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"content": "\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "VTA has long relied on sales taxes, not fares, to fund its operations. San José’s Mayor says this should be a wake-up call for the agency to generate more money from fares. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "sfo-united-airlines-employee-allegedly-threatens-to-call-ice-on-us-citizen",
"title": "SFO United Airlines Employee Allegedly Threatens to Call ICE on US Citizen",
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"headTitle": "SFO United Airlines Employee Allegedly Threatens to Call ICE on US Citizen | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A Bay Area resident accused a United Airlines employee of threatening to call federal immigration authorities after a confrontation at the airline’s counter at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport\">San Francisco International Airport\u003c/a> on Tuesday, prompting an internal probe by the airline.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident was captured on video by the passenger, San Ramon business owner Julio Varela, and widely \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uynxya/new_video_follow_up_with_racist_united_airlines/\">circulated on Reddit\u003c/a>. In the footage, a person who appears to be a United employee is seen recording Varela with a cellphone before stating: “Maybe we should call ICE on you. You’re not acting like a citizen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela, a Mexican American and naturalized United States citizen, was traveling to Montreal with his wife and two daughters. KQED has reviewed Varela’s ticket and videos of the encounter and was able to confirm he was at the airport at that time. He told KQED the employee’s conduct was discriminatory and unprovoked. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am Mexican. I was born in Mexico, I am a U.S. citizen. I own my own business. I pay taxes. I employ people,” Varela said on Friday. “For her, especially with what’s going on right now in America … to say that to a minority, especially a Hispanic person, I think it’s really, really hateful and it’s really racist.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHMdIwkuegQ\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>United Airlines declined to answer specific questions regarding the employee’s conduct or employment status.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re looking into the interaction in this video, but don’t have anything additional to share at this time,” a United media relations spokesperson told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said he, his wife and two of their daughters arrived at SFO around 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday for an 11:40 a.m. flight to Montreal, Canada, where his wife was attending a work conference. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks prior, he said, his wife had accidentally entered their daughter’s middle name in the last name field when booking through United for a flight operated by Air Canada. Varela said they spent roughly 15 hours on the phone in the two weeks leading up to the trip trying to fix the error, and were bounced repeatedly between the two airlines’ customer service lines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077958\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers wait for their flights inside San Francisco International Airport on Dec. 10, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the airport, the family spent nearly three hours walking back and forth between the United and Air Canada counters, he said. According to Varela, Air Canada agents were trying to help, but needed United to release the ticket in their system. Four minutes before the family was supposed to board, he said, an Air Canada supervisor walked over to the United counter to plead the family’s case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said the United employee he spoke with was dismissive, allegedly telling the Air Canada supervisor that she didn’t care if the family missed their flight.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“She said, ‘I’m not dealing with it, it ain’t my problem,’” Varela said. “That is when I was like, man, you’re so lazy, so rude. And she was like, ‘Why are you calling me this?’ I go, ‘Yeah, what’s your name?’ That’s when I pulled out my phone.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the footage, the United employee — wearing a badge identifying her as an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union steward — refused to give her name and began recording Varela with her own phone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When she reemerges from a back room, Varela again asks for her name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That was when she could be heard making the comment about involving U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s when I lost my s—,” Varela said. “I was like, ‘Are you serious? Call ICE on me right now.’”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said that, as the argument escalated, the employee stepped out from behind the counter and shoved his hand away, causing him to stop the recording. His 14-year-old daughter, standing next to him, was crying, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The family eventually made their flight after another United representative stepped in to finalize the ticket release.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are aware of a video being circulated online, but we have no verification of its authenticity or the full context,” the IAM Union said in a statement. “As depicted, the comments made in the video do not reflect the views or values of the IAM Union. Any potential matters arising from this incident will be handled through the appropriate processes established by the collective bargaining agreement.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFO officials declined to comment, directing inquiries to United Airlines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident comes amid mounting fear among travelers of federal immigration enforcement at transit hubs. On July 13, video footage captured plainclothes ICE \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/video/plainclothes-ice-officers-attempt-to-detain-man-las-vegas-airport/\">agents tackling and attempting to handcuff\u003c/a> a 57-year-old man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, plainclothes ICE agents \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077292/is-ice-at-sfo-heres-what-we-know-about-videos-of-woman-being-forcefully-detained\">detained Angelina Lopez-Jimenez\u003c/a>, a Contra Costa County mother and her 9-year-old daughter at SFO’s Terminal 3. The two were deported to Guatemala within 48 hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12073262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person sits on a bench at San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 9, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That arrest, which was prompted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077581/bay-area-officials-raise-privacy-concerns-after-ice-arrest-at-sfo\">data-sharing between the Transportation Security Administration and ICE\u003c/a>, drew intense backlash from civil rights advocates and prompted the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082395/san-francisco-condemns-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-actions-at-sfo-airport\">San Francisco Board of Supervisors\u003c/a> to pass a resolution condemning federal immigration enforcement at the airport.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though San Francisco is a sanctuary city, local policies cannot physically bar federal ICE agents from operating within the airport.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every time I fly, I’m like, ‘Are they going to let me in?’” Varela said. “You could be an American citizen born here. It doesn’t matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said that he heard through a personal connection at the airline that the employee had been suspended pending an investigation, though United did not confirm this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident, he said, has cast a shadow over his family’s vacation, and he is currently considering seeking legal counsel regarding a potential civil rights violation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t normalize racism. You can’t treat racists with empathy,” Varela said. “I definitely hope she gets fired.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The incident was captured on video by the passenger, San Ramon business owner Julio Varela, and widely \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uynxya/new_video_follow_up_with_racist_united_airlines/\">circulated on Reddit\u003c/a>. In the footage, a person who appears to be a United employee is seen recording Varela with a cellphone before stating: “Maybe we should call ICE on you. You’re not acting like a citizen.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Varela, a Mexican American and naturalized United States citizen, was traveling to Montreal with his wife and two daughters. KQED has reviewed Varela’s ticket and videos of the encounter and was able to confirm he was at the airport at that time. He told KQED the employee’s conduct was discriminatory and unprovoked. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Varela, a Mexican American and naturalized United States citizen, was traveling to Montreal with his wife and two daughters. KQED has reviewed Varela’s ticket and videos of the encounter and was able to confirm he was at the airport at that time. He told KQED the employee’s conduct was discriminatory and unprovoked. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I am Mexican. I was born in Mexico, I am a U.S. citizen. I own my own business. I pay taxes. I employ people,” Varela said on Friday. “For her, especially with what’s going on right now in America … to say that to a minority, especially a Hispanic person, I think it’s really, really hateful and it’s really racist.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>United Airlines declined to answer specific questions regarding the employee’s conduct or employment status.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re looking into the interaction in this video, but don’t have anything additional to share at this time,” a United media relations spokesperson told KQED.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Varela said he, his wife and two of their daughters arrived at SFO around 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday for an 11:40 a.m. flight to Montreal, Canada, where his wife was attending a work conference. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Varela said he, his wife and two of their daughters arrived at SFO around 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday for an 11:40 a.m. flight to Montreal, Canada, where his wife was attending a work conference. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weeks prior, he said, his wife had accidentally entered their daughter’s middle name in the last name field when booking through United for a flight operated by Air Canada. Varela said they spent roughly 15 hours on the phone in the two weeks leading up to the trip trying to fix the error, and were bounced repeatedly between the two airlines’ customer service lines.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weeks prior, he said, his wife had accidentally entered their daughter’s middle name in the last name field when booking through United for a flight operated by Air Canada. Varela said they spent roughly 15 hours on the phone in the two weeks leading up to the trip trying to fix the error, and were bounced repeatedly between the two airlines’ customer service lines.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the airport, the family spent nearly three hours walking back and forth between the United and Air Canada counters, he said. According to Varela, Air Canada agents were trying to help, but needed United to release the ticket in their system. Four minutes before the family was supposed to board, he said, an Air Canada supervisor walked over to the United counter to plead the family’s case.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the airport, the family spent nearly three hours walking back and forth between the United and Air Canada counters, he said. According to Varela, Air Canada agents were trying to help, but needed United to release the ticket in their system. Four minutes before the family was supposed to board, he said, an Air Canada supervisor walked over to the United counter to plead the family’s case.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Varela said the United employee he spoke with was dismissive, allegedly telling the Air Canada supervisor that she didn’t care if the family missed their flight.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“She said, ‘I’m not dealing with it, it ain’t my problem,’” Varela said. “That is when I was like, man, you’re so lazy, so rude. And she was like, ‘Why are you calling me this?’ I go, ‘Yeah, what’s your name?’ That’s when I pulled out my phone.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“She said, ‘I’m not dealing with it, it ain’t my problem,’” Varela said. “That is when I was like, man, you’re so lazy, so rude. And she was like, ‘Why are you calling me this?’ I go, ‘Yeah, what’s your name?’ That’s when I pulled out my phone.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When she reemerges from a back room, Varela again asks for her name.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That was when she could be heard making the comment about involving U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That’s when I lost my s—,” Varela said. “I was like, ‘Are you serious? Call ICE on me right now.’”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Varela said that, as the argument escalated, the employee stepped out from behind the counter and shoved his hand away, causing him to stop the recording. His 14-year-old daughter, standing next to him, was crying, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The family eventually made their flight after another United representative stepped in to finalize the ticket release.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are aware of a video being circulated online, but we have no verification of its authenticity or the full context,” the IAM Union said in a statement. “As depicted, the comments made in the video do not reflect the views or values of the IAM Union. Any potential matters arising from this incident will be handled through the appropriate processes established by the collective bargaining agreement.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>SFO officials declined to comment, directing inquiries to United Airlines.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The incident comes amid mounting fear among travelers of federal immigration enforcement at transit hubs. On July 13, video footage captured plainclothes ICE \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/video/plainclothes-ice-officers-attempt-to-detain-man-las-vegas-airport/\">agents tackling and attempting to handcuff\u003c/a> a 57-year-old man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Every time I fly, I’m like, ‘Are they going to let me in?’” Varela said. “You could be an American citizen born here. It doesn’t matter.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A Bay Area resident accused a United Airlines employee of threatening to call federal immigration authorities after a confrontation at the airline’s counter at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport\">San Francisco International Airport\u003c/a> on Tuesday, prompting an internal probe by the airline.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident was captured on video by the passenger, San Ramon business owner Julio Varela, and widely \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uynxya/new_video_follow_up_with_racist_united_airlines/\">circulated on Reddit\u003c/a>. In the footage, a person who appears to be a United employee is seen recording Varela with a cellphone before stating: “Maybe we should call ICE on you. You’re not acting like a citizen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela, a Mexican American and naturalized United States citizen, was traveling to Montreal with his wife and two daughters. KQED has reviewed Varela’s ticket and videos of the encounter and was able to confirm he was at the airport at that time. He told KQED the employee’s conduct was discriminatory and unprovoked. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am Mexican. I was born in Mexico, I am a U.S. citizen. I own my own business. I pay taxes. I employ people,” Varela said on Friday. “For her, especially with what’s going on right now in America … to say that to a minority, especially a Hispanic person, I think it’s really, really hateful and it’s really racist.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\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/HHMdIwkuegQ'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/HHMdIwkuegQ'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>United Airlines declined to answer specific questions regarding the employee’s conduct or employment status.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re looking into the interaction in this video, but don’t have anything additional to share at this time,” a United media relations spokesperson told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said he, his wife and two of their daughters arrived at SFO around 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday for an 11:40 a.m. flight to Montreal, Canada, where his wife was attending a work conference. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks prior, he said, his wife had accidentally entered their daughter’s middle name in the last name field when booking through United for a flight operated by Air Canada. Varela said they spent roughly 15 hours on the phone in the two weeks leading up to the trip trying to fix the error, and were bounced repeatedly between the two airlines’ customer service lines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12077958\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/United-Airlines-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers wait for their flights inside San Francisco International Airport on Dec. 10, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the airport, the family spent nearly three hours walking back and forth between the United and Air Canada counters, he said. According to Varela, Air Canada agents were trying to help, but needed United to release the ticket in their system. Four minutes before the family was supposed to board, he said, an Air Canada supervisor walked over to the United counter to plead the family’s case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said the United employee he spoke with was dismissive, allegedly telling the Air Canada supervisor that she didn’t care if the family missed their flight.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“She said, ‘I’m not dealing with it, it ain’t my problem,’” Varela said. “That is when I was like, man, you’re so lazy, so rude. And she was like, ‘Why are you calling me this?’ I go, ‘Yeah, what’s your name?’ That’s when I pulled out my phone.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the footage, the United employee — wearing a badge identifying her as an International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union steward — refused to give her name and began recording Varela with her own phone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When she reemerges from a back room, Varela again asks for her name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That was when she could be heard making the comment about involving U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s when I lost my s—,” Varela said. “I was like, ‘Are you serious? Call ICE on me right now.’”