window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_12080500": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12080500",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080500",
"found": true
},
"title": "Payment at checkout register. Customer using credit card at supermarket terminal.",
"publishDate": 1776467962,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12079868,
"modified": 1776469331,
"caption": "Eligible California residents have till the end of the month to claim cash made available by the Middle Class Tax Refund. ",
"credit": "Julia Kozlov/Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-160x110.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 110,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-1536x1059.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1059,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MiddleClassStimulus.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1379
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12081129": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12081129",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12081129",
"found": true
},
"title": "Literary-Dates-Hangouts",
"publishDate": 1776968430,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12081122,
"modified": 1776972240,
"caption": "There are many places for book lovers to get together around the Bay Area — and we’ve rounded them up.",
"credit": "Darren Tu/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-160x103.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 103,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-1536x992.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 992,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1240
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12080748": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12080748",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080748",
"found": true
},
"title": "FRANCE-LITERATURE-CULTURE-FESTIVAL",
"publishDate": 1776804085,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12080674,
"modified": 1776808194,
"caption": "This photograph, taken on Sept. 20, 2023, shows a bookshelf set up in the street during the 25th edition of the \"Les Correspondances\" literary festival in Manosque, southern France. ",
"credit": "Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BooksGetty.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11949273": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11949273",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11949273",
"found": true
},
"parent": 11949180,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-160x127.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 127
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1523
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-1020x809.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 809
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-1536x1218.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1218
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS65506_GettyImages-1428290091-1-qut-800x635.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 635
}
},
"publishDate": 1683903141,
"modified": 1687395979,
"caption": "Colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (orange) found within an infected cell (brown), cultured in a laboratory.",
"description": null,
"title": "mpox-monkeypox-virus",
"credit": "NIH-NIAID/Image Point FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "Small circular patterns float in a dense, thick brown substance.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12080282": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12080282",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080282",
"found": true
},
"title": "IMG_1441 (1)",
"publishDate": 1776366313,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12079852,
"modified": 1776366341,
"caption": "What does it take to start growing your own food in the Bay Area?",
"credit": "Anna Vignet/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2000x1500.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1500,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2000x1500.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1500,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-160x120.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 120,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-1536x1152.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1152,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2048x1536.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"height": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-2000x1500.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1500,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/IMG_1441-1.jpg",
"width": 2560,
"height": 1920
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12079174": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12079174",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079174",
"found": true
},
"title": "260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed",
"publishDate": 1775691035,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12078991,
"modified": 1775778780,
"caption": "A sign for eastbound I-80 and the Bay Bridge on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-01-BL_qed.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11663202": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11663202",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11663202",
"found": true
},
"title": "A guy holding a 420 sign",
"publishDate": 1524089589,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 11663153,
"modified": 1776282952,
"caption": "A guy holding a 420 sign.",
"credit": "Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images",
"altTag": "A guy holding a 420 sign",
"description": "A guy holding a 420 sign",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"complete_open_graph": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1200x800.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"height": 787,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-960x640.jpg",
"width": 960,
"height": 640,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-240x160.jpg",
"width": 240,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-375x250.jpg",
"width": 375,
"height": 250,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-520x347.jpg",
"width": 520,
"height": 347,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"height": 787,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"height": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-670837286-e1524416370324.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12070909": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12070909",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12070909",
"found": true
},
"title": "US-HEALTH-IMMUNIZATION-VACCINES",
"publishDate": 1769196427,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12070907,
"modified": 1781476064,
"caption": "A vial of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination for children is displayed during an immunization event at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan Community Resource Center in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 24, 2025. ",
"credit": "Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-2000x1333.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-2000x1333.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-2048x1365.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"height": 1365,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-2000x1333.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2242752228-scaled-e1769196948121.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1334
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12079812": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12079812",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079812",
"found": true
},
"title": "Election 2026 California Governor",
"publishDate": 1776124564,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12079800,
"modified": 1776125295,
"caption": "Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. ",
"credit": "Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-160x108.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 108,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-1536x1040.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1040,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/EricSwalwellAP1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1354
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12079178": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12079178",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079178",
"found": true
},
"title": "260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed",
"publishDate": 1775691060,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12079845,
"modified": 1776359876,
"caption": "A sign announces a closure on I-80 on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed.jpg",
"width": 1999,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12077669": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12077669",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12077669",
"found": true
},
"title": "IRS Building on Long Island",
"publishDate": 1774551830,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12077664,
"modified": 1774551870,
"caption": "Outside of the IRS office building in Holtsville, New York, on Oct. 7, 2025. ",
"credit": "James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-1536x1025.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1025,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1335
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12040469": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12040469",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12040469",
"found": true
},
"title": "GettyImages-517005006_qed",
"publishDate": 1747413582,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12040111,
"modified": 1747413752,
"caption": null,
"credit": "iStock / Getty Images ",
"altTag": null,
"description": "A Northern Pacific Rattlesnake found in California extends its forked tongue in a defensive posture.",
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-517005006_qed.jpg",
"width": 1999,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"mlagos": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "3239",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "3239",
"found": true
},
"name": "Marisa Lagos",
"firstName": "Marisa",
"lastName": "Lagos",
"slug": "mlagos",
"email": "mlagos@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Marisa Lagos is a correspondent for KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk and co-hosts the award-winning show and podcast, Political Breakdown. At KQED, Lagos also conducts reporting, analysis and investigations into state, local and national politics for radio, TV, online and onstage. In 2022, she and co-host, Scott Shafer, moderated the only gubernatorial debate in California. In 2020, the \u003ci>Washington Post\u003c/i> named her one of the top political journalists in California; she was nominated for a Peabody and won several other awards for her work investigating the 2017 California wildfires. She has worked at the \u003ci>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/i>, \u003ci>San Francisco Examiner\u003c/i> and \u003ci>Los Angeles Times\u003c/i>. A UC Santa Barbara graduate, she lives in San Francisco with her two sons and husband.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a261a0d3696fc066871ef96b85b5e7d2?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@mlagos",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Marisa Lagos | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a261a0d3696fc066871ef96b85b5e7d2?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a261a0d3696fc066871ef96b85b5e7d2?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/mlagos"
},
"carlysevern": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "3243",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "3243",
"found": true
},
"name": "Carly Severn",
"firstName": "Carly",
"lastName": "Severn",
"slug": "carlysevern",
"email": "csevern@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Senior Editor, Audience News ",
"bio": "Carly is KQED's Senior Editor of Audience News on the Digital News team, and has reported for the California Report Magazine, Bay Curious and KQED Arts. She's formerly the host of \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/category/the-cooler/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Cooler\u003c/a> podcast.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "teacupinthebay",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "about",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "mindshift",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Carly Severn | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor, Audience News ",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/carlysevern"
},
"lakshmi": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "3245",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "3245",
"found": true
},
"name": "Lakshmi Sarah",
"firstName": "Lakshmi",
"lastName": "Sarah",
"slug": "lakshmi",
"email": "lakisarah@gmail.com",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": null,
"bio": "Born and raised in California, Lakshmi is an educator and journalist with a focus on South Asia, gender, race and the arts. Over the past few years, she has worked with newspapers, radio and magazines from Botswana to Los Angeles. She has written and produced for various audiences, including Mic, Global Voices, Al Jazeera Online, AJ+ and KQED Arts. Lakshmi is a graduate of Pitzer College where she studied Global Communications and Studio Arts.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/30f520a9238d29ba9187c2a405e0f85d?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "lakitalki",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Lakshmi Sarah | KQED",
"description": null,
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/30f520a9238d29ba9187c2a405e0f85d?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/30f520a9238d29ba9187c2a405e0f85d?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/lakshmi"
},
"ccabreralomeli": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11708",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11708",
"found": true
},
"name": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí",
"firstName": "Carlos",
"lastName": "Cabrera-Lomelí",
"slug": "ccabreralomeli",
"email": "ccabreralomeli@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Community Reporter",
"bio": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí is a community reporter with KQED's digital engagement team. He also reports and co-produces for KQED's bilingual news hub KQED en Español. He grew up in San Francisco's Mission District and has previously worked with Univision, 48 Hills and REFORMA in Mexico City.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@LomeliCabrera",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "about",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "elections",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí | KQED",
"description": "Community Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ccabreralomeli"
},
"adahlstromeckman": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11785",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11785",
"found": true
},
"name": "Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman",
"firstName": "Azul",
"lastName": "Dahlstrom-Eckman",
"slug": "adahlstromeckman",
"email": "adahlstrom-eckman@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Reporter",
"bio": "Azul is a reporter for KQED focusing on transportation and features. He joined KQED in 2021 as an alumna of KALW's Audio Academy radio journalism training program.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@zuliemann",
"bluesky": "@azul415.bsky.social",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman | KQED",
"description": "Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/adahlstromeckman"
},
"nkhan": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11867",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11867",
"found": true
},
"name": "Nisa Khan",
"firstName": "Nisa",
"lastName": "Khan",
"slug": "nkhan",
"email": "nkhan@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Nisa Khan is a reporter for KQED's Audience News Desk. She was formerly a data reporter at Michigan Radio. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Communication from Stanford University.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "mnisakhan",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor",
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Nisa Khan | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8720459eef081ff64582b3506b124d58523e80e120704a0cbd9892533c914991?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/nkhan"
},
"emanoukian": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11925",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11925",
"found": true
},
"name": "Elize Manoukian",
"firstName": "Elize",
"lastName": "Manoukian",
"slug": "emanoukian",
"email": "emanoukian@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Digital Producer",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4525f1a8e46ccb30933b32653d9772064cfefe3fa655eb45b3b3a80341f6bdad?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Elize Manoukian | KQED",
"description": "Digital Producer",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4525f1a8e46ccb30933b32653d9772064cfefe3fa655eb45b3b3a80341f6bdad?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4525f1a8e46ccb30933b32653d9772064cfefe3fa655eb45b3b3a80341f6bdad?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/emanoukian"
},
"sarahwright": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11956",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11956",
"found": true
},
"name": "Sarah Wright",
"firstName": "Sarah",
"lastName": "Wright",
"slug": "sarahwright",
"email": "swright@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"bio": "Sarah Wright is KQED's Outdoors Engagement Reporter. Originally from Lake Tahoe, she completed a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 and was a U.S. Fulbright Program grantee to Argentina in 2023. Her journalism has appeared in The Guardian, The San Francisco Standard, The Palo Alto Weekly and the Half Moon Bay Review.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"contributor",
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Sarah Wright | KQED",
"description": "Outdoors Engagement Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c161a3d6441865cba25e6db4fa561099ad665799e9432e34da2b84d7e371524c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/sarahwright"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"news_category_guides-and-explainers": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34168",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34168",
"score": 14.402988
},
"name": "Guides and Explainers",
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Guides and Explainers Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34185,
"isLoading": false,
"title": "Guides and Explainers",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "news",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 7
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/news?category=guides-and-explainers",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 7
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12079868": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12079868",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079868",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1777479919000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "middle-class-tax-refund-california-when-is-deadline-april-30-mctr-replacement-debit-card",
"title": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline",
"publishDate": 1777479919,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.[aside postID=news_12077664 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg']“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Eligible California residents have till April 30 to claim cash made available by the Middle Class Tax Refund. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1777482165,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 32,
"wordCount": 1284
},
"headData": {
"title": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline | KQED",
"description": "Eligible California residents have till April 30 to claim cash made available by the Middle Class Tax Refund. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline",
"datePublished": "2026-04-29T09:25:19-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-29T10:02:45-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12079868",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12079868/middle-class-tax-refund-california-when-is-deadline-april-30-mctr-replacement-debit-card",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12077664",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12079868/middle-class-tax-refund-california-when-is-deadline-april-30-mctr-replacement-debit-card",
"authors": [
"11708"
],
"categories": [
"news_1758",
"news_34168"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_18538",
"news_18545",
"news_18143",
"news_397",
"news_423"
],
"featImg": "news_12080500",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12081122": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12081122",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12081122",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1777028440000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend",
"title": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend",
"publishDate": 1777028440,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>“May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment, with the same love and devotion that you now possess. And may you always promise to abide by all library rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As wedding vows go, Annie Pho and Damian Elias’ weren’t the kind you always hear. But then, not everyone’s wedding takes place at the San Francisco Public Library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Strive to keep your library cards active,” continued their officiant, Per Sia, San Francisco’s own Drag Laureate. “And promise to always help each other return your borrowed books and materials on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These words couldn’t have been more fitting for literature lovers Pho and Elias for their ceremony at the SFPL’s main branch in Civic Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two are avid readers and collectors of books, said Pho, who’s also a librarian at the University of San Francisco. “Libraries seem to be an apt place to start this new phase of our lives together,” Elias said, with a grin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078850\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078850\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annie Pho and Damian Elias say their vows during a wedding ceremony officiated by Per Sia at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pho and Elias were one of the lucky few couples selected to get married at the library this month, as part of SFPL’s 30th anniversary celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small, intimate ceremonies were held throughout the main branch before the library officially opened to the public, allowing couples and their families to gather and pose for photos among the bookshelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">Literary-themed date ideas around the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an amazing place to get married,” Pho said. “I feel on top of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, if you’re dreaming of your own SFPL wedding amid the bookstacks one day, the library doesn’t regularly offer these ceremonies, although they hope to make it an annual tradition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078852\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1465px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078852\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1465\" height=\"975\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg 1465w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1465px) 100vw, 1465px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">EmmaLou Moore and Matthew Triska say their vows during a wedding ceremony at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But since countless couples (and friends) connect through a shared love of reading, books can be a truly excellent way to get to know someone — and even plan a date around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to celebrate National Library Week this week, we’ve drawn together some of the best literary date ideas around the Bay Area as recommended by the book lovers of KQED. (Which, by the way, could all work equally well as a friend date or a blissful solo outing.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Browse a San Francisco bookstore together — then take your books to the park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While people might make fun of San Francisco residents for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWsI1ubDayz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">always hanging out on that one hill\u003c/a>, setting up a picnic with a newly purchased book \u003cem>is\u003c/em> an excellent first, second, and — if things are going well — third date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just some bookstores within walking distance of San Francisco’s beautiful parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Golden Gate Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/shop/\">Gardens of Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> has its own bookstore \u003cem>in\u003c/em> the park, near Lincoln Way and Ninth Avenue. \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/learn/library-collection/\">The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture\u003c/a> is also nearby.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/\">Green Apple Books on the Park\u003c/a> is around a minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html\">Borderlands Books\u003c/a> (science fiction and fantasy focused) is around a 3-minute walk from the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdsf.com/\">Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk from the closest entrance on Lincoln Way to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksmith.com/\">The Booksmith\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.globusbooks.com/\">Globus Books\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Fulton Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boundtogether.org/\">Bound Together Bookstore\u003c/a> is around an 11-minute walk from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park — but is just around the corner from Buena Vista Park, too.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11636883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11636883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omnivore packs thousands of books into a tiny room that used to be a butcher shop. \u003ccite>(Suzie Racho/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Dolores Park \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a> is around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theinternationallibraryofyoungauthors.org/\">The International Library of Young Authors\u003c/a>, which also houses copies of literature magazines like \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcsweeneys.net/\">McSweeney’s\u003c/a> (founded by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969159/dave-eggers-international-youth-library-san-francisco\">the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers\u003c/a>) and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thebeliever.net/\">\u003cem>Believer\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other notable ‘bookstore and park’ combos in San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A special mention must go to Ina Coolbrith Park, a small space with beautiful city views named after \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfR1eeDoME\">the state’s first poet laureate\u003c/a>, with North Beach’s \u003ca href=\"https://citylights.com/\">City Lights Bookstore\u003c/a> only 12 minutes away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could take your City Lights haul to Washington Square Park, a little way up Columbus Avenue. Afterward, you can hit \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/vesuviobarsf/\">Vesuvio Cafe\u003c/a>, a spot frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a>, right next door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/welcome-browser-books\">Browser Books\u003c/a> is a few blocks from Alta Plaza Park and Lafayette Park, and around a 20-minute walk from the Presidio. (And for a book without the price tag, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/presidio\">Presidio branch of the library\u003c/a> is around an 8-minute walk from the Presidio, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://christophersbooks.com/\">Christopher’s Books\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill is around a 17-minute walk away from \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/McKinley-Square-352\">McKinley Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Glen Park, \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/\">Bird & Beckett Books & Records\u003c/a> is around a 3-minute walk away from the Glen Park Greenway. And if your date runs really long, you can return to \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/events/\">the storefront for their evening jazz shows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go to a book-themed bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Books and coffee are undoubtedly a classic date combo. But if you’re hoping for more of an evening out, KQED staffers recommend several fancy bars in the Bay Area that either double as a bookstore or are decked out to resemble one, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society. )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/\">Book Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore\u003c/a> in Mill Valley (where you can also swing by one of the prettiest libraries in the Bay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.millvalleylibrary.org/\">the Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/a>, which is\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/430/Library-Hours-and-Location\"> open until 8 p.m.\u003c/a> most weekdays)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bourbonandbranch.com/library\">Bourbon & Branch’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-francisco/the-tenderloin/how-to-get-into-bourbon-and-branch-main-bar-library-russels-room-ipswitch-wilson\">secret library\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.novelasf.com/\">Novela\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.localeditionsf.com/\">Local Edition\u003c/a> in San Francisco (although admittedly more journalism-themed than book-themed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.badanimalbooks.com/\">Bad Animal\u003c/a> in Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Browse for a cookbook, then put it to use\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://omnivorebooks.myshopify.com/\">Omnivore Books on Food\u003c/a>, located in San Francisco, has an entire itinerary dedicated to cookbooks from all different types of styles, cuisines and cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, you can really hit the romance jackpot by going to a bookstore together \u003cem>and \u003c/em>cooking a fancy (or even not-so-fancy) dinner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go on a self-guided writers’ houses tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoTyfPsqbE\">Sabrina Carpenter’s suggestion\u003c/a> (kind of) and retrace literary history by visiting the former Bay Area houses of famed writers. Just remember: Someone new is almost certainly now living in these houses, so urge your date to be cool while you peer together at these places from a respectful, sizable distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, there’s famed author and poet Maya Angelou, who \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">lived in Berkeley\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/620-Colusa-Ave-Berkeley-CA-94707/24846626_zpid/\">620 Colusa Ave\u003c/a>. (Angelou also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/dr-maya-angelou-monument\">a monument\u003c/a> dedicated to her in front of the SFPL main branch.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Electric Literature \u003c/em>also has a thorough essay walking through \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">Angelou’s East Bay haunts\u003c/a>, which similarly delves into the lives of beloved Bay Area-based poets June Jordan and Pat Parker.[aside postID=arts_13985233 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/new-2026-books.png']Other notable literary figures you could “tour” locally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alice Walker of \u003cem>The Color Purple\u003c/em> lived on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Author-s-sanctuary-in-the-Berkeley-hills-6922876.php\">670 San Luis Road\u003c/a> in North Berkeley.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chilean author Isabel Allende \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/author-isabel-allende-lists-her-own-house-of-the-spirits-1468508052\">named her San Rafael house\u003c/a> after her first, best-selling novel, \u003cem>The House of the Spirits\u003c/em>, located on \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinij.com/2016/07/12/isabel-allendes-marin-home-up-for-sale/\">92 Fernwood Drive\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://steinbeckhouse.com/\">John Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood hom\u003c/a>e are now a restaurant, located on 132 Central Ave., in Salinas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you’re especially spoiled in the Bay when it comes to the homes of literary figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of these houses include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">Ursula K. Le Guin’s childhood home\u003c/a> on 1325 Arch St., in Berkeley. You can take a peek inside the house on \u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">a virtual tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage/photos/dearest-people-of-the-page-this-is-christopher-sharing-with-you-some-artwork-ass/1111251843703584/\">3887 17th St., in the Castro District\u003c/a>, where horror queen Anne Rice lived. The house at the beginning of the \u003cem>Interview with the Vampire \u003c/em>is also located on \u003ca href=\"http://www.historyshomes.com/detail.cfm?id=555\">Divisadero Street\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Frank Herbert began his epic science fiction series \u003cem>Dune \u003c/em>in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/house-where-Frank-Herbert-wrote-Dune-for-sale-16473392.php\">San Francisco’s Potrero Hill on 412 Mississippi\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Philip K. Dick lived on \u003ca href=\"https://jamesholmes.org/part-1-philip-k-dick-1971-interview/\">707 Hacienda Way\u003c/a> in Santa Venetia — the same home that was \u003ca href=\"https://www.dispatchesmag.com/stories/reappraisal-philip-k-dick\">infamously broken into in 1971\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Top off your tour with a visit to a sci-fi themed bookstore like \u003ca href=\"https://www.borderlands-books.com/\">Borderlands\u003c/a> in San Francisco, where you could grab a copy of \u003cem>Project Hail Mary\u003c/em>, written by \u003ca href=\"https://www.diablomag.com/people-style/andy-weirs-journey-from-east-bay-to-bestseller-list/article_6d44785b-62cc-460e-a596-84f545652c0f.html\">Livermore-raised author Andy Weir,\u003c/a> which inspired \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753061/project-hail-mary-is-a-space-comedy-that-comes-off-as-glib-and-earthbound\">the current hit movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking of sci-fi, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, you could also try to map out the journey in Octavia Butler’s \u003ca href=\"https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/Black-History-Month-Library-20210825/Butler%2C%20Octavia%20-%20Parable%20of%20the%20Sower.pdf\">\u003cem>Parable of the Sower\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which ends in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want even more ideas? Some further-afield literary homes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Essential Californian essayist Joan Didion grew up in Sacramento on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/history/article217929745.html\">2000 22nd St\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.torhouse.org/\">The Tor House\u003c/a>, home of poet Robinson Jeffers, is in Carmel\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Not really a house by any means, but the stunning, otherworldly\u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\"> Hearst Castle\u003c/a>, a museum in San Simeon.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Pretend to be in Austenland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As an expert in all things romance novels, A Novel Affair’s Le said she also “always” recommends customers visit the scenic \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Fioli Estate.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s around a 20-minute drive away from the bookstore — an historic estate with sprawling landscape gardens that brings pure \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberley\">Pemberley\u003c/a> vibes to the Peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You cannot beat the Fioli gardens during this time of the year,” she said. “I love recommending it to my customers to go on a bookish date there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://51772.blackbaudhosting.com/51772/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=85164de0-552f-49c6-8ba5-ce4be2af4d14\">around $45 for adults\u003c/a>, Filoli is a slightly pricier option for a date, making it perhaps more suitable for a fourth or fifth date with someone you’re sure you actually like. But people with a SNAP (CalFresh) \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">EBT card or a Discover and Go pass from the library\u003c/a> can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cut to the chase and visit a romance-themed bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos is a new storefront dedicated only to romance novels that co-founder Yung Le called “a love letter to the bookish community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bookstore also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">events\u003c/a>, like its \u003cem>Bridgerton\u003c/em>-themed afternoon tea, DJ sets, book swaps and silent readings. But on an average day, Lee said it’s common to see couples frequent the space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s so cute,” Le said to KQED. “I have seen couples come by to take their significant others on a bookish date” and “make a day out of it” by visiting small businesses in a “cozy town like Los Altos.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And obviously, a romance bookshop is the perfect date,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in Petaluma, you’ll find \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thevelvetchapterbookshop/\">The Velvet Chapter\u003c/a>, a storefront specifically dedicated to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/romantasy\">popular romantasy genre\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’ll be a new romance bookstore opening in San Francisco’s Castro District in late April, called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK94ZwmTAY/?img_index=2&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">The Love Potion Library\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Plan a North Bay day at the \u003cem>Peanuts \u003c/em>museum\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a comic book, so it counts! \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> lovers can head to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, which has a lovely exhibit and statues of the comic’s cast of characters. Best of all, there’s a super cute \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018736/snoopys-home-ice-a-santa-rosa-holiday-tradition\">ice skating rink\u003c/a> with a restaurant right next door. This reporter recommends a delicious combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and hot chocolate right after.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be wary that you may lose your prospective partner to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm53CzqgWow&list=RDvm53CzqgWow&start_radio=1\">the irresistible charms of Joe Cool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Take in the sea breeze at the Cliff House\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Cliff House, perched on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End,\u003c/a> has worn many faces — and why not make the journey to see how it currently looks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Cliff House was an exclusive gathering spot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">many wealthy and notable figures\u003c/a>, the house also served as inspiration for writers like Mark Twain, who, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">the National Park Service,\u003c/a> wrote one of his first articles about visiting the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-1536x982.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cliff House in San Francisco pictured on a postcard in 1909. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">1864\u003c/a>, he wrote, “If one tire of the drudgeries and scenes of the city, and would breathe the fresh air of the sea, let him take the cars and omnibuses, or, better still, a buggy and pleasant steed, and, ere the sea breeze sets in, glide out to the Cliff House.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that as of 2020, the building isn’t actually\u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/20/future-cliff-house-precipice/\"> open to visitors and is currently vacant\u003c/a>. But since it’s surrounded by some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean around, it’s probably still worth the (fun) trek.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Visit the Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If \u003cem>A Series of Unfortunate Events\u003c/em> by Lemony Snicket — a.k.a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/410221000/daniel-handler\">Daniel Handler\u003c/a> of San Francisco — was as much of a cultural touchstone for you growing up as it was for this reporter, this pick’s for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/\">Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/a> in San Francisco captures some of the ornate, gothic-meets-noir vibes in the series. Along with taking a stroll through the gorgeous building with its spiral staircase, you and your date can also check out the events hosted at the Mechanics’ Institute, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/chess/\">chess matches\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/cultural-programs/movies/\">movie nights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Retrace characters’ locations in Bay Area scenes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you and your partner want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters, trekking through Bay Area locations in your favorite books can be a major adventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might consider:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dining at \u003ca href=\"https://sfbaytimes.com/historic-johns-grill-115-years-and-counting/\">John’s Grill\u003c/a> in San Francisco, featured in Dashiell Hammett’s \u003cem>The Maltese Falcon, \u003c/em>as protagonist Sam Spade’s go-to watering hole.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Walking down \u003ca href=\"https://voicemap.me/tour/san-francisco/san-francisco-s-chinatown-a-food-culture-and-history-walk/sites/right-on-waverly-place\">Waverly Place\u003c/a> in the city’s Chinatown, the street featured in Amy Tan’s \u003cem>The Joy Luck Club \u003c/em>(in which one of \u003ca href=\"https://lifeinmyyears.com/2019/05/25/my-san-francisco-chinatown-joy-luck-bruce-lee-and-a-rickshaw/\">the characters\u003c/a> is even named after the street).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The International Hotel in San Francisco, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">heart of the Asian American activist movement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7084002-i-hotel\">the setting for the novel \u003cem>I Hotel\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Karen Tei Yamashita.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strolling down \u003ca href=\"https://canneryrow.com/experience/where-is-cannery-row-located/\">Cannery Row\u003c/a> in Monterey, named after John Steinbeck’s novel set on the city’s waterfront.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://tomineguide.weebly.com/california-locations.html\">thorough rundown\u003c/a> of East Bay cafes and local businesses that served as settings in Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel, \u003cem>Shortcomings.\u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Take your date to a literary festival\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area hosts a wide variety of lit and zine festivals, which are packed with retailers, writers and artists. Mark these dates on your calendar:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.baybookfest.org/\">Bay Area Book Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from May 29 to 31\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sfartbookfair.com/\">San Francisco Art Book Fair\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from July 23 to 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">SF Zine Fest\u003c/a> on Sept. 6\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://filbookfestival.org/\">Filipino American International Book Festival\u003c/a> from Oct. 17 to 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.litquake.org/upcoming-events\">Litquake\u003c/a> with dates to be announced\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Jack London State Historic Park will also be celebrating the author’s birthday with \u003ca href=\"https://jacklondonpark.com/150th-birthday/\">a festival on May 17\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Sonja Pasch, Josh Decolongon, Beth Huizenga, Lori Halloran, Aileen Tat, Sara Gaiser and Carly Severn contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "KQED staffers share some of the best literary spots in the Bay Area for dates of all kinds: romantic, friend or solo.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776975230,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 57,
"wordCount": 2772
},
"headData": {
"title": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend | KQED",
"description": "KQED staffers share some of the best literary spots in the Bay Area for dates of all kinds: romantic, friend or solo.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend",
