming into a version of themselves devoid of queerness during the daytime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Based on our research, it’s during the 1940s and ’50s that the queer nightlife in Chinatown was thriving,” Zhu said. “Chinatown was the go-to space where you could have a relatively safe environment to hang out and be yourself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Groups like CCC continue working on recovering the history of these underground bars. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Chinatown’s nightlife boom and the Asian and Asian American performers behind it, visit the \u003ca href=\"https://www.theclarionsf.org/showgirl-magic-museum\">Showgirl Magic Museum\u003c/a> at 2 Waverly Place, a block away from the Grant and Sacramento street intersection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #3: East West Bank, formerly the site of Telephone Exchange, 743 Washington St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041659\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG039_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lotus speaks outside of East West Bank on Washington St, the 3rd stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From Buddha Lounge, cross Washington Street. On your left side, you’ll see a three-tiered pagoda painted in red and green. Now a branch office of East West Bank, this building served \u003ca href=\"https://hoodline.com/2016/04/plugged-in-the-fascinating-history-of-the-chinese-telephone-exchange/\">as the home of the Chinatown Telephone Exchange\u003c/a> from the end of the 19th century till 1949. Before cell phones or even landline telephones with dials, you would have to first call your local telephone exchange and ask the operator — \u003cem>an actual human\u003c/em> — to connect you to the person you were trying to reach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Chinatown Telephone Exchange, a team of dozens of women connected the neighborhood’s thousands of residents to the outside world. As part of their jobs, these female operators were required to wear traditional qipao dresses every day and be fluent in multiple languages, Zhu said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>During the Chinatown Pride procession, an elderly woman approached Zhu to share that she herself had worked at a telephone exchange in the city similar to the one located on Washington Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At work, “she saw women flirting with each other,” Zhu said. “While they connected the outside world to Chinatown, there was this concealed intimacy. She was sure that there were other queer women operators besides her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Exchange’s architecture is also a symbol of Chinatown’s ability to transform in order to survive, Pallasigue said. The 1906 earthquake destroyed most of Chinatown and local officials saw that as an opportunity to remove the Chinese community from this part of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Chinese and Chinese American business groups instead proposed that in order to boost tourism, the neighborhood \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinatown/resourceguide/story.html\">be protected and rebuilt\u003c/a> as an exaggerated version of what Westerners at the time imagined China to be like. Up went the paper lanterns, neon lights and pagodas — including those at the Chinatown Telephone Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is built into Chinatown’s DNA,” Pallasigue said: “Being creative with the use of space as a form of resilience in order to preserve the culture and community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #4: 41ross, 41 Ross Alley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041660\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041660\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG042_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kalypso (right) walks to Ross Alley, the 4th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route through San Francisco’s Chinatown on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From the old Telephone Exchange building, walk up the hill on Washington Street and turn right at Ross Alley. On the left side, you’ll find 41ross, a gallery space managed by CCC that has hosted the work of dozens of LGBTQ+ artists over its 11 years in operation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal for this space is really to support artists and provide a platform for them — not only to showcase their work, but to also sell it,” she said, adding that 41ross includes a design store where visitors can find works by Jeanette Lazam, Hou Yumei, Leland Wong and other artists \u003ca href=\"https://www.edgeonthesquare.org/all-eyes-on-us\">currently featured at Edge on the Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, 41ross collaborated with queer artist-activist Xiangqi Chen \u003ca href=\"https://www.cccsf.us/post/out-%E5%87%BA-museum-a-chinese-queer-museum-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E9%85%B7%E5%85%92%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8\">to host “OUT/出 MUSEUM,”\u003c/a> a museum prototype focused on Chinese queer art. Visitors can ask the 41ross staff to learn more about ongoing work to find a permanent home for Chen’s collection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #5: International Hotel Senior Housing, 848 Kearny St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stepping out of 41ross, take a left and then a right on Jackson Street. Walk downhill on Jackson until you reach the intersection with Kearny Street, where you’ll see a tall apartment building behind a Muni bus stop. This is International Hotel Senior Housing, an affordable housing complex that opened in 2005 for lower-income seniors — and it stands on the site of the former \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">International Hotel\u003c/a> (or I-Hotel), where \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/history/\">one of the most extensive struggles\u003c/a> between tenants and developers in the city’s history went down.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Since the 1920s, the I-Hotel housed hundreds of elderly and impoverished Filipino and Chinese men who shared cramped living quarters known as single room occupancies, or SROs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the property owners decided in 1968 that they wanted to turn the hotel into a parking lot and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13964200/violeta-marasigan-bullet-filipina-activist-ihotel-manilatown-san-francisco-marcos\">started handing out eviction notices to residents\u003c/a>, students, activists and other community members quickly rallied in support of the hotel’s tenants, sparking \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/timeline/\">a nine-year battle\u003c/a> to prevent evictions. And although the owners ultimately succeeded in removing all residents in 1977, the struggle for the I-Hotel formed a generation of activists in Chinatown, Pallasigue said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The struggle for the I-Hotel was about displacement, gentrification and the question: who belongs here?,” she said — adding that even within this movement, “there weren’t many queer leaders at the forefront because they tended to be pushed out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the younger I-Hotel tenants at the time of the 1977 evictions was Jeanette Lazam — one of the artists currently featured at Edge on the Square. During the struggle to save the I-Hotel, she \u003ca href=\"https://convergencemag.com/articles/coming-home-jeanette-lazam-returns-to-the-i-hotel/\">pushed for Asian American activists from different generations to work together\u003c/a>, all the while \u003ca href=\"https://vdoc.pub/documents/san-franciscos-international-hotel-mobilizing-the-filipino-american-community-in-the-anti-eviction-movement-asian-american-history-cultu-k9benlnleos0\">defying homophobia and sexism\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And when a group of nonprofits succeeded in transforming the former I-Hotel site into affordable housing, Lazam was one of the few surviving former tenants who returned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Stop #6: Crossing Portsmouth Square pedestrian bridge, 745 Kearny St.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG054_QED_DUPE1-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alfred Twu and others gather on Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge, the 6th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To wrap up your tour, head south to Portsmouth Square and step on the pedestrian bridge over Kearny Street. During the procession, Pallasigue and Zhu recalled that drag queens led the crowd across the bridge to the sound of taiko drums, with Pride flags flying high in the air. “This is the immortal runway,” Zhu said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ending the procession at the bridge was intentional, Zhu said — because this landmark will soon disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As part of a city-led improvement project, the bridge is \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1911\">scheduled to be demolished later this year\u003c/a>. But “even if the bridge goes away, even if these landmarks, one day, are physically gone, we still have the fact that we’ve brought all of these different people together — and they’re now telling these stories,” Pallasigue said. “We’ve woven ourselves into it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12041662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12041662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/05242025_CHINATOWNPRIDEWALKINGTOUR_EG052_QED-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peipei Ma’Bilz (center left) walks across Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge, the 6th stop on the Chinatown Pride procession route on Saturday, May 24, 2025. \u003ccite>(Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya and Rae Alexandra and NPR’s Chloe Veltman.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "incredibly-short-sighted-land-conservation-groups-rally-against-gop-proposal-to-sell-off-public-lands-like-tahoe",
"title": "'Incredibly Short-Sighted': Land Conservation Groups Rally Against GOP Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands Like Tahoe",
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"headTitle": "‘Incredibly Short-Sighted’: Land Conservation Groups Rally Against GOP Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands Like Tahoe | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Update, 12 p.m. Monday\u003c/strong>:\u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5375473-senate-removes-provision-that-would-sell-off-public-lands-from-megabill/\"> Sen. Mike Lee announced late Saturday\u003c/a> that he had formally withdrawn his federal land sales provision proposal from the budget bill, saying that the “strict constraints” of the reconciliation process had prevented him from securing “clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families.” Lee said he “\u003ca href=\"https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1939132778605388207\">looke[ed] forward” to working with President Donald Trump\u003c/a> to “put underutilized federal land to work” for this group.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Original story below:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congress’ controversial budget bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041305/californias-members-congress-vote-along-party-lines-house-budget-bill\">formally known as the “One, Big Beautiful Bill,”\u003c/a> originally included a proposal to allow the sale of large swaths of federal lands in 11 western states — including more than 15 million acres in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/public-land-sales-senate-mike-lee-bf4c3a046a107efc7d4ffe005fdb9d2d\">After public backlash,\u003c/a> that proposal was struck from the bill this week. But Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, who proposed the sell-off as part of Congress’ reconciliation bill, is still working to bring parts of the idea back — albeit with a few changes. On Wednesday, \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reported on the latest, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5369309-mike-lee-gop-budget-plan-public-lands-sale-trump-blm-national-forests/\">scaled-down version of the plan\u003c/a>, which Lee hopes to restore to the budget bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/what-donald-trump-has-said-about-selling-off-federal-land-2088284\">President Donald Trump and Lee laud the idea\u003c/a> as a solution to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12036934/california-lawmakers-push-housing-laws-to-boost-affordability\">the West’s housing crisis\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/06/10/more-than-100-environmental-groups-sign-letter-opposing-return-of-public-lands-sale/\">land conservation groups and lawmakers have pushed back against the proposal\u003c/a>, criticizing it for targeting the very places people value the most.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s incredibly short-sighted,” said Karen Kong, mayor of the small mountain city of Bishop in the Eastern Sierra. Kong said she saw \u003ca href=\"https://www.inyoregister.com/news/county-residents-to-say-no-kings/article_b83824b3-7752-4d99-88bd-79072784631d.html\">more than 800 residents (“a ginormous number for Inyo County”) show up for its “No Kings” rally earlier this month\u003c/a> — many in protest of the potential sale of public lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s incredibly demoralizing for those of us who love vacant land and free land,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what you need to know about the proposal to sell off public lands, the places in California it could still affect and what you can do to have a say in what happens next.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">What is the latest on the proposal to sell off public lands?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">What California land is included in the bill?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">What will happen to the land if a version of the proposal becomes law?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">What can you do to have a voice?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>What was the original proposal to sell off public lands? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046195\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046195\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks to reporters as he arrives for the Senate Republicans’ lunch meeting in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After the House of Representatives passed its version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/g-s1-73126/senate-republican-tax-spending\">the Senate is now negotiating the ins and outs of its version of the bill \u003c/a>— which is aimed at formalizing tax cuts on Social Security, includes cuts to federal Medicaid spending and SNAP benefits and would increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One provision of the bill would have made millions of acres of land in 11 states, including California, not only eligible — but required to be sold — in the next five years. Any “interested parties” could nominate the lands to be sold, and while states and local governments would have the right of first refusal to buy the property, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wilderness.org/sites/default/files/media/file/changed-enr-text%20-%20politico%20pdf.pdf\">the text of the bill\u003c/a> encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to dispose of the land via “competitive sale, auction, or other methods designed to secure not less than fair market value.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12029182 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/15_240726-ParkFire-137-BL-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is how we make government smaller, freer, and work for Americans,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.senate.gov/2025/6/chairman-lee-releases-enr-budget-reconciliation-text\">Lee said when introducing the proposal.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the original plan, \u003ca href=\"https://wilderness.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=821970f0212d46d7aa854718aac42310\">lands that would have been eligible for purchase\u003c/a> included those managed by both the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. While national parks and monuments were not included, the surrounding areas — like much of Tahoe National Forest, the Trinity Alps and even bits of Big Sur — were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was alarmed that they would consider selling off that range of lands,” said California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s quite possible that people could literally wake up in months and find that the place that generations of their family went to … is gone forever,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046187\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046187\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. \u003ccite>(Rachael Myrow/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>Which lands were included in the original sell-off proposal?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Parts of the Lake Tahoe basin, including an overlook of Emerald Bay and the lands surrounding Fallen Leaf and Marlette Lakes.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Eastern Sierra, including land around Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes and the entrance to Mount Whitney.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Sierra Foothills, including around Oakhurst, the South Yuba River and Tahoe National Forest near Donner Pass.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lands surrounding Lassen National Park and Mount Shasta, plus the Trinity Alps.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mendocino National Forest, Plumas National Forest and Klamath National Forest.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In Southern California, parts of Los Padres National Forest, the Santa Lucia Range, the Santa Ynez Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, Indio Hills, Cleveland National Forest and land around Mount San Jacinto.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The proposal was met with sharp opposition from Democrats and land conservation groups (Crowfoot called it “radical,” saying he doesn’t use the term lightly) and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/public-land-sales-senate-tax-cuts-5d77cf8b1472b22fa368f88d573a6a01\">Republican lawmakers, too, were split on the idea.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the bill argued it could provide much-needed land for development to address the housing crisis, while opponents worried that the language of the bill, which allows “any interested party” to bid for the land without public input\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>could threaten many of the West’s most iconic wild places.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are areas that are adjacent to rural communities, gateway communities to Yosemite, and river access and campgrounds in and around Sierra National Forest, Sequoia National Forest — even Don Pedro Reservoir,” said Katie Hawkins, California program director for advocacy group \u003ca href=\"https://www.outdooralliance.org/\">Outdoor Alliance\u003c/a>, which mobilized opposition to the proposal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034415\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034415\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Shasta (right) and its geologic sibling Shastina, left, as seen from the city of Mount Shasta on July 13, 2022. \u003ccite>(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Why was the public lands sell-off proposal just cut from the bill?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid needing a supermajority to pass the budget, Republicans are working via the “\u003ca href=\"https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheet/budget-reconciliation-explainer\">reconciliation\u003c/a>” process, which subjects the bill to the scrutiny of \u003ca href=\"https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/what-is-the-role-of-the-senate-parliamentarian/\">Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MacDonough can now \u003ca href=\"https://www.pgpf.org/programs-and-projects/fiscal-policy/understanding-complex-budget-terms-and-processes-and-why-they-matter/#byrd-rule\">strike certain provisions that are considered “extraneous”\u003c/a> to the budget at will, and on Monday night, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5365699-senate-parliamentarian-offshore-drilling-gop-megabill/\">she struck the land proposal from the bill\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While MacDonough’s rulings are technically only advisory, they are usually accepted in order to get the bill approved. The two chambers of Congress will then have to agree on a final version to send back to Trump to sign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the provision was removed from the bill, \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1937340623213985907\">Lee asserted his commitment to nonetheless “move this forward.”\u003c/a> His new version, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5369309-mike-lee-gop-budget-plan-public-lands-sale-trump-blm-national-forests/\">\u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports\u003c/a>, removes all Forest Service land from the bill and reduces the BLM land subject to sale to only those within 5 miles of “the border of a population center,” but did not specify how those locations might be determined.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lee’s office did not return requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/SenMikeLee/status/1937340623213985907\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lee also said he plans to establish “freedom zones to ensure these lands benefit AMERICAN FAMILIES” and would prioritize protecting farmers, ranchers and recreational users. While the original proposal \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-where-250-million-acres-public-land-being-sold-off-2086852\">encompassed 250 million acres\u003c/a> of land across the United States — including more than 15 million of which were in California — and required the sale of more than 2 million acres over the next five years, the new version could mandate the sale of as much as 1.2 million acres, \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a victory for the American public, who were loud and clear: Public lands belong in public hands, for current and future generations alike,” Tracy Stone-Manning, president of land conservation nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://act.wilderness.org/b_8IG_RJf0iwXEufiTZAcQ2?sourceid=1070512&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20624687510&gbraid=0AAAAADG4h6ysIuj7mGQZQFHzdSNGcNXk6&gclid=CjwKCAjwmenCBhA4EiwAtVjzmnfct4oeGDPXcw5azcFys3bVQvjCnh51VMtk6YBvyOsOWRY6sV2VZhoCzVcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds\">The Wilderness Society,\u003c/a> said in a statement. “We trust the next politician who wants to sell off public lands will remember that people of all stripes will stand against that idea. Our public lands are not for sale.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to Hawkins, the fight isn’t over, and her group prepares to combat additional attempts to sell off public lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not out of the woods yet on this,” she said — something Crowfoot agreed with. “It’s clear to me that certain federal leaders are hell bent on selling off public lands. And if it’s not one proposal, it will be another,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is one of the most concerning attacks in a generation on the environment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>What would happen to places like Tahoe or the Eastern Sierra if the proposal returns and moves forward?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027921\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of New Bullards Bar Reservoir in the Tahoe National Forest near Camptonville, California, on Aug. 15, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If Trump and Congress follow through on the proposal, “even close to home, green space and park access could be sold to the highest bidder,” Hawkins said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hawkins is particularly concerned by the text of the bill that allows any “interested party” to nominate the land for sale. “So that could be for timber sales, could be oil and gas leasing,” she said. “It also could be for developing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, any such development would normally have to go through a lengthy public process that would include a review of the environmental impacts of the project, via a process outlined under the \u003ca href=\"https://lci.ca.gov/ceqa/\">California Environmental Quality Act\u003c/a>. But the bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.enr.com/articles/60861-senate-committee-advances-budget-with-fast-tracked-nepa-option\">which also would have made changes to the National Environmental Policy Act at the federal level\u003c/a>, would have superseded CEQA, eliminating public input in this process altogether.