window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_11971776": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11971776",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11971776",
"found": true
},
"parent": 11971774,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1024
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM-copy-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
}
},
"publishDate": 1704487404,
"modified": 1704487469,
"caption": "The entry gate at San Quentin State Prison on July 26, 2023. ",
"description": null,
"title": "072623_San-Quentin_SN_01-CM copy",
"credit": "Semantha Norris/CalMatters",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "A prison guard in uniform stands in front of a gate with a building in the background.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12006472": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12006472",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12006472",
"found": true
},
"title": "IMAG2652_qed",
"publishDate": 1727304382,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12006445,
"modified": 1727304484,
"caption": null,
"credit": null,
"altTag": "An easel displaying an image of a planned senior housing development sits on the open construction site where it will be built.",
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-800x450.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 450,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-1020x574.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 574,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-160x90.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 90,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-1536x864.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 864,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed-1920x1080.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/IMAG2652_qed.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1125
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11911586": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11911586",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11911586",
"found": true
},
"parent": 11911582,
"imgSizes": {
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-scaled.jpg",
"width": 2560,
"height": 1705
},
"2048x2048": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-2048x1364.jpg",
"width": 2048,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1364
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-1020x679.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 679
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-1536x1023.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1023
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-1920x1279.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1279
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/GettyImages-1237212007-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
}
},
"publishDate": 1650409292,
"modified": 1650479454,
"caption": "The confluence of the San Joaquin River (left) and Tuolumne River (right) along the Dos Rios Ranch in 2021 in Modesto. The 2,100-acre Dos Rios Ranch Preserve is California's largest floodplain restoration project, designed to give the rivers room to breathe and restore traditional riparian habitats.",
"description": "The confluence of the San Joaquin River (left) and Tuolumne River (right) along the Dos Rios Ranch in 2021 in Modesto, CA. The 2,100-acre Do Rios Ranch Preserve is California's largest floodplain restoration project, designed to give the rivers room to breath and restore traditional riparian habitats. ",
"title": "rain climate change",
"credit": "Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"altTag": "An aerial view of two rivers snaking from the left and the right through a landscape of brown scrub and dark green trees. Where the rivers meet, they move off to the left of the photo.",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12005996": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12005996",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12005996",
"found": true
},
"title": "012",
"publishDate": 1727132043,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12005960,
"modified": 1731091192,
"caption": "Rainbow flags line the plaza in front of the San Francisco City Hall on June 26, 2013, following the rulings brought down by the Supreme Court on same sex marriage.",
"credit": "Deborah Svoboda/KQED",
"altTag": "A row of flagpoles displaying rainbow flags stands in front of San Francisco City Hall.",
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/012.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12005767": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12005767",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12005767",
"found": true
},
"title": "iStock_000062678534_Full_qed",
"publishDate": 1726874706,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12005762,
"modified": 1726874782,
"caption": null,
"credit": "iStock",
"altTag": "A view from the back of a classroom full of children. One little girl raises her hand as a teacher standing at the head of the class points towards her.",
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/iStock_000062678534_Full_qed.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12003271": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12003271",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12003271",
"found": true
},
"title": "66a30dc4e91bf.image",
"publishDate": 1725561948,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12003268,
"modified": 1725561961,
"caption": null,
"credit": "Miguel Carrion / Coastside News Group",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_-1035x576.jpg",
"width": 1035,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/66a30dc4e91bf.image_.jpg",
"width": 1035,
"height": 690
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11830907": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11830907",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11830907",
"found": true
},
"parent": 11830774,
"imgSizes": {
"apple_news_ca_landscape_5_5": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1044x783.jpg",
"width": 1044,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 783
},
"apple_news_ca_square_4_0": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-470x470.jpg",
"width": 470,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 470
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280
},
"apple_news_ca_landscape_4_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-632x474.jpg",
"width": 632,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 474
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"apple_news_ca_landscape_4_0": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-536x402.jpg",
"width": 536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 402
},
"apple_news_ca_portrait_12_9": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1122x1280.jpg",
"width": 1122,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"apple_news_ca_portrait_4_0": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-354x472.jpg",
"width": 354,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 472
},
"apple_news_ca_portrait_9_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-840x1120.jpg",
"width": 840,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1120
},
"apple_news_ca_landscape_12_9": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1832x1280.jpg",
"width": 1832,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"apple_news_ca_square_9_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1104x1104.jpg",
"width": 1104,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1104
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1024
},
"apple_news_ca_portrait_4_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-414x552.jpg",
"width": 414,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 552
},
"apple_news_ca_square_12_9": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1472x1280.jpg",
"width": 1472,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"apple_news_ca_portrait_5_5": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-687x916.jpg",
"width": 687,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 916
},
"apple_news_ca_square_4_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-550x550.jpg",
"width": 550,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 550
},
"apple_news_ca_landscape_9_7": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-1376x1032.jpg",
"width": 1376,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1032
},
"apple_news_ca_square_5_5": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/07/Child-Care-Generic-912x912.jpg",
"width": 912,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 912
}
},
"publishDate": 1595979553,
"modified": 1595979801,
"caption": "The vote was made possible after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last fall allowing family child care providers who are paid by the state, and who serve low-income families, to unionize.",
"description": "The vote was made possible after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last fall allowing family child care providers who are paid by the state, and who serve low-income families, to unionize.",
"title": "Child-Care-Generic",
"credit": "Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12002386": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12002386",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12002386",
"found": true
},
"title": "LOGO_THEBAY",
"publishDate": 1724964767,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12002385,
"modified": 1724964767,
"caption": null,
"credit": null,
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/LOGO_THEBAY-160x160.png",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/LOGO_THEBAY.png",
"width": 300,
"height": 300
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12002070": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12002070",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12002070",
"found": true
},
"title": "Photo3_qed",
"publishDate": 1724787428,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12002068,
"modified": 1724787458,
"caption": "This November, 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland will have four school board seats to consider on the ballot, while those in Berkeley will have two. (Aaron Mendelson/KQED)\n",
"credit": null,
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/Photo3_qed-1.jpg",
"width": 1999,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11991978": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11991978",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11991978",
"found": true
},
"title": "240625-SOLANO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPES-MD-09-KQED",
"publishDate": 1719363419,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 11991788,
"modified": 1723669182,
"caption": "Jan Sramek (second from right), CEO of California Forever listens to public comments during a Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting in Fairfield on June 25, 2024.",
"credit": "Martin do Nascimento/KQED",
"altTag": "Men and women wearing green shirts sit inside a building facing the camera with several people in the background.",
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/240625-SOLANO-COUNTY-BOARD-OF-SUPES-MD-09-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11975694": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11975694",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11975694",
"found": true
},
"title": "The Chevron Richmond Refinery on Oct. 27, 2023.",
"publishDate": 1707850099,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729870037,
"caption": "The Chevron refinery in Richmond on Oct. 27, 2023.",
"credit": "Martin do Nascimento/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12000569": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12000569",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12000569",
"found": true
},
"title": "IMG_9819",
"publishDate": 1723840324,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12000567,
"modified": 1723840338,
"caption": null,
"credit": "Courtesy of Igor Tregub",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819-800x571.png",
"width": 800,
"height": 571,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819-1020x728.png",
"width": 1020,
"height": 728,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819-160x114.png",
"width": 160,
"height": 114,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819-672x372.png",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819-1038x576.png",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/png"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/IMG_9819.png",
"width": 1200,
"height": 857
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"ohubertallen": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "102",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "102",
"found": true
},
"name": "Olivia Allen-Price",
"firstName": "Olivia",
"lastName": "Allen-Price",
"slug": "ohubertallen",
"email": "oallenprice@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Senior Editor",
"bio": "Olivia Allen-Price is senior editor and host of the award-winning Bay Curious podcast. Prior to joining KQED in 2013, Olivia worked at The Baltimore Sun and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. She holds degrees in journalism and political science from Elon University. Her work has earned awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Hearst Foundation and Hearken. She loves to talk about running and curly hair.\r\n\r\nFollow: \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/oallenprice\">@oallenprice\u003c/a>\r\nEmail: \u003ca href=\"mailto:oallenprice@kqed.org\">oallenprice@kqed.org\u003c/a>",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/07f7803c1f6be56f3be58ef276dfa64dce898502e0554408ef4858451a8294f7?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "oallenprice",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "pop",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Olivia Allen-Price | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/07f7803c1f6be56f3be58ef276dfa64dce898502e0554408ef4858451a8294f7?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/07f7803c1f6be56f3be58ef276dfa64dce898502e0554408ef4858451a8294f7?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ohubertallen"
},
"danbrekke": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "222",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "222",
"found": true
},
"name": "Dan Brekke",
"firstName": "Dan",
"lastName": "Brekke",
"slug": "danbrekke",
"email": "dbrekke@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Editor and Reporter",
"bio": "Dan Brekke is a reporter and editor for KQED News, responsible for coverage of topics ranging from California water issues to the Bay Area's transportation challenges. In a newsroom career that began in Chicago in 1972, Dan has worked for \u003cem>The San Francisco Examiner,\u003c/em> Wired and TechTV and has been published in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Business 2.0, Salon and elsewhere.\r\n\r\nSince joining KQED in 2007, Dan has reported, edited and produced both radio and online features and breaking news pieces. He has shared as both editor and reporter in four Society of Professional Journalists Norcal Excellence in Journalism awards and one Edward R. Murrow regional award. He was chosen for a spring 2017 residency at the Mesa Refuge to advance his research on California salmon.\r\n\r\nEmail Dan at: \u003ca href=\"mailto:dbrekke@kqed.org\">dbrekke@kqed.org\u003c/a>\r\n\r\n\u003cstrong>Twitter:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/danbrekke\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">twitter.com/danbrekke\u003c/a>\r\n\u003cstrong>Facebook:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/danbrekke\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.facebook.com/danbrekke\u003c/a>\r\n\u003cstrong>LinkedIn:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbrekke\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.linkedin.com/in/danbrekke\u003c/a>",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f1f0d2a978fb3b23426c922c7e2af558fa36905b49c4ce76a97dc3c72d27226?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twitter": "danbrekke",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": "https://www.instagram.com/dan.brekke/",
"linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbrekke/",
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"administrator",
"create_posts"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "quest",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "food",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "elections",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Dan Brekke | KQED",
"description": "KQED Editor and Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f1f0d2a978fb3b23426c922c7e2af558fa36905b49c4ce76a97dc3c72d27226?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f1f0d2a978fb3b23426c922c7e2af558fa36905b49c4ce76a97dc3c72d27226?s=600&d=mm&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/danbrekke"
},
"scottshafer": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "255",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "255",
"found": true
},
"name": "Scott Shafer",
"firstName": "Scott",
"lastName": "Shafer",
"slug": "scottshafer",
"email": "sshafer@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Scott Shafer is a senior editor with the KQED Politics and Government desk. He is co-host of Political Breakdown, the award-winning radio show and podcast with a personal take on the world of politics. Scott came to KQED in 1998 to host the statewide\u003cem> California Report\u003c/em>. Prior to that he had extended stints in politics and government\u003cem>.\u003c/em> He uses that inside experience at KQED in his, reporting, hosting and analysis for the politics desk. Scott collaborated \u003cem>Political Breakdown a\u003c/em>nd on \u003cem>The Political Mind of Jerry Brown, \u003c/em>an eight-part series about the life and extraordinary political career of the former governor. For fun, he plays water polo with the San Francisco Tsunami.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a62ebae45b79d7aed1a39a0e3bf68104?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "scottshafer",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Scott Shafer | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a62ebae45b79d7aed1a39a0e3bf68104?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a62ebae45b79d7aed1a39a0e3bf68104?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/scottshafer"
},
"afont": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "8637",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "8637",
"found": true
},
"name": "Amanda Font",
"firstName": "Amanda",
"lastName": "Font",
"slug": "afont",
"email": "afont@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Amanda Font is a producer on \u003cem>The Latest\u003c/em> podcast, and the host and co-producer of the series \u003cem>Audible Cosmos\u003c/em>. She has previously worked as a producer and reporter on the \u003cem>Bay Curious\u003c/em> podcast, and director of \u003cem>The California Report Magazine\u003c/em>. She grew up in the deserts of Southern California and moved north for the trees. Amanda earned a B.A. from the BECA program at San Francisco State, where she worked in the university's radio station. Amanda Font is represented by SAG-AFTRA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d9e81cf0117d5849b9cfb7ab4b1422f1?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"add_users",
"create_users"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": []
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "radio",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Amanda Font | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d9e81cf0117d5849b9cfb7ab4b1422f1?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d9e81cf0117d5849b9cfb7ab4b1422f1?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/afont"
},
"ecruzguevarra": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "8654",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "8654",
"found": true
},
"name": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra",
"firstName": "Ericka",
"lastName": "Cruz Guevarra",
"slug": "ecruzguevarra",
"email": "ecruzguevarra@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Producer, The Bay Podcast",
"bio": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra is host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay\">\u003cem>The Bay\u003c/em>\u003c/a> podcast at KQED. Before host, she was the show’s producer. Her work in that capacity includes a three-part reported series on policing in Vallejo, which won a 2020 excellence in journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Ericka has worked as a breaking news reporter at Oregon Public Broadcasting, helped produce the Code Switch podcast, and was KQED’s inaugural Raul Ramirez Diversity Fund intern. She’s also an alumna of NPR’s Next Generation Radio program. Send her an email if you have strong feelings about whether Fairfield and Suisun City are the Bay. Ericka is represented by SAG-AFTRA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "NotoriousECG",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Ericka Cruz Guevarra | KQED",
"description": "Producer, The Bay Podcast",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/accefc1de4bafc7e234b69bcb9b6f6536c130fd84709bc3069ef11a78787e1bb?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ecruzguevarra"
},
"ogpenn": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11491",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11491",
"found": true
},
"name": "Pendarvis Harshaw",
"firstName": "Pendarvis",
"lastName": "Harshaw",
"slug": "ogpenn",
"email": "ogpenn@gmail.com",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"arts"
],
"title": "Community Engagement Reporter",
"bio": "Pendarvis Harshaw is an educator, host and writer with KQED Arts.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/972b77ee8e3f346ae2b00622661187fbfabd059b5693bbdc1475ea7a722fd4cd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": "ogpenn",
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "bayareabites",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "hiphop",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Pendarvis Harshaw | KQED",
"description": "Community Engagement Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/972b77ee8e3f346ae2b00622661187fbfabd059b5693bbdc1475ea7a722fd4cd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/972b77ee8e3f346ae2b00622661187fbfabd059b5693bbdc1475ea7a722fd4cd?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ogpenn"
},
"amontecillo": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11649",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11649",
"found": true
},
"name": "Alan Montecillo",
"firstName": "Alan",
"lastName": "Montecillo",
"slug": "amontecillo",
"email": "amontecillo@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Alan Montecillo is the senior editor of \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/thebay\">The Bay\u003c/a>, \u003c/em> KQED's local news podcast. Before moving to the Bay Area, he worked as a senior talk show producer for WILL in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and at Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland, Oregon. He has won journalism awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California, the Public Media Journalists Association, The Signal Awards, and has also received a regional Edward R. Murrow award. Alan is a Filipino American from Hong Kong and a graduate of Reed College.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "alanmontecillo",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Alan Montecillo | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/268f53a2066899ea9efdd8a5900218b17c822d9862cbc9326cccec53ef41d349?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/amontecillo"
},
"msolomon": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11651",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11651",
"found": true
},
"name": "Molly Solomon",
"firstName": "Molly",
"lastName": "Solomon",
"slug": "msolomon",
"email": "msolomon@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Senior Editor",
"bio": "Molly Solomon is the senior editor of KQED's California Politics and Government Desk. Previously, she was the station's editor-at-large, with a focus on editing early childhood education, politics, and criminal justice. Before that, she managed and edited statewide election coverage for The California Newsroom, a collaboration of local public radio stations, CalMatters and NPR. Molly joined KQED in 2019 to launch the station’s housing affordability desk, where she reported on homelessness, evictions and is the co-host of KQED’s housing podcast, SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America. Before that, she was the Southwest Washington Bureau Chief for Oregon Public Broadcasting and a reporter at Hawaii Public Radio. Her stories have aired on NPR’s \u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em>, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Here & Now\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Science Friday\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Marketplace\u003c/em>. Molly's award-winning reporting has been honored by the Best of the West, Edward R. Murrow awards, Society of Professional Journalists, National Headliner Awards, and the Asian American Journalists Association. Born and raised in Berkeley, Molly is a big fan of burritos and her scruffy terrier, Ollie.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9ad9794616923d81c9a79897161545bd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "solomonout",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Molly Solomon | KQED",
"description": "Senior Editor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9ad9794616923d81c9a79897161545bd?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9ad9794616923d81c9a79897161545bd?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/msolomon"
},
"abandlamudi": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11672",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11672",
"found": true
},
"name": "Adhiti Bandlamudi",
"firstName": "Adhiti",
"lastName": "Bandlamudi",
"slug": "abandlamudi",
"email": "abandlamudi@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Housing Reporter",
"bio": "Adhiti Bandlamudi reports for KQED's Housing desk. She focuses on how housing gets built across the Bay Area. Before joining KQED in 2020, she reported for WUNC in Durham, North Carolina, WABE in Atlanta, Georgia and Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. In 2017, she was awarded a Kroc Fellowship at NPR where she reported on everything from sprinkles to the Golden State Killer's arrest. When she's not reporting, she's baking new recipes in her kitchen or watching movies with friends and family. She's originally from Georgia and has strong opinions about Great British Bake Off.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twitter": "oddity_adhiti",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Adhiti Bandlamudi | KQED",
"description": "KQED Housing Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/868129c8b257bb99a3500e2c86a65400?s=600&d=mm&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/abandlamudi"
},
"eromero": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11746",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11746",
"found": true
},
"name": "Ezra David Romero",
"firstName": "Ezra David",
"lastName": "Romero",
"slug": "eromero",
"email": "eromero@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "Climate Reporter",
"bio": "Ezra David Romero is a climate reporter for KQED News. He covers the absence and excess of water in the Bay Area — think sea level rise, flooding and drought. For nearly a decade he’s covered how warming temperatures are altering the lives of Californians. He’s reported on farmers worried their pistachio trees aren’t getting enough sleep, families desperate for water, scientists studying dying giant sequoias, and alongside firefighters containing wildfires. His work has appeared on local stations across California and nationally on public radio shows like Morning Edition, Here and Now, All Things Considered and Science Friday. ",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c76404d287c10ed40224227551ac36e24352c7306f106632caf6fead76f8801f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "ezraromero",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Ezra David Romero | KQED",
"description": "Climate Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c76404d287c10ed40224227551ac36e24352c7306f106632caf6fead76f8801f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c76404d287c10ed40224227551ac36e24352c7306f106632caf6fead76f8801f?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/eromero"
},
"cbeale": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11749",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11749",
"found": true
},
"name": "Christopher Beale",
"firstName": "Christopher",
"lastName": "Beale",
"slug": "cbeale",
"email": "cbeale@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Engineer/Producer/Reporter",
"bio": "\u003ca href=\"https://linktr.ee/realchrisjbeale\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Christopher J. Beale\u003c/a> is an award winning journalist, audio engineer, and media host living in San Francisco. \r\n\r\nChristopher works primarily as an audio engineer at KQED and serves as the sound designer for both the Bay Curious and Rightnowish podcasts. He is the host and producer of the LGBTQIA podcast and radio segment \u003ca href=\"https://stereotypespodcast.org\">Stereotypes\u003c/a>.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dc485bf84788eb7e7414eb638e72407e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "realchrisjbeale",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": "http://instagram.com/realchrisjbeale",
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "forum",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Christopher Beale | KQED",
"description": "Engineer/Producer/Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dc485bf84788eb7e7414eb638e72407e?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dc485bf84788eb7e7414eb638e72407e?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/cbeale"
},
"sminobucheli": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11764",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11764",
"found": true
},
"name": "Sebastian Miño-Bucheli",
"firstName": "Sebastian",
"lastName": "Miño-Bucheli",
"slug": "sminobucheli",
"email": "sminobucheli@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "Sebastian Miño-Bucheli is a bilingual multimedia reporter and contributor to KQED Digital News. His reporting has been featured for Bay Curious, the California Report Magazine and KQED Arts. ",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4d433e33876cb631fbbe1ab7b9ddf7a1616f5e270c709b89ee147c0489875612?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@BucheliMino",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Sebastian Miño-Bucheli | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4d433e33876cb631fbbe1ab7b9ddf7a1616f5e270c709b89ee147c0489875612?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4d433e33876cb631fbbe1ab7b9ddf7a1616f5e270c709b89ee147c0489875612?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/sminobucheli"
},
"afinney": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11772",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11772",
"found": true
},
"name": "Annelise Finney",
"firstName": "Annelise",
"lastName": "Finney",
"slug": "afinney",
"email": "afinney@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Reporter",
"bio": "Annelise reports on reparations in California and East Bay politics. She co-produced the Sunday Music Drop, a limited-term radio series featuring Bay Area musicians that aired between Sept 2022 and Oct 2024. She joined KQED in 2021 as a general assignment reporter and is an alumna of KALW's Audio Academy. She was born and raised in the East Bay. She is currently away from KQED completing a year-long reporting project in Berlin, Germany as a Alexander Von Humboldt German Chancellor Fellow.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b439010ea6540bec1060ee74b3c94314480991106a4a84e774fe5a0fd6605878?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Annelise Finney | KQED",
"description": "Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b439010ea6540bec1060ee74b3c94314480991106a4a84e774fe5a0fd6605878?s=600&d=mm&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b439010ea6540bec1060ee74b3c94314480991106a4a84e774fe5a0fd6605878?s=600&d=mm&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/afinney"
},
"daisynguyen": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11829",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11829",
"found": true
},
"name": "Daisy Nguyen",
"firstName": "Daisy",
"lastName": "Nguyen",
"slug": "daisynguyen",
"email": "daisynguyen@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": "I have covered early childhood education and child care for KQED since 2022. I focus on policies aimed at increasing access to early care and education and how they shape individual lives. I've been a journalist for more than two decades, with most of that time devoted to covering breaking news throughout California for The Associated Press. I grew up in San Francisco and studied at UC Davis and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. I live in Oakland with my husband and two kids.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2da2127c27f7143b53ebd419800fd55f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisynguyen/",
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Daisy Nguyen | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2da2127c27f7143b53ebd419800fd55f?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2da2127c27f7143b53ebd419800fd55f?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/daisynguyen"
},
"jessicakariisa": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11831",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11831",
"found": true
},
"name": "Jessica Kariisa",
"firstName": "Jessica",
"lastName": "Kariisa",
"slug": "jessicakariisa",
"email": "jkariisa@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Producer, The Bay",
"bio": "Jessica Kariisa is the producer of The Bay. She first joined KQED as an intern for The California Report Magazine, after which she became an on-call producer. She reported a Bay Curious episode on the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials which won a Society of Professional Journalists award in 2023 for Excellence in Features Journalism and the 2023 Signal Award for Best Conversation Starter. She’s worked on podcasts for Snap Judgment and American Public Media. Before embarking on her audio career, she was a music journalist.\r\n\r\nJessica Kariisa is represented by SAG-AFTRA.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor",
"manage_categories"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Jessica Kariisa | KQED",
"description": "Producer, The Bay",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/522e97b28ac0b3d411621c0fde8f3419c7b71ea2c5c262c57c4bb600963f328c?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jessicakariisa"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"news_program_the-bay": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28779",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28779",
"score": 15.530088
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "The Bay is a daily news and culture program from KQED that covers the latest headlines, trends, and stories that matter to the Bay Area.",
"title": "The Bay Area Archives | KQED",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28796,
"slug": "the-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "The Bay",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "news",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 5
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/news?program=the-bay",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 5
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12006359": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12006359",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12006359",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1727431227000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "transcript-proposition-6-would-abolish-involuntary-servitude-in-prisons-and-jails",
"title": "Proposition 6 Would Abolish Involuntary Servitude in Prisons",
"publishDate": 1727431227,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Proposition 6 Would Abolish Involuntary Servitude in Prisons | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Today, arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to break down Prop. 6, an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced labor in prisons.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This episode has been updated to clarify the status of California’s volunteer firefighter program.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC1694673417&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:02] Let’s take it back to history class real quick. In 1865, the U.S. ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, otherwise known as the Prohibition Clause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:17] This is the clause that we were all taught banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States once and for all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:25] Which it did, except not completely. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And you’re listening to Prop Fest, a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious where we help you get smart on all the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:45] The Constitution says slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited except as punishment for convicted crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:54] That exception has allowed dozens of states, including California, to force incarcerated people to work in prisons whether they want to or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:04] Proposition 6 hopes to close that loophole once and for all and begin limiting forced labor in California state prisons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:01:14] Today, we’re going to break down Proposition 6 for you right after this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:22] Today we’re talking about Proposition 6. Here’s how it will read on your ballot. Prop 6 amends the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime, i.e., forcing incarcerated persons to work. Today, we talk with KQED arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw to help us break down what Prop 6 is all about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:51] Your story on prison labor mentions a poultry processing enterprise at a state prison near the Central Valley. I mean, there’s really it seems like a really wide range of jobs that California inmates are doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:02:24] It’s the notion of what you can see, you know about, what you don’t see. You have no idea. People who are residents of different institutions around the state work on everything from furniture that appears in college dorm rooms to license plates and and things of that nature, even working internally and doing maintenance. Somebody told me about working on the big industrial dryers inside of a women’s facility. There are a lot of education or jobs or even counseling jobs that people who are incarcerated do as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:59] And some of this is, I mean, really dangerous work, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:03:04] Yeah. There’s the maintenance work that that can be done inside of prisons. Definitely dangerous. And not all jobs are blue collar or a front line. There are a lot of education or jobs or even counseling jobs that people who are incarcerated do as well. Folks have shared with me that some of them make $0.11 an hour or $0.14 an hour. And a lot of that goes not even directly into their pocket, can go into anything from health care to restitution. There are people who work for ducats or tokens, which essentially goes to time earned against their sentence. So they might get out sooner because of their labor. In southern states you’ve seen there are examples of people who work in chain gangs. And so the parallels between that and slavery are like clear present.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:55] Because there are also consequences for some folks inside of prisons. If you don’t want to work right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:02] If you get assigned a job and you do not work, then yes, you can be penalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:06] So enter then Prop 6 Pen, which would amend California’s constitution and prohibit the state from punishing inmates with involuntary work assignments. Can you talk a little bit more about the changes that Prop 6 would make exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:27] Prop six would essentially ban involuntary servitude in California prisons. California’s just the latest to try to close this loophole in the past two years. Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont have all passed legislation in order to change this. This is a byproduct of years of work from different organizations and legislators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Lori Wilson \u003c/strong>[00:04:48] California is among only 16 states with an exception clause for involuntary servitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] This particular year, Legislative Black Caucus. Lori Wilson did a lot of work to get this off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Lori Wilson \u003c/strong>[00:05:01] Slavery takes on the modern form of involuntary servitude, including forced labor in prisons. Slavery is wrong, and all forms in California should be clear and denouncing that in our Constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:16] There’s been a lot of support by the organization that I talked to, all of us or None, which is a community group that’s based in Oakland, California. Their work is to help formerly incarcerated folks return to society, as well as to get behind initiatives like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:05:33] We want to give people the choice of whether or not they choose to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:38] Lawrence Cox is one of three people that I talk to who work for All of Us Or None. They filled me in on some background.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:05:44] For us here in California. This is the fourth consecutive year that we’ve attempted to make that reach the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:51] Saying it’s about humanity, it’s about labor rights. And then beyond that, it’s about this capitalist system. And Lawrence Cox talked about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:06:00] We’re not only trying to change the Constitution because we’re not talking about symbolism. We’re focused on creating airtight solutions that prevent the exploitation of individuals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] Who else do we know is for Prop six?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:06:17] Other organizations that are in favor of Prop six are orgs that do the work for people who are incarcerated, families who are incarcerated and people who are reentering society. So the anti recidivism coalition, ACLU of Northern California, organizations that are on the frontlines working with these folks who have been impacted by the system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:37] And do we know what like the money is looking like in terms of support for Prop six? Who’s throwing coin basically into the Yes on Prop six campaign?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:06:49] It’s it’s a tilted scale. Nearly $500,000 worth of support behind Prop six. And there have been $0 spent on the no side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:03] There’s no official opposition to Prop six, but the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has said it opposes it. There have also been a few newspaper editorial boards that call on voters to reject Prop six. The Bay Area News Group argued in a recent op ed that says, quote, Requiring inmates to sweep floors, clean the bathrooms or cook in the kitchen is reasonable. If we expect the same of ourselves and our children, if we insist members of the military conduct those chores, certainly we can ask incarcerated, convicted criminals to do the same, unquote. This also isn’t the first time advocates have tried to pass a similar idea. Back in 2020, the End Slavery in California Act was first introduced. But after two years in the legislature, it failed because lawmakers were worried about how much it would cost. That’s why this time, Prop six allows inmates to volunteer for work assignments without pay, but only if they want to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:18] Well, I know you visited San Quentin earlier this year, and I’m curious where you heard from people. Did any of this sort of conversation that we’re having now come up in your visit there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:08:31] It came up naturally. I was in San Quentin in early August, tagging along with a group of journalists, doing a more or less a media day just to get a sense of the media that was being produced out of San Quentin. And of course, if you’re producing media, you’re working and you should be compensated for your work. And so naturally, the conversation would come up like, how much do you make? It was mind blowing because it was said like it was just common or even laughed at like here, you know, just making a little $0.14 here and there, almost saying it in jest or saying it and moving on to the next topic. People have told me that they are looking for employment or some type of work because busy hands stay out of trouble, more or less. The people that I talked to much older understand how prison works and know that by being occupied with their time, it’s a benefit to them. How much do people get compensated? How many people can work? What type of rights do they have? It’s start of a much larger discussion, or probably even the continuation of a conversation that’s been happening for some time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:34] Well, Pen, thank you so much for breaking this down for us. We really appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:09:39] Thank you. Thank you for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:44] In a nutshell, a yes vote on Prop six means involuntary servitude would not be allowed as punishment for crime and that California prisons would not be allowed to discipline people in prison who refuse to work. A no vote means involuntary servitude would continue to be allowed as punishment for a crime in California. And that is it for today’s episode of Prop Fest. If you missed our other episodes, you can always find them at kqed.org/prop fest. Stay locked in and make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:10:30] Prop fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious Podcasts. It is produced by Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Christopher Beale, Amanda Font, Jessica Kariisa, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:45] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, and Holly Kernan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:10:52] And the whole KQED family. For more super helpful info on both state and local elections, make sure to bookmark KQED is handy Election guide at kqed.org/voter Guide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:06] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:11:08] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. We’ll be back next week with an explainer on prop 32, which would raise California’s minimum wage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:16] Talk to you then.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to break down Prop. 6, an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced labor in prisons and jails.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1728329887,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 7,
"wordCount": 2029
},
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 6 Would Abolish Involuntary Servitude in Prisons | KQED",
"description": "Arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to break down Prop. 6, an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced labor in prisons and jails.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Proposition 6 Would Abolish Involuntary Servitude in Prisons",