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said that, as the argument escalated, the employee stepped out from behind the counter and shoved his hand away, causing him to stop the recording. His 14-year-old daughter, standing next to him, was crying, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The family eventually made their flight after another United representative stepped in to finalize the ticket release.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are aware of a video being circulated online, but we have no verification of its authenticity or the full context,” the IAM Union said in a statement. “As depicted, the comments made in the video do not reflect the views or values of the IAM Union. Any potential matters arising from this incident will be handled through the appropriate processes established by the collective bargaining agreement.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFO officials declined to comment, directing inquiries to United Airlines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident comes amid mounting fear among travelers of federal immigration enforcement at transit hubs. On July 13, video footage captured plainclothes ICE \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/video/plainclothes-ice-officers-attempt-to-detain-man-las-vegas-airport/\">agents tackling and attempting to handcuff\u003c/a> a 57-year-old man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, plainclothes ICE agents \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077292/is-ice-at-sfo-heres-what-we-know-about-videos-of-woman-being-forcefully-detained\">detained Angelina Lopez-Jimenez\u003c/a>, a Contra Costa County mother and her 9-year-old daughter at SFO’s Terminal 3. The two were deported to Guatemala within 48 hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12073262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260209-SFOSLEEPING-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person sits on a bench at San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 9, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That arrest, which was prompted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077581/bay-area-officials-raise-privacy-concerns-after-ice-arrest-at-sfo\">data-sharing between the Transportation Security Administration and ICE\u003c/a>, drew intense backlash from civil rights advocates and prompted the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082395/san-francisco-condemns-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-actions-at-sfo-airport\">San Francisco Board of Supervisors\u003c/a> to pass a resolution condemning federal immigration enforcement at the airport.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though San Francisco is a sanctuary city, local policies cannot physically bar federal ICE agents from operating within the airport.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every time I fly, I’m like, ‘Are they going to let me in?’” Varela said. “You could be an American citizen born here. It doesn’t matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Varela said that he heard through a personal connection at the airline that the employee had been suspended pending an investigation, though United did not confirm this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident, he said, has cast a shadow over his family’s vacation, and he is currently considering seeking legal counsel regarding a potential civil rights violation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t normalize racism. You can’t treat racists with empathy,” Varela said. “I definitely hope she gets fired.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "how-does-californias-3500-ev-rebate-work",
"title": "How Does California’s $3,500 EV Rebate Work?",
"publishDate": 1784296800,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "How Does California’s $3,500 EV Rebate Work? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024. (Eric Thayer/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024. (Saul Gonzalez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>That you qualify for the MyFirstEV discount\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2274\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2274px) 100vw, 2274px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n",
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"That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024. (Eric Thayer/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024. (Saul Gonzalez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>That you qualify for the MyFirstEV discount\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2274\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2274px) 100vw, 2274px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-calls-on-state-to-tighten-autonomous-vehicle-regulations",
"title": "San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Calls on State to Tighten Autonomous Vehicle Regulations",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Calls on State to Tighten Autonomous Vehicle Regulations | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074861/waymo-to-report-on-mass-stranding-event-during-sf-december-blackout\">traffic meltdowns involving Waymo\u003c/a> vehicles \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089915/sf-supe-to-launch-inquiry-on-waymos-july-fourth-traffic-meltdown\">during major events\u003c/a>, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling on state regulators to set new standards for autonomous vehicles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor sent a letter to state Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin on Thursday highlighting the recent traffic jams involving Waymo cars on the Fourth of July and last year during the city’s widespread power outages. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Regulating for typical conditions is no longer enough,” Lurie wrote. “California’s challenge now is not just whether autonomous vehicles can operate safely under normal conditions, but also whether they can perform reliably during extraordinary ones.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie, a moderate Democrat, has championed San Francisco as the birthplace of autonomous vehicles, which he views as a boon to the city’s local economy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More than 30 Waymos became stuck in the only parking area for the San Francisco fireworks show on July 4, 2026, blocking parking for hours. (Courtesy of Dr. R, AGI Summit 2026)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Each transportation innovation has evolved over time to meet the needs of a dynamic city,” the mayor wrote. “We believe now is the time for regulators and autonomous vehicle companies to evolve as well.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Criticism after high-profile events like the Fourth of July fireworks display over the Golden Gate Bridge, when dozens of stalled Waymo vehicles delayed traffic, has led him to strike a more tempered tune around Waymo and other self-driving car companies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie wrote that all autonomous vehicle companies should be able to prove they are ready for large crowds and changing traffic patterns during major events before they are deployed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even before the fireworks began, Waymo vehicles struggled to navigate growing volumes of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. By the end of the fireworks show, autonomous vehicles became immobilized in travel lanes, blocking key streets and ultimately bringing traffic to a standstill. Muni shuttles were trapped in the gridlock,” the letter read. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles regulate autonomous vehicles, and while Lurie’s letter could help generate attention and pressure, he has little authority to set standards for the technology, even in his own city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor’s letter comes after increasing scrutiny over Waymo traffic disruptions from city supervisors like Bilal Mahmood, who called on the company to report what led to several of their taxis being stranded during a massive blackout in parts of the city last December. He has also submitted a letter of inquiry on the July 4 traffic breakdown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supervisor Jackie Fielder also questioned vehicle safety after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062777/san-francisco-supervisor-calls-for-robotaxi-reform-after-waymo-kills-neighborhood-cat\">Waymo ran over and killed a local bodega cat\u003c/a> in the Mission District last year, drawing attention to local governments’ lack of control over how autonomous vehicles are deployed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Waymo appeared before the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing in March, where first responders said the vehicles can pose serious \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075147/is-waymo-ready-for-another-emergency-san-francisco-supervisors-are-skeptical\">risks to emergency services\u003c/a> by blocking streets.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just don’t think this is ready right now,” Sam Gebler, president of the local firefighters’ union, said of autonomous vehicle technology. “We have seen situations where they travel in a long line and if the first one doesn’t know what to do, the rest turn into paperweights, and it causes a chain reaction that blocks the road.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Waymo said the company has successfully supported other major events, such as the NBA All-Star Weekend and FIFA World Cup Games. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The city and Waymo share a mutual goal of providing safe and accessible transportation for visitors and residents alike,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to partner with the city’s agencies, collaborating with them on the learnings based on the millions of rides we have provided in San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mayor sent a letter to state Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin on Thursday highlighting the recent traffic jams involving Waymo cars on the Fourth of July and last year during the city’s widespread power outages. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Regulating for typical conditions is no longer enough,” Lurie wrote. “California’s challenge now is not just whether autonomous vehicles can operate safely under normal conditions, but also whether they can perform reliably during extraordinary ones.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More than 30 Waymos became stuck in the only parking area for the San Francisco fireworks show on July 4, 2026, blocking parking for hours.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Each transportation innovation has evolved over time to meet the needs of a dynamic city,” the mayor wrote. “We believe now is the time for regulators and autonomous vehicle companies to evolve as well.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Criticism after high-profile events like the Fourth of July fireworks display over the Golden Gate Bridge, when dozens of stalled Waymo vehicles delayed traffic, has led him to strike a more tempered tune around Waymo and other self-driving car companies. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lurie wrote that all autonomous vehicle companies should be able to prove they are ready for large crowds and changing traffic patterns during major events before they are deployed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Even before the fireworks began, Waymo vehicles struggled to navigate growing volumes of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. By the end of the fireworks show, autonomous vehicles became immobilized in travel lanes, blocking key streets and ultimately bringing traffic to a standstill. Muni shuttles were trapped in the gridlock,” the letter read. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles regulate autonomous vehicles, and while Lurie’s letter could help generate attention and pressure, he has little authority to set standards for the technology, even in his own city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mayor’s letter comes after increasing scrutiny over Waymo traffic disruptions from city supervisors like Bilal Mahmood, who called on the company to report what led to several of their taxis being stranded during a massive blackout in parts of the city last December. He has also submitted a letter of inquiry on the July 4 traffic breakdown. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Supervisor Jackie Fielder also questioned vehicle safety after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062777/san-francisco-supervisor-calls-for-robotaxi-reform-after-waymo-kills-neighborhood-cat\">Waymo ran over and killed a local bodega cat\u003c/a> in the Mission District last year, drawing attention to local governments’ lack of control over how autonomous vehicles are deployed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I just don’t think this is ready right now,” Sam Gebler, president of the local firefighters’ union, said of autonomous vehicle technology. “We have seen situations where they travel in a long line and if the first one doesn’t know what to do, the rest turn into paperweights, and it causes a chain reaction that blocks the road.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Waymo said the company has successfully supported other major events, such as the NBA All-Star Weekend and FIFA World Cup Games. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The city and Waymo share a mutual goal of providing safe and accessible transportation for visitors and residents alike,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to partner with the city’s agencies, collaborating with them on the learnings based on the millions of rides we have provided in San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Lurie’s letter to the state transportation secretary comes just weeks after a massive backup of stalled Waymo vehicles snarled the city’s Fourth of July festivities. ",
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"title": "San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Calls on State to Tighten Autonomous Vehicle Regulations | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074861/waymo-to-report-on-mass-stranding-event-during-sf-december-blackout\">traffic meltdowns involving Waymo\u003c/a> vehicles \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089915/sf-supe-to-launch-inquiry-on-waymos-july-fourth-traffic-meltdown\">during major events\u003c/a>, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling on state regulators to set new standards for autonomous vehicles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor sent a letter to state Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin on Thursday highlighting the recent traffic jams involving Waymo cars on the Fourth of July and last year during the city’s widespread power outages. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Regulating for typical conditions is no longer enough,” Lurie wrote. “California’s challenge now is not just whether autonomous vehicles can operate safely under normal conditions, but also whether they can perform reliably during extraordinary ones.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie, a moderate Democrat, has championed San Francisco as the birthplace of autonomous vehicles, which he views as a boon to the city’s local economy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More than 30 Waymos became stuck in the only parking area for the San Francisco fireworks show on July 4, 2026, blocking parking for hours. (Courtesy of Dr. R, AGI Summit 2026)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Each transportation innovation has evolved over time to meet the needs of a dynamic city,” the mayor wrote. “We believe now is the time for regulators and autonomous vehicle companies to evolve as well.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Criticism after high-profile events like the Fourth of July fireworks display over the Golden Gate Bridge, when dozens of stalled Waymo vehicles delayed traffic, has led him to strike a more tempered tune around Waymo and other self-driving car companies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie wrote that all autonomous vehicle companies should be able to prove they are ready for large crowds and changing traffic patterns during major events before they are deployed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even before the fireworks began, Waymo vehicles struggled to navigate growing volumes of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. By the end of the fireworks show, autonomous vehicles became immobilized in travel lanes, blocking key streets and ultimately bringing traffic to a standstill. Muni shuttles were trapped in the gridlock,” the letter read. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles regulate autonomous vehicles, and while Lurie’s letter could help generate attention and pressure, he has little authority to set standards for the technology, even in his own city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mayor’s letter comes after increasing scrutiny over Waymo traffic disruptions from city supervisors like Bilal Mahmood, who called on the company to report what led to several of their taxis being stranded during a massive blackout in parts of the city last December. He has also submitted a letter of inquiry on the July 4 traffic breakdown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supervisor Jackie Fielder also questioned vehicle safety after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062777/san-francisco-supervisor-calls-for-robotaxi-reform-after-waymo-kills-neighborhood-cat\">Waymo ran over and killed a local bodega cat\u003c/a> in the Mission District last year, drawing attention to local governments’ lack of control over how autonomous vehicles are deployed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Waymo appeared before the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing in March, where first responders said the vehicles can pose serious \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075147/is-waymo-ready-for-another-emergency-san-francisco-supervisors-are-skeptical\">risks to emergency services\u003c/a> by blocking streets.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just don’t think this is ready right now,” Sam Gebler, president of the local firefighters’ union, said of autonomous vehicle technology. “We have seen situations where they travel in a long line and if the first one doesn’t know what to do, the rest turn into paperweights, and it causes a chain reaction that blocks the road.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Waymo said the company has successfully supported other major events, such as the NBA All-Star Weekend and FIFA World Cup Games. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The city and Waymo share a mutual goal of providing safe and accessible transportation for visitors and residents alike,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to partner with the city’s agencies, collaborating with them on the learnings based on the millions of rides we have provided in San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-dmv-says-suspected-cheating-cause-of-11000-driver-test-cancellation-letters",
"title": "California DMV Says Suspected ‘Cheating’ Cause of 11,000 Driver Test Cancellation Letters",