[aside postID=news_12046061 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe1.jpg']“This proposal throws out all of that transparency and all of those checks and balances out the window and gives this administration’s officials the ability to nominate places and then execute these land transfers very quickly,” Crowfoot said. “I don’t know what that would mean if this bill passes, but we are not going quietly in the night. We’re gonna protect public access to these lands at all costs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Bishop’s Mayor Kong, her city is a stark example of how the Trump administration’s actions and proposals can — and have — impacted a region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public lands surround Bishop and are home to the many federal employees working on that land — the BLM and Forest Service are the area’s fourth-largest employer — and its economy survives off of tourism to the wild places nearby. Since Trump’s second inauguration, the White House’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030343/layoffs-have-hit-the-beloved-national-park-service-how-will-it-affect-your-visit\">attempts to lay off thousands of public employees, including National Park Service staffers\u003c/a>, and now its threats to federal lands have all been a major concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The health of a place like Bishop depends on both locals and visitors “keeping a good and close eye on the public lands,” Kong said. ”Selling off the public land would decimate us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Lee’s assertion that selling off this land could address California’s housing crisis, California leaders have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12007818/newsom-vowed-to-build-housing-on-surplus-state-property-99-of-the-land-will-stay-vacant\">actually proposed a similar move themselves, around state-owned land in the past\u003c/a>. His new version of the bill, unlike the original, specifies that the land must be used “solely for the development of housing or to address any infrastructure and amenities to support local needs associated with housing,” according to \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Hawkins said its remoteness, fire risk and lack of infrastructure for new housing could make it unsuitable for development regardless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while she acknowledged that Bishop is facing its own housing crisis, “people don’t just move to Bishop to move to Bishop,” said Kong — noting that without the surrounding public lands that define the town, a community like hers may not exist at all. She’s also concerned about how many Forest Service or BLM staff already plan to leave the city after the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/federal-employees-deferred-resignation-offer\">attempt to shrink the federal workforce by firing federal employees en masse.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Are we going to need the same amount of housing as we would if those people were here?” she asked. “Our whole entire town is tourism. Nobody wants to build industry out here in the middle of what people consider nowhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11716102\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11716102\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Eastern Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes. \u003ccite>(Kirk Siegler/NPR)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>What can you do to have a voice?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the original sell-off proposal now struck from the bill (and the new version still pending official release) — which lawmakers aim to sign by July 4 — the initial urgency urged by advocates and supporters of public lands has lessened somewhat. But Hawkins and Kong say even Lee’s proposed new iteration could still have a devastating effect statewide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Maybe Bishop is saved,” Kong said. “But what does that mean for Big Bear and all the other areas that may be at risk?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/24/public-lands-sale-proposal-alarms-western-states/84324205007/\">ample public and private pushback against the bill\u003c/a>, some lawmakers — \u003ca href=\"https://kiley.house.gov/posts/rep-kevin-kiley-calls-for-meaningful-local-input-of-public-land-sales\">including Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley,\u003c/a> whose district covers the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range — took a stand against it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I will not support legislation that excludes local leaders from having a meaningful seat at the table for these important decisions,” Kiley said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hawkins said so far, the pushback against the proposal has been loud and clear, and it’s important to “keep the pressure up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to contact your elected officials to express your opinions — on any issue you feel strongly about — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">read our KQED guide to identifying your representatives and how to call them. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to set the precedent that this could be done again every time that we have to do budgets and reconciliation,” said Hawkins. To people who have already contacted their elected officials about the proposal, she said: “Continue to do what you’re doing; it’s working. The lawmakers are hearing and getting pressure from all over the country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s no negotiation on this,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "'Incredibly Short-Sighted': Land Conservation Groups Rally Against GOP Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands Like Tahoe | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Update, 12 p.m. Monday\u003c/strong>:\u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5375473-senate-removes-provision-that-would-sell-off-public-lands-from-megabill/\"> Sen. Mike Lee announced late Saturday\u003c/a> that he had formally withdrawn his federal land sales provision proposal from the budget bill, saying that the “strict constraints” of the reconciliation process had prevented him from securing “clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families.” Lee said he “\u003ca href=\"https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1939132778605388207\">looke[ed] forward” to working with President Donald Trump\u003c/a> to “put underutilized federal land to work” for this group.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Original story below:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congress’ controversial budget bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041305/californias-members-congress-vote-along-party-lines-house-budget-bill\">formally known as the “One, Big Beautiful Bill,”\u003c/a> originally included a proposal to allow the sale of large swaths of federal lands in 11 western states — including more than 15 million acres in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/public-land-sales-senate-mike-lee-bf4c3a046a107efc7d4ffe005fdb9d2d\">After public backlash,\u003c/a> that proposal was struck from the bill this week. But Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, who proposed the sell-off as part of Congress’ reconciliation bill, is still working to bring parts of the idea back — albeit with a few changes. On Wednesday, \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reported on the latest, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5369309-mike-lee-gop-budget-plan-public-lands-sale-trump-blm-national-forests/\">scaled-down version of the plan\u003c/a>, which Lee hopes to restore to the budget bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/what-donald-trump-has-said-about-selling-off-federal-land-2088284\">President Donald Trump and Lee laud the idea\u003c/a> as a solution to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12036934/california-lawmakers-push-housing-laws-to-boost-affordability\">the West’s housing crisis\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/06/10/more-than-100-environmental-groups-sign-letter-opposing-return-of-public-lands-sale/\">land conservation groups and lawmakers have pushed back against the proposal\u003c/a>, criticizing it for targeting the very places people value the most.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s incredibly short-sighted,” said Karen Kong, mayor of the small mountain city of Bishop in the Eastern Sierra. Kong said she saw \u003ca href=\"https://www.inyoregister.com/news/county-residents-to-say-no-kings/article_b83824b3-7752-4d99-88bd-79072784631d.html\">more than 800 residents (“a ginormous number for Inyo County”) show up for its “No Kings” rally earlier this month\u003c/a> — many in protest of the potential sale of public lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s incredibly demoralizing for those of us who love vacant land and free land,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what you need to know about the proposal to sell off public lands, the places in California it could still affect and what you can do to have a say in what happens next.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">What is the latest on the proposal to sell off public lands?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">What California land is included in the bill?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">What will happen to the land if a version of the proposal becomes law?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">What can you do to have a voice?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>What was the original proposal to sell off public lands? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046195\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046195\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2219923822-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks to reporters as he arrives for the Senate Republicans’ lunch meeting in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After the House of Representatives passed its version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/g-s1-73126/senate-republican-tax-spending\">the Senate is now negotiating the ins and outs of its version of the bill \u003c/a>— which is aimed at formalizing tax cuts on Social Security, includes cuts to federal Medicaid spending and SNAP benefits and would increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One provision of the bill would have made millions of acres of land in 11 states, including California, not only eligible — but required to be sold — in the next five years. Any “interested parties” could nominate the lands to be sold, and while states and local governments would have the right of first refusal to buy the property, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wilderness.org/sites/default/files/media/file/changed-enr-text%20-%20politico%20pdf.pdf\">the text of the bill\u003c/a> encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to dispose of the land via “competitive sale, auction, or other methods designed to secure not less than fair market value.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is how we make government smaller, freer, and work for Americans,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.senate.gov/2025/6/chairman-lee-releases-enr-budget-reconciliation-text\">Lee said when introducing the proposal.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the original plan, \u003ca href=\"https://wilderness.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=821970f0212d46d7aa854718aac42310\">lands that would have been eligible for purchase\u003c/a> included those managed by both the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. While national parks and monuments were not included, the surrounding areas — like much of Tahoe National Forest, the Trinity Alps and even bits of Big Sur — were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was alarmed that they would consider selling off that range of lands,” said California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s quite possible that people could literally wake up in months and find that the place that generations of their family went to … is gone forever,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046187\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046187\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_7064_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. \u003ccite>(Rachael Myrow/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>Which lands were included in the original sell-off proposal?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Parts of the Lake Tahoe basin, including an overlook of Emerald Bay and the lands surrounding Fallen Leaf and Marlette Lakes.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Eastern Sierra, including land around Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes and the entrance to Mount Whitney.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The Sierra Foothills, including around Oakhurst, the South Yuba River and Tahoe National Forest near Donner Pass.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lands surrounding Lassen National Park and Mount Shasta, plus the Trinity Alps.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mendocino National Forest, Plumas National Forest and Klamath National Forest.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>In Southern California, parts of Los Padres National Forest, the Santa Lucia Range, the Santa Ynez Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, Indio Hills, Cleveland National Forest and land around Mount San Jacinto.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The proposal was met with sharp opposition from Democrats and land conservation groups (Crowfoot called it “radical,” saying he doesn’t use the term lightly) and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/public-land-sales-senate-tax-cuts-5d77cf8b1472b22fa368f88d573a6a01\">Republican lawmakers, too, were split on the idea.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the bill argued it could provide much-needed land for development to address the housing crisis, while opponents worried that the language of the bill, which allows “any interested party” to bid for the land without public input\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>could threaten many of the West’s most iconic wild places.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are areas that are adjacent to rural communities, gateway communities to Yosemite, and river access and campgrounds in and around Sierra National Forest, Sequoia National Forest — even Don Pedro Reservoir,” said Katie Hawkins, California program director for advocacy group \u003ca href=\"https://www.outdooralliance.org/\">Outdoor Alliance\u003c/a>, which mobilized opposition to the proposal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034415\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034415\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/071322-Mt-Shasta-GETTY-CM-01-copy-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Shasta (right) and its geologic sibling Shastina, left, as seen from the city of Mount Shasta on July 13, 2022. \u003ccite>(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Why was the public lands sell-off proposal just cut from the bill?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid needing a supermajority to pass the budget, Republicans are working via the “\u003ca href=\"https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheet/budget-reconciliation-explainer\">reconciliation\u003c/a>” process, which subjects the bill to the scrutiny of \u003ca href=\"https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/what-is-the-role-of-the-senate-parliamentarian/\">Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MacDonough can now \u003ca href=\"https://www.pgpf.org/programs-and-projects/fiscal-policy/understanding-complex-budget-terms-and-processes-and-why-they-matter/#byrd-rule\">strike certain provisions that are considered “extraneous”\u003c/a> to the budget at will, and on Monday night, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5365699-senate-parliamentarian-offshore-drilling-gop-megabill/\">she struck the land proposal from the bill\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While MacDonough’s rulings are technically only advisory, they are usually accepted in order to get the bill approved. The two chambers of Congress will then have to agree on a final version to send back to Trump to sign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the provision was removed from the bill, \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1937340623213985907\">Lee asserted his commitment to nonetheless “move this forward.”\u003c/a> His new version, \u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5369309-mike-lee-gop-budget-plan-public-lands-sale-trump-blm-national-forests/\">\u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports\u003c/a>, removes all Forest Service land from the bill and reduces the BLM land subject to sale to only those within 5 miles of “the border of a population center,” but did not specify how those locations might be determined.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lee’s office did not return requests for comment.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Lee also said he plans to establish “freedom zones to ensure these lands benefit AMERICAN FAMILIES” and would prioritize protecting farmers, ranchers and recreational users. While the original proposal \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-where-250-million-acres-public-land-being-sold-off-2086852\">encompassed 250 million acres\u003c/a> of land across the United States — including more than 15 million of which were in California — and required the sale of more than 2 million acres over the next five years, the new version could mandate the sale of as much as 1.2 million acres, \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a victory for the American public, who were loud and clear: Public lands belong in public hands, for current and future generations alike,” Tracy Stone-Manning, president of land conservation nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://act.wilderness.org/b_8IG_RJf0iwXEufiTZAcQ2?sourceid=1070512&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20624687510&gbraid=0AAAAADG4h6ysIuj7mGQZQFHzdSNGcNXk6&gclid=CjwKCAjwmenCBhA4EiwAtVjzmnfct4oeGDPXcw5azcFys3bVQvjCnh51VMtk6YBvyOsOWRY6sV2VZhoCzVcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds\">The Wilderness Society,\u003c/a> said in a statement. “We trust the next politician who wants to sell off public lands will remember that people of all stripes will stand against that idea. Our public lands are not for sale.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to Hawkins, the fight isn’t over, and her group prepares to combat additional attempts to sell off public lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not out of the woods yet on this,” she said — something Crowfoot agreed with. “It’s clear to me that certain federal leaders are hell bent on selling off public lands. And if it’s not one proposal, it will be another,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is one of the most concerning attacks in a generation on the environment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>What would happen to places like Tahoe or the Eastern Sierra if the proposal returns and moves forward?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027921\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027921\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/230815-BlueForestInitiative-24-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of New Bullards Bar Reservoir in the Tahoe National Forest near Camptonville, California, on Aug. 15, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If Trump and Congress follow through on the proposal, “even close to home, green space and park access could be sold to the highest bidder,” Hawkins said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hawkins is particularly concerned by the text of the bill that allows any “interested party” to nominate the land for sale. “So that could be for timber sales, could be oil and gas leasing,” she said. “It also could be for developing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, any such development would normally have to go through a lengthy public process that would include a review of the environmental impacts of the project, via a process outlined under the \u003ca href=\"https://lci.ca.gov/ceqa/\">California Environmental Quality Act\u003c/a>. But the bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.enr.com/articles/60861-senate-committee-advances-budget-with-fast-tracked-nepa-option\">which also would have made changes to the National Environmental Policy Act at the federal level\u003c/a>, would have superseded CEQA, eliminating public input in this process altogether.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“This proposal throws out all of that transparency and all of those checks and balances out the window and gives this administration’s officials the ability to nominate places and then execute these land transfers very quickly,” Crowfoot said. “I don’t know what that would mean if this bill passes, but we are not going quietly in the night. We’re gonna protect public access to these lands at all costs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Bishop’s Mayor Kong, her city is a stark example of how the Trump administration’s actions and proposals can — and have — impacted a region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public lands surround Bishop and are home to the many federal employees working on that land — the BLM and Forest Service are the area’s fourth-largest employer — and its economy survives off of tourism to the wild places nearby. Since Trump’s second inauguration, the White House’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030343/layoffs-have-hit-the-beloved-national-park-service-how-will-it-affect-your-visit\">attempts to lay off thousands of public employees, including National Park Service staffers\u003c/a>, and now its threats to federal lands have all been a major concern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The health of a place like Bishop depends on both locals and visitors “keeping a good and close eye on the public lands,” Kong said. ”Selling off the public land would decimate us.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for Lee’s assertion that selling off this land could address California’s housing crisis, California leaders have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12007818/newsom-vowed-to-build-housing-on-surplus-state-property-99-of-the-land-will-stay-vacant\">actually proposed a similar move themselves, around state-owned land in the past\u003c/a>. His new version of the bill, unlike the original, specifies that the land must be used “solely for the development of housing or to address any infrastructure and amenities to support local needs associated with housing,” according to \u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Hawkins said its remoteness, fire risk and lack of infrastructure for new housing could make it unsuitable for development regardless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while she acknowledged that Bishop is facing its own housing crisis, “people don’t just move to Bishop to move to Bishop,” said Kong — noting that without the surrounding public lands that define the town, a community like hers may not exist at all. She’s also concerned about how many Forest Service or BLM staff already plan to leave the city after the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/federal-employees-deferred-resignation-offer\">attempt to shrink the federal workforce by firing federal employees en masse.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Are we going to need the same amount of housing as we would if those people were here?” she asked. “Our whole entire town is tourism. Nobody wants to build industry out here in the middle of what people consider nowhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11716102\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11716102\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/img_7376_wide-e848890206768711978760ed1053bb57e3f367b7-e1546701706131-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Eastern Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes. \u003ccite>(Kirk Siegler/NPR)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>What can you do to have a voice?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>With the original sell-off proposal now struck from the bill (and the new version still pending official release) — which lawmakers aim to sign by July 4 — the initial urgency urged by advocates and supporters of public lands has lessened somewhat. But Hawkins and Kong say even Lee’s proposed new iteration could still have a devastating effect statewide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Maybe Bishop is saved,” Kong said. “But what does that mean for Big Bear and all the other areas that may be at risk?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/24/public-lands-sale-proposal-alarms-western-states/84324205007/\">ample public and private pushback against the bill\u003c/a>, some lawmakers — \u003ca href=\"https://kiley.house.gov/posts/rep-kevin-kiley-calls-for-meaningful-local-input-of-public-land-sales\">including Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley,\u003c/a> whose district covers the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range — took a stand against it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I will not support legislation that excludes local leaders from having a meaningful seat at the table for these important decisions,” Kiley said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hawkins said so far, the pushback against the proposal has been loud and clear, and it’s important to “keep the pressure up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to contact your elected officials to express your opinions — on any issue you feel strongly about — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">read our KQED guide to identifying your representatives and how to call them. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to set the precedent that this could be done again every time that we have to do budgets and reconciliation,” said Hawkins. To people who have already contacted their elected officials about the proposal, she said: “Continue to do what you’re doing; it’s working. The lawmakers are hearing and getting pressure from all over the country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s no negotiation on this,” she said.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Missing Sundown Cinema? Other Bay Area Outdoor Movie Screenings for Adults and Older Kids",