"datePublished": "2024-09-27T03:00:27-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-07T12:38:07-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "Prop Fest 2024",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC1694673417.mp3?updated=1727286540",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12006359",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12006359/transcript-proposition-6-would-abolish-involuntary-servitude-in-prisons-and-jails",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Today, arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to break down Prop. 6, an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced labor in prisons.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This episode has been updated to clarify the status of California’s volunteer firefighter program.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC1694673417&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:02] Let’s take it back to history class real quick. In 1865, the U.S. ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, otherwise known as the Prohibition Clause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:17] This is the clause that we were all taught banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States once and for all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:25] Which it did, except not completely. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And you’re listening to Prop Fest, a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious where we help you get smart on all the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:45] The Constitution says slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited except as punishment for convicted crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:54] That exception has allowed dozens of states, including California, to force incarcerated people to work in prisons whether they want to or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:04] Proposition 6 hopes to close that loophole once and for all and begin limiting forced labor in California state prisons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:01:14] Today, we’re going to break down Proposition 6 for you right after this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:22] Today we’re talking about Proposition 6. Here’s how it will read on your ballot. Prop 6 amends the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime, i.e., forcing incarcerated persons to work. Today, we talk with KQED arts and culture columnist Pendarvis Harshaw to help us break down what Prop 6 is all about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:51] Your story on prison labor mentions a poultry processing enterprise at a state prison near the Central Valley. I mean, there’s really it seems like a really wide range of jobs that California inmates are doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:02:24] It’s the notion of what you can see, you know about, what you don’t see. You have no idea. People who are residents of different institutions around the state work on everything from furniture that appears in college dorm rooms to license plates and and things of that nature, even working internally and doing maintenance. Somebody told me about working on the big industrial dryers inside of a women’s facility. There are a lot of education or jobs or even counseling jobs that people who are incarcerated do as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:59] And some of this is, I mean, really dangerous work, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:03:04] Yeah. There’s the maintenance work that that can be done inside of prisons. Definitely dangerous. And not all jobs are blue collar or a front line. There are a lot of education or jobs or even counseling jobs that people who are incarcerated do as well. Folks have shared with me that some of them make $0.11 an hour or $0.14 an hour. And a lot of that goes not even directly into their pocket, can go into anything from health care to restitution. There are people who work for ducats or tokens, which essentially goes to time earned against their sentence. So they might get out sooner because of their labor. In southern states you’ve seen there are examples of people who work in chain gangs. And so the parallels between that and slavery are like clear present.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:55] Because there are also consequences for some folks inside of prisons. If you don’t want to work right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:02] If you get assigned a job and you do not work, then yes, you can be penalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:06] So enter then Prop 6 Pen, which would amend California’s constitution and prohibit the state from punishing inmates with involuntary work assignments. Can you talk a little bit more about the changes that Prop 6 would make exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:27] Prop six would essentially ban involuntary servitude in California prisons. California’s just the latest to try to close this loophole in the past two years. Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont have all passed legislation in order to change this. This is a byproduct of years of work from different organizations and legislators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Lori Wilson \u003c/strong>[00:04:48] California is among only 16 states with an exception clause for involuntary servitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] This particular year, Legislative Black Caucus. Lori Wilson did a lot of work to get this off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Lori Wilson \u003c/strong>[00:05:01] Slavery takes on the modern form of involuntary servitude, including forced labor in prisons. Slavery is wrong, and all forms in California should be clear and denouncing that in our Constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:16] There’s been a lot of support by the organization that I talked to, all of us or None, which is a community group that’s based in Oakland, California. Their work is to help formerly incarcerated folks return to society, as well as to get behind initiatives like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:05:33] We want to give people the choice of whether or not they choose to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:38] Lawrence Cox is one of three people that I talk to who work for All of Us Or None. They filled me in on some background.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:05:44] For us here in California. This is the fourth consecutive year that we’ve attempted to make that reach the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:05:51] Saying it’s about humanity, it’s about labor rights. And then beyond that, it’s about this capitalist system. And Lawrence Cox talked about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Lawrence Cox \u003c/strong>[00:06:00] We’re not only trying to change the Constitution because we’re not talking about symbolism. We’re focused on creating airtight solutions that prevent the exploitation of individuals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] Who else do we know is for Prop six?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:06:17] Other organizations that are in favor of Prop six are orgs that do the work for people who are incarcerated, families who are incarcerated and people who are reentering society. So the anti recidivism coalition, ACLU of Northern California, organizations that are on the frontlines working with these folks who have been impacted by the system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:37] And do we know what like the money is looking like in terms of support for Prop six? Who’s throwing coin basically into the Yes on Prop six campaign?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:06:49] It’s it’s a tilted scale. Nearly $500,000 worth of support behind Prop six. And there have been $0 spent on the no side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:03] There’s no official opposition to Prop six, but the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has said it opposes it. There have also been a few newspaper editorial boards that call on voters to reject Prop six. The Bay Area News Group argued in a recent op ed that says, quote, Requiring inmates to sweep floors, clean the bathrooms or cook in the kitchen is reasonable. If we expect the same of ourselves and our children, if we insist members of the military conduct those chores, certainly we can ask incarcerated, convicted criminals to do the same, unquote. This also isn’t the first time advocates have tried to pass a similar idea. Back in 2020, the End Slavery in California Act was first introduced. But after two years in the legislature, it failed because lawmakers were worried about how much it would cost. That’s why this time, Prop six allows inmates to volunteer for work assignments without pay, but only if they want to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:18] Well, I know you visited San Quentin earlier this year, and I’m curious where you heard from people. Did any of this sort of conversation that we’re having now come up in your visit there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:08:31] It came up naturally. I was in San Quentin in early August, tagging along with a group of journalists, doing a more or less a media day just to get a sense of the media that was being produced out of San Quentin. And of course, if you’re producing media, you’re working and you should be compensated for your work. And so naturally, the conversation would come up like, how much do you make? It was mind blowing because it was said like it was just common or even laughed at like here, you know, just making a little $0.14 here and there, almost saying it in jest or saying it and moving on to the next topic. People have told me that they are looking for employment or some type of work because busy hands stay out of trouble, more or less. The people that I talked to much older understand how prison works and know that by being occupied with their time, it’s a benefit to them. How much do people get compensated? How many people can work? What type of rights do they have? It’s start of a much larger discussion, or probably even the continuation of a conversation that’s been happening for some time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:34] Well, Pen, thank you so much for breaking this down for us. We really appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Pendarvis Harshaw \u003c/strong>[00:09:39] Thank you. Thank you for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:44] In a nutshell, a yes vote on Prop six means involuntary servitude would not be allowed as punishment for crime and that California prisons would not be allowed to discipline people in prison who refuse to work. A no vote means involuntary servitude would continue to be allowed as punishment for a crime in California. And that is it for today’s episode of Prop Fest. If you missed our other episodes, you can always find them at kqed.org/prop fest. Stay locked in and make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:10:30] Prop fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious Podcasts. It is produced by Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Christopher Beale, Amanda Font, Jessica Kariisa, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:45] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, and Holly Kernan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:10:52] And the whole KQED family. For more super helpful info on both state and local elections, make sure to bookmark KQED is handy Election guide at kqed.org/voter Guide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:06] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:11:08] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. We’ll be back next week with an explainer on prop 32, which would raise California’s minimum wage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:16] Talk to you then.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12006359/transcript-proposition-6-would-abolish-involuntary-servitude-in-prisons-and-jails",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11491",
"102",
"11649",
"8637",
"11831",
"11749"
],
"programs": [
"news_33523",
"news_28779"
],
"series": [
"news_17986"
],
"categories": [
"news_6188",
"news_8",
"news_33520",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_28606",
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_34560",
"news_28645",
"news_24207",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_11971776",
"label": "source_news_12006359"
},
"news_12006445": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12006445",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12006445",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1727344842000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "transcript-proposition-5-would-lower-the-voting-threshold-for-certain-local-bond-measures",
"title": "Proposition 5 Would Lower the Voting Threshold for Certain Local Bond Measures",
"publishDate": 1727344842,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Proposition 5 Would Lower the Voting Threshold for Certain Local Bond Measures | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi helps us parse through the nuances of Proposition 5, which asks voters to lower the threshold to pass local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure from a two-thirds majority to 55%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This episode has been updated from a previous version to clarify ramifications of Proposition 13.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC3997284697&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Let’s take a quick trip through some recent election results for local bond measures around California, shall we…?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2020. Measure A. San Diego. A $900 million bond for low-income, substance abuse, and mental health service housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 57% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2022. Measure L. City of Berkeley. A $650 million bond to fund housing and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 59% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2022. Proposition A. San Francisco. A $400 million bond for transit improvements and repairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 65% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m noticing a trend…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Indeed! California makes it difficult for local governments to borrow money. They have to ask voters for permission – and then get a SUPERMAJORITY of votes – that’s two-thirds of the vote or 66.67%. That’s meant a lot of local bond measures fail, even when they have a lot of public support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> But Proposition 5 could change that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olivia Allen-Price: I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay. This is Prop Fest – our podcast series that goes deep on explaining the props on California’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We’re covering ten props in ten days, all so you can vote with confidence this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop 5 is looking to lower the threshold of voter support needed to pass local bond measures for housing and public infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I know it sounds pretty wonky – but this one could have a big impact for local budgets … and for homeowners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because if more bonds start passing someone has to pay for them. And it’s probably you … or your landlord … who then passes that cost on to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> We’ll get into the details on Proposition 5 just ahead on Prop Fest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Let’s get into it on Proposition 5. Here’s how it will appear on your ballot…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> Proposition 5 ALLOWS LOCAL BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WITH 55% VOTER APPROVAL. It’s a constitutional amendment that was placed on the ballot by the state legislature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> To help explain what’s at stake with Prop 5. I’m joined by reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi Hey, Adhiti.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So Prop 5 impacts how we pass local bonds in this state. So I want to start with a quick refresher for people. What exactly is a bond?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Okay, so bonds are a way for state and local governments to raise money for big projects that they want to do now, but pay over time. You might think of it as sort of like a 30-year mortgage you might have on a house, right? The bank gives you a bunch of money upfront to buy the house, and then you pay it back in small installments with interest over time. Government bonds work kind of the same way, except instead of being used to buy a house, the government uses the money for all sorts of things like renovating schools, fixing potholes, funding public transportation, things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And right now, if a local government in California wants to borrow money, they always have to get voter approval. And not just the majority of the vote, but actually two thirds of the vote. The state, on the other hand, only needs 55% of voters’ support for their bonds. So it’s essentially harder for a city or county to pass a bond than it is for the state. What could Prop 5 change about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> So Prop 5 wants to lower that threshold of votes that local governments would need to get from two thirds to 55%, but only for two types of bonds, affordable housing and for public infrastructure projects. Affordable housing bonds would mean money to build new affordable housing funding, down payment assistance programs, or a low income housing support, for example. Public infrastructure bonds could mean money for road repairs, water management, parks, hospitals, stuff like that. This prop also includes a rule that local governments have to put accountability measures in place so if they issue a bond. Taxpayers know where their money is going. And the interesting thing to note here is that back in 2000, voters passed a proposition that lowered the voter threshold to 55% for school bonds. So this is already something that has come up before the voters and they approved it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Can you walk through why there’s this focus specifically on housing affordability and public infrastructure bonds?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah. I mean, California’s housing affordability crisis impacts everyone. And it’s growing worse and worse every year. So much so that more people are losing their homes or moving out of the state entirely. Public infrastructure is also hard to fund. There are some hospitals that are falling into disrepair, and it’s been hard for them to get funding. Even just getting a bike lane installed on a road can be really expensive. And, you know, bond measures have some results. For example, in 2019, San Francisco passed Prop eight, which approved $600 million in bonds for affordable housing. And some of that money went to fund Shirley Chisholm Village, a development for educators in the San Francisco Unified School District. So, teacher housing. And it’s set to open this fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And why lower the voter threshold?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> In short, they want more of these local bonds to have a better chance of passing. A lot of local bond measures have failed recently, despite having incredibly strong voter support. Here’s Edie Irons, who works for All Homes, an affordable housing advocacy group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Edie Irons:\u003c/strong> I was just looking at a list of like ten measures for housing across the state in the last just handful of years that failed. Because they got 55%, 59%, 60%, 66%. It’s too high of a bar. You know, a two thirds threshold is not actually a functional way to govern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, if Prop 5 passes, do we have a sense of how many more of these local bond measures would pass?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The Legislative Analyst’s Office has done an analysis on recent local election results, and they say an additional 20% to 50% of local bond measures would have passed under Proposition Five’s lower voter approval requirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Okay. Yeah, that’s quite a bit. Now, this two thirds threshold that currently exists was set back in 1978 with the passage of Proposition 13. Folks will remember that Prop 13 was all about limiting property tax increases for homeowners. Can you walk us through why that two thirds threshold was part of Prop 13?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Totally. So when Prop 13 was introduced to the voters in the late 70s, it came at a time when property taxes were fluctuating a lot, partially because there was a huge population boom leading to an increase in demand for housing and a lot of inflation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s anti-tax activist Howard Jarvis, one of the big proponents of Prop 13, in a 1978 debate…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Howard Jarvis (Archival Tape):\u003c/strong> \u003cem>The second objective of the amendment is to enable elderly people unlimited incomes, which there are 3 or 4 million in this state, to be able to retain the homes that they have bought and paid for. And who are in serious danger today, because of rapidly escalating property taxes, of losing their homes.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The property taxes rose so much that some people living on their retirements, who were on a fixed income, couldn’t keep up and some even lost their homes. Prop 13 came in and said, we’re going to make sure property taxes are tied to the home’s value when you bought the home, not the current market value, which could fluctuate. And what it also said is that it would make it harder for local governments to raise those property taxes through bond measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, our state government is primarily funded by income taxes. So the money you probably see taken out of your paycheck every few weeks. Our local governments are funded primarily through property taxes. So language in Prop 13 set the threshold to pass a local bond to two thirds to make it harder to pass bonds and thus less likely, homeowners would see property tax increases.\u003cbr>\nSo if Prop 5 this year passes, local governments will have an easier time approving bond measures, and it’s more likely that homeowners will see property tax increases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that’s the thing. Opponents of Prop 5 are worried about that. It chips away at some of those protections Prop 13 has held in place for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> There are many critiques of Prop 13, and the implications it’s had on everything from the cost of housing to income inequality … but for the purposes of this episode, know Prop 13 had a drastic and immediate impact on the amount of money going to local governments. And that’s taken a toll on everything that’s traditionally funded by local government – like schools and local infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Adhiti, Prop 13 has long been called, you know, a political third rail, something that just cannot be touched because it’s so popular with many homeowners in California. Is that still the case if we’re seeing, you know, things like Prop 5 on our ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I wanted to figure that out. And so I talked to Mark Baldassare from the Public Policy Institute of California for this. Back in 2018, he had done a survey on how people felt about Prop 13 at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mark Baldassare:\u003c/strong> Pretty consistently. More than 6 in 10 people in California in our polling say that they feel overall Proposition 13 has been mostly a good thing. So convincing people that something that the voters passed even a long time ago needs to be changed is a hurdle. And it might impact their own taxes and ultimately their cost of living at a time when people are very sensitive about rising costs of living in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Now, to be fair, I don’t know how many people will read Prop 5 text and think about Prop 13. I also don’t know how many people will read about Prop 5 and think about their property taxes increasing because not everyone realizes that local bond measures are funded through property tax hikes. But if Prop 5 passes, it could be a bellwether for Prop 13 future as we see more of its protections chipped away year after year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, I know there’s been some controversy about the language of the measure or basically what voters will read on the ballot. What are opponents saying about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there has been a lot of concern about the language of this prop. It doesn’t specify that the 55% threshold is a decrease from the existing two thirds threshold. And many, like former San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis, are concerned that voters won’t fully understand what they’re voting on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Johnny Khamis\u003c/strong>: I think it’s misleading. The best I can say is it’s a proposition that is going to be reducing the threshold to passing a new tax when in fact the language on the ballot makes you feel like you’re increasing the voting threshold. So I think it’s misleading and dishonest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> There was even a court case over the language on the ballot, but ultimately, the language on the ballot was permitted to remain as is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> This prop has a lot of ramifications for property taxes, as we’ve been talking about already. But how does California stack up against other states currently on that front?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, California’s property tax rates aren’t that high when you compare us to other states. In fact, our property tax rates are actually kind of low. But because our property values here are really high, the amount people end up paying can feel like a lot. And because property taxes can only increase by a little bit every year, it can be really hard for local governments to keep up with maintaining their cities, especially if they have huge population booms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Which probably accounts for a lot of Bay Area regions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Very much so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, how did Prop 5 end up on the ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The legislature voted to put Prop 5 on the ballot last year. It’s part of a series of attempts to solve the state’s increasingly dire housing crisis. This is just one way local governments could raise money to approach housing affordability at the local level. It’s a change that has to be voted on by Californians because it would mean a change to the state’s constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Take us through who is in support of this one and why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Lots of organizations support this proposition, including the California Democratic Party. California YIMBY also known as Yes in My Backyard, California Housing Partnership and the California Apartment Association, among many, many, many others. Affordable housing activists are really excited about this bond, particularly because we’re coming out of a kind of lackluster year when it comes to funding for housing at the state level. We had two multibillion dollar bond measures that were going to go before the voters but died along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some argue that Prop 13 has made it hard for local governments to spend money locally, and they have to rely on the state to pass these big bond measures. And then that money trickles its way down to the cities that need it. I spoke with Amie Fishman from the nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Amie Fishman\u003c/strong>: Our focus is on how do we empower local communities to directly address their own affordable housing and infrastructure needs. And Prop 5 allows communities to take control of their futures, really, and make the necessary investments without waiting for state intervention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And who’s lining up in opposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Generally, groups that are anti-tax. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has been against this initiative since it was just a proposal. The California Chamber of Commerce is against it and the very powerful California Association of Realtors. Here’s former San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Johnny Khamis:\u003c/strong> It actually reverses a lot of the protections that we had under Prop 13. It actually makes it much easier to pass new bonds, new, you know, which I think that we do need a good infrastructure. We do need things. But I also am very cognizant of the fact that my mom received her property tax bill in November that she has to pay. And there’s currently, you know, my mom, who’s retired and is on a limited income has 17– already 17 taxes that are not her property tax. So these are 17 parcel measures from anything from the water district to the county to the school boards to the you name it. There’s 17 currently. You know, I think that this could open the floodgates to new propositions and taxes and make and make it much harder for seniors like my mother to live in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Now, this proposition does have some accountability measures there, but people worry about whether the rules will actually be followed. Bond money is sometimes misappropriated, even with accountability measures in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how is the campaign spending shaking out here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> As of mid-September, when we’re recording this conversation, the opponents of Prop 5 have raised almost $30 million to fight this. Meanwhile, the ‘yes’ camp has raised about 5 million. But I should add, a lot of that $30 million from the ‘no’ camp came from realty groups, but their opposition has cooled slightly because the legislature made some concessions before this was placed on the ballot. There is now language in Prop 5 that bans local governments from using the bond money to buy up existing single family homes and converting them into affordable units, something the realty groups didn’t want to happen. And just to make it clear, this proposition lowers the voter threshold, but people still have to vote in order for a bond measure to pass. So it’s not like cities can just pass bond measures without say so from the taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, thank you for walking us through this one. It was way more complicated than I anticipated when I first read it. Housing reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi, thanks again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Thanks for having me. This was really complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We made it through.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In summary, a vote yes on Prop 5 means you want the threshold of voter support needed for local affordable housing and public infrastructure bonds to be lowered from two thirds to 55%. This means it’s more likely that bonds will pass and more funding will be available for those types of projects. A vote no on Prop 5 means you want to keep that two thirds threshold in place and you want to maintain Prop 13 protections against property tax increases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That’s a wrap on Prop 5. Thanks for tuning in to Prop Fest – a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> If you’re finding these episodes valuable, please share them with a friend, tell your neighbors, post about them on social media… We put a ton of work into these episodes and we really want people to find them before Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is produced by Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeda Amaral, Olivia Allen-Price, Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, And me Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Extra support from Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, And the whole KQED family\u003cbr>\nEricka Cruz Guevarra: You can find audio and transcripts for this series at KQED.org/PropFest …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Join your friends and neighbors and support our work today. Give at KQED.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 6 – which looks to end involuntary servitude for incarcerated people. Thanks for listening.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Local bond measures currently require a two-thirds majority to pass. Should that be lowered? ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729130372,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 83,
"wordCount": 3395
},
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 5 Would Lower the Voting Threshold for Certain Local Bond Measures | KQED",
"description": "Local bond measures currently require a two-thirds majority to pass. Should that be lowered? ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Proposition 5 Would Lower the Voting Threshold for Certain Local Bond Measures",
"datePublished": "2024-09-26T03:00:42-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-16T18:59:32-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "Prop Fest 2024",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC3997284697.mp3?updated=1727304297",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12006445",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12006445/transcript-proposition-5-would-lower-the-voting-threshold-for-certain-local-bond-measures",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi helps us parse through the nuances of Proposition 5, which asks voters to lower the threshold to pass local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure from a two-thirds majority to 55%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This episode has been updated from a previous version to clarify ramifications of Proposition 13.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC3997284697&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Let’s take a quick trip through some recent election results for local bond measures around California, shall we…?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2020. Measure A. San Diego. A $900 million bond for low-income, substance abuse, and mental health service housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 57% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2022. Measure L. City of Berkeley. A $650 million bond to fund housing and infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 59% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> 2022. Proposition A. San Francisco. A $400 million bond for transit improvements and repairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Failed with 65% of voters in favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m noticing a trend…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Indeed! California makes it difficult for local governments to borrow money. They have to ask voters for permission – and then get a SUPERMAJORITY of votes – that’s two-thirds of the vote or 66.67%. That’s meant a lot of local bond measures fail, even when they have a lot of public support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> But Proposition 5 could change that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olivia Allen-Price: I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay. This is Prop Fest – our podcast series that goes deep on explaining the props on California’s ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We’re covering ten props in ten days, all so you can vote with confidence this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Prop 5 is looking to lower the threshold of voter support needed to pass local bond measures for housing and public infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I know it sounds pretty wonky – but this one could have a big impact for local budgets … and for homeowners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Because if more bonds start passing someone has to pay for them. And it’s probably you … or your landlord … who then passes that cost on to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> We’ll get into the details on Proposition 5 just ahead on Prop Fest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Let’s get into it on Proposition 5. Here’s how it will appear on your ballot…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> Proposition 5 ALLOWS LOCAL BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WITH 55% VOTER APPROVAL. It’s a constitutional amendment that was placed on the ballot by the state legislature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> To help explain what’s at stake with Prop 5. I’m joined by reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi Hey, Adhiti.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So Prop 5 impacts how we pass local bonds in this state. So I want to start with a quick refresher for people. What exactly is a bond?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Okay, so bonds are a way for state and local governments to raise money for big projects that they want to do now, but pay over time. You might think of it as sort of like a 30-year mortgage you might have on a house, right? The bank gives you a bunch of money upfront to buy the house, and then you pay it back in small installments with interest over time. Government bonds work kind of the same way, except instead of being used to buy a house, the government uses the money for all sorts of things like renovating schools, fixing potholes, funding public transportation, things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And right now, if a local government in California wants to borrow money, they always have to get voter approval. And not just the majority of the vote, but actually two thirds of the vote. The state, on the other hand, only needs 55% of voters’ support for their bonds. So it’s essentially harder for a city or county to pass a bond than it is for the state. What could Prop 5 change about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> So Prop 5 wants to lower that threshold of votes that local governments would need to get from two thirds to 55%, but only for two types of bonds, affordable housing and for public infrastructure projects. Affordable housing bonds would mean money to build new affordable housing funding, down payment assistance programs, or a low income housing support, for example. Public infrastructure bonds could mean money for road repairs, water management, parks, hospitals, stuff like that. This prop also includes a rule that local governments have to put accountability measures in place so if they issue a bond. Taxpayers know where their money is going. And the interesting thing to note here is that back in 2000, voters passed a proposition that lowered the voter threshold to 55% for school bonds. So this is already something that has come up before the voters and they approved it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Can you walk through why there’s this focus specifically on housing affordability and public infrastructure bonds?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah. I mean, California’s housing affordability crisis impacts everyone. And it’s growing worse and worse every year. So much so that more people are losing their homes or moving out of the state entirely. Public infrastructure is also hard to fund. There are some hospitals that are falling into disrepair, and it’s been hard for them to get funding. Even just getting a bike lane installed on a road can be really expensive. And, you know, bond measures have some results. For example, in 2019, San Francisco passed Prop eight, which approved $600 million in bonds for affordable housing. And some of that money went to fund Shirley Chisholm Village, a development for educators in the San Francisco Unified School District. So, teacher housing. And it’s set to open this fall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And why lower the voter threshold?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> In short, they want more of these local bonds to have a better chance of passing. A lot of local bond measures have failed recently, despite having incredibly strong voter support. Here’s Edie Irons, who works for All Homes, an affordable housing advocacy group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Edie Irons:\u003c/strong> I was just looking at a list of like ten measures for housing across the state in the last just handful of years that failed. Because they got 55%, 59%, 60%, 66%. It’s too high of a bar. You know, a two thirds threshold is not actually a functional way to govern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, if Prop 5 passes, do we have a sense of how many more of these local bond measures would pass?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The Legislative Analyst’s Office has done an analysis on recent local election results, and they say an additional 20% to 50% of local bond measures would have passed under Proposition Five’s lower voter approval requirement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Okay. Yeah, that’s quite a bit. Now, this two thirds threshold that currently exists was set back in 1978 with the passage of Proposition 13. Folks will remember that Prop 13 was all about limiting property tax increases for homeowners. Can you walk us through why that two thirds threshold was part of Prop 13?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Totally. So when Prop 13 was introduced to the voters in the late 70s, it came at a time when property taxes were fluctuating a lot, partially because there was a huge population boom leading to an increase in demand for housing and a lot of inflation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s anti-tax activist Howard Jarvis, one of the big proponents of Prop 13, in a 1978 debate…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Howard Jarvis (Archival Tape):\u003c/strong> \u003cem>The second objective of the amendment is to enable elderly people unlimited incomes, which there are 3 or 4 million in this state, to be able to retain the homes that they have bought and paid for. And who are in serious danger today, because of rapidly escalating property taxes, of losing their homes.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The property taxes rose so much that some people living on their retirements, who were on a fixed income, couldn’t keep up and some even lost their homes. Prop 13 came in and said, we’re going to make sure property taxes are tied to the home’s value when you bought the home, not the current market value, which could fluctuate. And what it also said is that it would make it harder for local governments to raise those property taxes through bond measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, our state government is primarily funded by income taxes. So the money you probably see taken out of your paycheck every few weeks. Our local governments are funded primarily through property taxes. So language in Prop 13 set the threshold to pass a local bond to two thirds to make it harder to pass bonds and thus less likely, homeowners would see property tax increases.\u003cbr>\nSo if Prop 5 this year passes, local governments will have an easier time approving bond measures, and it’s more likely that homeowners will see property tax increases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that’s the thing. Opponents of Prop 5 are worried about that. It chips away at some of those protections Prop 13 has held in place for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> There are many critiques of Prop 13, and the implications it’s had on everything from the cost of housing to income inequality … but for the purposes of this episode, know Prop 13 had a drastic and immediate impact on the amount of money going to local governments. And that’s taken a toll on everything that’s traditionally funded by local government – like schools and local infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Adhiti, Prop 13 has long been called, you know, a political third rail, something that just cannot be touched because it’s so popular with many homeowners in California. Is that still the case if we’re seeing, you know, things like Prop 5 on our ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I wanted to figure that out. And so I talked to Mark Baldassare from the Public Policy Institute of California for this. Back in 2018, he had done a survey on how people felt about Prop 13 at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mark Baldassare:\u003c/strong> Pretty consistently. More than 6 in 10 people in California in our polling say that they feel overall Proposition 13 has been mostly a good thing. So convincing people that something that the voters passed even a long time ago needs to be changed is a hurdle. And it might impact their own taxes and ultimately their cost of living at a time when people are very sensitive about rising costs of living in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Now, to be fair, I don’t know how many people will read Prop 5 text and think about Prop 13. I also don’t know how many people will read about Prop 5 and think about their property taxes increasing because not everyone realizes that local bond measures are funded through property tax hikes. But if Prop 5 passes, it could be a bellwether for Prop 13 future as we see more of its protections chipped away year after year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, I know there’s been some controversy about the language of the measure or basically what voters will read on the ballot. What are opponents saying about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there has been a lot of concern about the language of this prop. It doesn’t specify that the 55% threshold is a decrease from the existing two thirds threshold. And many, like former San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis, are concerned that voters won’t fully understand what they’re voting on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Johnny Khamis\u003c/strong>: I think it’s misleading. The best I can say is it’s a proposition that is going to be reducing the threshold to passing a new tax when in fact the language on the ballot makes you feel like you’re increasing the voting threshold. So I think it’s misleading and dishonest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> There was even a court case over the language on the ballot, but ultimately, the language on the ballot was permitted to remain as is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> This prop has a lot of ramifications for property taxes, as we’ve been talking about already. But how does California stack up against other states currently on that front?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Yeah, California’s property tax rates aren’t that high when you compare us to other states. In fact, our property tax rates are actually kind of low. But because our property values here are really high, the amount people end up paying can feel like a lot. And because property taxes can only increase by a little bit every year, it can be really hard for local governments to keep up with maintaining their cities, especially if they have huge population booms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Which probably accounts for a lot of Bay Area regions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Very much so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, how did Prop 5 end up on the ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> The legislature voted to put Prop 5 on the ballot last year. It’s part of a series of attempts to solve the state’s increasingly dire housing crisis. This is just one way local governments could raise money to approach housing affordability at the local level. It’s a change that has to be voted on by Californians because it would mean a change to the state’s constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Take us through who is in support of this one and why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Lots of organizations support this proposition, including the California Democratic Party. California YIMBY also known as Yes in My Backyard, California Housing Partnership and the California Apartment Association, among many, many, many others. Affordable housing activists are really excited about this bond, particularly because we’re coming out of a kind of lackluster year when it comes to funding for housing at the state level. We had two multibillion dollar bond measures that were going to go before the voters but died along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some argue that Prop 13 has made it hard for local governments to spend money locally, and they have to rely on the state to pass these big bond measures. And then that money trickles its way down to the cities that need it. I spoke with Amie Fishman from the nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Amie Fishman\u003c/strong>: Our focus is on how do we empower local communities to directly address their own affordable housing and infrastructure needs. And Prop 5 allows communities to take control of their futures, really, and make the necessary investments without waiting for state intervention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And who’s lining up in opposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Generally, groups that are anti-tax. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has been against this initiative since it was just a proposal. The California Chamber of Commerce is against it and the very powerful California Association of Realtors. Here’s former San Jose Councilmember Johnny Khamis again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Johnny Khamis:\u003c/strong> It actually reverses a lot of the protections that we had under Prop 13. It actually makes it much easier to pass new bonds, new, you know, which I think that we do need a good infrastructure. We do need things. But I also am very cognizant of the fact that my mom received her property tax bill in November that she has to pay. And there’s currently, you know, my mom, who’s retired and is on a limited income has 17– already 17 taxes that are not her property tax. So these are 17 parcel measures from anything from the water district to the county to the school boards to the you name it. There’s 17 currently. You know, I think that this could open the floodgates to new propositions and taxes and make and make it much harder for seniors like my mother to live in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Now, this proposition does have some accountability measures there, but people worry about whether the rules will actually be followed. Bond money is sometimes misappropriated, even with accountability measures in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how is the campaign spending shaking out here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> As of mid-September, when we’re recording this conversation, the opponents of Prop 5 have raised almost $30 million to fight this. Meanwhile, the ‘yes’ camp has raised about 5 million. But I should add, a lot of that $30 million from the ‘no’ camp came from realty groups, but their opposition has cooled slightly because the legislature made some concessions before this was placed on the ballot. There is now language in Prop 5 that bans local governments from using the bond money to buy up existing single family homes and converting them into affordable units, something the realty groups didn’t want to happen. And just to make it clear, this proposition lowers the voter threshold, but people still have to vote in order for a bond measure to pass. So it’s not like cities can just pass bond measures without say so from the taxpayers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, thank you for walking us through this one. It was way more complicated than I anticipated when I first read it. Housing reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi, thanks again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi:\u003c/strong> Thanks for having me. This was really complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We made it through.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In summary, a vote yes on Prop 5 means you want the threshold of voter support needed for local affordable housing and public infrastructure bonds to be lowered from two thirds to 55%. This means it’s more likely that bonds will pass and more funding will be available for those types of projects. A vote no on Prop 5 means you want to keep that two thirds threshold in place and you want to maintain Prop 13 protections against property tax increases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That’s a wrap on Prop 5. Thanks for tuning in to Prop Fest – a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> If you’re finding these episodes valuable, please share them with a friend, tell your neighbors, post about them on social media… We put a ton of work into these episodes and we really want people to find them before Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is produced by Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeda Amaral, Olivia Allen-Price, Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, And me Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Extra support from Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, And the whole KQED family\u003cbr>\nEricka Cruz Guevarra: You can find audio and transcripts for this series at KQED.org/PropFest …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Join your friends and neighbors and support our work today. Give at KQED.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 6 – which looks to end involuntary servitude for incarcerated people. Thanks for listening.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12006445/transcript-proposition-5-would-lower-the-voting-threshold-for-certain-local-bond-measures",
"authors": [
"102",
"8637",
"11649",
"8654",
"11831",
"11672"
],
"programs": [
"news_33523",
"news_28779"
],
"series": [
"news_17986"
],
"categories": [
"news_6266",
"news_8",
"news_33520",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_28606",
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_34577",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12006472",
"label": "source_news_12006445"
},
"news_12005954": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12005954",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12005954",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1727258401000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "transcript-proposition-4-would-raise-10-billion-in-bonds-for-climate-projects",
"title": "Proposition 4 Would Raise $10 Billion in Bonds for Climate Projects",