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"content": "\u003cp>The California Department of Motor Vehicles said cheating concerns led them to require \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090223/california-dmv-retest-written-test-letter-retake-irregularities-appointment\">thousands of drivers to retake\u003c/a> their written knowledge exam in recent weeks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency had previously been tight-lipped about why it issued 11,000 Californians reevaluation notices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said in an email that irregularities it identified in exam results suggested that “some individuals may have attempted to circumvent the testing process using various cheating methods.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081739\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot in central Fresno on Dec. 13, 2022. (Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The DMV did not provide any specifics on how people might have cheated. State lawmakers previously requested more information about the nature of any misconduct, and asked if the DMV had identified cheating schemes or third-party and criminal organization involvement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Groveman said that receiving a notice “does not indicate a final determination that cheating occurred,” it means that the test taker’s results were “identified as potentially problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said it has referred multiple cases to county district attorneys for potential prosecution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ensuring the integrity of the knowledge testing process is essential to public safety and to confirm that drivers understand California’s rules of the road,” Groveman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letters warn that drivers who do not retake and pass the written test within 30 days will have their licenses canceled.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said in an email that irregularities it identified in exam results suggested that “some individuals may have attempted to circumvent the testing process using various cheating methods.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081739\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot in central Fresno on Dec. 13, 2022. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Ensuring the integrity of the knowledge testing process is essential to public safety and to confirm that drivers understand California’s rules of the road,” Groveman said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The letters warn that drivers who do not retake and pass the written test within 30 days will have their licenses canceled.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A spokesperson for the agency said several cases have been referred to local district attorneys for potential prosecution.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The California Department of Motor Vehicles said cheating concerns led them to require \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090223/california-dmv-retest-written-test-letter-retake-irregularities-appointment\">thousands of drivers to retake\u003c/a> their written knowledge exam in recent weeks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency had previously been tight-lipped about why it issued 11,000 Californians reevaluation notices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said in an email that irregularities it identified in exam results suggested that “some individuals may have attempted to circumvent the testing process using various cheating methods.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081739\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/DMVCM1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot in central Fresno on Dec. 13, 2022. (Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The DMV did not provide any specifics on how people might have cheated. State lawmakers previously requested more information about the nature of any misconduct, and asked if the DMV had identified cheating schemes or third-party and criminal organization involvement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Groveman said that receiving a notice “does not indicate a final determination that cheating occurred,” it means that the test taker’s results were “identified as potentially problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said it has referred multiple cases to county district attorneys for potential prosecution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ensuring the integrity of the knowledge testing process is essential to public safety and to confirm that drivers understand California’s rules of the road,” Groveman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letters warn that drivers who do not retake and pass the written test within 30 days will have their licenses canceled.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "under-new-california-insurance-bill-drivers-could-swap-data-for-discounts",
"title": "Under New California Insurance Bill, Drivers Could Swap Data for Discounts",
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"headTitle": "Under New California Insurance Bill, Drivers Could Swap Data for Discounts | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bill to allow insurance companies to monitor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/drivers\">California drivers’\u003c/a> behavior in exchange for potential discounts on their premiums would change the state’s longstanding insurance law, drawing opposition from the Insurance Department as well as consumer and privacy advocates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab311\">Assembly Bill 311\u003c/a> would let insurance companies use telematics — technology installed in vehicles that allows them to transmit information such as location, speed, braking force, swerving and more — when setting rates for drivers who choose to allow themselves to be tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is the only state in the nation that does not allow insurers to use telematics in setting rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State law requires insurers to prioritize safety record, miles driven and driving experience as the main factors when they set drivers’ premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill would let drivers choose to use telematics data to establish their driving records in addition to what their Department of Motor Vehicles records show. Telematics data is collected by smartphone app, systems embedded in vehicles or other connected technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supporters say the legislation would make streets and highways safer by encouraging better driving, while opponents worry about privacy, lack of transparency and possible bias in insurance pricing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11699281\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11699281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg\" alt=\"The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1356\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-800x565.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1020x720.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1200x848.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1180x833.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-960x678.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-240x170.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-375x265.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-520x367.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kellie Montalvo, a parent whose son died after a distracted driver hit him, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279768#t=1740&f=41a5de742ae9b5da1a12b7c015d72373\">testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance\u003c/a> on June 24.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said her son Benjamin, 21, was riding his bike in 2020 when he was \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/04/17/corona-couple-channel-their-grief-to-urge-motorists-not-to-text-and-drive/\">hit by a driver who had been texting while driving\u003c/a>. She said the driver had a record of “speeding tickets, prior crashes and this was her fourth hit-and-run.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I spend many sleepless nights wondering if she had been stopped at any point prior to that horrific night, would my beautiful son be here today,” Montalvo said, her voice breaking. She urged lawmakers to pass the bill, saying it will save lives.[aside postID=news_12090223 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2017/04/gettyimages-84674999-272e4d9602509b640a3288b5aa8fd95454c9a110-e1491337540814.jpg']Other witnesses, also clearly emotional, expressed support for the bill as they carried enlarged photos of the loved ones they’ve lost because of crashes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill’s author, Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/tina-mckinnor-35053\">Tina McKinnor\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Inglewood, said at the committee hearing that she has lost three friends in vehicle crashes in the past several years. She called telematics a tool to help make streets safer, saying her bill would “incentivize safer, good driving behavior.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Safer Streets for Everyone, a nonprofit organization advocating for road safety, co-sponsored the legislation. The group’s founder and executive director, Damian Kevitt, is a cyclist who was hit by a car and lost his leg. He testified before the committee, citing a couple of \u003ca href=\"https://aaafoundation.org/research/a-randomized-field-trial-of-smartphone-based-feedback-designed-to-encourage-safe-driving-comparing-focused-and-self-chosen-goals-to-standard-usage-based-insurance-messaging/\">studies\u003c/a> that show drivers improved their behavior — including \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820970\">reducing their use of mobile phones\u003c/a> — while behind the wheel when financial rewards were involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both studies were backed by the insurance industry. None of the proponents who testified recently before two Senate committees advanced the bill mentioned any independent studies around whether telematics has helped improve safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other supporters of the bill include several road-safety coalitions and bicycle associations from around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Insurance department’s concerns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The state’s insurance department is opposed to the bill, saying the legislation is not compatible with California insurance law, Proposition 103.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law came out of a ballot proposition written by Harvey Rosenfield, the founder of consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, in response to rising car and home insurance premiums almost four decades ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was approved by 51% of the state’s voters in 1988 and includes a mandate for insurance companies to give “good drivers” 20% discounts. (Some drivers also receive discounts for low mileage — it’s a form of monitoring that’s OK under Prop. 103 because miles driven is an allowed factor in rate-setting.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957604\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957604\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Cars drive over a large bridge.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cars on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge driving across the San Francisco Bay, as seen from northern Point San Quentin in San Quentin on Sept. 23, 2021. \u003ccite>(Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The bill creates broad liability loopholes, dilutes regulator oversight, and allows insurance companies to shift core regulatory responsibilities to unregulated third-party telematics vendors, among other concerns,” wrote Josephine Figueroa, deputy insurance commissioner and legislative director for the department, to Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/steve-padilla-165435\">Steve Padilla\u003c/a>, chairperson of the Senate insurance committee, on June 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Figueroa wrote that the bill contains vague language about how insurance companies are supposed to do “due diligence” around third-party telematics providers, and using telematics data as part of drivers’ records. She said the insurance department has documented cases “where facially neutral criteria produce disparate impacts, such as the use of census-tract voter registration rates as a proxy for race or citizenship.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, she said “consumer savings also remain generally unproven and varied.” She cited \u003ca href=\"https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Appeals%20and%20Grievances%20Reports/Telematics-Survey-Report-2025.pdf\">data\u003c/a> from the Maryland Insurance Administration, which showed that in 2023, 31% of that state’s drivers enrolled in their insurers’ telematics program saw their rates drop; 24% actually experienced an increase; and 45% saw no change in their premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maryland’s research also showed that the telematics systems collected a lot of data that included trip route, days driven, G-force, unsafe following, aggressive turning and many more driver behaviors. Most insurers outsourced the collection of that data to third parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s Senate insurance committee passed the bill four days after Figueroa’s letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The insurance department is meeting with McKinnor’s staff about its concerns, according to Michael Soller, spokesperson for the department. McKinnor and her staff would not answer CalMatters’ questions about the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11685396\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11685396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/08/GettyImages-84776357-e1533663544615.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People wait in line outside of the DMV in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some of the insurance department’s concerns about the legislation align with those of Consumer Watchdog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In California, auto insurance has to be rated in a driver’s actual driving history, not the product of an unverified algorithm or (artificial intelligence) system predicting future driving,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, in testimony before the Senate insurance committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview with CalMatters, Balber wondered why the legislation — a “gut-and-amend,” a bill that has been substantially reworked or rewritten, has missed the introduction deadline and is meant to be fast-tracked, often because it’s controversial — is bypassing the typical hearing process. The new language was submitted to the Senate June 10; Balber said her group had less than a week’s notice that it was coming up for discussion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That worry, too, is in line with that of the insurance department. Figueroa wrote in her letter to Padilla that she was concerned that the bill, as gutted and amended, contains language the department had reviewed and expressed reservations about several months ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list of the bill’s supporters includes insurance industry groups that have long pushed for telematics use in California. One group in particular, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, has given about $1,000 worth of dinner and travel to McKinnor several times over the past few years, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/tina-mckinnor-35053\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. She has also received campaign contributions from the group, as well as other insurance industry groups and employees, totaling $38,000 since 2022, state campaign finance records show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Padilla, a Democrat from the San Diego area who chairs the Senate insurance committee, was unavailable to respond to CalMatters’ questions about the concerns the insurance department raised in the letter it sent him, spokesperson Cameron Sutherland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056587\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056587\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A driver rides the carpool lane in a Tesla on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Padilla also is on the Senate Standing Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection, which passed the bill a few days after the insurance committee did and referred it to the appropriations committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Padilla has received about the same amount of campaign contributions from the insurance industry since 2022, according to campaign finance records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The insurance department sent the chairperson of the privacy committee, Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/christopher-cabaldon-5699\">Christopher Cabaldon\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Napa, a similar letter with its concerns about the bill, according to Soller. Cabaldon’s office did not immediately respond to CalMatters’ request to talk about the letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cabaldon showed strong support for the bill, saying during his committee \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279739#t=202&f=e9b9ce561078fd2e175df81755ec9abf\">hearing\u003c/a> that consumers should have the choice to use their driving data how they want and that he believed in the technology’s potential. He has also received campaign contributions from the insurance industry — about $27,000 going back to when he ran for the state Assembly in 2008, campaign finance records show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The numbers, or lack thereof\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California has some of the highest rates for full auto insurance coverage in the nation, according to at least one \u003ca href=\"https://www.marketwatch.com/insurance-services/auto-insurance/car-insurance-rates-by-state/\">analysis\u003c/a>, by MarketWatch, a news publication with an arm that publishes commerce guides. Another \u003ca href=\"https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/\">analysis\u003c/a>, by insurance-comparison site Insurify, says California’s car insurance rates have been rising for the past couple of years and are projected to increase 1% this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maryland’s research on the effects of telematics is the first by a state insurance regulator, according to Consumer Federation of America, a national association of consumer nonprofit organizations. The group is urging other state regulators to follow suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t trust companies to do this without oversight,” Michael DeLong, research and advocacy associate for the group, told CalMatters. He said companies can collect a lot of information about drivers and use it to make money; an example of that is \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/05/gm-record-california-penalty-onstar-data/\">a recent settlement\u003c/a> between the California Justice Department and General Motors, penalizing the automaker for selling driver data associated with its OnStar emergency roadside and navigation service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067538\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from inside Amarjit Singh’s truck in Livermore, on Dec. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>DeLong said the group plans to write a letter criticizing AB 311.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At least one other independent survey, by \u003ca href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/money/car-insurance/car-insurance-telematics-pros-and-cons-a5869096072/\">Consumer Reports\u003c/a> in 2024, has shown that telematics can help reduce drivers’ premiums. The survey found a median annual savings of $120 — including higher savings for Black and Latino drivers than for white and Asian drivers — but also found that some drivers’ insurance costs rose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consumer and privacy advocates, including ACLU California Action, Consumer Federation of California and TechEquity Action, worry that some drivers will feel like they have no choice but to give up their privacy in exchange for possibly saving money. In doing so, they could also open themselves up to bias depending on where they live, work and drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill “would authorize an opaque surveillance pricing infrastructure for a product Californians are legally required to purchase,” Becca Cramer, speaking for Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, told both the Senate insurance committee and privacy committee. “Californians have a constitutional right to privacy and not have to choose between exercising that right and affording a mandatory product.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cramer also cited the Consumer Reports survey and said telematics companies score drivers based on “factors that correlate strongly with race and income.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/07/telematics-car-insurance-bill/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "AB 311 would change California insurance law by allowing drivers to opt in to being tracked through telematics, which transmits data to insurance companies.",