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"headTitle": "Missing Sundown Cinema? Other Bay Area Outdoor Movie Screenings for Adults and Older Kids | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>This summer, Bay Area movie lovers may already be feeling the absence of San Francisco’s Sundown Cinema, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975608/sundown-cinema-canceled-san-francisco-movie-series\">the annual open-air film series that was abruptly canceled last month.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beloved 22-year-old program was run by the nonprofit San Francisco Parks Alliance, which is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041112/sf-supervisor-calls-for-parks-audit-after-nonprofit-partner-misspends-3-8-million\">facing an official review of its finances\u003c/a> by city officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re looking to fill the Sundown Cinema-shaped hole in your heart, luckily there \u003cem>are\u003c/em> other spots in the Bay Area offering ways to enjoy the movies outdoors for free this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many cities and counties are hosting their own film series in local parks and public spaces, which are generally free. Among the frequent repeats in the Bay Area outdoor movie slate this summer (with \u003cem>Wicked \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Clueless \u003c/em>particularly on rotation), some less expected screenings to watch for include \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cem>Field of Dreams\u003c/em>\u003c/a> in Danville on June 27, Jack London Square’s screenings of \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cem>Space Jam\u003c/em>\u003c/a> (July 12) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cem>Happy Gilmore\u003c/em>\u003c/a> (August 2) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blankets-blockbusters-tickets-1368178110559?aff=erelexpmlt\">\u003cem>10 Things I Hate About You\u003c/em>\u003c/a> on August 15 at San Francisco’s Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grab a picnic blanket and keep reading for more, including local outdoor film festivals, movies on the beach in Santa Cruz and even the old-fashioned drive-in theater. (And if you’re looking for family-friendly screenings instead? Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045055/outdoor-movie-screenings-for-kids-around-the-bay-area-this-summer\">our guide to Bay Area outdoor movie screenings for kids\u003c/a> this summer.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#movies-bay-area-outdoors-things-to-do\">Where to see outdoor movie screenings in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Watching movies outdoors in the Bay Area: Tips for first-timers\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These movies usually start just after dusk around 8:30 p.m., so audiences can see the projected screen as clearly as possible. It’s a good idea to get to the “theater” early to secure a good view of the screen. Most screenings do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> require a ticket or reservation, but some of the special showings at community pools do ask for an RSVP.[aside postID=news_12045055 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1450590312-2000x1334.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any show, be sure to check the weather and see if the screening will continue in the event of rain or other disruptive weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the comfiest experience bring picnic blankets, a sweater and (non-crackling) snacks. A camping chair could offer you the most comfort, but be mindful you’re not blocking anyone’s view of the screen with your set-up. Remember that some venues may also discourage — or outright prohibit — pets or alcohol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are seeking captions for an outdoor movie, you may need to contact the city’s parks and recreation department at least two days in advance. For example, for the Berkeley showings, contact the city at least two days before the screening at jolee@berkeleyca.gov or (510) 926-1458, and for Santa Cruz shows, call (831) 423-5590. According to \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">the Santa Cruz Movies on the Beach website\u003c/a>, a “limited number of assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for check-out at the Mini Golf Kiosk inside Neptune’s Kingdom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"movies-bay-area-outdoors-things-to-do\">\u003c/a>Where to watch free movies outdoors in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in June\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>June 25: \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Town Green, Danville\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June 26: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Dune Part 2\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City[aside postID=news_12043932 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Light-Jacket-Reading-Series-43_qed.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June 27: \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Field of Dreams\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Town Green, Danville\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in July\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>July 12: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Space Jam\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 17: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/blankets-and-blockbusters-20250719/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Thrive City at Chase Center, San Francisco\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 24, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/programs-activities/placemaking\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>The Lady and the Tramp\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Cimarron Park, San José\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 24: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in August \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>August 2: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Happy Gilmore\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 5: \u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/19200/387?curm=8&cury=2025&selcat=31\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cem> (part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://natw.org/\">National Night Out\u003c/a>), Civic Park, Walnut Creek\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 7: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Beetlejuice Beetlejuice\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 14: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 15: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blankets-blockbusters-tickets-1368178110559?aff=erelexpmlt\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>10 Things I Hate About You\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Thrive City at Chase Center, San Francisco\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 16: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 21: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 28: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Argylle\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor film festivals in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As part of the 49th Frameline film festival, San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://proxysf.net/events/jimmy-frameline-49\">Proxy SF\u003c/a> in Hayes Valley will be screening \u003ca href=\"https://proxysf.net/events/jimmy-frameline-49\">\u003cem>Jimmy\u003c/em>, a documentary about James Baldwin’s time in Paris\u003c/a>, on June 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Redwood City’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">Movies on the Square series\u003c/a> will also host the \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">BraveMaker Film Festival\u003c/a> on July 10 in the city’s Courthouse Square. The program will include three documentaries: \u003cem>This is Me, Cycling Without Age \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Everywhere.\u003c/em>[aside postID=arts_13975608 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/Sister-Act-2-at-Dolores-Park-2022_1920-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Head to Santa Cruz for a movie on the beach \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s a drive from the Bay Area. But Santa Cruz’s free movie screenings take place right on the beach, in front of the historic Colonnade — with \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">films on offer every Friday except the Fourth of July\u003c/a>. PG13-and-over fare this summer includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Men in Black\u003c/em>: June 20\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Ghostbusters \u003c/em>(1984): June 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Jumanji \u003c/em>(1995): July 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>: July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>: August 8\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Dinner and a show at Foreign Cinema\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are willing to dole out cash for a date night or a birthday celebration, \u003ca href=\"https://foreigncinema.com/films/\">Foreign Cinema\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Mission District offers dinner accompanied by an outdoor movie screening, projected onto the wall of their covered patio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, they’re showing the San Francisco-based comedy \u003cem>Mrs. Doubtfire \u003c/em>through June 21. The catch is that you likely won’t \u003cem>hear\u003c/em> much — if any — sound during the movie, but in this reporter’s opinion, the vibes are still good.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>And finally … don’t forget the drive-in theater\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Curling up in the comfort of your car at the classic drive-in theater is a unique way to catch a newly-released movie under the stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has two major West Wind drive-in theaters in \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/capitol\">San José\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/solano\">Concord\u003c/a>, as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/sacramento\">Sacramento\u003c/a>. New releases currently playing include: \u003cem>Materialists\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Ballerina\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Lilo and Stitch\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Final Destination: Bloodlines\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">its website\u003c/a>, the theater is open even if it is raining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve never been to a drive-in theater, West Wind has \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">a Frequently Asked Questions on its website\u003c/a>. A major tip is to keep your headlights off and if you have a larger car, like an SUV, park closer to the back of the lot so you aren’t obstructing other people’s views. Your car battery isn’t likely to die during the movie, but West Wind does offer a \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">complimentary jump-start \u003c/a>in the case that it does go down during your time at the theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "San Francisco's Sundown Cinema series will not be returning in 2025, but there are still plenty of other options for watching movies outdoors around the Bay this summer.",
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"title": "Missing Sundown Cinema? Other Bay Area Outdoor Movie Screenings for Adults and Older Kids | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>This summer, Bay Area movie lovers may already be feeling the absence of San Francisco’s Sundown Cinema, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975608/sundown-cinema-canceled-san-francisco-movie-series\">the annual open-air film series that was abruptly canceled last month.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beloved 22-year-old program was run by the nonprofit San Francisco Parks Alliance, which is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041112/sf-supervisor-calls-for-parks-audit-after-nonprofit-partner-misspends-3-8-million\">facing an official review of its finances\u003c/a> by city officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re looking to fill the Sundown Cinema-shaped hole in your heart, luckily there \u003cem>are\u003c/em> other spots in the Bay Area offering ways to enjoy the movies outdoors for free this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many cities and counties are hosting their own film series in local parks and public spaces, which are generally free. Among the frequent repeats in the Bay Area outdoor movie slate this summer (with \u003cem>Wicked \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Clueless \u003c/em>particularly on rotation), some less expected screenings to watch for include \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cem>Field of Dreams\u003c/em>\u003c/a> in Danville on June 27, Jack London Square’s screenings of \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cem>Space Jam\u003c/em>\u003c/a> (July 12) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cem>Happy Gilmore\u003c/em>\u003c/a> (August 2) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blankets-blockbusters-tickets-1368178110559?aff=erelexpmlt\">\u003cem>10 Things I Hate About You\u003c/em>\u003c/a> on August 15 at San Francisco’s Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grab a picnic blanket and keep reading for more, including local outdoor film festivals, movies on the beach in Santa Cruz and even the old-fashioned drive-in theater. (And if you’re looking for family-friendly screenings instead? Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045055/outdoor-movie-screenings-for-kids-around-the-bay-area-this-summer\">our guide to Bay Area outdoor movie screenings for kids\u003c/a> this summer.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#movies-bay-area-outdoors-things-to-do\">Where to see outdoor movie screenings in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Watching movies outdoors in the Bay Area: Tips for first-timers\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These movies usually start just after dusk around 8:30 p.m., so audiences can see the projected screen as clearly as possible. It’s a good idea to get to the “theater” early to secure a good view of the screen. Most screenings do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> require a ticket or reservation, but some of the special showings at community pools do ask for an RSVP.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any show, be sure to check the weather and see if the screening will continue in the event of rain or other disruptive weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the comfiest experience bring picnic blankets, a sweater and (non-crackling) snacks. A camping chair could offer you the most comfort, but be mindful you’re not blocking anyone’s view of the screen with your set-up. Remember that some venues may also discourage — or outright prohibit — pets or alcohol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are seeking captions for an outdoor movie, you may need to contact the city’s parks and recreation department at least two days in advance. For example, for the Berkeley showings, contact the city at least two days before the screening at jolee@berkeleyca.gov or (510) 926-1458, and for Santa Cruz shows, call (831) 423-5590. According to \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">the Santa Cruz Movies on the Beach website\u003c/a>, a “limited number of assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for check-out at the Mini Golf Kiosk inside Neptune’s Kingdom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"movies-bay-area-outdoors-things-to-do\">\u003c/a>Where to watch free movies outdoors in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/h1>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in June\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>June 25: \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Town Green, Danville\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June 26: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Dune Part 2\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June 27: \u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Field of Dreams\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Town Green, Danville\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in July\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>July 12: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Space Jam\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 17: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/blankets-and-blockbusters-20250719/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Thrive City at Chase Center, San Francisco\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 24, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/programs-activities/placemaking\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>The Lady and the Tramp\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Cimarron Park, San José\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July 24: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor movie screenings in August \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>August 2: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Happy Gilmore\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 5: \u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/19200/387?curm=8&cury=2025&selcat=31\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cem> (part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://natw.org/\">National Night Out\u003c/a>), Civic Park, Walnut Creek\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 7: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Beetlejuice Beetlejuice\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 14: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 15: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blankets-blockbusters-tickets-1368178110559?aff=erelexpmlt\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>10 Things I Hate About You\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Thrive City at Chase Center, San Francisco\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 16: \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Jack London Square, Oakland\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 21: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>August 28: \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Argylle\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Courthouse Square, Redwood City\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Outdoor film festivals in the Bay Area this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As part of the 49th Frameline film festival, San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://proxysf.net/events/jimmy-frameline-49\">Proxy SF\u003c/a> in Hayes Valley will be screening \u003ca href=\"https://proxysf.net/events/jimmy-frameline-49\">\u003cem>Jimmy\u003c/em>, a documentary about James Baldwin’s time in Paris\u003c/a>, on June 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Redwood City’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">Movies on the Square series\u003c/a> will also host the \u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">BraveMaker Film Festival\u003c/a> on July 10 in the city’s Courthouse Square. The program will include three documentaries: \u003cem>This is Me, Cycling Without Age \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Everywhere.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Head to Santa Cruz for a movie on the beach \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s a drive from the Bay Area. But Santa Cruz’s free movie screenings take place right on the beach, in front of the historic Colonnade — with \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">films on offer every Friday except the Fourth of July\u003c/a>. PG13-and-over fare this summer includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Men in Black\u003c/em>: June 20\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Ghostbusters \u003c/em>(1984): June 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Jumanji \u003c/em>(1995): July 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>: July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>: August 8\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Dinner and a show at Foreign Cinema\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are willing to dole out cash for a date night or a birthday celebration, \u003ca href=\"https://foreigncinema.com/films/\">Foreign Cinema\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Mission District offers dinner accompanied by an outdoor movie screening, projected onto the wall of their covered patio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, they’re showing the San Francisco-based comedy \u003cem>Mrs. Doubtfire \u003c/em>through June 21. The catch is that you likely won’t \u003cem>hear\u003c/em> much — if any — sound during the movie, but in this reporter’s opinion, the vibes are still good.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>And finally … don’t forget the drive-in theater\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Curling up in the comfort of your car at the classic drive-in theater is a unique way to catch a newly-released movie under the stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has two major West Wind drive-in theaters in \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/capitol\">San José\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/solano\">Concord\u003c/a>, as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/locations/sacramento\">Sacramento\u003c/a>. New releases currently playing include: \u003cem>Materialists\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Ballerina\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Lilo and Stitch\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Final Destination: Bloodlines\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">its website\u003c/a>, the theater is open even if it is raining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve never been to a drive-in theater, West Wind has \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">a Frequently Asked Questions on its website\u003c/a>. A major tip is to keep your headlights off and if you have a larger car, like an SUV, park closer to the back of the lot so you aren’t obstructing other people’s views. Your car battery isn’t likely to die during the movie, but West Wind does offer a \u003ca href=\"https://www.westwinddi.com/about-us/faq\">complimentary jump-start \u003c/a>in the case that it does go down during your time at the theater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "outdoor-movie-screenings-for-kids-around-the-bay-area-this-summer",