"publishDate": 1727258401,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Proposition 4 Would Raise $10 Billion in Bonds for Climate Projects | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero breaks down Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environment-related projects across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC8420453070&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:00] California has got some of the most ambitious climate goals in the country and the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:06] In 2022, the state released the world’s first plan to achieve net zero carbon pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:13] But we’re not going to get there overnight or for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:17] It’s going to take a radical reimagining of how we live life in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:24] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:26] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And you’re listening to Prop Fest, a collaboration between the Bay and Bay curious where we help you get smart on all the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:39] Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a $10 billion bond to invest in climate change programs and solutions. And now it needs voters final seal of approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:51] And it’s coming to you in the form of proposition for the climate bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:56] This proposal to borrow more money for climate change solutions comes at a time when the state made some tough decisions on climate related programs because of a big budget deficit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:01:08] So now it’s up to voters to decide how much of a priority climate change solutions are. By voting to approve or reject this $10 billion bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:18] Today, we’re going to break down Proposition 4 for you right after this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:28] Today we’re talking about Proposition four. Here’s how it will read on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Voiceover \u003c/strong>[00:01:33] Prop 4 authorizes 10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention and protection of communities and lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:41] We hit up climate reporter Ezra David Romero to break down what this prop will mean for you. Well, Ezra, so we’ve got another bond on the ballot this November. This time voters are being asked to borrow $10 billion for investments in climate change solutions. What is the back story like? How did this get on the ballot in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:02:04] Yeah. To understand that, we have to go back a couple of years, when environmental lobbyists started lobbying the legislature to like say, look, let’s have a climate bond. Let’s create some big projects that can hopefully protect the state from wildfires and floods and things like that. About two years ago, both sides of the state legislature came up with two different bond measures for about $15 billion each to, you know, combat climate change across California. But at the same time, California was going through this really big, huge budget deficit. Right? And this year, we had about a $46.8 billion budget deficit, which meant that some of these climate programs were also going to get cut. It was really about like, how can we do this? Like really big infrastructure projects that can make sure our future is safe when it comes to wildfires, when it comes to flood, maybe like sea level rise, drought, things like that. And the fight to get this climate bond this year was actually like quite until the end. The two sides of the legislature came together and created one climate bond. And it really wasn’t even in real language until the day before it was due a few months ago. And that’s because a few things like the state only had a certain amount of bonding capacity. How much money the state’s really willing to like go in debt for. And then there were like competing bonds and housing and education. And then also, like climate groups really wanted this thing. But ultimately it happened. And now we have like a $10 billion bond that voters can potentially vote for in November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:39] Right. And clearly, lawmakers believe that addressing climate change with this bond was important enough. So what exactly was their rationale behind this? How did they talk about that in the state legislature?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:03:53] Yeah, I think it’s really quite simple. We live in a state that has all these climate effects happening right now. Just think of this year, right? We had major wildfires in Southern California just this past month. We had major flooding in Los Angeles, you know, earlier in the year. We had extreme hot days in Sacramento for like a couple of weeks. Right. And then we had the fourth largest fire in California history called the Park Fire near Chico. So we had all these things happening at the same time. We needed to prepare for the future because all these things could get worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Damon Connolly \u003c/strong>[00:04:26] People are living the consequences right now in our state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:04:31] I spoke to Damon Connolly. He’s the assemblymember for the San Rafael area. And he basically said, you know, like his area floods, his area burns, and like this climate bond would help protect his region, hopefully from future climate change when it comes to flooding and drought and fires in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Damon Connolly \u003c/strong>[00:04:49] The climate bond proposal will ensure that our investments in climate resilience are bolstered rather than falling by the wayside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:58] So this climate bond passed in the legislature and now voters will decide whether or not to approve it. And the official name is actually got a lot going on in it. It’s the Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. It’s got lots of things going in there. Ezra, what would Prop 4 do exactly, though?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:05:24] Yeah, you’re right. It does have like this big name and that’s because it’s this big bond to do many things. And I think to like get Californians across the state to vote for it. It has to do a lot of things. Right, because the climate effects in, say, Southern California aren’t the same in Central California or Northern California or the Bay Area. First, it provides funds for some of those programs that were cut because of the budget cuts, and that’s a smaller amount. And then in a really big way I think the second thing it does is going to be used mostly for these big infrastructure projects like improving levees or the storm water systems that capture water during storms, preparing homes for wildfires and thinning the forests that could burn or preparing for the drought when it comes to like water supplies. A lot of this money is going to go to water and flooding about $3.8 billion, the most money out of the entire bond in one area. One of those areas is water recycling. You know, that’s where our water from, our toilets or our showers, you know, goes into like a water plant. And then it’s like cleaned up in, say, in the San Francisco Bay area. It goes back into the bay. But the idea there is they want to spend $400 million to make these plants into more of a water recycling plant where we reuse that water perhaps for drinking or for our gardens or our lawns and things like that. And that’s really important because in the future, as we have more droughts, like we’re going to have like a smaller water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:56] And we talked about some statewide programs getting cut from the governor’s budget because of this budget deficit that the state is facing. But what kinds of climate programs could actually get restored with the money from this bond?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:07:15] One program really sticks out to me. That’s the Transformative Climate Communities Program. And that’s all about like making sure communities themselves can come up with their own ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own communities. In the budget, in the in the over the past two years, that program was basically zeroed out. And this bond, if like California voters vote for it like could restore that project to $150 million. And that project has helped communities all over California like Arvin, Stockton, Bakersfield, Pomona, Coachella, San Diego. So it’s really helped communities all across the state. And that funding could come back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:55] Yeah, that’s I mean, that’s a huge difference as far as $0 to $150 million for this program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:08:01] Yeah, definitely. You know, it could bring to life this program and allow grants to be given to more communities. Basically, that program cycles a number of grants every year, and this will allow them to potentially give more grants to communities if voters vote for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:19] So, I mean, it seems pretty clear that Democrats in the legislature who who voted for this bond and approved it in the legislature earlier this year are for this bond. But who else is supporting Proposition 4?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:08:35] Well, there’s this really big group of environmental groups and nature based groups and firefighter groups that all came together and made a letter to the legislature earlier this year. And they asked the legislature to support this. So there’s groups like Latino Outdoors and there Save the Bay. And then there’s the California Environmental Voters Organization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Mike Young \u003c/strong>[00:08:56] Climate change, whether you believe it or not, it’s happening. It’s not a belief system. It’s just the science. And sooner or later, we’re going to face those consequences. And many people already are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:09:06] I spoke to Mike Young. He’s a senior political organizing director at California Environmental Voters. He basically really loves this plan because it’s going to help create California, you know, that maybe can withstand droughts and wildfires and sea level rise in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Mike Young \u003c/strong>[00:09:19] Lot of times environmental benefits are that people relate to or the ones that they can see the most. Seeing California build out clean energy infrastructure, especially solar and offshore wind is going to be really helpful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:32] And who’s coming out against Prop 4?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:09:35] In my reporting, I didn’t find very many groups or people against it. I only found two. There is the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. They didn’t respond to my emails for comment. They say the bond is a most expensive way for the government to pay for things. Secondly, they say that some of the money could go towards technology that’s like maybe not proven. Third, they think California should like maybe find other ways that don’t and care so much debt for the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:02] The bottom line on Proposition 4 is it is the most expensive way to fund government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:08] And then there’s Senate GOP leader Brian Jones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:11] Many of the items that are being proposed to be paid for in this bond do not rise to the level of being a long term infrastructure project. For example, grants for exhibits and galleries at zoos and museums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:27] He wrote an op-ed in Calmatters. His whole point was that, like, the taxpayers are going to have to pay for this and it’s just too expensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:35] In my opinion, Proposition 4 pays long term for short term projects and should be rejected by the voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:45] And let’s talk about the money here, Ezra. Who’s funding the support and opposition for Prop four?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:53] Well, the people for it, the organizations for it have raised about $700,000. Those are most of those environmental groups that I talked about a little bit earlier. And the opponents from to my knowledge, haven’t raised anything. And I found some new polling from the Public Policy Institute of California that came out recently. And they found that like 65% of voters would likely vote yes for the climate bond and that 3 in 4 likely voters say the outcome of Proposition 4 is very important or somewhat important. And I think it all comes down to like Californians are living through all this. Right? And it’s top of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:28] At the end of the day as to how much will this bond cost Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:11:34] Yeah. Bonds always mean debt. So repaying the money could cost about $400 million a year for about 40 years. That’s according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. And altogether, that’s about $16 billion in total.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:48] Well, Ezra, thank you so much for breaking down Prop four for us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:11:52] Hey, no problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:54] In a nutshell, a yes. Vote on this measure means the state could borrow $10 billion to fund various activities aimed at conserving natural resources, as well as responding to the causes and effects of climate change. A vote no means the state could not borrow $10 billion to fund various conservation and climate change related projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:25] And that is it for today’s episode of Prop Fest. You can always find our other prop these episodes and share them with your friends at KQED Dawgs Prop Fest. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:12:44] Prop fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious Podcasts. It is produced by Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeida Amaral, and me, Olivia-Allen Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:58] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, and Holly Kernan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:13:05] And the whole KQED family. Our show is made in San Francisco at member supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at kqed.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:21] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:13:22] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition five, a change in how we approve local bonds. I’m already needing some help with that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:33] And I am right there with you, Olivia. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero breaks down Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environment-related projects across the state.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1728068692,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 5,
"wordCount": 2737
},
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 4 Would Raise $10 Billion in Bonds for Climate Projects | KQED",
"description": "KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero breaks down Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environment-related projects across the state.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Proposition 4 Would Raise $10 Billion in Bonds for Climate Projects",
"datePublished": "2024-09-25T03:00:01-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-04T12:04:52-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "Prop Fest 2024",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC8420453070.mp3?updated=1727198819",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12005954",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12005954/transcript-proposition-4-would-raise-10-billion-in-bonds-for-climate-projects",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero breaks down Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environment-related projects across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC8420453070&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:00] California has got some of the most ambitious climate goals in the country and the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:06] In 2022, the state released the world’s first plan to achieve net zero carbon pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:13] But we’re not going to get there overnight or for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:17] It’s going to take a radical reimagining of how we live life in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:24] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:26] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And you’re listening to Prop Fest, a collaboration between the Bay and Bay curious where we help you get smart on all the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:39] Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a $10 billion bond to invest in climate change programs and solutions. And now it needs voters final seal of approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:00:51] And it’s coming to you in the form of proposition for the climate bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:56] This proposal to borrow more money for climate change solutions comes at a time when the state made some tough decisions on climate related programs because of a big budget deficit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:01:08] So now it’s up to voters to decide how much of a priority climate change solutions are. By voting to approve or reject this $10 billion bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:18] Today, we’re going to break down Proposition 4 for you right after this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:28] Today we’re talking about Proposition four. Here’s how it will read on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Voiceover \u003c/strong>[00:01:33] Prop 4 authorizes 10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention and protection of communities and lands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:41] We hit up climate reporter Ezra David Romero to break down what this prop will mean for you. Well, Ezra, so we’ve got another bond on the ballot this November. This time voters are being asked to borrow $10 billion for investments in climate change solutions. What is the back story like? How did this get on the ballot in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:02:04] Yeah. To understand that, we have to go back a couple of years, when environmental lobbyists started lobbying the legislature to like say, look, let’s have a climate bond. Let’s create some big projects that can hopefully protect the state from wildfires and floods and things like that. About two years ago, both sides of the state legislature came up with two different bond measures for about $15 billion each to, you know, combat climate change across California. But at the same time, California was going through this really big, huge budget deficit. Right? And this year, we had about a $46.8 billion budget deficit, which meant that some of these climate programs were also going to get cut. It was really about like, how can we do this? Like really big infrastructure projects that can make sure our future is safe when it comes to wildfires, when it comes to flood, maybe like sea level rise, drought, things like that. And the fight to get this climate bond this year was actually like quite until the end. The two sides of the legislature came together and created one climate bond. And it really wasn’t even in real language until the day before it was due a few months ago. And that’s because a few things like the state only had a certain amount of bonding capacity. How much money the state’s really willing to like go in debt for. And then there were like competing bonds and housing and education. And then also, like climate groups really wanted this thing. But ultimately it happened. And now we have like a $10 billion bond that voters can potentially vote for in November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:39] Right. And clearly, lawmakers believe that addressing climate change with this bond was important enough. So what exactly was their rationale behind this? How did they talk about that in the state legislature?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:03:53] Yeah, I think it’s really quite simple. We live in a state that has all these climate effects happening right now. Just think of this year, right? We had major wildfires in Southern California just this past month. We had major flooding in Los Angeles, you know, earlier in the year. We had extreme hot days in Sacramento for like a couple of weeks. Right. And then we had the fourth largest fire in California history called the Park Fire near Chico. So we had all these things happening at the same time. We needed to prepare for the future because all these things could get worse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Damon Connolly \u003c/strong>[00:04:26] People are living the consequences right now in our state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:04:31] I spoke to Damon Connolly. He’s the assemblymember for the San Rafael area. And he basically said, you know, like his area floods, his area burns, and like this climate bond would help protect his region, hopefully from future climate change when it comes to flooding and drought and fires in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Asm. Damon Connolly \u003c/strong>[00:04:49] The climate bond proposal will ensure that our investments in climate resilience are bolstered rather than falling by the wayside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:58] So this climate bond passed in the legislature and now voters will decide whether or not to approve it. And the official name is actually got a lot going on in it. It’s the Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. It’s got lots of things going in there. Ezra, what would Prop 4 do exactly, though?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:05:24] Yeah, you’re right. It does have like this big name and that’s because it’s this big bond to do many things. And I think to like get Californians across the state to vote for it. It has to do a lot of things. Right, because the climate effects in, say, Southern California aren’t the same in Central California or Northern California or the Bay Area. First, it provides funds for some of those programs that were cut because of the budget cuts, and that’s a smaller amount. And then in a really big way I think the second thing it does is going to be used mostly for these big infrastructure projects like improving levees or the storm water systems that capture water during storms, preparing homes for wildfires and thinning the forests that could burn or preparing for the drought when it comes to like water supplies. A lot of this money is going to go to water and flooding about $3.8 billion, the most money out of the entire bond in one area. One of those areas is water recycling. You know, that’s where our water from, our toilets or our showers, you know, goes into like a water plant. And then it’s like cleaned up in, say, in the San Francisco Bay area. It goes back into the bay. But the idea there is they want to spend $400 million to make these plants into more of a water recycling plant where we reuse that water perhaps for drinking or for our gardens or our lawns and things like that. And that’s really important because in the future, as we have more droughts, like we’re going to have like a smaller water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:56] And we talked about some statewide programs getting cut from the governor’s budget because of this budget deficit that the state is facing. But what kinds of climate programs could actually get restored with the money from this bond?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:07:15] One program really sticks out to me. That’s the Transformative Climate Communities Program. And that’s all about like making sure communities themselves can come up with their own ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own communities. In the budget, in the in the over the past two years, that program was basically zeroed out. And this bond, if like California voters vote for it like could restore that project to $150 million. And that project has helped communities all over California like Arvin, Stockton, Bakersfield, Pomona, Coachella, San Diego. So it’s really helped communities all across the state. And that funding could come back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:55] Yeah, that’s I mean, that’s a huge difference as far as $0 to $150 million for this program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:08:01] Yeah, definitely. You know, it could bring to life this program and allow grants to be given to more communities. Basically, that program cycles a number of grants every year, and this will allow them to potentially give more grants to communities if voters vote for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:19] So, I mean, it seems pretty clear that Democrats in the legislature who who voted for this bond and approved it in the legislature earlier this year are for this bond. But who else is supporting Proposition 4?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:08:35] Well, there’s this really big group of environmental groups and nature based groups and firefighter groups that all came together and made a letter to the legislature earlier this year. And they asked the legislature to support this. So there’s groups like Latino Outdoors and there Save the Bay. And then there’s the California Environmental Voters Organization.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Mike Young \u003c/strong>[00:08:56] Climate change, whether you believe it or not, it’s happening. It’s not a belief system. It’s just the science. And sooner or later, we’re going to face those consequences. And many people already are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:09:06] I spoke to Mike Young. He’s a senior political organizing director at California Environmental Voters. He basically really loves this plan because it’s going to help create California, you know, that maybe can withstand droughts and wildfires and sea level rise in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Mike Young \u003c/strong>[00:09:19] Lot of times environmental benefits are that people relate to or the ones that they can see the most. Seeing California build out clean energy infrastructure, especially solar and offshore wind is going to be really helpful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:32] And who’s coming out against Prop 4?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:09:35] In my reporting, I didn’t find very many groups or people against it. I only found two. There is the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. They didn’t respond to my emails for comment. They say the bond is a most expensive way for the government to pay for things. Secondly, they say that some of the money could go towards technology that’s like maybe not proven. Third, they think California should like maybe find other ways that don’t and care so much debt for the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:02] The bottom line on Proposition 4 is it is the most expensive way to fund government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:08] And then there’s Senate GOP leader Brian Jones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:11] Many of the items that are being proposed to be paid for in this bond do not rise to the level of being a long term infrastructure project. For example, grants for exhibits and galleries at zoos and museums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:27] He wrote an op-ed in Calmatters. His whole point was that, like, the taxpayers are going to have to pay for this and it’s just too expensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Sen. Brian Jones \u003c/strong>[00:10:35] In my opinion, Proposition 4 pays long term for short term projects and should be rejected by the voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:45] And let’s talk about the money here, Ezra. Who’s funding the support and opposition for Prop four?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:10:53] Well, the people for it, the organizations for it have raised about $700,000. Those are most of those environmental groups that I talked about a little bit earlier. And the opponents from to my knowledge, haven’t raised anything. And I found some new polling from the Public Policy Institute of California that came out recently. And they found that like 65% of voters would likely vote yes for the climate bond and that 3 in 4 likely voters say the outcome of Proposition 4 is very important or somewhat important. And I think it all comes down to like Californians are living through all this. Right? And it’s top of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:28] At the end of the day as to how much will this bond cost Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:11:34] Yeah. Bonds always mean debt. So repaying the money could cost about $400 million a year for about 40 years. That’s according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. And altogether, that’s about $16 billion in total.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:48] Well, Ezra, thank you so much for breaking down Prop four for us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ezra David Romero \u003c/strong>[00:11:52] Hey, no problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:54] In a nutshell, a yes. Vote on this measure means the state could borrow $10 billion to fund various activities aimed at conserving natural resources, as well as responding to the causes and effects of climate change. A vote no means the state could not borrow $10 billion to fund various conservation and climate change related projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:25] And that is it for today’s episode of Prop Fest. You can always find our other prop these episodes and share them with your friends at KQED Dawgs Prop Fest. Stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:12:44] Prop fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious Podcasts. It is produced by Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeida Amaral, and me, Olivia-Allen Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:58] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, and Holly Kernan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:13:05] And the whole KQED family. Our show is made in San Francisco at member supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at kqed.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:21] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price \u003c/strong>[00:13:22] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition five, a change in how we approve local bonds. I’m already needing some help with that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:33] And I am right there with you, Olivia. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12005954/transcript-proposition-4-would-raise-10-billion-in-bonds-for-climate-projects",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11746",
"102",
"11831",
"8637",
"11749",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_33523",
"news_28779"
],
"series": [
"news_17986"
],
"categories": [
"news_34165",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_34560",
"news_28645",
"news_34559",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_11911586",
"label": "source_news_12005954"
},
"news_12005960": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12005960",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12005960",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1727172055000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "proposition-3-would-enshrine-marriage-equality-into-californias-constitution",
"title": "Proposition 3 Would Enshrine Marriage Equality into California's Constitution",
"publishDate": 1727172055,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Proposition 3 Would Enshrine Marriage Equality into California’s Constitution | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this episode, we’re discussing Prop 3, which would add a constitutional amendment stating that all people have a right to marry regardless of sex or race. It would also strip out language that currently defines marriage as being between a man and woman only. To help us break it down we speak with Scott Shafer, co-host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/politicalbreakdown\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC9687023038\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Music: Wedding March]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Same-sex marriage has been legal in the United States for nine years…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> …And legal here in California for eleven years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So you might be surprised to know that the California Constitution still says same-sex marriage is banned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Wedding March slows down and stops]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price … Host of Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Host of The Bay. And you’re listening to Prop Fest – A breakdown of ALL the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Spooky season is just around the corner, and as luck would have it, today we’re going to talk about zombies. Specifically the “zombie law” that bans same-sex marriage in California…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: It’s dead, but it could resurrect!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Californians will vote on Prop 3 to decide if we should take that same-sex marriage ban out of the state constitution and replace it with something that affirms marriage is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guavarra:\u003c/strong> And if I remember correctly, California’s history on same-sex marriage is pretty complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Super complicated. Today, we’re going back on the twisty, turny road of same-sex marriage legalization in this state. Because it helps explain why that zombie law is there in the first place. Then we’ll break down what exactly is up for consideration with Prop 3\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guavarra:\u003c/strong> That’s coming up on Prop Fest, a collaboration between The Bay and Bay. Curious. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re talking about Proposition 3. Here’s how it will read on your ballot…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> Prop 3 is a constitutional right to marriage proposed by the state legislature. It amends the California Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. It also removes language in the California Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Essentially it overwrites a ban on same-sex marriage that’s currently in California’s constitution. Because same-sex marriage is legal federally, that ban is unenforceable or a zombie law. So let’s start with a history lesson on how exactly we got here with KQED’s Scott Shafer, who is the co-host of Political Breakdown, a daily podcast about California politics. Hey, Scott.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So walk us back. When did California voters first weigh in on the issue of same-sex marriage?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> You’d have to go back to around the year 2000. That was when some states began issuing civil unions to same-sex couples. And it was kind of ‘marriage lite’. It wasn’t all the rights, legal rights of marriage that now gay couples and lesbian couples enjoy. But it was a recognition that these relationships were important and that they should be afforded some rights. For example, the right to visit your partner in the hospital, which was not a given in a lot of states. And so states like Vermont and Hawaii and Massachusetts began talking about rights for same-sex couples. And that really concerned a lot of religious conservatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so in the year 2000, a state senator from Southern California named Pete Knight got a ballot measure on the November ballot, Proposition 22, which changed the family code in the state of California, and said that marriage was only between a man and a woman. That passed pretty easily with about 61% of the vote. And that’s where it stayed until Gavin Newsom got elected mayor in San Francisco in the year 2003. A few weeks after becoming mayor in San Francisco…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gov. Gavin Newsom (archival tape):\u003c/strong> \u003cem>Today, San Francisco took the step to make the case that we believe in the words in the California Constitution, and we took action to implement that.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Gavin Newsom decided he was going to allow the county of San Francisco to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And this stunned people. It kind of came out of the blue and within hours, people started flocking to San Francisco City Hall, lining up and taking their vows, taking marriage licenses out from the recorder’s office. And it became a huge national story.\u003cbr>\nIt was pretty widely expected that the courts would shut this down because Newsom really didn’t have any legal right to be doing this. But 4,000 couples lined up over the course of a few weeks to get married at City Hall, and they became known as ‘Newsom twosomes.’ A lot of people sort of assumed that those would not really hold up legally. But it was, you know, a validation of relationships and it really became a huge international story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But questionable legally, as we soon find out. Right. What happens next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So after this went on for a few weeks, there was a lawsuit filed by several parties to stop the marriages and declare them unconstitutional or illegal. And so the marriages were stopped. And a few months later, the California Supreme Court said, ‘You know what? Yes, these marriages are not valid. All the people who got married sorry, folks, you’re not married anymore and you have to stop doing this.’ And that’s where it stood for some time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I can’t imagine being married, and then you wake up one day and find a headline that you’re not anymore. That must have been really tough. But people didn’t give up. You know, they wanted those rights back. So what happens next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So there was a lawsuit filed in the state of California in which Proposition 22, which had passed in the year 2000, was challenged as being unconstitutional. And it went to the California Supreme Court. And in May of 2008, the court declared that, in fact, Prop 22 was unconstitutional. And so there was a a kind of euphoria among same-sex marriage supporters on the day that the Supreme Court in California ruled by a 4 to 3 margin, that, yeah, in fact, same-sex couples could legally get married and many did.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival clip of couple at San Francisco City Hall:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>We’ve been planning this for a year to actually be able to get married and be a part of this time in history, and time in our history is amazing.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> In that window of time in 2008, some 17,000 same-sex couples rushed to their city halls and county offices to take out marriage licenses and tie the knot. But at the same time, there was a group of religious conservatives, a group called Protect Marriage dot com was collecting the signatures to put on the ballot– a ballot measure that became known as Proposition 8, which declared again, as a constitutional amendment, that marriage in California was between one man and one woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So voters by 52% to 48% passed Proposition 8. It was kind of a shock for liberal, what we thought was liberal California, which had easily voted for Barack Obama over John McCain in that very same election, voted more narrowly, but nonetheless to take away the right of same-sex couples to get married. And there was a lot of anger. And there were some very, you know, big protests that broke out across California from LGBT folks and their supporters protesting the vote. But there it was. I mean, it was now the law of the land in California\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News Clips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>“Shame on you!/Supporters of gay marriage targeted L.A.’s Mormon temple protesting the more than $15 million the church poured into passing proposition 8…/Equal rights! Equal rights!/For the third straight day thousands marched in California protesting the election night passing of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So after all the protests, there was a lawsuit filed in state court to try to overturn Prop 8, saying that it was a violation of the state constitution. But after considering all of the arguments on both sides, the state Supreme Court, which, you know, just like a year earlier had said same-sex marriage was legal, said no. Now the voters have changed the Constitution. And if the voters have done it, then it is in fact, constitutional. So that was, we thought, the end of the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But then things move on to federal court. So we’re leveling up here. Where do we go next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Not too long after the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, there was an effort to file in federal court very quietly. You know, there was this really small group of people, including the Human Rights Campaign, which is based in Washington. Rob Reiner, the director, who came together and said, ‘why don’t we put our own legal case together? We’ll find some plaintiffs and we’ll file it in federal court in San Francisco and see what’ll happen. Maybe, maybe we can get this legalized that way.’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there was a huge disagreement within the LGBTQ and the legal rights, civil rights communities, because there was a concern that if they filed this in federal court, the outcome was very unclear. And so there was a fear that it would be a setback for the movement ultimately if they didn’t win.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how does that case make its way through the courts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Well, you know, these cases are assigned randomly. The backers of same-sex marriage really caught a break because the judge to whom this was assigned was Vaughn Walker. Vaughn Walker, although he was appointed by a Republican president, was known as kind of a Libertarian. He was also known as being gay. He wasn’t particularly open about it, but I think people thought, wow, this guy is a Libertarian. He’s gay and he is going to consider this case. Maybe we do have a chance of getting a favorable ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the things that Vaughn Walker did at the very beginning that surprised everybody is that he called for an actual trial with evidence and witnesses and testimony on the record. And this surprised everybody. And I think in particular, the folks who were supporting the idea of legalizing same-sex marriage were really happy because this gave them a chance to put all of these arguments against same-sex marriage on trial. And a lot of those arguments, as came out during the course of the trial, really weren’t based in fact. They weren’t backed up by any kind of evidence or research. They were really kind of fringy–A lot of them considered homophobic, honestly, that really didn’t hold up under scrutiny.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how did it go?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Well, it was fascinating. I sat in on the courtroom for those two weeks of testimony here in San Francisco at the federal court building. And there was some very emotional testimony from the plaintiffs. There were a lesbian couple from Berkeley, two gay men from Los Angeles. They talked about the importance of getting married to them, why it was important to them, what it would mean for them to have this very public acknowledgment of their relationship. A historian from Yale testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on the other side, there was a very small number of witnesses, maybe four. And they withered under cross-examination, Their testimony didn’t hold up. Subsequently, actually, some of them changed their minds about same-sex marriage. And so after several months of taking it all into consideration, Judge Vaughn Walker issued his ruling in August of 2010, striking down Prop 8, saying it was in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the equal protection and due process clauses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And with that decision, Prop 8 officially becomes a zombie law in California, still on the books, but it’s not enforceable. But just like supporters of same sex marriage had been, the Prop 8, people weren’t going to give up yet. There’s an appeal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Yes. And in fact, Judge Vaughn Walker, although he struck down Prop 8, he put that on hold. He issued a stay. And that gave the supporters of Prop 8 an opportunity to appeal. And so they went to the Ninth Circuit. The appeals court upheld the lower court ruling and then they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. And it took until 2013, three years after the initial ruling, striking down Prop 8 for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on same-sex marriage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So what really started as Newsom kind of going rogue and marrying people at San Francisco City Hall has now snowballed into the highest court in the United States, taking up the issue, essentially.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Exactly. And this issue was just a California ballot measure. And it wasn’t a very clean decision, ultimately. The attorneys for the ‘No on Prop 8’ side, they would have liked it if the U.S. Supreme Court said right then and there, ‘Same-sex marriage should be legal throughout the country.’ They didn’t do that. They didn’t issue a decision on the merits. What they said was, ‘You guys who are challenging this law, you don’t have standing, you don’t have legal standing. You’re not really directly affected by Proposition 8. Therefore, we’re going to let the lower court decision stand because you all don’t have a right to be here.’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Got it. So same-sex marriage is legal, but only in California and various other states at that point had legalized it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Correct. So it did apply to California. It was back on in California. So same-sex couples could get married, but it did not apply nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So then how do we get to the place where we are today, where it’s legal nationwide?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So once Proposition 8 was struck down, yes, gay marriage, same-sex marriage was legal here in California, but not nationwide. But then a couple of years later, there was another case brought by a plaintiff named Jim Obergefell. He lived in Ohio and he wanted to get married to his partner. And he made a very similar case to the U.S. Supreme Court based on the 14th Amendment and the due process and equal protection clauses, saying that he should not be barred from getting married just because he’s gay. And in a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court decided that, yes, in fact, same-sex marriage should be legal nationwide. That was a historic ruling and it changed everything. It changed the landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So this year we’re voting on Prop 3. How does Prop 3 tie into all this history?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So the 2013 decision striking down Prop 8 invalidated Prop 8. But, you know, the law was on the books. Technically, it was a zombie law. And there was concern in Sacramento that it could come back to life like a zombie. If, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court, you know, decided for whatever reason, that maybe that Obergefell decision was wrongly decided. We’ve seen that with abortion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, Congress did pass legislation sort of enshrining the right to same-sex marriage into law in 2022. So it would be much harder to overturn that now. But in Sacramento, some of the opponents of Prop 8 said, you know what? Let’s just strip this out of the California Constitution once and for all. And so the state legislature, without any dissenting votes in the assembly or the Senate, voted to put Prop 3 on the ballot. That’s what we’re voting on in November. It would replace that language that the voters passed with Prop 8, with language saying that all people have the right to get married and that it’s a part of their fundamental right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> You’ve sort of answered, I think, a part of this, but maybe you won’t elaborate. You know, Prop 8 has been sitting there, you know, in California’s constitution, unenforceable for a decade. Why make this change now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> It is somewhat symbolic on one hand, because, as you say, you know, it can’t be enforced. But I think it’s also kind of a statement that not just getting rid of the old language, but affirming, you know, in a positive way, the right to same-sex marriage, enshrining that in the law. Something similar happened, you know, a couple of years ago with abortion in California. Abortion is legal here. But there was a ballot measure fundamentally enshrining it into the state constitution as a way of really making an emphatic statement that this is a fundamental right that women should have. And I think they also want to send a message maybe to the rest of the country to show how far California has come. So they’re hoping that this ballot measure will pass overwhelmingly. And really just kind of put an exclamation point on this change in attitude and law. You know, that gay couples now can rely on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, back in 2008, when Prop 8 was passed, it had a lot of financial support from the Mormon temple and other religious organizations. What does opposition to Prop 3 look like at this point?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Right now, the opponents of Proposition 3 have $0. You know, they have to file financial statements with the state of California. And in the most recent filing, they literally had raised no money whatsoever. The yes side, on the other hand, has raised at least $4 million. And it has widespread political support from Governor Newsom, virtually every statewide elected official, if not everyone. The California Democratic Party, organized labor, the labor federation. There are corporations and just many others who are happy to give money to this cause, to take this anti-gay language out of the state constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t want to suggest that, like everyone now supports same-sex marriage because that’s not the case. Even though there were no no votes in the state legislature, there were a number of legislators, mostly Republicans, who just skipped the vote. They didn’t vote at all. It’s hard to say exactly whether they would have been yes or no. My guess is they oppose same-sex marriage, but didn’t really want to put their names to the opposition to Proposition 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there are some groups that still, you know, have put ballot arguments in the voter guide. There’s a group called the California Capital Connection. They have an alliance with independent Baptist ministers and churches to put out a statement. And their statement reads, ‘God instituted marriage and defined it as a union between a man and a woman. And you know that people cannot redefine what God has already defined.’ So there’s definitely still opposition to same-sex marriage. It’s just that the broad public has really shifted in support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, Scott Shafer is the co-host of Political Breakdown KQED daily podcast, all about California politics. Scott, before you go, just tell people what can they expect from you on the podcast over the next couple of weeks before Election Day?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> California has a lot of races in play that will either help the Democrats take the House or keep it a Republican majority. It’s going to be an exciting sprint to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, thanks for helping us out today, Scott.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Yes, happy to do it. Thank you for doing it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> In summary, a vote yes on Prop 3 would take language that defines marriage as between a man and a woman out of California’s constitution. And it adds into the Constitution the right to marry regardless of sex or race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A vote no on Prop 3 would keep the same-sex marriage ban in California’s constitution. There would be no change in who can marry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s it for Proposition 3. If you’re a new listener, just tuning in for our Prop Fest series, be sure to subscribe to the Bay Curious podcast. Every Thursday we drop episodes that explore listener questions about the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a lot of fun, and we always learn so much – so if you’re digging Prop Fest so far, I think you’ll enjoy our other work too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeda Amaral, Olivia Allen-Price, Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, and me Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Extra support from Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, And the whole KQED family\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> You can find audio and transcripts for this series at KQED.org/PropFest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at KQED.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 4 – the climate change bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We’ll see ya then!\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Same-sex marriage is already legal in California, but Prop 3 would make sure a 'zombie law' gets removed from the books. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729130479,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 78,
"wordCount": 3919
},
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 3 Would Enshrine Marriage Equality into California's Constitution | KQED",