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"title": "Under New California Insurance Bill, Drivers Could Swap Data for Discounts | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A bill to allow insurance companies to monitor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/drivers\">California drivers’\u003c/a> behavior in exchange for potential discounts on their premiums would change the state’s longstanding insurance law, drawing opposition from the Insurance Department as well as consumer and privacy advocates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab311\">Assembly Bill 311\u003c/a> would let insurance companies use telematics — technology installed in vehicles that allows them to transmit information such as location, speed, braking force, swerving and more — when setting rates for drivers who choose to allow themselves to be tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is the only state in the nation that does not allow insurers to use telematics in setting rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State law requires insurers to prioritize safety record, miles driven and driving experience as the main factors when they set drivers’ premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill would let drivers choose to use telematics data to establish their driving records in addition to what their Department of Motor Vehicles records show. Telematics data is collected by smartphone app, systems embedded in vehicles or other connected technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supporters say the legislation would make streets and highways safer by encouraging better driving, while opponents worry about privacy, lack of transparency and possible bias in insurance pricing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11699281\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11699281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg\" alt=\"The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1356\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-800x565.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1020x720.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1200x848.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1180x833.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-960x678.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-240x170.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-375x265.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-520x367.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kellie Montalvo, a parent whose son died after a distracted driver hit him, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279768#t=1740&f=41a5de742ae9b5da1a12b7c015d72373\">testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance\u003c/a> on June 24.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said her son Benjamin, 21, was riding his bike in 2020 when he was \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/04/17/corona-couple-channel-their-grief-to-urge-motorists-not-to-text-and-drive/\">hit by a driver who had been texting while driving\u003c/a>. She said the driver had a record of “speeding tickets, prior crashes and this was her fourth hit-and-run.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I spend many sleepless nights wondering if she had been stopped at any point prior to that horrific night, would my beautiful son be here today,” Montalvo said, her voice breaking. She urged lawmakers to pass the bill, saying it will save lives.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Other witnesses, also clearly emotional, expressed support for the bill as they carried enlarged photos of the loved ones they’ve lost because of crashes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill’s author, Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/tina-mckinnor-35053\">Tina McKinnor\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Inglewood, said at the committee hearing that she has lost three friends in vehicle crashes in the past several years. She called telematics a tool to help make streets safer, saying her bill would “incentivize safer, good driving behavior.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Safer Streets for Everyone, a nonprofit organization advocating for road safety, co-sponsored the legislation. The group’s founder and executive director, Damian Kevitt, is a cyclist who was hit by a car and lost his leg. He testified before the committee, citing a couple of \u003ca href=\"https://aaafoundation.org/research/a-randomized-field-trial-of-smartphone-based-feedback-designed-to-encourage-safe-driving-comparing-focused-and-self-chosen-goals-to-standard-usage-based-insurance-messaging/\">studies\u003c/a> that show drivers improved their behavior — including \u003ca href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820970\">reducing their use of mobile phones\u003c/a> — while behind the wheel when financial rewards were involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both studies were backed by the insurance industry. None of the proponents who testified recently before two Senate committees advanced the bill mentioned any independent studies around whether telematics has helped improve safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other supporters of the bill include several road-safety coalitions and bicycle associations from around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Insurance department’s concerns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The state’s insurance department is opposed to the bill, saying the legislation is not compatible with California insurance law, Proposition 103.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law came out of a ballot proposition written by Harvey Rosenfield, the founder of consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, in response to rising car and home insurance premiums almost four decades ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was approved by 51% of the state’s voters in 1988 and includes a mandate for insurance companies to give “good drivers” 20% discounts. (Some drivers also receive discounts for low mileage — it’s a form of monitoring that’s OK under Prop. 103 because miles driven is an allowed factor in rate-setting.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957604\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957604\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Cars drive over a large bridge.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS51744_RichmondSanRafaelBridge-12-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cars on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge driving across the San Francisco Bay, as seen from northern Point San Quentin in San Quentin on Sept. 23, 2021. \u003ccite>(Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The bill creates broad liability loopholes, dilutes regulator oversight, and allows insurance companies to shift core regulatory responsibilities to unregulated third-party telematics vendors, among other concerns,” wrote Josephine Figueroa, deputy insurance commissioner and legislative director for the department, to Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/steve-padilla-165435\">Steve Padilla\u003c/a>, chairperson of the Senate insurance committee, on June 20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Figueroa wrote that the bill contains vague language about how insurance companies are supposed to do “due diligence” around third-party telematics providers, and using telematics data as part of drivers’ records. She said the insurance department has documented cases “where facially neutral criteria produce disparate impacts, such as the use of census-tract voter registration rates as a proxy for race or citizenship.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, she said “consumer savings also remain generally unproven and varied.” She cited \u003ca href=\"https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Appeals%20and%20Grievances%20Reports/Telematics-Survey-Report-2025.pdf\">data\u003c/a> from the Maryland Insurance Administration, which showed that in 2023, 31% of that state’s drivers enrolled in their insurers’ telematics program saw their rates drop; 24% actually experienced an increase; and 45% saw no change in their premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maryland’s research also showed that the telematics systems collected a lot of data that included trip route, days driven, G-force, unsafe following, aggressive turning and many more driver behaviors. Most insurers outsourced the collection of that data to third parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s Senate insurance committee passed the bill four days after Figueroa’s letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The insurance department is meeting with McKinnor’s staff about its concerns, according to Michael Soller, spokesperson for the department. McKinnor and her staff would not answer CalMatters’ questions about the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11685396\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11685396\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/08/GettyImages-84776357-e1533663544615.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People wait in line outside of the DMV in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some of the insurance department’s concerns about the legislation align with those of Consumer Watchdog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In California, auto insurance has to be rated in a driver’s actual driving history, not the product of an unverified algorithm or (artificial intelligence) system predicting future driving,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, in testimony before the Senate insurance committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview with CalMatters, Balber wondered why the legislation — a “gut-and-amend,” a bill that has been substantially reworked or rewritten, has missed the introduction deadline and is meant to be fast-tracked, often because it’s controversial — is bypassing the typical hearing process. The new language was submitted to the Senate June 10; Balber said her group had less than a week’s notice that it was coming up for discussion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That worry, too, is in line with that of the insurance department. Figueroa wrote in her letter to Padilla that she was concerned that the bill, as gutted and amended, contains language the department had reviewed and expressed reservations about several months ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The list of the bill’s supporters includes insurance industry groups that have long pushed for telematics use in California. One group in particular, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, has given about $1,000 worth of dinner and travel to McKinnor several times over the past few years, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/tina-mckinnor-35053\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. She has also received campaign contributions from the group, as well as other insurance industry groups and employees, totaling $38,000 since 2022, state campaign finance records show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Padilla, a Democrat from the San Diego area who chairs the Senate insurance committee, was unavailable to respond to CalMatters’ questions about the concerns the insurance department raised in the letter it sent him, spokesperson Cameron Sutherland said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056587\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056587\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/EV-Carpool_GettyImages-2234597020-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A driver rides the carpool lane in a Tesla on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. \u003ccite>(Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Padilla also is on the Senate Standing Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection, which passed the bill a few days after the insurance committee did and referred it to the appropriations committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Padilla has received about the same amount of campaign contributions from the insurance industry since 2022, according to campaign finance records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The insurance department sent the chairperson of the privacy committee, Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/christopher-cabaldon-5699\">Christopher Cabaldon\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Napa, a similar letter with its concerns about the bill, according to Soller. Cabaldon’s office did not immediately respond to CalMatters’ request to talk about the letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cabaldon showed strong support for the bill, saying during his committee \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279739#t=202&f=e9b9ce561078fd2e175df81755ec9abf\">hearing\u003c/a> that consumers should have the choice to use their driving data how they want and that he believed in the technology’s potential. He has also received campaign contributions from the insurance industry — about $27,000 going back to when he ran for the state Assembly in 2008, campaign finance records show.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The numbers, or lack thereof\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California has some of the highest rates for full auto insurance coverage in the nation, according to at least one \u003ca href=\"https://www.marketwatch.com/insurance-services/auto-insurance/car-insurance-rates-by-state/\">analysis\u003c/a>, by MarketWatch, a news publication with an arm that publishes commerce guides. Another \u003ca href=\"https://insurify.com/car-insurance/report/\">analysis\u003c/a>, by insurance-comparison site Insurify, says California’s car insurance rates have been rising for the past couple of years and are projected to increase 1% this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maryland’s research on the effects of telematics is the first by a state insurance regulator, according to Consumer Federation of America, a national association of consumer nonprofit organizations. The group is urging other state regulators to follow suit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t trust companies to do this without oversight,” Michael DeLong, research and advocacy associate for the group, told CalMatters. He said companies can collect a lot of information about drivers and use it to make money; an example of that is \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/05/gm-record-california-penalty-onstar-data/\">a recent settlement\u003c/a> between the California Justice Department and General Motors, penalizing the automaker for selling driver data associated with its OnStar emergency roadside and navigation service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067538\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/20251216_REVOKE-OF-COMMERCIAL-DRIVERS-LICENSES_DECEMBER_GH-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from inside Amarjit Singh’s truck in Livermore, on Dec. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>DeLong said the group plans to write a letter criticizing AB 311.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At least one other independent survey, by \u003ca href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/money/car-insurance/car-insurance-telematics-pros-and-cons-a5869096072/\">Consumer Reports\u003c/a> in 2024, has shown that telematics can help reduce drivers’ premiums. The survey found a median annual savings of $120 — including higher savings for Black and Latino drivers than for white and Asian drivers — but also found that some drivers’ insurance costs rose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consumer and privacy advocates, including ACLU California Action, Consumer Federation of California and TechEquity Action, worry that some drivers will feel like they have no choice but to give up their privacy in exchange for possibly saving money. In doing so, they could also open themselves up to bias depending on where they live, work and drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill “would authorize an opaque surveillance pricing infrastructure for a product Californians are legally required to purchase,” Becca Cramer, speaking for Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, told both the Senate insurance committee and privacy committee. “Californians have a constitutional right to privacy and not have to choose between exercising that right and affording a mandatory product.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cramer also cited the Consumer Reports survey and said telematics companies score drivers based on “factors that correlate strongly with race and income.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/07/telematics-car-insurance-bill/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Transit leaders have warned voters in five \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> counties for months that if they fail to pass a regional sales tax measure on November’s ballot, BART, Muni and other agencies will have to dramatically cut service, spiking the cost of living and commute times for many in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://transitaccountability.com/index.html\">campaign\u003c/a> launched by the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association on Wednesday wants voters to reject that proposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There are a lot of other alternatives that should be looked at first, rather than just continually coming back and asking the voters to approve more taxes,” said Tom Rubin, a member of the governing board for the campaign called the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The opposition committee pointed to the over $6 billion in taxes, tolls and government grants that they said major Bay Area transit agencies received in fiscal year 2024-25 and said the agencies should instead reallocate existing funding rather than asking taxpayers for more. By pausing funding for major capital projects, including BART Silicon Valley Phase II, California High Speed Rail and Caltrain’s downtown San Francisco expansion, the committee said transit agencies could fully fund operations in the near term and put a slimmed-down tax proposal to fund transit in front of voters in the 2028 election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Let’s stop spending huge amounts of money on planning and constructing very stupid mega projects without a purpose and use that money for other purposes, such as operating what we have now,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1989px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034008\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1920x1287.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area Rapid Transit commuters stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the sales tax measure, known as the Connect Bay Area Act, have pushed back and questioned the feasibility of the committee’s plan. Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the campaign, said the committee’s arguments were “not grounded in reality.” Most of the money for those capital projects is from either federal or state sources that “simply can’t be used for operating costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s nice to pretend transit funding works like that, but it doesn’t,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ethan Elkind, the director of the climate program at UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, who is not involved in the campaign, called the committee’s proposal “incredibly misleading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ In some cases, there are matching funds provided from the state and local level for these federal dollars, but it’s not clear where the matching funds are coming from, and in many cases, those have restrictions as well,” Elkind said.[aside postID=news_12084841 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260123-signaturekickoff00181_TV_qed.jpg']If approved by voters, the Connect Bay Area Act would generate around $1 billion annually for 14 years to support BART, AC Transit, Muni and Caltrain, along with other agencies. It would impose a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those agencies are facing critical budget deficits due to pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership, and all have warned of immense cuts to service unless the Connect Bay Area Act passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a false alarm. If we do not hit a sustainable funding source by this election, stations will close, lines will shut down, and the Bay Area will become less affordable for workers, families, and seniors,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rubin and supporters of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit also said the agencies should look inward to their own expenses, and suggested they could save money by reducing overtime pay, evaluating contracts with labor unions and automating BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The committee’s website lists the highest-paid transit employees in 2024, namely, a BART Senior Police Officer who took home more than $661,000 in total pay and benefits, including over $272,500 in overtime pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These are just people who know how to use the system and get an incredible amount of overtime and other special pay,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-1536x984.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Oakland Airport Connector train pulls into the Coliseum BART station in Oakland, California, on Friday, March 18, 2016. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While there are real negative examples of what some might consider to be excessively paid employees at transit agencies, Elkind said, “We’re talking about pennies compared to the scale of the need here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2027 is $376 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ You’re not going to fully fund BART by making sure a police officer is docked a few hundred thousand dollars in pay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rubin said the committee is currently self-funded by its own members. He acknowledged that they are heavily outspent by the Connect Bay Area campaign, whose top funders include the company Salesforce and tech CEO Chris Larsen. The Connect Bay Area campaign is also endorsed by a broad coalition of local labor unions, business groups and elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Transit leaders have warned voters in five \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> counties for months that if they fail to pass a regional sales tax measure on November’s ballot, BART, Muni and other agencies will have to dramatically cut service, spiking the cost of living and commute times for many in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://transitaccountability.com/index.html\">campaign\u003c/a> launched by the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association on Wednesday wants voters to reject that proposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There are a lot of other alternatives that should be looked at first, rather than just continually coming back and asking the voters to approve more taxes,” said Tom Rubin, a member of the governing board for the campaign called the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The opposition committee pointed to the over $6 billion in taxes, tolls and government grants that they said major Bay Area transit agencies received in fiscal year 2024-25 and said the agencies should instead reallocate existing funding rather than asking taxpayers for more. By pausing funding for major capital projects, including BART Silicon Valley Phase II, California High Speed Rail and Caltrain’s downtown San Francisco expansion, the committee said transit agencies could fully fund operations in the near term and put a slimmed-down tax proposal to fund transit in front of voters in the 2028 election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Let’s stop spending huge amounts of money on planning and constructing very stupid mega projects without a purpose and use that money for other purposes, such as operating what we have now,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1989px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034008\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1920x1287.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area Rapid Transit commuters stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the sales tax measure, known as the Connect Bay Area Act, have pushed back and questioned the feasibility of the committee’s plan. Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the campaign, said the committee’s arguments were “not grounded in reality.” Most of the money for those capital projects is from either federal or state sources that “simply can’t be used for operating costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s nice to pretend transit funding works like that, but it doesn’t,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ethan Elkind, the director of the climate program at UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, who is not involved in the campaign, called the committee’s proposal “incredibly misleading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ In some cases, there are matching funds provided from the state and local level for these federal dollars, but it’s not clear where the matching funds are coming from, and in many cases, those have restrictions as well,” Elkind said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If approved by voters, the Connect Bay Area Act would generate around $1 billion annually for 14 years to support BART, AC Transit, Muni and Caltrain, along with other agencies. It would impose a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those agencies are facing critical budget deficits due to pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership, and all have warned of immense cuts to service unless the Connect Bay Area Act passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a false alarm. If we do not hit a sustainable funding source by this election, stations will close, lines will shut down, and the Bay Area will become less affordable for workers, families, and seniors,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rubin and supporters of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit also said the agencies should look inward to their own expenses, and suggested they could save money by reducing overtime pay, evaluating contracts with labor unions and automating BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The committee’s website lists the highest-paid transit employees in 2024, namely, a BART Senior Police Officer who took home more than $661,000 in total pay and benefits, including over $272,500 in overtime pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These are just people who know how to use the system and get an incredible amount of overtime and other special pay,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-1536x984.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Oakland Airport Connector train pulls into the Coliseum BART station in Oakland, California, on Friday, March 18, 2016. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While there are real negative examples of what some might consider to be excessively paid employees at transit agencies, Elkind said, “We’re talking about pennies compared to the scale of the need here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2027 is $376 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ You’re not going to fully fund BART by making sure a police officer is docked a few hundred thousand dollars in pay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rubin said the committee is currently self-funded by its own members. He acknowledged that they are heavily outspent by the Connect Bay Area campaign, whose top funders include the company Salesforce and tech CEO Chris Larsen. The Connect Bay Area campaign is also endorsed by a broad coalition of local labor unions, business groups and elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>More than 10,000 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">Californians\u003c/a> are receiving letters informing them that they need to retake their written driver’s license tests. Unfortunately for unlucky recipients, the letters aren’t part of a sophisticated scam, as Redditors have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1um1s4j/many_california_drivers_to_retake_written_dmv/\">speculating\u003c/a> — or perhaps hoping.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sorry to say, the notices are real, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles — and as of this week, the agency has confirmed that they’re prompted by suspicions of cheating. All this means that people who receive these letters will indeed need to retake their written knowledge test to stay on the roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you did receive a dreaded DMV letter, here’s what you need to know about why you’re being asked to retake your test, how to do it and what could happen if you don’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who has to retake their driver’s test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you took your California written driver’s license tests between July 2025 and April 2026, look out for a letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DMV says about 11,000 people across the state who took the exam during that period will have to retake the test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The affected licenses don’t appear to be isolated to one region — people from Los Angeles to San Francisco have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1um1s4j/many_california_drivers_to_retake_written_dmv/\">taken to social media\u003c/a> to say they’re headed to the DMV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12032226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12032226 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Traffic on Interstate 550 in Oakland flowing with cars. \u003ccite>(Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Why is the DMV making me take my test again?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The DMV initially kept it vague — only saying that they identified “anomalies” in “certain” test results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week, though, the agency said it flagged the results after finding irregularities that “may indicate instances of cheating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These irregularities are “test taker related,” according to the DMV, “and not the result of an internal DMV technical issue, or involvement of artificial intelligence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I got a DMV letter. Am I in trouble?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you got a notice, don’t panic. The DMV said that it’s not a final determination that cheating occurred, but only that your test result was identified as “potentially problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency didn’t offer any specifics about \u003cem>how\u003c/em> test takers might have cheated, but it said multiple cases have been turned over to county district attorneys for prosecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several state lawmakers have also sent the DMV letters asking for more details on the nature of any cheating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I have to retake the practical test or just the written test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t worry, you won’t have to get graded on your actual driving behind the wheel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that’s not to say you shouldn’t brush up on the rules of the road ahead of retaking your written test. \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1u72dw2/is_this_legitimate_will_i_need_to_redo_the_behind/\">Some people online\u003c/a> say they failed the exam when they went in for their retest and had their license revoked. \u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowtostudyforyourDMVretest\">How to study for your DMV retest.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I retake the test, and how fast do I have to do it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You’ll have to make an appointment online for an in-person test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letters mailed out include a QR code that you can scan with your cell phone camera, which will route you directly to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments/select-appointment-type\">page on the DMV website\u003c/a> that has a “reevaluation” sign-up link.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11699281\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11699281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg\" alt=\"The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1356\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-800x565.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1020x720.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1200x848.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1180x833.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-960x678.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-240x170.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-375x265.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-520x367.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’d rather go to the site on a computer or in your internet browser, click on the “Appointments” page at \u003ca href=\"http://dmv.ca.gov\">dmv.ca.gov\u003c/a> and look for the “knowledge test reevaluation” button.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But be warned: the letters say that you need to retake the exam within 30 days of the date the notice was issued, located in the top left corner, to keep your California driver’s license.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I \u003cem>have \u003c/em>to make a DMV appointment to retake my test, and what do I need to bring with me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes. The letter says appointments are required for the reevaluation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you go to your appointment, be sure to bring a copy of the notice requiring reevaluation, as well as your driver’s license card, temporary license, or instruction permit, whichever you have.[aside postID=news_12089236 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GroceriesAP.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if there are no available DMV appointments near me to retake the test within 30 days?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the DMV told KQED that there have been “no known issues getting [appointments]” and plenty are available. A DMV that’s further away from you may have more appointments available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowtostudyforyourDMVretest\">\u003c/a>What if I fail my retest? Can I take the test again?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some people who have gone in for the reevaluation say \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1u72dw2/is_this_legitimate_will_i_need_to_redo_the_behind/\">they’ve failed\u003c/a> and had their physical driver’s licenses taken by the DMV. They were able to reapply, retake the written test, and be issued a new temporary license within days — still with no road test needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It could be worthwhile to study up before your appointment (or just test your knowledge if you’re just curious how you’d hypothetically perform, like this reporter). The DMV provides \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/educational-materials/sample-driver-license-dl-knowledge-tests/\">sample tests\u003c/a> in multiple languages, and proficient Googlers may also be able to find apparent sample questions online via sites that are not affiliated with the DMV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What happens if I don’t retake the test within 30 days?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Your license will be canceled — which means you cannot drive. It also means that your license will not be a valid form of identification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your license \u003cem>does \u003c/em>lapse, the DMV says you are eligible to immediately reapply. It’s not clear if you would need to retake the road test in that case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>More than 10,000 \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">Californians\u003c/a> are receiving letters informing them that they need to retake their written driver’s license tests. Unfortunately for unlucky recipients, the letters aren’t part of a sophisticated scam, as Redditors have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1um1s4j/many_california_drivers_to_retake_written_dmv/\">speculating\u003c/a> — or perhaps hoping.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sorry to say, the notices are real, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles — and as of this week, the agency has confirmed that they’re prompted by suspicions of cheating. All this means that people who receive these letters will indeed need to retake their written knowledge test to stay on the roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you did receive a dreaded DMV letter, here’s what you need to know about why you’re being asked to retake your test, how to do it and what could happen if you don’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who has to retake their driver’s test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you took your California written driver’s license tests between July 2025 and April 2026, look out for a letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DMV says about 11,000 people across the state who took the exam during that period will have to retake the test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The affected licenses don’t appear to be isolated to one region — people from Los Angeles to San Francisco have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1um1s4j/many_california_drivers_to_retake_written_dmv/\">taken to social media\u003c/a> to say they’re headed to the DMV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12032226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12032226 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_6860_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Traffic on Interstate 550 in Oakland flowing with cars. \u003ccite>(Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Why is the DMV making me take my test again?