"title": "Outdoor Movie Screenings for Kids Around the Bay Area This Summer",
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"headTitle": "Outdoor Movie Screenings for Kids Around the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you’re looking for things to do with kids in the Bay Area this summer, you might be especially spoiled for outdoor family-friendly movie screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975608/sundown-cinema-canceled-san-francisco-movie-series\"> the abrupt demise of San Francisco’s beloved Sundown Cinema\u003c/a> outdoor film series, many cities and countries in the Bay are hosting their own movie screenings in local parks and public spaces — and they’re usually free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for our list of movies for kids being screened around the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to where to watch outdoor kids’ movies in:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-north-bay\">North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-south-bay\">South Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Watching movies outdoors in the Bay Area: Tips for first-timers\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These movies usually start just after dusk around 8:30 p.m., so audiences can see the projected screen as clearly as possible. It’s a good idea to get to the “theater” early to secure a good view of the screen. Most screenings don’t require a ticket or reservation, but some of the special showings do ask for an RSVP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12044161 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-3-2000x1333.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any show, be sure to check the weather and see if the screening will continue in the event of rain or other disruptive weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the comfiest experience bring picnic blankets, a sweater and (non-crackling) snacks. A camping chair could offer you the most comfort, but be mindful you’re not blocking anyone’s view of the screen with your set-up. Remember that some venues may also discourage — or outright prohibit — pets or alcohol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are seeking captions for an outdoor movie, you may need to contact the city’s parks and recreation department at least two days in advance. For example, for the Berkeley showings, contact the city at least two days before the screening at jolee@berkeleyca.gov or (510) 926-1458, and for Santa Cruz shows, call (831) 423-5590. According to \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">the Santa Cruz Movies on the Beach website\u003c/a>, a “limited number of assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for check-out at the Mini Golf Kiosk inside Neptune’s Kingdom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Bay Area outdoor movie screenings for families this summer \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12045064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12045064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859-160x102.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thrive City is the district surrounding the Chase Center arena in San Francisco where the film ‘Wicked’ will be screened on July 19. \u003ccite>(San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/thrive-city/\">Thrive City at Chase Center\u003c/a> will \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/blankets-and-blockbusters-20250719/\">screen \u003cem>Wicked \u003c/em>on July 19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-east-bay\">\u003c/a>East Bay: Berkeley \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berkeley has \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/news/summer-evening-movies-berkeley-parks\">a free series of children’s movies running through September\u003c/a> at its various parks — and one screening of \u003ca href=\"https://ca-berkeley.civicrec.com/CA/berkeley-ca/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTIzOTA3MzY%3D\">\u003cem>Finding Dory\u003c/em> at its pools\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wild Robot: \u003c/em>June 27, San Pablo Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Cars 3\u003c/em>: July 11, Glendale La Loma Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Finding Dory\u003c/em>: July 18 at West Campus Pool (registration required)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>IF\u003c/em>: July 25, Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Avenue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: Aug. 8, Cedar Rose Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3\u003c/em>: Aug. 22, Grove Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>: Sept. 5, Willard Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2\u003c/em>: Sept. 12, Codornices Park,\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Oakland \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland offers its \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">Waterfront Flicks\u003c/a> series in Jack London Square from July 12 to August 16, including classics like \u003cem>Space Jam:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Space Jam: \u003c/em>July 12\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Princess and The Frog:\u003c/em> July 19\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Minions: \u003c/em>July 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4: \u003c/em>August 9[aside postID=news_12042763 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-2167750287-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Alameda \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alameda Parks and Recreation Department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/departments/alameda/rec-and-park/arpd-pdfs/spring-apr-may/2025-starlight-movies-in-the-park-flyer.pdf\">hosting six children’s movies\u003c/a> outdoors this summer — all of them free except for a showing of the seminal \u003cem>Sky High \u003c/em>ticketed at $15 per person:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4: \u003c/em>July 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sky High: \u003c/em>July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wild Robot: \u003c/em>July 25\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Mufasa: The Lion King: \u003c/em>Aug. 22\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3: \u003c/em>Sept. 26\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Antioch \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Antioch is organizing \u003ca href=\"https://www.antiochca.gov/outdoor-movie-night/\">several free movie screenings\u003c/a> in July\u003cem>. \u003c/em>A food truck will also be available, as well as first-come, first-served popcorn and refreshments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Moana 2\u003c/em>: July 10\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>A Goofy Movie\u003c/em>: July 17\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Parent Trap \u003c/em>(1998): July 24\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Holes: \u003c/em>July 31\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More East Bay outdoor movie screenings for families this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pinole.gov/calendar/?title=movie\">Pinole outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://piedmont.ca.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=13659823&pageId=14128087¤tDate=2025-07-01&todaysDate=2025-04-30&view=monthly\">Piedmont outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">Danville outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://dublin.ca.gov/1327/Picnic-Flix\">Dublin outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.haywardrec.org/calendar.aspx?Keywords=movie&startDate=&enddate=&CID=35,23,43,28,14,29,31,40,27&showPastEvents=false\">Hayward outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.herculesca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9316/269?npage=5&toggle=allupcoming\">Hercules outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/calendar.aspx?Keywords=movie&startDate=&enddate=&CID=20,14&showPastEvents=false\">Emeryville outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a> (use arrows to see the calendar)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmartinez.org/home/showpublisheddocument/4785/638772105373270000\">Martinez outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.unioncity.org/419/Community-Events\">Union City outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/community/what-s-happening/city-events-calendar/-curm-6/-cury-2025/-selcat-31\">Walnut Creek outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>[aside postID=news_11979339 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1244474782_qut.jpg']\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-north-bay\">\u003c/a>North Bay: Mill Valley \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/840/Movies-in-the-Park\">Mill Valley’s Friday outdoor movie series\u003c/a> returns to Old Mill Park, and stretches into the fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Luca\u003c/em>: August 1\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2:\u003c/em> September 5\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Little Mermaid (2023)\u003c/em>: October 3rd\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay: Santa Rosa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Rosa’s Howarth Park will host\u003ca href=\"https://www.srcity.org/2170/Movies-in-the-Park\"> five Friday night outdoor movies for children \u003c/a>from August 15 to September 12, with films still to be announced. You’ll also find food vendors and pre-movie activities for kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-south-bay\">\u003c/a>South Bay: San José \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José has not one but \u003cem>two \u003c/em>outdoor movie series. Firstly, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/programs-activities/placemaking\">Viva Parks Association’s “Free Movie Nights Under the Stars,”\u003c/a> offers family screenings in parks around the city parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>A Goofy Movie\u003c/em>: June 26, Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: July 3, Cahill Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2\u003c/em>: July 10, Silver Leaf Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Emoji Movie\u003c/em>: July 17, Mercado Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Lady and the Tramp\u003c/em>: July 24, Cimarron Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Migration\u003c/em>: July 31, Starbird Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Garfield Movie\u003c/em>: August 7, Rubino Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>How to Train Your Dragon\u003c/em>: The Hidden World: August 14, Kelley Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Moana 2\u003c/em>: August 21, Brigadoon Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3\u003c/em>: August 28, Calahan Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Over in St. James’ Park, \u003ca href=\"https://sjdowntown.com/starlight-cinema/\">the Downtown San José Starlight Cinema series\u003c/a> will present three movies this summer, with pre-movie entertainment:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>School of Rock: June 29\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nacho Libre: July 13\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A Minecraft Movie: July 27\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More South Bay outdoor movie screenings for families this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paloalto.gov/Events-Directory/Community-Services/Family-Movie-Night-Series\">Palo Alto\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/355/Movies\">Millbrae\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">Redwood City\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/community-services/special-events/summer-outdoor-movie-night-series\">Mountain View\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Further afield: Movies for kids on the beach in Santa Cruz \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s a drive from the Bay Area. But Santa Cruz’s free movie screenings take place right on the beach, in front of the historic Colonnade — with \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">films on offer every Friday except the Fourth of July\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Men in Black\u003c/em>: June 20\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Ghostbusters \u003c/em>(1984): June 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Jumanji \u003c/em>(1995): July 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>: July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wizard of Oz\u003c/em>: July 25\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: August 1\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>: August 8\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Our summer guide to outdoor movie screenings for kids and families across the Bay Area and beyond. ",
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"headline": "Outdoor Movie Screenings for Kids Around the Bay Area This Summer",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you’re looking for things to do with kids in the Bay Area this summer, you might be especially spoiled for outdoor family-friendly movie screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975608/sundown-cinema-canceled-san-francisco-movie-series\"> the abrupt demise of San Francisco’s beloved Sundown Cinema\u003c/a> outdoor film series, many cities and countries in the Bay are hosting their own movie screenings in local parks and public spaces — and they’re usually free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for our list of movies for kids being screened around the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to where to watch outdoor kids’ movies in:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-north-bay\">North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-south-bay\">South Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Watching movies outdoors in the Bay Area: Tips for first-timers\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These movies usually start just after dusk around 8:30 p.m., so audiences can see the projected screen as clearly as possible. It’s a good idea to get to the “theater” early to secure a good view of the screen. Most screenings don’t require a ticket or reservation, but some of the special showings do ask for an RSVP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before heading out to any show, be sure to check the weather and see if the screening will continue in the event of rain or other disruptive weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the comfiest experience bring picnic blankets, a sweater and (non-crackling) snacks. A camping chair could offer you the most comfort, but be mindful you’re not blocking anyone’s view of the screen with your set-up. Remember that some venues may also discourage — or outright prohibit — pets or alcohol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are seeking captions for an outdoor movie, you may need to contact the city’s parks and recreation department at least two days in advance. For example, for the Berkeley showings, contact the city at least two days before the screening at jolee@berkeleyca.gov or (510) 926-1458, and for Santa Cruz shows, call (831) 423-5590. According to \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">the Santa Cruz Movies on the Beach website\u003c/a>, a “limited number of assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available for check-out at the Mini Golf Kiosk inside Neptune’s Kingdom.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Bay Area outdoor movie screenings for families this summer \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12045064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12045064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-1298826859-160x102.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thrive City is the district surrounding the Chase Center arena in San Francisco where the film ‘Wicked’ will be screened on July 19. \u003ccite>(San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/thrive-city/\">Thrive City at Chase Center\u003c/a> will \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/blankets-and-blockbusters-20250719/\">screen \u003cem>Wicked \u003c/em>on July 19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-east-bay\">\u003c/a>East Bay: Berkeley \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Berkeley has \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/news/summer-evening-movies-berkeley-parks\">a free series of children’s movies running through September\u003c/a> at its various parks — and one screening of \u003ca href=\"https://ca-berkeley.civicrec.com/CA/berkeley-ca/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTIzOTA3MzY%3D\">\u003cem>Finding Dory\u003c/em> at its pools\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wild Robot: \u003c/em>June 27, San Pablo Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Cars 3\u003c/em>: July 11, Glendale La Loma Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Finding Dory\u003c/em>: July 18 at West Campus Pool (registration required)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>IF\u003c/em>: July 25, Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Avenue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: Aug. 8, Cedar Rose Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3\u003c/em>: Aug. 22, Grove Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Wicked\u003c/em>: Sept. 5, Willard Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2\u003c/em>: Sept. 12, Codornices Park,\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Oakland \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland offers its \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitoakland.com/event/jack-london-square%3A-waterfront-flicks/33905/\">Waterfront Flicks\u003c/a> series in Jack London Square from July 12 to August 16, including classics like \u003cem>Space Jam:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Space Jam: \u003c/em>July 12\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Princess and The Frog:\u003c/em> July 19\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Minions: \u003c/em>July 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4: \u003c/em>August 9\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Alameda \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alameda Parks and Recreation Department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/departments/alameda/rec-and-park/arpd-pdfs/spring-apr-may/2025-starlight-movies-in-the-park-flyer.pdf\">hosting six children’s movies\u003c/a> outdoors this summer — all of them free except for a showing of the seminal \u003cem>Sky High \u003c/em>ticketed at $15 per person:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4: \u003c/em>July 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sky High: \u003c/em>July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wild Robot: \u003c/em>July 25\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Mufasa: The Lion King: \u003c/em>Aug. 22\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3: \u003c/em>Sept. 26\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay: Antioch \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Antioch is organizing \u003ca href=\"https://www.antiochca.gov/outdoor-movie-night/\">several free movie screenings\u003c/a> in July\u003cem>. \u003c/em>A food truck will also be available, as well as first-come, first-served popcorn and refreshments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Moana 2\u003c/em>: July 10\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>A Goofy Movie\u003c/em>: July 17\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Parent Trap \u003c/em>(1998): July 24\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Holes: \u003c/em>July 31\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More East Bay outdoor movie screenings for families this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pinole.gov/calendar/?title=movie\">Pinole outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://piedmont.ca.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=13659823&pageId=14128087¤tDate=2025-07-01&todaysDate=2025-04-30&view=monthly\">Piedmont outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.aspx?Keywords=moonlight&startDate=&enddate=&CID=39,31,25,22,14,28,43,24,40&showPastEvents=false\">Danville outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://dublin.ca.gov/1327/Picnic-Flix\">Dublin outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.haywardrec.org/calendar.aspx?Keywords=movie&startDate=&enddate=&CID=35,23,43,28,14,29,31,40,27&showPastEvents=false\">Hayward outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.herculesca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9316/269?npage=5&toggle=allupcoming\">Hercules outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/calendar.aspx?Keywords=movie&startDate=&enddate=&CID=20,14&showPastEvents=false\">Emeryville outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a> (use arrows to see the calendar)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmartinez.org/home/showpublisheddocument/4785/638772105373270000\">Martinez outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.unioncity.org/419/Community-Events\">Union City outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walnutcreekca.gov/community/what-s-happening/city-events-calendar/-curm-6/-cury-2025/-selcat-31\">Walnut Creek outdoor movie screenings\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-north-bay\">\u003c/a>North Bay: Mill Valley \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/840/Movies-in-the-Park\">Mill Valley’s Friday outdoor movie series\u003c/a> returns to Old Mill Park, and stretches into the fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Luca\u003c/em>: August 1\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2:\u003c/em> September 5\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Little Mermaid (2023)\u003c/em>: October 3rd\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay: Santa Rosa\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Rosa’s Howarth Park will host\u003ca href=\"https://www.srcity.org/2170/Movies-in-the-Park\"> five Friday night outdoor movies for children \u003c/a>from August 15 to September 12, with films still to be announced. You’ll also find food vendors and pre-movie activities for kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"things-to-do-with-kids-bay-area-movies-south-bay\">\u003c/a>South Bay: San José \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José has not one but \u003cem>two \u003c/em>outdoor movie series. Firstly, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/programs-activities/placemaking\">Viva Parks Association’s “Free Movie Nights Under the Stars,”\u003c/a> offers family screenings in parks around the city parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>A Goofy Movie\u003c/em>: June 26, Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: July 3, Cahill Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Inside Out 2\u003c/em>: July 10, Silver Leaf Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Emoji Movie\u003c/em>: July 17, Mercado Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Lady and the Tramp\u003c/em>: July 24, Cimarron Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Migration\u003c/em>: July 31, Starbird Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Garfield Movie\u003c/em>: August 7, Rubino Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>How to Train Your Dragon\u003c/em>: The Hidden World: August 14, Kelley Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Moana 2\u003c/em>: August 21, Brigadoon Park\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Sonic the Hedgehog 3\u003c/em>: August 28, Calahan Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Over in St. James’ Park, \u003ca href=\"https://sjdowntown.com/starlight-cinema/\">the Downtown San José Starlight Cinema series\u003c/a> will present three movies this summer, with pre-movie entertainment:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>School of Rock: June 29\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nacho Libre: July 13\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A Minecraft Movie: July 27\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More South Bay outdoor movie screenings for families this summer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paloalto.gov/Events-Directory/Community-Services/Family-Movie-Night-Series\">Palo Alto\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/355/Movies\">Millbrae\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/movies\">Redwood City\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/community-services/special-events/summer-outdoor-movie-night-series\">Mountain View\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Further afield: Movies for kids on the beach in Santa Cruz \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s a drive from the Bay Area. But Santa Cruz’s free movie screenings take place right on the beach, in front of the historic Colonnade — with \u003ca href=\"https://beachboardwalk.com/movies/\">films on offer every Friday except the Fourth of July\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Men in Black\u003c/em>: June 20\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Ghostbusters \u003c/em>(1984): June 27\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Jumanji \u003c/em>(1995): July 11\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Clueless\u003c/em>: July 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Wizard of Oz\u003c/em>: July 25\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>Despicable Me 4\u003c/em>: August 1\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cem>The Goonies\u003c/em>: August 8\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "bay-area-camping-alternatives-glamping-yurts-cabins-big-sur",