"datePublished": "2026-04-24T04:00:40-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-23T13:13:50-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/b6cddc82-ae04-478c-9e83-b4350116baaa/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>“May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment, with the same love and devotion that you now possess. And may you always promise to abide by all library rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As wedding vows go, Annie Pho and Damian Elias’ weren’t the kind you always hear. But then, not everyone’s wedding takes place at the San Francisco Public Library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Strive to keep your library cards active,” continued their officiant, Per Sia, San Francisco’s own Drag Laureate. “And promise to always help each other return your borrowed books and materials on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These words couldn’t have been more fitting for literature lovers Pho and Elias for their ceremony at the SFPL’s main branch in Civic Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two are avid readers and collectors of books, said Pho, who’s also a librarian at the University of San Francisco. “Libraries seem to be an apt place to start this new phase of our lives together,” Elias said, with a grin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078850\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078850\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annie Pho and Damian Elias say their vows during a wedding ceremony officiated by Per Sia at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pho and Elias were one of the lucky few couples selected to get married at the library this month, as part of SFPL’s 30th anniversary celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small, intimate ceremonies were held throughout the main branch before the library officially opened to the public, allowing couples and their families to gather and pose for photos among the bookshelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">Literary-themed date ideas around the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an amazing place to get married,” Pho said. “I feel on top of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, if you’re dreaming of your own SFPL wedding amid the bookstacks one day, the library doesn’t regularly offer these ceremonies, although they hope to make it an annual tradition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078852\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1465px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078852\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1465\" height=\"975\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg 1465w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1465px) 100vw, 1465px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">EmmaLou Moore and Matthew Triska say their vows during a wedding ceremony at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But since countless couples (and friends) connect through a shared love of reading, books can be a truly excellent way to get to know someone — and even plan a date around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to celebrate National Library Week this week, we’ve drawn together some of the best literary date ideas around the Bay Area as recommended by the book lovers of KQED. (Which, by the way, could all work equally well as a friend date or a blissful solo outing.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Browse a San Francisco bookstore together — then take your books to the park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While people might make fun of San Francisco residents for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWsI1ubDayz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">always hanging out on that one hill\u003c/a>, setting up a picnic with a newly purchased book \u003cem>is\u003c/em> an excellent first, second, and — if things are going well — third date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just some bookstores within walking distance of San Francisco’s beautiful parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Golden Gate Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/shop/\">Gardens of Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> has its own bookstore \u003cem>in\u003c/em> the park, near Lincoln Way and Ninth Avenue. \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/learn/library-collection/\">The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture\u003c/a> is also nearby.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/\">Green Apple Books on the Park\u003c/a> is around a minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html\">Borderlands Books\u003c/a> (science fiction and fantasy focused) is around a 3-minute walk from the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdsf.com/\">Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk from the closest entrance on Lincoln Way to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksmith.com/\">The Booksmith\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.globusbooks.com/\">Globus Books\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Fulton Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boundtogether.org/\">Bound Together Bookstore\u003c/a> is around an 11-minute walk from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park — but is just around the corner from Buena Vista Park, too.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11636883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11636883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omnivore packs thousands of books into a tiny room that used to be a butcher shop. \u003ccite>(Suzie Racho/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Dolores Park \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a> is around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theinternationallibraryofyoungauthors.org/\">The International Library of Young Authors\u003c/a>, which also houses copies of literature magazines like \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcsweeneys.net/\">McSweeney’s\u003c/a> (founded by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969159/dave-eggers-international-youth-library-san-francisco\">the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers\u003c/a>) and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thebeliever.net/\">\u003cem>Believer\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other notable ‘bookstore and park’ combos in San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A special mention must go to Ina Coolbrith Park, a small space with beautiful city views named after \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfR1eeDoME\">the state’s first poet laureate\u003c/a>, with North Beach’s \u003ca href=\"https://citylights.com/\">City Lights Bookstore\u003c/a> only 12 minutes away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could take your City Lights haul to Washington Square Park, a little way up Columbus Avenue. Afterward, you can hit \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/vesuviobarsf/\">Vesuvio Cafe\u003c/a>, a spot frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a>, right next door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/welcome-browser-books\">Browser Books\u003c/a> is a few blocks from Alta Plaza Park and Lafayette Park, and around a 20-minute walk from the Presidio. (And for a book without the price tag, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/presidio\">Presidio branch of the library\u003c/a> is around an 8-minute walk from the Presidio, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://christophersbooks.com/\">Christopher’s Books\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill is around a 17-minute walk away from \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/McKinley-Square-352\">McKinley Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Glen Park, \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/\">Bird & Beckett Books & Records\u003c/a> is around a 3-minute walk away from the Glen Park Greenway. And if your date runs really long, you can return to \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/events/\">the storefront for their evening jazz shows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go to a book-themed bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Books and coffee are undoubtedly a classic date combo. But if you’re hoping for more of an evening out, KQED staffers recommend several fancy bars in the Bay Area that either double as a bookstore or are decked out to resemble one, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society. )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/\">Book Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore\u003c/a> in Mill Valley (where you can also swing by one of the prettiest libraries in the Bay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.millvalleylibrary.org/\">the Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/a>, which is\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/430/Library-Hours-and-Location\"> open until 8 p.m.\u003c/a> most weekdays)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bourbonandbranch.com/library\">Bourbon & Branch’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-francisco/the-tenderloin/how-to-get-into-bourbon-and-branch-main-bar-library-russels-room-ipswitch-wilson\">secret library\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.novelasf.com/\">Novela\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.localeditionsf.com/\">Local Edition\u003c/a> in San Francisco (although admittedly more journalism-themed than book-themed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.badanimalbooks.com/\">Bad Animal\u003c/a> in Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Browse for a cookbook, then put it to use\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://omnivorebooks.myshopify.com/\">Omnivore Books on Food\u003c/a>, located in San Francisco, has an entire itinerary dedicated to cookbooks from all different types of styles, cuisines and cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, you can really hit the romance jackpot by going to a bookstore together \u003cem>and \u003c/em>cooking a fancy (or even not-so-fancy) dinner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go on a self-guided writers’ houses tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoTyfPsqbE\">Sabrina Carpenter’s suggestion\u003c/a> (kind of) and retrace literary history by visiting the former Bay Area houses of famed writers. Just remember: Someone new is almost certainly now living in these houses, so urge your date to be cool while you peer together at these places from a respectful, sizable distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, there’s famed author and poet Maya Angelou, who \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">lived in Berkeley\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/620-Colusa-Ave-Berkeley-CA-94707/24846626_zpid/\">620 Colusa Ave\u003c/a>. (Angelou also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/dr-maya-angelou-monument\">a monument\u003c/a> dedicated to her in front of the SFPL main branch.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Electric Literature \u003c/em>also has a thorough essay walking through \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">Angelou’s East Bay haunts\u003c/a>, which similarly delves into the lives of beloved Bay Area-based poets June Jordan and Pat Parker.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "arts_13985233",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/new-2026-books.png",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Other notable literary figures you could “tour” locally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alice Walker of \u003cem>The Color Purple\u003c/em> lived on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Author-s-sanctuary-in-the-Berkeley-hills-6922876.php\">670 San Luis Road\u003c/a> in North Berkeley.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chilean author Isabel Allende \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/author-isabel-allende-lists-her-own-house-of-the-spirits-1468508052\">named her San Rafael house\u003c/a> after her first, best-selling novel, \u003cem>The House of the Spirits\u003c/em>, located on \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinij.com/2016/07/12/isabel-allendes-marin-home-up-for-sale/\">92 Fernwood Drive\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://steinbeckhouse.com/\">John Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood hom\u003c/a>e are now a restaurant, located on 132 Central Ave., in Salinas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you’re especially spoiled in the Bay when it comes to the homes of literary figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of these houses include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">Ursula K. Le Guin’s childhood home\u003c/a> on 1325 Arch St., in Berkeley. You can take a peek inside the house on \u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">a virtual tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage/photos/dearest-people-of-the-page-this-is-christopher-sharing-with-you-some-artwork-ass/1111251843703584/\">3887 17th St., in the Castro District\u003c/a>, where horror queen Anne Rice lived. The house at the beginning of the \u003cem>Interview with the Vampire \u003c/em>is also located on \u003ca href=\"http://www.historyshomes.com/detail.cfm?id=555\">Divisadero Street\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Frank Herbert began his epic science fiction series \u003cem>Dune \u003c/em>in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/house-where-Frank-Herbert-wrote-Dune-for-sale-16473392.php\">San Francisco’s Potrero Hill on 412 Mississippi\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Philip K. Dick lived on \u003ca href=\"https://jamesholmes.org/part-1-philip-k-dick-1971-interview/\">707 Hacienda Way\u003c/a> in Santa Venetia — the same home that was \u003ca href=\"https://www.dispatchesmag.com/stories/reappraisal-philip-k-dick\">infamously broken into in 1971\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Top off your tour with a visit to a sci-fi themed bookstore like \u003ca href=\"https://www.borderlands-books.com/\">Borderlands\u003c/a> in San Francisco, where you could grab a copy of \u003cem>Project Hail Mary\u003c/em>, written by \u003ca href=\"https://www.diablomag.com/people-style/andy-weirs-journey-from-east-bay-to-bestseller-list/article_6d44785b-62cc-460e-a596-84f545652c0f.html\">Livermore-raised author Andy Weir,\u003c/a> which inspired \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753061/project-hail-mary-is-a-space-comedy-that-comes-off-as-glib-and-earthbound\">the current hit movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking of sci-fi, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, you could also try to map out the journey in Octavia Butler’s \u003ca href=\"https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/Black-History-Month-Library-20210825/Butler%2C%20Octavia%20-%20Parable%20of%20the%20Sower.pdf\">\u003cem>Parable of the Sower\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which ends in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want even more ideas? Some further-afield literary homes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Essential Californian essayist Joan Didion grew up in Sacramento on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/history/article217929745.html\">2000 22nd St\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.torhouse.org/\">The Tor House\u003c/a>, home of poet Robinson Jeffers, is in Carmel\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Not really a house by any means, but the stunning, otherworldly\u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\"> Hearst Castle\u003c/a>, a museum in San Simeon.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Pretend to be in Austenland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As an expert in all things romance novels, A Novel Affair’s Le said she also “always” recommends customers visit the scenic \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Fioli Estate.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s around a 20-minute drive away from the bookstore — an historic estate with sprawling landscape gardens that brings pure \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberley\">Pemberley\u003c/a> vibes to the Peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You cannot beat the Fioli gardens during this time of the year,” she said. “I love recommending it to my customers to go on a bookish date there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://51772.blackbaudhosting.com/51772/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=85164de0-552f-49c6-8ba5-ce4be2af4d14\">around $45 for adults\u003c/a>, Filoli is a slightly pricier option for a date, making it perhaps more suitable for a fourth or fifth date with someone you’re sure you actually like. But people with a SNAP (CalFresh) \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">EBT card or a Discover and Go pass from the library\u003c/a> can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cut to the chase and visit a romance-themed bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos is a new storefront dedicated only to romance novels that co-founder Yung Le called “a love letter to the bookish community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bookstore also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">events\u003c/a>, like its \u003cem>Bridgerton\u003c/em>-themed afternoon tea, DJ sets, book swaps and silent readings. But on an average day, Lee said it’s common to see couples frequent the space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s so cute,” Le said to KQED. “I have seen couples come by to take their significant others on a bookish date” and “make a day out of it” by visiting small businesses in a “cozy town like Los Altos.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And obviously, a romance bookshop is the perfect date,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in Petaluma, you’ll find \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thevelvetchapterbookshop/\">The Velvet Chapter\u003c/a>, a storefront specifically dedicated to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/romantasy\">popular romantasy genre\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’ll be a new romance bookstore opening in San Francisco’s Castro District in late April, called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK94ZwmTAY/?img_index=2&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">The Love Potion Library\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Plan a North Bay day at the \u003cem>Peanuts \u003c/em>museum\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a comic book, so it counts! \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> lovers can head to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, which has a lovely exhibit and statues of the comic’s cast of characters. Best of all, there’s a super cute \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018736/snoopys-home-ice-a-santa-rosa-holiday-tradition\">ice skating rink\u003c/a> with a restaurant right next door. This reporter recommends a delicious combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and hot chocolate right after.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be wary that you may lose your prospective partner to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm53CzqgWow&list=RDvm53CzqgWow&start_radio=1\">the irresistible charms of Joe Cool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Take in the sea breeze at the Cliff House\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Cliff House, perched on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End,\u003c/a> has worn many faces — and why not make the journey to see how it currently looks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Cliff House was an exclusive gathering spot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">many wealthy and notable figures\u003c/a>, the house also served as inspiration for writers like Mark Twain, who, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">the National Park Service,\u003c/a> wrote one of his first articles about visiting the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-1536x982.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cliff House in San Francisco pictured on a postcard in 1909. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">1864\u003c/a>, he wrote, “If one tire of the drudgeries and scenes of the city, and would breathe the fresh air of the sea, let him take the cars and omnibuses, or, better still, a buggy and pleasant steed, and, ere the sea breeze sets in, glide out to the Cliff House.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that as of 2020, the building isn’t actually\u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/20/future-cliff-house-precipice/\"> open to visitors and is currently vacant\u003c/a>. But since it’s surrounded by some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean around, it’s probably still worth the (fun) trek.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Visit the Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If \u003cem>A Series of Unfortunate Events\u003c/em> by Lemony Snicket — a.k.a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/410221000/daniel-handler\">Daniel Handler\u003c/a> of San Francisco — was as much of a cultural touchstone for you growing up as it was for this reporter, this pick’s for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/\">Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/a> in San Francisco captures some of the ornate, gothic-meets-noir vibes in the series. Along with taking a stroll through the gorgeous building with its spiral staircase, you and your date can also check out the events hosted at the Mechanics’ Institute, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/chess/\">chess matches\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/cultural-programs/movies/\">movie nights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Retrace characters’ locations in Bay Area scenes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you and your partner want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters, trekking through Bay Area locations in your favorite books can be a major adventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might consider:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dining at \u003ca href=\"https://sfbaytimes.com/historic-johns-grill-115-years-and-counting/\">John’s Grill\u003c/a> in San Francisco, featured in Dashiell Hammett’s \u003cem>The Maltese Falcon, \u003c/em>as protagonist Sam Spade’s go-to watering hole.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Walking down \u003ca href=\"https://voicemap.me/tour/san-francisco/san-francisco-s-chinatown-a-food-culture-and-history-walk/sites/right-on-waverly-place\">Waverly Place\u003c/a> in the city’s Chinatown, the street featured in Amy Tan’s \u003cem>The Joy Luck Club \u003c/em>(in which one of \u003ca href=\"https://lifeinmyyears.com/2019/05/25/my-san-francisco-chinatown-joy-luck-bruce-lee-and-a-rickshaw/\">the characters\u003c/a> is even named after the street).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The International Hotel in San Francisco, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">heart of the Asian American activist movement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7084002-i-hotel\">the setting for the novel \u003cem>I Hotel\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Karen Tei Yamashita.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strolling down \u003ca href=\"https://canneryrow.com/experience/where-is-cannery-row-located/\">Cannery Row\u003c/a> in Monterey, named after John Steinbeck’s novel set on the city’s waterfront.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://tomineguide.weebly.com/california-locations.html\">thorough rundown\u003c/a> of East Bay cafes and local businesses that served as settings in Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel, \u003cem>Shortcomings.\u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Take your date to a literary festival\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area hosts a wide variety of lit and zine festivals, which are packed with retailers, writers and artists. Mark these dates on your calendar:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.baybookfest.org/\">Bay Area Book Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from May 29 to 31\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sfartbookfair.com/\">San Francisco Art Book Fair\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from July 23 to 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">SF Zine Fest\u003c/a> on Sept. 6\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://filbookfestival.org/\">Filipino American International Book Festival\u003c/a> from Oct. 17 to 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.litquake.org/upcoming-events\">Litquake\u003c/a> with dates to be announced\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Jack London State Historic Park will also be celebrating the author’s birthday with \u003ca href=\"https://jacklondonpark.com/150th-birthday/\">a festival on May 17\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Sonja Pasch, Josh Decolongon, Beth Huizenga, Lori Halloran, Aileen Tat, Sara Gaiser and Carly Severn contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend",
"authors": [
"11867",
"3245"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18880",
"news_34081",
"news_35888",
"news_27626",
"news_22557"
],
"featImg": "news_12081129",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12080674": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12080674",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080674",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776866419000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "want-to-spring-clean-your-bookshelf-where-to-sell-or-donate-used-books-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area",
"publishDate": 1776866419,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>With the hope of creating my own \u003ca href=\"https://youtu.be/U1Kf2EqZm5k?si=n5pyftpuUBaHP_WL&t=81\">personal version of Belle’s dreamy library\u003c/a>, I tend to hold onto every book I buy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a small space and a quickly buckling shelf (and a loved one pointing out that I was hoarding some books even I agreed were particularly bad) have finally convinced me to start letting things go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I decided to start purging the shelf little by little, so as not to overwhelm myself. But it was embarrassing to admit to myself how \u003cem>hard\u003c/em> the process turned out to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traci Mitchell, a branch librarian for Butte County in Northern California and the host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod\">the podcast Libraryish\u003c/a>, reassured me that this was a common problem among readers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re all a little guilty of taking inanimate objects and applying feelings and animism,” she said. “That they’re real things, that they have thoughts, feelings, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for books, especially, she added, “people put so much of their personal identity into” what they read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But luckily, the process did become a bit easier when I learned that the Bay Area has a host of ways to donate, trade and sell your books — whether through Buy Nothing channels, local book stores or donating to libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn some of the ways to declutter your bookshelf and donate your books in the best, guilt-free way — just in time for the spring cleaning season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why you may want to declutter your bookshelf\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are many reasons someone would have a hard time letting go of items in their collection: a personal connection to a story, an appreciation for the ideas \u003cem>in\u003c/em> a book or the fact that the book may have cost a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of those “little factors in your subconscious layer up” and make it difficult to clear out the shelf, Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she emphasized that “a book you donate isn’t going to be torn up. People really respect books. And books change people’s lives. So if you’re not connecting to a book that you have, you shouldn’t feel guilty about letting that book go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033581\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033581 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking and camping books in an Oakland home on March 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Decluttering also helps with creating more space for books you \u003cem>do \u003c/em>enjoy — or for other items to fit in your home. And if you are sharing a space with someone, it gives you and your housemates — friends, roommates, partners, family — the opportunity to both be reflected in the space, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another benefit decluttering offers is the chance to let go of old ideas and find some closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes people have books that reflect themselves in the past. And maybe it’s time to let those ideas and those things go,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, “a lot of people get self-help books to get themselves through a very difficult time … Maybe you’ve gotten through that time, and you don’t need to carry those books anymore. It’s kind of like carrying the old baggage with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The piece of guidance that hit closest to home for \u003cem>me\u003c/em>, however, was Mitchell explaining that bookshelves \u003cem>can\u003c/em> be a dynamic piece of your home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your collection can grow with you, and change with you as you grow and change,” she said. “And it doesn’t have to reflect \u003cem>all \u003c/em>of who you’ve ever been throughout time. It can be you right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to figure out which books to take out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are convinced it’s time to declutter the shelf, Mitchell provided the following five quick tips on where to start:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The books you didn’t pick personally\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The best places to start really are sort of those books that wound up in your possession that you didn’t choose,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These can be books you got as gifts, or novels you picked up randomly, without a lot of intention. They are the books a reader is least invested in, especially when they haven’t read them, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is probably someone out there that would appreciate that book and would find value in that book more than you do,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vacant to vibrant business, The Best Bookstore, stands on Powell Street in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hobby and guidebooks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe cleaning out your shelf is a good time to think about all of those new skills you didn’t pick up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Look at those books that you bought thinking, ‘I’m \u003cem>definitely \u003c/em>going to learn to knit this year.’” Mitchell suggested. “Think about a time limit. Have you had that book for three months? For six months? For a year? Longer?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t see yourself getting around to that hobby in the foreseeable future, it could be time to let go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Duplicates\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may feel like an obvious option, but it’s worth doing a little audit of your shelf for titles that appear more than once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s surprising how many times people have duplicates in their collections because you didn’t recognize the title or the cover,’ Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Damaged books \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said another option to clear out the shelf is going through the books that “aren’t in the best shape, that you think might be falling apart, or that are due for a replacement.”[aside postID=news_12070692 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_010-KQED.jpg']“When a book is left in a garage or an attic, they get moist, and the pages start to wrinkle, or they get infested with bugs — which happens very easily — or they’re even just dusty or smelly,” Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those may be best for \u003cem>recycling \u003c/em>versus donating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My director has a great guideline for measuring the condition of a book: Would you take that book into bed with you to read it?” she said. “If you would not take the book into bed with you to read it, then maybe it’s time to recycle that book.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.recology.com/faq/sf-recycling/?cookie-consent-set=true\">Recology in San Francisco\u003c/a>, soft cover books, phone books and notebooks can be recycled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This scenario reminded me of an episode in the rebooted season of “King of the Hill,” where everyone’s favorite Texan mom Peggy Hill sets up\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IhAWlIBao\"> a little free library outside her home\u003c/a> that inadvertently starts \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfYYBUIpeo\">a neighborhood-wide bed bug infestation.\u003c/a> This made me so paranoid that I thought I needed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/a65821700/freezing-thrifted-books-bug-hack/\">start freezing books to kill potential bugs\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>To-be-read pile\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps one of the harder decisions to make, alas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Mitchell also suggested sifting through your to-be-read pile and asking yourself if you really \u003cem>are\u003c/em> going to read those books. Hard questions!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now: the ways to get rid of said books:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 1: Go to a book swap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the pursuit of clearing out \u003cem>my\u003c/em> shelf, I found out about book swaps — and they quickly became my favorite way of parting with (and acquiring) books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I went to my first book swap in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, hosted by Oakland resident and children’s author Karina Zhou, who was lounging on a picnic blanket with a display of books, graphic novels and magazines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was also Zhou’s first book swap, and most of the visiting readers were strangers, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080767\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080767\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dot the hills of Dolores Park on a 70-degree afternoon in San Francisco’s Mission District on Feb. 26, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I wanted to find ways to expand my book taste,” she said. “I thought this was a great way to just bring friends and strangers together, get a personal recommendation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In hopes of impressing other readers, I actually traded in a book I \u003cem>liked\u003c/em> (“Kids Run the Show,” by Delphine de Vigan), and, in return, picked up a copy of McSweeney’s literary magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I found the event through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074872/tips-for-hosting-parties-san-francisco-bay-area-making-friends-party-food-decorations-music\">Partiful\u003c/a>, which has an explore page that points to similar local events. Other ways to find book swaps include Facebook, Instagram and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local bookstores and libraries, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.anovelaffairbookcafe.com/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/480Primrose/photos/were-doing-11-swaps-this-year-one-each-month-except-for-december-we-added-two-ne/1322323483261537/\">the Burlingame Public Library\u003c/a>, also host their own book swaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 2: Sell or trade at your local bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many local bookstores in the Bay Area will let you sell your used books or trade them for store credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that each bookstore will have its own specific policies on how to hand in your items. For example, some may want you to call ahead; some are okay with drop-ins. Some want you to pack the books in a bag or a box; some will only accept one or two books at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is best to check on the store’s website ahead of time and see what their expectations are for selling books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that it is important to go into selling your books with tempered expectations. Bookstores across the country are feeling the financial strain of a rapidly changing industry, and may not have \u003ca href=\"https://ptreyesbooks.com/used-books\">the ability to buy anything at all\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hanging sign for Dog Eared Books bookstore with black dog graphic and security camera on teal-trimmed facade, in the Mission District, San Francisco, California, Sept. 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For reference, when I brought 11 of my books to Scott Soriano, a bookseller with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on San Francisco’s Valencia Street, he took three of them. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was offered $11 in cash or $16 in trade. Soriano also went through my books very \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quickly,\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> probably less than five minutes, thanks to instincts he has picked up from working in the industry for decades.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s very rare that we pick up every single book,” he said. “We get offered so many books every day.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a city like San Francisco, where storefronts are relatively small, booksellers need to be “pretty picky about what we pick up,” he said. He also tries to monitor the pulse of the literary scene.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We generally don’t pick up books that we already have copies of,” he said. “There are exceptions like Toni Morrison’s \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beloved\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which we could sell all day long. Or Murakami.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other books that sellers like Soriano may not pick up include books that were recently released as paperbacks, books that “kind of had their day,” like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dummies.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Dummies\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> series\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or authors with recent controversies, like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-allegations-controversy-amanda-palmer-sandman-madoc.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neil Gaiman\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“There’s a little bit of magic, but there’s some art, and there’s some quote-unquote science behind it,” he said. “There’s a lot of trial and error and stuff like that. That’s if you wanna have a good bookstore.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just \u003cem>some \u003c/em>of the stores in the Bay Area that accept books:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/sell-us-your-books\">Green Apple\u003c/a>, specifically the 506 Clement St. location. Green Apple only buys books and does \u003cem>not\u003c/em> accept donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/we-buy-books\">Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/a>. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the bookstore.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/sell-books/\">Borderland Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, and specifically science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror books.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://noevalleybooks.com/annex-bernies-nvb-collab\">Noe Valley Books and Bernie’s Coffee Shop\u003c/a> accept donations for their shared cafe space, The Annex.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fabulosabooks.com/selltrade.html#/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, usually for store credit, but may pay for special books. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the store.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.russianhillbookstore.com/selling-your-books\">Russian Hill Bookstore\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg\" alt=\"Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad Aman Daro look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterwards.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad, Aman Daro, look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year, Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterward. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.waldenpondbooks.com/buying.html\">Walden Pond Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pegasusbookstore.com/we-trade-books\">Pegasus Books\u003c/a> in Berkeley and Oakland, for store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tallyhobookstore.com/sell-your-books\">Tally Ho! Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, usually for store credit, but may buy desirable titles.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksonb.com/tradesell-used-books\">Books on B\u003c/a> in Hayward, for cash or store credit. Be sure to monitor the Instagram page for what type of books they are seeking. For example, earlier this month, the store was \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booksonb/p/DVSQBzDkW9B/\">seeking children’s picture books\u003c/a>, specifically.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.escapistcomics.com/\">The Escapist\u003c/a>, for cash, in Berkeley, specifically for vintage comics and graphic novels.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/stuff-we-buy.html\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Fremont and Dublin.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Peninsula/South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peninsulabooks.org/donate-books/\">Peninsula Books\u003c/a> in Daly City, which only accepts donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bstreetbooks.com/sell-your-books.php\">B Street Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, in Burlingame.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">Bell’s Books\u003c/a> buys specifically \u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">“fine books and collections”\u003c/a> in Palo Alto.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.leighsbooks.com/TradeYourBooks\">Leigh’s Favorite Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sunnyvale.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.recyclebookstore.com/\">Recycle Bookstore\u003c/a>, which buys and trades books, in Campbell.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treehorn.com/\">Treehorn Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paperbacksunlimited.net/policies.html\">Paperbacks Unlimited\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.2ndchancesusedbooks.com/\">Second Chances Used Book\u003c/a>, for cash, in Sebastopol.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://readersbooks.com/used-book-policy\">Readers’ Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sonoma.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 3: Going through online retailers and Buy Nothing channels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the easiest way to sell or donate your used books is by posting them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, selling books online isn’t \u003cem>super \u003c/em>lucrative — you definitely won’t be making your hardcover’s money back — and you will likely have to offer some deals so people will bite. But the more exclusive or special the book, the more likely someone will be willing to pay a bit more for a special cover or a signed copy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are online retailers and websites you can use. But keep in mind, you will likely be responsible for shipping and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHk1M-Y5CM\">packing costs\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Websites (with links to their selling guides) where you can sell your books include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/faq\">BookScouter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.worldofbooks.com/\">World of Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.powells.com/sell-books\">Powell’s Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pangobooks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruM50Lae3EqRqYqcnVnae6rBDgvrLuvsRESWP4CPiyO1RzUW5a\">Pangobooks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/blog/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/\">eBay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sell.amazon.com/learn/how-to-sell-books\">Amazon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This reporter has a lot of experience going through local Facebook groups and marketplaces to list and hand off books. In my experience, it is best to have a \u003cem>lot\u003c/em> of books available to give away, so potential buyers have a wide variety to choose from and bulk-buy. (If you meet in person for any hand-offs, make sure you do it in a public place!)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facebook and other online groups, like Discord channels and \u003ca href=\"https://buynothingproject.org/\">apps\u003c/a>, will also likely have \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/buynothingsanfranciscosf/\">“Buy Nothing” channels,\u003c/a> where you can put your things up for grabs, for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your own circles may also be a great space to reach out and see who is interested. For example, a workspace may have a Buy Nothing channel where you can hand your things off to a coworker.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 4: Donate to libraries\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are comfortable parting with your books strictly as a donation, your local library is a great spot to hand off used books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most libraries will have an associated volunteer-led organization, usually with the name “Friends of,” that handles donations and fundraising for its local branch, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069406\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069406\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hand-painted sign directs visitors to the Friends of the Palo Alto Library book sale on Jan. 11, 2026, in Palo Alto. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, you can donate your books through the \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendssfpl.org/donatebooks.html\">Friends of the San Francisco Public Library System\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fopl.org/donation-guidelines\">Friends of the Oakland Public Library\u003c/a>, or \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinlibraryfriends.org/book-donations\">The Book Place\u003c/a> on behalf of the Friends of Marin County Free Library. But other libraries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.fslonline.org/donate-books\">the Saratoga Library\u003c/a>, may accept them directly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said it is a good idea to reach out to your library to see what they may be able to accept.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many libraries, she explained, see “a lot of genre fiction” donated to their collections. Some may seek cookbooks and textbooks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids browse the books in the Salinas Public Library’s Paletero cart. \u003ccite>(Krista Almanzan for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But “often people make the mistake that a library is an archive — so that we’re interested in old books and bringing them in and adding them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s not really what public libraries do,” she said. “We’re serving the public that wants things for the moment and right now. And so certain older items, there’s no archival space.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 5: Reach out to schools and young readers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are also many Bay Area nonprofits with a mission to provide more books to children, teens and students to close \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/californias-chronic-literacy-crisis-requires-solutions-drawn-from-research/730278\">the literacy gap\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Access Books Bay Area in San Francisco, the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/donate\">“provides no dedicated funding for school libraries,”\u003c/a> which are \u003ca href=\"https://ed100.org/blog/school-libraries\">funded mostly by local governments\u003c/a>, and “out-of-date library materials often do not reflect the cultures of the students attending schools today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The library at Jefferson Elementary School in Berkeley on Feb. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Organizations for young readers include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookwagonsf.org/\">The Book Wagon\u003c/a> for San Francisco elementary schools\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.childrensbookproject.org/give-books/\">Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>, which has a location for drop off at 2166 Palou Avenue in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/events/donate-books\">Access Books Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaychildrensbookproject.org/donate-now/donate-books/\">East Bay Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.projectcicerobayarea.org/\">Project Cicero Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://med.stanford.edu/childhealthequity/engagement/earlyeducation/kinder-ready-clinics.html\">Stanford Medicine’s library\u003c/a>, which provides materials to health centers in the area\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://scvmc.scvh.org/healthcare-services/pediatrics/child-life-inpatient-services/wish-list-donations\">Santa Clara Valley Medical Center\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 6: Find a little library\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You probably have seen these very quaint little pop-ups in Bay Area neighborhoods — often looking like a birdhouse for books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There can be a great opportunity to load off one or two books to your neighborhood, but probably not more than that, considering how compact the libraries are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/\">this map online to find a little library near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 7: Donate to incarcerated people\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">Prisoners Literature Project\u003c/a>, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, also accepts book donations for incarcerated people and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">a short guide\u003c/a> on how people can reach out to the organization with offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that any books you consider giving to prisons would need to be of \u003cem>very \u003c/em>good quality. According to the nonprofit’s website, “prisons are increasingly restrictive about book quality, with many accepting only new books in paperback.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genres requested the most by individuals include cookbooks, fitness, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, spirituality, self-help books, how-to manuals, business and meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other organizations that serve incarcerated individuals in California and across the country include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://freedomreads.org/\">Freedom Reads\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books\">Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://dcbookstoprisoners.org/donate-books/\">DC Books to Prisons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://wpbp.org/donate_books/\">Women’s Prison Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://prisonbookprogram.org/donate-books/\">Prison Book Program\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lgbtbookstoprisoners.org/donate/\">LGBT Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "If you are ready to let go of your precious (or not-so-precious) books, the Bay Area has plenty of opportunities to give them a new home.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1779224919,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 87,