"description": "Same-sex marriage is already legal in California, but Prop 3 would make sure a 'zombie law' gets removed from the books. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Proposition 3 Would Enshrine Marriage Equality into California's Constitution",
"datePublished": "2024-09-24T03:00:55-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-16T19:01:19-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "Prop Fest 2024",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC9687023038.mp3?updated=1727123763",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12005960",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12005960/proposition-3-would-enshrine-marriage-equality-into-californias-constitution",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this episode, we’re discussing Prop 3, which would add a constitutional amendment stating that all people have a right to marry regardless of sex or race. It would also strip out language that currently defines marriage as being between a man and woman only. To help us break it down we speak with Scott Shafer, co-host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/politicalbreakdown\">Political Breakdown\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC9687023038\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Music: Wedding March]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Same-sex marriage has been legal in the United States for nine years…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> …And legal here in California for eleven years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So you might be surprised to know that the California Constitution still says same-sex marriage is banned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Wedding March slows down and stops]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price … Host of Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Host of The Bay. And you’re listening to Prop Fest – A breakdown of ALL the statewide propositions on your ballot this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Spooky season is just around the corner, and as luck would have it, today we’re going to talk about zombies. Specifically the “zombie law” that bans same-sex marriage in California…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: It’s dead, but it could resurrect!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Californians will vote on Prop 3 to decide if we should take that same-sex marriage ban out of the state constitution and replace it with something that affirms marriage is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guavarra:\u003c/strong> And if I remember correctly, California’s history on same-sex marriage is pretty complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Super complicated. Today, we’re going back on the twisty, turny road of same-sex marriage legalization in this state. Because it helps explain why that zombie law is there in the first place. Then we’ll break down what exactly is up for consideration with Prop 3\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guavarra:\u003c/strong> That’s coming up on Prop Fest, a collaboration between The Bay and Bay. Curious. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SPONSOR MESSAGE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Today we’re talking about Proposition 3. Here’s how it will read on your ballot…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> Prop 3 is a constitutional right to marriage proposed by the state legislature. It amends the California Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. It also removes language in the California Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Essentially it overwrites a ban on same-sex marriage that’s currently in California’s constitution. Because same-sex marriage is legal federally, that ban is unenforceable or a zombie law. So let’s start with a history lesson on how exactly we got here with KQED’s Scott Shafer, who is the co-host of Political Breakdown, a daily podcast about California politics. Hey, Scott.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So walk us back. When did California voters first weigh in on the issue of same-sex marriage?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> You’d have to go back to around the year 2000. That was when some states began issuing civil unions to same-sex couples. And it was kind of ‘marriage lite’. It wasn’t all the rights, legal rights of marriage that now gay couples and lesbian couples enjoy. But it was a recognition that these relationships were important and that they should be afforded some rights. For example, the right to visit your partner in the hospital, which was not a given in a lot of states. And so states like Vermont and Hawaii and Massachusetts began talking about rights for same-sex couples. And that really concerned a lot of religious conservatives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so in the year 2000, a state senator from Southern California named Pete Knight got a ballot measure on the November ballot, Proposition 22, which changed the family code in the state of California, and said that marriage was only between a man and a woman. That passed pretty easily with about 61% of the vote. And that’s where it stayed until Gavin Newsom got elected mayor in San Francisco in the year 2003. A few weeks after becoming mayor in San Francisco…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gov. Gavin Newsom (archival tape):\u003c/strong> \u003cem>Today, San Francisco took the step to make the case that we believe in the words in the California Constitution, and we took action to implement that.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Gavin Newsom decided he was going to allow the county of San Francisco to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And this stunned people. It kind of came out of the blue and within hours, people started flocking to San Francisco City Hall, lining up and taking their vows, taking marriage licenses out from the recorder’s office. And it became a huge national story.\u003cbr>\nIt was pretty widely expected that the courts would shut this down because Newsom really didn’t have any legal right to be doing this. But 4,000 couples lined up over the course of a few weeks to get married at City Hall, and they became known as ‘Newsom twosomes.’ A lot of people sort of assumed that those would not really hold up legally. But it was, you know, a validation of relationships and it really became a huge international story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But questionable legally, as we soon find out. Right. What happens next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So after this went on for a few weeks, there was a lawsuit filed by several parties to stop the marriages and declare them unconstitutional or illegal. And so the marriages were stopped. And a few months later, the California Supreme Court said, ‘You know what? Yes, these marriages are not valid. All the people who got married sorry, folks, you’re not married anymore and you have to stop doing this.’ And that’s where it stood for some time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I can’t imagine being married, and then you wake up one day and find a headline that you’re not anymore. That must have been really tough. But people didn’t give up. You know, they wanted those rights back. So what happens next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So there was a lawsuit filed in the state of California in which Proposition 22, which had passed in the year 2000, was challenged as being unconstitutional. And it went to the California Supreme Court. And in May of 2008, the court declared that, in fact, Prop 22 was unconstitutional. And so there was a a kind of euphoria among same-sex marriage supporters on the day that the Supreme Court in California ruled by a 4 to 3 margin, that, yeah, in fact, same-sex couples could legally get married and many did.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival clip of couple at San Francisco City Hall:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>We’ve been planning this for a year to actually be able to get married and be a part of this time in history, and time in our history is amazing.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> In that window of time in 2008, some 17,000 same-sex couples rushed to their city halls and county offices to take out marriage licenses and tie the knot. But at the same time, there was a group of religious conservatives, a group called Protect Marriage dot com was collecting the signatures to put on the ballot– a ballot measure that became known as Proposition 8, which declared again, as a constitutional amendment, that marriage in California was between one man and one woman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So voters by 52% to 48% passed Proposition 8. It was kind of a shock for liberal, what we thought was liberal California, which had easily voted for Barack Obama over John McCain in that very same election, voted more narrowly, but nonetheless to take away the right of same-sex couples to get married. And there was a lot of anger. And there were some very, you know, big protests that broke out across California from LGBT folks and their supporters protesting the vote. But there it was. I mean, it was now the law of the land in California\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News Clips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>“Shame on you!/Supporters of gay marriage targeted L.A.’s Mormon temple protesting the more than $15 million the church poured into passing proposition 8…/Equal rights! Equal rights!/For the third straight day thousands marched in California protesting the election night passing of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So after all the protests, there was a lawsuit filed in state court to try to overturn Prop 8, saying that it was a violation of the state constitution. But after considering all of the arguments on both sides, the state Supreme Court, which, you know, just like a year earlier had said same-sex marriage was legal, said no. Now the voters have changed the Constitution. And if the voters have done it, then it is in fact, constitutional. So that was, we thought, the end of the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But then things move on to federal court. So we’re leveling up here. Where do we go next?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Not too long after the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, there was an effort to file in federal court very quietly. You know, there was this really small group of people, including the Human Rights Campaign, which is based in Washington. Rob Reiner, the director, who came together and said, ‘why don’t we put our own legal case together? We’ll find some plaintiffs and we’ll file it in federal court in San Francisco and see what’ll happen. Maybe, maybe we can get this legalized that way.’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there was a huge disagreement within the LGBTQ and the legal rights, civil rights communities, because there was a concern that if they filed this in federal court, the outcome was very unclear. And so there was a fear that it would be a setback for the movement ultimately if they didn’t win.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how does that case make its way through the courts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Well, you know, these cases are assigned randomly. The backers of same-sex marriage really caught a break because the judge to whom this was assigned was Vaughn Walker. Vaughn Walker, although he was appointed by a Republican president, was known as kind of a Libertarian. He was also known as being gay. He wasn’t particularly open about it, but I think people thought, wow, this guy is a Libertarian. He’s gay and he is going to consider this case. Maybe we do have a chance of getting a favorable ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the things that Vaughn Walker did at the very beginning that surprised everybody is that he called for an actual trial with evidence and witnesses and testimony on the record. And this surprised everybody. And I think in particular, the folks who were supporting the idea of legalizing same-sex marriage were really happy because this gave them a chance to put all of these arguments against same-sex marriage on trial. And a lot of those arguments, as came out during the course of the trial, really weren’t based in fact. They weren’t backed up by any kind of evidence or research. They were really kind of fringy–A lot of them considered homophobic, honestly, that really didn’t hold up under scrutiny.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And how did it go?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Well, it was fascinating. I sat in on the courtroom for those two weeks of testimony here in San Francisco at the federal court building. And there was some very emotional testimony from the plaintiffs. There were a lesbian couple from Berkeley, two gay men from Los Angeles. They talked about the importance of getting married to them, why it was important to them, what it would mean for them to have this very public acknowledgment of their relationship. A historian from Yale testified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on the other side, there was a very small number of witnesses, maybe four. And they withered under cross-examination, Their testimony didn’t hold up. Subsequently, actually, some of them changed their minds about same-sex marriage. And so after several months of taking it all into consideration, Judge Vaughn Walker issued his ruling in August of 2010, striking down Prop 8, saying it was in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the equal protection and due process clauses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And with that decision, Prop 8 officially becomes a zombie law in California, still on the books, but it’s not enforceable. But just like supporters of same sex marriage had been, the Prop 8, people weren’t going to give up yet. There’s an appeal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Yes. And in fact, Judge Vaughn Walker, although he struck down Prop 8, he put that on hold. He issued a stay. And that gave the supporters of Prop 8 an opportunity to appeal. And so they went to the Ninth Circuit. The appeals court upheld the lower court ruling and then they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. And it took until 2013, three years after the initial ruling, striking down Prop 8 for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on same-sex marriage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So what really started as Newsom kind of going rogue and marrying people at San Francisco City Hall has now snowballed into the highest court in the United States, taking up the issue, essentially.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Exactly. And this issue was just a California ballot measure. And it wasn’t a very clean decision, ultimately. The attorneys for the ‘No on Prop 8’ side, they would have liked it if the U.S. Supreme Court said right then and there, ‘Same-sex marriage should be legal throughout the country.’ They didn’t do that. They didn’t issue a decision on the merits. What they said was, ‘You guys who are challenging this law, you don’t have standing, you don’t have legal standing. You’re not really directly affected by Proposition 8. Therefore, we’re going to let the lower court decision stand because you all don’t have a right to be here.’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Got it. So same-sex marriage is legal, but only in California and various other states at that point had legalized it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Correct. So it did apply to California. It was back on in California. So same-sex couples could get married, but it did not apply nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So then how do we get to the place where we are today, where it’s legal nationwide?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So once Proposition 8 was struck down, yes, gay marriage, same-sex marriage was legal here in California, but not nationwide. But then a couple of years later, there was another case brought by a plaintiff named Jim Obergefell. He lived in Ohio and he wanted to get married to his partner. And he made a very similar case to the U.S. Supreme Court based on the 14th Amendment and the due process and equal protection clauses, saying that he should not be barred from getting married just because he’s gay. And in a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court decided that, yes, in fact, same-sex marriage should be legal nationwide. That was a historic ruling and it changed everything. It changed the landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> So this year we’re voting on Prop 3. How does Prop 3 tie into all this history?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> So the 2013 decision striking down Prop 8 invalidated Prop 8. But, you know, the law was on the books. Technically, it was a zombie law. And there was concern in Sacramento that it could come back to life like a zombie. If, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court, you know, decided for whatever reason, that maybe that Obergefell decision was wrongly decided. We’ve seen that with abortion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, Congress did pass legislation sort of enshrining the right to same-sex marriage into law in 2022. So it would be much harder to overturn that now. But in Sacramento, some of the opponents of Prop 8 said, you know what? Let’s just strip this out of the California Constitution once and for all. And so the state legislature, without any dissenting votes in the assembly or the Senate, voted to put Prop 3 on the ballot. That’s what we’re voting on in November. It would replace that language that the voters passed with Prop 8, with language saying that all people have the right to get married and that it’s a part of their fundamental right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> You’ve sort of answered, I think, a part of this, but maybe you won’t elaborate. You know, Prop 8 has been sitting there, you know, in California’s constitution, unenforceable for a decade. Why make this change now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> It is somewhat symbolic on one hand, because, as you say, you know, it can’t be enforced. But I think it’s also kind of a statement that not just getting rid of the old language, but affirming, you know, in a positive way, the right to same-sex marriage, enshrining that in the law. Something similar happened, you know, a couple of years ago with abortion in California. Abortion is legal here. But there was a ballot measure fundamentally enshrining it into the state constitution as a way of really making an emphatic statement that this is a fundamental right that women should have. And I think they also want to send a message maybe to the rest of the country to show how far California has come. So they’re hoping that this ballot measure will pass overwhelmingly. And really just kind of put an exclamation point on this change in attitude and law. You know, that gay couples now can rely on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Now, back in 2008, when Prop 8 was passed, it had a lot of financial support from the Mormon temple and other religious organizations. What does opposition to Prop 3 look like at this point?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Right now, the opponents of Proposition 3 have $0. You know, they have to file financial statements with the state of California. And in the most recent filing, they literally had raised no money whatsoever. The yes side, on the other hand, has raised at least $4 million. And it has widespread political support from Governor Newsom, virtually every statewide elected official, if not everyone. The California Democratic Party, organized labor, the labor federation. There are corporations and just many others who are happy to give money to this cause, to take this anti-gay language out of the state constitution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don’t want to suggest that, like everyone now supports same-sex marriage because that’s not the case. Even though there were no no votes in the state legislature, there were a number of legislators, mostly Republicans, who just skipped the vote. They didn’t vote at all. It’s hard to say exactly whether they would have been yes or no. My guess is they oppose same-sex marriage, but didn’t really want to put their names to the opposition to Proposition 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there are some groups that still, you know, have put ballot arguments in the voter guide. There’s a group called the California Capital Connection. They have an alliance with independent Baptist ministers and churches to put out a statement. And their statement reads, ‘God instituted marriage and defined it as a union between a man and a woman. And you know that people cannot redefine what God has already defined.’ So there’s definitely still opposition to same-sex marriage. It’s just that the broad public has really shifted in support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, Scott Shafer is the co-host of Political Breakdown KQED daily podcast, all about California politics. Scott, before you go, just tell people what can they expect from you on the podcast over the next couple of weeks before Election Day?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> California has a lot of races in play that will either help the Democrats take the House or keep it a Republican majority. It’s going to be an exciting sprint to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> All right. Well, thanks for helping us out today, Scott.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer:\u003c/strong> Yes, happy to do it. Thank you for doing it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> In summary, a vote yes on Prop 3 would take language that defines marriage as between a man and a woman out of California’s constitution. And it adds into the Constitution the right to marry regardless of sex or race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A vote no on Prop 3 would keep the same-sex marriage ban in California’s constitution. There would be no change in who can marry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s it for Proposition 3. If you’re a new listener, just tuning in for our Prop Fest series, be sure to subscribe to the Bay Curious podcast. Every Thursday we drop episodes that explore listener questions about the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a lot of fun, and we always learn so much – so if you’re digging Prop Fest so far, I think you’ll enjoy our other work too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Prop Fest is a collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It is produced by Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeda Amaral, Olivia Allen-Price, Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, and me Ericka Cruz Guevarra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Extra support from Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, And the whole KQED family\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> You can find audio and transcripts for this series at KQED.org/PropFest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Our show is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at KQED.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We’ll be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 4 – the climate change bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> We’ll see ya then!\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12005960/proposition-3-would-enshrine-marriage-equality-into-californias-constitution",
"authors": [
"102",
"8637",
"11649",
"8654",
"11831",
"255"
],
"programs": [
"news_33523",
"news_28779"
],
"series": [
"news_17986"
],
"categories": [
"news_34168",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_28606",
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_20004",
"news_28645",
"news_34563",
"news_322",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12005996",
"label": "source_news_12005960"
},
"news_12005762": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12005762",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12005762",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1727085639000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "transcript-proposition-2-asks-voters-to-approve-10-billion-in-school-bonds",
"title": "Proposition 2 Asks Voters to Approve $10 Billion in School Bonds",
"publishDate": 1727085639,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Proposition 2 Asks Voters to Approve $10 Billion in School Bonds | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"term": 28779,
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today we’re discussing Proposition 2, a $10 billion school bond for repair, upgrade and construction of school facilities. Our guest is Daisy Nguyen, KQED’s Early Childhood Education Reporter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC8306699730&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Let’s say your kid’s school has a leaky roof, or turns out there’s lead in the school water fountains from old pipes. How do you fix it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:10] The obvious answer is money. But whether there’s money set aside to make those repairs isn’t always guaranteed in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:18] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:21] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to Prop Fest. For the next few weeks. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of each statewide ballot proposition on the California ballot this year, all to help you vote with confidence this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:38] Unlike most other states, California doesn’t have a permanent funding source for school repairs, things like broken air conditioners or a leaky roof.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:49] Instead, that money comes from state or local bonds passed by voters year to year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:55] And that means if your school needs repairs, the money isn’t always guaranteed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:01:01] But this year, California voters have a chance to raise money with Prop 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:06] In our very first episode of Prop Fest, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about Proposition 2. The school bond measure. That’s coming up right after the break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:23] Today we’re talking about Proposition 2. Here’s how it will read on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> [00:01:29] Prop 2 authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade and construction of facilities at K-through-12 public schools, including charter schools, community colleges and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:51] To understand how this proposition got on the ballot, we hit up KQED’s early childhood education reporter Daisy Nguyen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:01:59] Thousands of school buildings across California are in poor shape and the state’s school repair fund is almost empty. There was a study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California that found 38% of students from kindergarten to 12th grade go to schools that don’t meet the minimum facility standards. You may have heard of the recent controversy at Oakland Unified School District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Newscaster:\u003c/strong> [00:02:31] Oakland School District plans to install more water dispensing stations at campuses after discovering high levels of lead and some water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:02:39] A routine sampling of water across the school district found that multiple school sites had elevated levels of lead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Newscaster:\u003c/strong> [00:02:47] At last night’s Oakland school board meeting, parents were angry and concerned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:02:52] That led to schools having to shut off some of their water fountains and replacing water sources with bottles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:03:05] And you’re talking about a range of problems with facilities and buildings at California’s schools. How do schools normally pay for repairs like these?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:03:18] So unlike many other states, California doesn’t pay for school repairs through a permanent funding stream. The money comes from state and local bonds. Traditionally, the state would match half of a school district’s new construction project and 60% of its renovation projects. And there would be up to local districts to raise funds, usually through a local bond. What winds up happening is that it creates some inequities because wealthier districts can raise more money for repairs through local bonds because their local property values are higher, which means they end up generating more money from local property taxes. Smaller and lower income districts struggle to raise enough bond money to pay for the school repairs. Sometimes they can’t even pass a local bond at all, so they end up relying on state bond money for repairs and maybe not meeting all of their needs. The money from the last successful school bond was passed in 2016, and that’s been spent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:04:28] What does Prop. 2 do exactly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:04:32] Prop 2 proposes to raise $10 billion to help fix or improve educational facilities in public schools, including charter schools and community colleges. It proposes to increase the state’s share of the project costs by as much as 5%. And also the state would generally pay a higher share of the costs in those lower resourced school districts, the one with the lower property values. Prop 2 also proposes to provide additional funding to school districts that want to build or renovate transitional kindergarten facilities. As you may know, this study is in the middle of expanding this new grade level for four year olds. But a lot of schools say they don’t have enough classrooms that meet the state standards for TK. Four year old students need to have bathrooms nearby and enough outdoor play area and indoor space to move around because they are going to be the youngest students entering the school system. And Prop 2 would also allow up to $115 million in renovation funds to be used for reducing lead levels in water at public school sites. So directly helping a school district like OUSD resolve its issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:06:00] And Daisy, how did Prop 2 get on the ballot and who’s putting it forward?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:06:05] The governor and lawmakers put it on the ballot. They’re saying the money is badly needed to fix the state’s many aging facilities to ensure a safer environment for learning. They say with increasing threats from flooding, heat waves and wildfires, schools really need things like air filters, air conditioners and shade structures to make the schools more climate resilient. And it’s being supported by some major groups like teachers unions, builders, as well as the Association of California School Administrators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp:\u003c/strong> [00:06:42] Even though we passed our local bond, there’s still a need for more dollars so we can accelerate our progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:06:49] Dr. Daryl Camp is superintendent of the San Lorenzo Unified School District. It’s a small district in the East Bay between San Leandro, Hayward and Castro Valley. He’s also the incoming president of the Association of California School Administrators. Dr. Daryl Camp talked about some kind of unsexy projects, as he calls it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp:\u003c/strong> [00:07:12] Things like the roof. You know, no one realizes something’s wrong with the roof until it rains. Our youngest building is 60 years old. We have some buildings that are, you know, been around for three quarters of a century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:07:24] And he also wants to bring in some HVAC systems, meaning heating and ventilation and air conditioning. In his school district, they have some pretty hot days where they’ve had to either cancel class in the middle of the day or not have it at all because it was just too warm to be in the classroom for students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp: [\u003c/strong>00:07:46] And just anecdotally, you know, I was in the public schools in Alameda County growing up. We didn’t need air conditioning. When you go into our classrooms now, if we can combine another local bond with the state dollars, we have a greater likelihood that we’ll be able to have all of our classrooms with air conditioning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:08:04] And what about the other side? Who’s against this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:08] The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which is a very prominent taxpayers group in California, are opposed to Prop 2. They say taxpayers will have to pay back that $10 billion bond, plus another $8 billion in interest over the next 35 or so years. They say it’s just irresponsible to borrow money, billions of dollars, to pay for more school buildings when enrollment in the state’s K-12 and community college system is declining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:08:40] If you keep doing this, you are stealing from the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:44] Susan Shelley is vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:08:50] Every future budget has to pay these bond payments with interest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:56] She said that local taxpayers will also have to shoulder a bigger burden through those local bond measures that school districts will have to raise in order to match the state’s state funds. And she says in general that it’s just irresponsible to borrow for projects that could have been paid for if the state had better manage its finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:09:19] We know the school buildings are aging. Is that news? Where have they been with all the prior spending? Why did they not address these problems? The government of California should be prioritizing according to the real needs of the people of California. And if they’re not, they should be held accountable and not rewarded with more money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:09:44] Who’s spending on both sides of this ballot measure. Daisy, what do we know about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:09:51] No one is spending money on the no side, but the side that’s spending money to campaign for a yes vote on Prop 2 includes the California Building Industry Association, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing and the School Administrators Association that I mentioned and a couple of other groups. As of now, the yes side has raised $3.6 million. Back in 2020, the school bond was to raise $15 billion. That did not pass. And this time, the governor and lawmakers are hoping voters could stomach a $10 billion bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:10:38] Daisy, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:10:40] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:10:47] According to polling from the Public Policy Institute of California, 54% of likely voters say they would vote yes on Prop 2, with 44% saying they would vote no. In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 2 gives the state permission to borrow $10 billion to build new or renovate existing public school and community college facilities. A vote no means you do not want the state to borrow $10 billion to renovate school facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:11:22] And that is it for our very first episode of Prop Fest. How are we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, Ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 4th, the Bay and Bay curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of each and every one of the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. So stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:11:55] Prop Fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeida Amaral, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:09] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family. Music Courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:20] You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org/prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:26] Our show is made in San Francisco at member supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at kqed.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:40] I’m Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:41] And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We will be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 3, an amendment to California’s same sex marriage ban.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:50] We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": null,
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1728068681,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": true,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 56,
"wordCount": 2236
},
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition 2 Asks Voters to Approve $10 Billion in School Bonds | KQED",
"description": "Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out KQED's Voter Guide for more information on state and local races. Today we're discussing Proposition 2, a $10 billion school bond for repair, upgrade and construction of school facilities. Our guest is Daisy Nguyen, KQED's Early Childhood Education Reporter. This is a transcript of the episode. Ericka Cruz Guevarra: Let's say your kid's school has a leaky roof, or turns out there's lead in the school water fountains",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Proposition 2 Asks Voters to Approve $10 Billion in School Bonds",
"datePublished": "2024-09-23T03:00:39-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-04T12:04:41-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC8306699730.mp3?updated=1726874532",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12005762",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12005762/transcript-proposition-2-asks-voters-to-approve-10-billion-in-school-bonds",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/propfest\">Prop Fest\u003c/a> is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a> for more information on state and local races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today we’re discussing Proposition 2, a $10 billion school bond for repair, upgrade and construction of school facilities. Our guest is Daisy Nguyen, KQED’s Early Childhood Education Reporter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC8306699730&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a transcript of the episode.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Let’s say your kid’s school has a leaky roof, or turns out there’s lead in the school water fountains from old pipes. How do you fix it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:10] The obvious answer is money. But whether there’s money set aside to make those repairs isn’t always guaranteed in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:18] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra, host of The Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:21] And I’m Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Welcome to Prop Fest. For the next few weeks. Our teams at The Bay and Bay Curious are bringing you breakdowns of each statewide ballot proposition on the California ballot this year, all to help you vote with confidence this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:38] Unlike most other states, California doesn’t have a permanent funding source for school repairs, things like broken air conditioners or a leaky roof.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:00:49] Instead, that money comes from state or local bonds passed by voters year to year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:00:55] And that means if your school needs repairs, the money isn’t always guaranteed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:01:01] But this year, California voters have a chance to raise money with Prop 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:06] In our very first episode of Prop Fest, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about Proposition 2. The school bond measure. That’s coming up right after the break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:23] Today we’re talking about Proposition 2. Here’s how it will read on your ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voiceover:\u003c/strong> [00:01:29] Prop 2 authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade and construction of facilities at K-through-12 public schools, including charter schools, community colleges and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:01:51] To understand how this proposition got on the ballot, we hit up KQED’s early childhood education reporter Daisy Nguyen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:01:59] Thousands of school buildings across California are in poor shape and the state’s school repair fund is almost empty. There was a study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California that found 38% of students from kindergarten to 12th grade go to schools that don’t meet the minimum facility standards. You may have heard of the recent controversy at Oakland Unified School District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Newscaster:\u003c/strong> [00:02:31] Oakland School District plans to install more water dispensing stations at campuses after discovering high levels of lead and some water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:02:39] A routine sampling of water across the school district found that multiple school sites had elevated levels of lead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Newscaster:\u003c/strong> [00:02:47] At last night’s Oakland school board meeting, parents were angry and concerned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:02:52] That led to schools having to shut off some of their water fountains and replacing water sources with bottles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:03:05] And you’re talking about a range of problems with facilities and buildings at California’s schools. How do schools normally pay for repairs like these?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:03:18] So unlike many other states, California doesn’t pay for school repairs through a permanent funding stream. The money comes from state and local bonds. Traditionally, the state would match half of a school district’s new construction project and 60% of its renovation projects. And there would be up to local districts to raise funds, usually through a local bond. What winds up happening is that it creates some inequities because wealthier districts can raise more money for repairs through local bonds because their local property values are higher, which means they end up generating more money from local property taxes. Smaller and lower income districts struggle to raise enough bond money to pay for the school repairs. Sometimes they can’t even pass a local bond at all, so they end up relying on state bond money for repairs and maybe not meeting all of their needs. The money from the last successful school bond was passed in 2016, and that’s been spent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:04:28] What does Prop. 2 do exactly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:04:32] Prop 2 proposes to raise $10 billion to help fix or improve educational facilities in public schools, including charter schools and community colleges. It proposes to increase the state’s share of the project costs by as much as 5%. And also the state would generally pay a higher share of the costs in those lower resourced school districts, the one with the lower property values. Prop 2 also proposes to provide additional funding to school districts that want to build or renovate transitional kindergarten facilities. As you may know, this study is in the middle of expanding this new grade level for four year olds. But a lot of schools say they don’t have enough classrooms that meet the state standards for TK. Four year old students need to have bathrooms nearby and enough outdoor play area and indoor space to move around because they are going to be the youngest students entering the school system. And Prop 2 would also allow up to $115 million in renovation funds to be used for reducing lead levels in water at public school sites. So directly helping a school district like OUSD resolve its issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:06:00] And Daisy, how did Prop 2 get on the ballot and who’s putting it forward?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:06:05] The governor and lawmakers put it on the ballot. They’re saying the money is badly needed to fix the state’s many aging facilities to ensure a safer environment for learning. They say with increasing threats from flooding, heat waves and wildfires, schools really need things like air filters, air conditioners and shade structures to make the schools more climate resilient. And it’s being supported by some major groups like teachers unions, builders, as well as the Association of California School Administrators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp:\u003c/strong> [00:06:42] Even though we passed our local bond, there’s still a need for more dollars so we can accelerate our progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:06:49] Dr. Daryl Camp is superintendent of the San Lorenzo Unified School District. It’s a small district in the East Bay between San Leandro, Hayward and Castro Valley. He’s also the incoming president of the Association of California School Administrators. Dr. Daryl Camp talked about some kind of unsexy projects, as he calls it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp:\u003c/strong> [00:07:12] Things like the roof. You know, no one realizes something’s wrong with the roof until it rains. Our youngest building is 60 years old. We have some buildings that are, you know, been around for three quarters of a century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:07:24] And he also wants to bring in some HVAC systems, meaning heating and ventilation and air conditioning. In his school district, they have some pretty hot days where they’ve had to either cancel class in the middle of the day or not have it at all because it was just too warm to be in the classroom for students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daryl Camp: [\u003c/strong>00:07:46] And just anecdotally, you know, I was in the public schools in Alameda County growing up. We didn’t need air conditioning. When you go into our classrooms now, if we can combine another local bond with the state dollars, we have a greater likelihood that we’ll be able to have all of our classrooms with air conditioning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:08:04] And what about the other side? Who’s against this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:08] The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which is a very prominent taxpayers group in California, are opposed to Prop 2. They say taxpayers will have to pay back that $10 billion bond, plus another $8 billion in interest over the next 35 or so years. They say it’s just irresponsible to borrow money, billions of dollars, to pay for more school buildings when enrollment in the state’s K-12 and community college system is declining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:08:40] If you keep doing this, you are stealing from the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:44] Susan Shelley is vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:08:50] Every future budget has to pay these bond payments with interest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:08:56] She said that local taxpayers will also have to shoulder a bigger burden through those local bond measures that school districts will have to raise in order to match the state’s state funds. And she says in general that it’s just irresponsible to borrow for projects that could have been paid for if the state had better manage its finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Susan Shelley:\u003c/strong> [00:09:19] We know the school buildings are aging. Is that news? Where have they been with all the prior spending? Why did they not address these problems? The government of California should be prioritizing according to the real needs of the people of California. And if they’re not, they should be held accountable and not rewarded with more money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:09:44] Who’s spending on both sides of this ballot measure. Daisy, what do we know about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:09:51] No one is spending money on the no side, but the side that’s spending money to campaign for a yes vote on Prop 2 includes the California Building Industry Association, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing and the School Administrators Association that I mentioned and a couple of other groups. As of now, the yes side has raised $3.6 million. Back in 2020, the school bond was to raise $15 billion. That did not pass. And this time, the governor and lawmakers are hoping voters could stomach a $10 billion bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:10:38] Daisy, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daisy Nguyen:\u003c/strong> [00:10:40] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:10:47] According to polling from the Public Policy Institute of California, 54% of likely voters say they would vote yes on Prop 2, with 44% saying they would vote no. In a nutshell, a vote yes on Prop 2 gives the state permission to borrow $10 billion to build new or renovate existing public school and community college facilities. A vote no means you do not want the state to borrow $10 billion to renovate school facilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:11:22] And that is it for our very first episode of Prop Fest. How are we doing? How we feeling? Feeling smarter, Ready to vote? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. From now until October 4th, the Bay and Bay curious teams here at KQED are going to be dropping breakdowns of each and every one of the statewide propositions on the ballot this year to leave you feeling ready to vote this November. So stay locked in and make sure you’re subscribed to the bay so you don’t miss out on the next ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:11:55] Prop Fest is a collaboration between the Bay and Bay Curious podcasts. It’s produced by Alan Montecillo, Jessica Kariisa, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, Ana De Almeida Amaral, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:09] We get extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family. Music Courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:20] You can find audio and transcripts for this series at kqed.org/prop fest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:26] Our show is made in San Francisco at member supported KQED. If you value podcasts like this one, please consider becoming a sustaining member of KQED. Learn more at kqed.org/donate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:40] I’m Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> [00:12:41] And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. We will be back tomorrow with an explainer on Proposition 3, an amendment to California’s same sex marriage ban.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> [00:12:50] We’ll see you then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "baycuriousquestion",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12005762/transcript-proposition-2-asks-voters-to-approve-10-billion-in-school-bonds",
"authors": [
"11649",
"8654",
"11831",
"102",
"8637",
"11829"
],
"programs": [
"news_33523",
"news_28779"
],
"series": [
"news_17986"
],
"categories": [
"news_18540",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_20013",
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_28645",
"news_17102",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12005767",
"label": "news_28779"
},
"news_12003363": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12003363",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12003363",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1726048811000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "inside-a-community-for-farmworkers-and-low-income-families-near-half-moon-bay",
"title": "Inside a Community For Farmworkers and Low-Income Families Near Half Moon Bay",