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The DMV initially kept it vague — only saying that they identified “anomalies” in “certain” test results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week, though, the agency said it flagged the results after finding irregularities that “may indicate instances of cheating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These irregularities are “test taker related,” according to the DMV, “and not the result of an internal DMV technical issue, or involvement of artificial intelligence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I got a DMV letter. Am I in trouble?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you got a notice, don’t panic. The DMV said that it’s not a final determination that cheating occurred, but only that your test result was identified as “potentially problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency didn’t offer any specifics about \u003cem>how\u003c/em> test takers might have cheated, but it said multiple cases have been turned over to county district attorneys for prosecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several state lawmakers have also sent the DMV letters asking for more details on the nature of any cheating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I have to retake the practical test or just the written test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t worry, you won’t have to get graded on your actual driving behind the wheel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that’s not to say you shouldn’t brush up on the rules of the road ahead of retaking your written test. \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1u72dw2/is_this_legitimate_will_i_need_to_redo_the_behind/\">Some people online\u003c/a> say they failed the exam when they went in for their retest and had their license revoked. \u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#HowtostudyforyourDMVretest\">How to study for your DMV retest.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I retake the test, and how fast do I have to do it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You’ll have to make an appointment online for an in-person test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letters mailed out include a QR code that you can scan with your cell phone camera, which will route you directly to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/appointments/select-appointment-type\">page on the DMV website\u003c/a> that has a “reevaluation” sign-up link.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11699281\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11699281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg\" alt=\"The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1356\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-800x565.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1020x720.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1200x848.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-1180x833.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-960x678.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-240x170.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-375x265.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/10/DMVEntrance-520x367.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance to a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Corte Madera. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’d rather go to the site on a computer or in your internet browser, click on the “Appointments” page at \u003ca href=\"http://dmv.ca.gov\">dmv.ca.gov\u003c/a> and look for the “knowledge test reevaluation” button.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But be warned: the letters say that you need to retake the exam within 30 days of the date the notice was issued, located in the top left corner, to keep your California driver’s license.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I \u003cem>have \u003c/em>to make a DMV appointment to retake my test, and what do I need to bring with me?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes. The letter says appointments are required for the reevaluation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you go to your appointment, be sure to bring a copy of the notice requiring reevaluation, as well as your driver’s license card, temporary license, or instruction permit, whichever you have.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if there are no available DMV appointments near me to retake the test within 30 days?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the DMV told KQED that there have been “no known issues getting [appointments]” and plenty are available. A DMV that’s further away from you may have more appointments available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowtostudyforyourDMVretest\">\u003c/a>What if I fail my retest? Can I take the test again?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some people who have gone in for the reevaluation say \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/DMV/comments/1u72dw2/is_this_legitimate_will_i_need_to_redo_the_behind/\">they’ve failed\u003c/a> and had their physical driver’s licenses taken by the DMV. They were able to reapply, retake the written test, and be issued a new temporary license within days — still with no road test needed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It could be worthwhile to study up before your appointment (or just test your knowledge if you’re just curious how you’d hypothetically perform, like this reporter). The DMV provides \u003ca href=\"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/educational-materials/sample-driver-license-dl-knowledge-tests/\">sample tests\u003c/a> in multiple languages, and proficient Googlers may also be able to find apparent sample questions online via sites that are not affiliated with the DMV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What happens if I don’t retake the test within 30 days?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Your license will be canceled — which means you cannot drive. It also means that your license will not be a valid form of identification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your license \u003cem>does \u003c/em>lapse, the DMV says you are eligible to immediately reapply. It’s not clear if you would need to retake the road test in that case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "caltrain-scrapped-a-1-4m-consultant-contract-then-came-the-uproar",
"title": "Caltrain Scrapped a $1.4M Consultant Contract. Then Came the Uproar",
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"content": "\u003cp>Earlier this week, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/caltrain\">Caltrain \u003c/a>came under fire for a one-year contract worth up to $1.4 million that drew scrutiny over how much it paid a single interim leader. But the agency said it had already canceled the contract before the controversy, opting instead to bring the longtime consultant on as a full-time employee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the episode landed at a particularly sensitive moment for Caltrain, which has faced months of questions over its consultant spending while staring into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070685/campaign-to-avert-bay-area-public-transit-death-spiral-gets-underway\">a budget gap of up to $75 million \u003c/a>and asking voters to approve a regional sales tax this fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sherry Bullock, who has led several of Caltrain’s biggest capital projects, moved into a newly consolidated executive role on June 1 at a base salary of $377,000, spokesperson Dan Lieberman said. The agency is closing out the consulting arrangement, under which about $245,000 had been paid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job — Deputy Executive Director, Project Delivery and Caltrain Modernization — merges two former chief-level positions, chief of design and construction and chief of modernization, into one post overseeing Caltrain’s more than $10 billion capital program. Bullock’s responsibilities are “largely consistent” with what she was already doing as an interim consultant, but the difference is that the agency now holds that expertise in-house, Lieberman said. The consolidation will save more than $400,000 a year, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman rejected any link between the move and the recent attention from \u003ca href=\"https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/caltrain-pays-1-4m-for-deputy-leader-over-three-times-top-paid-executive-director-s/article_081a36cc-9f50-445b-8e39-71a1c07aa013.html\">local news outlets\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Any suggestion that this decision was made in response to recent scrutiny reflects an inaccurate timeline,” he said, adding that Caltrain decided nearly a year ago to combine the two roles and posted the deputy job in October 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076190\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076190\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Caltrain’s electric trains, which may offer BART users a way to go around the Bay in the event of a Transbay Tube shutdown. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Caltrain)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He cast the shift as part of a broader effort to lean less on outside consultants and to “grow long-term in-house technical knowledge,” and said Caltrain’s professional-services budget will fall to $8 million in fiscal 2027 from $10.2 million in fiscal 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bullock’s pay first drew attention after public records showed she earned more than $800,000 in 2025 across a series of interim roles. In April, with the deputy job still open, Caltrain kept her on under a contract amendment worth up to $1.4 million. Less than two months later, she took the permanent job. In her first year, she is also eligible for, but not guaranteed, a $20,000 performance bonus at six, 12 and 18 months, Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consultants are common at transit agencies and can cost less than employees because the agency avoids pensions, healthcare benefits and other long-term costs.[aside postID=news_12084766 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00197_TV-KQED.jpg']Those savings tend to necessitate, for time-limited, competitive bids for project work. Critics say Bullock has effectively held senior leadership at the agency for close to two decades, largely as a consultant, and that several of her engagements were not competitively bid — a characterization that Caltrain disputes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Audrey Brook, Caltrain’s former director of capital program delivery, wrote in a November letter to the agency’s board that Caltrain had “paid consultant rates for nearly 18 years for the same leadership.” She wrote that the agency filled the role she reported to “through a closed, non-competitive process that bypassed HR policy,” and warned that such actions “waste public money and erode trust among both staff and taxpayers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brook has also sued Caltrain and its governing board, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Her petition, filed in San Mateo County Superior Court in January, asked a judge to order a hearing over what she said was her forced departure, and levels separate allegations against Bullock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman said Caltrain “conducted an open and competitive recruitment” for the deputy job that drew more than 50 applicants and included interviewers from outside agencies. He said the agency has denied Brook’s claims and “will vigorously defend itself,” but declined to say more, citing the pending case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081648\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081648\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Transit riders walk through the Caltrain station on King Street and Fourth Street in San Francisco on April 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a written response to KQED, Bullock defended both her hiring and her consulting record. She said she agrees “wholeheartedly” that long-term leadership roles should be filled competitively — and that the deputy job, through what she called “a thorough and extensive public recruitment,” put her before three interview panels totaling 11 people, including senior leaders from partner agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Her earlier consulting work, she said, ran through Caltrain’s standard work-directive process, with annual renewals authorized only after review. “Delivering positive results and outcomes for Caltrain is a pre-requisite of any continuous consultant service,” Bullock wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain, like other local public transit agencies, has struggled financially since the pandemic upended commuting, even as ridership rebounds — the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\"> agency reported a 33% jump in riders in March\u003c/a>, among its strongest months since 2020. In November, voters across five counties will decide on the sales tax Caltrain said it needs to avoid cutting weekend and evening service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Earlier this week, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/caltrain\">Caltrain \u003c/a>came under fire for a one-year contract worth up to $1.4 million that drew scrutiny over how much it paid a single interim leader. But the agency said it had already canceled the contract before the controversy, opting instead to bring the longtime consultant on as a full-time employee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the episode landed at a particularly sensitive moment for Caltrain, which has faced months of questions over its consultant spending while staring into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070685/campaign-to-avert-bay-area-public-transit-death-spiral-gets-underway\">a budget gap of up to $75 million \u003c/a>and asking voters to approve a regional sales tax this fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sherry Bullock, who has led several of Caltrain’s biggest capital projects, moved into a newly consolidated executive role on June 1 at a base salary of $377,000, spokesperson Dan Lieberman said. The agency is closing out the consulting arrangement, under which about $245,000 had been paid.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job — Deputy Executive Director, Project Delivery and Caltrain Modernization — merges two former chief-level positions, chief of design and construction and chief of modernization, into one post overseeing Caltrain’s more than $10 billion capital program. Bullock’s responsibilities are “largely consistent” with what she was already doing as an interim consultant, but the difference is that the agency now holds that expertise in-house, Lieberman said. The consolidation will save more than $400,000 a year, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman rejected any link between the move and the recent attention from \u003ca href=\"https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/caltrain-pays-1-4m-for-deputy-leader-over-three-times-top-paid-executive-director-s/article_081a36cc-9f50-445b-8e39-71a1c07aa013.html\">local news outlets\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Any suggestion that this decision was made in response to recent scrutiny reflects an inaccurate timeline,” he said, adding that Caltrain decided nearly a year ago to combine the two roles and posted the deputy job in October 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076190\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076190\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/3W0A6625-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Caltrain’s electric trains, which may offer BART users a way to go around the Bay in the event of a Transbay Tube shutdown. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Caltrain)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>He cast the shift as part of a broader effort to lean less on outside consultants and to “grow long-term in-house technical knowledge,” and said Caltrain’s professional-services budget will fall to $8 million in fiscal 2027 from $10.2 million in fiscal 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bullock’s pay first drew attention after public records showed she earned more than $800,000 in 2025 across a series of interim roles. In April, with the deputy job still open, Caltrain kept her on under a contract amendment worth up to $1.4 million. Less than two months later, she took the permanent job. In her first year, she is also eligible for, but not guaranteed, a $20,000 performance bonus at six, 12 and 18 months, Lieberman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consultants are common at transit agencies and can cost less than employees because the agency avoids pensions, healthcare benefits and other long-term costs.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Those savings tend to necessitate, for time-limited, competitive bids for project work. Critics say Bullock has effectively held senior leadership at the agency for close to two decades, largely as a consultant, and that several of her engagements were not competitively bid — a characterization that Caltrain disputes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Audrey Brook, Caltrain’s former director of capital program delivery, wrote in a November letter to the agency’s board that Caltrain had “paid consultant rates for nearly 18 years for the same leadership.” She wrote that the agency filled the role she reported to “through a closed, non-competitive process that bypassed HR policy,” and warned that such actions “waste public money and erode trust among both staff and taxpayers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brook has also sued Caltrain and its governing board, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Her petition, filed in San Mateo County Superior Court in January, asked a judge to order a hearing over what she said was her forced departure, and levels separate allegations against Bullock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lieberman said Caltrain “conducted an open and competitive recruitment” for the deputy job that drew more than 50 applicants and included interviewers from outside agencies. He said the agency has denied Brook’s claims and “will vigorously defend itself,” but declined to say more, citing the pending case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081648\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081648\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260428-TRANSITRIDERSHIPREBOUND00494_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Transit riders walk through the Caltrain station on King Street and Fourth Street in San Francisco on April 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a written response to KQED, Bullock defended both her hiring and her consulting record. She said she agrees “wholeheartedly” that long-term leadership roles should be filled competitively — and that the deputy job, through what she called “a thorough and extensive public recruitment,” put her before three interview panels totaling 11 people, including senior leaders from partner agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Her earlier consulting work, she said, ran through Caltrain’s standard work-directive process, with annual renewals authorized only after review. “Delivering positive results and outcomes for Caltrain is a pre-requisite of any continuous consultant service,” Bullock wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrain, like other local public transit agencies, has struggled financially since the pandemic upended commuting, even as ridership rebounds — the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\"> agency reported a 33% jump in riders in March\u003c/a>, among its strongest months since 2020. In November, voters across five counties will decide on the sales tax Caltrain said it needs to avoid cutting weekend and evening service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "muni-music-turns-buses-and-trains-into-a-unique-musical-composition",
"title": "Muni Music Turns Buses and Trains Into a Unique Musical Composition",