"wordCount": 3220
},
"headData": {
"title": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area | KQED",
"description": "If you are ready to let go of your precious (or not-so-precious) books, the Bay Area has plenty of opportunities to give them a new home.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area",
"datePublished": "2026-04-22T07:00:19-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-05-19T14:08:39-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/d19a26c5-bf7f-46c5-9c14-b44e0113fe0a/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12080674",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12080674/want-to-spring-clean-your-bookshelf-where-to-sell-or-donate-used-books-in-the-bay-area",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With the hope of creating my own \u003ca href=\"https://youtu.be/U1Kf2EqZm5k?si=n5pyftpuUBaHP_WL&t=81\">personal version of Belle’s dreamy library\u003c/a>, I tend to hold onto every book I buy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a small space and a quickly buckling shelf (and a loved one pointing out that I was hoarding some books even I agreed were particularly bad) have finally convinced me to start letting things go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I decided to start purging the shelf little by little, so as not to overwhelm myself. But it was embarrassing to admit to myself how \u003cem>hard\u003c/em> the process turned out to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traci Mitchell, a branch librarian for Butte County in Northern California and the host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod\">the podcast Libraryish\u003c/a>, reassured me that this was a common problem among readers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re all a little guilty of taking inanimate objects and applying feelings and animism,” she said. “That they’re real things, that they have thoughts, feelings, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for books, especially, she added, “people put so much of their personal identity into” what they read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But luckily, the process did become a bit easier when I learned that the Bay Area has a host of ways to donate, trade and sell your books — whether through Buy Nothing channels, local book stores or donating to libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn some of the ways to declutter your bookshelf and donate your books in the best, guilt-free way — just in time for the spring cleaning season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why you may want to declutter your bookshelf\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are many reasons someone would have a hard time letting go of items in their collection: a personal connection to a story, an appreciation for the ideas \u003cem>in\u003c/em> a book or the fact that the book may have cost a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of those “little factors in your subconscious layer up” and make it difficult to clear out the shelf, Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she emphasized that “a book you donate isn’t going to be torn up. People really respect books. And books change people’s lives. So if you’re not connecting to a book that you have, you shouldn’t feel guilty about letting that book go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033581\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033581 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking and camping books in an Oakland home on March 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Decluttering also helps with creating more space for books you \u003cem>do \u003c/em>enjoy — or for other items to fit in your home. And if you are sharing a space with someone, it gives you and your housemates — friends, roommates, partners, family — the opportunity to both be reflected in the space, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another benefit decluttering offers is the chance to let go of old ideas and find some closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes people have books that reflect themselves in the past. And maybe it’s time to let those ideas and those things go,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, “a lot of people get self-help books to get themselves through a very difficult time … Maybe you’ve gotten through that time, and you don’t need to carry those books anymore. It’s kind of like carrying the old baggage with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The piece of guidance that hit closest to home for \u003cem>me\u003c/em>, however, was Mitchell explaining that bookshelves \u003cem>can\u003c/em> be a dynamic piece of your home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your collection can grow with you, and change with you as you grow and change,” she said. “And it doesn’t have to reflect \u003cem>all \u003c/em>of who you’ve ever been throughout time. It can be you right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to figure out which books to take out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are convinced it’s time to declutter the shelf, Mitchell provided the following five quick tips on where to start:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The books you didn’t pick personally\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The best places to start really are sort of those books that wound up in your possession that you didn’t choose,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These can be books you got as gifts, or novels you picked up randomly, without a lot of intention. They are the books a reader is least invested in, especially when they haven’t read them, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is probably someone out there that would appreciate that book and would find value in that book more than you do,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vacant to vibrant business, The Best Bookstore, stands on Powell Street in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hobby and guidebooks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe cleaning out your shelf is a good time to think about all of those new skills you didn’t pick up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Look at those books that you bought thinking, ‘I’m \u003cem>definitely \u003c/em>going to learn to knit this year.’” Mitchell suggested. “Think about a time limit. Have you had that book for three months? For six months? For a year? Longer?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t see yourself getting around to that hobby in the foreseeable future, it could be time to let go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Duplicates\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may feel like an obvious option, but it’s worth doing a little audit of your shelf for titles that appear more than once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s surprising how many times people have duplicates in their collections because you didn’t recognize the title or the cover,’ Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Damaged books \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said another option to clear out the shelf is going through the books that “aren’t in the best shape, that you think might be falling apart, or that are due for a replacement.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12070692",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_010-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“When a book is left in a garage or an attic, they get moist, and the pages start to wrinkle, or they get infested with bugs — which happens very easily — or they’re even just dusty or smelly,” Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those may be best for \u003cem>recycling \u003c/em>versus donating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My director has a great guideline for measuring the condition of a book: Would you take that book into bed with you to read it?” she said. “If you would not take the book into bed with you to read it, then maybe it’s time to recycle that book.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.recology.com/faq/sf-recycling/?cookie-consent-set=true\">Recology in San Francisco\u003c/a>, soft cover books, phone books and notebooks can be recycled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This scenario reminded me of an episode in the rebooted season of “King of the Hill,” where everyone’s favorite Texan mom Peggy Hill sets up\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IhAWlIBao\"> a little free library outside her home\u003c/a> that inadvertently starts \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfYYBUIpeo\">a neighborhood-wide bed bug infestation.\u003c/a> This made me so paranoid that I thought I needed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/a65821700/freezing-thrifted-books-bug-hack/\">start freezing books to kill potential bugs\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>To-be-read pile\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps one of the harder decisions to make, alas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Mitchell also suggested sifting through your to-be-read pile and asking yourself if you really \u003cem>are\u003c/em> going to read those books. Hard questions!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now: the ways to get rid of said books:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 1: Go to a book swap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the pursuit of clearing out \u003cem>my\u003c/em> shelf, I found out about book swaps — and they quickly became my favorite way of parting with (and acquiring) books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I went to my first book swap in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, hosted by Oakland resident and children’s author Karina Zhou, who was lounging on a picnic blanket with a display of books, graphic novels and magazines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was also Zhou’s first book swap, and most of the visiting readers were strangers, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080767\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080767\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dot the hills of Dolores Park on a 70-degree afternoon in San Francisco’s Mission District on Feb. 26, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I wanted to find ways to expand my book taste,” she said. “I thought this was a great way to just bring friends and strangers together, get a personal recommendation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In hopes of impressing other readers, I actually traded in a book I \u003cem>liked\u003c/em> (“Kids Run the Show,” by Delphine de Vigan), and, in return, picked up a copy of McSweeney’s literary magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I found the event through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074872/tips-for-hosting-parties-san-francisco-bay-area-making-friends-party-food-decorations-music\">Partiful\u003c/a>, which has an explore page that points to similar local events. Other ways to find book swaps include Facebook, Instagram and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local bookstores and libraries, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.anovelaffairbookcafe.com/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/480Primrose/photos/were-doing-11-swaps-this-year-one-each-month-except-for-december-we-added-two-ne/1322323483261537/\">the Burlingame Public Library\u003c/a>, also host their own book swaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 2: Sell or trade at your local bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many local bookstores in the Bay Area will let you sell your used books or trade them for store credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that each bookstore will have its own specific policies on how to hand in your items. For example, some may want you to call ahead; some are okay with drop-ins. Some want you to pack the books in a bag or a box; some will only accept one or two books at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is best to check on the store’s website ahead of time and see what their expectations are for selling books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that it is important to go into selling your books with tempered expectations. Bookstores across the country are feeling the financial strain of a rapidly changing industry, and may not have \u003ca href=\"https://ptreyesbooks.com/used-books\">the ability to buy anything at all\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2235813137-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hanging sign for Dog Eared Books bookstore with black dog graphic and security camera on teal-trimmed facade, in the Mission District, San Francisco, California, Sept. 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For reference, when I brought 11 of my books to Scott Soriano, a bookseller with \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on San Francisco’s Valencia Street, he took three of them. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was offered $11 in cash or $16 in trade. Soriano also went through my books very \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quickly,\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> probably less than five minutes, thanks to instincts he has picked up from working in the industry for decades.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s very rare that we pick up every single book,” he said. “We get offered so many books every day.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a city like San Francisco, where storefronts are relatively small, booksellers need to be “pretty picky about what we pick up,” he said. He also tries to monitor the pulse of the literary scene.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We generally don’t pick up books that we already have copies of,” he said. “There are exceptions like Toni Morrison’s \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beloved\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which we could sell all day long. Or Murakami.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other books that sellers like Soriano may not pick up include books that were recently released as paperbacks, books that “kind of had their day,” like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dummies.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Dummies\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> series\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or authors with recent controversies, like \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-allegations-controversy-amanda-palmer-sandman-madoc.html\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neil Gaiman\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“There’s a little bit of magic, but there’s some art, and there’s some quote-unquote science behind it,” he said. “There’s a lot of trial and error and stuff like that. That’s if you wanna have a good bookstore.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just \u003cem>some \u003c/em>of the stores in the Bay Area that accept books:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/sell-us-your-books\">Green Apple\u003c/a>, specifically the 506 Clement St. location. Green Apple only buys books and does \u003cem>not\u003c/em> accept donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/we-buy-books\">Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/a>. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the bookstore.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/sell-books/\">Borderland Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, and specifically science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror books.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://noevalleybooks.com/annex-bernies-nvb-collab\">Noe Valley Books and Bernie’s Coffee Shop\u003c/a> accept donations for their shared cafe space, The Annex.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fabulosabooks.com/selltrade.html#/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, usually for store credit, but may pay for special books. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the store.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.russianhillbookstore.com/selling-your-books\">Russian Hill Bookstore\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg\" alt=\"Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad Aman Daro look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterwards.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad, Aman Daro, look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year, Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterward. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.waldenpondbooks.com/buying.html\">Walden Pond Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pegasusbookstore.com/we-trade-books\">Pegasus Books\u003c/a> in Berkeley and Oakland, for store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tallyhobookstore.com/sell-your-books\">Tally Ho! Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, usually for store credit, but may buy desirable titles.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksonb.com/tradesell-used-books\">Books on B\u003c/a> in Hayward, for cash or store credit. Be sure to monitor the Instagram page for what type of books they are seeking. For example, earlier this month, the store was \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booksonb/p/DVSQBzDkW9B/\">seeking children’s picture books\u003c/a>, specifically.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.escapistcomics.com/\">The Escapist\u003c/a>, for cash, in Berkeley, specifically for vintage comics and graphic novels.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/stuff-we-buy.html\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Fremont and Dublin.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Peninsula/South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peninsulabooks.org/donate-books/\">Peninsula Books\u003c/a> in Daly City, which only accepts donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bstreetbooks.com/sell-your-books.php\">B Street Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, in Burlingame.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">Bell’s Books\u003c/a> buys specifically \u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">“fine books and collections”\u003c/a> in Palo Alto.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.leighsbooks.com/TradeYourBooks\">Leigh’s Favorite Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sunnyvale.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.recyclebookstore.com/\">Recycle Bookstore\u003c/a>, which buys and trades books, in Campbell.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treehorn.com/\">Treehorn Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paperbacksunlimited.net/policies.html\">Paperbacks Unlimited\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.2ndchancesusedbooks.com/\">Second Chances Used Book\u003c/a>, for cash, in Sebastopol.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://readersbooks.com/used-book-policy\">Readers’ Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sonoma.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 3: Going through online retailers and Buy Nothing channels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the easiest way to sell or donate your used books is by posting them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, selling books online isn’t \u003cem>super \u003c/em>lucrative — you definitely won’t be making your hardcover’s money back — and you will likely have to offer some deals so people will bite. But the more exclusive or special the book, the more likely someone will be willing to pay a bit more for a special cover or a signed copy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are online retailers and websites you can use. But keep in mind, you will likely be responsible for shipping and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHk1M-Y5CM\">packing costs\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Websites (with links to their selling guides) where you can sell your books include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/faq\">BookScouter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.worldofbooks.com/\">World of Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.powells.com/sell-books\">Powell’s Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pangobooks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruM50Lae3EqRqYqcnVnae6rBDgvrLuvsRESWP4CPiyO1RzUW5a\">Pangobooks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/blog/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/\">eBay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sell.amazon.com/learn/how-to-sell-books\">Amazon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This reporter has a lot of experience going through local Facebook groups and marketplaces to list and hand off books. In my experience, it is best to have a \u003cem>lot\u003c/em> of books available to give away, so potential buyers have a wide variety to choose from and bulk-buy. (If you meet in person for any hand-offs, make sure you do it in a public place!)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facebook and other online groups, like Discord channels and \u003ca href=\"https://buynothingproject.org/\">apps\u003c/a>, will also likely have \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/buynothingsanfranciscosf/\">“Buy Nothing” channels,\u003c/a> where you can put your things up for grabs, for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your own circles may also be a great space to reach out and see who is interested. For example, a workspace may have a Buy Nothing channel where you can hand your things off to a coworker.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 4: Donate to libraries\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are comfortable parting with your books strictly as a donation, your local library is a great spot to hand off used books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most libraries will have an associated volunteer-led organization, usually with the name “Friends of,” that handles donations and fundraising for its local branch, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069406\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069406\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hand-painted sign directs visitors to the Friends of the Palo Alto Library book sale on Jan. 11, 2026, in Palo Alto. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, you can donate your books through the \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendssfpl.org/donatebooks.html\">Friends of the San Francisco Public Library System\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fopl.org/donation-guidelines\">Friends of the Oakland Public Library\u003c/a>, or \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinlibraryfriends.org/book-donations\">The Book Place\u003c/a> on behalf of the Friends of Marin County Free Library. But other libraries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.fslonline.org/donate-books\">the Saratoga Library\u003c/a>, may accept them directly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said it is a good idea to reach out to your library to see what they may be able to accept.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many libraries, she explained, see “a lot of genre fiction” donated to their collections. Some may seek cookbooks and textbooks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids browse the books in the Salinas Public Library’s Paletero cart. \u003ccite>(Krista Almanzan for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But “often people make the mistake that a library is an archive — so that we’re interested in old books and bringing them in and adding them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s not really what public libraries do,” she said. “We’re serving the public that wants things for the moment and right now. And so certain older items, there’s no archival space.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 5: Reach out to schools and young readers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are also many Bay Area nonprofits with a mission to provide more books to children, teens and students to close \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/californias-chronic-literacy-crisis-requires-solutions-drawn-from-research/730278\">the literacy gap\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Access Books Bay Area in San Francisco, the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/donate\">“provides no dedicated funding for school libraries,”\u003c/a> which are \u003ca href=\"https://ed100.org/blog/school-libraries\">funded mostly by local governments\u003c/a>, and “out-of-date library materials often do not reflect the cultures of the students attending schools today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The library at Jefferson Elementary School in Berkeley on Feb. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Organizations for young readers include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookwagonsf.org/\">The Book Wagon\u003c/a> for San Francisco elementary schools\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.childrensbookproject.org/give-books/\">Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>, which has a location for drop off at 2166 Palou Avenue in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/events/donate-books\">Access Books Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaychildrensbookproject.org/donate-now/donate-books/\">East Bay Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.projectcicerobayarea.org/\">Project Cicero Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://med.stanford.edu/childhealthequity/engagement/earlyeducation/kinder-ready-clinics.html\">Stanford Medicine’s library\u003c/a>, which provides materials to health centers in the area\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://scvmc.scvh.org/healthcare-services/pediatrics/child-life-inpatient-services/wish-list-donations\">Santa Clara Valley Medical Center\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 6: Find a little library\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You probably have seen these very quaint little pop-ups in Bay Area neighborhoods — often looking like a birdhouse for books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There can be a great opportunity to load off one or two books to your neighborhood, but probably not more than that, considering how compact the libraries are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/\">this map online to find a little library near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 7: Donate to incarcerated people\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">Prisoners Literature Project\u003c/a>, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, also accepts book donations for incarcerated people and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">a short guide\u003c/a> on how people can reach out to the organization with offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that any books you consider giving to prisons would need to be of \u003cem>very \u003c/em>good quality. According to the nonprofit’s website, “prisons are increasingly restrictive about book quality, with many accepting only new books in paperback.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genres requested the most by individuals include cookbooks, fitness, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, spirituality, self-help books, how-to manuals, business and meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other organizations that serve incarcerated individuals in California and across the country include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://freedomreads.org/\">Freedom Reads\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books\">Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://dcbookstoprisoners.org/donate-books/\">DC Books to Prisons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://wpbp.org/donate_books/\">Women’s Prison Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://prisonbookprogram.org/donate-books/\">Prison Book Program\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lgbtbookstoprisoners.org/donate/\">LGBT Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12080674/want-to-spring-clean-your-bookshelf-where-to-sell-or-donate-used-books-in-the-bay-area",
"authors": [
"11867"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18880",
"news_36313",
"news_21777",
"news_35888",
"news_18179",
"news_382"
],
"featImg": "news_12080748",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12080320": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12080320",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080320",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776460965000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "mpox-clade-i-san-francisco-2026-symptoms-rash-where-to-find-monkeypox-vaccine",
"title": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine",
"publishDate": 1776460965,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/healthnews\">Health\u003c/a> officials in San Francisco say the city now has its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">first\u003c/a> case of a newer, potentially more severe mpox strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This variant of mpox — the disease formerly called monkeypox — is known as clade I, and has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">circulating in eastern and central Africa since 2023\u003c/a>, where it’s caused more than 53,000 cases among children and adults and at least 200 deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The disease usually spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that the city’s first clade I mpox case had been confirmed in a resident earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The patient, who had not received the mpox vaccine, was hospitalized and is improving, according to SFPDH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said that this clade I mpox patient had reported close contact with another person who had traveled internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A more potentially severe strain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that until now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">15 cases of clade I mpox \u003c/a>have been detected in the U.S. since late 2024. Over a quarter of these cases were diagnosed in March 2026 alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, all U.S. cases of clade I mpox — which are not linked — were in people who had either recently traveled to areas associated with the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa or parts of Western Europe with more recent outbreaks, or, like the San Francisco case, were linked to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11988132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11988132\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1315\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-800x548.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1020x699.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1536x1052.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pharmacist prepares a dose of the Jynneos mpox vaccine at a pop-up vaccination clinic opened by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at the West Hollywood Library on Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">What are the symptoms of mpox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"#WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In other parts of the world, clade I has proven a more severe strain of mpox compared to the clade II strain that caused an outbreak\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\"> in the Bay Area in 2022\u003c/a>, and that’s still circulating at low levels. But SFDPH said officials are still determining whether clade I mpox causes more severe disease than clade II mpox in the U.S., and stress that the risk of exposure to mpox “is low for individuals who are not in higher‑risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While anyone can get mpox, most reported cases in the United States are among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender persons who have sex with men,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"People lined up to get the monkeypox vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for an mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">A two-dose vaccine\u003c/a>, which offers protection against both clade I and clade II, remains available for eligible people at higher risk of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This development reminds us just how important it is to be fully vaccinated against mpox if you are at risk,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With summer travel and events quickly approaching, now is a great time to seek the mpox vaccine,” Philip said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about this new Bay Area case of clade I mpox, how mpox spreads, what symptoms to be aware of and who should get an mpox vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is clade I mpox, and where has it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close contact with someone who is infected and causes mpox disease. As the name might suggest, the virus is related to the smallpox virus, but it’s generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, according to the California Department of Public Health. In addition to fever, chills, headache and muscle pain, mpox can cause a painful rash — also known as lesions — that appears on many parts of the body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the World Health Organization declared a clade I \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988079/2024-mpox-vaccine-formerly-monkeypox-symptoms-rash\">mpox\u003c/a> outbreak that began in late 2023 in eastern and central Africa \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know\">a global emergency\u003c/a>. Historically, this strain has caused more severe illness and higher fatality rates than the other type of mpox, clade II.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11939831\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11939831\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg\" alt=\"a man in a blue shirt wearing a mask receives a vaccine shot from a nurse with black hair in a dark blue shirt\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresno resident Gonzalo Garcia receives the mpox vaccine on Aug. 24, 2022. \u003ccite>(Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since Jan. 1, 2024, more than 53,000 clade I mpox cases and more than 200 deaths have been confirmed in several countries throughout Central and Eastern Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was originally the epicenter of the outbreak), Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since March 2025, over 30 countries have reported over 37,000 cases of the strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first clade I mpox case outside the African continent \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mpox-sweden-congo-9923d0ee8deb362b2af5416bb273d629\">was detected in Sweden\u003c/a> in August 2024. In November of that year, the first U.S. clade I mpox case was confirmed \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014961/the-first-us-clade-i-mpox-case-has-been-found-in-the-bay-area-heres-what-to-know\">in a Bay Area resident\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is clade I different from the clade II mpox that hit the Bay Area in 2022?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">The 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States \u003c/a>— which particularly affected gay and bisexual men, as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men — was caused by clade II mpox, the less severe strain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know#mpox-wastewater\">Read more about the 2022 outbreak.\u003c/a>[aside postID=news_12074909 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/PandaExpressRestaurantSignGetty.jpg']Wastewater \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjEQASABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgpNUFhWX0cyUl9HeIkBigEGOTY3NzIwwAEB&selectedChartId=967720\">data\u003c/a> shows that four years after the initial 2022 outbreak, clade II of mpox is still occasionally detected in the Bay Area’s wastewater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDPH, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mpox-Data.aspx\">San Francisco\u003c/a> has seen over 1,000 cases of clade II mpox since the 2022 outbreak, but the state’s most recent data shows the average of new cases has dropped to under two people a week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clade I cases in Central and Eastern African countries “at first spread through heterosexual intimate or sexual contact between adults, then spread likely occurred within households, including to children,” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the agency notes that while the first cases outside that continent were primarily linked to travel to Central and Eastern African countries, as of late 2025 central Western European countries began reporting clade I mpox cases “among individuals who had no documented history of international travel” — cases which the CDC concludes were “likely related to intimate or sexual exposure among men who have sex with men.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC now “expect[s] additional cases” of clade I in Europe and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of mpox, and how does it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close — usually skin-to-skin — contact with someone who is infected. This could be direct contact with the infectious rashes or scabs someone with mpox develops, scabs, having intimate physical contact with someone who has mpox, such as kissing, cuddling or sex. Coming into contact with infected bodily fluids or items that have been touched by rashes or fluids from an infected person can also expose you to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of clade I and clade II mpox are similar, SFDPH’s Janssen said, and they can often start as flu-like conditions, which is worth bearing in mind as the Bay Area enters respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus also appears as a rash or sores or spots that can resemble pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, including the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals and anus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12014828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12014828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/AP24321658476826-scaled-e1776375452652.jpg\" alt=\"Blobs of brown with white and greenish smaller dots in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows Mpox virus particles, orange, found within infected cells, green. \u003ccite>(NIAID via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These spots often start as red, flat spots that then become bumps before the bumps become filled with pus and turn into scabs when they break. These symptoms can be extremely painful. If you’re unsure about recognizing an mpox rash, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">the CDC has a photo guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">Mpox can have a long incubation period\u003c/a> — that is, the time between when you’re exposed to mpox and when you start to develop symptoms — that can range from three to 17 days, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you suspect you might have mpox symptoms — even if they’re subtle — see your health care provider right away or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-medicine\">consult one of SFPDH’s clinics for mpox testing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The vaccine currently available in the U.S. (brand name: Jynneos) is a two-dose series, with roughly a month between doses. Maximal immunity will build two weeks after your second dose. If you only got one dose previously, go ahead and seek out your second dose ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vaccine “provides the best protection against the mpox virus and protects against both clade I and clade II,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">a statement \u003c/a>from the SFDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends the two-dose mpox vaccine to gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse people who in the past 6 months have had:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>More than one sexual partner and/or\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s vaccine recommendations also include anyone who has had sex at a commercial sex venue like a sex club or bathhouse. See the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\"> CDC’s full mpox vaccine eligibility recommendations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921194\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921194\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A long line of men wait in line in front of a Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for a the mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">San Francisco additionally recommends vaccination\u003c/a> for anyone living with HIV, anyone taking PrEP or who’s eligible to take it and sex workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the CDC updated its vaccination recommendations to extend to people traveling to countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">with clade I outbreaks\u003c/a>. The agency recommends getting both doses of the vaccine “if you anticipate experiencing any of the following” while traveling to these countries:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sex with a new partner\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex at a commercial sex venue, such as a sex club or bathhouse\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs or other trade\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party or festival.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The mpox vaccine was also originally only available for people aged 18 and older, but in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency-use authorization that allows providers to also give the vaccine to young people aged under 18 who are “determined to be at high risk” of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find an mpox vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have a regular health care provider, SFDPH recommends you ask them first about getting the mpox vaccine. Your vaccine will be free, but you may be charged a regular copay for seeing your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re eligible for the vaccine, your health insurance should cover the costs thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">the CDC’s recommendations\u003c/a>. If you don’t have a regular health care provider or insurance, SFDPH said you can visit one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">these three recommended clinics in the city\u003c/a>. You can opt to schedule an appointment or choose a walk-in clinic, depending on what works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(As with the COVID-19 vaccine, receiving an mpox vaccine won’t make you \u003ca href=\"https://documentedny.com/2021/04/04/public-charge-rule-explained/\">a public charge\u003c/a> or affect any future immigration processes you may enter into, and you won’t be asked about your immigration status to receive the mpox vaccine.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If you live in or near San Francisco:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">a full list of mpox vaccine sites near you in San Francisco\u003c/a>. SFDPH confirms that you don’t have to be a city resident to get vaccinated for mpox in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find an mpox vaccine clinic near you using \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">the state’s myturn.ca.gov site.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Getting an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some pharmacies offer mpox vaccination appointments online, along with other vaccines like COVID-19 and flu. But if you choose this route, you’ll be asked for insurance details — and it’s important to verify with your insurer ahead of time that they’ll cover the cost of an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, as the out-of-pocket costs you’ll be quoted may be steep. If you find your insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">SFDPH said you can seek your vaccine at one of their clinics, while supplies last.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12021632\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12021632\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Department of Public Health on Feb. 6, 2014. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your mpox vaccine covered by insurance at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens — the way you can’t get your COVID-19 or flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either — and may have to seek it directly from a Kaiser provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re able to make an appointment online at a pharmacy for your mpox vaccine, you should consider calling that location ahead of time to verify that they do indeed have supplies in stock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">\u003cem>Nisa Khan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The case, detected in San Francisco, is the 16th in the U.S. so far of the newer, potentially more severe strain. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776460926,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 49,