"title": "Don’t Like Camping, Still Want Nature? From Yurts to Cabins, 5 'Glamping' Spots in the Bay Area and Beyond",
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"headTitle": "Don’t Like Camping, Still Want Nature? From Yurts to Cabins, 5 ‘Glamping’ Spots in the Bay Area and Beyond | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040242/start-backpacking-trails-bay-area-near-me-permits\">Backpacking\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973183/want-to-go-camping-near-the-bay-area-this-summer-make-your-reservations-now\">camping\u003c/a> isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe you don’t like sleeping on the ground. Maybe you’d rather have a real bathroom nearby — or perhaps you just want to cook in a full kitchen on your next outdoor adventure. But if you’re still seeking that immersive nature experience while wanting a \u003cem>little \u003c/em>more comfort, glamping — a.k.a “glamorous camping” — in a prefab tent, yurt or cabin might be your best bet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Glamping can still be “elemental,” said Teresa Raffo, owner and camp operator for glamping sport \u003ca href=\"https://mendocinogrove.com/\">Mendocino Grove\u003c/a> on the northern California coast. “But still, you can really relax. And not have to go back home and take a few days to regroup because you went on a pretty intense camping trip.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if hot showers and warm food just steps from your tent sounds ideal to you, read on — we’ve compiled a list of a few nearby glamping locations, as well as campsites that offer cabins, to up your outdoor game this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you happen to be the “camping friend” who can never convince your friends or family to accompany you into nature overnight? This list could be what changes their mind.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">For Gold Rush history: Stay in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">For peace in the redwoods: Stay in Anderson Valley’s Hendy Woods\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#F\">For an iconic (but coveted) Mt. Tam experience: Stay in the Steep Ravine Cabins\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">For stunning ocean views: Stay in Treebones Resort in Big Sur\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">For an escape on the northern coast: Stay in Mendocino Grove\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#E\">For a family-friendly campout: Stay in Nevada City’s Inn Town Campground\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>For Gold Rush history: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=494\">\u003cstrong>Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hydraulic water cannon shoots water down a street in North Bloomfield during Humbug Day, an annual celebration at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home to what was the \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/historical-photo-malakoff-diggins-hydraulic-gold-mine\">state’s largest hydraulic gold mine,\u003c/a> Malakoff Diggins — north of Nevada City in the Sierra Foothills — immerses visitors in 1800s California and allows glampers to stay in one of three cabins designed to resemble those of Gold Rush-era miners back when the town was known as Humbug.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware: \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/Default.aspx#!park/669/763\">These cabins,\u003c/a> located in the historic ghost town of North Bloomfield, are “very primitive,” said park aide Deidra Hall. Each has bunks for four to six people and potable water for drinking and cooking. They each also have a wood stove inside and an outdoor fire pit for grilling, plus a picnic table and bear box for food storage. Dogs are allowed both in the campground and in town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hall said the state park runs tours of the historic town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. While the towering cliffs of the “Diggins” — carved out by powerful water cannons in the 1800s — are the main attraction nearby, Hall said there are plenty of \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/humbug-trail--2\">trails for hikers\u003c/a> and bikers to explore. Anyone staying in the state park, whether at the cabins or in the campsites above North Bloomfield, can also get a chance at some gold panning, Hall said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have gold pans here that you can check out at the Visitor Center and we have a spot on Humbug Creek where you can go and try your hand,” Hall said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’ve made a reservation, consider calling ahead of your arrival to check on the park’s fire status, “because we do stop campfires later in the summer,” Hall said. Also: Don’t forget to bring bug spray.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044412\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044412\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A historic building in the town of North Bloomfield in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park preserves its Gold Rush-era aesthetic. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>For peace in the redwoods: Stay in Anderson Valley’s \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438\">\u003cstrong>Hendy Woods\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just a few hours from the Bay Area, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438\">Hendy Woods State Park\u003c/a> feels a world away. Nestled in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/134544/a-northern-california-wine-bootcamp-adventure-from-healdsburg-to-boonville\">Anderson Valley, famous for its Pinot Noirs\u003c/a>, is a warmer, less foggy alternative to many redwood forests in California — and it has \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/Default.aspx#!park/654/759\">four cabins that can be reserved\u003c/a> online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Senior Park Aide Bo Venturi said while the bathrooms are shared with other campers, each cabin includes a wood stove, table and full size bunk beds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Venturi said that while the cabins get booked up quickly on the weekends, there are openings all summer long during the weekdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the park itself, if the redwoods aren’t enough of a draw themselves, park visitors can do everything from ranger-led nature walks and ample hiking to canoeing, kayaking and picturesque picnic spots. Dogs are allowed at the campground but not on trails, and bikes are allowed only on paved roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro Tip:\u003c/strong> While the cabins technically sleep six, “I think four would be more comfortable in there,” Venturi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044413\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044413\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The sun sets on a picnic area at Hendy Woods State Park, where 4 cabins can be reserved for an overnight stay in the park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"F\">\u003c/a>For an iconic (but coveted) Mt. Tam experience: Stay at the \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471\">\u003cstrong>Steep Ravine Cabins in Mount Tamalpais State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most famous glamping experience in the Bay Area, the nine Steep Ravine Cabins are nearly impossible to snag.[aside postID=news_12047586 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/IMG_1993-scaled.jpg']The cabins themselves are fairly understated — they don’t have any electricity, heaters, A/C or other amenities, and bathrooms are shared by the whole campsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But their location, perched on rugged, rural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean from Marin, gives overnight visitors the remote feeling of seaside camping right here in the Bay Area. And their resulting popularity has prompted \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31271\">the state parks department to pilot a lottery system\u003c/a> to give more people a chance at getting a site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how does it work? \u003ca href=\"https://www.reservecalifornia.com/Web/#!park/682\">Anyone can put their hat into a drawing for a cabin for free\u003c/a> up to eight months in advance of your desired reservation, and if selected, will have 30 days to pay and claim their spot. When applying, you can add preferences like how many nights, your preferred arrival date and whether you need an accessible site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>Don’t worry if you don’t get a spot your first time entering the lottery: Each time you apply and aren’t selected, you get an increased chance at winning via a points system that awards you one point for every failed application you put in. The more points you have, the more likely you are to win a reservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044415\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044415\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Tamalpais rises more than 2,500 feet above San Francisco Bay, providing 360-degree views of the Bay, San Francisco, and Marin coast. \u003ccite>(Craig Miller/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>For stunning ocean views: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/\">\u003cstrong>Treebones Resort\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> in Big Sur\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A section of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101905691/the-uncertain-future-of-iconic-battered-highway-1\">Highway 1 through Big Sur may remain closed,\u003c/a> but the stunning Treebones Resort is still open. And even though it’s located south of the Hwy 1 closure at the town of Lucia, the resort is accessible inland from the Bay Area via the \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/nacimiento-fergusson-road\">Nacimiento-Fergusson Road over the Santa Lucia mountain range.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s one of those roads that either you love it or you hate it,” laughed Donna Heckert, Treebones’ manager of guest relations and reservations, who’s worked here for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This glamping spot is renowned for its hard-to-beat location on Big Sur’s bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and its luxurious amenities, from \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/wild-coast-restaurant/#wildcoast\">a sushi restaurant\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/massage/\">massage therapists\u003c/a> onsite to \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/yurts/\">yurts with running water, heaters and fireplaces.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’ve got the best of both worlds,” Heckert said. “Think of it like going to a hotel with the bathroom down the hall.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware that this luxury comes at a price, making Treebones much more expensive than other options on this list and may be best saved for a splurge or special occasion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Heckert said although reservations fill up quickly, and “we get a lot of repeat guests,” Treebones still has availability for this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’ve got extra time, \u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\">head south to Hearst Castle\u003c/a> or San Simeon to see elephant seals basking in the sun at the \u003ca href=\"https://elephantseal.org/live-view/\">Piedras Blancas Rookery.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11830892\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11830892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Redwoods-And-Little-Sur-River-Doug-Steakley-e1595978826150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1282\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Redwoods along the Little Sur River in Big Sur, CA \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Doug Steakley/Western Rivers Conservancy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>For an escape on the northern coast: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://mendocinogrove.com/\">\u003cstrong>Mendocino Grove\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“Camping made comfy” is how Teresa Raffo, owner and camp operator for Mendocino Grove, describes the rustic-yet-cushy “neighborhoods” of tents just a few hours north of the Bay Area on the coast. The campsite features around 60 tents, but it doesn’t feel crowded, Raffo said, as everyone has their own space and quiet hours help guests “relax into the experience,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their goal is to toe the line between the peace and quiet of a camping experience and the amenities of a resort — like a dry sauna, heated mattress pads, complimentary breakfast and high-touch customer service: “If you need hot cocoa at 11 o’clock at night, we’re going to go get you hot cocoa,” Raffo said. And unlike traditional camping, you don’t need to bring anything for your stay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of the campsite itself is a main draw, with towering redwood forests, ocean views and an expansive meadow where you can play volleyball, bocce ball or do other camping activities. Nearby you’ll find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/mendocino/\">quaint town of Mendocino\u003c/a> with its cozy downtown and \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitmendocino.com/8-fantastic-beaches-in-mendocino-county/\">lots of small beaches\u003c/a> to explore up and down the coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’re hoping to come up on a weekend but don’t see anything available, Raffo suggested that you call the front office direct, as last-minute cancellations are common.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"E\">\u003c/a>For a family-friendly campout: Stay at Nevada’s City’s \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://inntowncampground.com/\">\u003cstrong>Inn Town Campground\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044409\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044409\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nevada City Farmers Market, outdoors every Saturday during the summer, is walking distance from Inn Town Campground in Nevada City. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Inn Town Campground)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s right, this is another glamping spot in the Nevada City area. The Inn Town Campground is a privately run camping, glamping and RV park started by couple Erin Thiem and her husband Dan, who, after living in New Zealand, wanted to replicate that country’s “holiday park” experience in Erin’s very own hometown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We thought a campground would be a good fit for this community, and I’m grateful that we have been correct,” Thiem said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For glampers, the site offers 21 glamping tents which include a bed, linens, electricity and a fan. Four of these tents are large enough for a big family, and even the smaller tents are “super family friendly,” Thiem said and can be outfitted with cots for additional kids if needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044410\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044410\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of a glamping tent that sleeps 4 people at Inn Town Campground in Nevada City. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Inn Town Campground)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The campground is also dog-friendly and features a swimming pool, outdoor movie screening area and communal kitchen and living room area, plus a camp store to pick up any extra food. There are communal bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities onsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being a short walking distance from Nevada City’s historic downtown has its perks, as glampers can see live shows or concerts or time their visit around events like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacitychamber.com/nevada-city-events/summer-nights/\">summer nights on Wednesdays\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacitychamber.com/nevada-city-events/first-friday-artwalks/\">first Friday art walks\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacountyfair.com/\">county fair in nearby Grass Valley.\u003c/a> That’s not to mention the ample outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking, or the nearby \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=499\">Empire Mine Historic State Park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>“No one should miss the South Yuba River,” Thiem said. Whether in spring, when the wildflowers are blooming or in winter, when the river is in full flow, it’s a sight to behold, she said. “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">You go down there and the river is just raging\u003c/a>,” she said. “It’s powerful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040242/start-backpacking-trails-bay-area-near-me-permits\">Backpacking\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973183/want-to-go-camping-near-the-bay-area-this-summer-make-your-reservations-now\">camping\u003c/a> isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe you don’t like sleeping on the ground. Maybe you’d rather have a real bathroom nearby — or perhaps you just want to cook in a full kitchen on your next outdoor adventure. But if you’re still seeking that immersive nature experience while wanting a \u003cem>little \u003c/em>more comfort, glamping — a.k.a “glamorous camping” — in a prefab tent, yurt or cabin might be your best bet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Glamping can still be “elemental,” said Teresa Raffo, owner and camp operator for glamping sport \u003ca href=\"https://mendocinogrove.com/\">Mendocino Grove\u003c/a> on the northern California coast. “But still, you can really relax. And not have to go back home and take a few days to regroup because you went on a pretty intense camping trip.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if hot showers and warm food just steps from your tent sounds ideal to you, read on — we’ve compiled a list of a few nearby glamping locations, as well as campsites that offer cabins, to up your outdoor game this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you happen to be the “camping friend” who can never convince your friends or family to accompany you into nature overnight? This list could be what changes their mind.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">For Gold Rush history: Stay in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">For peace in the redwoods: Stay in Anderson Valley’s Hendy Woods\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#F\">For an iconic (but coveted) Mt. Tam experience: Stay in the Steep Ravine Cabins\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">For stunning ocean views: Stay in Treebones Resort in Big Sur\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">For an escape on the northern coast: Stay in Mendocino Grove\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#E\">For a family-friendly campout: Stay in Nevada City’s Inn Town Campground\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>For Gold Rush history: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=494\">\u003cstrong>Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins2-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hydraulic water cannon shoots water down a street in North Bloomfield during Humbug Day, an annual celebration at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home to what was the \u003ca href=\"https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/historical-photo-malakoff-diggins-hydraulic-gold-mine\">state’s largest hydraulic gold mine,\u003c/a> Malakoff Diggins — north of Nevada City in the Sierra Foothills — immerses visitors in 1800s California and allows glampers to stay in one of three cabins designed to resemble those of Gold Rush-era miners back when the town was known as Humbug.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware: \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/Default.aspx#!park/669/763\">These cabins,\u003c/a> located in the historic ghost town of North Bloomfield, are “very primitive,” said park aide Deidra Hall. Each has bunks for four to six people and potable water for drinking and cooking. They each also have a wood stove inside and an outdoor fire pit for grilling, plus a picnic table and bear box for food storage. Dogs are allowed both in the campground and in town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hall said the state park runs tours of the historic town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. While the towering cliffs of the “Diggins” — carved out by powerful water cannons in the 1800s — are the main attraction nearby, Hall said there are plenty of \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/humbug-trail--2\">trails for hikers\u003c/a> and bikers to explore. Anyone staying in the state park, whether at the cabins or in the campsites above North Bloomfield, can also get a chance at some gold panning, Hall said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have gold pans here that you can check out at the Visitor Center and we have a spot on Humbug Creek where you can go and try your hand,” Hall said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’ve made a reservation, consider calling ahead of your arrival to check on the park’s fire status, “because we do stop campfires later in the summer,” Hall said. Also: Don’t forget to bring bug spray.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044412\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044412\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/malkoff-diggins-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A historic building in the town of North Bloomfield in Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park preserves its Gold Rush-era aesthetic. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>For peace in the redwoods: Stay in Anderson Valley’s \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438\">\u003cstrong>Hendy Woods\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just a few hours from the Bay Area, \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=438\">Hendy Woods State Park\u003c/a> feels a world away. Nestled in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/134544/a-northern-california-wine-bootcamp-adventure-from-healdsburg-to-boonville\">Anderson Valley, famous for its Pinot Noirs\u003c/a>, is a warmer, less foggy alternative to many redwood forests in California — and it has \u003ca href=\"https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/Default.aspx#!park/654/759\">four cabins that can be reserved\u003c/a> online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Senior Park Aide Bo Venturi said while the bathrooms are shared with other campers, each cabin includes a wood stove, table and full size bunk beds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Venturi said that while the cabins get booked up quickly on the weekends, there are openings all summer long during the weekdays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the park itself, if the redwoods aren’t enough of a draw themselves, park visitors can do everything from ranger-led nature walks and ample hiking to canoeing, kayaking and picturesque picnic spots. Dogs are allowed at the campground but not on trails, and bikes are allowed only on paved roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro Tip:\u003c/strong> While the cabins technically sleep six, “I think four would be more comfortable in there,” Venturi said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044413\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044413\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/hendy-woods-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The sun sets on a picnic area at Hendy Woods State Park, where 4 cabins can be reserved for an overnight stay in the park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of California State Parks, 2025)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"F\">\u003c/a>For an iconic (but coveted) Mt. Tam experience: Stay at the \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471\">\u003cstrong>Steep Ravine Cabins in Mount Tamalpais State Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most famous glamping experience in the Bay Area, the nine Steep Ravine Cabins are nearly impossible to snag.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The cabins themselves are fairly understated — they don’t have any electricity, heaters, A/C or other amenities, and bathrooms are shared by the whole campsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But their location, perched on rugged, rural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean from Marin, gives overnight visitors the remote feeling of seaside camping right here in the Bay Area. And their resulting popularity has prompted \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31271\">the state parks department to pilot a lottery system\u003c/a> to give more people a chance at getting a site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how does it work? \u003ca href=\"https://www.reservecalifornia.com/Web/#!park/682\">Anyone can put their hat into a drawing for a cabin for free\u003c/a> up to eight months in advance of your desired reservation, and if selected, will have 30 days to pay and claim their spot. When applying, you can add preferences like how many nights, your preferred arrival date and whether you need an accessible site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>Don’t worry if you don’t get a spot your first time entering the lottery: Each time you apply and aren’t selected, you get an increased chance at winning via a points system that awards you one point for every failed application you put in. The more points you have, the more likely you are to win a reservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044415\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044415\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/IMG_4087_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Tamalpais rises more than 2,500 feet above San Francisco Bay, providing 360-degree views of the Bay, San Francisco, and Marin coast. \u003ccite>(Craig Miller/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>For stunning ocean views: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/\">\u003cstrong>Treebones Resort\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> in Big Sur\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A section of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101905691/the-uncertain-future-of-iconic-battered-highway-1\">Highway 1 through Big Sur may remain closed,\u003c/a> but the stunning Treebones Resort is still open. And even though it’s located south of the Hwy 1 closure at the town of Lucia, the resort is accessible inland from the Bay Area via the \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/nacimiento-fergusson-road\">Nacimiento-Fergusson Road over the Santa Lucia mountain range.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s one of those roads that either you love it or you hate it,” laughed Donna Heckert, Treebones’ manager of guest relations and reservations, who’s worked here for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This glamping spot is renowned for its hard-to-beat location on Big Sur’s bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and its luxurious amenities, from \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/wild-coast-restaurant/#wildcoast\">a sushi restaurant\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/massage/\">massage therapists\u003c/a> onsite to \u003ca href=\"https://www.treebonesresort.com/yurts/\">yurts with running water, heaters and fireplaces.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’ve got the best of both worlds,” Heckert said. “Think of it like going to a hotel with the bathroom down the hall.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be aware that this luxury comes at a price, making Treebones much more expensive than other options on this list and may be best saved for a splurge or special occasion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Heckert said although reservations fill up quickly, and “we get a lot of repeat guests,” Treebones still has availability for this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’ve got extra time, \u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\">head south to Hearst Castle\u003c/a> or San Simeon to see elephant seals basking in the sun at the \u003ca href=\"https://elephantseal.org/live-view/\">Piedras Blancas Rookery.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11830892\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11830892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Redwoods-And-Little-Sur-River-Doug-Steakley-e1595978826150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1282\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Redwoods along the Little Sur River in Big Sur, CA \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Doug Steakley/Western Rivers Conservancy)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>For an escape on the northern coast: Stay in \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://mendocinogrove.com/\">\u003cstrong>Mendocino Grove\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“Camping made comfy” is how Teresa Raffo, owner and camp operator for Mendocino Grove, describes the rustic-yet-cushy “neighborhoods” of tents just a few hours north of the Bay Area on the coast. The campsite features around 60 tents, but it doesn’t feel crowded, Raffo said, as everyone has their own space and quiet hours help guests “relax into the experience,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their goal is to toe the line between the peace and quiet of a camping experience and the amenities of a resort — like a dry sauna, heated mattress pads, complimentary breakfast and high-touch customer service: “If you need hot cocoa at 11 o’clock at night, we’re going to go get you hot cocoa,” Raffo said. And unlike traditional camping, you don’t need to bring anything for your stay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beauty of the campsite itself is a main draw, with towering redwood forests, ocean views and an expansive meadow where you can play volleyball, bocce ball or do other camping activities. Nearby you’ll find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/mendocino/\">quaint town of Mendocino\u003c/a> with its cozy downtown and \u003ca href=\"https://www.visitmendocino.com/8-fantastic-beaches-in-mendocino-county/\">lots of small beaches\u003c/a> to explore up and down the coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>If you’re hoping to come up on a weekend but don’t see anything available, Raffo suggested that you call the front office direct, as last-minute cancellations are common.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"E\">\u003c/a>For a family-friendly campout: Stay at Nevada’s City’s \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://inntowncampground.com/\">\u003cstrong>Inn Town Campground\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044409\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044409\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/inntown-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nevada City Farmers Market, outdoors every Saturday during the summer, is walking distance from Inn Town Campground in Nevada City. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Inn Town Campground)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s right, this is another glamping spot in the Nevada City area. The Inn Town Campground is a privately run camping, glamping and RV park started by couple Erin Thiem and her husband Dan, who, after living in New Zealand, wanted to replicate that country’s “holiday park” experience in Erin’s very own hometown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We thought a campground would be a good fit for this community, and I’m grateful that we have been correct,” Thiem said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For glampers, the site offers 21 glamping tents which include a bed, linens, electricity and a fan. Four of these tents are large enough for a big family, and even the smaller tents are “super family friendly,” Thiem said and can be outfitted with cots for additional kids if needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044410\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044410\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown.jpg 1800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Inntown-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of a glamping tent that sleeps 4 people at Inn Town Campground in Nevada City. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Inn Town Campground)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The campground is also dog-friendly and features a swimming pool, outdoor movie screening area and communal kitchen and living room area, plus a camp store to pick up any extra food. There are communal bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities onsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being a short walking distance from Nevada City’s historic downtown has its perks, as glampers can see live shows or concerts or time their visit around events like \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacitychamber.com/nevada-city-events/summer-nights/\">summer nights on Wednesdays\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacitychamber.com/nevada-city-events/first-friday-artwalks/\">first Friday art walks\u003c/a> or the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nevadacountyfair.com/\">county fair in nearby Grass Valley.\u003c/a> That’s not to mention the ample outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking, or the nearby \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=499\">Empire Mine Historic State Park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pro tip: \u003c/strong>“No one should miss the South Yuba River,” Thiem said. Whether in spring, when the wildflowers are blooming or in winter, when the river is in full flow, it’s a sight to behold, she said. “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">You go down there and the river is just raging\u003c/a>,” she said. “It’s powerful.”\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Renting Your Home Without a Lease? In California, You Still Have Tenant Protections",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046933/renta-sin-contrato-tiene-derechos-california\">\u003cem>Leer en español\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, almost 17 million people \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040028/paying-rent-in-california-it-could-now-help-your-credit-score\">rent their homes\u003c/a>. And while many sign a contract at the start of their lease, others rent without a written agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s hard to calculate exactly how many people rent without a contract, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2022/housing-leases-in-the-u-s-rental-market/home.htm\">according to federal data\u003c/a>, California is the state with the highest proportion of leases that are month-to-month, something usually seen when there’s no written lease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many tenants, renting without a contract provides a certain flexibility that works well when living with family or friends, and it’s also an option \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/07/159-Ayano-Tenants-Without-Rights.pdf\">used by folks who have migrated to the United States\u003c/a> and are adapting to a new life. But this arrangement can also lead to issues between the tenant and landlord, said Ora Prochovnick, director of litigation for the San Francisco tenants’ rights group, Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have a written agreement that has been signed, you know exactly what the rules are in terms of how much the rent is, when it’s due, who’s going to pay the utilities. … All that’s very clear,” she said. “If it’s verbal, it’s not as clear what the agreement is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The power of a verbal contract\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tenants in these “informal” agreements can \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/07/159-Ayano-Tenants-Without-Rights.pdf\">experience abuse or neglect\u003c/a> from their landlords, who may think that, because there is no written contract, housing laws do not apply. But tenants without a written lease have the same rights as those with one, Prochovnick said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12038224 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/2022-9-28-KQED-News_Tenant-Organizing_006_qed-1020x681.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a contract — it’s just not in writing,” she said. “The contract is a verbal contract, and you could prove it because the tenant’s been paying rent.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to state law, leases established verbally are legally binding agreements — as long as the lease \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1624.\">is one year or less\u003c/a>. If, for example, you are renting a room in your cousin’s home month-to-month and coordinated the lease through a phone call, that is an agreement recognized by law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke to legal experts to understand what protections tenants have when there’s no written lease agreement, along with the responsibilities of landlords. For some tenants, it may be difficult to speak openly with their landlord, especially if they’re renting from a family member or someone who is threatening to evict them. Keep reading for advice on how to handle these important conversations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Skip ahead to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">How much can my landlord increase my rent?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">What are my privacy rights when I rent a room in someone’s house?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">What can I do if my home needs repairs?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">When can my landlord actually evict me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#E\">I am undocumented and my landlord is threatening me based on my immigration status.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Protecting your lease\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The most dangerous thing a tenant without a written lease can do is pay their rent in cash, said Leah Simon-Weisberg, executive director of California Center for Movement Legal Services. “It’s really difficult to prove that you paid,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if — for whatever reason — you do pay rent in cash, make sure to ask your landlord for a receipt, which could be an email or text message that includes confirmation you paid rent, how much you paid and for what (if the lease comes with a parking spot, for example). Having receipts will also protect you in the future, as you will have some form of documentation that proves your lease exists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re paying with a check or a money order, make sure to add your address, Simon-Weisberg said. “So when they’re cashed, it’s proof that the landlord acknowledges that you live there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s other things you can do to document your lease, including getting \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027050/apply-for-real-id-deadline-may-7-can-i-fly-without\">a driver’s license or state ID\u003c/a> with your address or saving bills from utilities. If you have kids, make sure they are enrolled in school with your current address, as you can then ask the school in the future for official documentation that includes that information.”Or you can even mail yourself a letter,” Simon-Weisberg said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>How much can my rent go up when I don’t have a written lease?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“One of the protections tenants have, whether the lease is verbal or written, is rent control,” Prochovnick said.[aside postID=news_12021928 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/12/RS46311_031_KQED_SanFrancisco_COVIDShutdown_12062020-qut-1020x680.jpg']If you are paying $1,000 per month for a room, your landlord cannot raise the rent to $2,000 from one month to the next — as that would exceed the limits allowed by the state’s rent cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That rent cap \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1947.12.&lawCode=CIV\">blocks landlords from raising the rent by more than 10%\u003c/a> over a 12-month period — unless you live in a newer property that was built within the past 15 years. \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/landlord-tenant-issues#:~:text=Eviction%20Process%20guide.-,Who%20These%20Protections%20Apply%20To,Section%208%20Housing%20Choice%20Vouchers.\">Other exceptions\u003c/a> include certain single-family homes, most mobile homes and duplexes where the landlord lives in one of the units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties — including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo in the Bay Area — have \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Know-Your-Rights-Tenants-English.pdf\">additional rent control rules\u003c/a>, which may further limit how much landlords can raise the rent each year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rent control also applies if you are leasing month-to-month. Any rent increase has to be done through a formal written notice \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Know-Your-Rights-Tenants-English.pdf\">at least 30 days in advance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>Living in someone else’s home? You have the right to privacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One situation that EDC’s Prochovnick has seen before is when tenants rent a room at a family member’s home and arguments come up when the tenant’s privacy is not respected. “Even if your landlord is your cousin or your parent, they cannot enter your bedroom without a proper reason and proper notice,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of those reasons could be that you have invited your landlord to enter your room, or there’s an emergency. Otherwise, your landlord \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1954.&lawCode=CIV\">can only come in\u003c/a> to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Make necessary or agreed-upon repairs.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Inspect the room’s condition at the start or end of your lease.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Show the space to a potential tenant.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If any of these conditions apply, your landlord still needs to let you know — in writing — at least 24 hours in advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Their reason can’t just be because they want to see what’s going on and look in your drawers,” Prochovnick said. And one way to avoid misunderstandings could be for the tenant and landlord to clearly establish which spaces the tenant is renting, she suggested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Are they renting the whole apartment? Are they just renting one bedroom?” she said. “What is their space that they’re getting in exchange for their rent?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>My home needs repairs. Who’s responsible?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Your landlord must follow \u003ca href=\"https://nchh.org/resource-library/HH_Codes_CA_9-9-07.pdf\">the state’s health and safety code\u003c/a>, which requires that a home have a working bathroom, functional plumbing, heating equipment that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970546/rental-home-getting-cold-this-winter-what-you-can-legally-ask-of-your-landlord\">can keep the indoor temperature at a minimum of 70 degrees\u003c/a> and be free of insects and rodents, among other rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whether the lease is written or not, the landlord has the responsibility of maintaining the property,” Simon-Weisberg said. “That’s just state law; it has nothing to do with the contract.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=\"news_11970546\" hero=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/GettyImages-1457400106-1020x680.jpg\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a subtenant and the master tenant is leasing from someone else, it’s the owner of the property who is liable.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>Eviction: What changes when there’s no written lease?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Although California has some of the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/09/california-eviction-law/\">strongest protections against evictions\u003c/a> in the country, some landlords still push out their tenants through threats, disinformation or even changing the locks on the door. These “shadow evictions” were e\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11890298/the-unofficial-evictions-affecting-latino-immigrants\">specially seen during the COVID-19 pandemic\u003c/a> as landlords sought to get around the state’s eviction moratorium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Landlords can’t just put your things out on the street and change the locks,” Prochovnick said. “They have to go through a proper court procedure to evict the tenant.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Tenant-Protection-Act-Landlords-and-Property-Managers-English.pdf\">Tenant Protection Act\u003c/a> requires a landlord to have a “just cause” in order to evict a tenant, which can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The tenant has not paid their rent.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The tenant has violated the terms of the lease.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord no longer wants to rent out the space.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord wants to use the home for themselves or a family member.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord plans to demolish the home or substantially remodel it, which could include removing lead paint, mold or asbestos.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord has received a government order for the home to be vacated.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>A landlord then has to \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-landlord/notice-deliver\">give you a written notice\u003c/a>, either in person or through the mail, explaining why they are evicting you, along with a deadline for when you need to move out. How much time you get \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/notice-types\">depends on the circumstances of the eviction\u003c/a>. “Even if the lease is verbal, the notice to terminate has to be in writing,” Prochovnick said.