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"content": "\u003cp>In Robert Burns’ world, the Powell-Mason \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/transportation\">Cable Car\u003c/a> is heralded by a flute and a tubular bell. The M-Ocean View carries a soft mallet and a sub bass. The N-Judah is a marimba and a bass pizzicato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taken altogether, the generative composition creates a lo-fi, sonic interpretation of the Bay Area’s most-ridden transit service, San Francisco’s Muni. And it’s available for anyone to listen to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I thought to myself, what if I turned Muni into an instrument?” said Burns, creator of the site, \u003ca href=\"http://munimusic.com\">munimusic.com\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The site shows a map of San Francisco, and the real-time location of the more than 500 Muni trains, buses and cable cars that could be on the street at any one time. Each vehicle plays a unique pair of sounds based on its position and route and a chime when they arrive at a stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visitors can watch and listen to Muni vehicles plug along in real time, hear when they arrive and revel in an ambient interpretation of public transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Burns, an IT professional, and a more than 30-year San Franciscan and a Muni rider, the project is part tribute, part natural inclination to experiment with technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082038\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muni Music, a website created by Robert Burns, is displayed on his computer in San Francisco on April 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For fans of Muni, it’s the latest manifestation of local pride in the transit service that’s taken varied forms, from branded merchandise to trivia nights to riding routes for fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns used publicly available data to create the map and then made digital instruments to pair with the routes. He said he’s had the Muni Music domain since 2002, but only launched the website in April, after “many, many iterations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An initial version was rhythm-based and sounded more like a drum circle. And the sheer volume of Muni’s buses broke his browser. The site currently logs about five visits a week. “ If this actually becomes something that people used, I would be amazed,” Burns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns isn’t the first person to look at a transit map and think: Could this be music? Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.trainjazz.com/\">Train Jazz\u003c/a> — a similar website, created by a New York City resident, which turns that city’s transit agency into a jazz ensemble.[aside postID=news_12087114 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg']Another website based on New York City’s transit map, called \u003ca href=\"http://mta.me\">MTA.me\u003c/a>, only plays notes when trains cross paths, like plucking strings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And last month a group of artists \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260520\">debuted\u003c/a> a sculpture that converts BART’s train data into sound using a tube and a heating element.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the Bay Area-based composer Mason Bates, these kinds of projects, where people convert data into music, might best be called public sound art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ It’s not really about whether the resulting artwork is particularly good or beautiful; it’s more about finding fun ways for the public to learn about some kind of initiative, whether it be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/audiblecosmos\">NASA space data\u003c/a>, or in this case, Muni data,” Bates said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bates said rather than getting hung up on the quality of the music, the purpose of these sites is to use digital tools to make data more digestible. By sonifying transit data, these projects allow listeners to experience the entirety of a transit system all at once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are swimming in data these days, right? So translating it in some way that can be fun or artistic is a new thing that’s happening,” he said. “This brings the public in to engage with a non-artistic enterprise in an artistic way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Muni Music, each moment is different from the next, as the number of Muni vehicles on the road — and their position — fluctuate throughout the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If trains are predominantly in the west end of the city, like the L-Taraval, sound will come predominantly out of the left side of a pair of headphones. The opposite is true for the T-Third Street, which runs on the east side of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082037\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082037\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muni Music, a website created by Robert Burns, is displayed on his computer in San Francisco on April 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Seeing the volume of vehicles that are out there at any given moment shows people how active the system is and how frequent service is. And when it’s all played together, we’re really picking people up and dropping them off at a really quick rate,” SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns said he sees a relationship between his job in IT and managing a public transit agency: two fields that don’t get much praise, but get a lot of attention when things go wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an homage. It’s kinda like, ‘Hey, thanks, Muni, thanks for being there, and here’s my little attempt at giving something back,’” Burns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s some utility to the website as well. Burns used it the other day to check when the next train was coming, and then he rode home with his own Muni soundtrack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The website assigns digital instruments to Muni’s real-time vehicle data, allowing listeners to experience San Francisco’s public transit system as a sonic whole.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>In Robert Burns’ world, the Powell-Mason \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/transportation\">Cable Car\u003c/a> is heralded by a flute and a tubular bell. The M-Ocean View carries a soft mallet and a sub bass. The N-Judah is a marimba and a bass pizzicato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taken altogether, the generative composition creates a lo-fi, sonic interpretation of the Bay Area’s most-ridden transit service, San Francisco’s Muni. And it’s available for anyone to listen to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I thought to myself, what if I turned Muni into an instrument?” said Burns, creator of the site, \u003ca href=\"http://munimusic.com\">munimusic.com\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The site shows a map of San Francisco, and the real-time location of the more than 500 Muni trains, buses and cable cars that could be on the street at any one time. Each vehicle plays a unique pair of sounds based on its position and route and a chime when they arrive at a stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visitors can watch and listen to Muni vehicles plug along in real time, hear when they arrive and revel in an ambient interpretation of public transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Burns, an IT professional, and a more than 30-year San Franciscan and a Muni rider, the project is part tribute, part natural inclination to experiment with technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082038\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00525-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muni Music, a website created by Robert Burns, is displayed on his computer in San Francisco on April 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For fans of Muni, it’s the latest manifestation of local pride in the transit service that’s taken varied forms, from branded merchandise to trivia nights to riding routes for fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns used publicly available data to create the map and then made digital instruments to pair with the routes. He said he’s had the Muni Music domain since 2002, but only launched the website in April, after “many, many iterations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An initial version was rhythm-based and sounded more like a drum circle. And the sheer volume of Muni’s buses broke his browser. The site currently logs about five visits a week. “ If this actually becomes something that people used, I would be amazed,” Burns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns isn’t the first person to look at a transit map and think: Could this be music? Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.trainjazz.com/\">Train Jazz\u003c/a> — a similar website, created by a New York City resident, which turns that city’s transit agency into a jazz ensemble.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Another website based on New York City’s transit map, called \u003ca href=\"http://mta.me\">MTA.me\u003c/a>, only plays notes when trains cross paths, like plucking strings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And last month a group of artists \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260520\">debuted\u003c/a> a sculpture that converts BART’s train data into sound using a tube and a heating element.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the Bay Area-based composer Mason Bates, these kinds of projects, where people convert data into music, might best be called public sound art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ It’s not really about whether the resulting artwork is particularly good or beautiful; it’s more about finding fun ways for the public to learn about some kind of initiative, whether it be \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/audiblecosmos\">NASA space data\u003c/a>, or in this case, Muni data,” Bates said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bates said rather than getting hung up on the quality of the music, the purpose of these sites is to use digital tools to make data more digestible. By sonifying transit data, these projects allow listeners to experience the entirety of a transit system all at once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are swimming in data these days, right? So translating it in some way that can be fun or artistic is a new thing that’s happening,” he said. “This brings the public in to engage with a non-artistic enterprise in an artistic way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Muni Music, each moment is different from the next, as the number of Muni vehicles on the road — and their position — fluctuate throughout the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If trains are predominantly in the west end of the city, like the L-Taraval, sound will come predominantly out of the left side of a pair of headphones. The opposite is true for the T-Third Street, which runs on the east side of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082037\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082037\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260430-MUNIMUSIC-TV-00516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muni Music, a website created by Robert Burns, is displayed on his computer in San Francisco on April 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Seeing the volume of vehicles that are out there at any given moment shows people how active the system is and how frequent service is. And when it’s all played together, we’re really picking people up and dropping them off at a really quick rate,” SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Burns said he sees a relationship between his job in IT and managing a public transit agency: two fields that don’t get much praise, but get a lot of attention when things go wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an homage. It’s kinda like, ‘Hey, thanks, Muni, thanks for being there, and here’s my little attempt at giving something back,’” Burns said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s some utility to the website as well. Burns used it the other day to check when the next train was coming, and then he rode home with his own Muni soundtrack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "SF Supervisor to Launch Inquiry on Waymo's July Fourth Traffic Meltdown",
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"headTitle": "SF Supervisor to Launch Inquiry on Waymo’s July Fourth Traffic Meltdown | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089906/san-franciscos-fireworks-show-lights-up-karl-the-fog-for-americas-250th\">San Francisco’s Fourth of July\u003c/a> traffic meltdown, one supervisor is demanding answers from city departments about how autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo and “insufficient transit options” contributed to the gridlock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supervisor Bilal Mahmood told KQED on Monday he planned to submit a letter of inquiry at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, seeking information from the city’s Department of Emergency Management, Fire Department, and Municipal Transportation Agency on how autonomous vehicles impacted public transit service, emergency response and egress from an event that far exceeded attendance expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 100,000 people descended on the northern part of the city for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089906/san-franciscos-fireworks-show-lights-up-karl-the-fog-for-americas-250th\">special Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show\u003c/a>, according to Charles Lutvak, spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1unuji7/the_july_4th_waymo_traffic_nightmare/\">posts \u003c/a>from people who ventured to the northern end of the city to view the fireworks described a “Waymo traffic nightmare,” where dozens of robotaxis blocked traffic, leading to lengthy delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahmood said due to the backlog of cars in part caused by Waymo, he was forced to walk an hour home from Fisherman’s Wharf, as public transit and rideshare were rendered useless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they were compounding an already congested traffic situation and weren’t moving themselves,” Mahmood said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12090009\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2048px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12090009\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">More than 30 Waymos became stuck in the only parking area for the fireworks show on July 4, 2026, blocking parking for hours. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Dr. R, AGI Summit 2026)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waymo declined to provide specific numbers on how many of its vehicles experienced issues or needed to be manually moved by staff on the night of the Fourth, but said some vehicles were caught in gridlock in select streets in the Presidio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company said that while many vehicles were able to navigate away when congestion cleared, others ran out of charge while idling and required a tow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On July Fourth, extreme traffic congestion in northern San Francisco disrupted normal operations for several Waymo vehicles. In coordination with local authorities and emergency services, our roadside assistance team worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area,” Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli said.[aside postID=news_12075147 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260302-WAYMOOUTAGEREPORT-23-BL-KQED.jpg']The action comes as city leaders attempt to identify how the traffic jam turned the aftermath of the national holiday into an hours-long slog for spectators trying to return to their homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Making my way home from Aquatic Park I think had to be my worst public transportation experience of my life,” said Stella Lochman, a 41-year-old San Francisco resident and self-described experienced Muni rider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lochman said around 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, after waiting for the crowds to die down, she decided to take the 49 Van Ness/Mission bus home. She recalls waiting 35 minutes for the bus to come to a stop near Fort Mason, and when she was finally able to board the bus, she popped in an audiobook and settled in for the ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she looked up 45 minutes later, she realized the bus had traveled less than one block. Lochman described a scene where drivers flouted traffic laws, contributing to delays for public transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was no one to control the traffic, so you had to be sneaky. And then the sneaky people were causing more traffic,” Lochman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lochman said the entire bus was forced to deboard a few blocks later after a car sideswiped it. She then walked several blocks and caught a special Muni shuttle to Powell Street station.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By then it was 1:45 a.m., so she decided to ride bikeshare home, even though one of her arms is in a sling due to a broken shoulder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iealiNVFzik\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In total, she said the three-mile journey from Aquatic Park to her home in the Mission District took three hours. She said a friend who drove home to Pinole got home faster than her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can get to Pinole faster than you can get to 16th and Mission, what is that teaching folks?” Lochman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday, leaders of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, apologized for the delays and said they would study what could have been done better to ensure the city can deliver on special events in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We did everything we could to move as many people as possible and made adjustments in the field to our transit operations to pull additional service in to get people home as quickly as we possibly could,” said Viktoriya Wise, director of SFMTA’s streets division.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Wise said the location of the event, at the far north-western corner of the city, was in a constrained area where transit is not as robust as places like downtown San Francisco or Pier 39. That made it a “very high mountain to climb,” according to Wise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our transportation system simply could not handle the volume of people that arrived in San Francisco on Saturday,” Wise said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahead of the event, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie encouraged people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or use ride-hailing services to see the fireworks, and he warned of delays getting out of the area and the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086413\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086413\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2278646743-scaled-e1782502896455.