"wordCount": 2247
},
"headData": {
"title": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine | KQED",
"description": "The case, detected in San Francisco, is the 16th in the U.S. so far of the newer, potentially more severe strain. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine",
"datePublished": "2026-04-17T14:22:45-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-17T14:22:06-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12080320",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12080320/mpox-clade-i-san-francisco-2026-symptoms-rash-where-to-find-monkeypox-vaccine",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/healthnews\">Health\u003c/a> officials in San Francisco say the city now has its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">first\u003c/a> case of a newer, potentially more severe mpox strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This variant of mpox — the disease formerly called monkeypox — is known as clade I, and has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">circulating in eastern and central Africa since 2023\u003c/a>, where it’s caused more than 53,000 cases among children and adults and at least 200 deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The disease usually spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that the city’s first clade I mpox case had been confirmed in a resident earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The patient, who had not received the mpox vaccine, was hospitalized and is improving, according to SFPDH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said that this clade I mpox patient had reported close contact with another person who had traveled internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A more potentially severe strain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that until now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">15 cases of clade I mpox \u003c/a>have been detected in the U.S. since late 2024. Over a quarter of these cases were diagnosed in March 2026 alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, all U.S. cases of clade I mpox — which are not linked — were in people who had either recently traveled to areas associated with the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa or parts of Western Europe with more recent outbreaks, or, like the San Francisco case, were linked to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11988132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11988132\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1315\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-800x548.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1020x699.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1536x1052.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pharmacist prepares a dose of the Jynneos mpox vaccine at a pop-up vaccination clinic opened by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at the West Hollywood Library on Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">What are the symptoms of mpox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"#WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In other parts of the world, clade I has proven a more severe strain of mpox compared to the clade II strain that caused an outbreak\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\"> in the Bay Area in 2022\u003c/a>, and that’s still circulating at low levels. But SFDPH said officials are still determining whether clade I mpox causes more severe disease than clade II mpox in the U.S., and stress that the risk of exposure to mpox “is low for individuals who are not in higher‑risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While anyone can get mpox, most reported cases in the United States are among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender persons who have sex with men,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"People lined up to get the monkeypox vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for an mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">A two-dose vaccine\u003c/a>, which offers protection against both clade I and clade II, remains available for eligible people at higher risk of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This development reminds us just how important it is to be fully vaccinated against mpox if you are at risk,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With summer travel and events quickly approaching, now is a great time to seek the mpox vaccine,” Philip said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about this new Bay Area case of clade I mpox, how mpox spreads, what symptoms to be aware of and who should get an mpox vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is clade I mpox, and where has it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close contact with someone who is infected and causes mpox disease. As the name might suggest, the virus is related to the smallpox virus, but it’s generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, according to the California Department of Public Health. In addition to fever, chills, headache and muscle pain, mpox can cause a painful rash — also known as lesions — that appears on many parts of the body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the World Health Organization declared a clade I \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988079/2024-mpox-vaccine-formerly-monkeypox-symptoms-rash\">mpox\u003c/a> outbreak that began in late 2023 in eastern and central Africa \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know\">a global emergency\u003c/a>. Historically, this strain has caused more severe illness and higher fatality rates than the other type of mpox, clade II.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11939831\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11939831\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg\" alt=\"a man in a blue shirt wearing a mask receives a vaccine shot from a nurse with black hair in a dark blue shirt\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresno resident Gonzalo Garcia receives the mpox vaccine on Aug. 24, 2022. \u003ccite>(Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since Jan. 1, 2024, more than 53,000 clade I mpox cases and more than 200 deaths have been confirmed in several countries throughout Central and Eastern Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was originally the epicenter of the outbreak), Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since March 2025, over 30 countries have reported over 37,000 cases of the strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first clade I mpox case outside the African continent \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mpox-sweden-congo-9923d0ee8deb362b2af5416bb273d629\">was detected in Sweden\u003c/a> in August 2024. In November of that year, the first U.S. clade I mpox case was confirmed \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014961/the-first-us-clade-i-mpox-case-has-been-found-in-the-bay-area-heres-what-to-know\">in a Bay Area resident\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is clade I different from the clade II mpox that hit the Bay Area in 2022?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">The 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States \u003c/a>— which particularly affected gay and bisexual men, as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men — was caused by clade II mpox, the less severe strain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know#mpox-wastewater\">Read more about the 2022 outbreak.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12074909",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/PandaExpressRestaurantSignGetty.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Wastewater \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjEQASABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgpNUFhWX0cyUl9HeIkBigEGOTY3NzIwwAEB&selectedChartId=967720\">data\u003c/a> shows that four years after the initial 2022 outbreak, clade II of mpox is still occasionally detected in the Bay Area’s wastewater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDPH, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mpox-Data.aspx\">San Francisco\u003c/a> has seen over 1,000 cases of clade II mpox since the 2022 outbreak, but the state’s most recent data shows the average of new cases has dropped to under two people a week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clade I cases in Central and Eastern African countries “at first spread through heterosexual intimate or sexual contact between adults, then spread likely occurred within households, including to children,” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the agency notes that while the first cases outside that continent were primarily linked to travel to Central and Eastern African countries, as of late 2025 central Western European countries began reporting clade I mpox cases “among individuals who had no documented history of international travel” — cases which the CDC concludes were “likely related to intimate or sexual exposure among men who have sex with men.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC now “expect[s] additional cases” of clade I in Europe and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of mpox, and how does it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close — usually skin-to-skin — contact with someone who is infected. This could be direct contact with the infectious rashes or scabs someone with mpox develops, scabs, having intimate physical contact with someone who has mpox, such as kissing, cuddling or sex. Coming into contact with infected bodily fluids or items that have been touched by rashes or fluids from an infected person can also expose you to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of clade I and clade II mpox are similar, SFDPH’s Janssen said, and they can often start as flu-like conditions, which is worth bearing in mind as the Bay Area enters respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus also appears as a rash or sores or spots that can resemble pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, including the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals and anus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12014828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12014828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/AP24321658476826-scaled-e1776375452652.jpg\" alt=\"Blobs of brown with white and greenish smaller dots in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows Mpox virus particles, orange, found within infected cells, green. \u003ccite>(NIAID via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These spots often start as red, flat spots that then become bumps before the bumps become filled with pus and turn into scabs when they break. These symptoms can be extremely painful. If you’re unsure about recognizing an mpox rash, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">the CDC has a photo guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">Mpox can have a long incubation period\u003c/a> — that is, the time between when you’re exposed to mpox and when you start to develop symptoms — that can range from three to 17 days, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you suspect you might have mpox symptoms — even if they’re subtle — see your health care provider right away or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-medicine\">consult one of SFPDH’s clinics for mpox testing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The vaccine currently available in the U.S. (brand name: Jynneos) is a two-dose series, with roughly a month between doses. Maximal immunity will build two weeks after your second dose. If you only got one dose previously, go ahead and seek out your second dose ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vaccine “provides the best protection against the mpox virus and protects against both clade I and clade II,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">a statement \u003c/a>from the SFDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends the two-dose mpox vaccine to gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse people who in the past 6 months have had:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>More than one sexual partner and/or\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s vaccine recommendations also include anyone who has had sex at a commercial sex venue like a sex club or bathhouse. See the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\"> CDC’s full mpox vaccine eligibility recommendations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921194\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921194\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A long line of men wait in line in front of a Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for a the mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">San Francisco additionally recommends vaccination\u003c/a> for anyone living with HIV, anyone taking PrEP or who’s eligible to take it and sex workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the CDC updated its vaccination recommendations to extend to people traveling to countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">with clade I outbreaks\u003c/a>. The agency recommends getting both doses of the vaccine “if you anticipate experiencing any of the following” while traveling to these countries:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sex with a new partner\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex at a commercial sex venue, such as a sex club or bathhouse\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs or other trade\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party or festival.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The mpox vaccine was also originally only available for people aged 18 and older, but in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency-use authorization that allows providers to also give the vaccine to young people aged under 18 who are “determined to be at high risk” of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find an mpox vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have a regular health care provider, SFDPH recommends you ask them first about getting the mpox vaccine. Your vaccine will be free, but you may be charged a regular copay for seeing your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re eligible for the vaccine, your health insurance should cover the costs thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">the CDC’s recommendations\u003c/a>. If you don’t have a regular health care provider or insurance, SFDPH said you can visit one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">these three recommended clinics in the city\u003c/a>. You can opt to schedule an appointment or choose a walk-in clinic, depending on what works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(As with the COVID-19 vaccine, receiving an mpox vaccine won’t make you \u003ca href=\"https://documentedny.com/2021/04/04/public-charge-rule-explained/\">a public charge\u003c/a> or affect any future immigration processes you may enter into, and you won’t be asked about your immigration status to receive the mpox vaccine.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If you live in or near San Francisco:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">a full list of mpox vaccine sites near you in San Francisco\u003c/a>. SFDPH confirms that you don’t have to be a city resident to get vaccinated for mpox in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find an mpox vaccine clinic near you using \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">the state’s myturn.ca.gov site.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Getting an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some pharmacies offer mpox vaccination appointments online, along with other vaccines like COVID-19 and flu. But if you choose this route, you’ll be asked for insurance details — and it’s important to verify with your insurer ahead of time that they’ll cover the cost of an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, as the out-of-pocket costs you’ll be quoted may be steep. If you find your insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">SFDPH said you can seek your vaccine at one of their clinics, while supplies last.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12021632\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12021632\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Department of Public Health on Feb. 6, 2014. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your mpox vaccine covered by insurance at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens — the way you can’t get your COVID-19 or flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either — and may have to seek it directly from a Kaiser provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re able to make an appointment online at a pharmacy for your mpox vaccine, you should consider calling that location ahead of time to verify that they do indeed have supplies in stock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">\u003cem>Nisa Khan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12080320/mpox-clade-i-san-francisco-2026-symptoms-rash-where-to-find-monkeypox-vaccine",
"authors": [
"3243"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_457"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_22221",
"news_35888",
"news_18543",
"news_32353",
"news_31325",
"news_38",
"news_26203"
],
"featImg": "news_11949273",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12079852": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12079852",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079852",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776434438000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "want-to-save-on-groceries-you-can-grow-your-own-garden",
"title": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden",
"publishDate": 1776434438,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.[aside postID=news_12040961 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-1312721999-1020x680.jpg']You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.[aside postID=news_12078915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/012426_FREEOAKLANDUP_GH_011-KQED.jpg']The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Starting your own garden doesn’t have to cost much. Find out what you need to grow grocery staples.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776833354,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 79,
"wordCount": 3198
},
"headData": {
"title": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden | KQED",
"description": "Starting your own garden doesn’t have to cost much. Find out what you need to grow grocery staples.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden",
"datePublished": "2026-04-17T07:00:38-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-21T21:49:14-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 457,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/683f56d2-cef2-49c3-bc92-b42f0135e0b0/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12079852",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12079852/want-to-save-on-groceries-you-can-grow-your-own-garden",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12040961",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-1312721999-1020x680.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12078915",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/012426_FREEOAKLANDUP_GH_011-KQED.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12079852/want-to-save-on-groceries-you-can-grow-your-own-garden",
"authors": [
"11956"
],
"categories": [
"news_1758",
"news_24114",
"news_34168",
"news_457",
"news_28250"
],
"tags": [
"news_26598",
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18538",
"news_3651",
"news_18545",
"news_27626",
"news_333",
"news_5620",
"news_34418",
"news_18543"
],
"featImg": "news_12080282",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12079845": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12079845",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079845",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776360324000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "bay-bridge-san-francisco-traffic-what-to-do-if-my-car-breaks-down-on-bridge-caltrans-tow-truck-aaa",
"title": "What Do I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Bay Bridge?",
"publishDate": 1776360324,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "What Do I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Bay Bridge? | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>It’s a driver’s nightmare: You’re driving on the Bay Bridge from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> to Oakland, and your car grinds to a halt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But whether it’s your car’s transmission, tire pressure or you simply ran out of gas, who are you meant to call?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke to Caltrans to learn exactly what you’re meant to do in this situation. Keep reading for what to do if your car breaks down on the Bay Bridge or other bridges around California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re wondering if the Bay Bridge will be closed during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route\">this weekend’s I-80 closure through San Francisco\u003c/a>, the answer is: the bridge won’t be closed, but it \u003cem>will \u003c/em>see traffic impacts Friday-Monday from this 1.6 miles of freeway closure and detours.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Pull over, stay inside the vehicle and call 911\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can, drive to the shoulder and once there, stay in the car. While some drivers’ instincts may be to exit their vehicle and try to see what’s wrong — or say, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/930hj5/reminder_if_you_get_a_flat_on_the_bay_bridge/\">fix a tire themselves\u003c/a> — officials strongly recommend you:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay seated in your car\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Turn on your flashing hazard warning lights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Call 911\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064591\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064591\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two lanes are closed as crews perform routine cable inspection and maintenance on the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge’s western span on Jan. 29, 2025. This work is part of a Caltrans effort to ensure the bridge’s long-term safety and durability, as the steel cables are inspected for corrosion and other potential issues. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If your car didn’t make it all the way to the shoulder and you’re still in a lane (or if there is no shoulder), stick to the same plan and be extra-sure to turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you’re stationary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By calling 911 \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, drivers can “report to the California Highway Patrol what their location is,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhatifIbreakdownontheGoldenGateBridge\">What if I break down on the Golden Gate Bridge?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>CHP will contact the Caltrans Dispatch Communication Center, which then sends out a tow truck. This applies both during the day and night, no matter the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s normal to be stressed when you have car trouble like this, and you might also be panicking about the traffic your stall is already causing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s normal to be stressed when you have car trouble like this, and you might also be panicking about the traffic your stall is already causing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/KCBSAMFMTraffic/status/2011872678718947405\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you don’t know what to say when you call 911, just focus on telling the operator \u003cem>where \u003c/em>you are. “Remember, ‘911, I’m on the Bay Bridge, I need to talk to CHP’ — and that says everything,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You should also mention which span of the Bay Bridge you’re on, and in which direction. The western span is near San Francisco, while the eastern span is the newer portion closer to Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans asks that you do not exit your vehicle unless directed by emergency personnel once they arrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I call my own tow truck?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: You cannot call a private tow company to pick you up from the Bay Bridge — or any other bridge managed by Caltrans — unless cleared by an agency supervisor. “And that would be in an extreme situation,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is because outside tow companies are not allowed within the toll zone of any of these other bridges, unless they receive that Caltrans clearance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may, however, need a tow truck later after you and your car have been removed from the bridge — more on that below.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How long till help arrives?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>CHP considers breakdowns on the Bay Bridge an emergency,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After you call, Caltrans will send a tow truck from one of its dispatch centers located near the toll crossing zones on either side of the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11949500\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11949500 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Men in orange and yellow work clothes and white hardhats clear a homeless encampment using large machinery. A white pickup truck is seen being hoisted into the air and hauled off.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrans workers clear garbage from the Wood Street encampment in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They won’t have to come from very far to get a motorist,” added Shepherd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Caltrans emergency tow service is completely free, but the tow truck will \u003cem>not \u003c/em>take you and your car home. The truck driver’s job is to remove your car from the freeway and move it to a legal parking space, one exit after the toll crossing on whichever side of the bridge works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much will all of this cost me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the Caltrans emergency tow service gets you off the bridge for free, getting back home or to an auto shop is the part where you may have to call a private tow company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And “all services provided by those outside tow companies will come at a cost that is not controlled by Caltrans or the state of California,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I have a AAA membership or another form of roadside assistance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you get roadside assistance through AAA or your auto insurance, call them directly and make sure to tell them \u003cem>when \u003c/em>you need to leave the spot where the Caltrans emergency tow service dropped you off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have AAA membership already, the organization said that drivers can access instant roadside assistance by buying a \u003ca href=\"https://mwg.aaa.com/automotive/roadside\">“Classic Membership” package\u003c/a> along with a $75 fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have AAA, another option is to call 511 and ask for “Freeway Assist” to alert the \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/driving/assist\">Freeway Service Patrol\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12078991 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed.jpg']In some cases, this service will be able to help you for free if you ran out of gas or your battery died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re worried about cost, be warned: The most expensive option in this scenario may be calling a towing company \u003cem>without \u003c/em>having roadside assistance from AAA or your insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans officials confirmed with KQED that drivers should follow the same emergency procedures above if their car breaks down while driving through the six other toll bridges the agency manages in the region:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Antioch Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Benicia-Martinez Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Carquinez Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Richmond-San Rafael Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>San Mateo-Hayward Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Dumbarton Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember: turn on hazard lights, drive to the shoulder, call 911 to contact CHP, and wait for Caltrans’ tow services to arrive while staying in your car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One exception: If your car breaks down while driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, it will be a different agency that will help you out after you call 911.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED reached out to several tow companies in West Oakland, which all noted that the size of your vehicle and how far you need to go will influence how much you could end up paying — with some towing services charging hundreds of dollars per hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "It’s a stressful situation for any driver. But transit officials have a plan to safely get you off the bridge — so here’s who to call.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776454589,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 32,
"wordCount": 1205
},
"headData": {
"title": "What Do I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Bay Bridge? | KQED",
"description": "It’s a stressful situation for any driver. But transit officials have a plan to safely get you off the bridge — so here’s who to call.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "What Do I Do if My Car Breaks Down on the Bay Bridge?",
"datePublished": "2026-04-16T10:25:24-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-17T12:36:29-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12079845",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12079845/bay-bridge-san-francisco-traffic-what-to-do-if-my-car-breaks-down-on-bridge-caltrans-tow-truck-aaa",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s a driver’s nightmare: You’re driving on the Bay Bridge from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> to Oakland, and your car grinds to a halt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But whether it’s your car’s transmission, tire pressure or you simply ran out of gas, who are you meant to call?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED spoke to Caltrans to learn exactly what you’re meant to do in this situation. Keep reading for what to do if your car breaks down on the Bay Bridge or other bridges around California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re wondering if the Bay Bridge will be closed during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route\">this weekend’s I-80 closure through San Francisco\u003c/a>, the answer is: the bridge won’t be closed, but it \u003cem>will \u003c/em>see traffic impacts Friday-Monday from this 1.6 miles of freeway closure and detours.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Pull over, stay inside the vehicle and call 911\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can, drive to the shoulder and once there, stay in the car. While some drivers’ instincts may be to exit their vehicle and try to see what’s wrong — or say, \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/930hj5/reminder_if_you_get_a_flat_on_the_bay_bridge/\">fix a tire themselves\u003c/a> — officials strongly recommend you:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay seated in your car\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Turn on your flashing hazard warning lights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Call 911\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12064591\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12064591\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/250129-BayBridgeCables-16-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two lanes are closed as crews perform routine cable inspection and maintenance on the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge’s western span on Jan. 29, 2025. This work is part of a Caltrans effort to ensure the bridge’s long-term safety and durability, as the steel cables are inspected for corrosion and other potential issues. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If your car didn’t make it all the way to the shoulder and you’re still in a lane (or if there is no shoulder), stick to the same plan and be extra-sure to turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you’re stationary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By calling 911 \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, drivers can “report to the California Highway Patrol what their location is,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#WhatifIbreakdownontheGoldenGateBridge\">What if I break down on the Golden Gate Bridge?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>CHP will contact the Caltrans Dispatch Communication Center, which then sends out a tow truck. This applies both during the day and night, no matter the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s normal to be stressed when you have car trouble like this, and you might also be panicking about the traffic your stall is already causing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s normal to be stressed when you have car trouble like this, and you might also be panicking about the traffic your stall is already causing.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "singleTwitterStatus",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"id": "2011872678718947405"
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>So if you don’t know what to say when you call 911, just focus on telling the operator \u003cem>where \u003c/em>you are. “Remember, ‘911, I’m on the Bay Bridge, I need to talk to CHP’ — and that says everything,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You should also mention which span of the Bay Bridge you’re on, and in which direction. The western span is near San Francisco, while the eastern span is the newer portion closer to Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans asks that you do not exit your vehicle unless directed by emergency personnel once they arrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I call my own tow truck?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: You cannot call a private tow company to pick you up from the Bay Bridge — or any other bridge managed by Caltrans — unless cleared by an agency supervisor. “And that would be in an extreme situation,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is because outside tow companies are not allowed within the toll zone of any of these other bridges, unless they receive that Caltrans clearance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may, however, need a tow truck later after you and your car have been removed from the bridge — more on that below.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How long till help arrives?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>CHP considers breakdowns on the Bay Bridge an emergency,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After you call, Caltrans will send a tow truck from one of its dispatch centers located near the toll crossing zones on either side of the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11949500\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11949500 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Men in orange and yellow work clothes and white hardhats clear a homeless encampment using large machinery. A white pickup truck is seen being hoisted into the air and hauled off.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS58520_063_KQED_WoodStreetOaklandCalTrans_09082022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrans workers clear garbage from the Wood Street encampment in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They won’t have to come from very far to get a motorist,” added Shepherd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Caltrans emergency tow service is completely free, but the tow truck will \u003cem>not \u003c/em>take you and your car home. The truck driver’s job is to remove your car from the freeway and move it to a legal parking space, one exit after the toll crossing on whichever side of the bridge works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How much will all of this cost me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the Caltrans emergency tow service gets you off the bridge for free, getting back home or to an auto shop is the part where you may have to call a private tow company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And “all services provided by those outside tow companies will come at a cost that is not controlled by Caltrans or the state of California,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I have a AAA membership or another form of roadside assistance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you get roadside assistance through AAA or your auto insurance, call them directly and make sure to tell them \u003cem>when \u003c/em>you need to leave the spot where the Caltrans emergency tow service dropped you off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have AAA membership already, the organization said that drivers can access instant roadside assistance by buying a \u003ca href=\"https://mwg.aaa.com/automotive/roadside\">“Classic Membership” package\u003c/a> along with a $75 fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have AAA, another option is to call 511 and ask for “Freeway Assist” to alert the \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/driving/assist\">Freeway Service Patrol\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12078991",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-11-BL_qed.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In some cases, this service will be able to help you for free if you ran out of gas or your battery died.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re worried about cost, be warned: The most expensive option in this scenario may be calling a towing company \u003cem>without \u003c/em>having roadside assistance from AAA or your insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans officials confirmed with KQED that drivers should follow the same emergency procedures above if their car breaks down while driving through the six other toll bridges the agency manages in the region:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Antioch Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Benicia-Martinez Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Carquinez Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Richmond-San Rafael Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>San Mateo-Hayward Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Dumbarton Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember: turn on hazard lights, drive to the shoulder, call 911 to contact CHP, and wait for Caltrans’ tow services to arrive while staying in your car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One exception: If your car breaks down while driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, it will be a different agency that will help you out after you call 911.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED reached out to several tow companies in West Oakland, which all noted that the size of your vehicle and how far you need to go will influence how much you could end up paying — with some towing services charging hundreds of dollars per hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12079845/bay-bridge-san-francisco-traffic-what-to-do-if-my-car-breaks-down-on-bridge-caltrans-tow-truck-aaa",
"authors": [
"11708"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_8",
"news_1397"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_231",
"news_18538",
"news_35355",
"news_35888",
"news_22456",
"news_35836"
],
"featImg": "news_12079174",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12080068": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12080068",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080068",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776337210000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "official-san-francisco-hippie-hill-celebration-canceled-for-third-time-in-a-row-where-to-observe-420-around-the-bay-area",
"title": "Official San Francisco Hippie Hill Celebration Canceled for Third Time in a Row. Where to Observe 420 Around the Bay Area",
"publishDate": 1776337210,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Official San Francisco Hippie Hill Celebration Canceled for Third Time in a Row. Where to Observe 420 Around the Bay Area | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco’s official \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032542/sfs-420-hippie-hill-celebration-is-canceled-so-how-can-people-celebrate-safely\">420 party on Hippie Hill\u003c/a> in Golden Gate Park has been canceled again this year due to a lack of funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For years, this April 20 tradition saw crowds of marijuana enthusiasts gather informally to celebrate cannabis by sparking up at 4:20 p.m. In 2017, after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11159814/recreational-marijuana-heads-for-legalization-in-california\">the statewide legalization of marijuana\u003c/a>, the city began to sponsor the event, providing services like portable restrooms and medical services within a fenced-off security perimeter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there has not been an official 4/20 celebration at Hippie Hill “since 2023 as event organizers weren’t able to secure sponsorships due to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981277/san-franciscos-420-festival-cancellation-reveals-difficulties-in-cannabis-industry\">economic challenges within the cannabis industry\u003c/a>,” said Daniel Montes, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department communications manager, in an email to KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said that “city budget cuts have also impacted Rec and Park’s ability to cover staffing for the event, and it is paused indefinitely.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the Bay Area is still a proud hot spot for pot. And even though the Hippie Hill 420 celebrations remain canceled, there are nonetheless plenty of festivals, parties and pop-ups to celebrate the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11663940\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11663940\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-949250112-e1744312988362.jpg\" alt=\"People wore pot-themed gear, like these marijuana leaf glasses, during a 420 celebration on 'Hippie Hill.'\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attendees of San Francisco’s annual 420 celebration on “Hippie Hill” gather on the lawn wearing sunglasses shaped like cannabis leaves. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading on where key 420 events with music, food and good vibes are happening over the next week in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, and guidance on where you can smoke on public property. (And if you want to brush up on your local weed history, hear from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11663153/420-started-in-the-bay-area-meet-the-guys-who-invented-it\">KQED’s Bay Curious podcast \u003c/a>how five San Rafael high school students apparently coined the very phrase “420” back in the 1970s.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#CanpeoplestillsmokeweedatHippieHillon420\">Can people still smoke weed at Hippie Hill on 420?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are alternative 420 celebrations in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The SF Space Walk\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2024, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/\">SF Space Walk\u003c/a> — formerly known as SF Weed Week — has become known as the \u003cem>other\u003c/em> organized 420 celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Space Walk is hosting several parties in San Francisco and around the Bay Area in the week leading up to April 20, which this year falls on a Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Space Walk events, some requiring a ticket or RSVP, include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Tuesday, April 14 to Monday, April 27: A \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/get-to-the-bag-2026/\">cannabis art show\u003c/a> at Mirus Gallery\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wednesday, April 15: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-2/\">‘415 Day’ with Sunset Connect and Sense\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://missioncannabisclub.com/\">Mission Cannabis Club \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Thursday, April 16: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-3/\">Solful Hand-Picked Sungrown Drop Party\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://solful.com/\">Solful\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-4/\">Umma, Bosky\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://moegreens.com/\">Moe Greens Dispensary & Lounge\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-5/\">Sonoma Hill Farms\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://figandthistle.com/\">Fig and Thistle\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-club-party/\">Club Party\u003c/a> in a private SoMA venue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-6/\">Huckleberry Hill Farms and Snowtill\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/7starshhc_/?hl=en\">7 Stars, Exit Now\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: A \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/documentary-film-screening-join-the-club-the-life-of-dennis-peron/\">documentary screening of \u003cem>Join the Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a> about cannabis activist Dennis Peron at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/meadow.sf/\">Meadow HQ\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-7/\">Wood Wide 4X4Z\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://basasf.com/\">BASA \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/product/pizza-street-fighter-party-ticket-emporium-sf-april-20/\">Pizza & Street Fighter Party\u003c/a> at Emporium Arcade Bar\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/mab/events/mabuhaygardens-space-walk-sf-420-taurus-bash-185586\">420 Taurus Bash\u003c/a> at Mabuhay Gardens\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other weed-themed and 420-adjacent events around the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17: \u003ca href=\"https://crybaby.live/tm-event/kabaka-pyramid-live-in-oakland-2nd-annual-4-20-reggae-fest/\">Kabaka Pyramid and the Bebble Rockers\u003c/a>, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://chacruna.net/psychedelic-culture-2026/\">Psychedelic Culture Conference\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/elriosf2/detail/4165/1776659400000\">Psychedelic Culture 2026 afterparty at El Rio\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonomacounty.com/events/the-roaring-420s-great-gatsby-party/\">The Roaring 420’s: Great Gatsby Party\u003c/a>, Cotati\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://caltix.com/e/420-in-the-park/tickets\">420 in the Park\u003c/a>, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://www.cutie-pipes.com/shop/p/clay-by-the-bay-handbuilding-workshop\">Hand-Build Your Own Cutie Pipe Workshop\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://hyrba.com/\">Clonefest\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVwY1gHErmh/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pretty Lit\u003c/a>, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/puff-and-paint-a-420-experience-tickets-1986493085293?