[aside postID=news_12008424 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/018_SanJose_AntiEvictionProtest_01272021_qed-1020x680.jpg']You have the ability to challenge the eviction order in court: After receiving the eviction notice from your landlord, you have 10 days to file a response with your county’s court. With this form, you can explain the circumstances of your lease and any issues that have come up with your landlord in the past, and a judge will then \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/trial\">hold an eviction trial\u003c/a> to decide whether you have to leave your home. \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/respond\">\u003cstrong>Learn more about how to respond to an eviction notice.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do decide to go to court, legal experts recommend having receipts and documentation ready to prove that you have been paying rent to live in your home and for how long.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"E\">\u003c/a>I am undocumented. Is my immigration status a problem when renting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2017, California lawmakers approved\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB291\"> AB 291\u003c/a>, which makes it illegal for a landlord to threaten undocumented tenants with reporting them to immigration authorities. Immigration advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanpabloca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17573/AB-291-Immigration-Tenant-Protection-Fact-Sheet\">have pointed out for years\u003c/a> that undocumented immigrants are especially vulnerable to neglect and abuse from their landlords, who may threaten them with contacting law enforcement if they speak up about needed repairs or an unlawful eviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of whether you’re documented or not, there’s no difference: We all have the same housing rights,” Simon-Weisberg said. “If a landlord is discriminating against you based on your immigration status, that’s illegal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A court could fine a landlord up to $2,000 for violating this law.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How can I effectively talk to my landlord about this stuff — particularly if they’re family?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it could feel strange or even uncomfortable bringing up all this legal talk, especially if your landlord is a friend or family member.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s important to find a balance between seeing this person as someone you know and someone you have a business relationship with, Simon-Weisberg said. “Whether you’re related to the person or not, one person owns it, and one person’s renting,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One issue she’s seen over the years is tenants disagreeing with their landlord over what’s actually included in the lease. She recommends sending your landlord an email or a text message after an important conversation that summarizes what the two of you agreed on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Don’t take it for granted that you are renting from somebody you know,” she said. “If you are working for a friend, you still want to do all the things that you normally would do because it doesn’t protect you that they’re a friend, necessarily.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you have the right to ask your landlord to stay out of your bedroom or provide necessary repairs, “it’s understandable that tenants feel nervous,” Prochovnick said. “There’s a power dynamic between landlords and tenants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all need shelter, and we don’t want to put that at risk by pushing back,” she said, but “our legal rights are only as strong as we’re willing to argue for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These conversations don’t have to be \u003cem>arguments \u003c/em>either, she said, pointing out that many community groups in California offer mediation services between landlords and tenants. “That might be something for people in these situations to try instead of ending up in court fighting each other, especially if they’re family members, and they want to preserve what was once a good relationship,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046933/renta-sin-contrato-tiene-derechos-california\">\u003cem>Leer en español\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, almost 17 million people \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040028/paying-rent-in-california-it-could-now-help-your-credit-score\">rent their homes\u003c/a>. And while many sign a contract at the start of their lease, others rent without a written agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s hard to calculate exactly how many people rent without a contract, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2022/housing-leases-in-the-u-s-rental-market/home.htm\">according to federal data\u003c/a>, California is the state with the highest proportion of leases that are month-to-month, something usually seen when there’s no written lease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many tenants, renting without a contract provides a certain flexibility that works well when living with family or friends, and it’s also an option \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/07/159-Ayano-Tenants-Without-Rights.pdf\">used by folks who have migrated to the United States\u003c/a> and are adapting to a new life. But this arrangement can also lead to issues between the tenant and landlord, said Ora Prochovnick, director of litigation for the San Francisco tenants’ rights group, Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have a written agreement that has been signed, you know exactly what the rules are in terms of how much the rent is, when it’s due, who’s going to pay the utilities. … All that’s very clear,” she said. “If it’s verbal, it’s not as clear what the agreement is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The power of a verbal contract\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tenants in these “informal” agreements can \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/07/159-Ayano-Tenants-Without-Rights.pdf\">experience abuse or neglect\u003c/a> from their landlords, who may think that, because there is no written contract, housing laws do not apply. But tenants without a written lease have the same rights as those with one, Prochovnick said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a contract — it’s just not in writing,” she said. “The contract is a verbal contract, and you could prove it because the tenant’s been paying rent.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to state law, leases established verbally are legally binding agreements — as long as the lease \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1624.\">is one year or less\u003c/a>. If, for example, you are renting a room in your cousin’s home month-to-month and coordinated the lease through a phone call, that is an agreement recognized by law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke to legal experts to understand what protections tenants have when there’s no written lease agreement, along with the responsibilities of landlords. For some tenants, it may be difficult to speak openly with their landlord, especially if they’re renting from a family member or someone who is threatening to evict them. Keep reading for advice on how to handle these important conversations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Skip ahead to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#A\">How much can my landlord increase my rent?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#B\">What are my privacy rights when I rent a room in someone’s house?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#C\">What can I do if my home needs repairs?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#D\">When can my landlord actually evict me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#E\">I am undocumented and my landlord is threatening me based on my immigration status.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Protecting your lease\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The most dangerous thing a tenant without a written lease can do is pay their rent in cash, said Leah Simon-Weisberg, executive director of California Center for Movement Legal Services. “It’s really difficult to prove that you paid,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if — for whatever reason — you do pay rent in cash, make sure to ask your landlord for a receipt, which could be an email or text message that includes confirmation you paid rent, how much you paid and for what (if the lease comes with a parking spot, for example). Having receipts will also protect you in the future, as you will have some form of documentation that proves your lease exists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re paying with a check or a money order, make sure to add your address, Simon-Weisberg said. “So when they’re cashed, it’s proof that the landlord acknowledges that you live there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s other things you can do to document your lease, including getting \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027050/apply-for-real-id-deadline-may-7-can-i-fly-without\">a driver’s license or state ID\u003c/a> with your address or saving bills from utilities. If you have kids, make sure they are enrolled in school with your current address, as you can then ask the school in the future for official documentation that includes that information.”Or you can even mail yourself a letter,” Simon-Weisberg said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>How much can my rent go up when I don’t have a written lease?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“One of the protections tenants have, whether the lease is verbal or written, is rent control,” Prochovnick said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If you are paying $1,000 per month for a room, your landlord cannot raise the rent to $2,000 from one month to the next — as that would exceed the limits allowed by the state’s rent cap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That rent cap \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1947.12.&lawCode=CIV\">blocks landlords from raising the rent by more than 10%\u003c/a> over a 12-month period — unless you live in a newer property that was built within the past 15 years. \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/landlord-tenant-issues#:~:text=Eviction%20Process%20guide.-,Who%20These%20Protections%20Apply%20To,Section%208%20Housing%20Choice%20Vouchers.\">Other exceptions\u003c/a> include certain single-family homes, most mobile homes and duplexes where the landlord lives in one of the units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties — including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo in the Bay Area — have \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Know-Your-Rights-Tenants-English.pdf\">additional rent control rules\u003c/a>, which may further limit how much landlords can raise the rent each year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rent control also applies if you are leasing month-to-month. Any rent increase has to be done through a formal written notice \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Know-Your-Rights-Tenants-English.pdf\">at least 30 days in advance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"B\">\u003c/a>Living in someone else’s home? You have the right to privacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One situation that EDC’s Prochovnick has seen before is when tenants rent a room at a family member’s home and arguments come up when the tenant’s privacy is not respected. “Even if your landlord is your cousin or your parent, they cannot enter your bedroom without a proper reason and proper notice,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of those reasons could be that you have invited your landlord to enter your room, or there’s an emergency. Otherwise, your landlord \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1954.&lawCode=CIV\">can only come in\u003c/a> to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Make necessary or agreed-upon repairs.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Inspect the room’s condition at the start or end of your lease.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Show the space to a potential tenant.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If any of these conditions apply, your landlord still needs to let you know — in writing — at least 24 hours in advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Their reason can’t just be because they want to see what’s going on and look in your drawers,” Prochovnick said. And one way to avoid misunderstandings could be for the tenant and landlord to clearly establish which spaces the tenant is renting, she suggested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Are they renting the whole apartment? Are they just renting one bedroom?” she said. “What is their space that they’re getting in exchange for their rent?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"C\">\u003c/a>My home needs repairs. Who’s responsible?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Your landlord must follow \u003ca href=\"https://nchh.org/resource-library/HH_Codes_CA_9-9-07.pdf\">the state’s health and safety code\u003c/a>, which requires that a home have a working bathroom, functional plumbing, heating equipment that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970546/rental-home-getting-cold-this-winter-what-you-can-legally-ask-of-your-landlord\">can keep the indoor temperature at a minimum of 70 degrees\u003c/a> and be free of insects and rodents, among other rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whether the lease is written or not, the landlord has the responsibility of maintaining the property,” Simon-Weisberg said. “That’s just state law; it has nothing to do with the contract.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a subtenant and the master tenant is leasing from someone else, it’s the owner of the property who is liable.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"D\">\u003c/a>Eviction: What changes when there’s no written lease?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Although California has some of the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/09/california-eviction-law/\">strongest protections against evictions\u003c/a> in the country, some landlords still push out their tenants through threats, disinformation or even changing the locks on the door. These “shadow evictions” were e\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11890298/the-unofficial-evictions-affecting-latino-immigrants\">specially seen during the COVID-19 pandemic\u003c/a> as landlords sought to get around the state’s eviction moratorium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Landlords can’t just put your things out on the street and change the locks,” Prochovnick said. “They have to go through a proper court procedure to evict the tenant.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Tenant-Protection-Act-Landlords-and-Property-Managers-English.pdf\">Tenant Protection Act\u003c/a> requires a landlord to have a “just cause” in order to evict a tenant, which can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The tenant has not paid their rent.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The tenant has violated the terms of the lease.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord no longer wants to rent out the space.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord wants to use the home for themselves or a family member.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord plans to demolish the home or substantially remodel it, which could include removing lead paint, mold or asbestos.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The landlord has received a government order for the home to be vacated.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>A landlord then has to \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-landlord/notice-deliver\">give you a written notice\u003c/a>, either in person or through the mail, explaining why they are evicting you, along with a deadline for when you need to move out. How much time you get \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/notice-types\">depends on the circumstances of the eviction\u003c/a>. “Even if the lease is verbal, the notice to terminate has to be in writing,” Prochovnick said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You have the ability to challenge the eviction order in court: After receiving the eviction notice from your landlord, you have 10 days to file a response with your county’s court. With this form, you can explain the circumstances of your lease and any issues that have come up with your landlord in the past, and a judge will then \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/trial\">hold an eviction trial\u003c/a> to decide whether you have to leave your home. \u003ca href=\"https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/respond\">\u003cstrong>Learn more about how to respond to an eviction notice.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do decide to go to court, legal experts recommend having receipts and documentation ready to prove that you have been paying rent to live in your home and for how long.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"E\">\u003c/a>I am undocumented. Is my immigration status a problem when renting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2017, California lawmakers approved\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB291\"> AB 291\u003c/a>, which makes it illegal for a landlord to threaten undocumented tenants with reporting them to immigration authorities. Immigration advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanpabloca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17573/AB-291-Immigration-Tenant-Protection-Fact-Sheet\">have pointed out for years\u003c/a> that undocumented immigrants are especially vulnerable to neglect and abuse from their landlords, who may threaten them with contacting law enforcement if they speak up about needed repairs or an unlawful eviction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of whether you’re documented or not, there’s no difference: We all have the same housing rights,” Simon-Weisberg said. “If a landlord is discriminating against you based on your immigration status, that’s illegal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A court could fine a landlord up to $2,000 for violating this law.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How can I effectively talk to my landlord about this stuff — particularly if they’re family?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, it could feel strange or even uncomfortable bringing up all this legal talk, especially if your landlord is a friend or family member.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it’s important to find a balance between seeing this person as someone you know and someone you have a business relationship with, Simon-Weisberg said. “Whether you’re related to the person or not, one person owns it, and one person’s renting,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One issue she’s seen over the years is tenants disagreeing with their landlord over what’s actually included in the lease. She recommends sending your landlord an email or a text message after an important conversation that summarizes what the two of you agreed on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Don’t take it for granted that you are renting from somebody you know,” she said. “If you are working for a friend, you still want to do all the things that you normally would do because it doesn’t protect you that they’re a friend, necessarily.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you have the right to ask your landlord to stay out of your bedroom or provide necessary repairs, “it’s understandable that tenants feel nervous,” Prochovnick said. “There’s a power dynamic between landlords and tenants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all need shelter, and we don’t want to put that at risk by pushing back,” she said, but “our legal rights are only as strong as we’re willing to argue for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These conversations don’t have to be \u003cem>arguments \u003c/em>either, she said, pointing out that many community groups in California offer mediation services between landlords and tenants. “That might be something for people in these situations to try instead of ending up in court fighting each other, especially if they’re family members, and they want to preserve what was once a good relationship,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "no-kings-protests-safety-digital-surveillance-take-phone-to-protest",
"title": "How Does Police Surveillance Work at Protests?",
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"content": "\u003cp>Cities around the Bay Area — and the country — are preparing for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">“No Kings” protests\u003c/a> planned for Saturday, timed to coincide with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/9-questions-about-trumps-military-parade\">President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The demonstrations are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">draw major crowds nationwide\u003c/a>, building on the momentum sparked by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043515/more-protests-held-across-southern-california-as-trump-administration-orders-more-national-guard-to-la\">Los Angeles protests\u003c/a> against increased immigration enforcement by Trump’s administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has been attempting to crack down on the demonstrations — most notably by deploying the National Guard to southern California. (Currently, the courts are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043920/judge-weighs-californias-lawsuit-over-trumps-troop-deployment-in-la\">deciding the legality\u003c/a> of Trump deploying these troops within the state.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While police are expected to be at Saturday’s protests, protesters should also expect a “widespread use of mass social media surveillance,” according to \u003cem>WIRED\u003c/em>’s Andrew Couts, who oversees surveillance coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of technology is not new, but it is “becoming more powerful and less expensive for police departments to obtain,” Couts \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">told KQED Forum\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Digital privacy advocates have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy\">sounding the alarm\u003c/a> about such surveillance by authorities for years now. Most recently, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/technology/trump-palantir-data-americans.html\">\u003cem>New York Times \u003c/em>report\u003c/a> claimed the Trump administration is working with the data analysis software company Palantir to build a database of all American citizens. (Palantir has \u003ca href=\"https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/06/13/citizens-palantir-surveillance-database/\">denied the accusation\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what technology \u003cem>do\u003c/em> police have in their arsenal — and what kinds of risk assessments should anyone make before heading to a demonstration themselves?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Alexis Madrigal spoke to Couts about what to know about protesting and surveillance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#phone-tracking-at-ice-protests\">Should I bring my phone to a protest?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How could police already be surveilling me? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Facial recognition software like Clearview AI is used by hundreds of police departments across the country, like the \u003ca href=\"https://contracosta.news/2025/02/15/el-cerrito-police-announces-use-of-facial-recognition-software/#google_vignette\">El Cerrito Police Department\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12038910 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/CAT-%E2%80%94-The-Surveillance-Machine-Pt-1-1020x574.png']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.clearview.ai/clearview-2-0\">Clearview AI’s website\u003c/a>, the software promises “quicker identifications and apprehensions” by using online sources like public social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, Couts said facial recognition systems would rely on government image databases like passport photos, driver’s licenses or mugshots. Now, software like Clearview AI uses facial recognition technology by “vacuuming up everything that’s posted online,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing facial recognition just being far more widespread and really advanced, in that even wearing a mask or sunglasses doesn’t necessarily protect you from being identified by facial recognition technologies,” Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023, a watchdog group \u003ca href=\"https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Clearview-AI-Cover-Letter-and-Report.pdf\">called on the state’s Attorney General Rob Bonta\u003c/a> to investigate Clearview AI, saying the company does not comply with California’s “right to opt out” provisions of its consumer privacy act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Clearview AI technology functions by automatically scraping images off the web without regard for whose images are being scraped or whether the scraped images are of people who have previously prohibited Clearview AI from using or disclosing their biometric information,” the report reads.