"publishDate": 1726048811,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Inside a Community For Farmworkers and Low-Income Families Near Half Moon Bay | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Moonridge is an affordable housing community of 160 homes for low-income residents and farmworkers just outside of Half Moon Bay. It was built more than 20 years ago.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Half Moon Bay debates the issue of farmworker housing construction, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli visits Moonridge to see how living there stacks up with negative comments from city residents.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3900585725&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.coastsidenews.com/magazine/take-a-closer-look-at-moonridge/article_ee68ceef-927f-5485-b13c-e4a1b817138e.html#comments\">Take a closer look at Moonridge\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the bay. Local news to keep you rooted. If you think the housing crisis is bad, it’s even worse for farm workers whose housing is often tied to their work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But just outside of Half Moon Bay is a housing development for farmworkers and low income families that’s been there for decades. It’s an example of housing that farmworkers can actually own and a place to build community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>My neighbors, my best friend, we’ve been friends since we’re born, so everyone’s nice to each other. Everybody knows each other and it’s comfortable here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Moonridge which is just south of Half Moon Bay in the unincorporated outskirts. And some in the city say there should be more farmworker housing like it. After a mass shooting last year uncovered just how bad farm worker living conditions can be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But some residents also say Moon Ridge is an example of what not to build in Half Moon Bay. They claim it’s overcrowded and unsafe. So today, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli takes us to Moon Ridge to talk with people about what it’s actually like to live there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Moonridge was developed by Medmen. They’re a nonprofit developer. It’s south of having Bay. It’s an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. 160 homes. Some of the homes are 1 or 2 story townhomes, and it’s all in a 42 acre development spread out when they built it back 20 years ago or so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>The whole point was phase one was going to be for income earners. And then the second phase was for farm workers. And the point was we want to give them affordable housing that they could actually pay rent and they could feel like they own something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What were people saying about Moon Ridge before you went there? Where were the kinds of things people were saying about this community that really drove you to eventually go there yourself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Some residents were saying online or next door or they said it in a public comment setting that a lot of people are living in one room or that they’re renting a hallways, that there’s not even farm workers anymore. At the housing development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Unknown Speaker \u003c/strong>If you look at Moon Ridge, what’s going on down there, that is a mess. They ought to be embarrassed. The county and Midwin should be embarrassed that way. That’s being run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>And I think the other thing I heard a lot was that there was that it was unsafe, that a lot of the times that people hear sirens is because it’s probably going to Moon Ridge. They were painting it like we don’t want more affordable housing because it might bring people that we don’t want into our town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Unknown Speaker \u003c/strong>The project will cause a density parking problem that is uncomfortable. The residents of this project will have family and friends likely for extended visits, creating an unwanted density and parking problem. Just look to the street parking around Moon Ridge and other similar projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And that, I guess, is what prompted you to actually go to Moon Ridge when you got there. What did it look like for people who may have never been there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>I went for two separate days, just for a couple hours. I got a tour of this site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Wow. So have the characteristics of, like, a farm town. You know, there’s some space. They have access to a community garden. There are playgrounds spread out even throughout the whole area. There’s a soccer yard. They have access to childcare, free childcare. There’s also a community hub where residents can go and take classes. I attended a graduation of the second Group of eight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>They were taking ESL online classes and it was great to be amongst them because then I could just care for myself that these are residents who are are happy to be there, that they are taking advantage of all the programing that’s being offered to them. I mean, to me it was like. A mini town with a hub, and it was more community focus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Actually, my neighbors, my best friend. We’ve been friends since we’re born, so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>So I met Giovanni. He’s a 16 year old who lives there in Moon Ridge. He attends Huffman Bay High and is in the soccer team. He was there to watch his dad graduate from one of those ESL programs. And you’ve been here all your life?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Yes. All 16 years of my life I’ve been here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, how does he feel about living there? What does he tell you about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>He tells me that his friends that he’s made at Moon Ridge, they’re like his neighbors. So they’ve grown up together, that they play soccer on their off time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Where I live, there’s a big, like, yard outside our house. It’s all grass like that. We would build goals. We just play soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>He feels very much like happy to be amongst everyone there. Something I picked up in Moon Ridge was that people who pass by, they’re going to do the laundry or something. They strike up a conversation like, Hey, neighbor, it’s been a minute since I seen you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Or How’s your kid? Some other kids might tell the adults. Hi, Theo. You know, they’re like, We’re not related, but they feel like they’re related because they’ve just grown up together for such a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah, it’s just very much a tight knit community. It sounds like everyone knows everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>One thing I really love about living in Moonridge is the peace that we have here. Everyone’s nice to each other. Everybody knows each other, and it’s comfortable here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Was he aware of how people talk about his community, this place where he grew up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Giovanni knows he’s seen some of the comments being spread online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of stuff about one image that they’ve put on there, like about the shootings and all of this stuff and.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Johnny brought up that, you know, there has been some crime in the past, but he also said it’s just, you know, we should focus on the good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>It’s like if they’re just seeing that our neighborhood is like trash, basically. Right. And it’s really not it’s I think it’s a good neighborhood to live in. It’s peaceful and everything that’s that’s a fence for them to see that. And they’ve never stepped in Wynonna’s ever in their life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>So and you know, when I was there on the tour, we came across a patrol car just driving by, probably under five miles per hour. And it was just waving at us and just went on by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>By the central hub, there’s like a little office for San Mateo County sheriffs who operate in having to talk about it that bring some sort of sadness to his eyes, something that I could I could see not just him with other men, which presents when I asked them, how do these comments make you feel? And they respond like it’s hurtful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Over the last few months, a vocal critic of Moon Ridge has been the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, which represents farmers and ranchers in the area. They claim Moon Ridge is mismanaged and that there wouldn’t be a farmworker housing crisis if mid pan housing. The property developer did a better job of tracking whether farm workers actually live in Moon Ridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Middlemen told Sebastian that they do check on this. But either way, it’s clear that the perception of Moon Ridge has big implications for how people talk about building new farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay. How did I guess all the conversation about Moon Ridge stack up with your experience of actually being there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>I left feeling a little heartbroken that it’s like this is a community that they’re not going to respond back online. I’m sure that they don’t want to fight people or they don’t want to argue at a public setting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>This housing talk is not going to go away anytime soon. In San Mateo County in California, cities in California are going to have to deal with needing to build more housing. Now, knowing what I know, what I’ve seen, it’s like this is a great place to live in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>This is a housing project that works. You know, this is something that maybe we see more of this around, that it would solve some of the housing problems that are happening on the coast side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Sebastian, thanks so much for sharing your reporting. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Sebastian Miño-Bucheli, a local news fellow with cosigned news in Half Moon Bay and a reporter for KQED. We’ll leave you a link to his reporting in our notes. This 35 minute conversation with Sebastian was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape music courtesy of Audio Network. The Bay is made by me and Alan Montecillo with support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan. We are a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Moonridge is an affordable housing community of 160 homes for low-income residents and farmworkers just outside of Half Moon Bay. It was built more than 20 years ago.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729891769,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 48,
"wordCount": 1949
},
"headData": {
"title": "Inside a Community For Farmworkers and Low-Income Families Near Half Moon Bay | KQED",
"description": "Moonridge is an affordable housing community of 160 homes for low-income residents and farmworkers just outside of Half Moon Bay. It was built more than 20 years ago.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Inside a Community For Farmworkers and Low-Income Families Near Half Moon Bay",
"datePublished": "2024-09-11T03:00:11-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T14:29:29-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC3900585725.mp3?updated=1725562383",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12003363",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12003363/inside-a-community-for-farmworkers-and-low-income-families-near-half-moon-bay",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Moonridge is an affordable housing community of 160 homes for low-income residents and farmworkers just outside of Half Moon Bay. It was built more than 20 years ago.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Half Moon Bay debates the issue of farmworker housing construction, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli visits Moonridge to see how living there stacks up with negative comments from city residents.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3900585725&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.coastsidenews.com/magazine/take-a-closer-look-at-moonridge/article_ee68ceef-927f-5485-b13c-e4a1b817138e.html#comments\">Take a closer look at Moonridge\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the bay. Local news to keep you rooted. If you think the housing crisis is bad, it’s even worse for farm workers whose housing is often tied to their work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But just outside of Half Moon Bay is a housing development for farmworkers and low income families that’s been there for decades. It’s an example of housing that farmworkers can actually own and a place to build community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>My neighbors, my best friend, we’ve been friends since we’re born, so everyone’s nice to each other. Everybody knows each other and it’s comfortable here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Moonridge which is just south of Half Moon Bay in the unincorporated outskirts. And some in the city say there should be more farmworker housing like it. After a mass shooting last year uncovered just how bad farm worker living conditions can be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But some residents also say Moon Ridge is an example of what not to build in Half Moon Bay. They claim it’s overcrowded and unsafe. So today, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli takes us to Moon Ridge to talk with people about what it’s actually like to live there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Moonridge was developed by Medmen. They’re a nonprofit developer. It’s south of having Bay. It’s an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. 160 homes. Some of the homes are 1 or 2 story townhomes, and it’s all in a 42 acre development spread out when they built it back 20 years ago or so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>The whole point was phase one was going to be for income earners. And then the second phase was for farm workers. And the point was we want to give them affordable housing that they could actually pay rent and they could feel like they own something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What were people saying about Moon Ridge before you went there? Where were the kinds of things people were saying about this community that really drove you to eventually go there yourself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Some residents were saying online or next door or they said it in a public comment setting that a lot of people are living in one room or that they’re renting a hallways, that there’s not even farm workers anymore. At the housing development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Unknown Speaker \u003c/strong>If you look at Moon Ridge, what’s going on down there, that is a mess. They ought to be embarrassed. The county and Midwin should be embarrassed that way. That’s being run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>And I think the other thing I heard a lot was that there was that it was unsafe, that a lot of the times that people hear sirens is because it’s probably going to Moon Ridge. They were painting it like we don’t want more affordable housing because it might bring people that we don’t want into our town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Unknown Speaker \u003c/strong>The project will cause a density parking problem that is uncomfortable. The residents of this project will have family and friends likely for extended visits, creating an unwanted density and parking problem. Just look to the street parking around Moon Ridge and other similar projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And that, I guess, is what prompted you to actually go to Moon Ridge when you got there. What did it look like for people who may have never been there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>I went for two separate days, just for a couple hours. I got a tour of this site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Wow. So have the characteristics of, like, a farm town. You know, there’s some space. They have access to a community garden. There are playgrounds spread out even throughout the whole area. There’s a soccer yard. They have access to childcare, free childcare. There’s also a community hub where residents can go and take classes. I attended a graduation of the second Group of eight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>They were taking ESL online classes and it was great to be amongst them because then I could just care for myself that these are residents who are are happy to be there, that they are taking advantage of all the programing that’s being offered to them. I mean, to me it was like. A mini town with a hub, and it was more community focus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Actually, my neighbors, my best friend. We’ve been friends since we’re born, so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>So I met Giovanni. He’s a 16 year old who lives there in Moon Ridge. He attends Huffman Bay High and is in the soccer team. He was there to watch his dad graduate from one of those ESL programs. And you’ve been here all your life?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Yes. All 16 years of my life I’ve been here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, how does he feel about living there? What does he tell you about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>He tells me that his friends that he’s made at Moon Ridge, they’re like his neighbors. So they’ve grown up together, that they play soccer on their off time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>Where I live, there’s a big, like, yard outside our house. It’s all grass like that. We would build goals. We just play soccer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>He feels very much like happy to be amongst everyone there. Something I picked up in Moon Ridge was that people who pass by, they’re going to do the laundry or something. They strike up a conversation like, Hey, neighbor, it’s been a minute since I seen you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Or How’s your kid? Some other kids might tell the adults. Hi, Theo. You know, they’re like, We’re not related, but they feel like they’re related because they’ve just grown up together for such a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah, it’s just very much a tight knit community. It sounds like everyone knows everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>One thing I really love about living in Moonridge is the peace that we have here. Everyone’s nice to each other. Everybody knows each other, and it’s comfortable here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Was he aware of how people talk about his community, this place where he grew up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Giovanni knows he’s seen some of the comments being spread online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of stuff about one image that they’ve put on there, like about the shootings and all of this stuff and.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Johnny brought up that, you know, there has been some crime in the past, but he also said it’s just, you know, we should focus on the good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Giovanni: \u003c/strong>It’s like if they’re just seeing that our neighborhood is like trash, basically. Right. And it’s really not it’s I think it’s a good neighborhood to live in. It’s peaceful and everything that’s that’s a fence for them to see that. And they’ve never stepped in Wynonna’s ever in their life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>So and you know, when I was there on the tour, we came across a patrol car just driving by, probably under five miles per hour. And it was just waving at us and just went on by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>By the central hub, there’s like a little office for San Mateo County sheriffs who operate in having to talk about it that bring some sort of sadness to his eyes, something that I could I could see not just him with other men, which presents when I asked them, how do these comments make you feel? And they respond like it’s hurtful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Over the last few months, a vocal critic of Moon Ridge has been the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, which represents farmers and ranchers in the area. They claim Moon Ridge is mismanaged and that there wouldn’t be a farmworker housing crisis if mid pan housing. The property developer did a better job of tracking whether farm workers actually live in Moon Ridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Middlemen told Sebastian that they do check on this. But either way, it’s clear that the perception of Moon Ridge has big implications for how people talk about building new farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay. How did I guess all the conversation about Moon Ridge stack up with your experience of actually being there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>I left feeling a little heartbroken that it’s like this is a community that they’re not going to respond back online. I’m sure that they don’t want to fight people or they don’t want to argue at a public setting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>This housing talk is not going to go away anytime soon. In San Mateo County in California, cities in California are going to have to deal with needing to build more housing. Now, knowing what I know, what I’ve seen, it’s like this is a great place to live in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>This is a housing project that works. You know, this is something that maybe we see more of this around, that it would solve some of the housing problems that are happening on the coast side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Sebastian, thanks so much for sharing your reporting. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sebastian Miño-Bucheli: \u003c/strong>Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Sebastian Miño-Bucheli, a local news fellow with cosigned news in Half Moon Bay and a reporter for KQED. We’ll leave you a link to his reporting in our notes. This 35 minute conversation with Sebastian was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape music courtesy of Audio Network. The Bay is made by me and Alan Montecillo with support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan. We are a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12003363/inside-a-community-for-farmworkers-and-low-income-families-near-half-moon-bay",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11764",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_6266",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_18269",
"news_1775",
"news_33812",
"news_34503",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12003271",
"label": "source_news_12003363"
},
"news_12002796": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12002796",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12002796",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1725444059000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "child-care-relief-could-finally-be-coming-in-alameda-county",
"title": "Child Care Relief Is Finally Coming to Alameda County",
"publishDate": 1725444059,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Child Care Relief Is Finally Coming to Alameda County | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s been 4 years since \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alameda County voters passed Measure C, a sales tax measure aimed at increasing access to social services for low-income families. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After years of legal battles, the county can finally use the money it has been collecting, and advocates hope it will provide relief to families struggling with child care costs.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC7385334883&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eltimpano.org/economics/as-state-cuts-loom-a-court-ruling-provides-a-lifeline-for-child-care-access-in-alameda-county/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As state cuts loom, a court ruling provides a lifeline for child care access in Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. Some much needed relief is coming for parents in Alameda County who are struggling to pay for child care. Earlier this year, a state Supreme Court judge ruled that Measure C, a county sales tax aimed at increasing access to social services for low income families could finally go forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>In some ways, it’s kind of a drop in the bucket, but in other ways people will say, yes, it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a very significant drop in the bucket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>In Alameda County, the cost of child care has increased by 64% in the past decade. And advocates hope that money from Measure C can help. Today, how help could finally be on the way for Alameda County parents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Karina is a single mom. She lives in Oakland. She has a three year old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Erica Hellerstein is a senior labor and economics reporter for El Team Pono, a Spanish language news organization covering issues affecting Latino and Mayan immigrant communities in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She’s 24 years old and she’s from Guatemala. And she speaks mom, which is a language spoken by indigenous communities in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. So I actually spoke to her through a translator. She works 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. She sells fruit. She’s a fruit vendor. And as a single mom, she’s she’s grappling with this scenario.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, how do I pay for care and also make a living? A lot of people turn to informal childcare providers so they might not go to a child care center, but they turn to networks of people in their community. Family, friends. Friends of friends, that kind of thing, who provide care. So she’s found someone, but she doesn’t have support to pay for that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How much is Karina spending on child care?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She’s spending a lot. So basically through the fruit selling that she’s doing, she’s earning not much. She’s earning $300 weekly. She’s spending $35 a day for child care. And so when all is said and done, she is not left with much money because she’s spending that five days a week. She only has $125 to support her family and herself on a weekly basis. So, of course, this is Oakland. That’s not much money. So, yeah, she’s really, really financially insecure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So, I mean, Crean is the exact kind of person in Alameda County that this measure and Measure C, which we’re talking about today, is supposed to help. What exactly is Measure C and what was the thinking behind it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Measure C is a half percent sales tax. And it would expand access to subsidized child care, which is available either as a voucher, so you get a voucher to go to daycare and use that money there, or you get a spot in a licensed or child care center that has special spots for subsidies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>And currently, there’s a huge gulf between the number of families that are eligible or the kids that are eligible for a subsidy and the number of subsidies available to low income families. The most recent data available from 2021 said there’s almost 7000 kids that are currently on the waiting list for a subsidy and that there’s a 90% unmet need.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So the people who are eligible don’t have access. So Measure C is really intended to address that, and it’s expected to raise about $150 million annually and infuse it into this system for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So Measure C is trying to close this gap of the need for child care, it sounds like in Alameda County who is pushing for this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So people have been talking about this for a long time. This was really driven by this very grassroots coalition of activists and advocates. And they created this organization called Parent Voices. It’s a statewide organization, but they have a very powerful Oakland chapter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>And the Oakland chapter really pushed for Measure C, They were absolutely a driving force behind this gathering signatures and just really pushing for this, not just as a legislative matter, but to be something that people are really talking about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It does strike me. This measure passed in 2020, right? Yes. But why hasn’t anyone been reaping the benefits of it yet?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Well, this measure did pass in 2020, but the reason we’re talking about it today really is because for years it was held up in court. The measure was challenged by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association, and it’s been going through the, you know, back and forth of the courts ever since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, the sales tax, the money from that did start to be collected. But during this time of back and forth in the court system, it was held in escrow, all those funds. In April, the California Supreme Court basically upheld Measure C said this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, we’re we’re done here. We’re done having this back and forth and measures he can go into effect, which meant all of these funds that that had been collected and held in escrow finally could be put out into the world to support families. So there has been this very long wait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. So now this money is hopefully going to be rolling out soon. What could this mean for parents? What are all the different ways that this money could be used?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I think the primary thing relevant to what we’re talking about is just that subsidy expansion. So if you meet these income eligibility limits, these thresholds that maybe instead of waiting on, you know, going to agencies across the county and trying to figure out, can I get a spot, can I not being put on all these different waiting lists, maybe waiting for years. I talked to one woman in the North Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She was on a waiting list for a subsidy for ten years for her kid. So by the time, you know, it was all said and done, her kid went from 2 to 12. She didn’t need it anymore. Right. But during that time, she dropped out of school to care for her kid full time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She really put her career on hold. So I think she’s an example of somebody who, if the funds could get there sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have to redirect her whole trajectory around this issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Another part of Measure C that I neglected to mention is it would also use some of those funds to increase the the pay for child care providers. It’s a aging workforce largely made up of women of color, and they don’t earn a lot of money. I think they currently earn around $15 an hour in Alameda County, roughly. You know, they’re struggling themselves to keep up with all these rising costs we’re talking about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I’ve asked this question like to the agency that’s administering this like. What’s next when her family’s going to see this money? When is someone like Karina going to get the support? And it’s still kind of a you know, we can’t really answer that. We’re still figuring out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>They’re currently conducting surveys across the county to try to, you know, understand the sort of picture and the need better. And so there’s a lot of steps that need to be taken. And I think in the coming months, we’ll see a clear picture of what this plan will look like and hopefully a timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So a lot of work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Lots of work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Work still needs to be done before people see money in their pockets. But I mean, Erica, how big of a deal do you think this is? Like how big of a dent do you think you can make in this problem? We were talking about at the beginning of child care costs in Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, in some ways it’s kind of a drop in the bucket, right? But in other ways, people will say, yes, it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a very significant drop in the bucket. I think the agency administering this said, you know, they expect around 100,000 families to benefit from this over the next few years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So that’s not nothing. But there is this massive need across the state. The estimate is that there’s something like 2 million families across California that are eligible for subsidies and they’re not getting them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I think what Alameda County actually represents as creative local policymaking to address an issue, one of the organizers really pushing for measures, he said, you know, we’ve actually heard from people in other counties in California who want to replicate what we just did. So they’re also recognizing that they’re not getting enough from the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What challenges are ahead for the implementation of Measure C? It sounds like it’s going to take a while to really know when or how soon parents are going to see this money. But what challenges are ahead for the county and really rolling this out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I wish I knew the answer to what it would look like because even as I was discussing child care needs with, you know, with families and having interviews with folks and we were discussing stuff and then Measure C comes up, we’re talking about policy. They asked me a bunch of questions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I’m like, I don’t know the answer to that. So I think, you know, the the primary thing is just figuring out what this is going to look like. You know, I think another question that I think Kareena story in some way encapsulates as well is some of the people who are most in need of this, you know, low income single parents, homeless families as well, or families who are currently struggling to find housing security and families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Speakers, non-English speakers, Yeah, families who are disconnected altogether from social services, which does describe Karina. She had no idea that she could get support, that there is support, you know, making sure that this support gets to the people most in need will be a challenge as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Erica, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your reporting with us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Thanks so much for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Erica Hellerstein, a senior Labor and economics reporter for LTI Pinole, a Spanish language news organization covering issues affecting Latino and Mayan immigrant communities in the Bay Area. We’re going to leave you a link to Erica’s story on Measure C for Latin Bono in our shownotes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This 26 minute conversation with Erica was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. It was produced and scored by me. The Bay is a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks for listening. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "It’s been 4 years since Alameda County voters passed Measure C, a sales tax measure aimed at increasing access to social services for low-income families. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729891331,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 47,
"wordCount": 2153
},
"headData": {
"title": "Child Care Relief Is Finally Coming to Alameda County | KQED",
"description": "It’s been 4 years since Alameda County voters passed Measure C, a sales tax measure aimed at increasing access to social services for low-income families. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Child Care Relief Is Finally Coming to Alameda County",
"datePublished": "2024-09-04T03:00:59-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T14:22:11-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC7385334883.mp3?updated=1725385692",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12002796",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12002796/child-care-relief-could-finally-be-coming-in-alameda-county",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s been 4 years since \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alameda County voters passed Measure C, a sales tax measure aimed at increasing access to social services for low-income families. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">After years of legal battles, the county can finally use the money it has been collecting, and advocates hope it will provide relief to families struggling with child care costs.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC7385334883&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eltimpano.org/economics/as-state-cuts-loom-a-court-ruling-provides-a-lifeline-for-child-care-access-in-alameda-county/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As state cuts loom, a court ruling provides a lifeline for child care access in Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. Some much needed relief is coming for parents in Alameda County who are struggling to pay for child care. Earlier this year, a state Supreme Court judge ruled that Measure C, a county sales tax aimed at increasing access to social services for low income families could finally go forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>In some ways, it’s kind of a drop in the bucket, but in other ways people will say, yes, it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a very significant drop in the bucket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>In Alameda County, the cost of child care has increased by 64% in the past decade. And advocates hope that money from Measure C can help. Today, how help could finally be on the way for Alameda County parents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Karina is a single mom. She lives in Oakland. She has a three year old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Erica Hellerstein is a senior labor and economics reporter for El Team Pono, a Spanish language news organization covering issues affecting Latino and Mayan immigrant communities in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She’s 24 years old and she’s from Guatemala. And she speaks mom, which is a language spoken by indigenous communities in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. So I actually spoke to her through a translator. She works 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. She sells fruit. She’s a fruit vendor. And as a single mom, she’s she’s grappling with this scenario.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, how do I pay for care and also make a living? A lot of people turn to informal childcare providers so they might not go to a child care center, but they turn to networks of people in their community. Family, friends. Friends of friends, that kind of thing, who provide care. So she’s found someone, but she doesn’t have support to pay for that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How much is Karina spending on child care?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She’s spending a lot. So basically through the fruit selling that she’s doing, she’s earning not much. She’s earning $300 weekly. She’s spending $35 a day for child care. And so when all is said and done, she is not left with much money because she’s spending that five days a week. She only has $125 to support her family and herself on a weekly basis. So, of course, this is Oakland. That’s not much money. So, yeah, she’s really, really financially insecure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So, I mean, Crean is the exact kind of person in Alameda County that this measure and Measure C, which we’re talking about today, is supposed to help. What exactly is Measure C and what was the thinking behind it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Measure C is a half percent sales tax. And it would expand access to subsidized child care, which is available either as a voucher, so you get a voucher to go to daycare and use that money there, or you get a spot in a licensed or child care center that has special spots for subsidies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>And currently, there’s a huge gulf between the number of families that are eligible or the kids that are eligible for a subsidy and the number of subsidies available to low income families. The most recent data available from 2021 said there’s almost 7000 kids that are currently on the waiting list for a subsidy and that there’s a 90% unmet need.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So the people who are eligible don’t have access. So Measure C is really intended to address that, and it’s expected to raise about $150 million annually and infuse it into this system for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So Measure C is trying to close this gap of the need for child care, it sounds like in Alameda County who is pushing for this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So people have been talking about this for a long time. This was really driven by this very grassroots coalition of activists and advocates. And they created this organization called Parent Voices. It’s a statewide organization, but they have a very powerful Oakland chapter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>And the Oakland chapter really pushed for Measure C, They were absolutely a driving force behind this gathering signatures and just really pushing for this, not just as a legislative matter, but to be something that people are really talking about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It does strike me. This measure passed in 2020, right? Yes. But why hasn’t anyone been reaping the benefits of it yet?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Well, this measure did pass in 2020, but the reason we’re talking about it today really is because for years it was held up in court. The measure was challenged by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association, and it’s been going through the, you know, back and forth of the courts ever since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, the sales tax, the money from that did start to be collected. But during this time of back and forth in the court system, it was held in escrow, all those funds. In April, the California Supreme Court basically upheld Measure C said this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, we’re we’re done here. We’re done having this back and forth and measures he can go into effect, which meant all of these funds that that had been collected and held in escrow finally could be put out into the world to support families. So there has been this very long wait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. So now this money is hopefully going to be rolling out soon. What could this mean for parents? What are all the different ways that this money could be used?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I think the primary thing relevant to what we’re talking about is just that subsidy expansion. So if you meet these income eligibility limits, these thresholds that maybe instead of waiting on, you know, going to agencies across the county and trying to figure out, can I get a spot, can I not being put on all these different waiting lists, maybe waiting for years. I talked to one woman in the North Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She was on a waiting list for a subsidy for ten years for her kid. So by the time, you know, it was all said and done, her kid went from 2 to 12. She didn’t need it anymore. Right. But during that time, she dropped out of school to care for her kid full time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>She really put her career on hold. So I think she’s an example of somebody who, if the funds could get there sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have to redirect her whole trajectory around this issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Another part of Measure C that I neglected to mention is it would also use some of those funds to increase the the pay for child care providers. It’s a aging workforce largely made up of women of color, and they don’t earn a lot of money. I think they currently earn around $15 an hour in Alameda County, roughly. You know, they’re struggling themselves to keep up with all these rising costs we’re talking about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I’ve asked this question like to the agency that’s administering this like. What’s next when her family’s going to see this money? When is someone like Karina going to get the support? And it’s still kind of a you know, we can’t really answer that. We’re still figuring out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>They’re currently conducting surveys across the county to try to, you know, understand the sort of picture and the need better. And so there’s a lot of steps that need to be taken. And I think in the coming months, we’ll see a clear picture of what this plan will look like and hopefully a timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So a lot of work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Lots of work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Work still needs to be done before people see money in their pockets. But I mean, Erica, how big of a deal do you think this is? Like how big of a dent do you think you can make in this problem? We were talking about at the beginning of child care costs in Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>You know, in some ways it’s kind of a drop in the bucket, right? But in other ways, people will say, yes, it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a very significant drop in the bucket. I think the agency administering this said, you know, they expect around 100,000 families to benefit from this over the next few years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>So that’s not nothing. But there is this massive need across the state. The estimate is that there’s something like 2 million families across California that are eligible for subsidies and they’re not getting them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I think what Alameda County actually represents as creative local policymaking to address an issue, one of the organizers really pushing for measures, he said, you know, we’ve actually heard from people in other counties in California who want to replicate what we just did. So they’re also recognizing that they’re not getting enough from the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What challenges are ahead for the implementation of Measure C? It sounds like it’s going to take a while to really know when or how soon parents are going to see this money. But what challenges are ahead for the county and really rolling this out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I wish I knew the answer to what it would look like because even as I was discussing child care needs with, you know, with families and having interviews with folks and we were discussing stuff and then Measure C comes up, we’re talking about policy. They asked me a bunch of questions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>I’m like, I don’t know the answer to that. So I think, you know, the the primary thing is just figuring out what this is going to look like. You know, I think another question that I think Kareena story in some way encapsulates as well is some of the people who are most in need of this, you know, low income single parents, homeless families as well, or families who are currently struggling to find housing security and families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Speakers, non-English speakers, Yeah, families who are disconnected altogether from social services, which does describe Karina. She had no idea that she could get support, that there is support, you know, making sure that this support gets to the people most in need will be a challenge as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Erica, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your reporting with us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Erica Hellerstein: \u003c/strong>Thanks so much for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Erica Hellerstein, a senior Labor and economics reporter for LTI Pinole, a Spanish language news organization covering issues affecting Latino and Mayan immigrant communities in the Bay Area. We’re going to leave you a link to Erica’s story on Measure C for Latin Bono in our shownotes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This 26 minute conversation with Erica was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. It was produced and scored by me. The Bay is a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks for listening. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12002796/child-care-relief-could-finally-be-coming-in-alameda-county",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_260",
"news_20754",
"news_33812",
"news_23314",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_11830907",
"label": "source_news_12002796"
},
"news_12002385": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12002385",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12002385",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1725012041000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "the-bays-august-news-roundup",
"title": "The Bay’s August News Roundup",