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Puff and Paint: A 420 Experience\u003c/a>, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bay-blaze-fest-tickets-1985600356116\">Bay Blaze Fest\u003c/a>, Rodeo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/berner-smokers-dream-420-festival-sf-180057\">Smokers Dream 420 Festival SF\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonomacounty.com/events/420-reggae-party/\">420 Reggae Party\u003c/a>, Cotati\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://drafthouse.com/sf/event/movie-party-the-big-lebowski\">The Big Lebowski Movie Party\u003c/a> at the Alamo Drafthouse, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanpeoplestillsmokeweedatHippieHillon420\">\u003c/a>Can people still smoke weed at Hippie Hill on 420?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to SF Parks and Rec’s Montes, for the third year, the meadow at Hippie Hill “will be \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sfrecpark/posts/join-volo-sports-for-its-annual-peace-love-and-volo-field-day-in-golden-gate-par/1400154775489645/\">reserved for Peace, Love, and Volo\u003c/a> — a permitted event featuring volleyball and kickball tournaments.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Peace, Love and Volo Field Day, which is free but \u003ca href=\"https://www.volosports.com/d/22062193-bece-4e37-a6a6-588a147a436c\">requires sign-ups\u003c/a>, is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 4/20 itself: Monday, April 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12032255\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12032255\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A cloud of smoke rests over the heads of a group of people during a 420 Day celebration on “Hippie Hill” in Golden Gate Park on April 20, 2010, in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our parks are open to all,” Montes said. “However, anyone coming to Hippie Hill in search of a big 4/20 party will be disappointed, and much of the physical space will be taken up by the permitted event.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nevertheless, there’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/festivals/article/420-sf-cannabis-hippie-hill-22191946.php%E2%80%9D\">a good chance\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032542/sfs-420-hippie-hill-celebration-is-canceled-so-how-can-people-celebrate-safely\">people will still roll up\u003c/a> to smoke with others anyway, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/103141/how-did-420-become-a-phenomenon-we-tracked-down-the-guys-who-invented-it\">participants did for years\u003c/a> before the city started facilitating the event and before cannabis was even legal. Other popular spots for 420 in years past have included \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/C6AZL01RsRt/\">Dolores Park in the Mission District\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dailycal.org/archives/large-4-20-gathering-on-memorial-glade-sparks-controversy/article_fd8c21ea-d205-5613-8e39-20136217eac0.html\">UC Berkeley’s Memorial Glade\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000619/storms-sweeping-bay-area-this-week-to-bring-rain-and-thunderstorms\">a particularly rainy past few days\u003c/a> in the Bay, so be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.7529881&lon=-122.4174306\">an eye on the weather\u003c/a> if you are hoping to enjoy the outdoors over the coming week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Remind me: When is consuming or possessing cannabis in San Francisco legal?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It is legal for anyone age 21 and older to buy and use cannabis in California. “But, like tobacco and alcohol, there are laws that you need to follow,” the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--know-your-rights-cannabis-consumer\">city of San Francisco’s know-your-rights page said on consuming cannabis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No matter your age, it is illegal to consume cannabis in public in California — including places like parks, sidewalks and beaches. The only place that legal cannabis consumption is permitted is in a private residence, like your home or someone else’s — or another place that has applied for the appropriate permits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11728828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11728828 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/02/GettyImages-1174640-e1551131132984.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1243\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">No matter your age, it is illegal to consume cannabis in public in California — including places like parks, sidewalks and beaches. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Official events, like the ones previously hosted by San Francisco for 420 on Hippie Hill, apply for such permits to allow the legalized consumption of cannabis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s similar to how an event like Oktoberfest might apply for a permit to operate a beer garden, said Ken Seligson, the principal attorney at Seligson Law, a cannabis law firm, in a 2025 interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These designated events are given that leeway because there are security and safety protocols that are required to have an event like that,” Seligson said.[aside postID=pop_103141 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2018/04/420-weed-1180x664.jpg']With no official 420 celebration happening on Hippie Hill this year, it will be technically illegal to consume cannabis in public in Golden Gate Park this year. However, as many San Franciscans know, the day-to-day realities in San Francisco can be quite different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I think the risk would be low — but not zero — to show up on 420 and consume cannabis in Golden Gate Park,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seligson said that generally, people are less likely to get busted for consuming cannabis in public in San Francisco because “ police have discretion in enforcing these rules, and they have priorities. Cannabis is one of the lowest priorities for enforcement in San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/DO/letstalkcannabis/CDPH%20Document%20Library/October%202017%20Update/CDPH-Adult_Use_Cannabis_Penalties.pdf\">penalty for consuming cannabis\u003c/a> in a public place is an infraction of up to $100 for adults. But that penalty goes up if you’re caught smoking cannabis in a place where tobacco is prohibited — or within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center or youth center while children are present.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ That’s where you might see the discretion of a police officer,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about smoking or carrying cannabis on federal land like the Presidio?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is blessed with a multitude of scenic properties that are owned by the federal government, which could strike someone as the perfect place to \u003cem>(ahem)\u003c/em> take a walk with some friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Seligson said cannabis consumers should be aware that the chances of police enforcing cannabis law are much higher on federal property — and the penalty is much harsher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Possession of any amount of cannabis on federal land is a misdemeanor offense and can carry a maximum sentence of 1 year in prison or a maximum fine of $1,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12057664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12057664\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A person walks dogs through Crissy Field in the Presidio, a park and former military outpost, in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Do not bring your cannabis, and do not smoke your cannabis in the Presidio,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other notable federally owned properties in the San Francisco area include Alcatraz Island, the Marin Headlands and Ocean Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cannabis remains federally classified as a schedule one controlled substance, meaning any cannabis use, possession or distribution on federal property is illegal,” Seligson said. “There is no leeway there, and there is enforcement as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "San Francisco’s official 420 event is canceled for the third year in a row. Here are the alternative events planned in the run-up to the special day dedicated to weed.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776358734,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 33,
"wordCount": 1573
},
"headData": {
"title": "Official San Francisco Hippie Hill Celebration Canceled for Third Time in a Row. Where to Observe 420 Around the Bay Area | KQED",
"description": "San Francisco’s official 420 event is canceled for the third year in a row. Here are the alternative events planned in the run-up to the special day dedicated to weed.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Official San Francisco Hippie Hill Celebration Canceled for Third Time in a Row. Where to Observe 420 Around the Bay Area",
"datePublished": "2026-04-16T04:00:10-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-16T09:58:54-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12080068",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12080068/official-san-francisco-hippie-hill-celebration-canceled-for-third-time-in-a-row-where-to-observe-420-around-the-bay-area",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco’s official \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032542/sfs-420-hippie-hill-celebration-is-canceled-so-how-can-people-celebrate-safely\">420 party on Hippie Hill\u003c/a> in Golden Gate Park has been canceled again this year due to a lack of funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For years, this April 20 tradition saw crowds of marijuana enthusiasts gather informally to celebrate cannabis by sparking up at 4:20 p.m. In 2017, after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11159814/recreational-marijuana-heads-for-legalization-in-california\">the statewide legalization of marijuana\u003c/a>, the city began to sponsor the event, providing services like portable restrooms and medical services within a fenced-off security perimeter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there has not been an official 4/20 celebration at Hippie Hill “since 2023 as event organizers weren’t able to secure sponsorships due to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981277/san-franciscos-420-festival-cancellation-reveals-difficulties-in-cannabis-industry\">economic challenges within the cannabis industry\u003c/a>,” said Daniel Montes, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department communications manager, in an email to KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said that “city budget cuts have also impacted Rec and Park’s ability to cover staffing for the event, and it is paused indefinitely.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the Bay Area is still a proud hot spot for pot. And even though the Hippie Hill 420 celebrations remain canceled, there are nonetheless plenty of festivals, parties and pop-ups to celebrate the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11663940\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11663940\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/GettyImages-949250112-e1744312988362.jpg\" alt=\"People wore pot-themed gear, like these marijuana leaf glasses, during a 420 celebration on 'Hippie Hill.'\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attendees of San Francisco’s annual 420 celebration on “Hippie Hill” gather on the lawn wearing sunglasses shaped like cannabis leaves. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading on where key 420 events with music, food and good vibes are happening over the next week in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, and guidance on where you can smoke on public property. (And if you want to brush up on your local weed history, hear from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11663153/420-started-in-the-bay-area-meet-the-guys-who-invented-it\">KQED’s Bay Curious podcast \u003c/a>how five San Rafael high school students apparently coined the very phrase “420” back in the 1970s.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#CanpeoplestillsmokeweedatHippieHillon420\">Can people still smoke weed at Hippie Hill on 420?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are alternative 420 celebrations in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The SF Space Walk\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2024, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/\">SF Space Walk\u003c/a> — formerly known as SF Weed Week — has become known as the \u003cem>other\u003c/em> organized 420 celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Space Walk is hosting several parties in San Francisco and around the Bay Area in the week leading up to April 20, which this year falls on a Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Space Walk events, some requiring a ticket or RSVP, include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Tuesday, April 14 to Monday, April 27: A \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/get-to-the-bag-2026/\">cannabis art show\u003c/a> at Mirus Gallery\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wednesday, April 15: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-2/\">‘415 Day’ with Sunset Connect and Sense\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://missioncannabisclub.com/\">Mission Cannabis Club \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Thursday, April 16: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-3/\">Solful Hand-Picked Sungrown Drop Party\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://solful.com/\">Solful\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-4/\">Umma, Bosky\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://moegreens.com/\">Moe Greens Dispensary & Lounge\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-5/\">Sonoma Hill Farms\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://figandthistle.com/\">Fig and Thistle\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-club-party/\">Club Party\u003c/a> in a private SoMA venue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-6/\">Huckleberry Hill Farms and Snowtill\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/7starshhc_/?hl=en\">7 Stars, Exit Now\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: A \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/documentary-film-screening-join-the-club-the-life-of-dennis-peron/\">documentary screening of \u003cem>Join the Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a> about cannabis activist Dennis Peron at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/meadow.sf/\">Meadow HQ\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/event/sf-space-walk-2026-day-7/\">Wood Wide 4X4Z\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://basasf.com/\">BASA \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/product/pizza-street-fighter-party-ticket-emporium-sf-april-20/\">Pizza & Street Fighter Party\u003c/a> at Emporium Arcade Bar\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/mab/events/mabuhaygardens-space-walk-sf-420-taurus-bash-185586\">420 Taurus Bash\u003c/a> at Mabuhay Gardens\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other weed-themed and 420-adjacent events around the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17: \u003ca href=\"https://crybaby.live/tm-event/kabaka-pyramid-live-in-oakland-2nd-annual-4-20-reggae-fest/\">Kabaka Pyramid and the Bebble Rockers\u003c/a>, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://chacruna.net/psychedelic-culture-2026/\">Psychedelic Culture Conference\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/elriosf2/detail/4165/1776659400000\">Psychedelic Culture 2026 afterparty at El Rio\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonomacounty.com/events/the-roaring-420s-great-gatsby-party/\">The Roaring 420’s: Great Gatsby Party\u003c/a>, Cotati\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://caltix.com/e/420-in-the-park/tickets\">420 in the Park\u003c/a>, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://www.cutie-pipes.com/shop/p/clay-by-the-bay-handbuilding-workshop\">Hand-Build Your Own Cutie Pipe Workshop\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Saturday, April 18: \u003ca href=\"https://hyrba.com/\">Clonefest\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVwY1gHErmh/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pretty Lit\u003c/a>, San José\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/puff-and-paint-a-420-experience-tickets-1986493085293?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">Puff and Paint: A 420 Experience\u003c/a>, Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday, April 19: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bay-blaze-fest-tickets-1985600356116\">Bay Blaze Fest\u003c/a>, Rodeo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/midwaysf/events/berner-smokers-dream-420-festival-sf-180057\">Smokers Dream 420 Festival SF\u003c/a>, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://www.sonomacounty.com/events/420-reggae-party/\">420 Reggae Party\u003c/a>, Cotati\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Monday, April 20: \u003ca href=\"https://drafthouse.com/sf/event/movie-party-the-big-lebowski\">The Big Lebowski Movie Party\u003c/a> at the Alamo Drafthouse, San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanpeoplestillsmokeweedatHippieHillon420\">\u003c/a>Can people still smoke weed at Hippie Hill on 420?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to SF Parks and Rec’s Montes, for the third year, the meadow at Hippie Hill “will be \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sfrecpark/posts/join-volo-sports-for-its-annual-peace-love-and-volo-field-day-in-golden-gate-par/1400154775489645/\">reserved for Peace, Love, and Volo\u003c/a> — a permitted event featuring volleyball and kickball tournaments.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Peace, Love and Volo Field Day, which is free but \u003ca href=\"https://www.volosports.com/d/22062193-bece-4e37-a6a6-588a147a436c\">requires sign-ups\u003c/a>, is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 4/20 itself: Monday, April 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12032255\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12032255\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/98579521_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A cloud of smoke rests over the heads of a group of people during a 420 Day celebration on “Hippie Hill” in Golden Gate Park on April 20, 2010, in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our parks are open to all,” Montes said. “However, anyone coming to Hippie Hill in search of a big 4/20 party will be disappointed, and much of the physical space will be taken up by the permitted event.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nevertheless, there’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/festivals/article/420-sf-cannabis-hippie-hill-22191946.php%E2%80%9D\">a good chance\u003c/a> that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032542/sfs-420-hippie-hill-celebration-is-canceled-so-how-can-people-celebrate-safely\">people will still roll up\u003c/a> to smoke with others anyway, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pop/103141/how-did-420-become-a-phenomenon-we-tracked-down-the-guys-who-invented-it\">participants did for years\u003c/a> before the city started facilitating the event and before cannabis was even legal. Other popular spots for 420 in years past have included \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/C6AZL01RsRt/\">Dolores Park in the Mission District\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dailycal.org/archives/large-4-20-gathering-on-memorial-glade-sparks-controversy/article_fd8c21ea-d205-5613-8e39-20136217eac0.html\">UC Berkeley’s Memorial Glade\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000619/storms-sweeping-bay-area-this-week-to-bring-rain-and-thunderstorms\">a particularly rainy past few days\u003c/a> in the Bay, so be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.7529881&lon=-122.4174306\">an eye on the weather\u003c/a> if you are hoping to enjoy the outdoors over the coming week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Remind me: When is consuming or possessing cannabis in San Francisco legal?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It is legal for anyone age 21 and older to buy and use cannabis in California. “But, like tobacco and alcohol, there are laws that you need to follow,” the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/information--know-your-rights-cannabis-consumer\">city of San Francisco’s know-your-rights page said on consuming cannabis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No matter your age, it is illegal to consume cannabis in public in California — including places like parks, sidewalks and beaches. The only place that legal cannabis consumption is permitted is in a private residence, like your home or someone else’s — or another place that has applied for the appropriate permits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11728828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11728828 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/02/GettyImages-1174640-e1551131132984.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1243\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">No matter your age, it is illegal to consume cannabis in public in California — including places like parks, sidewalks and beaches. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Official events, like the ones previously hosted by San Francisco for 420 on Hippie Hill, apply for such permits to allow the legalized consumption of cannabis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s similar to how an event like Oktoberfest might apply for a permit to operate a beer garden, said Ken Seligson, the principal attorney at Seligson Law, a cannabis law firm, in a 2025 interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These designated events are given that leeway because there are security and safety protocols that are required to have an event like that,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "pop_103141",
"hero": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2018/04/420-weed-1180x664.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>With no official 420 celebration happening on Hippie Hill this year, it will be technically illegal to consume cannabis in public in Golden Gate Park this year. However, as many San Franciscans know, the day-to-day realities in San Francisco can be quite different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I think the risk would be low — but not zero — to show up on 420 and consume cannabis in Golden Gate Park,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seligson said that generally, people are less likely to get busted for consuming cannabis in public in San Francisco because “ police have discretion in enforcing these rules, and they have priorities. Cannabis is one of the lowest priorities for enforcement in San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/DO/letstalkcannabis/CDPH%20Document%20Library/October%202017%20Update/CDPH-Adult_Use_Cannabis_Penalties.pdf\">penalty for consuming cannabis\u003c/a> in a public place is an infraction of up to $100 for adults. But that penalty goes up if you’re caught smoking cannabis in a place where tobacco is prohibited — or within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center or youth center while children are present.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ That’s where you might see the discretion of a police officer,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about smoking or carrying cannabis on federal land like the Presidio?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is blessed with a multitude of scenic properties that are owned by the federal government, which could strike someone as the perfect place to \u003cem>(ahem)\u003c/em> take a walk with some friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Seligson said cannabis consumers should be aware that the chances of police enforcing cannabis law are much higher on federal property — and the penalty is much harsher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Possession of any amount of cannabis on federal land is a misdemeanor offense and can carry a maximum sentence of 1 year in prison or a maximum fine of $1,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12057664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12057664\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250224-Presidio-09-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A person walks dogs through Crissy Field in the Presidio, a park and former military outpost, in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Do not bring your cannabis, and do not smoke your cannabis in the Presidio,” Seligson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other notable federally owned properties in the San Francisco area include Alcatraz Island, the Marin Headlands and Ocean Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cannabis remains federally classified as a schedule one controlled substance, meaning any cannabis use, possession or distribution on federal property is illegal,” Seligson said. “There is no leeway there, and there is enforcement as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12080068/official-san-francisco-hippie-hill-celebration-canceled-for-third-time-in-a-row-where-to-observe-420-around-the-bay-area",
"authors": [
"11867",
"11785"
],
"categories": [
"news_223",
"news_34168",
"news_28250"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_19963",
"news_1620",
"news_34081",
"news_35888",
"news_27626",
"news_102",
"news_431",
"news_20089",
"news_38"
],
"featImg": "news_11663202",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12080063": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12080063",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12080063",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776288057000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "measles-san-francisco-baby-mmr-vaccines-international-travel-children-outbreak",
"title": "San Francisco Confirms First Measles Case Since 2019, in an Unvaccinated Infant",
"publishDate": 1776288057,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San Francisco Confirms First Measles Case Since 2019, in an Unvaccinated Infant | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco public health officials on Wednesday announced the city’s first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/measles\">measles case\u003c/a> since 2019, saying that an unvaccinated infant was exposed to the virus while traveling internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The infant, who is younger than 12 months old, became infectious after returning to San Francisco and is currently recovering at home, the city’s Department of Public Health said in a statement. The case was confirmed on Monday evening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All members of the infant’s household are reportedly vaccinated, the release said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is battling one of its worst measles outbreaks since 2019, with 39 confirmed cases this year as of noon Monday, before the San Francisco case was confirmed, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">latest data \u003c/a>available from the state’s Department of Public Health. No deaths have been reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month alone, nine related cases were reported in Placer and Sacramento counties, where officials said Wednesday that at least 19 cases have been confirmed amid an ongoing outbreak, including an exposure at a pediatric care setting. An outbreak is three or more related cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rise in measles in the Golden State overlaps with a national resurgence of the preventable disease. In 2025, the U.S. reported its highest number of measles cases in 30 years, driven mostly by large outbreaks in Texas and South Carolina. The country declared measles eliminated in 2000, but that status is now at risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhencanbabiesgetanearlydoseoftheMMRvaccine\">When can babies get an early dose of the MMR vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ImplanningtotravelsoonHowworriedshouldIbeaboutmeasles\">I’m planning to travel soon. How worried should I be about measles?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The virus, which is highly contagious, can cause serious illness and death. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, talks or coughs, and it can linger in the air for up to an hour. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye, followed 2-4 days later by a rash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97% effective at stopping illness, officials said. The standard MMR vaccine schedule involves two doses: the first at 12-15 months old and the second at 4-6 years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069165\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069165\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Andrews County Health Department on April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. \u003ccite>(Annie Rice/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco’s health officer, highlighted the risk as a reason to get vaccinated at any age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is incredibly important to get the MMR vaccine, as measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world,” Philip said. “If you and your family are traveling internationally, make sure everyone is up to date with the MMR vaccine and is aware of the symptoms of measles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhencanbabiesgetanearlydoseoftheMMRvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why is measles so dangerous for babies and children?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Measles is preventable with the combined MMR vaccine, and vaccination against the disease has been part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html\">routine childhood immunization\u003c/a> for decades. (There’s also a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, or MMRV, vaccine, but it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">only licensed\u003c/a> for use in children 1-12 years old.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/complications.html\">Babies and young children are especially at risk from measles\u003c/a>, but because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months and older, infants younger than 12 months of age — like the San Francisco child currently infected with measles — are especially vulnerable to infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10813255\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10813255 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-960x640.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months of age and older, babies are especially vulnerable to infection. \u003ccite>(Jeremy Raff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For this reason, health officials usually \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981370/why-are-bay-area-health-officials-warning-about-measles\">advise parents\u003c/a> of infants to reach out to their child’s health care provider before any international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parents intending to travel internationally with an infant \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/plan-for-travel.html\">may be able to secure an early MMR vaccination for children as young as 6 months old\u003c/a> due to the measles risk they may face abroad if unvaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImplanningtotravelsoonHowworriedshouldIbeaboutmeasles\">\u003c/a>I’m traveling internationally soon. How aware should I be of measles?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Travelers are advised to stay up-to-date on the global locations where measles outbreaks are currently taking place. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/global-measles-vaccination/data-research/global-measles-outbreaks/index.html\">The CDC has a dashboard of these countries\u003c/a>, which include India, Angola, Indonesia and Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone who is unvaccinated (or just doesn’t have “adequate evidence of immunity”) and planning to travel internationally in the coming weeks and months — even if not to a country with a current measles outbreak — can get \u003ca href=\"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe\">an emergency two-dose course of the vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Domestic travelers should also know that there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">measles outbreaks taking place in other U.S. states\u003c/a>, including South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Florida.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Returning travelers should watch for any \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html#:~:text=Signs%20and%20symptoms,-Seek%20care%20immediately%21\">symptoms of measles \u003c/a>for a total of three weeks after arriving back home.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I’m vaccinated, could I still get measles?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Six years of living with COVID-19 have taught us that being vaccinated against a virus doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get infected with that virus.[aside postID=news_12073722 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1718981175_qut-1020x681.jpg']The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, does somewhat reduce your chances of being infected — although the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/5-things-you-should-know.html\"> CDC said \u003c/a>that “protection against infection tends to be modest and sometimes short-lived” — but it also means you’re much less likely to get severely ill if you do get infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the measles vaccine \u003cem>is \u003c/em>incredibly effective at protecting against infections, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\"> CDC said\u003c/a>, and two doses of the measles vaccine are “about 97% effective” at preventing measles if you’re exposed. (One dose is “about 93% effective.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for why “about three out of 100” people vaccinated against measles will still get measles after exposure — also known as breakthrough cases — \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">the CDC said \u003c/a>that experts “aren’t sure why” and that this could be due to the responsiveness of an individual’s immune system to the vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the good news is, fully vaccinated people who get measles seem more likely to have a milder illness,” the CDC said — and fully vaccinated people “seem also less likely to spread the disease to other people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I’m up-to-date on my measles vaccines, do I need a measles booster?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. The CDC’s longtime advice says: If you had two doses of measles vaccine as a child according to the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">vaccination schedule\u003c/a>, the CDC considers you “protected for life” and you “do not ever need a booster dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But given that measles can be fatal to some people — and serious impacts from an infection can appear\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5328765/measles-outbreak-health-risk\"> years later \u003c/a>— even those who’ve had their MMR vaccine may be concerned about how protected they still are against the disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A simple blood test known as a “titer test” is a way medical professionals can see how much immunity a person still has against a disease like measles.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073722/2026-measles-cases-mmr-vaccine-how-to-get-titer-test-immunity-antibodies-extra-dose\"> Read more about how to check your measles immunity and who might need an extra MMR vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months of age and older, babies are especially vulnerable to infection. Here’s what to know.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776975202,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 28,
"wordCount": 1214
},
"headData": {
"title": "San Francisco Confirms First Measles Case Since 2019, in an Unvaccinated Infant | KQED",
"description": "Because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months of age and older, babies are especially vulnerable to infection. Here’s what to know.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San Francisco Confirms First Measles Case Since 2019, in an Unvaccinated Infant",
"datePublished": "2026-04-15T14:20:57-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-23T13:13:22-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 457,
"slug": "health",
"name": "Health"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12080063",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12080063/measles-san-francisco-baby-mmr-vaccines-international-travel-children-outbreak",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco public health officials on Wednesday announced the city’s first \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/measles\">measles case\u003c/a> since 2019, saying that an unvaccinated infant was exposed to the virus while traveling internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The infant, who is younger than 12 months old, became infectious after returning to San Francisco and is currently recovering at home, the city’s Department of Public Health said in a statement. The case was confirmed on Monday evening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All members of the infant’s household are reportedly vaccinated, the release said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is battling one of its worst measles outbreaks since 2019, with 39 confirmed cases this year as of noon Monday, before the San Francisco case was confirmed, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/measles.aspx\">latest data \u003c/a>available from the state’s Department of Public Health. No deaths have been reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month alone, nine related cases were reported in Placer and Sacramento counties, where officials said Wednesday that at least 19 cases have been confirmed amid an ongoing outbreak, including an exposure at a pediatric care setting. An outbreak is three or more related cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rise in measles in the Golden State overlaps with a national resurgence of the preventable disease. In 2025, the U.S. reported its highest number of measles cases in 30 years, driven mostly by large outbreaks in Texas and South Carolina. The country declared measles eliminated in 2000, but that status is now at risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhencanbabiesgetanearlydoseoftheMMRvaccine\">When can babies get an early dose of the MMR vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ImplanningtotravelsoonHowworriedshouldIbeaboutmeasles\">I’m planning to travel soon. How worried should I be about measles?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The virus, which is highly contagious, can cause serious illness and death. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, talks or coughs, and it can linger in the air for up to an hour. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and pink eye, followed 2-4 days later by a rash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97% effective at stopping illness, officials said. The standard MMR vaccine schedule involves two doses: the first at 12-15 months old and the second at 4-6 years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069165\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069165\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/MeaslesAP-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Andrews County Health Department on April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. \u003ccite>(Annie Rice/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco’s health officer, highlighted the risk as a reason to get vaccinated at any age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is incredibly important to get the MMR vaccine, as measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world,” Philip said. “If you and your family are traveling internationally, make sure everyone is up to date with the MMR vaccine and is aware of the symptoms of measles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhencanbabiesgetanearlydoseoftheMMRvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why is measles so dangerous for babies and children?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Measles is preventable with the combined MMR vaccine, and vaccination against the disease has been part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html\">routine childhood immunization\u003c/a> for decades. (There’s also a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, or MMRV, vaccine, but it’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\">only licensed\u003c/a> for use in children 1-12 years old.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/symptoms/complications.html\">Babies and young children are especially at risk from measles\u003c/a>, but because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months and older, infants younger than 12 months of age — like the San Francisco child currently infected with measles — are especially vulnerable to infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10813255\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10813255 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-400x267.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/12/measles-960x640.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Because the measles vaccine is routinely recommended only for children 12 months of age and older, babies are especially vulnerable to infection. \u003ccite>(Jeremy Raff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For this reason, health officials usually \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11981370/why-are-bay-area-health-officials-warning-about-measles\">advise parents\u003c/a> of infants to reach out to their child’s health care provider before any international travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parents intending to travel internationally with an infant \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/plan-for-travel.html\">may be able to secure an early MMR vaccination for children as young as 6 months old\u003c/a> due to the measles risk they may face abroad if unvaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImplanningtotravelsoonHowworriedshouldIbeaboutmeasles\">\u003c/a>I’m traveling internationally soon. How aware should I be of measles?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Travelers are advised to stay up-to-date on the global locations where measles outbreaks are currently taking place. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/global-measles-vaccination/data-research/global-measles-outbreaks/index.html\">The CDC has a dashboard of these countries\u003c/a>, which include India, Angola, Indonesia and Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone who is unvaccinated (or just doesn’t have “adequate evidence of immunity”) and planning to travel internationally in the coming weeks and months — even if not to a country with a current measles outbreak — can get \u003ca href=\"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe\">an emergency two-dose course of the vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Domestic travelers should also know that there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html\">measles outbreaks taking place in other U.S. states\u003c/a>, including South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Florida.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Returning travelers should watch for any \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html#:~:text=Signs%20and%20symptoms,-Seek%20care%20immediately%21\">symptoms of measles \u003c/a>for a total of three weeks after arriving back home.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I’m vaccinated, could I still get measles?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Six years of living with COVID-19 have taught us that being vaccinated against a virus doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get infected with that virus.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12073722",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1718981175_qut-1020x681.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, does somewhat reduce your chances of being infected — although the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/5-things-you-should-know.html\"> CDC said \u003c/a>that “protection against infection tends to be modest and sometimes short-lived” — but it also means you’re much less likely to get severely ill if you do get infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the measles vaccine \u003cem>is \u003c/em>incredibly effective at protecting against infections, the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\"> CDC said\u003c/a>, and two doses of the measles vaccine are “about 97% effective” at preventing measles if you’re exposed. (One dose is “about 93% effective.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for why “about three out of 100” people vaccinated against measles will still get measles after exposure — also known as breakthrough cases — \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">the CDC said \u003c/a>that experts “aren’t sure why” and that this could be due to the responsiveness of an individual’s immune system to the vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But the good news is, fully vaccinated people who get measles seem more likely to have a milder illness,” the CDC said — and fully vaccinated people “seem also less likely to spread the disease to other people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I’m up-to-date on my measles vaccines, do I need a measles booster?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. The CDC’s longtime advice says: If you had two doses of measles vaccine as a child according to the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/questions.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html\">vaccination schedule\u003c/a>, the CDC considers you “protected for life” and you “do not ever need a booster dose.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But given that measles can be fatal to some people — and serious impacts from an infection can appear\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5328765/measles-outbreak-health-risk\"> years later \u003c/a>— even those who’ve had their MMR vaccine may be concerned about how protected they still are against the disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A simple blood test known as a “titer test” is a way medical professionals can see how much immunity a person still has against a disease like measles.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073722/2026-measles-cases-mmr-vaccine-how-to-get-titer-test-immunity-antibodies-extra-dose\"> Read more about how to check your measles immunity and who might need an extra MMR vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12080063/measles-san-francisco-baby-mmr-vaccines-international-travel-children-outbreak",
"authors": [
"11925",
"3243"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_457",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18538",
"news_2043",
"news_29886",
"news_35888",
"news_17604",
"news_19960",
"news_38",
"news_17615"
],
"featImg": "news_12070909",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12079800": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12079800",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12079800",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776277014000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "eric-swalwell-allegations-resign-congress-california-governor-race-who-is-running-primary",
"title": "Eric Swalwell Resigns: What to Know About the Special Election and the Governor’s Race",