[aside postID=news_11977185 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/PROP-E_AH_CM_01-1020x680.jpg']Along with privacy concerns, advocates say facial technology is less accurate when \u003ca href=\"https://amnesty.ca/features/racial-bias-in-facial-recognition-algorithms/\">identifying people with darker skin\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-comment-ice-and-california-law-enforcement-use-clearview-ai-s-face-surveillance-system\">women\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“‘Evidence suggests [facial recognition technology] may be least accurate on those it is most likely to be used on — African Americans,’” the \u003ca href=\"https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Clearview-AI-Cover-Letter-and-Report.pdf\">Consumer Watchdog report reads\u003c/a>. “The ‘real-world consequences’ of such errors, it suggests include ‘the investigation and arrest of an unknown number of innocent people and the deprivation of due process of many, many more.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There \u003cem>are \u003c/em>legal protections around this technology. For example, California police officers are unable to \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/california-just-blocked-police-body-cam-use-face\">pair footage from their body cameras with facial recognition technology\u003c/a>. Cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley have also banned \u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/san-francisco-bans-use-facial-recognition-tech/\">the use of facial recognition technology\u003c/a> by city agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/18/facial-recognition-law-enforcement-austin-san-francisco/\">an investigation by the \u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, San Francisco’s police department has attempted to get around the ban by asking officers from neighboring cities to run photos of suspects through \u003cem>their \u003c/em>programs. And last year, San Francisco residents voted for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/proposition-e\">Proposition E\u003c/a>, which allows the city’s police department to install public security cameras, use drones and loosen other requirements around surveillance technology. The city also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news--san-francisco-begins-installing-automated-license-plate-readers-disrupt-organized-theft-and\">plans to install hundreds of automated license plate readers\u003c/a> across the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11753890\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11753890\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530-1536x1226.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">US Customs and Border Protection security cameras scan license plates as motor vehicles cross the U.S.-Mexico border from Tijuana, Mexico, in Sept. 2016 in San Ysidro, Calif. \u003ccite>(John Moore/Getty Images )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Drones are used in other parts of the Bay Area as well. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has recently sued Sonoma County, alleging the county has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043142/sonoma-county-deployed-drones-700-times-since-2019-says-aclu-lawsuit\">an unconstitutional and invasive use of drones\u003c/a> to spy on residents as part of law enforcement efforts without a warrant. According to the lawsuit, the drones have been deployed more than 700 times, allegedly capturing at least 5,600 images and specifically targeting residential areas and private properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Couts added that police can also, in general, gain access to \u003ca href=\"https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/principles-social-media-use-law-enforcement\">your personal data.\u003c/a> The data could be accessed using \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/us-law-enforcement-agencies-access-your-data-apple-meta\">a subpoena or warrant\u003c/a>, but it could also be accessed by buying data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/11/la-protests-california-hide-data-trump-00400127\">third party data brokers like LexisNexis\u003c/a>, he said.[aside postID=news_12042515 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/250418-SFPDFile-45-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg']“Your phone is constantly recording all types of things, all the time,” he said. “This data is being sent to third party data brokers. It’s being sent to Google, Apple, all of the above. And police can gain access to that information.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"phone-tracking-at-ice-protests\">\u003c/a>Should I bring my phone to a protest?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Couts said that weighing whether to bring your phone to a protest is probably “one of the biggest, most direct” decisions you could make with your safety in regards to protest surveillance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to be completely anonymous — that is, for your phone to have no geographic record that you’d been in the same space as a protest — you would need to leave your phone at home, Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in addition, protesters should also “assume that you are being recorded constantly,” he said, whether you have your phone with you or not. You should also assess whether or not you want to post on social media, he recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just your phone — it’s everybody else’s phones,” he said. “It’s the videos and live streams and photos that everyone else around you is taking, in addition to police body cameras and any other kind of police surveillance that’s happening.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Why might I want to keep my phone with me at a protest regardless?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many protesters, recording police activity is a vital tactic to provide evidence of any potential misconduct, and to offer counternarratives to official police accounts. (KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11871364/recording-the-police-what-to-know-and-how-to-stay-safe-doing-it\">your rights when filming police encounters\u003c/a>.)[aside postID=news_12014633 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/110824-ABORTION-GUIDE-AH-TM-1682x946-1-1020x574.jpg ']Not having a phone with you can also impede your ability to communicate with your networks of friends or family during a protest, or to call for help if you are injured, Couts warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do choose to bring your phone to a protest, digital privacy advocates suggest that you \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/tech-tip-disabling-phone-tracking-33f6dedaa4c6f587a4049bceb87daadc\">limit location tracking\u003c/a> and make sure it does not connect with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-surveillance-digital-privacy/\">Wi-Fi hotspot being used by law enforcement\u003c/a>. (It is possible to\u003ca href=\"https://tdx.vanderbilt.edu/TDClient/33/Portal/KB/PrintArticle?ID=286\"> “intercept data, inject malware, or steal sensitive information”\u003c/a> through an unsecure WiFi network.) You can do this by keeping your phone turned off, putting it on Airplane Mode or even putting it in \u003ca href=\"https://slnt.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooJfGkYzwQN7In5F0Nb2X8jyK0dYJYJ7bHeB3KsjZ1uUw42rfCW\">a Faraday bag\u003c/a> — a type of sleeve or backpack that prevents any signals going to or from the device.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates also stress the importance of \u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">disabling face and fingerprint recognition\u003c/a> on your phone. This makes it “more difficult for officers to physically force you to unlock your device,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">the American Civil Liberties Union\u003c/a>. Be aware that police usually need a warrant to search your phone, even after \u003ca href=\"https://www.lacriminaldefenseattorney.com/blog/2024/november/why-do-the-police-seize-your-phone-after-an-arre/\">you are arrested\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Couts noted that you could also consider investing in a second phone — one that doesn’t have as much personal information on it, like your email and social media accounts — and bringing that to a protest instead of your regular device\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if law enforcement gets access to it or forces you to give them access to your phone, it’s not going have as much revealing information on there,” Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>More resources about protesting and your privacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/23/activists-guide-securing-your-smartphone/\">Privacy Guides\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">The American Civil Liberties Union\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2020/06/tactics-to-secure-phone-before-a-protest/\">Amnesty International\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-surveillance-digital-privacy/\">WIRED\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://themarkup.org/the-breakdown/2024/05/04/how-do-i-prepare-my-phone-for-a-protest-updated-2024\">The Markup\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://ssd.eff.org/module/attending-protest\">Electronic Frontier Foundation\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "What technology can police use to surveil people, especially at protests? Should you take your phone into a protest? An expert talks about what kinds of privacy risk assessments you should make before heading to a demonstration.",
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"title": "How Does Police Surveillance Work at Protests? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Cities around the Bay Area — and the country — are preparing for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">“No Kings” protests\u003c/a> planned for Saturday, timed to coincide with \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/9-questions-about-trumps-military-parade\">President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The demonstrations are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">draw major crowds nationwide\u003c/a>, building on the momentum sparked by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043515/more-protests-held-across-southern-california-as-trump-administration-orders-more-national-guard-to-la\">Los Angeles protests\u003c/a> against increased immigration enforcement by Trump’s administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has been attempting to crack down on the demonstrations — most notably by deploying the National Guard to southern California. (Currently, the courts are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043920/judge-weighs-californias-lawsuit-over-trumps-troop-deployment-in-la\">deciding the legality\u003c/a> of Trump deploying these troops within the state.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While police are expected to be at Saturday’s protests, protesters should also expect a “widespread use of mass social media surveillance,” according to \u003cem>WIRED\u003c/em>’s Andrew Couts, who oversees surveillance coverage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This kind of technology is not new, but it is “becoming more powerful and less expensive for police departments to obtain,” Couts \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101910230/what-protests-of-the-past-can-teach-us-about-protests-of-today\">told KQED Forum\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Digital privacy advocates have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy\">sounding the alarm\u003c/a> about such surveillance by authorities for years now. Most recently, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/technology/trump-palantir-data-americans.html\">\u003cem>New York Times \u003c/em>report\u003c/a> claimed the Trump administration is working with the data analysis software company Palantir to build a database of all American citizens. (Palantir has \u003ca href=\"https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/06/13/citizens-palantir-surveillance-database/\">denied the accusation\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what technology \u003cem>do\u003c/em> police have in their arsenal — and what kinds of risk assessments should anyone make before heading to a demonstration themselves?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Alexis Madrigal spoke to Couts about what to know about protesting and surveillance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#phone-tracking-at-ice-protests\">Should I bring my phone to a protest?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How could police already be surveilling me? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Facial recognition software like Clearview AI is used by hundreds of police departments across the country, like the \u003ca href=\"https://contracosta.news/2025/02/15/el-cerrito-police-announces-use-of-facial-recognition-software/#google_vignette\">El Cerrito Police Department\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.clearview.ai/clearview-2-0\">Clearview AI’s website\u003c/a>, the software promises “quicker identifications and apprehensions” by using online sources like public social media.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, Couts said facial recognition systems would rely on government image databases like passport photos, driver’s licenses or mugshots. Now, software like Clearview AI uses facial recognition technology by “vacuuming up everything that’s posted online,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re seeing facial recognition just being far more widespread and really advanced, in that even wearing a mask or sunglasses doesn’t necessarily protect you from being identified by facial recognition technologies,” Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023, a watchdog group \u003ca href=\"https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Clearview-AI-Cover-Letter-and-Report.pdf\">called on the state’s Attorney General Rob Bonta\u003c/a> to investigate Clearview AI, saying the company does not comply with California’s “right to opt out” provisions of its consumer privacy act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Clearview AI technology functions by automatically scraping images off the web without regard for whose images are being scraped or whether the scraped images are of people who have previously prohibited Clearview AI from using or disclosing their biometric information,” the report reads.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Along with privacy concerns, advocates say facial technology is less accurate when \u003ca href=\"https://amnesty.ca/features/racial-bias-in-facial-recognition-algorithms/\">identifying people with darker skin\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclunc.org/news/aclu-comment-ice-and-california-law-enforcement-use-clearview-ai-s-face-surveillance-system\">women\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“‘Evidence suggests [facial recognition technology] may be least accurate on those it is most likely to be used on — African Americans,’” the \u003ca href=\"https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Clearview-AI-Cover-Letter-and-Report.pdf\">Consumer Watchdog report reads\u003c/a>. “The ‘real-world consequences’ of such errors, it suggests include ‘the investigation and arrest of an unknown number of innocent people and the deprivation of due process of many, many more.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There \u003cem>are \u003c/em>legal protections around this technology. For example, California police officers are unable to \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/california-just-blocked-police-body-cam-use-face\">pair footage from their body cameras with facial recognition technology\u003c/a>. Cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley have also banned \u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/san-francisco-bans-use-facial-recognition-tech/\">the use of facial recognition technology\u003c/a> by city agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/18/facial-recognition-law-enforcement-austin-san-francisco/\">an investigation by the \u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, San Francisco’s police department has attempted to get around the ban by asking officers from neighboring cities to run photos of suspects through \u003cem>their \u003c/em>programs. And last year, San Francisco residents voted for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/proposition-e\">Proposition E\u003c/a>, which allows the city’s police department to install public security cameras, use drones and loosen other requirements around surveillance technology. The city also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news--san-francisco-begins-installing-automated-license-plate-readers-disrupt-organized-theft-and\">plans to install hundreds of automated license plate readers\u003c/a> across the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11753890\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11753890\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530-160x128.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/gettyimages-609971394_sq-18b3bb4cd8bf902dd7adbeb221e3018f2a0cb3fa-e1749856035530-1536x1226.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">US Customs and Border Protection security cameras scan license plates as motor vehicles cross the U.S.-Mexico border from Tijuana, Mexico, in Sept. 2016 in San Ysidro, Calif. \u003ccite>(John Moore/Getty Images )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Drones are used in other parts of the Bay Area as well. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has recently sued Sonoma County, alleging the county has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12043142/sonoma-county-deployed-drones-700-times-since-2019-says-aclu-lawsuit\">an unconstitutional and invasive use of drones\u003c/a> to spy on residents as part of law enforcement efforts without a warrant. According to the lawsuit, the drones have been deployed more than 700 times, allegedly capturing at least 5,600 images and specifically targeting residential areas and private properties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Couts added that police can also, in general, gain access to \u003ca href=\"https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/principles-social-media-use-law-enforcement\">your personal data.\u003c/a> The data could be accessed using \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/us-law-enforcement-agencies-access-your-data-apple-meta\">a subpoena or warrant\u003c/a>, but it could also be accessed by buying data from \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/11/la-protests-california-hide-data-trump-00400127\">third party data brokers like LexisNexis\u003c/a>, he said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Your phone is constantly recording all types of things, all the time,” he said. “This data is being sent to third party data brokers. It’s being sent to Google, Apple, all of the above. And police can gain access to that information.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"phone-tracking-at-ice-protests\">\u003c/a>Should I bring my phone to a protest?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Couts said that weighing whether to bring your phone to a protest is probably “one of the biggest, most direct” decisions you could make with your safety in regards to protest surveillance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to be completely anonymous — that is, for your phone to have no geographic record that you’d been in the same space as a protest — you would need to leave your phone at home, Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in addition, protesters should also “assume that you are being recorded constantly,” he said, whether you have your phone with you or not. You should also assess whether or not you want to post on social media, he recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not just your phone — it’s everybody else’s phones,” he said. “It’s the videos and live streams and photos that everyone else around you is taking, in addition to police body cameras and any other kind of police surveillance that’s happening.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Why might I want to keep my phone with me at a protest regardless?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many protesters, recording police activity is a vital tactic to provide evidence of any potential misconduct, and to offer counternarratives to official police accounts. (KQED has a thorough guide on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11871364/recording-the-police-what-to-know-and-how-to-stay-safe-doing-it\">your rights when filming police encounters\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Not having a phone with you can also impede your ability to communicate with your networks of friends or family during a protest, or to call for help if you are injured, Couts warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do choose to bring your phone to a protest, digital privacy advocates suggest that you \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/tech-tip-disabling-phone-tracking-33f6dedaa4c6f587a4049bceb87daadc\">limit location tracking\u003c/a> and make sure it does not connect with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-surveillance-digital-privacy/\">Wi-Fi hotspot being used by law enforcement\u003c/a>. (It is possible to\u003ca href=\"https://tdx.vanderbilt.edu/TDClient/33/Portal/KB/PrintArticle?ID=286\"> “intercept data, inject malware, or steal sensitive information”\u003c/a> through an unsecure WiFi network.) You can do this by keeping your phone turned off, putting it on Airplane Mode or even putting it in \u003ca href=\"https://slnt.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooJfGkYzwQN7In5F0Nb2X8jyK0dYJYJ7bHeB3KsjZ1uUw42rfCW\">a Faraday bag\u003c/a> — a type of sleeve or backpack that prevents any signals going to or from the device.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates also stress the importance of \u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">disabling face and fingerprint recognition\u003c/a> on your phone. This makes it “more difficult for officers to physically force you to unlock your device,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">the American Civil Liberties Union\u003c/a>. Be aware that police usually need a warrant to search your phone, even after \u003ca href=\"https://www.lacriminaldefenseattorney.com/blog/2024/november/why-do-the-police-seize-your-phone-after-an-arre/\">you are arrested\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Couts noted that you could also consider investing in a second phone — one that doesn’t have as much personal information on it, like your email and social media accounts — and bringing that to a protest instead of your regular device\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if law enforcement gets access to it or forces you to give them access to your phone, it’s not going have as much revealing information on there,” Couts said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>More resources about protesting and your privacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/23/activists-guide-securing-your-smartphone/\">Privacy Guides\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.acludc.org/en/how-defend-against-police-surveillance-protests\">The American Civil Liberties Union\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2020/06/tactics-to-secure-phone-before-a-protest/\">Amnesty International\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-surveillance-digital-privacy/\">WIRED\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://themarkup.org/the-breakdown/2024/05/04/how-do-i-prepare-my-phone-for-a-protest-updated-2024\">The Markup\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://ssd.eff.org/module/attending-protest\">Electronic Frontier Foundation\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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