"publishDate": 1725012041,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "The Bay’s August News Roundup | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, California politics and government senior editor Molly Solomon joins us to talk about how Kamala Harris tells her life story to a national audience — and why she might be reluctant to mention Berkeley. Also, we discuss a lead water crisis at Oakland schools, and why some journalists are dismayed with a deal Google just reached with state lawmakers to pay millions of dollars to support local news.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3489421666&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/25/us/politics/kamala-harris-berkeley-hometown.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As Kamala Harris Claims Oakland, Berkeley Forgives\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2024/08/29/ousd-has-failed-at-its-most-basic-job-families-teachers-demand-answers-on-lead/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">‘OUSD has failed at its most basic job’: Families, teachers demand answers on lead\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/capitol/2024/08/california-journalism-deal-legislature-google/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">California tried to make Google pay news outlets. The company cut a deal that includes funding AI\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted and welcome to our August news roundup where me and the rest of the Bay team sit down to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. I am joined by our senior editor, Alan Montecillo. What’s up, Alan?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Hey. Hey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And we’re also joined by a very special guest today, senior editor of KQED’s California politics and government desk, Molly Solomon. What’s up, Molly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Hey, thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>My thank you so much for taking the time. You guys have been super busy over there at the Politics desk, and I know your time is very precious. Can you talk about what you all have been up to this last month?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Busy is like the understatement of the year. It has been a busy, busy week slash man slash. This election has probably aged me like a decade, but this I think more recently, the excitement on our team was being able to go to Chicago to cover in person the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think clearly the big story for us has also been this really quick, sudden ascension of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, replacing Biden. So obviously with her connections and her roots to San Francisco politics, to the Bay Area, that’s been a big story for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>There are times when I go throughout my day and I realize, again, that that happened, that Biden dropped out and that Harris is the nominee. And I still kind of can’t believe that happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>And that was a month ago. Allen What is time? Yeah, it’s wild. The last two months have been have been a roller coaster ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I mean, while we are on the topic, why don’t you kick us off with the first story of our news roundup, Molly, that you’ve been watching very closely this month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>The story that caught my eye. This last month is really this issue of how Kamala Harris is telling her story. And I think more specifically how she seems to be, as some people say, downplaying or even just saying the name of her hometown where she’s from, Berkeley. I just think it’s been fascinating because all of us, you know, reporters here, especially some of the local reporters on our team, have been covering her for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I just find it very fascinating the way she decides to tell her story, especially now that she’s on this national stage, including, you know, more recently, I was kind of watching for that when she was giving her speech at the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>Before she could finally afford to buy a home. She rented a small apartment in the east bay. In the bay, in the bay, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>A beautiful I think I had actually sent out a tweet when we got the transcript of her speech and I was like, Hey, like, shout out to Berkeley Flatlands. And people immediately, even just in that tweet that I sent out were like, actually, she did not specifically say Berkeley in her speech. So they were already really, like keen to, like, highlight what she was and was not saying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>She was actually born in a hospital in Oakland. You know, when she was younger, they did spend some time actually, and then moved to the Midwest. She did end up moving back to Berkeley when her parents divorced and she lived with her mom in this now iconic yellow duplex house on Bancroft in kind of a southwest corner of Berkeley. After that, you know, she spent some of her adolescence actually in Canada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Her mom had gotten a teaching research job at one of the universities there before. You know, the stage that she’s on now, like Harris has talked about growing up in Berkeley, like she wrote about it in her autobiography. She’s talked about, you know, going to protests with her parents in a stroller. Obviously, she moved back and was an adult and lived in Oakland as she was a prosecutor in Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>And she was also, I think, as a young child, she was part of this integrated bussing program in Berkeley. And she was actually bussed from, you know, her home in southwest Berkeley up to the wealthier North Berkeley Hills to go to school. So it has played a part in, you know, how she’s talked about her childhood in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I just think it’s more interesting because it seems like there has been this deliberate omission of it. I mean, even in just how she referred to where she’s from in her speech, she said the bay and other times, you know, she’s called herself a daughter of Oakland. So for whatever reason and we can talk about it, it seems like she’s downplaying naming the city that she spent most of her time growing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Why is that? Like, why not? Claim Berkeley as much now, or even Oakland explicitly for that matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think it’s pretty strategic. You know, there is a political strategy here of emphasizing, you know, Oakland over Berkeley or maybe neither and just saying East Bay, there’s this idea that it’s just a bunch of like hippies and radical leftist that are in Berkeley. It’s got the nickname, bizarrely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I think if she is trying to, you know, as a candidate, make herself palatable to people that don’t live in the Bay Area, especially like one of the more progressive parts of California, she might want to distance herself from that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I think from a political strategy standpoint, I could see her either wanting to paint herself with a broader brush or just maybe not even naming that city as a way to connect herself to to this bigger audience that she’s now speaking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>But, you know, it’s not like Harris is the first candidate to overplay or downplay certain parts of her background as someone from Berkeley. Molly, how does this make you feel?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think there’s like an immense amount of pride for this place for people that have grown up in Berkeley. I mean, for people that have grown up in the Bay, I’m sure you feel this, too, from where you grew up. But, you know, to me, it’s like that is always been this thing that you claim, you know, and that you tell everybody about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I’m from Berkeley, I’m from the bay, you know, almost to the point of like annoyance from my husband or anyone else that is not grown up here. So so I think about it with with this, you know, I think this is something that’s interesting to me and sort of stood out to me because, you know, it tells me a little bit also about how Kamala Harris is choosing to show different parts of her identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I mean, not just with the hometown thing and being from Berkeley. And I’m sure that, like they were quoted in this article that I read to a lot of people in Berkeley were like, we get it. It’s fine. Our feelings are not hurt. We understand you got an election to win, whatever. But I think it’s just interesting to see the way that like what she chooses to claim and reveal about herself. You know, she’s really leaned into this law and order prosecutor role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think that has a lot to do with the current climate around crime being a mixed race woman, South Asian, black woman. I think these are parts of her identity, what she is publicly claiming and telling us who she is as a national candidate says something. So that’s why it stood out to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>All right. Well, Molly, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And after the break, we’ll talk about a lead crisis at Oakland schools and a deal that Google just cut with the state to help California’s struggling local news industry. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And welcome back to the Bay’s Monthly News roundup, where we sit down to talk about some of the other stories that we’ve been following this month. Alan Kids are back to school and it’s been a pretty chaotic return for students in Oakland. What’s going on?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, there is lead in the drinking water at dozens of Oakland public schools. You know, it has obviously kids, parents, teachers, very frustrated with the district, afraid for their kids safety. I mean, not a great start to the school year in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And how many schools are we talking about here? How bad and widespread is this problem?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, as of now, we know of at least 30. There’s been a lot of reporting on this from the Oakland side. KQED has done some reporting as well. Now, the district has a policy that if the lead in drinking water is five parts per billion, just the concentration of lead or higher that the district needs to basically get rid of the fountains and replace them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>We know of more than 30 schools in Oakland that are above that five parts per billion number. Some of the schools have much, much higher concentrations of lead. One school, a Lincoln Elementary, tested for 930 parts per billion. And there are at least a dozen that have about 50 parts per million, which is, you know, ten times the district’s sort of minimum level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So how were parents and students finding out about these high levels of lead in the school’s drinking water?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>So in mid-August, when almost was starting the new school year, families were getting notified that that there was lead or unsafe levels of lead in the drinking water in some of their schools. In many cases, the testing had actually been done much, much earlier. One example of this is at the Frick United Academy of Language.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>So on August 12th, which is, you know, the first day of school, teachers say they found out that six water fixtures at their schools tested over the safe limit of lead. But the testing was done in April. So teachers find this out on day one and they’re furious because, A, we have to now tell all of the kids on the first day of school, hey, do not drink the water from the fountain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>And B, kids were probably drinking it during the end of the school year during summer school. So the firestorm of anger in the district is not just about the fact that there is lead in the water. I mean, it should get fixed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>You know, this happens when pipes are old, but that the notification didn’t happen in an efficient way. They found out months later. And that’s something that the district has even copped to, that they did not communicate the test results fast enough to families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think, like if I’m a parent and I have a kid in an Oakland school that has like, you know, maybe one of these schools that has a high amount, like you mentioned, should I be worried? I mean, is this dangerous? Is my child affected by this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, there are no safe levels of lead in drinking water. I mean, the county health department even recommended that parents who have kids at one of these schools have them tested for lead exposure and that they actually bring along the communication from the district to their primary care doctor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>The fountains that are known to have this lead in it have been shut down. But, you know, in in many cases, it’s possible that the kids have already drink the water that has led in it, because the way the district communicated this was so late.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, what has the district said about why it took them so long to notify parents, students and sounds like even teachers?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>As of now, we don’t totally know what went wrong here with the notification process. I should say we’re taping this before. Superintendent Kyla Johnson Tremmel is set to give a presentation to the public. The district has promised now that they will notify families within three days of testing and they will publish all of the results on a public dashboard. They say they’ll get this set up by January, but right now we don’t really know why this happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Okay. So it sounds like there’s some plans in the works a little farther off. But what’s being done now about all of this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, I think for the district, just in the immediate term, there’s just the basic like explaining to families what happened here and trying to reassure them. In the meantime, there’s still more testing going on as of this taping. Not all of that. Schools have been fully tested yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>And in terms of just being at school, the district is also providing filtered water dispensers at schools that have been affected. I think for teachers and kids, it’s just trying to get through the first month of school with this, you know, huge inconvenience that in many cases a lot of your drinking fountains are unsafe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>All right. Well, we’ll definitely continue to follow that story as it develops. Thank you so much, Alan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And last but not least, will cap off our news roundup with a story about an effort to try and force big tech to help the state’s struggling local news industry. This is a story that I have been following this month in a deal with state lawmakers. Google has agreed to pay $55 million over five years to a fund that would be distributed to local newsrooms and also fund AA technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This deal comes after this effort by two Bay Area lawmakers to try and force the biggest tech companies in Silicon Valley to really pay up essentially for the impact that some of these tech companies have had on our really I mean, faltering local news industry here in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>What role have they played specifically that led to some state lawmakers in California saying, hey, you guys got to pay up or at least help?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. So some of the context here, I mean, the state of California has lost like about a third of its local newspapers since 2005. And as we know very well, I mean, news organizations are really trying to keep up with the changing media ecosystem. I mean, advertising has always been a huge source of revenue for newspapers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But now publishers argue that search engines and social media platforms have really harmed the journalism business by hogging up all that advertising revenue while also benefiting from news content that they don’t pay for. And so to local lawmakers in the Bay Area tried to put forward these two laws that were really set up to try and secure a cut of tech money, really to kind of help prop up California’s struggling local news industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So one of them would have forced Google and Medha to negotiate a so-called usage fee with news outlets directly. Basically, Google pays a local news outlet for how many clicks it gets on Google when a user searches for a story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Another lawmaker from the Bay Area proposed a separate law that would have enforced a fee on major platforms like Google and Meta to basically provide a news outlet tax credit to help employ local journalists. And that ad actually would have raised $500 million a year, according to some estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I mean, it sounds like the original idea is not exactly what they ended up agreeing on in the end. Could you kind of walk us through what those changes were? Was there pushback and how they ended up landing on this new deal? That has, you know, I as a part of it as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Basically, Google is going to be paying much less than this. The original two bills that these lawmakers proposed. What’s happening instead is that the tech giant has agreed to pay $55 million over five years to support local media outlets. This money is going to be administered by UC Berkeley and kind of distributed to local news outlets from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And it’s also going to help start an artificial intelligence program. The idea is to basically give some of these outlets some financial support to see how I can help them in their work. And there are kind of two big reasons I’d say why the original plan kind of failed. One being that Google has spent a lot of money lobbying against these bills. They spent about $2.1 million in response to Buffy Wicks bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And once Buffy Wicks is, Bill actually passed it in the state Assembly. Google actually retaliated and temporarily removed some links to California news websites from its search results. So there was just a lot of concern about how willing Google would be to kind of go along with this idea. And there was concern about whether Governor Newsom would have been willing to support this idea to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Calmatters actually reported that proponents said that it was actually really unlikely that Newsom would support any one of these bills because he pledged no tax increases this year. So those are two kind of big reasons why their original idea didn’t kind of come to fruition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Where were journalists in these negotiations? I mean, you know, this is a little bit of a meta conversation. I didn’t get a call about going to talk about this bill. I assume neither of you did either. What groups, if any, were weighing in on behalf of journalists who would be affected by this? Well, this now new law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Some groups representing journalists across California are really not happy about this deal. One really outspoken opponent is the Media Guild of the West, which represents reporters down in Southern California. The guild said that it was particularly concerned about this part of the deal involving artificial intelligence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And they sort of have concerns about what promoting A.I. could further do to the local news industry. They saw it as sort of a concession to the tech industry in that way that could actually lead to even more devastation to the local news industry and maybe even a further loss of of jobs among, like, reporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So, yeah, I mean, basically, like there are a bunch of unions and and other groups sort of representing journalists across the the state who are accusing California lawmakers of kind of settling and others who say that, you know, local media is not really in a position to say no to more money either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So there’s a lot more work to be done to kind of help local news organizations across the state to to be as healthy as we need them to be, especially in an election year. And that is it for our August news roundup. Thank you so much, Alan and Molly, for joining me, it was fun guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Thanks so much for having me. This was fun, you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is made by me and Alan Montecillo. We get support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad and Holly Kernan Music courtesy of Audio Network. The Bay is a production of listener supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra…peace.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "In this episode of The Bay, KQED's California politics and government senior editor Molly Solomon joins Ericka and Alan for the show's monthly news roundup.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729892290,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 73,
"wordCount": 3746
},
"headData": {
"title": "The Bay’s August News Roundup | KQED",
"description": "In this episode of The Bay, KQED's California politics and government senior editor Molly Solomon joins Ericka and Alan for the show's monthly news roundup.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "The Bay’s August News Roundup",
"datePublished": "2024-08-30T03:00:41-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T14:38:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC3489421666.mp3?updated=1724965147",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12002385",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12002385/the-bays-august-news-roundup",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, California politics and government senior editor Molly Solomon joins us to talk about how Kamala Harris tells her life story to a national audience — and why she might be reluctant to mention Berkeley. Also, we discuss a lead water crisis at Oakland schools, and why some journalists are dismayed with a deal Google just reached with state lawmakers to pay millions of dollars to support local news.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3489421666&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/25/us/politics/kamala-harris-berkeley-hometown.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">As Kamala Harris Claims Oakland, Berkeley Forgives\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2024/08/29/ousd-has-failed-at-its-most-basic-job-families-teachers-demand-answers-on-lead/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">‘OUSD has failed at its most basic job’: Families, teachers demand answers on lead\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/capitol/2024/08/california-journalism-deal-legislature-google/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">California tried to make Google pay news outlets. The company cut a deal that includes funding AI\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted and welcome to our August news roundup where me and the rest of the Bay team sit down to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. I am joined by our senior editor, Alan Montecillo. What’s up, Alan?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Hey. Hey.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And we’re also joined by a very special guest today, senior editor of KQED’s California politics and government desk, Molly Solomon. What’s up, Molly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Hey, thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>My thank you so much for taking the time. You guys have been super busy over there at the Politics desk, and I know your time is very precious. Can you talk about what you all have been up to this last month?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Busy is like the understatement of the year. It has been a busy, busy week slash man slash. This election has probably aged me like a decade, but this I think more recently, the excitement on our team was being able to go to Chicago to cover in person the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think clearly the big story for us has also been this really quick, sudden ascension of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, replacing Biden. So obviously with her connections and her roots to San Francisco politics, to the Bay Area, that’s been a big story for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>There are times when I go throughout my day and I realize, again, that that happened, that Biden dropped out and that Harris is the nominee. And I still kind of can’t believe that happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>And that was a month ago. Allen What is time? Yeah, it’s wild. The last two months have been have been a roller coaster ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I mean, while we are on the topic, why don’t you kick us off with the first story of our news roundup, Molly, that you’ve been watching very closely this month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>The story that caught my eye. This last month is really this issue of how Kamala Harris is telling her story. And I think more specifically how she seems to be, as some people say, downplaying or even just saying the name of her hometown where she’s from, Berkeley. I just think it’s been fascinating because all of us, you know, reporters here, especially some of the local reporters on our team, have been covering her for decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I just find it very fascinating the way she decides to tell her story, especially now that she’s on this national stage, including, you know, more recently, I was kind of watching for that when she was giving her speech at the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>Before she could finally afford to buy a home. She rented a small apartment in the east bay. In the bay, in the bay, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>A beautiful I think I had actually sent out a tweet when we got the transcript of her speech and I was like, Hey, like, shout out to Berkeley Flatlands. And people immediately, even just in that tweet that I sent out were like, actually, she did not specifically say Berkeley in her speech. So they were already really, like keen to, like, highlight what she was and was not saying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>She was actually born in a hospital in Oakland. You know, when she was younger, they did spend some time actually, and then moved to the Midwest. She did end up moving back to Berkeley when her parents divorced and she lived with her mom in this now iconic yellow duplex house on Bancroft in kind of a southwest corner of Berkeley. After that, you know, she spent some of her adolescence actually in Canada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Her mom had gotten a teaching research job at one of the universities there before. You know, the stage that she’s on now, like Harris has talked about growing up in Berkeley, like she wrote about it in her autobiography. She’s talked about, you know, going to protests with her parents in a stroller. Obviously, she moved back and was an adult and lived in Oakland as she was a prosecutor in Alameda County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>And she was also, I think, as a young child, she was part of this integrated bussing program in Berkeley. And she was actually bussed from, you know, her home in southwest Berkeley up to the wealthier North Berkeley Hills to go to school. So it has played a part in, you know, how she’s talked about her childhood in the past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I just think it’s more interesting because it seems like there has been this deliberate omission of it. I mean, even in just how she referred to where she’s from in her speech, she said the bay and other times, you know, she’s called herself a daughter of Oakland. So for whatever reason and we can talk about it, it seems like she’s downplaying naming the city that she spent most of her time growing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Why is that? Like, why not? Claim Berkeley as much now, or even Oakland explicitly for that matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think it’s pretty strategic. You know, there is a political strategy here of emphasizing, you know, Oakland over Berkeley or maybe neither and just saying East Bay, there’s this idea that it’s just a bunch of like hippies and radical leftist that are in Berkeley. It’s got the nickname, bizarrely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I think if she is trying to, you know, as a candidate, make herself palatable to people that don’t live in the Bay Area, especially like one of the more progressive parts of California, she might want to distance herself from that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>So I think from a political strategy standpoint, I could see her either wanting to paint herself with a broader brush or just maybe not even naming that city as a way to connect herself to to this bigger audience that she’s now speaking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>But, you know, it’s not like Harris is the first candidate to overplay or downplay certain parts of her background as someone from Berkeley. Molly, how does this make you feel?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think there’s like an immense amount of pride for this place for people that have grown up in Berkeley. I mean, for people that have grown up in the Bay, I’m sure you feel this, too, from where you grew up. But, you know, to me, it’s like that is always been this thing that you claim, you know, and that you tell everybody about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I’m from Berkeley, I’m from the bay, you know, almost to the point of like annoyance from my husband or anyone else that is not grown up here. So so I think about it with with this, you know, I think this is something that’s interesting to me and sort of stood out to me because, you know, it tells me a little bit also about how Kamala Harris is choosing to show different parts of her identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I mean, not just with the hometown thing and being from Berkeley. And I’m sure that, like they were quoted in this article that I read to a lot of people in Berkeley were like, we get it. It’s fine. Our feelings are not hurt. We understand you got an election to win, whatever. But I think it’s just interesting to see the way that like what she chooses to claim and reveal about herself. You know, she’s really leaned into this law and order prosecutor role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think that has a lot to do with the current climate around crime being a mixed race woman, South Asian, black woman. I think these are parts of her identity, what she is publicly claiming and telling us who she is as a national candidate says something. So that’s why it stood out to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>All right. Well, Molly, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And after the break, we’ll talk about a lead crisis at Oakland schools and a deal that Google just cut with the state to help California’s struggling local news industry. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And welcome back to the Bay’s Monthly News roundup, where we sit down to talk about some of the other stories that we’ve been following this month. Alan Kids are back to school and it’s been a pretty chaotic return for students in Oakland. What’s going on?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, there is lead in the drinking water at dozens of Oakland public schools. You know, it has obviously kids, parents, teachers, very frustrated with the district, afraid for their kids safety. I mean, not a great start to the school year in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And how many schools are we talking about here? How bad and widespread is this problem?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, as of now, we know of at least 30. There’s been a lot of reporting on this from the Oakland side. KQED has done some reporting as well. Now, the district has a policy that if the lead in drinking water is five parts per billion, just the concentration of lead or higher that the district needs to basically get rid of the fountains and replace them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>We know of more than 30 schools in Oakland that are above that five parts per billion number. Some of the schools have much, much higher concentrations of lead. One school, a Lincoln Elementary, tested for 930 parts per billion. And there are at least a dozen that have about 50 parts per million, which is, you know, ten times the district’s sort of minimum level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So how were parents and students finding out about these high levels of lead in the school’s drinking water?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>So in mid-August, when almost was starting the new school year, families were getting notified that that there was lead or unsafe levels of lead in the drinking water in some of their schools. In many cases, the testing had actually been done much, much earlier. One example of this is at the Frick United Academy of Language.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>So on August 12th, which is, you know, the first day of school, teachers say they found out that six water fixtures at their schools tested over the safe limit of lead. But the testing was done in April. So teachers find this out on day one and they’re furious because, A, we have to now tell all of the kids on the first day of school, hey, do not drink the water from the fountain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>And B, kids were probably drinking it during the end of the school year during summer school. So the firestorm of anger in the district is not just about the fact that there is lead in the water. I mean, it should get fixed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>You know, this happens when pipes are old, but that the notification didn’t happen in an efficient way. They found out months later. And that’s something that the district has even copped to, that they did not communicate the test results fast enough to families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I think, like if I’m a parent and I have a kid in an Oakland school that has like, you know, maybe one of these schools that has a high amount, like you mentioned, should I be worried? I mean, is this dangerous? Is my child affected by this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, there are no safe levels of lead in drinking water. I mean, the county health department even recommended that parents who have kids at one of these schools have them tested for lead exposure and that they actually bring along the communication from the district to their primary care doctor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>The fountains that are known to have this lead in it have been shut down. But, you know, in in many cases, it’s possible that the kids have already drink the water that has led in it, because the way the district communicated this was so late.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, what has the district said about why it took them so long to notify parents, students and sounds like even teachers?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>As of now, we don’t totally know what went wrong here with the notification process. I should say we’re taping this before. Superintendent Kyla Johnson Tremmel is set to give a presentation to the public. The district has promised now that they will notify families within three days of testing and they will publish all of the results on a public dashboard. They say they’ll get this set up by January, but right now we don’t really know why this happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Okay. So it sounds like there’s some plans in the works a little farther off. But what’s being done now about all of this?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Well, I think for the district, just in the immediate term, there’s just the basic like explaining to families what happened here and trying to reassure them. In the meantime, there’s still more testing going on as of this taping. Not all of that. Schools have been fully tested yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>And in terms of just being at school, the district is also providing filtered water dispensers at schools that have been affected. I think for teachers and kids, it’s just trying to get through the first month of school with this, you know, huge inconvenience that in many cases a lot of your drinking fountains are unsafe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>All right. Well, we’ll definitely continue to follow that story as it develops. Thank you so much, Alan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And last but not least, will cap off our news roundup with a story about an effort to try and force big tech to help the state’s struggling local news industry. This is a story that I have been following this month in a deal with state lawmakers. Google has agreed to pay $55 million over five years to a fund that would be distributed to local newsrooms and also fund AA technology.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This deal comes after this effort by two Bay Area lawmakers to try and force the biggest tech companies in Silicon Valley to really pay up essentially for the impact that some of these tech companies have had on our really I mean, faltering local news industry here in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>What role have they played specifically that led to some state lawmakers in California saying, hey, you guys got to pay up or at least help?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. So some of the context here, I mean, the state of California has lost like about a third of its local newspapers since 2005. And as we know very well, I mean, news organizations are really trying to keep up with the changing media ecosystem. I mean, advertising has always been a huge source of revenue for newspapers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>But now publishers argue that search engines and social media platforms have really harmed the journalism business by hogging up all that advertising revenue while also benefiting from news content that they don’t pay for. And so to local lawmakers in the Bay Area tried to put forward these two laws that were really set up to try and secure a cut of tech money, really to kind of help prop up California’s struggling local news industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So one of them would have forced Google and Medha to negotiate a so-called usage fee with news outlets directly. Basically, Google pays a local news outlet for how many clicks it gets on Google when a user searches for a story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Another lawmaker from the Bay Area proposed a separate law that would have enforced a fee on major platforms like Google and Meta to basically provide a news outlet tax credit to help employ local journalists. And that ad actually would have raised $500 million a year, according to some estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>I mean, it sounds like the original idea is not exactly what they ended up agreeing on in the end. Could you kind of walk us through what those changes were? Was there pushback and how they ended up landing on this new deal? That has, you know, I as a part of it as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Basically, Google is going to be paying much less than this. The original two bills that these lawmakers proposed. What’s happening instead is that the tech giant has agreed to pay $55 million over five years to support local media outlets. This money is going to be administered by UC Berkeley and kind of distributed to local news outlets from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And it’s also going to help start an artificial intelligence program. The idea is to basically give some of these outlets some financial support to see how I can help them in their work. And there are kind of two big reasons I’d say why the original plan kind of failed. One being that Google has spent a lot of money lobbying against these bills. They spent about $2.1 million in response to Buffy Wicks bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And once Buffy Wicks is, Bill actually passed it in the state Assembly. Google actually retaliated and temporarily removed some links to California news websites from its search results. So there was just a lot of concern about how willing Google would be to kind of go along with this idea. And there was concern about whether Governor Newsom would have been willing to support this idea to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Calmatters actually reported that proponents said that it was actually really unlikely that Newsom would support any one of these bills because he pledged no tax increases this year. So those are two kind of big reasons why their original idea didn’t kind of come to fruition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong>Where were journalists in these negotiations? I mean, you know, this is a little bit of a meta conversation. I didn’t get a call about going to talk about this bill. I assume neither of you did either. What groups, if any, were weighing in on behalf of journalists who would be affected by this? Well, this now new law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Some groups representing journalists across California are really not happy about this deal. One really outspoken opponent is the Media Guild of the West, which represents reporters down in Southern California. The guild said that it was particularly concerned about this part of the deal involving artificial intelligence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And they sort of have concerns about what promoting A.I. could further do to the local news industry. They saw it as sort of a concession to the tech industry in that way that could actually lead to even more devastation to the local news industry and maybe even a further loss of of jobs among, like, reporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So, yeah, I mean, basically, like there are a bunch of unions and and other groups sort of representing journalists across the the state who are accusing California lawmakers of kind of settling and others who say that, you know, local media is not really in a position to say no to more money either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So there’s a lot more work to be done to kind of help local news organizations across the state to to be as healthy as we need them to be, especially in an election year. And that is it for our August news roundup. Thank you so much, Alan and Molly, for joining me, it was fun guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alan Montecillo: \u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Molly Solomon: \u003c/strong>Thanks so much for having me. This was fun, you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is made by me and Alan Montecillo. We get support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad and Holly Kernan Music courtesy of Audio Network. The Bay is a production of listener supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra…peace.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12002385/the-bays-august-news-roundup",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11651",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_18540",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_20013",
"news_93",
"news_33812",
"news_17996",
"news_17968",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12002386",
"label": "source_news_12002385"
},
"news_12002068": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12002068",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12002068",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1724839230000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "in-oakland-and-berkeley-16-and-17-year-olds-can-now-vote-for-school-board",
"title": "In Oakland and Berkeley, 16 and 17-Year Olds Can Now Vote for School Board",
"publishDate": 1724839230,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "In Oakland and Berkeley, 16 and 17-Year Olds Can Now Vote for School Board | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2016 and 2020, Berkeley and Oakland passed ballot measures giving 16 and 17-year olds the right to vote in local school board races. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It took years — and a lot of pressure from student activists — but in this election, Alameda County is finally ready to let students cast their ballots. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3360881973&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Register to vote online (click “pre-register”)\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000395/how-teen-voters-in-berkeley-oakland-can-shape-upcoming-school-board-elections\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Teen Voters in Berkeley, Oakland Can Shape Upcoming School Board Elections\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. After years of waiting, 16 to 17 year olds in Berkeley and Oakland will get a say in their local school board races this November. And it’s taken a lot of pressure and advocacy to finally make it happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>It’s like a relief, but also a long time coming, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It’s been eight years since Berkeley approved a measure giving students the right to vote for school board. And for years since voters did the same in Oakland. Today, how students push for the right to vote and what’s taken so long to implement it. When did people first start talking about allowing 16 and 17 year old students to vote in school board elections in the East Bay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Well, this is all part of sort of a long time burbling national movement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Annelise Finney is a reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>This movement really took off in the East Bay in November of 2016. That year on the ballot, there was Berkeley’s Measure y one, which was going to allow young people to vote in school board elections and Proposition F in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Proposition F would have allowed young people to vote in all municipal elections. And it was a pretty big push. Ultimately, Proposition F in San Francisco failed. And Berkeley’s narrower ballot measure actually passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This passed in 2016 and Berkeley have 16 to 17 year olds been able to vote there since then?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>No, not at all. It kind of stalled. The Berkeley measure had a provision in it that said that the city of Berkeley wasn’t going to pay at all to implement youth voting. So in a way, it’s kind of dead on arrival and it languished for a long time. I mean, it’s been eight years since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’re talking about this now because finally Berkeley and now Oakland students as well get to vote in local school board elections. How exactly did this happen?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>A big part of why we’re seeing this happen this year is because Oakland pushed for this really hard. There’s an organization in Oakland called Oakland Kids First. It’s a community based organization that does a lot of organizing with young people. They’re embedded in local high schools and they work with people to figure out, you know, what kind of changes would you like to see in your school?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>And then they help them make that happen. So in 2019, that organization was working with young people and they had identified three areas they wanted to change in the school. And they all had to do with budget cuts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There were proposed budget cuts to restorative justice coordinators, to AAPI students supports and foster youth caseworkers. And students felt like those things were super important for their peers. Then a few months later, Oakland teachers went on strike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News cast: \u003c/strong>On day one of the Oakland teachers strike kicked off with songs, rallying cries and thousands of teachers, parents, students and members of various unions gathered in solidarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>It was the beginning of a seven day strike. If you live in Oakland. You probably remember this. And Oakland students were a big part of all of this. They participated in pickets. They spoke at rallies and they organized alongside their teachers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>There was a lot of young people that were out in the streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>To learn a little bit more about this. I spoke with a man named Lukas Brekke-Meisner. He’s the executive director of Oakland Kids First, and he was there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>Picketing in front of their schools where leading marches downtown were at the rallies. And there came a point where the young people shared with union leadership like, hey, we actually are organizing some things right now to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Some of the young people said, Hey, we’re organizing with you. Can you organize with us and weave some of our demands? These three that I just mentioned about budget cuts into what the teachers were asking from the school district. Ultimately, what happened is that when the union deal came through and none of the student requests were in it, a lot of students were really mad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>We are here to tell you what we need, but it seems to be going in one ear and out the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The school board decided they were going to hold a meeting. It was the day after the union reached their deal with the district. And Lucas told me that students showed up in mass. He estimates there were about 500 students there coming out here. He started giving these really passionate comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>But time and time again, you let us down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>We are tired of getting stepped on. We are tired of getting dragged through the mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>Students have a voice and we will fight back. Where was our input in the strike negotiations?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>I’m here today speaking for all of the students of all because we deserve better than this. Then what? The student, the director have been.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>But the school board wasn’t really hearing it and they got a little overwhelmed. They eventually went into closed session.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>I think it’s cemented for me and for a lot of the young people that like, if this is all we can do, like this isn’t good enough, like we’re not going to be able to move the needle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Lukas told me that there was a real realization that, you know, showing up at school board meetings and telling school board members how they felt wasn’t getting students to where they wanted to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How does this eventually lead to them pushing for the right to vote in school board elections?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>After that meeting, students kind of went back. They thought about it some more. And after the summer, student leaders got together and said, What we want to push for is youth voting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>Like I thought, we just keep our heads down and listen to what teachers tell us and that’s it. But know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Ixchel Arista is a graduate of Oakland High School. She started as a freshman there in 2020 and joined into this voting rights youth movement after sort of the drama I described in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>I realized that it’s really important that students as young as possible get civically engaged and are aware of the change and the power they hold as constituents of a lot of different elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>For her, she said, this was all kind of common sense, that it made sense that students had been asking for this. Students are the number one constituency of the school board. They should have a say in what the school board decides to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>It made sense. Again, the more I saw organizing, the more I was like, No, we should. Students have always had the ability to choose and elect the people who are going to be making the decisions that impact them every single day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>At the time, a lot of young people in Oakland didn’t know that Berkeley had passed a similar measure to what they might have been envisioning. And once they figured that out, they started working with some of the young people in Berkeley who had been part of that campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>They took the bones of Berkeley’s Measure y one and incorporated that into what they were going to ask for in Oakland. And they started meeting with city council members. And what they found was that Oakland City Council members were pretty on board.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>But it turns out it was only the beginning of a very, very long bureaucratic, just like logistical, technical process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up, why it took so long to get youth voting up and running. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This measure in Oakland Measure Q. Q had some support among city councilors. It eventually got enough support from voters in Oakland to pass in 2020. But it still takes a really long time to implement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And then there’s still this Berkeley one from 2016 that’s like not really being fully implemented yet either. Why is that? And please, why is it taking so long for students to actually be able to finally exercise this right, even though these measures have already passed?