"publishDate": 1776277014,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Eric Swalwell Resigns: What to Know About the Special Election and the Governor’s Race | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress on Tuesday, days after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">sexual assault and misconduct allegations\u003c/a> against the Democratic front-runner upended California’s wide-open governor’s race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079583\">dropped out of the race\u003c/a> on Sunday and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">resigned\u003c/a> from Congress on Tuesday. His exit comes as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079856/woman-alleges-violent-sexual-assault-by-eric-swalwell-he-raped-me\">a new accuser\u003c/a> came forward Tuesday, alleging that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018. Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly set Aug. 18 as the date for a special election to fill Swalwell’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what happened and what it means for the June 2 statewide primary and the future of Swalwell’s congressional seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowdoesSwalwelldroppingoutimpacttheCaliforniagovernorsrace\">How does Swalwell dropping out impact the California governor’s race?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why did Eric Swalwell resign from Congress and drop out of the governor’s race?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell, 45, is accused of sexually assaulting two women and harassing others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, he was accused of raping a former staff member twice, when she was too intoxicated to consent, and of harassing three other women, including by sending nude photos and making unwanted physical advances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those allegations were detailed in a \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/eric-swalwell-allegations-22198271.php\">investigation\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs\">a subsequent report by CNN.\u003c/a> The latest allegation was made by another woman, Lonna Drewes, who told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that Swalwell drugged and raped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079856/woman-alleges-violent-sexual-assault-by-eric-swalwell-he-raped-me\">her in 2018 in a West Hollywood hotel.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2271341028-scaled-e1776276443587.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attorney Lisa Bloom (R) comforts Lonna Drewes during a press conference in which Drewes accused U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault, on April 14, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Swalwell has denied the allegations since they broke on April 10, and his lawyers sent the women accusing him cease-and-desist letters demanding they retract their claims. In a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW-a13lkjXx/?hl=en\">video message\u003c/a> Swalwell posted late Friday, he seemed to acknowledge he’d been unfaithful to his wife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, after the second allegation of rape, Swalwell issued a \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/azarilaw/status/2044144837113344170\">statement\u003c/a> through an attorney, which the lawyer posted on social media. It said that Swalwell “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault” and calls them a “calculated and transparent political hit job. His lawyer, Sara Azari, also went on \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/NewsNationNow/videos/eric-swalwells-attorney-speaks-out-after-sexual-assault-allegations-cuomo/1435286471144143/\">News Nation on Tuesday night\u003c/a> and said that “regret is not rape.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most serious allegations involve a woman who worked for Swalwell’s presidential campaign and in his congressional office, a job she began at age 21. She told the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>that Swalwell, who is 17 years older than her, began pursuing her within weeks of joining his office in 2019, sending her explicit pictures on Snapchat and asking for nude photos in return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079927\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079927\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. Eric Swalwell in Hayward on March 9, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She alleged that in September 2019, she went out drinking with a group, including Swalwell, in Pleasanton and woke up the next day naked in his hotel room, feeling the effects of vaginal intercourse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman also described a similar alleged assault in 2024 in New York City after a night of drinking, recalling portions of the night, including being in Swalwell’s hotel room, pushing him off of her and telling him no. She said she woke up alone in his hotel room with vaginal bleeding and bruising.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell is also facing possible criminal investigations in both New York and California. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said Saturday that it is looking into the alleged 2024 assault, and the Alameda County district attorney’s office said over the weekend that prosecutors there are \u003cem>“\u003c/em>evaluating whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred within Alameda County.” And on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-14/eric-swalwell-rape-drugged-drink-beverly-hills-allegations\">said it is investigating Drewe’s allegations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What happens to Eric Swalwell’s seat now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell represented \u003ca href=\"https://swalwell.house.gov/14th-district/about-district\">California’s 14th Congressional District,\u003c/a> which includes the East Bay cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore and Hayward. He submitted his resignation on Tuesday. The seat is now vacant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly called \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/14/governor-newsom-issues-proclamation-setting-special-election-for-california-congressional-district-14/\">a special election\u003c/a> this summer to replace him. Whoever wins will fill the seat for the remaining months of Swalwell’s term, which ends in January. In the meantime, the district has no voting representation in Congress, only the staff who have remained to assist constituents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the election cycle for the next term, beginning in January, continues on its regular schedule, with the June 2 primary and a potential runoff in the November general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell is not on the ballot for his congressional seat because he was running for governor. However, his name will still appear on the June ballot for governor, since it’s too late to legally remove it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is the special election for Swalwell’s seat and who might run?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Newsom has scheduled a special election to fill the remainder of Swalwell’s term. First, a special primary election will be held June 16. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they would win outright and immediately take his seat in Congress.[aside postID=news_12079911 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/EricSwalwellGetty1-1020x680.jpg']If no candidate clears that threshold, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election on Aug. 18. Whoever wins will serve only the remainder of Swalwell’s term, until January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in both the statewide primary and the special primary, voters in Swalwell’s East Bay district could potentially cast four separate ballots for their congressional representative this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nine candidates were already running to succeed Swalwell in the 14th District in the June 2 primary for the full term set to begin in January. State Sen. Aisha Wahab is the only one with statewide elected experience. Former Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez, who serves as president of the BART Board of Directors, is also running.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those candidates may also run in the special primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who is running for governor of California now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2h95684f\">top-polling candidates\u003c/a> in the crowded field include two Republicans: businessman \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdP6OxD9flY&t=804s\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a> and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Two Democrats other than Swalwell have also been enjoying double-digit support in most polls: \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJyo64Jv6qM&t=1s\">former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjXvKfldFlI&t=5s\">billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other Democratic candidates include \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-bhl_OtmWY&list=PLCxtKFQXBuRhEPWmS6AkZdGzEvN1qdcB7&index=6&t=2s\">Xavier Becerra,\u003c/a> who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general; San José Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0fvZsBWqxM\">Matt Mahan\u003c/a>; former Los Angeles Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2g8T2bT8ec\">Antonio Villaraigosa\u003c/a>; California Superintendent for Public Instruction \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os2IfgCqMEI\">Tony Thurmond\u003c/a>; and former state Controller \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYq2riTwYk&t=37s\">Betty Yee\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowdoesSwalwelldroppingoutimpacttheCaliforniagovernorsrace\">\u003c/a>How does Swalwell dropping out affect the California governor’s race?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s departure stands to further \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079505/sexual-assault-allegations-against-rep-eric-swalwell-could-upend-california-governors-race\">shake up\u003c/a> what has long been an unsettled race — and California’s first wide-open campaign for governor in two decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prior to Swalwell dropping out, he, Porter and Steyer were the top-polling Democrats. It seems likely that Porter and Steyer could now attract some of his supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12013319\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12013319\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Zach Gibson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California has a “top-two” primary system, meaning the two candidates who receive the most votes in June, regardless of party, will move on to a November runoff. That means two Republicans or two Democrats could face each other in a runoff election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s been concern among Democrats that because no Democratic candidate has consolidated support, Hilton and Bianco could make it into the runoff, shutting out Democrats and resulting in a Republican governor. That seems less likely now, especially since Hilton recently received \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">President Donald Trump’s endorsement,\u003c/a> which is likely to play well among Republican voters. The state GOP failed to endorse either candidate at their convention this weekend, though Bianco did get more votes than Hilton from party insiders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Hilton surges ahead of Bianco, the race could come down to a contest between Porter and Steyer for a second spot in the runoff.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is the primary for California governor, and who will I be able to vote for?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">Election Day is June 2\u003c/a>. The last day to register to vote is May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties will begin sending out mail-in ballots on May 4, and in-person early voting starts May 23.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To register to vote, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">contact your county elections office\u003c/a>. The official state information guide is available \u003ca href=\"https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/\">here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "With a special election set for Aug. 18 and new allegations surfacing, here’s a breakdown of what happens to Swalwell’s seat and the race for California governor.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776288287,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 32,
"wordCount": 1427
},
"headData": {
"title": "Eric Swalwell Resigns: What to Know About the Special Election and the Governor’s Race | KQED",
"description": "With a special election set for Aug. 18 and new allegations surfacing, here’s a breakdown of what happens to Swalwell’s seat and the race for California governor.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Eric Swalwell Resigns: What to Know About the Special Election and the Governor’s Race",
"datePublished": "2026-04-15T11:16:54-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-15T14:24:47-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12079800",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12079800/eric-swalwell-allegations-resign-congress-california-governor-race-who-is-running-primary",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress on Tuesday, days after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079502/rep-eric-swalwell-candidate-for-california-governor-is-accused-of-sexual-assault\">sexual assault and misconduct allegations\u003c/a> against the Democratic front-runner upended California’s wide-open governor’s race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079583\">dropped out of the race\u003c/a> on Sunday and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079746/rep-eric-swalwell-says-he-is-resigning-from-congress-amid-sexual-assault-allegations\">resigned\u003c/a> from Congress on Tuesday. His exit comes as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079856/woman-alleges-violent-sexual-assault-by-eric-swalwell-he-raped-me\">a new accuser\u003c/a> came forward Tuesday, alleging that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018. Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly set Aug. 18 as the date for a special election to fill Swalwell’s seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what happened and what it means for the June 2 statewide primary and the future of Swalwell’s congressional seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowdoesSwalwelldroppingoutimpacttheCaliforniagovernorsrace\">How does Swalwell dropping out impact the California governor’s race?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why did Eric Swalwell resign from Congress and drop out of the governor’s race?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell, 45, is accused of sexually assaulting two women and harassing others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, he was accused of raping a former staff member twice, when she was too intoxicated to consent, and of harassing three other women, including by sending nude photos and making unwanted physical advances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those allegations were detailed in a \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/eric-swalwell-allegations-22198271.php\">investigation\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs\">a subsequent report by CNN.\u003c/a> The latest allegation was made by another woman, Lonna Drewes, who told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that Swalwell drugged and raped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079856/woman-alleges-violent-sexual-assault-by-eric-swalwell-he-raped-me\">her in 2018 in a West Hollywood hotel.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2271341028-scaled-e1776276443587.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1327\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attorney Lisa Bloom (R) comforts Lonna Drewes during a press conference in which Drewes accused U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault, on April 14, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Swalwell has denied the allegations since they broke on April 10, and his lawyers sent the women accusing him cease-and-desist letters demanding they retract their claims. In a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW-a13lkjXx/?hl=en\">video message\u003c/a> Swalwell posted late Friday, he seemed to acknowledge he’d been unfaithful to his wife.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, after the second allegation of rape, Swalwell issued a \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/azarilaw/status/2044144837113344170\">statement\u003c/a> through an attorney, which the lawyer posted on social media. It said that Swalwell “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault” and calls them a “calculated and transparent political hit job. His lawyer, Sara Azari, also went on \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/NewsNationNow/videos/eric-swalwells-attorney-speaks-out-after-sexual-assault-allegations-cuomo/1435286471144143/\">News Nation on Tuesday night\u003c/a> and said that “regret is not rape.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most serious allegations involve a woman who worked for Swalwell’s presidential campaign and in his congressional office, a job she began at age 21. She told the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>that Swalwell, who is 17 years older than her, began pursuing her within weeks of joining his office in 2019, sending her explicit pictures on Snapchat and asking for nude photos in return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079927\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079927\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260309-DEAF-DEPORTEE-MD-01_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rep. Eric Swalwell in Hayward on March 9, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She alleged that in September 2019, she went out drinking with a group, including Swalwell, in Pleasanton and woke up the next day naked in his hotel room, feeling the effects of vaginal intercourse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman also described a similar alleged assault in 2024 in New York City after a night of drinking, recalling portions of the night, including being in Swalwell’s hotel room, pushing him off of her and telling him no. She said she woke up alone in his hotel room with vaginal bleeding and bruising.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell is also facing possible criminal investigations in both New York and California. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said Saturday that it is looking into the alleged 2024 assault, and the Alameda County district attorney’s office said over the weekend that prosecutors there are \u003cem>“\u003c/em>evaluating whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred within Alameda County.” And on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-14/eric-swalwell-rape-drugged-drink-beverly-hills-allegations\">said it is investigating Drewe’s allegations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What happens to Eric Swalwell’s seat now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell represented \u003ca href=\"https://swalwell.house.gov/14th-district/about-district\">California’s 14th Congressional District,\u003c/a> which includes the East Bay cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore and Hayward. He submitted his resignation on Tuesday. The seat is now vacant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly called \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/14/governor-newsom-issues-proclamation-setting-special-election-for-california-congressional-district-14/\">a special election\u003c/a> this summer to replace him. Whoever wins will fill the seat for the remaining months of Swalwell’s term, which ends in January. In the meantime, the district has no voting representation in Congress, only the staff who have remained to assist constituents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the election cycle for the next term, beginning in January, continues on its regular schedule, with the June 2 primary and a potential runoff in the November general election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Swalwell is not on the ballot for his congressional seat because he was running for governor. However, his name will still appear on the June ballot for governor, since it’s too late to legally remove it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is the special election for Swalwell’s seat and who might run?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Newsom has scheduled a special election to fill the remainder of Swalwell’s term. First, a special primary election will be held June 16. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, they would win outright and immediately take his seat in Congress.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12079911",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/EricSwalwellGetty1-1020x680.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If no candidate clears that threshold, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election on Aug. 18. Whoever wins will serve only the remainder of Swalwell’s term, until January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in both the statewide primary and the special primary, voters in Swalwell’s East Bay district could potentially cast four separate ballots for their congressional representative this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nine candidates were already running to succeed Swalwell in the 14th District in the June 2 primary for the full term set to begin in January. State Sen. Aisha Wahab is the only one with statewide elected experience. Former Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez, who serves as president of the BART Board of Directors, is also running.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those candidates may also run in the special primary election.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who is running for governor of California now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2h95684f\">top-polling candidates\u003c/a> in the crowded field include two Republicans: businessman \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdP6OxD9flY&t=804s\">Steve Hilton\u003c/a> and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Two Democrats other than Swalwell have also been enjoying double-digit support in most polls: \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJyo64Jv6qM&t=1s\">former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjXvKfldFlI&t=5s\">billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other Democratic candidates include \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-bhl_OtmWY&list=PLCxtKFQXBuRhEPWmS6AkZdGzEvN1qdcB7&index=6&t=2s\">Xavier Becerra,\u003c/a> who previously served as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general; San José Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0fvZsBWqxM\">Matt Mahan\u003c/a>; former Los Angeles Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2g8T2bT8ec\">Antonio Villaraigosa\u003c/a>; California Superintendent for Public Instruction \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os2IfgCqMEI\">Tony Thurmond\u003c/a>; and former state Controller \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYq2riTwYk&t=37s\">Betty Yee\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowdoesSwalwelldroppingoutimpacttheCaliforniagovernorsrace\">\u003c/a>How does Swalwell dropping out affect the California governor’s race?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Swalwell’s departure stands to further \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12079505/sexual-assault-allegations-against-rep-eric-swalwell-could-upend-california-governors-race\">shake up\u003c/a> what has long been an unsettled race — and California’s first wide-open campaign for governor in two decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prior to Swalwell dropping out, he, Porter and Steyer were the top-polling Democrats. It seems likely that Porter and Steyer could now attract some of his supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12013319\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12013319\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/02052019_capitol_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite>(Zach Gibson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California has a “top-two” primary system, meaning the two candidates who receive the most votes in June, regardless of party, will move on to a November runoff. That means two Republicans or two Democrats could face each other in a runoff election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s been concern among Democrats that because no Democratic candidate has consolidated support, Hilton and Bianco could make it into the runoff, shutting out Democrats and resulting in a Republican governor. That seems less likely now, especially since Hilton recently received \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078793/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-giving-gop-a-front-runner\">President Donald Trump’s endorsement,\u003c/a> which is likely to play well among Republican voters. The state GOP failed to endorse either candidate at their convention this weekend, though Bianco did get more votes than Hilton from party insiders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Hilton surges ahead of Bianco, the race could come down to a contest between Porter and Steyer for a second spot in the runoff.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When is the primary for California governor, and who will I be able to vote for?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">Election Day is June 2\u003c/a>. The last day to register to vote is May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties will begin sending out mail-in ballots on May 4, and in-person early voting starts May 23.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To register to vote, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">contact your county elections office\u003c/a>. The official state information guide is available \u003ca href=\"https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/\">here.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12079800/eric-swalwell-allegations-resign-congress-california-governor-race-who-is-running-primary",
"authors": [
"3239"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_35700",
"news_32707",
"news_18538",
"news_29125",
"news_35699",
"news_20149",
"news_20910",
"news_35888",
"news_36335",
"news_17968"
],
"featImg": "news_12079812",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12078991": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12078991",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12078991",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1776268811000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route",
"title": "I-80 Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend",
"publishDate": 1776268811,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "I-80 Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> residents hoping to cruise through the city to Oakland this weekend may want to ditch their cars and hop on public transit, as a key stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 through San Francisco will be closed to traffic from Friday night through early Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area around I-80 in San Francisco and the interchange with U.S. Highway 101 for the entire weekend of April 17–19. For those committed to driving, expect heavy delays and budget extra travel time, \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-03-19-i80-eb-bayshore-weekend-closure\">Caltrans \u003c/a>said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are trying to get the motorists to just avoid that area and choose not to drive. And if they do drive, to use one of the detours,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County. “That would be really a great way to save themselves a lot of headaches.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closures are part of what Caltrans calls “The Fab Rehab,” the agency’s ongoing \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-francisco-freeway-and-road-rehabilitation/d4-central-freeway-viaduct-rehab\">repair \u003c/a>of crucial viaducts near downtown, where I-80 intersects with U.S. 101 near the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the I-80 closure and how it could affect your weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowmuchcouldtheBayBridgebeaffectedbytheI80closure\"> How could the Bay Bridge be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What part of I-80 will be closed this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans has planned a full weekend closure of about 1.6 miles of eastbound I-80, from 17th Street to 4th Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The connector ramps from northbound U.S. 101 at 17th Street and southbound U.S. 101 near Bryant Street will also be closed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080104\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080104\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The stretch of I-80 through San Francisco which will be closed this weekend. \u003ccite>(Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For motorists traveling north on U.S. 101 through San Francisco, approaching the I-80 connector, Vermont Street will be the final exit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who miss Vermont will be directed to take the 9th Street off-ramp and redirected through Bryant Street to reenter eastbound I-80 at the 5th Street on-ramp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Drivers should only take the 5th Street on-ramp if they wish to get onto the Bay Bridge, as there are no more exits to San Francisco on this part of eastbound I-80.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When exactly will the I-80 closure start and end?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The 55-hour closure will start at 11:00 p.m. Friday, April 17, and end at 6:00 a.m. Monday, April 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you may see trucks and maintenance crews entering the site beforehand, work doesn’t begin until the posted time, Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews/video/7629799718335417631\" data-video-id=\"7629799718335417631\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqednews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqednews\u003c/a>Bay Area residents hoping to cruise through the city to Oakland this weekend may want to ditch their cars and hop on public transit, as a key stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 through San Francisco will be closed to traffic from Friday night through early Monday. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area around I-80 in San Francisco and the interchange with U.S. Highway 101 for the entire weekend of April 17–19. For those committed to driving, expect heavy delays and budget extra travel time, Caltrans said. “We are trying to get the motorists to just avoid that area and choose not to drive. And if they do drive, to use one of the detours,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County. “That would be really a great way to save themselves a lot of headaches.” The closures are part of what Caltrans calls “The Fab Rehab,” the agency’s ongoing repair of crucial viaducts near downtown, where I-80 intersects with U.S. 101 near the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. For the full guide on the closure, visit kqed.org.\u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - KQED News\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7629799749847206687?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – KQED News\u003c/a>\n\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowmuchcouldtheBayBridgebeaffectedbytheI80closure\">\u003c/a>How much could the Bay Bridge be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To be clear, the Bay Bridge will be open — but getting \u003cem>to \u003c/em>it through San Francisco will be a traffic nightmare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Westbound I-80 will not be closed, so although people exiting the Bay Bridge into San Francisco will not have their routes affected by the closure, they’re still likely to face increased traffic in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What detours and alternative routes are recommended during the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkDZn-lpB0E\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a detour from southbound U.S. 101 to eastbound I-80, people can take Folsom Street through SoMa to the Essex Street eastbound I-80 on-ramp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From northbound U.S. 101, take the 9th Street-Civic Center exit. Continue straight onto Bryant Street, then take the 5th Street eastbound I-80 on-ramp onto the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who will be most affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans said roughly 55,000 cars typically use that stretch of freeway during peak weekend hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079179\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079179\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sign announces a closure on I-80 on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Shepherd emphasized that everyone driving into San Francisco and using its high-traffic arteries south of Market Street that weekend will run into detours and heavy traffic, he said the following travelers will likely be most affected:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People coming up from the Peninsula and the South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Those heading across the Bay Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Travelers heading north from San Francisco International Airport\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Since the eastbound I-80 closure will last until 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, the earliest commuters traveling on the Bay Bridge and through the city that morning could find themselves affected by the final hours of the closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will public transit be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No, public transit will not be affected, although BART, Caltrain, Muni and SamTrans could see higher-than-usual ridership with drivers avoiding the roads that weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Roccaforte, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, emphasized that Muni Metro will be travelers’ best option for a “fast and easy trip” through SoMa, using the T Third/Central Subway or N Judah lines between the Caltrain depot at 4th and King streets, and the Market Street Subway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A passenger walks through the fare gate at Montgomery BART Station in San Francisco, on Dec. 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The SFMTA will be ready to support people traveling in the city during the Caltrans closures,” Roccaforte said. “SFMTA parking control officers will be out directing traffic to keep pedestrians and traffic moving safely.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART also canceled planned single-tracking scheduled to replace lighting in order to open up trains for travelers who decide to commute in and out of the city that weekend, spokesperson Anna Duckworth said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Randol White, a SamTrans spokesperson, said the closures are not expected to affect any weekend routes. However, “diversions from the closures could cause heavy traffic for our Route 292, which follows Mission Street through the affected area. Folsom Street is the suggested detour for drivers, but some of that extra surface street traffic could spill over to Mission.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What parts of San Francisco will be most affected by traffic from the I-80 closure detours? How bad could traffic get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Significant congestion and heavy travel delays are expected across SoMa, Mission Bay and surrounding corridors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The severity of those delays, Shepherd warned, will depend on how many people choose to drive and use the detours — “which is why we’re really, really urging motorists that weekend not to be in that area and to use public transportation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve got a wonderful public transportation system, with BART and Bay ferries and Muni,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What public events are happening in the Bay Area that weekend that could be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While there are no home games for the Giants, Warriors or Valkyries that weekend, there are a host of other events that could draw major crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the last weekend of the beloved\u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/\"> Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival\u003c/a> in Japantown, including the Sunday grand parade. At the same time, San Francisco will host the \u003ca href=\"https://sanfranciscoartfair.com/\">annual Art Fair\u003c/a> at Fort Mason.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12036759\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12036759\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Art Fair at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. \u003ccite>(Photography by Drew Bird, Courtesy of Art Market Productions.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And while San Francisco’s official 4/20 celebration on Hippie Hill has been canceled for the third year in a row, the party is far from over — the city has reintroduced the festivities as\u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/\"> SF Space Walk\u003c/a>, a week of events culminating with a celebration at Divisadero Street dispensary Basa SF and an afterparty at barcade Emporium on Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the reason for the closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Maintenance crews will place polyester overlays and a new bridge joint onto the viaducts, which were originally built 71 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The project is part of a larger series of renovations Caltrans is spearheading throughout San Francisco, which began in October 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These include four major corridors:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>19th Avenue Repave: Rehabilitation of the entire length of pavement along 19th Avenue from Golden Gate Park to San Francisco State University, and upgrading facilities to ADA standards.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>U.S. 101 Bayshore Rehabilitation Project: Improvements to the drainage systems; lane replacement with reinforced concrete paving and paving of freeway shoulder, ramps and mainline; and addition of new signage/striping/safety devices.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>I-80 Central Freeway/U.S. 101 Viaduct Project: An overhaul of freeway decks and bridge rails, reconstruction of joints and addition of polyester overlay.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>I-280 at Farallones Street Pedestrian Overcrossing Rehabilitation: Construction of a new pedestrian overcrossing at Interstate 280 near Cayuga Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079175\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079175\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 9th Street onramp for eastbound I-80 in San Francisco on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Shepherd said the projects are necessary to make the structures usable for the next half-century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are all … desperately needed to bring these structures up to code,” Shepherd said. “They’ve been strong and reliable for many, many years, but it’s time now to go and make sure that they’re rehabilitated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first two projects are already underway, and the closures next weekend kick off the reconstruction of the viaduct project. The pedestrian overpass reconstruction is expected to start later this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As part of these improvements, overnight lane closures will continue through October 2026 on U.S. 101 and I-80.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Work is scheduled nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6 a.m. During those hours, lanes 1 and 2 between U.S. 101 and the 4th Street/Bryant off-ramp will be closed, leaving one lane open for traffic. Drivers should expect reduced speeds, possible delays and shifting traffic patterns through the work zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why is this closure taking place over this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Shepherd said Caltrans considered high-traffic events, school holidays and weather forecasts to determine a time when travelers would be least affected by the closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everyone loves San Francisco, so people are coming here all the time,” Shepherd said. “We just want them to be aware for this particular weekend to consider public transportation and consider another way to get in and get around.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/tgoldberg\">\u003cem>Ted Goldberg\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">\u003cem>Carly Severn\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aaliahmad\">\u003cem>Ayah Ali-Ahmad\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/adahlstromeckman\">\u003cem>Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Almost 2 miles of Interstate 80 will be closed on the weekend of April 17-19. Here’s what to know about the closure, traffic and detours.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1776626355,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": true,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 44,
"wordCount": 1965
},
"headData": {
"title": "I-80 Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend | KQED",
"description": "Almost 2 miles of Interstate 80 will be closed on the weekend of April 17-19. Here’s what to know about the closure, traffic and detours.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "I-80 Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend",
"datePublished": "2026-04-15T09:00:11-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-19T12:19:15-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 1397,
"slug": "transportation",