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Daniel Lurie during a news conference on his budget proposal in San Francisco on June 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We understand that with more than 100,000 people in the area, some people experienced delays getting home, and we will have conversations with our public and private partners to ensure the experience is smoother next time,” Lutvak said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahmood is requesting city departments respond to his letter of inquiry within two weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not acceptable that disruption of service, first responders and our public transit system is a side effect of autonomous vehicles on the road,” Mahmood said. “They have to be able to function within our existing transit infrastructure, and we still don’t have a large event protocol that clearly is working, and that’s something that I expect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089906/san-franciscos-fireworks-show-lights-up-karl-the-fog-for-americas-250th\">San Francisco’s Fourth of July\u003c/a> traffic meltdown, one supervisor is demanding answers from city departments about how autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo and “insufficient transit options” contributed to the gridlock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supervisor Bilal Mahmood told KQED on Monday he planned to submit a letter of inquiry at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, seeking information from the city’s Department of Emergency Management, Fire Department, and Municipal Transportation Agency on how autonomous vehicles impacted public transit service, emergency response and egress from an event that far exceeded attendance expectations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 100,000 people descended on the northern part of the city for the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089906/san-franciscos-fireworks-show-lights-up-karl-the-fog-for-americas-250th\">special Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show\u003c/a>, according to Charles Lutvak, spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Social media \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1unuji7/the_july_4th_waymo_traffic_nightmare/\">posts \u003c/a>from people who ventured to the northern end of the city to view the fireworks described a “Waymo traffic nightmare,” where dozens of robotaxis blocked traffic, leading to lengthy delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahmood said due to the backlog of cars in part caused by Waymo, he was forced to walk an hour home from Fisherman’s Wharf, as public transit and rideshare were rendered useless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they were compounding an already congested traffic situation and weren’t moving themselves,” Mahmood said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12090009\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2048px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12090009\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_0073-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">More than 30 Waymos became stuck in the only parking area for the fireworks show on July 4, 2026, blocking parking for hours. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Dr. R, AGI Summit 2026)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waymo declined to provide specific numbers on how many of its vehicles experienced issues or needed to be manually moved by staff on the night of the Fourth, but said some vehicles were caught in gridlock in select streets in the Presidio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company said that while many vehicles were able to navigate away when congestion cleared, others ran out of charge while idling and required a tow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On July Fourth, extreme traffic congestion in northern San Francisco disrupted normal operations for several Waymo vehicles. In coordination with local authorities and emergency services, our roadside assistance team worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area,” Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The action comes as city leaders attempt to identify how the traffic jam turned the aftermath of the national holiday into an hours-long slog for spectators trying to return to their homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Making my way home from Aquatic Park I think had to be my worst public transportation experience of my life,” said Stella Lochman, a 41-year-old San Francisco resident and self-described experienced Muni rider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lochman said around 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, after waiting for the crowds to die down, she decided to take the 49 Van Ness/Mission bus home. She recalls waiting 35 minutes for the bus to come to a stop near Fort Mason, and when she was finally able to board the bus, she popped in an audiobook and settled in for the ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When she looked up 45 minutes later, she realized the bus had traveled less than one block. Lochman described a scene where drivers flouted traffic laws, contributing to delays for public transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was no one to control the traffic, so you had to be sneaky. And then the sneaky people were causing more traffic,” Lochman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lochman said the entire bus was forced to deboard a few blocks later after a car sideswiped it. She then walked several blocks and caught a special Muni shuttle to Powell Street station.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By then it was 1:45 a.m., so she decided to ride bikeshare home, even though one of her arms is in a sling due to a broken shoulder.\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/iealiNVFzik'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/iealiNVFzik'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>In total, she said the three-mile journey from Aquatic Park to her home in the Mission District took three hours. She said a friend who drove home to Pinole got home faster than her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can get to Pinole faster than you can get to 16th and Mission, what is that teaching folks?” Lochman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Monday, leaders of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, apologized for the delays and said they would study what could have been done better to ensure the city can deliver on special events in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We did everything we could to move as many people as possible and made adjustments in the field to our transit operations to pull additional service in to get people home as quickly as we possibly could,” said Viktoriya Wise, director of SFMTA’s streets division.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Wise said the location of the event, at the far north-western corner of the city, was in a constrained area where transit is not as robust as places like downtown San Francisco or Pier 39. That made it a “very high mountain to climb,” according to Wise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our transportation system simply could not handle the volume of people that arrived in San Francisco on Saturday,” Wise said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahead of the event, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie encouraged people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or use ride-hailing services to see the fireworks, and he warned of delays getting out of the area and the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086413\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086413\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2278646743-scaled-e1782502896455.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mayor Daniel Lurie during a news conference on his budget proposal in San Francisco on June 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We understand that with more than 100,000 people in the area, some people experienced delays getting home, and we will have conversations with our public and private partners to ensure the experience is smoother next time,” Lutvak said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahmood is requesting city departments respond to his letter of inquiry within two weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not acceptable that disruption of service, first responders and our public transit system is a side effect of autonomous vehicles on the road,” Mahmood said. “They have to be able to function within our existing transit infrastructure, and we still don’t have a large event protocol that clearly is working, and that’s something that I expect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "More Than Half of Muni’s Pint-Sized Buses Sidelined by Stress Cracks on Brakes",
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"content": "\u003cp>Over half of Muni’s 32-foot buses are currently out of service after the transit agency identified a brake component safety issue in the vehicles responsible for traveling some of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>‘s most narrow and hilly streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maintenance crews found stress cracks on the brake chamber brackets of 17 out of 30 shorter buses, according to a memorandum from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to its board of directors on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/40-foot-bus-service-substitutions-updated-june-30-2026\">issue\u003c/a> was first identified on June 1 after a Muni operator heard a noise while working and reported a problem. The bus was taken out of service immediately, according to the agency, and a subsequent inspection found that the bus’s brake chamber bracket, which holds air as part of the vehicle’s pneumatic braking system, had detached from the axle. The agency said that because Muni buses have multiple redundant braking systems, the issue did not pose a safety risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ When an issue like this one happens, the vehicle simply stops because of those redundant systems,” said Judson True, SFMTA chief of staff. “We are 100% confident that none of our riders or operators faced any safety issues from this incident. Safety is our top priority, and our response to this issue demonstrates that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the short term, SFMTA said it plans to replace the brackets with new ones of an identical design, as parts become available. The agency said brake chamber brackets are not part of a normal maintenance inspection schedule, but the agency will now inspect the part once a month or every 2,000 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089405\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089405\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 39 bus drives through the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on June 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the long term, SFMTA said the manufacturer Meritor is making new reinforced and redesigned brake chamber brackets for its buses, and that it plans to install the component in the next few months. The fleet, made by El Dorado National California, first hit city streets in 2022, and the last was delivered last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem forced the agency to modify service for the 35 Eureka, 36 Teresita, 37 Corbett, 39 Coit, 56 Rutland, as longer replacement 40-foot buses couldn’t navigate some of the routes’ tight turns and narrow streets. Service has since been restored on all routes except the 36 and 37.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theresa Flandrich, 70, a longtime resident of the city’s Telegraph Hill neighborhood, said she panicked when she found out her regular stop on the mountainous 39 route would no longer be serviced.[aside postID=news_12087755 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260303-munifile00200_TV_qed.jpg']“I thought, my God, what are we going to do?” Flandrich said. “ We have so many seniors who have lived here for decades and decades and now really depend on this bus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flandrich said she learned the news from fellow riders while waiting for the bus, and later from her neighborhood group, the Telegraph Hill \u003ca href=\"https://semaphore.thd.org/letter-urging-sfmta-to-restore-service-cuts/\">Dwellers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was very discombobulating to essentially have one day’s notice,” Flandrich said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFMTA \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1uao947/all_30foot_buses_out_of_service_why/?share_id=eQ0RB-SW2_3Nto2BaBADn&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1\">initially\u003c/a> told riders that the fleet changes were due to preventative maintenance and that the service adjustments could last until at least December 2026. SFMTA told KQED on Thursday that it regretted the word choice and that “preventative maintenance is not the way we would describe what’s going on with these vehicles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flandrich said service was disrupted on the 39 for about a week before it was restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMTA said it plans to return full service to the 36 Teresita by Monday, and that temporary reroutes of the 37 Corbett will remain in place until enough vehicles are available to restore full service. The agency said the stops affected have fewer than 150 average daily riders, but acknowledged that they are in steep terrain and riders may be especially challenged by service changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>True said he does not expect that the SFMTA will incur any additional costs related to the brake chamber bracket issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Over half of Muni’s 32-foot buses are currently out of service after the transit agency identified a brake component safety issue in the vehicles responsible for traveling some of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>‘s most narrow and hilly streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maintenance crews found stress cracks on the brake chamber brackets of 17 out of 30 shorter buses, according to a memorandum from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to its board of directors on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/40-foot-bus-service-substitutions-updated-june-30-2026\">issue\u003c/a> was first identified on June 1 after a Muni operator heard a noise while working and reported a problem. The bus was taken out of service immediately, according to the agency, and a subsequent inspection found that the bus’s brake chamber bracket, which holds air as part of the vehicle’s pneumatic braking system, had detached from the axle. The agency said that because Muni buses have multiple redundant braking systems, the issue did not pose a safety risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ When an issue like this one happens, the vehicle simply stops because of those redundant systems,” said Judson True, SFMTA chief of staff. “We are 100% confident that none of our riders or operators faced any safety issues from this incident. Safety is our top priority, and our response to this issue demonstrates that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the short term, SFMTA said it plans to replace the brackets with new ones of an identical design, as parts become available. The agency said brake chamber brackets are not part of a normal maintenance inspection schedule, but the agency will now inspect the part once a month or every 2,000 miles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089405\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089405\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260630-MUNI-30-FOOT-BUSES-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 39 bus drives through the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on June 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the long term, SFMTA said the manufacturer Meritor is making new reinforced and redesigned brake chamber brackets for its buses, and that it plans to install the component in the next few months. The fleet, made by El Dorado National California, first hit city streets in 2022, and the last was delivered last year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem forced the agency to modify service for the 35 Eureka, 36 Teresita, 37 Corbett, 39 Coit, 56 Rutland, as longer replacement 40-foot buses couldn’t navigate some of the routes’ tight turns and narrow streets. Service has since been restored on all routes except the 36 and 37.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theresa Flandrich, 70, a longtime resident of the city’s Telegraph Hill neighborhood, said she panicked when she found out her regular stop on the mountainous 39 route would no longer be serviced.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I thought, my God, what are we going to do?” Flandrich said. “ We have so many seniors who have lived here for decades and decades and now really depend on this bus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flandrich said she learned the news from fellow riders while waiting for the bus, and later from her neighborhood group, the Telegraph Hill \u003ca href=\"https://semaphore.thd.org/letter-urging-sfmta-to-restore-service-cuts/\">Dwellers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was very discombobulating to essentially have one day’s notice,” Flandrich said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFMTA \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1uao947/all_30foot_buses_out_of_service_why/?share_id=eQ0RB-SW2_3Nto2BaBADn&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1\">initially\u003c/a> told riders that the fleet changes were due to preventative maintenance and that the service adjustments could last until at least December 2026. SFMTA told KQED on Thursday that it regretted the word choice and that “preventative maintenance is not the way we would describe what’s going on with these vehicles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flandrich said service was disrupted on the 39 for about a week before it was restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMTA said it plans to return full service to the 36 Teresita by Monday, and that temporary reroutes of the 37 Corbett will remain in place until enough vehicles are available to restore full service. The agency said the stops affected have fewer than 150 average daily riders, but acknowledged that they are in steep terrain and riders may be especially challenged by service changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>True said he does not expect that the SFMTA will incur any additional costs related to the brake chamber bracket issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"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?",
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"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.",
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"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
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"order": 8
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},
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"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.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
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"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 9
},
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"hidden-brain": {
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"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. ",
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"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. ",
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"order": 18
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"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
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"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/",
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},
"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": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
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"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)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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