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Well, from the organizers I’ve spoken to and the young people who are part of this, they say there are really two things. The first is the technical challenge of getting this done. Young people have never voted in Alameda County before, so the county has to come up with a system for printing and processing. Youth votes have to be young.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>People can only vote in this one type of election and our normal ballots have a bunch of elections. All of these kind of little questions that have to be answered about technically, how is this going to work? Right. The other part of this is the will. The Alameda County Register has had a lot going on. It’s kind of a fundamentally understaffed office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The best example of that is that the registrar who oversees all of the county’s voting is also the IT director for the county, which means he oversees the entire county’s I.T. department. So they have a lot going on. And for a long time, this just wasn’t really a priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I also imagine you have students, I mean, aging out, you know, I mean, the students who pushed for the measure in 2016 and in Berkeley, I mean, in four years are graduating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah, This is something that Lukas said is is sort of a fundamental challenge of youth organizing. And, you know, I think we saw this in a different sphere, but with the pro-Palestine encampments at college campuses that, you know, there are these big breaks in the year, everybody goes home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oftentimes they’re sort of disconnected from their friends. And then, as you mentioned, after four years, a lot of young people leave where they live and go off to do other things, whether that’s college or something else. And so there is this kind of churn and it is hard to create continuity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>But I think this is one thing that, you know, organizations like Oakland Kids First that are able to sort of stick with something and be adult allies through that gap are able to kind of help balance out and hopefully work against.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So what has that look like exactly since this measure passed in Oakland in 2020? What has the Alameda County registrar been up to to kind of get this finally going?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oakland Unified School District hired an election consultant. They’re a technologist and they helped design the state’s voting system so they know how the system works and we’re able to come up with a plan for how this would work in Alameda County. But coming up with a plan is just part of it. They also have to test it and make sure it was going to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oakland’s registrar had a series of sort of high profile mistakes in the 2022 general election. So the registrar has a lot of eyes watching it closely. And I think they are very kind of nervous about getting this right. And it was taking a long time. Initially the plan was for them to provide notice to Oakland and Berkeley about whether this was going to happen by July 12th, and they just blew past that deadline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There was no word to the public about what was going on with it. At the same time, part of what the city’s had to figure out here is how this was all going to get paid for. As I remember, I talked about the Berkeley ballot measure issue where they said, you know, we’re not going to pay for this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>So why is the registrar sort of coming up with the technical plan? The cities are signing a cost sharing agreement. It’s shared now between Alameda County and the city of Oakland and the city of Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So how did activists find out that this is finally for real actually happening and when did they find out?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Well, they found out really recently. And we’re really excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>I know a couple of weeks ago, some of the leaders of the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition, which is a number of different organizations, had the pleasure of letting some of the student activists know that this was actually going to happen this year. And they posted about it on social media. And you can hear they’re very excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, Annelise, how rare is what is happening in Berkeley and Oakland? I mean, this this right, for students to vote in a local school board election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There is a growing movement around this, but this is the first time this has happened in California. And that’s in part why this is such a challenge for the registrar to get off the ground. But it is sort of becoming a growing groundswell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>I mean, we saw this in San Francisco and Berkeley in 2016. We saw Oakland in 2020, and then this year on the November ballot, Albany voters are going to vote on whether to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote not only in school board elections, but all local elections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How are students being informed of their right to vote? I imagine that’s going to be its own thing to getting people to know to register, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Exactly. Yeah. This is something that Lucas also talked about that, you know, this is sort of about getting everybody to vote, but really it’s about building young people’s power and giving them a say in their schools and the way these schools are run. And that doesn’t happen just by having the right That happens when people are exercising it effectively.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>We’re really optimistic that we can lay a certain foundation of understanding on this so that when people are young, people are voting that like they have a sense of what they’re doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The Oakland Youth Vote Coalition designed a humanities curriculum. It’s a week long, but you can also break it up into chunks. It’s on their website. It’s free. And the hope is that teachers will take that up and during the school year teach young people about both how to register, but also how to look up who’s on the ballot and then also what it means to go vote, how you fill out all the bubbles, all the things that can get a little confusing and weird the first time that you vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And what are the kind of issues that students will not have a say in that they maybe didn’t have before?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah, you know, I think a lot of people don’t really know what the school board does. So that’s also part of what young people are going to have to get up to speed on. But what they’re going to now have a say on is how the district spends its money. And that’s a really big deal because it affects what types of programs the students have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>And when there’s a pinch, it affects what types of programs get cut. On top of that, they’re also going to have a say in what kind of policies shape the school. To give you an example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>A lot of people remember back in 2020, there was a lot of youth organizing around the George Floyd resolution to eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department. Young people rallied around that a lot, but didn’t actually get to vote on the people who really got to make the decision on it. And now they’ll be able to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Annelise, thank you so much for breaking this down. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So if you are a 16 or 17 year old who wants to vote for school board in Oakland or Berkeley, you can fill out an online pre-registration form with the secretary of state’s office. We’ll leave a link in our show notes to that. Once it’s time to vote, you should get a ballot in the mail or you can vote in person at the county Registrar’s office located inside the Rene C Davidson Courthouse in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Annelise Finney, a reporter for KQED. This 30 minute conversation with Annelise was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape Music courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is a listener supported production of KQED Public Media in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thank you so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "In 2016 and 2020, Berkeley and Oakland passed ballot measures giving 16 and 17-year olds the right to vote in local school board races. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729890250,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 78,
"wordCount": 3203
},
"headData": {
"title": "In Oakland and Berkeley, 16 and 17-Year Olds Can Now Vote for School Board | KQED",
"description": "In 2016 and 2020, Berkeley and Oakland passed ballot measures giving 16 and 17-year olds the right to vote in local school board races. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "In Oakland and Berkeley, 16 and 17-Year Olds Can Now Vote for School Board",
"datePublished": "2024-08-28T03:00:30-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T14:04:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC3360881973.mp3?updated=1724787835",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12002068",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12002068/in-oakland-and-berkeley-16-and-17-year-olds-can-now-vote-for-school-board",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2016 and 2020, Berkeley and Oakland passed ballot measures giving 16 and 17-year olds the right to vote in local school board races. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It took years — and a lot of pressure from student activists — but in this election, Alameda County is finally ready to let students cast their ballots. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC3360881973&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Register to vote online (click “pre-register”)\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000395/how-teen-voters-in-berkeley-oakland-can-shape-upcoming-school-board-elections\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Teen Voters in Berkeley, Oakland Can Shape Upcoming School Board Elections\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. After years of waiting, 16 to 17 year olds in Berkeley and Oakland will get a say in their local school board races this November. And it’s taken a lot of pressure and advocacy to finally make it happen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>It’s like a relief, but also a long time coming, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It’s been eight years since Berkeley approved a measure giving students the right to vote for school board. And for years since voters did the same in Oakland. Today, how students push for the right to vote and what’s taken so long to implement it. When did people first start talking about allowing 16 and 17 year old students to vote in school board elections in the East Bay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Well, this is all part of sort of a long time burbling national movement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Annelise Finney is a reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>This movement really took off in the East Bay in November of 2016. That year on the ballot, there was Berkeley’s Measure y one, which was going to allow young people to vote in school board elections and Proposition F in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Proposition F would have allowed young people to vote in all municipal elections. And it was a pretty big push. Ultimately, Proposition F in San Francisco failed. And Berkeley’s narrower ballot measure actually passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This passed in 2016 and Berkeley have 16 to 17 year olds been able to vote there since then?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>No, not at all. It kind of stalled. The Berkeley measure had a provision in it that said that the city of Berkeley wasn’t going to pay at all to implement youth voting. So in a way, it’s kind of dead on arrival and it languished for a long time. I mean, it’s been eight years since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>We’re talking about this now because finally Berkeley and now Oakland students as well get to vote in local school board elections. How exactly did this happen?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>A big part of why we’re seeing this happen this year is because Oakland pushed for this really hard. There’s an organization in Oakland called Oakland Kids First. It’s a community based organization that does a lot of organizing with young people. They’re embedded in local high schools and they work with people to figure out, you know, what kind of changes would you like to see in your school?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>And then they help them make that happen. So in 2019, that organization was working with young people and they had identified three areas they wanted to change in the school. And they all had to do with budget cuts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There were proposed budget cuts to restorative justice coordinators, to AAPI students supports and foster youth caseworkers. And students felt like those things were super important for their peers. Then a few months later, Oakland teachers went on strike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News cast: \u003c/strong>On day one of the Oakland teachers strike kicked off with songs, rallying cries and thousands of teachers, parents, students and members of various unions gathered in solidarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>It was the beginning of a seven day strike. If you live in Oakland. You probably remember this. And Oakland students were a big part of all of this. They participated in pickets. They spoke at rallies and they organized alongside their teachers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>There was a lot of young people that were out in the streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>To learn a little bit more about this. I spoke with a man named Lukas Brekke-Meisner. He’s the executive director of Oakland Kids First, and he was there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>Picketing in front of their schools where leading marches downtown were at the rallies. And there came a point where the young people shared with union leadership like, hey, we actually are organizing some things right now to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Some of the young people said, Hey, we’re organizing with you. Can you organize with us and weave some of our demands? These three that I just mentioned about budget cuts into what the teachers were asking from the school district. Ultimately, what happened is that when the union deal came through and none of the student requests were in it, a lot of students were really mad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>We are here to tell you what we need, but it seems to be going in one ear and out the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The school board decided they were going to hold a meeting. It was the day after the union reached their deal with the district. And Lucas told me that students showed up in mass. He estimates there were about 500 students there coming out here. He started giving these really passionate comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>But time and time again, you let us down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>We are tired of getting stepped on. We are tired of getting dragged through the mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>Students have a voice and we will fight back. Where was our input in the strike negotiations?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Student: \u003c/strong>I’m here today speaking for all of the students of all because we deserve better than this. Then what? The student, the director have been.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>But the school board wasn’t really hearing it and they got a little overwhelmed. They eventually went into closed session.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>I think it’s cemented for me and for a lot of the young people that like, if this is all we can do, like this isn’t good enough, like we’re not going to be able to move the needle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Lukas told me that there was a real realization that, you know, showing up at school board meetings and telling school board members how they felt wasn’t getting students to where they wanted to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How does this eventually lead to them pushing for the right to vote in school board elections?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>After that meeting, students kind of went back. They thought about it some more. And after the summer, student leaders got together and said, What we want to push for is youth voting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>Like I thought, we just keep our heads down and listen to what teachers tell us and that’s it. But know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Ixchel Arista is a graduate of Oakland High School. She started as a freshman there in 2020 and joined into this voting rights youth movement after sort of the drama I described in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>I realized that it’s really important that students as young as possible get civically engaged and are aware of the change and the power they hold as constituents of a lot of different elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>For her, she said, this was all kind of common sense, that it made sense that students had been asking for this. Students are the number one constituency of the school board. They should have a say in what the school board decides to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>It made sense. Again, the more I saw organizing, the more I was like, No, we should. Students have always had the ability to choose and elect the people who are going to be making the decisions that impact them every single day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>At the time, a lot of young people in Oakland didn’t know that Berkeley had passed a similar measure to what they might have been envisioning. And once they figured that out, they started working with some of the young people in Berkeley who had been part of that campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>They took the bones of Berkeley’s Measure y one and incorporated that into what they were going to ask for in Oakland. And they started meeting with city council members. And what they found was that Oakland City Council members were pretty on board.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ixchel Arista: \u003c/strong>But it turns out it was only the beginning of a very, very long bureaucratic, just like logistical, technical process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up, why it took so long to get youth voting up and running. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>This measure in Oakland Measure Q. Q had some support among city councilors. It eventually got enough support from voters in Oakland to pass in 2020. But it still takes a really long time to implement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And then there’s still this Berkeley one from 2016 that’s like not really being fully implemented yet either. Why is that? And please, why is it taking so long for students to actually be able to finally exercise this right, even though these measures have already passed?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah. Well, from the organizers I’ve spoken to and the young people who are part of this, they say there are really two things. The first is the technical challenge of getting this done. Young people have never voted in Alameda County before, so the county has to come up with a system for printing and processing. Youth votes have to be young.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>People can only vote in this one type of election and our normal ballots have a bunch of elections. All of these kind of little questions that have to be answered about technically, how is this going to work? Right. The other part of this is the will. The Alameda County Register has had a lot going on. It’s kind of a fundamentally understaffed office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The best example of that is that the registrar who oversees all of the county’s voting is also the IT director for the county, which means he oversees the entire county’s I.T. department. So they have a lot going on. And for a long time, this just wasn’t really a priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And I also imagine you have students, I mean, aging out, you know, I mean, the students who pushed for the measure in 2016 and in Berkeley, I mean, in four years are graduating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah, This is something that Lukas said is is sort of a fundamental challenge of youth organizing. And, you know, I think we saw this in a different sphere, but with the pro-Palestine encampments at college campuses that, you know, there are these big breaks in the year, everybody goes home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oftentimes they’re sort of disconnected from their friends. And then, as you mentioned, after four years, a lot of young people leave where they live and go off to do other things, whether that’s college or something else. And so there is this kind of churn and it is hard to create continuity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>But I think this is one thing that, you know, organizations like Oakland Kids First that are able to sort of stick with something and be adult allies through that gap are able to kind of help balance out and hopefully work against.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So what has that look like exactly since this measure passed in Oakland in 2020? What has the Alameda County registrar been up to to kind of get this finally going?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oakland Unified School District hired an election consultant. They’re a technologist and they helped design the state’s voting system so they know how the system works and we’re able to come up with a plan for how this would work in Alameda County. But coming up with a plan is just part of it. They also have to test it and make sure it was going to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Oakland’s registrar had a series of sort of high profile mistakes in the 2022 general election. So the registrar has a lot of eyes watching it closely. And I think they are very kind of nervous about getting this right. And it was taking a long time. Initially the plan was for them to provide notice to Oakland and Berkeley about whether this was going to happen by July 12th, and they just blew past that deadline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There was no word to the public about what was going on with it. At the same time, part of what the city’s had to figure out here is how this was all going to get paid for. As I remember, I talked about the Berkeley ballot measure issue where they said, you know, we’re not going to pay for this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>So why is the registrar sort of coming up with the technical plan? The cities are signing a cost sharing agreement. It’s shared now between Alameda County and the city of Oakland and the city of Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So how did activists find out that this is finally for real actually happening and when did they find out?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Well, they found out really recently. And we’re really excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>I know a couple of weeks ago, some of the leaders of the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition, which is a number of different organizations, had the pleasure of letting some of the student activists know that this was actually going to happen this year. And they posted about it on social media. And you can hear they’re very excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I mean, Annelise, how rare is what is happening in Berkeley and Oakland? I mean, this this right, for students to vote in a local school board election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>There is a growing movement around this, but this is the first time this has happened in California. And that’s in part why this is such a challenge for the registrar to get off the ground. But it is sort of becoming a growing groundswell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>I mean, we saw this in San Francisco and Berkeley in 2016. We saw Oakland in 2020, and then this year on the November ballot, Albany voters are going to vote on whether to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote not only in school board elections, but all local elections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>How are students being informed of their right to vote? I imagine that’s going to be its own thing to getting people to know to register, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Exactly. Yeah. This is something that Lucas also talked about that, you know, this is sort of about getting everybody to vote, but really it’s about building young people’s power and giving them a say in their schools and the way these schools are run. And that doesn’t happen just by having the right That happens when people are exercising it effectively.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lukas Brekke-Meisner: \u003c/strong>We’re really optimistic that we can lay a certain foundation of understanding on this so that when people are young, people are voting that like they have a sense of what they’re doing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>The Oakland Youth Vote Coalition designed a humanities curriculum. It’s a week long, but you can also break it up into chunks. It’s on their website. It’s free. And the hope is that teachers will take that up and during the school year teach young people about both how to register, but also how to look up who’s on the ballot and then also what it means to go vote, how you fill out all the bubbles, all the things that can get a little confusing and weird the first time that you vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And what are the kind of issues that students will not have a say in that they maybe didn’t have before?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Yeah, you know, I think a lot of people don’t really know what the school board does. So that’s also part of what young people are going to have to get up to speed on. But what they’re going to now have a say on is how the district spends its money. And that’s a really big deal because it affects what types of programs the students have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>And when there’s a pinch, it affects what types of programs get cut. On top of that, they’re also going to have a say in what kind of policies shape the school. To give you an example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>A lot of people remember back in 2020, there was a lot of youth organizing around the George Floyd resolution to eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department. Young people rallied around that a lot, but didn’t actually get to vote on the people who really got to make the decision on it. And now they’ll be able to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Annelise, thank you so much for breaking this down. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Annelise Finney: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So if you are a 16 or 17 year old who wants to vote for school board in Oakland or Berkeley, you can fill out an online pre-registration form with the secretary of state’s office. We’ll leave a link in our show notes to that. Once it’s time to vote, you should get a ballot in the mail or you can vote in person at the county Registrar’s office located inside the Rene C Davidson Courthouse in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Annelise Finney, a reporter for KQED. This 30 minute conversation with Annelise was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape Music courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is a listener supported production of KQED Public Media in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thank you so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12002068/in-oakland-and-berkeley-16-and-17-year-olds-can-now-vote-for-school-board",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11772",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_18540",
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_20013",
"news_32839",
"news_33812",
"news_22598",
"news_34464"
],
"featImg": "news_12002070",
"label": "source_news_12002068"
},
"news_12001435": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12001435",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12001435",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1724666406000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-forever-pulls-ballot-measure-to-build-new-city-in-solano-county-for-now",
"title": "California Forever Pulls Ballot Measure to Build New City in Solano County — For Now",
"publishDate": 1724666406,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "California Forever Pulls Ballot Measure to Build New City in Solano County — For Now | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It seemed like California Forever, the billionaire-backed company intent on building a brand new city in Solano County, was going full speed ahead with a ballot measure that would have authorized construction. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But late last month, the group abruptly pulled the measure, promising to bring it back in 2026. So what changed?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC6742424972&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. For a while it seemed like nothing could stop California forever from plowing ahead with its billionaire backed idea to build a brand new city in Solano County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was until late last month, when the group sort of out of nowhere pooled the ballot measure set to go before voters this November to approve their plan. But make no mistake, we’re going to be hearing about this plan again pretty soon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>I do think it’s going to be a vote on the future of Solano County, but it is also going to be a referendum on California more broadly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>California forever CEO, Jan Sramek says he’s going to spend the next two years trying to get more people on board with the East L.A. plan before bringing it again before voters. Today, why California forever changed course?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I remember the moment that I heard the news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Adhiti Bandlamudi is a housing reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was actually working on a story about their housing portion of the plan. I had all my interviews ready. I was preparing for the Board of Supervisors meeting the next day where the board was going to formally place it on the ballot. And then I remember seeing the news in the morning and it was a complete shock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>You have been spending months really reporting on the East L.A. plan, reporting on California forever. And it seemed like they were just sort of plowing forward with this idea. But then they make this announcement. I mean, what was their rationale at the time for just dropping the idea so suddenly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>We now know, based on campaign finance records, that they spent $9 million to get this on the ballot when they gave their explanation as to why they were making the sudden change. They said that there were two things that they kept hearing from Solano voters. They wanted to see an environmental impact report and a development agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>The environmental impact report would have basically laid out how the new city would impact the vernal pools and the Jepson prairie. These like very important habitats that are in that area. And it would have also laid out important things like how the new city would get its water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>The development agreement is sort of like a report which would show how the county would hold the company accountable, basically for making good on the many promises that were tacked on to this plan, including bringing 15,000 good paying jobs to the county, things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Based on their timeline, they were anyway going to spend the next two years working on those reports. So they said they would basically flip the timeline a bit, release the environmental impact report and the development agreement over the next two years, and then have the voters decide the fate of the new city in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That is what California forever was saying in July when they announced that they were dropping this ballot measure. But you actually spent the last couple of weeks reporting to really understand what was going on behind the scenes a little bit more, how they sort of went from going full speed ahead on this idea to this sort of screeching halt. First, how did you go about trying to answer this question of why California forever suddenly dropped this idea from the ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was not satisfied with the company’s initial answer that it was just because people were calling for these reports because arguably people had been calling for these reports for months. So I called a few people who had worked with the campaign who agreed to speak off the record and include their perspective in my story, but only anonymously.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And then I spoke to people on the record to sort of see if they agreed or if those if those sentiments were similar. And then I posed questions to California forever to sort of like get their reaction to those comments. And what I learned is that the story goes way deeper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. What did you would you find?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Right in the beginning, I think they started off on the wrong foot. You know, I talked to so many people about the project and the thing that kept coming up is that they bought the land in secret since 2017.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News cast: \u003c/strong>The group only revealed this summer that they are, in fact, a collection of Silicon Valley billionaires looking to build a new city. They call the project California Forever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I mean, we didn’t even know who was buying up the land until The New York Times broke the story in August of last year. I think it just rubbed people the wrong way. And I even talked to people at California forever who agreed that the land purchase was not a great look, though it might have made business sense to, like, purchase it in secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It strikes me that it’s been a year since we actually found out who was behind former Lee Flannery Associates. What we now know is California forever. Did they go too fast here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>That’s a big part of the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think we went we went a little bit too quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>When I spoke with Jan Sramek:, he was basically saying that by putting it on this aggressive timeline of going to November and not really having a lot of time to talk to people and build those really important relationships, it not only made the project incredibly politicized, so much so that people didn’t want to be associated with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And he said that that really hindered the company’s ability to talk with people. And I think in speaking with county officials and just like people in general, they felt like the timeline was incredibly aggressive and it made it difficult to kind of include other perspectives in that eventual vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>We didn’t fully appreciate the extent to which putting this on the ballot would make it harder for people to work with us locally. And so we excited to kind of improve that dramatically.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I know you also heard from some people about the culture of the campaign, especially CEO John Shrum. Six inner circle. What can you tell us about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I had also heard from some people who had worked on the campaign who agreed to sort of speak with me anonymously, that the company had this sort of like. White male bro culture that ultimately affected how they were able to, you know, kind of like interact and connect with the the very diverse community that is Solano County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Many of them are, you know, people who came from bigger cities who want to sort of like build this dense urbanist vision for a new city. Solano County especially. And I even found this amongst the like. Supporters of the project are very diverse, like especially young families of color. So many people of color like love this project.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And I got I heard so much support from them, but I didn’t necessarily see, you know, those people involved in like the leadership positions. I did talk to someone who worked with the campaign who basically said, you know, many of the decisions were sort of made by this like group of like white men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And it was difficult to include other perspectives necessarily in those like, big decisions. I opposed this to California forever. Too young trying to ask, like what he has to say to this criticism. And he did agree that, you know, the company can do better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>He pointed to the like community advisory committee that is very diverse and filled with Solano residents. But it’s not necessarily clear to me how much power those individuals really had in shaping what the town would be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up, who California forever needs to win over to build their new city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So what has this combination of moving too fast and also not getting enough people at the table meant for public opinion among people in Solano County when it comes to California Forever’s grand idea?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>They didn’t have enough support from local elected officials. They just like could not get anyone to sign on to this plan. When you’re developing housing or building a city from scratch, it ultimately requires county approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Even if California forever won the November election, let’s just say that they got all the votes they needed, they would still need county approval to build the roads and the underlying infrastructure for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>If they wanted to use public funding to finance some of the roads and you know that highway expansion they were promising of expanding highways 12 and 113 they would need county approval to do that. And it’s way harder to get those approvals if the elected officials in charge don’t trust you or like the project that you’re working on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>So I still am not in favor of the project as proposed in the initiative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I spoke with Supervisor Mitch Mashburn. He’s the chair of the Board of Supervisors in Solano, and he was saying that he doesn’t like the project the way that it stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>Based on empirical data. Show us how this is a plan to do no harm, how it’s planned to truly help and not hinder or hurt in our county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>He will need to see significant changes in order to sign off on it and, you know, really get behind what California forever wants to build.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>It was the best possibility for the residents of our county moving forward to have a chance to get a true understanding of what the impacts of this project would be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, what is your sense of public opinion at this point?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>This topic is really divisive. There are people that either love it or hate it. And I think a large group of people are still trying to figure out how they feel about it, especially since there are a lot of questions that are remaining. I’ve spoken to a number of groups, including like Artists Against Billionaires, Solano Together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Both organizations say they’re going to keep on urging the company to answer some of these questions and hold the company accountable. I also heard from people who are sort of keeping an open mind about the project, who in the meantime want to see the company investing moneys into the city is that exist almost as a way of showing goodwill that they genuinely care about the county?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Anthony Summers: \u003c/strong>As a pastor, many of my congregants who wanted to buy a home for the first time have had to move to Sacramento, and then the choice of them commuting back to Vallejo to be a part of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was talking to Anthony Summers. He’s a pastor in Vallejo, and he said that he wants to see investment in his local community and also how the company can be held accountable for all these promises that they’re, you know, saying that they’re going to bring to this new city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Anthony Summers: \u003c/strong>I believe it’s a it’s a fresh idea. Right. And a chance to revitalize this area. You know, and so, again, from Vallejo growing up, you know, we just have to make sure that the partnership is such that people are afforded the opportunities that are being talked about and hold the the founders of the company accountable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What does this decision authority to drop the ballot measure actually mean? Like, how do you think this changes things? Now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>This project is not dead. They have a lot of work ahead of them. First off, they say that they’re going to get their environmental impact report and development agreement done in two years. Those things usually take like two decades for a project of this size to complete.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>So if they can get all those reports done in two years, that alone will be a feat. They’ll also need to make up a lot of ground amongst people who still do not trust them. Definitely more conversations with locals. They’ll need more officials on board with their plan who will be willing to work with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Probably more schmoozing going on. Do you think we’re going to see more billboards?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>We definitely might see more billboards. We might see more schmoozing. But I will say, I think the billboards were, you know, focused around this like, ballot initiative, like coming to the voters in November. And now it’s more of a soft skill that the company is going to have to flex a bit. For sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>There’s going to have to be more like earnest conversations with people who live, you know, in Rio Vista and in Sassoon, like kind of close to the new city, but also just people who they’re going to need votes from in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>In California. For better or for worse, we have passed a myriad of legislation to kind of make sure that developers take into consideration the environment, what people want, how water is going to get there, how many people will live there, how affordable it’ll be. And California forever ran into that. They ultimately needed community support and they will need it in order to pass this thing in two years or whenever they bring it back to the voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Adhiti, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>On Friday afternoon, TechCrunch reported that the family of Marc Andresen, one of the billionaire investors behind California forever, is preparing to build a separate development of more than a thousand homes in Vacaville. The subdivision would be ten miles away from the proposed California Forever project. It will still need city approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Adhiti Bandlamudi, a housing reporter for KQED. This 30 minute conversation with Adhiti was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape music courtesy of Audio Network. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "It seemed like California Forever, the billionaire-backed company intent on building a brand new city in Solano County, was going full speed ahead with a ballot measure that would have authorized construction. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729886220,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 63,
"wordCount": 2657
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Forever Pulls Ballot Measure to Build New City in Solano County — For Now | KQED",
"description": "It seemed like California Forever, the billionaire-backed company intent on building a brand new city in Solano County, was going full speed ahead with a ballot measure that would have authorized construction. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "California Forever Pulls Ballot Measure to Build New City in Solano County — For Now",