"name": "Transportation"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12078991",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> residents hoping to cruise through the city to Oakland this weekend may want to ditch their cars and hop on public transit, as a key stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 through San Francisco will be closed to traffic from Friday night through early Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area around I-80 in San Francisco and the interchange with U.S. Highway 101 for the entire weekend of April 17–19. For those committed to driving, expect heavy delays and budget extra travel time, \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-news/2026-03-19-i80-eb-bayshore-weekend-closure\">Caltrans \u003c/a>said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are trying to get the motorists to just avoid that area and choose not to drive. And if they do drive, to use one of the detours,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County. “That would be really a great way to save themselves a lot of headaches.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closures are part of what Caltrans calls “The Fab Rehab,” the agency’s ongoing \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-francisco-freeway-and-road-rehabilitation/d4-central-freeway-viaduct-rehab\">repair \u003c/a>of crucial viaducts near downtown, where I-80 intersects with U.S. 101 near the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the I-80 closure and how it could affect your weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowmuchcouldtheBayBridgebeaffectedbytheI80closure\"> How could the Bay Bridge be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What part of I-80 will be closed this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans has planned a full weekend closure of about 1.6 miles of eastbound I-80, from 17th Street to 4th Street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The connector ramps from northbound U.S. 101 at 17th Street and southbound U.S. 101 near Bryant Street will also be closed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080104\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080104\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/I-80-Closure_3-1-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The stretch of I-80 through San Francisco which will be closed this weekend. \u003ccite>(Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For motorists traveling north on U.S. 101 through San Francisco, approaching the I-80 connector, Vermont Street will be the final exit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who miss Vermont will be directed to take the 9th Street off-ramp and redirected through Bryant Street to reenter eastbound I-80 at the 5th Street on-ramp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Drivers should only take the 5th Street on-ramp if they wish to get onto the Bay Bridge, as there are no more exits to San Francisco on this part of eastbound I-80.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When exactly will the I-80 closure start and end?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The 55-hour closure will start at 11:00 p.m. Friday, April 17, and end at 6:00 a.m. Monday, April 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you may see trucks and maintenance crews entering the site beforehand, work doesn’t begin until the posted time, Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews/video/7629799718335417631\" data-video-id=\"7629799718335417631\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqednews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqednews\u003c/a>Bay Area residents hoping to cruise through the city to Oakland this weekend may want to ditch their cars and hop on public transit, as a key stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 through San Francisco will be closed to traffic from Friday night through early Monday. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area around I-80 in San Francisco and the interchange with U.S. Highway 101 for the entire weekend of April 17–19. For those committed to driving, expect heavy delays and budget extra travel time, Caltrans said. “We are trying to get the motorists to just avoid that area and choose not to drive. And if they do drive, to use one of the detours,” said Lori Shepherd, Caltrans’ public information officer for San Francisco County. “That would be really a great way to save themselves a lot of headaches.” The closures are part of what Caltrans calls “The Fab Rehab,” the agency’s ongoing repair of crucial viaducts near downtown, where I-80 intersects with U.S. 101 near the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. For the full guide on the closure, visit kqed.org.\u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - KQED News\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7629799749847206687?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – KQED News\u003c/a>\n\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "tiktok",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowmuchcouldtheBayBridgebeaffectedbytheI80closure\">\u003c/a>How much could the Bay Bridge be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To be clear, the Bay Bridge will be open — but getting \u003cem>to \u003c/em>it through San Francisco will be a traffic nightmare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Westbound I-80 will not be closed, so although people exiting the Bay Bridge into San Francisco will not have their routes affected by the closure, they’re still likely to face increased traffic in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What detours and alternative routes are recommended during the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\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/FkDZn-lpB0E'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/FkDZn-lpB0E'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>For a detour from southbound U.S. 101 to eastbound I-80, people can take Folsom Street through SoMa to the Essex Street eastbound I-80 on-ramp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From northbound U.S. 101, take the 9th Street-Civic Center exit. Continue straight onto Bryant Street, then take the 5th Street eastbound I-80 on-ramp onto the Bay Bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who will be most affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans said roughly 55,000 cars typically use that stretch of freeway during peak weekend hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079179\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079179\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-14-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sign announces a closure on I-80 on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Shepherd emphasized that everyone driving into San Francisco and using its high-traffic arteries south of Market Street that weekend will run into detours and heavy traffic, he said the following travelers will likely be most affected:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People coming up from the Peninsula and the South Bay\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Those heading across the Bay Bridge\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Travelers heading north from San Francisco International Airport\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Since the eastbound I-80 closure will last until 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, the earliest commuters traveling on the Bay Bridge and through the city that morning could find themselves affected by the final hours of the closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will public transit be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No, public transit will not be affected, although BART, Caltrain, Muni and SamTrans could see higher-than-usual ridership with drivers avoiding the roads that weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Roccaforte, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, emphasized that Muni Metro will be travelers’ best option for a “fast and easy trip” through SoMa, using the T Third/Central Subway or N Judah lines between the Caltrain depot at 4th and King streets, and the Market Street Subway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/20241204-BART-JY-032_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A passenger walks through the fare gate at Montgomery BART Station in San Francisco, on Dec. 4, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The SFMTA will be ready to support people traveling in the city during the Caltrans closures,” Roccaforte said. “SFMTA parking control officers will be out directing traffic to keep pedestrians and traffic moving safely.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART also canceled planned single-tracking scheduled to replace lighting in order to open up trains for travelers who decide to commute in and out of the city that weekend, spokesperson Anna Duckworth said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Randol White, a SamTrans spokesperson, said the closures are not expected to affect any weekend routes. However, “diversions from the closures could cause heavy traffic for our Route 292, which follows Mission Street through the affected area. Folsom Street is the suggested detour for drivers, but some of that extra surface street traffic could spill over to Mission.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What parts of San Francisco will be most affected by traffic from the I-80 closure detours? How bad could traffic get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Significant congestion and heavy travel delays are expected across SoMa, Mission Bay and surrounding corridors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The severity of those delays, Shepherd warned, will depend on how many people choose to drive and use the detours — “which is why we’re really, really urging motorists that weekend not to be in that area and to use public transportation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve got a wonderful public transportation system, with BART and Bay ferries and Muni,” Shepherd said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What public events are happening in the Bay Area that weekend that could be affected by the I-80 closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While there are no home games for the Giants, Warriors or Valkyries that weekend, there are a host of other events that could draw major crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the last weekend of the beloved\u003ca href=\"https://sfcherryblossom.org/\"> Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival\u003c/a> in Japantown, including the Sunday grand parade. At the same time, San Francisco will host the \u003ca href=\"https://sanfranciscoartfair.com/\">annual Art Fair\u003c/a> at Fort Mason.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12036759\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12036759\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/sf-art-fair-4-17-25-drew-bird-086-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Art Fair at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. \u003ccite>(Photography by Drew Bird, Courtesy of Art Market Productions.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And while San Francisco’s official 4/20 celebration on Hippie Hill has been canceled for the third year in a row, the party is far from over — the city has reintroduced the festivities as\u003ca href=\"https://sfspacewalk.com/\"> SF Space Walk\u003c/a>, a week of events culminating with a celebration at Divisadero Street dispensary Basa SF and an afterparty at barcade Emporium on Monday.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the reason for the closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Maintenance crews will place polyester overlays and a new bridge joint onto the viaducts, which were originally built 71 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The project is part of a larger series of renovations Caltrans is spearheading throughout San Francisco, which began in October 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These include four major corridors:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>19th Avenue Repave: Rehabilitation of the entire length of pavement along 19th Avenue from Golden Gate Park to San Francisco State University, and upgrading facilities to ADA standards.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>U.S. 101 Bayshore Rehabilitation Project: Improvements to the drainage systems; lane replacement with reinforced concrete paving and paving of freeway shoulder, ramps and mainline; and addition of new signage/striping/safety devices.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>I-80 Central Freeway/U.S. 101 Viaduct Project: An overhaul of freeway decks and bridge rails, reconstruction of joints and addition of polyester overlay.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>I-280 at Farallones Street Pedestrian Overcrossing Rehabilitation: Construction of a new pedestrian overcrossing at Interstate 280 near Cayuga Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079175\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079175\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260408-I80Closure-02-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 9th Street onramp for eastbound I-80 in San Francisco on April 8, 2026. Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close from 11 p.m. April 17 to 6 a.m. April 20 for planned construction work, with detours in place during the closure. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Shepherd said the projects are necessary to make the structures usable for the next half-century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are all … desperately needed to bring these structures up to code,” Shepherd said. “They’ve been strong and reliable for many, many years, but it’s time now to go and make sure that they’re rehabilitated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first two projects are already underway, and the closures next weekend kick off the reconstruction of the viaduct project. The pedestrian overpass reconstruction is expected to start later this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As part of these improvements, overnight lane closures will continue through October 2026 on U.S. 101 and I-80.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Work is scheduled nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6 a.m. During those hours, lanes 1 and 2 between U.S. 101 and the 4th Street/Bryant off-ramp will be closed, leaving one lane open for traffic. Drivers should expect reduced speeds, possible delays and shifting traffic patterns through the work zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why is this closure taking place over this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Shepherd said Caltrans considered high-traffic events, school holidays and weather forecasts to determine a time when travelers would be least affected by the closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everyone loves San Francisco, so people are coming here all the time,” Shepherd said. “We just want them to be aware for this particular weekend to consider public transportation and consider another way to get in and get around.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/tgoldberg\">\u003cem>Ted Goldberg\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">\u003cem>Carly Severn\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aaliahmad\">\u003cem>Ayah Ali-Ahmad\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/adahlstromeckman\">\u003cem>Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12078991/i80-101-closure-san-francisco-weekend-april-17-18-19-bay-bridge-detour-traffic-alternative-route",
"authors": [
"11925"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_1397"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_269",
"news_1386",
"news_4090",
"news_17768",
"news_35888",
"news_22417",
"news_2480",
"news_1764",
"news_1533",
"news_31012",
"news_38",
"news_21285",
"news_92",
"news_4520",
"news_20517"
],
"featImg": "news_12079178",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12077664": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12077664",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12077664",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1775847602000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "tax-day-2026-what-is-tax-strike-financial-legal-consequences-irs-april-15",
"title": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn't Pay Their Federal Taxes?",
"publishDate": 1775847602,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn’t Pay Their Federal Taxes? | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>2026 Tax Day is around the corner on Wednesday, April 15 — the last day to file and pay your federal and state income\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/taxes\"> taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While millions have already taken care of their taxes, some people \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1qd76pb/okay_everyone_hear_me_out_we_gotta_stop_paying/\">have shared\u003c/a> online that they are considering not paying their federal taxes \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/KatanaSpeaks/status/2030786670480810351\">as a form of protest\u003c/a> against the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, Chicago lawyer Rachel Cohen went viral on social media when \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbmBC3jwld/?hl=en\">she announced\u003c/a> her intention not to pay over $8,800 in income taxes. She \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/11/trump-income-tax-protest\">told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she refused to pay taxes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go\">could fund\u003c/a> aggressive immigration enforcement tactics or military actions in the Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Refusing to pay taxes has existed as a form of protest in the United States for centuries. During the Vietnam War, musician Joan Baez \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/joan-baez-75th-birthday-celebration-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-joan-baez/4904/#:~:text=In%201964%2C%20she%20withheld%2060,Quentin%20during%20a%20Christmas%20vigil\">withheld 60%\u003c/a> of her income tax from the Internal Revenue Service to protest U.S. military spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the decades since, voices on both the left and the right have called for a “tax strike” as a response to U.S. intervention abroad. Last year, former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed the idea of a “tax revolt” \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2006343025480306948\">on social media\u003c/a>, with the term “tax strike” seeing its biggest spike ever \u003ca href=\"https://trends.google.com/explore?q=tax%20strike&date=all&geo=US\">in Google searches\u003c/a> in the days that followed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, tax professionals and legal experts consistently warn that refusing to file or pay taxes carries significant consequences. Under federal law, individuals who fail to meet their obligations may end up having to pay a lot more than what they originally owed — and in more serious cases, face enforcement actions by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know ahead of April 15, the last day to file and pay taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What U.S. law says I need to pay taxes?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. became an independent nation, the federal government financed itself mostly by charging tariffs on imported goods. By the end of the 19th century, elected officials from \u003ca href=\"https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/history\">across the political spectrum\u003c/a> were calling for some sort of income tax in order to finance a growing federal government and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7293419/robert-la-follettes-progressive-vision/\">respond to the massive inequality\u003c/a> of the Gilded Age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it wasn’t until 1913 that the country ratified the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states that Congress “shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12077685 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In New York City, a coalition of anti-war groups gathered outside the IRS offices in Manhattan, demanding no taxes for war and militarism on April 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since then, Congress has approved multiple laws that regulate how individuals should file and pay income taxes. All of these rules make up the \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103\">Internal Revenue Code\u003c/a>, which regulates how the IRS can go about doing its job. The Code also establishes clear limits for the agency, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">limiting how it uses\u003c/a> taxpayers’ personal information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do not have a voluntary tax system,” said Amy Spivey, professor and director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at UC Law in San Francisco. “Anyone who earns or receives income in the United States has to file and pay taxes — that includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">people who are undocumented\u003c/a> as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I refuse to pay my taxes, what happens first?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Let’s say April 15 comes and goes, and you didn’t file anything with the IRS documenting your income from the previous year (and didn’t request an extension either). Will Uncle Sam be at your door on April 16?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not exactly, Spivey said, but nonetheless, a clock at the IRS offices will begin to tick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each month that passes, the IRS can charge you two kinds of fees — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty\">failure to file penalty\u003c/a> and a separate \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-pay-penalty\">failure to pay penalty\u003c/a> — which are calculated as a percentage of the total amount you owe them. Meaning: The longer you don’t deal with your taxes, the bigger the amount the IRS will be expecting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11964303 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/GettyImages-1438452854-e1741641207115.jpg\" alt=\"A Black woman wearing a tan sweater sits at a desk holding a piece of paper in one hand and staring at a laptop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With each passing month, the IRS can impose two separate penalties — one for failing to file and another for failing to pay — both calculated as a percentage of the total taxes owed. \u003ccite>(Pixdeluxe via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of how much you owe, that’s going to add up,” said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based \u003ca href=\"https://tax-aid.org/\">Tax-Aid\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may start receiving letters from the IRS letting you know that your liability is growing. If you ignore this communication and let more time pass by, both penalties will keep stacking up on each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, there is a point when the IRS can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6020\">file a return\u003c/a> \u003cem>for \u003c/em>you based on your income information from years past — called a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-to-expect-after-receiving-a-non-filer-compliance-alert-notice-and-what-to-do-to-resolve\">substitute return\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One downside of the IRS filing for you: Regardless of your living situation, the agency can actually file you as single and only give you a standard deduction, Spivey said. “You don’t get the benefit of any deductions, and it ultimately results in a higher tax burden,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>when \u003c/em>this might happen, Spivey said that in her experience, the IRS filing a return for you doesn’t happen immediately and could even take place a few years down the road. But in the meantime, both the failure to file and failure to pay penalties will keep accumulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Uncle Sam gets serious\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the IRS will kickstart a collection process to get what you owe. Here, the agency has two powerful tools available, Spivey said: a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-a-federal-tax-lien\">lien\u003c/a> and a levy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lien is a document that establishes a legal claim by the federal government against your property or financial assets when you fail to pay a tax debt. “If you sell assets — for example, a home — you would have to hand over the proceeds or pay the taxes that you owe,” Spivey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A levy, on the other hand, allows the federal government to seize your property or financial assets to cover what you owe the IRS. Once you get a notice of intent to levy, you usually have 30 days to enter some sort of \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-with-a-tax-bill-they-cant-pay\">payment arrangement\u003c/a> with the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tax experts note that even if no federal taxes are withheld from your paycheck, you’re still legally required to pay taxes on those earnings later. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This agreement could potentially include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise\">“offer in compromise”\u003c/a> if you’re unable to pay your full tax liability or doing so “creates a financial hardship,” according to the agency. This may potentially reduce your tax debt — but relies on the IRS agreeing with your assessment of your finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you ignore this notice, the IRS will go ahead and levy your property anyway. This could look like taking what you owe directly from your bank account, since your bank is required by law to comply with a levy, and if you don’t have enough money in your account, you’ll also be liable for overdraft fees from your bank.[aside postID=news_12073445 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/internal-revenue-service_qed-1020x680.jpg']In certain cases, the IRS can garnish your wages, meaning the agency communicates with your employer to require that a certain percentage of your salary be used to cover your debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spivey said that the IRS — depending on how much you owe — can also levy your retirement account. In extreme circumstances, they can even take your home or revoke your passport or block you from applying for one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Collection proceedings usually go through civil law, but in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-counsel/tax_crimes_handbook.pdf\">very specific cases\u003c/a>, the federal government can also enforce tax law through criminal prosecutions — which could result in much more severe penalties, including prison time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if someone’s situation does not get to that level, experts point out that not filing can complicate other parts of life. “A tax return is oftentimes a requirement for proof of income, with things like housing, education and federal loans like FAFSA,” Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you also skipped on your state taxes, California’s Franchise Tax Board also has similar powers. “The Franchise Tax Board can also file a lien, they can levy your accounts, they can garnish your wages,” Spivey said. “You could potentially be looking at both the IRS and FTB both coming to collect the taxes that you owe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do those refusing to pay taxes say?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Advocates of a tax strike say that international conflicts involving the U.S. — most recently, the ongoing war with Iran — are boosting public interest in what they call “tax resistance” as a form of political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lincoln Rice, coordinator for the Milwaukee-based National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, told KQED that before Israel’s invasion of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> in 2023, around 20 people would attend his group’s online trainings.[aside postID=news_11909786 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668869-672x372.jpg']But hundreds of people are now showing up, he said. Training sessions cover “legal and illegal methods of war tax resistance along with the associated risks,” he said, adding that the group organizes a fund that aims to help members cover penalties and interests collected by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rice said his group has also “offered W-4 workshops, where we explain how employees can lower or eliminate the federal tax withholding done by their employer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But tax experts are quick to point out that even if you have zero federal tax withholdings on your paycheck, the law still requires you to pay taxes on those earnings down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ tax system, which means that taxpayers are required to pay taxes throughout the year on your income,” Spivey said. “If you underpay throughout the year, you may be hit with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/underpayment-of-estimated-tax-by-individuals-penalty\">Underpayment of Estimated Tax penalty\u003c/a>, in addition to any tax you may owe related to the under-withholding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Seen online talk about not paying income taxes as a form of protest against the federal government? We talk with experts to understand the consequences.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1775847886,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 35,
"wordCount": 1715
},
"headData": {
"title": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn't Pay Their Federal Taxes? | KQED",
"description": "Seen online talk about not paying income taxes as a form of protest against the federal government? We talk with experts to understand the consequences.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn't Pay Their Federal Taxes?",
"datePublished": "2026-04-10T12:00:02-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-10T12:04:46-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12077664",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12077664/tax-day-2026-what-is-tax-strike-financial-legal-consequences-irs-april-15",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>2026 Tax Day is around the corner on Wednesday, April 15 — the last day to file and pay your federal and state income\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/taxes\"> taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While millions have already taken care of their taxes, some people \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1qd76pb/okay_everyone_hear_me_out_we_gotta_stop_paying/\">have shared\u003c/a> online that they are considering not paying their federal taxes \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/KatanaSpeaks/status/2030786670480810351\">as a form of protest\u003c/a> against the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, Chicago lawyer Rachel Cohen went viral on social media when \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbmBC3jwld/?hl=en\">she announced\u003c/a> her intention not to pay over $8,800 in income taxes. She \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/11/trump-income-tax-protest\">told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she refused to pay taxes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go\">could fund\u003c/a> aggressive immigration enforcement tactics or military actions in the Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Refusing to pay taxes has existed as a form of protest in the United States for centuries. During the Vietnam War, musician Joan Baez \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/joan-baez-75th-birthday-celebration-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-joan-baez/4904/#:~:text=In%201964%2C%20she%20withheld%2060,Quentin%20during%20a%20Christmas%20vigil\">withheld 60%\u003c/a> of her income tax from the Internal Revenue Service to protest U.S. military spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the decades since, voices on both the left and the right have called for a “tax strike” as a response to U.S. intervention abroad. Last year, former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed the idea of a “tax revolt” \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2006343025480306948\">on social media\u003c/a>, with the term “tax strike” seeing its biggest spike ever \u003ca href=\"https://trends.google.com/explore?q=tax%20strike&date=all&geo=US\">in Google searches\u003c/a> in the days that followed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, tax professionals and legal experts consistently warn that refusing to file or pay taxes carries significant consequences. Under federal law, individuals who fail to meet their obligations may end up having to pay a lot more than what they originally owed — and in more serious cases, face enforcement actions by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know ahead of April 15, the last day to file and pay taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What U.S. law says I need to pay taxes?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. became an independent nation, the federal government financed itself mostly by charging tariffs on imported goods. By the end of the 19th century, elected officials from \u003ca href=\"https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/history\">across the political spectrum\u003c/a> were calling for some sort of income tax in order to finance a growing federal government and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7293419/robert-la-follettes-progressive-vision/\">respond to the massive inequality\u003c/a> of the Gilded Age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it wasn’t until 1913 that the country ratified the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states that Congress “shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12077685 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In New York City, a coalition of anti-war groups gathered outside the IRS offices in Manhattan, demanding no taxes for war and militarism on April 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since then, Congress has approved multiple laws that regulate how individuals should file and pay income taxes. All of these rules make up the \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103\">Internal Revenue Code\u003c/a>, which regulates how the IRS can go about doing its job. The Code also establishes clear limits for the agency, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">limiting how it uses\u003c/a> taxpayers’ personal information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do not have a voluntary tax system,” said Amy Spivey, professor and director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at UC Law in San Francisco. “Anyone who earns or receives income in the United States has to file and pay taxes — that includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">people who are undocumented\u003c/a> as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I refuse to pay my taxes, what happens first?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Let’s say April 15 comes and goes, and you didn’t file anything with the IRS documenting your income from the previous year (and didn’t request an extension either). Will Uncle Sam be at your door on April 16?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not exactly, Spivey said, but nonetheless, a clock at the IRS offices will begin to tick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each month that passes, the IRS can charge you two kinds of fees — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty\">failure to file penalty\u003c/a> and a separate \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-pay-penalty\">failure to pay penalty\u003c/a> — which are calculated as a percentage of the total amount you owe them. Meaning: The longer you don’t deal with your taxes, the bigger the amount the IRS will be expecting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11964303 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/GettyImages-1438452854-e1741641207115.jpg\" alt=\"A Black woman wearing a tan sweater sits at a desk holding a piece of paper in one hand and staring at a laptop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With each passing month, the IRS can impose two separate penalties — one for failing to file and another for failing to pay — both calculated as a percentage of the total taxes owed. \u003ccite>(Pixdeluxe via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of how much you owe, that’s going to add up,” said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based \u003ca href=\"https://tax-aid.org/\">Tax-Aid\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may start receiving letters from the IRS letting you know that your liability is growing. If you ignore this communication and let more time pass by, both penalties will keep stacking up on each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, there is a point when the IRS can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6020\">file a return\u003c/a> \u003cem>for \u003c/em>you based on your income information from years past — called a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-to-expect-after-receiving-a-non-filer-compliance-alert-notice-and-what-to-do-to-resolve\">substitute return\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One downside of the IRS filing for you: Regardless of your living situation, the agency can actually file you as single and only give you a standard deduction, Spivey said. “You don’t get the benefit of any deductions, and it ultimately results in a higher tax burden,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>when \u003c/em>this might happen, Spivey said that in her experience, the IRS filing a return for you doesn’t happen immediately and could even take place a few years down the road. But in the meantime, both the failure to file and failure to pay penalties will keep accumulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Uncle Sam gets serious\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the IRS will kickstart a collection process to get what you owe. Here, the agency has two powerful tools available, Spivey said: a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-a-federal-tax-lien\">lien\u003c/a> and a levy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lien is a document that establishes a legal claim by the federal government against your property or financial assets when you fail to pay a tax debt. “If you sell assets — for example, a home — you would have to hand over the proceeds or pay the taxes that you owe,” Spivey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A levy, on the other hand, allows the federal government to seize your property or financial assets to cover what you owe the IRS. Once you get a notice of intent to levy, you usually have 30 days to enter some sort of \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-with-a-tax-bill-they-cant-pay\">payment arrangement\u003c/a> with the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tax experts note that even if no federal taxes are withheld from your paycheck, you’re still legally required to pay taxes on those earnings later. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This agreement could potentially include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise\">“offer in compromise”\u003c/a> if you’re unable to pay your full tax liability or doing so “creates a financial hardship,” according to the agency. This may potentially reduce your tax debt — but relies on the IRS agreeing with your assessment of your finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you ignore this notice, the IRS will go ahead and levy your property anyway. This could look like taking what you owe directly from your bank account, since your bank is required by law to comply with a levy, and if you don’t have enough money in your account, you’ll also be liable for overdraft fees from your bank.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12073445",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/internal-revenue-service_qed-1020x680.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In certain cases, the IRS can garnish your wages, meaning the agency communicates with your employer to require that a certain percentage of your salary be used to cover your debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spivey said that the IRS — depending on how much you owe — can also levy your retirement account. In extreme circumstances, they can even take your home or revoke your passport or block you from applying for one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Collection proceedings usually go through civil law, but in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-counsel/tax_crimes_handbook.pdf\">very specific cases\u003c/a>, the federal government can also enforce tax law through criminal prosecutions — which could result in much more severe penalties, including prison time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if someone’s situation does not get to that level, experts point out that not filing can complicate other parts of life. “A tax return is oftentimes a requirement for proof of income, with things like housing, education and federal loans like FAFSA,” Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you also skipped on your state taxes, California’s Franchise Tax Board also has similar powers. “The Franchise Tax Board can also file a lien, they can levy your accounts, they can garnish your wages,” Spivey said. “You could potentially be looking at both the IRS and FTB both coming to collect the taxes that you owe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do those refusing to pay taxes say?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Advocates of a tax strike say that international conflicts involving the U.S. — most recently, the ongoing war with Iran — are boosting public interest in what they call “tax resistance” as a form of political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lincoln Rice, coordinator for the Milwaukee-based National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, told KQED that before Israel’s invasion of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> in 2023, around 20 people would attend his group’s online trainings.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_11909786",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668869-672x372.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But hundreds of people are now showing up, he said. Training sessions cover “legal and illegal methods of war tax resistance along with the associated risks,” he said, adding that the group organizes a fund that aims to help members cover penalties and interests collected by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rice said his group has also “offered W-4 workshops, where we explain how employees can lower or eliminate the federal tax withholding done by their employer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But tax experts are quick to point out that even if you have zero federal tax withholdings on your paycheck, the law still requires you to pay taxes on those earnings down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ tax system, which means that taxpayers are required to pay taxes throughout the year on your income,” Spivey said. “If you underpay throughout the year, you may be hit with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/underpayment-of-estimated-tax-by-individuals-penalty\">Underpayment of Estimated Tax penalty\u003c/a>, in addition to any tax you may owe related to the under-withholding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12077664/tax-day-2026-what-is-tax-strike-financial-legal-consequences-irs-april-15",
"authors": [
"11708"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1758",
"news_34168",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_18538",
"news_18545",
"news_35397",
"news_25694",
"news_25464",
"news_423"
],
"featImg": "news_12077669",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12040111": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12040111",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12040111",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1775595475000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "rattlesnakes-bay-area-warning-venom-bites-rattlesnake-vs-gophersnake",
"title": "If You Encounter a Rattlesnake in the Bay Area, What Should You Do?",
"publishDate": 1775595475,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "If You Encounter a Rattlesnake in the Bay Area, What Should You Do? | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>With summer and warmer temperatures just around the corner, the Bay Area’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985496/best-bay-area-hikes-wildlife-near-me\">parks and trails are starting to bustle even more with wildlife\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there are a few critters that hikers should look to avoid — and rattlesnakes are definitely one of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/rattlesnake-advisory\">East Bay Regional Parks District issued an advisory\u003c/a> warning hikers about the potential dangers of encountering rattlesnakes on local trails, stressing the threat these venomous creatures can pose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#rattlesnake-bite-what-to-do\">What should I do if a rattlesnake bites me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And\u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/california-sixth-person-bitten-rattlesnake\"> two people \u003c/a>have already died in 2026 after being bitten by rattlesnakes in California, both in Ventura County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Native to California and the Bay Area, rattlesnakes are common on local trails in areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/maps\">Anthony Chabot, Tilden and Diablo Foothills regional parks\u003c/a> – but you should take them seriously, EBRPD spokesperson Dave Mason told KQED in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely important to be cautious for us humans – and also our pets,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you or your pup stumble across a rattlesnake in the wild, what should you do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>First off: How can I recognize a rattlesnake?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/common_snakes.pdf\">The rattlesnakes local to the Bay Area\u003c/a> tend to be brown or black, matching the general color of the soil they inhabit. Their skin is dull-colored with large blotches, and their head is flat and triangular with folds of skin at its tail forming a “rattle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, you may be more likely to recognize a rattlesnake by ear. True to their name, \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nYnVPba4g\">they make a “rattling” sound\u003c/a> that makes them easy to distinguish from other, less harmful snakes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nYnVPba4g\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2bBSdxIEjs\">Rattlesnakes are often confused with gopher snakes\u003c/a>, which have similar coloration and length. The key differences to keep are the gopher snake’s glossy skin and more slender head and body. Unlike rattlesnakes, gopher snakes are not venomous.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>When should I most watch out for rattlesnakes — and where? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>EBRPD’s Mason said that like all reptiles, rattlesnakes become more active in warmer weather — as do humans. This is the reason that \u003ca href=\"https://calpoison.org/about-rattlesnakes\">encounters between the two species tend to happen most between April and October\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While snakes can be found all over these East Bay parks and preserves, many encounters happen out on hiking trails and fire roads, Mason said — often in grassy areas. This is why he advises: “Don’t go off the trails into the grass.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11743401\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1335px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11743401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/04/image-from-ios-1-_wide-a3f0899f95013c976164e2ee22a7ab7e85f9be71-e1556467826638.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1335\" height=\"751\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photographer Michael Lee Jackson hops out of his Toyota to capture a closer view of a rattlesnake sunning itself on the dirt road. \u003ccite>(Kirk Siegler/NPR)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to staying on designated trails, try to scan the ground while walking. When sitting down, examine your chosen spot first and try not to put your hands or feet anywhere you can’t clearly see. Keep your dog on a leash to keep yourself and your pet safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, hiking alone means it might be harder to find speedy medical attention if you do get bitten — so consider finding a hiking buddy during these warmer months when the risks of rattlesnake encounters are higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What should I do if I see a rattlesnake?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Give the snake plenty of space immediately, Mason advised. Do not try to capture or harm a snake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Often, you will hear a rattlesnake before you see it — so when that happens, “be wary, look around and get away from it as quickly as possible,” he said. “Go around it. Leave it alone. They are part of nature.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re out hiking with your dog and you see a snake, calmly and slowly steer them away from it. \u003ca href=\"https://napahumane.org/rattlesnake-season-safety-tips-and-rattlesnake-avoidance-training-options/\">Some experts even recommend rattlesnake avoidance training\u003c/a> for your dog. If you’re interested, make sure you find a certified training professional using humane science-based methods, which can help teach dogs to respond to scents and cues to avoid bites.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"rattlesnake-bite-what-to-do\">\u003c/a>If a rattlesnake bites me, what should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5393596.pdf\">Around 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by rattlesnakes every year\u003c/a>, usually on the hands, feet and ankles. Somewhere between 5 and 15 of those cases are fatal each year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-snakes.html\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a> and the Food and Drug Administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, rattlesnake bites will leave two puncture marks, and you’ll feel an intense, burning pain. If this happens, “focus on how to get medical attention as soon as possible,” Mason said.[aside postID=news_12035515 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/GettyImages-1366211065_qed-1020x681.jpg']After immediately calling 911, try to sit or lie down, keeping the bite below your heart. Most importantly, keep the area of the bite in a neutral, comfortable position. If possible, you should gently wash the wound with any clean water you have nearby — like from your water bottle or a fast-moving stream — and soap if you have it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-snakes.html\">The CDC recommends\u003c/a> taking note of the time the bite occurred by actually writing it on your skin next to the wound and removing any jewelry or watches that might constrict swelling. Around 25% of bites are “dry,” meaning the snake did not use venom, but even those bites still need to be treated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>EBRPD advised against using tourniquets or snakebite kits (more on this below) and said \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to try sucking out the venom. You also shouldn’t take any medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re bitten while hiking alone, walk slowly to get help. While this might feel counterintuitive, the CDC warns that running increases your heart rate and could spread the venom more quickly throughout your body, as could driving yourself to the hospital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/common_snakes.pdf\">Other types of snake bites\u003c/a> — like a bite from the Pacific gopher snake — can be treated with soap and water, but medical attention is still advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Why shouldn’t I use a snakebite kit?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts \u003ca href=\"https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/the-truth-about-commercial-snakebite-kits-including-the-venom-extractor\">warn against using commercially sold snakebite kits\u003c/a>. While the idea of “sucking out the poison” using a tool seems like a solution, the reality is that snake venom instantly diffuses away from the wound and cannot be extracted this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, extraction tools can even force the venom further into your body or harm the site of the bite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431065/\">The antivenom you receive at the hospital is most effective\u003c/a> the sooner it is administered, so getting help should be your first priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other potential risks for Bay Area hikers to watch for\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11801419\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11801419\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-536x402.jpg 536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A coyote pair enjoys a relaxed afternoon in a secluded part of a park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Janet Kessler)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Poison oak\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7431.html\">Poison oak,\u003c/a> whose three-sided leaves look oily, will leave a reaction on most peoples’ skin. Staying on trail is your best bet to avoid a rash, but if you do touch any irritating plants, wash your skin immediately and see a doctor if the rash spreads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ticks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bayarealyme.org/about-lyme/what-causes-lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick/\">Ticks, which position themselves on long grasses hoping to grab hold as you brush by, can carry Lyme disease\u003c/a>. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellent and stay on trails to avoid ticks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to staying on designated trails and out of dense foliage, Mason advises checking yourself and your pets for ticks after any outdoor activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Give them a once-over, once you get back to your car or back away from the trail,” Mason said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do find a tick on your skin, remove it using tweezers or a tissue and scrape the skin (a credit card works great for this) to remove any of its body parts left behind. Then wash your hands and the bite area thoroughly, and seek medical attention if you later recognize \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs-symptoms/index.html\">any symptoms of Lyme disease\u003c/a>, which include a rash, fever, headache and stiffness around the bite area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11880481\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11880481\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Six common types of adult female ticks. Top row, left to right: Lone star, Black-legged, Asian long-horned. Bottom row, left to right: Gulf coast, American dog, Rocky mountain wood \u003ccite>((Top row, left to right) Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, James Gathany/CDC (Bottom row, left to right) Public Health Image Library, Patrick Gorring/iNaturalist, Public Health Image Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Roaming animals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The parks department advises keeping your distance around cattle and avoiding getting between a mother and her calf. Don’t try to touch or pet cows, and keep dogs and kids away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters\">That goes for any other wild animals, too\u003c/a>. Coyotes, deer and mountain lions all inhabit local parks but should never be fed, approached or petted. Even though most aren’t dangerous by nature, they can become unpredictable if surprised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The important thing really is knowing that when you’re going out there that you’re in a wild area — and to be cautious of your surroundings,” Mason 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",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "With another alert for rattlesnake activity issued for the East Bay, here’s how to stay aware while hiking in the Bay Area this spring – and what to do if you’re bitten.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1775848207,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": true,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": true,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 39,
"wordCount": 1512
},
"headData": {
"title": "If You Encounter a Rattlesnake in the Bay Area, What Should You Do? | KQED",
"description": "With another alert for rattlesnake activity issued for the East Bay, here’s how to stay aware while hiking in the Bay Area this spring – and what to do if you’re bitten.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "If You Encounter a Rattlesnake in the Bay Area, What Should You Do?",
"datePublished": "2026-04-07T13:57:55-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-04-10T12:10:07-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34168,
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"name": "Guides and Explainers"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12040111",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12040111/rattlesnakes-bay-area-warning-venom-bites-rattlesnake-vs-gophersnake",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With summer and warmer temperatures just around the corner, the Bay Area’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985496/best-bay-area-hikes-wildlife-near-me\">parks and trails are starting to bustle even more with wildlife\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there are a few critters that hikers should look to avoid — and rattlesnakes are definitely one of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/rattlesnake-advisory\">East Bay Regional Parks District issued an advisory\u003c/a> warning hikers about the potential dangers of encountering rattlesnakes on local trails, stressing the threat these venomous creatures can pose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#rattlesnake-bite-what-to-do\">What should I do if a rattlesnake bites me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And\u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/california-sixth-person-bitten-rattlesnake\"> two people \u003c/a>have already died in 2026 after being bitten by rattlesnakes in California, both in Ventura County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Native to California and the Bay Area, rattlesnakes are common on local trails in areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/maps\">Anthony Chabot, Tilden and Diablo Foothills regional parks\u003c/a> – but you should take them seriously, EBRPD spokesperson Dave Mason told KQED in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely important to be cautious for us humans – and also our pets,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you or your pup stumble across a rattlesnake in the wild, what should you do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>First off: How can I recognize a rattlesnake?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/common_snakes.pdf\">The rattlesnakes local to the Bay Area\u003c/a> tend to be brown or black, matching the general color of the soil they inhabit. Their skin is dull-colored with large blotches, and their head is flat and triangular with folds of skin at its tail forming a “rattle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, you may be more likely to recognize a rattlesnake by ear. True to their name, \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nYnVPba4g\">they make a “rattling” sound\u003c/a> that makes them easy to distinguish from other, less harmful snakes:\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/d0nYnVPba4g'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/d0nYnVPba4g'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2bBSdxIEjs\">Rattlesnakes are often confused with gopher snakes\u003c/a>, which have similar coloration and length. The key differences to keep are the gopher snake’s glossy skin and more slender head and body. Unlike rattlesnakes, gopher snakes are not venomous.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>When should I most watch out for rattlesnakes — and where? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>EBRPD’s Mason said that like all reptiles, rattlesnakes become more active in warmer weather — as do humans. This is the reason that \u003ca href=\"https://calpoison.org/about-rattlesnakes\">encounters between the two species tend to happen most between April and October\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While snakes can be found all over these East Bay parks and preserves, many encounters happen out on hiking trails and fire roads, Mason said — often in grassy areas. This is why he advises: “Don’t go off the trails into the grass.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11743401\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1335px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11743401\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/04/image-from-ios-1-_wide-a3f0899f95013c976164e2ee22a7ab7e85f9be71-e1556467826638.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1335\" height=\"751\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photographer Michael Lee Jackson hops out of his Toyota to capture a closer view of a rattlesnake sunning itself on the dirt road. \u003ccite>(Kirk Siegler/NPR)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition to staying on designated trails, try to scan the ground while walking. When sitting down, examine your chosen spot first and try not to put your hands or feet anywhere you can’t clearly see. Keep your dog on a leash to keep yourself and your pet safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, hiking alone means it might be harder to find speedy medical attention if you do get bitten — so consider finding a hiking buddy during these warmer months when the risks of rattlesnake encounters are higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What should I do if I see a rattlesnake?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Give the snake plenty of space immediately, Mason advised. Do not try to capture or harm a snake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Often, you will hear a rattlesnake before you see it — so when that happens, “be wary, look around and get away from it as quickly as possible,” he said. “Go around it. Leave it alone. They are part of nature.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re out hiking with your dog and you see a snake, calmly and slowly steer them away from it. \u003ca href=\"https://napahumane.org/rattlesnake-season-safety-tips-and-rattlesnake-avoidance-training-options/\">Some experts even recommend rattlesnake avoidance training\u003c/a> for your dog. If you’re interested, make sure you find a certified training professional using humane science-based methods, which can help teach dogs to respond to scents and cues to avoid bites.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"rattlesnake-bite-what-to-do\">\u003c/a>If a rattlesnake bites me, what should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5393596.pdf\">Around 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by rattlesnakes every year\u003c/a>, usually on the hands, feet and ankles. Somewhere between 5 and 15 of those cases are fatal each year, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-snakes.html\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a> and the Food and Drug Administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, rattlesnake bites will leave two puncture marks, and you’ll feel an intense, burning pain. If this happens, “focus on how to get medical attention as soon as possible,” Mason said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12035515",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/GettyImages-1366211065_qed-1020x681.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>After immediately calling 911, try to sit or lie down, keeping the bite below your heart. Most importantly, keep the area of the bite in a neutral, comfortable position. If possible, you should gently wash the wound with any clean water you have nearby — like from your water bottle or a fast-moving stream — and soap if you have it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-snakes.html\">The CDC recommends\u003c/a> taking note of the time the bite occurred by actually writing it on your skin next to the wound and removing any jewelry or watches that might constrict swelling. Around 25% of bites are “dry,” meaning the snake did not use venom, but even those bites still need to be treated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>EBRPD advised against using tourniquets or snakebite kits (more on this below) and said \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to try sucking out the venom. You also shouldn’t take any medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re bitten while hiking alone, walk slowly to get help. While this might feel counterintuitive, the CDC warns that running increases your heart rate and could spread the venom more quickly throughout your body, as could driving yourself to the hospital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/common_snakes.pdf\">Other types of snake bites\u003c/a> — like a bite from the Pacific gopher snake — can be treated with soap and water, but medical attention is still advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Why shouldn’t I use a snakebite kit?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts \u003ca href=\"https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/the-truth-about-commercial-snakebite-kits-including-the-venom-extractor\">warn against using commercially sold snakebite kits\u003c/a>. While the idea of “sucking out the poison” using a tool seems like a solution, the reality is that snake venom instantly diffuses away from the wound and cannot be extracted this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, extraction tools can even force the venom further into your body or harm the site of the bite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431065/\">The antivenom you receive at the hospital is most effective\u003c/a> the sooner it is administered, so getting help should be your first priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other potential risks for Bay Area hikers to watch for\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11801419\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11801419\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/02/RS41107_Coyote-Pair-qut-536x402.jpg 536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A coyote pair enjoys a relaxed afternoon in a secluded part of a park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Janet Kessler)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Poison oak\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7431.html\">Poison oak,\u003c/a> whose three-sided leaves look oily, will leave a reaction on most peoples’ skin. Staying on trail is your best bet to avoid a rash, but if you do touch any irritating plants, wash your skin immediately and see a doctor if the rash spreads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ticks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bayarealyme.org/about-lyme/what-causes-lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick/\">Ticks, which position themselves on long grasses hoping to grab hold as you brush by, can carry Lyme disease\u003c/a>. Wear long-sleeved clothing, use insect repellent and stay on trails to avoid ticks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to staying on designated trails and out of dense foliage, Mason advises checking yourself and your pets for ticks after any outdoor activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Give them a once-over, once you get back to your car or back away from the trail,” Mason said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do find a tick on your skin, remove it using tweezers or a tissue and scrape the skin (a credit card works great for this) to remove any of its body parts left behind. Then wash your hands and the bite area thoroughly, and seek medical attention if you later recognize \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs-symptoms/index.html\">any symptoms of Lyme disease\u003c/a>, which include a rash, fever, headache and stiffness around the bite area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11880481\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11880481\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/07/ticks_types-jpeg-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Six common types of adult female ticks. Top row, left to right: Lone star, Black-legged, Asian long-horned. Bottom row, left to right: Gulf coast, American dog, Rocky mountain wood \u003ccite>((Top row, left to right) Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, James Gathany/CDC (Bottom row, left to right) Public Health Image Library, Patrick Gorring/iNaturalist, Public Health Image Library)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Roaming animals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The parks department advises keeping your distance around cattle and avoiding getting between a mother and her calf. Don’t try to touch or pet cows, and keep dogs and kids away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters\">That goes for any other wild animals, too\u003c/a>. Coyotes, deer and mountain lions all inhabit local parks but should never be fed, approached or petted. Even though most aren’t dangerous by nature, they can become unpredictable if surprised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The important thing really is knowing that when you’re going out there that you’re in a wild area — and to be cautious of your surroundings,” Mason 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>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12040111/rattlesnakes-bay-area-warning-venom-bites-rattlesnake-vs-gophersnake",
"authors": [
"11956"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_19906",
"news_34168"
],
"tags": [
"news_18132",
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_18538",
"news_35888",
"news_17925",
"news_22456",
"news_34112",
"news_34111"
],
"featImg": "news_12040469",
"label": "news"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/news?category=guides-and-explainers": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 72,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 406,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12079868",
"news_12081122",
"news_12080674",
"news_12080320",
"news_12079852",
"news_12079845",
"news_12080068",
"news_12080063",
"news_12079800",
"news_12078991",
"news_12077664",
"news_12040111"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news_category_guides-and-explainers": {
"isLoading": true
},
"news_34168": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34168",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34168",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Guides and Explainers",
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Guides and Explainers Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34185,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/guides-and-explainers"
},
"news_1758": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1758",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1758",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Economy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Full coverage of the economy",
"title": "Economy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2648,
"slug": "economy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/economy"
},
"news_32707": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32707",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32707",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "audience-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "audience-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32724,
"slug": "audience-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/audience-news"
},
"news_18538": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18538",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18538",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california"
},
"news_18545": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18545",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18545",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Economy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Economy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1771,
"slug": "economy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/economy"
},
"news_18143": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18143",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18143",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "family",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "family Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18177,
"slug": "family",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/family"
},
"news_397": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_397",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "397",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "stimulus",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "stimulus Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 405,
"slug": "stimulus",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/stimulus"
},
"news_423": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_423",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "423",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "taxes",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "taxes Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 432,
"slug": "taxes",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/taxes"
},
"news_33738": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33738",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33738",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33755,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/california"
},
"news_28250": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28250",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28250",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28267,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/local"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_1386": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1386",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1386",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1398,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area"
},
"news_18880": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18880",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18880",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "books",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "books Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18897,
"slug": "books",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/books"
},
"news_34081": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34081",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34081",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34098,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/events"
},
"news_35888": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35888",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35888",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "featured-audience-news",
"slug": "featured-audience-news",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "featured-audience-news | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35905,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-audience-news"
},
"news_27626": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27626",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27626",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27643,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-news"
},
"news_22557": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22557",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22557",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Literature",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Literature Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22574,
"slug": "literature",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/literature"
},
"news_33740": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33740",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33740",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33757,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/events"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"news_33729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33746,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/san-francisco"
},
"news_36313": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36313",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36313",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "children's books",
"slug": "childrens-books",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "children's books | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36330,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/childrens-books"
},
"news_21777": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21777",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21777",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "donations",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "donations Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21794,
"slug": "donations",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/donations"
},
"news_18179": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18179",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18179",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "libraries",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "libraries Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18213,
"slug": "libraries",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/libraries"
},
"news_382": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_382",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "382",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "recycling",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "recycling Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 390,
"slug": "recycling",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/recycling"
},
"news_33742": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33742",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33742",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Berkeley",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Berkeley Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33759,
"slug": "berkeley",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/berkeley"
},
"news_457": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_457",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "457",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 16998,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/health"
},
"news_22221": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22221",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22221",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "cdc",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "cdc Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22238,
"slug": "cdc",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/cdc"
},
"news_18543": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18543",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18543",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 466,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/health"
},
"news_32353": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32353",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32353",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "mpox",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "mpox Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32370,
"slug": "mpox",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/mpox"
},
"news_31325": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31325",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31325",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Mpox vaccine",
"slug": "mpox-vaccine",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Mpox vaccine | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 31342,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/mpox-vaccine"
},
"news_38": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_38",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "38",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 58,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-francisco"
},
"news_26203": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_26203",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "26203",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco Department of Public Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Department of Public Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 26220,
"slug": "san-francisco-department-of-public-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-francisco-department-of-public-health"
},
"news_33747": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33747",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33747",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33764,
"slug": "health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/health"
},
"news_24114": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_24114",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "24114",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 24131,
"slug": "food",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/food"
},
"news_26598": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_26598",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "26598",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "affordability",
"slug": "affordability",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "affordability | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 26615,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/affordability"
},
"news_3651": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_3651",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "3651",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California economy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California economy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 3669,
"slug": "california-economy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-economy"
},
"news_333": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_333",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "333",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 341,
"slug": "food",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/food"
},
"news_5620": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_5620",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "5620",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "gardening",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "gardening Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5644,
"slug": "gardening",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/gardening"
},
"news_34418": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34418",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34418",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "grocery prices",
"slug": "grocery-prices",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "grocery prices | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34435,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/grocery-prices"
},
"news_33735": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33735",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33735",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food and Drink",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food and Drink Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33752,
"slug": "food-and-drink",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/food-and-drink"
},
"news_1397": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1397",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1397",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1409,
"slug": "transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/transportation"
},
"news_231": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_231",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "231",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Bridge",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Bridge Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 239,
"slug": "bay-bridge",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-bridge"
},
"news_35355": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35355",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35355",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "car accident",
"slug": "car-accident",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "car accident | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35372,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/car-accident"
},
"news_22456": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22456",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22456",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public safety",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public safety Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22473,
"slug": "public-safety",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-safety"
},
"news_35836": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35836",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35836",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "safety",
"slug": "safety",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "safety | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35853,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/safety"
},
"news_33741": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33741",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33741",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "East Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "East Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33758,
"slug": "east-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/east-bay"
},
"news_223": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_223",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "223",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts and Culture",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts and Culture Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 231,
"slug": "arts-and-culture",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/arts-and-culture"
},
"news_19963": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19963",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19963",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Cannabis",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Cannabis Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19980,
"slug": "cannabis",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/cannabis"
},
"news_1620": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1620",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1620",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "celebrations",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "celebrations Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1632,
"slug": "celebrations",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/celebrations"
},
"news_102": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_102",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "102",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "marijuana",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "marijuana Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 106,
"slug": "marijuana",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/marijuana"
},
"news_431": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_431",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "431",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "medical marijuana",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "medical marijuana Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 440,
"slug": "medical-marijuana",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/medical-marijuana"
},
"news_20089": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20089",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20089",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "recreational marijuana",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "recreational marijuana Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20106,
"slug": "recreational-marijuana",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/recreational-marijuana"
},
"news_2043": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2043",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2043",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "children",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "children Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2058,
"slug": "children",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/children"
},
"news_29886": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29886",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29886",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "children's health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "children's health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29903,
"slug": "childrens-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/childrens-health"
},
"news_17604": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17604",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17604",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "measles",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "measles Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17638,
"slug": "measles",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/measles"
},
"news_19960": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19960",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19960",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public health Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19977,
"slug": "public-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-health"
},
"news_17615": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17615",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17615",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "vaccinations",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "vaccinations Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17649,
"slug": "vaccinations",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/vaccinations"
},
"news_31795": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31795",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31795",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31812,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/california"
},
"news_13": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_13",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "13",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 13,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/politics"
},
"news_35700": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35700",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35700",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "2026 governor's race",
"slug": "2026-governors-race",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "2026 governor's race | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35717,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/2026-governors-race"
},
"news_29125": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29125",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29125",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "california governor",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "california governor Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 29142,
"slug": "california-governor",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-governor"
},
"news_35699": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35699",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35699",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "california governor's race",
"slug": "california-governors-race",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "california governor's race | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35716,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-governors-race"
},
"news_20149": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20149",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20149",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Congress",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Congress Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20166,
"slug": "congress",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/congress"
},
"news_20910": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20910",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20910",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Eric Swalwell",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Eric Swalwell Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20927,
"slug": "eric-swalwell",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/eric-swalwell"
},
"news_36335": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36335",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36335",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Governor 2026",
"slug": "governor-2026",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Governor 2026 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36352,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/governor-2026"
},
"news_17968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 18002,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/politics"
},
"news_33734": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33734",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33734",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local Politics",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Politics Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33751,
"slug": "local-politics",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/local-politics"
},
"news_269": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_269",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "269",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "BART",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "BART Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 277,
"slug": "bart",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bart"
},
"news_4090": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4090",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4090",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area Traffic",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "KQED's Bay Area Traffic is your go-to source for the latest updates on traffic conditions. We share real-time traffic reports to help commuters stay informed.",
"title": "Bay Area Traffic Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4109,
"slug": "bay-area-traffic",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area-traffic"
},
"news_17768": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17768",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17768",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "commuting",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "commuting Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17802,
"slug": "commuting",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/commuting"
},
"news_22417": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22417",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22417",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Highway 101",
"slug": "highway-101",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Highway 101 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 22434,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/highway-101"
},
"news_2480": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2480",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2480",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "I-80",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "I-80 Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2495,
"slug": "i-80",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/i-80"
},
"news_1764": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1764",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1764",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public transit",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public transit Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1777,
"slug": "public-transit",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-transit"
},
"news_1533": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1533",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1533",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1545,
"slug": "public-transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-transportation"
},
"news_31012": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31012",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31012",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "road closure",
"slug": "road-closure",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "road closure | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 31029,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/road-closure"
},
"news_21285": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21285",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21285",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "South Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "South Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21302,
"slug": "south-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/south-bay"
},
"news_92": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_92",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "92",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "traffic",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "traffic Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 95,
"slug": "traffic",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/traffic"
},
"news_4520": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4520",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4520",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "traffic congestion",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "traffic congestion Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4539,
"slug": "traffic-congestion",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/traffic-congestion"
},
"news_20517": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20517",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20517",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20534,
"slug": "transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/transportation"
},
"news_33731": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33731",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33731",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "South Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "South Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33748,
"slug": "south-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/south-bay"
},
"news_35397": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35397",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35397",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "federal government",
"slug": "federal-government",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "federal government | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35414,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/federal-government"
},
"news_25694": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25694",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25694",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "income taxes",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "income taxes Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25711,
"slug": "income-taxes",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/income-taxes"
},
"news_25464": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25464",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25464",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "IRS",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "IRS Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25481,
"slug": "irs",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/irs"
},
"news_19906": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19906",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19906",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Environment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19923,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/environment"
},
"news_18132": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18132",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18132",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "animals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "animals Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18166,
"slug": "animals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/animals"
},
"news_17925": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17925",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17925",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "hiking",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "hiking Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17959,
"slug": "hiking",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/hiking"
},
"news_34112": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34112",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34112",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Rattlesnakes",
"slug": "rattlesnakes",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Rattlesnakes Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34129,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/rattlesnakes"
},
"news_34111": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34111",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34111",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Snakes",
"slug": "snakes",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Snakes | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 34128,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/snakes"
},
"news_33750": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33750",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33750",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33767,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/climate"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
}
}