"datePublished": "2024-08-26T03:00:06-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T12:57:00-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC6742424972.mp3?updated=1724364092",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12001435",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12001435/california-forever-pulls-ballot-measure-to-build-new-city-in-solano-county-for-now",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It seemed like California Forever, the billionaire-backed company intent on building a brand new city in Solano County, was going full speed ahead with a ballot measure that would have authorized construction. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But late last month, the group abruptly pulled the measure, promising to bring it back in 2026. So what changed?\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC6742424972&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. For a while it seemed like nothing could stop California forever from plowing ahead with its billionaire backed idea to build a brand new city in Solano County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was until late last month, when the group sort of out of nowhere pooled the ballot measure set to go before voters this November to approve their plan. But make no mistake, we’re going to be hearing about this plan again pretty soon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>I do think it’s going to be a vote on the future of Solano County, but it is also going to be a referendum on California more broadly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>California forever CEO, Jan Sramek says he’s going to spend the next two years trying to get more people on board with the East L.A. plan before bringing it again before voters. Today, why California forever changed course?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I remember the moment that I heard the news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Adhiti Bandlamudi is a housing reporter for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was actually working on a story about their housing portion of the plan. I had all my interviews ready. I was preparing for the Board of Supervisors meeting the next day where the board was going to formally place it on the ballot. And then I remember seeing the news in the morning and it was a complete shock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>You have been spending months really reporting on the East L.A. plan, reporting on California forever. And it seemed like they were just sort of plowing forward with this idea. But then they make this announcement. I mean, what was their rationale at the time for just dropping the idea so suddenly?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>We now know, based on campaign finance records, that they spent $9 million to get this on the ballot when they gave their explanation as to why they were making the sudden change. They said that there were two things that they kept hearing from Solano voters. They wanted to see an environmental impact report and a development agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>The environmental impact report would have basically laid out how the new city would impact the vernal pools and the Jepson prairie. These like very important habitats that are in that area. And it would have also laid out important things like how the new city would get its water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>The development agreement is sort of like a report which would show how the county would hold the company accountable, basically for making good on the many promises that were tacked on to this plan, including bringing 15,000 good paying jobs to the county, things like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Based on their timeline, they were anyway going to spend the next two years working on those reports. So they said they would basically flip the timeline a bit, release the environmental impact report and the development agreement over the next two years, and then have the voters decide the fate of the new city in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That is what California forever was saying in July when they announced that they were dropping this ballot measure. But you actually spent the last couple of weeks reporting to really understand what was going on behind the scenes a little bit more, how they sort of went from going full speed ahead on this idea to this sort of screeching halt. First, how did you go about trying to answer this question of why California forever suddenly dropped this idea from the ballot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was not satisfied with the company’s initial answer that it was just because people were calling for these reports because arguably people had been calling for these reports for months. So I called a few people who had worked with the campaign who agreed to speak off the record and include their perspective in my story, but only anonymously.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And then I spoke to people on the record to sort of see if they agreed or if those if those sentiments were similar. And then I posed questions to California forever to sort of like get their reaction to those comments. And what I learned is that the story goes way deeper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Yeah. What did you would you find?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Right in the beginning, I think they started off on the wrong foot. You know, I talked to so many people about the project and the thing that kept coming up is that they bought the land in secret since 2017.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>News cast: \u003c/strong>The group only revealed this summer that they are, in fact, a collection of Silicon Valley billionaires looking to build a new city. They call the project California Forever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I mean, we didn’t even know who was buying up the land until The New York Times broke the story in August of last year. I think it just rubbed people the wrong way. And I even talked to people at California forever who agreed that the land purchase was not a great look, though it might have made business sense to, like, purchase it in secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>It strikes me that it’s been a year since we actually found out who was behind former Lee Flannery Associates. What we now know is California forever. Did they go too fast here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>That’s a big part of the problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think we went we went a little bit too quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>When I spoke with Jan Sramek:, he was basically saying that by putting it on this aggressive timeline of going to November and not really having a lot of time to talk to people and build those really important relationships, it not only made the project incredibly politicized, so much so that people didn’t want to be associated with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And he said that that really hindered the company’s ability to talk with people. And I think in speaking with county officials and just like people in general, they felt like the timeline was incredibly aggressive and it made it difficult to kind of include other perspectives in that eventual vision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jan Sramek: \u003c/strong>We didn’t fully appreciate the extent to which putting this on the ballot would make it harder for people to work with us locally. And so we excited to kind of improve that dramatically.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I know you also heard from some people about the culture of the campaign, especially CEO John Shrum. Six inner circle. What can you tell us about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I had also heard from some people who had worked on the campaign who agreed to sort of speak with me anonymously, that the company had this sort of like. White male bro culture that ultimately affected how they were able to, you know, kind of like interact and connect with the the very diverse community that is Solano County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Many of them are, you know, people who came from bigger cities who want to sort of like build this dense urbanist vision for a new city. Solano County especially. And I even found this amongst the like. Supporters of the project are very diverse, like especially young families of color. So many people of color like love this project.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And I got I heard so much support from them, but I didn’t necessarily see, you know, those people involved in like the leadership positions. I did talk to someone who worked with the campaign who basically said, you know, many of the decisions were sort of made by this like group of like white men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>And it was difficult to include other perspectives necessarily in those like, big decisions. I opposed this to California forever. Too young trying to ask, like what he has to say to this criticism. And he did agree that, you know, the company can do better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>He pointed to the like community advisory committee that is very diverse and filled with Solano residents. But it’s not necessarily clear to me how much power those individuals really had in shaping what the town would be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up, who California forever needs to win over to build their new city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So what has this combination of moving too fast and also not getting enough people at the table meant for public opinion among people in Solano County when it comes to California Forever’s grand idea?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>They didn’t have enough support from local elected officials. They just like could not get anyone to sign on to this plan. When you’re developing housing or building a city from scratch, it ultimately requires county approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Even if California forever won the November election, let’s just say that they got all the votes they needed, they would still need county approval to build the roads and the underlying infrastructure for the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>If they wanted to use public funding to finance some of the roads and you know that highway expansion they were promising of expanding highways 12 and 113 they would need county approval to do that. And it’s way harder to get those approvals if the elected officials in charge don’t trust you or like the project that you’re working on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>So I still am not in favor of the project as proposed in the initiative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I spoke with Supervisor Mitch Mashburn. He’s the chair of the Board of Supervisors in Solano, and he was saying that he doesn’t like the project the way that it stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>Based on empirical data. Show us how this is a plan to do no harm, how it’s planned to truly help and not hinder or hurt in our county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>He will need to see significant changes in order to sign off on it and, you know, really get behind what California forever wants to build.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mitch Mashburn: \u003c/strong>It was the best possibility for the residents of our county moving forward to have a chance to get a true understanding of what the impacts of this project would be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, what is your sense of public opinion at this point?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>This topic is really divisive. There are people that either love it or hate it. And I think a large group of people are still trying to figure out how they feel about it, especially since there are a lot of questions that are remaining. I’ve spoken to a number of groups, including like Artists Against Billionaires, Solano Together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Both organizations say they’re going to keep on urging the company to answer some of these questions and hold the company accountable. I also heard from people who are sort of keeping an open mind about the project, who in the meantime want to see the company investing moneys into the city is that exist almost as a way of showing goodwill that they genuinely care about the county?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Anthony Summers: \u003c/strong>As a pastor, many of my congregants who wanted to buy a home for the first time have had to move to Sacramento, and then the choice of them commuting back to Vallejo to be a part of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>I was talking to Anthony Summers. He’s a pastor in Vallejo, and he said that he wants to see investment in his local community and also how the company can be held accountable for all these promises that they’re, you know, saying that they’re going to bring to this new city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Anthony Summers: \u003c/strong>I believe it’s a it’s a fresh idea. Right. And a chance to revitalize this area. You know, and so, again, from Vallejo growing up, you know, we just have to make sure that the partnership is such that people are afforded the opportunities that are being talked about and hold the the founders of the company accountable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What does this decision authority to drop the ballot measure actually mean? Like, how do you think this changes things? Now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>This project is not dead. They have a lot of work ahead of them. First off, they say that they’re going to get their environmental impact report and development agreement done in two years. Those things usually take like two decades for a project of this size to complete.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>So if they can get all those reports done in two years, that alone will be a feat. They’ll also need to make up a lot of ground amongst people who still do not trust them. Definitely more conversations with locals. They’ll need more officials on board with their plan who will be willing to work with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Probably more schmoozing going on. Do you think we’re going to see more billboards?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>We definitely might see more billboards. We might see more schmoozing. But I will say, I think the billboards were, you know, focused around this like, ballot initiative, like coming to the voters in November. And now it’s more of a soft skill that the company is going to have to flex a bit. For sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>There’s going to have to be more like earnest conversations with people who live, you know, in Rio Vista and in Sassoon, like kind of close to the new city, but also just people who they’re going to need votes from in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>In California. For better or for worse, we have passed a myriad of legislation to kind of make sure that developers take into consideration the environment, what people want, how water is going to get there, how many people will live there, how affordable it’ll be. And California forever ran into that. They ultimately needed community support and they will need it in order to pass this thing in two years or whenever they bring it back to the voters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Adhiti, thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Adhiti Bandlamudi: \u003c/strong>Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>On Friday afternoon, TechCrunch reported that the family of Marc Andresen, one of the billionaire investors behind California forever, is preparing to build a separate development of more than a thousand homes in Vacaville. The subdivision would be ten miles away from the proposed California Forever project. It will still need city approval.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Adhiti Bandlamudi, a housing reporter for KQED. This 30 minute conversation with Adhiti was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it, and added all the tape music courtesy of Audio Network. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12001435/california-forever-pulls-ballot-measure-to-build-new-city-in-solano-county-for-now",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11672",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_6266",
"news_8",
"news_33520",
"news_248"
],
"tags": [
"news_33689",
"news_1775",
"news_33812",
"news_23938",
"news_1631",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_11991978",
"label": "source_news_12001435"
},
"news_12000955": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12000955",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12000955",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1724234408000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "richmonds-550-million-deal-with-chevron",
"title": "Richmond's $550 Million Deal with Chevron",
"publishDate": 1724234408,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "Richmond’s $550 Million Deal with Chevron | KQED",
"labelTerm": {},
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last week, the Richmond City Council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have imposed a new oil-refining tax on the nearby Chevron refinery. Instead, the council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Dan Brekke explains why city leaders chose to strike a deal instead of taking the issue to the ballot box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC6602217575&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the bay. Local news to keep you rooted. The city of Richmond has ditched a Chevron refinery tax that it planned to let voters weigh on this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Instead, Chevron will pay the city more than half $1 billion over the next ten years as part of an agreement to prove it wants to be a good neighbor. And city officials say they want Chevron to pay up not just for past harms, but to help build a future that relies less on the oil refinery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>We are all ready to wait. We’re already doing too little. We need to start to work through just transition now, not in ten years. We need to make those investments now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Today, Richmond’s long standing battle to get Chevron to pay up. And what’s in this deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>There’s a natural conflict between industry and residential areas. It’s been played out in many places.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Dan Brekke is a reporter and editor for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Refineries produce lots of things that people shouldn’t be breathing. They put lots of things in the water that people shouldn’t be drinking. And Chevron does all of that stuff. The city has become more and more conscious and more and more aggressive about trying to get Chevron to respond to community concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And, you know, Richmond, like many cities and especially many cities with large minority populations. People are in the lower income brackets. They have a chronic financial problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And so they’ve turned to Chevron, which is the largest employer in town, is a. Fabulously wealthy company. I mean, they made more than $21 billion in profit last year. That’s not revenue. That’s profit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And Chevron is already the largest taxpayer in the city of Richmond by far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>They account for about one sixth of the city’s total revenue every year. So they entered into an agreement about ten years ago for Chevron to start making payments, you know, to try to pay for some of the things the city has to pay for it. So this agreement from ten years ago was running out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>It was a ten year settlement. And mindful of that, the city council and community activists, especially a group called Communities for a Better Environment, started to think about, well, how do we go forward?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So one idea was a November ballot measure. What would it have done?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The idea they came up with was to pass a new tax. And it was a very ambitious tax. But, you know, in broad strokes, what it would do is for the next 50 years, it would bring in something like 60 to $90 million a year. If you multiply 50 by 60 million or 90 million, you get into the 3 billion to $4.5 billion range over the next half century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>That’s something that the city of Richmond sorely needs. And it would also allow it to to do things in terms of health programs, what they call just transition programs to start job training for people in the city who might be reliant on the refinery work in some way. And and the city was very committed to this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So it was on track for the November ballot, as you said. What happened to it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The city council went ahead in June and put this on the November ballot and immediately got sued by what appears to be a front group for Chevron. One of the attacks on the measure in the lawsuit was the ballot question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The Chevron Allied Group said that the way it was written, the only logical answer to the question as it was posed would be to vote yes. Right. And that’s a level of bias. They argue that’s not allowed under state law. The city had the option of moving ahead with this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>But, you know, what the judge found was that the ballot question was indeed in permissibly biased. And so the judge, even though he only issued a tentative ruling on this, was signaling to all the parties this wording is not what you’re going to see on the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So a superior court judge’s preliminary ruling sort of signaled to the city of Richmond that maybe there might be more legal fights ahead for this ballot measure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Yeah, that’s absolutely right. So the city council was getting caution from the city attorney that there was going to be litigation ahead. Chevron had already said, look, you know, we’ll sue to stop this. And the city attorney was very concerned about what that might mean for the city going forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And what he pointed to was the city of Carson down near Los Angeles that passed a tax on its resident refinery in 2017, but hasn’t been able to spend a dime from the revenue because they’ve been tied up in court the whole time. So what the city attorney’s warning was essentially was, look, we could pass this and maybe we’re going to go and win the vote in November, but it may be years before we see money from this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And so behind the scenes, an ad hoc committee of city council members negotiated behind closed doors with Chevron, and they came up with what they’re calling a settlement, settling this difference between them about how to go forward on this revenue question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up. Richmond And Chevron’s agreement and how it’s different from what would have been on the ballot. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So basically, the city of Richmond was afraid of having to spend millions and millions of dollars fighting this in court. So they set this ballot measure aside and instead struck a deal with Chevron. What was in this deal exactly, And how is it different from this failed ballot measure?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The main thing is the money, as we said, about the ballot measure. The estimate was it would bring in 60 to $90 million a year for 50 years. Now, the agreement that was on the table before the city council was a ten year agreement. Chevron would immediately start paying the city $50 million a year, no strings attached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And after the first five years, $60 Million a year. And so it would come to a total of 550 million after a decade. Now, that’s money over and above what the city would expect through its normal taxes. Right? It has a payroll tax that Chevron pays their property taxes that Chevron pays, and the city gets money from that. Now, so that was a key part of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>This money is over and above everything that we’re already paying. The other thing is, if you decide you want to try to tax us again like you did with this measure, you can do that. The city is not ceding the right to to come back and try to do that again during this ten year agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And how were city leaders at this meeting like rationalizing this deal? Why did they say this was better than the ballot measure that would have been on the ballot in November?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Well, it was surprising to me for a city council that has a reputation of being somewhat fractious. They all seem to be like we’re doing the right thing here. I think it’s pretty simple. It’s a bird in the hand versus something that might be great, but also might be nothing going forward. So let’s go for what’s what we know we can get now because it’s substantial enough that it’s going to allow us to make a start on some of our priorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>This has always been about money, about paying their fair share.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Council member Doria Robinson: is a member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, which is one of the factions on the Richmond City Council. And as its name suggests, I mean, they are pretty forward in terms of thinking about green issues and corporate responsibility and social justice, environmental justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>We are absolutely committed to ensuring that these funds are used both to meet both immediate needs and to invest in just transition away from extractive, polluting fossil fuel economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>She talked about looking over, you know, toward the refinery as a child, seeing the smoke rising from it and thinking this is just something that I’ve always lived with and it’s about time we take care of things.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>I live on these blocks. I see people in and in my grandparents church and in the schools, my neighbors. And they all when I talk to them, they’re like, Take the deal. Take the deal. We need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>I am accountable to the people of Richmond, to the people who actually suck in these fumes every every day, every day, including myself. I live here and I feel like we need to put this money to work now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Where is Chevron in all of this? How are they feeling about this deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I think where Chevron is coming from, Chevron would like peace in the city of Richmond, Right? They don’t want people on their back. They don’t want people trying to pass taxes. Chevron is going. Look, I mean, this is a gesture from us that we’re serious about your concerns and we want to work with you. And that’s literally what the Chevron representative at the meeting, Bryan Hubinger, said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bryan Hubinger: \u003c/strong>This agreement will allow Chevron Richmond to continue to employ thousands of Bay Area residents and remain focused on providing affordable, reliable and ever cleaner energy that this region demands every day, while also supplying the city with much needed additional funding to support our communities needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What about the folks who I mean, organized to put the ballot measure forward in November? How are they responding to this deal that the city then cut with Chevron?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>There was a coalition that was campaigning for this make polluters pay. And a lot of the people who spoke at the meeting identify themselves as part of that coalition. And they had two things to say. One was, look, what’s happening today is because we organized. And then the other thread was, it’s really disappointing we’re not going forward because this is the right thing to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kerry Guerin: \u003c/strong>When our community members dreamt up this vision. It focused on a public campaign that empowered residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Kerry Guerin is an attorney for Communities for a Better Environment, the Richmond office. They have and was instrumental in writing the tax measure and coming up with the ballot language. By all accounts, and expressed really serious disappointment that for now this issue is going to end with this settlement with Chevron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kerry Guerin: \u003c/strong>Our campaign did not approach the city with this concept just so that Chevron would cut a deal that is pennies to them. I did not write this ballot measure and tax ordinance so that the city could settle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Just so I understand, is the difference that with the ballot measure, Chevron would have been basically under this agreement for a much longer period than this deal that they just cut with the city. Are they getting less money this way? Like what? What really is at the heart You think of the disappointment, I guess, from from organizers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think there are two things that you just brought up that are really important. One is that this is a ten year agreement versus a tax that would have been in effect for 50 years. The amount of money is also really important. So they’ll get an average of $55 million a year over the next decade as opposed to 60 to $90 million a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Now, that larger figure, there is a caveat there that assumes that the Chevron’s Richmond refinery is going to continue operating for the next half century the way it has been. Right. And we don’t know that that’s true. There is going to be a transition. I won’t live to see it, but one can’t assume that things are going to continue the same way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The other thing that I think is more subtle is that people are really thinking about trying to find ways of getting the company to operate and fundamentally different ways by exacting a price from them. And I don’t think that the, you know, the tax measure in for those people is really the most important thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think regulatory and legal action is the most important thing. And trying to get Chevron and many other refineries to behave better, to be more responsible about their environmental impact. And and those kinds of things could be much more important in the long run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>You know, you talked in the beginning about how love it or hate it. Chevron is the largest employer, the largest taxpayer in the city of Richmond. I mean, if if Chevron was gone from Richmond tomorrow, I mean, it seems like the city would be in a tough position.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Like it feels like the city is just constantly walking this fine line between. Holding Chevron accountable, but also not pulling the rug out from underneath it entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Yeah, it is a conundrum for them and the city is thinking about that. City officials are thinking about, okay, how do we create the conditions for the time when Chevron is no longer here? I mean, people can conceive of that idea. It’s kind of difficult given, you know, what we see in our world every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Right. I mean, you and I happen to have taken public transit, and today most people got to work by driving. And the world is not shifting away from that at light speed. And so companies like Chevron are going to do what they do for a while. But in the long run, cities like Richmond are going to have to devise strategies for how to go forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>What what other things are there? What other things could that property be used for? For instance, because you’re right, if there’s a point where Chevron is processing zero barrels of crude petroleum a day at that facility, then the revenue stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>You know, Richmond is a city of about 115,000 people, and it’s a city that needs services. It’s a population that has been neglected in many ways. There’s been a real lack of investment in Richmond over the years. And, you know, the city is going to need to find a way forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Thank you so much, Dan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Dan Brekke, a reporter and editor for KQED. This 40 minute conversation with Dan was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it and added on the tape. Music courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is a production of listener supported KQED in San Francisco. If you liked this episode, consider sharing it with a friend. I am Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The Richmond City Council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have imposed a new oil-refining tax on the nearby Chevron refinery.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729885558,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 64,
"wordCount": 2855
},
"headData": {
"title": "Richmond's $550 Million Deal with Chevron | KQED",
"description": "The Richmond City Council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have imposed a new oil-refining tax on the nearby Chevron refinery.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Richmond's $550 Million Deal with Chevron",
"datePublished": "2024-08-21T03:00:08-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T12:45:58-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"source": "The Bay",
"sourceUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC6602217575.mp3?updated=1724184255",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12000955",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12000955/richmonds-550-million-deal-with-chevron",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last week, the Richmond City Council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have imposed a new oil-refining tax on the nearby Chevron refinery. Instead, the council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED’s Dan Brekke explains why city leaders chose to strike a deal instead of taking the issue to the ballot box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC6602217575&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the bay. Local news to keep you rooted. The city of Richmond has ditched a Chevron refinery tax that it planned to let voters weigh on this November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Instead, Chevron will pay the city more than half $1 billion over the next ten years as part of an agreement to prove it wants to be a good neighbor. And city officials say they want Chevron to pay up not just for past harms, but to help build a future that relies less on the oil refinery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>We are all ready to wait. We’re already doing too little. We need to start to work through just transition now, not in ten years. We need to make those investments now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Today, Richmond’s long standing battle to get Chevron to pay up. And what’s in this deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>There’s a natural conflict between industry and residential areas. It’s been played out in many places.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Dan Brekke is a reporter and editor for KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Refineries produce lots of things that people shouldn’t be breathing. They put lots of things in the water that people shouldn’t be drinking. And Chevron does all of that stuff. The city has become more and more conscious and more and more aggressive about trying to get Chevron to respond to community concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And, you know, Richmond, like many cities and especially many cities with large minority populations. People are in the lower income brackets. They have a chronic financial problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And so they’ve turned to Chevron, which is the largest employer in town, is a. Fabulously wealthy company. I mean, they made more than $21 billion in profit last year. That’s not revenue. That’s profit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And Chevron is already the largest taxpayer in the city of Richmond by far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>They account for about one sixth of the city’s total revenue every year. So they entered into an agreement about ten years ago for Chevron to start making payments, you know, to try to pay for some of the things the city has to pay for it. So this agreement from ten years ago was running out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>It was a ten year settlement. And mindful of that, the city council and community activists, especially a group called Communities for a Better Environment, started to think about, well, how do we go forward?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So one idea was a November ballot measure. What would it have done?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The idea they came up with was to pass a new tax. And it was a very ambitious tax. But, you know, in broad strokes, what it would do is for the next 50 years, it would bring in something like 60 to $90 million a year. If you multiply 50 by 60 million or 90 million, you get into the 3 billion to $4.5 billion range over the next half century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>That’s something that the city of Richmond sorely needs. And it would also allow it to to do things in terms of health programs, what they call just transition programs to start job training for people in the city who might be reliant on the refinery work in some way. And and the city was very committed to this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So it was on track for the November ballot, as you said. What happened to it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The city council went ahead in June and put this on the November ballot and immediately got sued by what appears to be a front group for Chevron. One of the attacks on the measure in the lawsuit was the ballot question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The Chevron Allied Group said that the way it was written, the only logical answer to the question as it was posed would be to vote yes. Right. And that’s a level of bias. They argue that’s not allowed under state law. The city had the option of moving ahead with this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>But, you know, what the judge found was that the ballot question was indeed in permissibly biased. And so the judge, even though he only issued a tentative ruling on this, was signaling to all the parties this wording is not what you’re going to see on the ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So a superior court judge’s preliminary ruling sort of signaled to the city of Richmond that maybe there might be more legal fights ahead for this ballot measure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Yeah, that’s absolutely right. So the city council was getting caution from the city attorney that there was going to be litigation ahead. Chevron had already said, look, you know, we’ll sue to stop this. And the city attorney was very concerned about what that might mean for the city going forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And what he pointed to was the city of Carson down near Los Angeles that passed a tax on its resident refinery in 2017, but hasn’t been able to spend a dime from the revenue because they’ve been tied up in court the whole time. So what the city attorney’s warning was essentially was, look, we could pass this and maybe we’re going to go and win the vote in November, but it may be years before we see money from this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And so behind the scenes, an ad hoc committee of city council members negotiated behind closed doors with Chevron, and they came up with what they’re calling a settlement, settling this difference between them about how to go forward on this revenue question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Coming up. Richmond And Chevron’s agreement and how it’s different from what would have been on the ballot. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>So basically, the city of Richmond was afraid of having to spend millions and millions of dollars fighting this in court. So they set this ballot measure aside and instead struck a deal with Chevron. What was in this deal exactly, And how is it different from this failed ballot measure?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The main thing is the money, as we said, about the ballot measure. The estimate was it would bring in 60 to $90 million a year for 50 years. Now, the agreement that was on the table before the city council was a ten year agreement. Chevron would immediately start paying the city $50 million a year, no strings attached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>And after the first five years, $60 Million a year. And so it would come to a total of 550 million after a decade. Now, that’s money over and above what the city would expect through its normal taxes. Right? It has a payroll tax that Chevron pays their property taxes that Chevron pays, and the city gets money from that. Now, so that was a key part of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>This money is over and above everything that we’re already paying. The other thing is, if you decide you want to try to tax us again like you did with this measure, you can do that. The city is not ceding the right to to come back and try to do that again during this ten year agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And how were city leaders at this meeting like rationalizing this deal? Why did they say this was better than the ballot measure that would have been on the ballot in November?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Well, it was surprising to me for a city council that has a reputation of being somewhat fractious. They all seem to be like we’re doing the right thing here. I think it’s pretty simple. It’s a bird in the hand versus something that might be great, but also might be nothing going forward. So let’s go for what’s what we know we can get now because it’s substantial enough that it’s going to allow us to make a start on some of our priorities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>This has always been about money, about paying their fair share.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Council member Doria Robinson: is a member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, which is one of the factions on the Richmond City Council. And as its name suggests, I mean, they are pretty forward in terms of thinking about green issues and corporate responsibility and social justice, environmental justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>We are absolutely committed to ensuring that these funds are used both to meet both immediate needs and to invest in just transition away from extractive, polluting fossil fuel economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>She talked about looking over, you know, toward the refinery as a child, seeing the smoke rising from it and thinking this is just something that I’ve always lived with and it’s about time we take care of things.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>I live on these blocks. I see people in and in my grandparents church and in the schools, my neighbors. And they all when I talk to them, they’re like, Take the deal. Take the deal. We need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Councilmember Doria Robinson: \u003c/strong>I am accountable to the people of Richmond, to the people who actually suck in these fumes every every day, every day, including myself. I live here and I feel like we need to put this money to work now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Where is Chevron in all of this? How are they feeling about this deal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I think where Chevron is coming from, Chevron would like peace in the city of Richmond, Right? They don’t want people on their back. They don’t want people trying to pass taxes. Chevron is going. Look, I mean, this is a gesture from us that we’re serious about your concerns and we want to work with you. And that’s literally what the Chevron representative at the meeting, Bryan Hubinger, said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bryan Hubinger: \u003c/strong>This agreement will allow Chevron Richmond to continue to employ thousands of Bay Area residents and remain focused on providing affordable, reliable and ever cleaner energy that this region demands every day, while also supplying the city with much needed additional funding to support our communities needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What about the folks who I mean, organized to put the ballot measure forward in November? How are they responding to this deal that the city then cut with Chevron?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>There was a coalition that was campaigning for this make polluters pay. And a lot of the people who spoke at the meeting identify themselves as part of that coalition. And they had two things to say. One was, look, what’s happening today is because we organized. And then the other thread was, it’s really disappointing we’re not going forward because this is the right thing to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kerry Guerin: \u003c/strong>When our community members dreamt up this vision. It focused on a public campaign that empowered residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Kerry Guerin is an attorney for Communities for a Better Environment, the Richmond office. They have and was instrumental in writing the tax measure and coming up with the ballot language. By all accounts, and expressed really serious disappointment that for now this issue is going to end with this settlement with Chevron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kerry Guerin: \u003c/strong>Our campaign did not approach the city with this concept just so that Chevron would cut a deal that is pennies to them. I did not write this ballot measure and tax ordinance so that the city could settle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Just so I understand, is the difference that with the ballot measure, Chevron would have been basically under this agreement for a much longer period than this deal that they just cut with the city. Are they getting less money this way? Like what? What really is at the heart You think of the disappointment, I guess, from from organizers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think there are two things that you just brought up that are really important. One is that this is a ten year agreement versus a tax that would have been in effect for 50 years. The amount of money is also really important. So they’ll get an average of $55 million a year over the next decade as opposed to 60 to $90 million a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Now, that larger figure, there is a caveat there that assumes that the Chevron’s Richmond refinery is going to continue operating for the next half century the way it has been. Right. And we don’t know that that’s true. There is going to be a transition. I won’t live to see it, but one can’t assume that things are going to continue the same way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>The other thing that I think is more subtle is that people are really thinking about trying to find ways of getting the company to operate and fundamentally different ways by exacting a price from them. And I don’t think that the, you know, the tax measure in for those people is really the most important thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>I mean, I think regulatory and legal action is the most important thing. And trying to get Chevron and many other refineries to behave better, to be more responsible about their environmental impact. And and those kinds of things could be much more important in the long run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>You know, you talked in the beginning about how love it or hate it. Chevron is the largest employer, the largest taxpayer in the city of Richmond. I mean, if if Chevron was gone from Richmond tomorrow, I mean, it seems like the city would be in a tough position.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Like it feels like the city is just constantly walking this fine line between. Holding Chevron accountable, but also not pulling the rug out from underneath it entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Yeah, it is a conundrum for them and the city is thinking about that. City officials are thinking about, okay, how do we create the conditions for the time when Chevron is no longer here? I mean, people can conceive of that idea. It’s kind of difficult given, you know, what we see in our world every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>Right. I mean, you and I happen to have taken public transit, and today most people got to work by driving. And the world is not shifting away from that at light speed. And so companies like Chevron are going to do what they do for a while. But in the long run, cities like Richmond are going to have to devise strategies for how to go forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>What what other things are there? What other things could that property be used for? For instance, because you’re right, if there’s a point where Chevron is processing zero barrels of crude petroleum a day at that facility, then the revenue stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>You know, Richmond is a city of about 115,000 people, and it’s a city that needs services. It’s a population that has been neglected in many ways. There’s been a real lack of investment in Richmond over the years. And, you know, the city is going to need to find a way forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Thank you so much, Dan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dan Brekke: \u003c/strong>You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Dan Brekke, a reporter and editor for KQED. This 40 minute conversation with Dan was cut down and edited by senior editor Alan Montecillo. I produced this episode, scored it and added on the tape. Music courtesy of Audio Network.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>The Bay is a production of listener supported KQED in San Francisco. If you liked this episode, consider sharing it with a friend. I am Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
}
],
"link": "/news/12000955/richmonds-550-million-deal-with-chevron",
"authors": [
"8654",
"222",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_424",
"news_30247",
"news_33812",
"news_579",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_11975694",
"label": "source_news_12000955"
},
"news_12000567": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12000567",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12000567",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1724061610000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "california-democrats-flock-to-chicago-for-democratic-national-convention",
"title": "California Democrats Flock to Chicago for Democratic National Convention",
"publishDate": 1724061610,
"format": "audio",
"headTitle": "California Democrats Flock to Chicago for Democratic National Convention | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"term": 28779,
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nearly 500 Californians are in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, where Democrats will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris as their party’s nominee for president. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of them is Igor Tregub, a newly elected member of the Berkeley City Council and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC9810218721&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. Hundreds of Californians are going to Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s where party delegates will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris and gear up for the last 77 days of this wild presidential election. These delegates include people like Igor Tregub, a recently elected Berkeley City Council member who’s now in Chicago for his third DNC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s such a privilege to be able to go to Chicago and be able to represent the community that I now serve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Today, we talk with Berkeley City Council member Igor Tregub about representing California and the bay at the DNC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I’m Igor Tregub. I am a DNC delegate that was initially pledged to Biden and now I am pledged to Vice President Harris. This is my for the DNC convention. I was a delegate for Obama in 2012 and party in 2020. I chaired the Alameda County Democratic Party and was recently elected to the Berkeley City Council, and I am a Jewish refugee from Ukraine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I had a winding path to eventually make it to the States. I first lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, and then different parts of Southern California and 21 years ago. I think to the day I started my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, majoring in mechanical engineering and political science and fell in love with the Berkeley community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And delegates are the people who represent the Democratic Party. Lots of them are people like Igor, local government officials or people just really involved in local politics who volunteer to represent their region at the convention. They also have input on the official party platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think delegates are the conscience of the Democratic Party. There are different ways to become a delegate. But in all three elections, I was honored to have been elected by the electorate in the congressional district where I am based that. And so it was a vote of Democrats in that congressional district that have been able to send me to the last three DNC conventions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Is this really your role as a delegate, sort of a volunteer thing, or do you get paid for it or, you know, how often are you meeting?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s a labor of love. We have to spend a lot of money to travel and get a hotel room. But it is it is a small price to pay for doing our part to defend democracy. I think it varies tool. In 2020, I remember as a party delegate, I was somewhat involved in different drafting committees to to provide certain inputs into what eventually became the DNC platform. I think it’s a little different when, well, it was going to be a reelection campaign for President Biden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I want to ask you about the last couple of months, Igor, which has been pretty crazy to say the least. I’m curious where you were when you learned the news that President Biden was dropping out of the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I was just speaking on a zoom of Democrats. I was asked to be there to talk about the race that I just finished for city council. And towards the end of the zoom, the news dropped and it it was very bittersweet, I have to say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Delegates pledged their support to a certain candidate after the state votes in a caucus or primary. Long before the DNC even happens. So because President Biden won the California primary, they were pledged to him. But after he dropped out of the race, it left delegates with an open question Who would they pick as the party’s presidential nominee instead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Many quickly threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden endorsed Harris pretty quickly after after he dropped out of the race. But there was still that window of time when she gathered the support of the party. What did that look like for you on your end? As a as a delegate, it seemed like it was pretty fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It was very fast. I received an invitation. If it was an invitation, if I wanted to lend my name, committing my support. Now that President Biden has dropped out and passed the torch, committing it to Vice President Harris and I did that in a heartbeat. I was pleased at how smoothly that went where I think in the matter of a day, Vice President Harris amassed enough votes for California’s delegates for our state to declare our support for our hometown. Cheever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think the reason this happened so quickly is because California Democrats and Democrats in other states understand that this is a binary choice. We cannot have training wheels going into this election. And so it made sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, I think it’s safe to say it’s been pretty turbulent times. It’s now a brand new race that perhaps no one predicted even a couple of months ago. What of the last few weeks been like for you, Igor? It also occurs to me that you were also just recently elected to the Berkeley City Council. You are new to this seat. I’m sure you’re doing a lot of work in the background, sort of adjusting to your new role. I mean, what have the last couple of weeks been like for you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s been very hectic. I am not going to sugarcoat it. But. I think about what is at stake and. It’s such a privilege to be able to go to Chicago and be able to represent the community that I now serve in that way. The gravity of the situation in this time, in this moment is not lost on me either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>When I have family members and friends literally fighting on the front lines of democracy in Ukraine, whatever turbulence I have been going through is a very small price to pay to do my small part, to be a part of making history and defending and preserving democracy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What is your main goal at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>My main goal is to show up. I am looking forward to building relationships. It is also an opportunity to do everything that I possibly can to then go back and organize, spread the message of what is at stake to those in my community and do my part to ensure that we not only elect the Harris Wallace ticket, but that they get the support that they need from a Democratic majority in the Senate in conquest and down ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Why do you think people here in the Bay Area should tune in to the DNC this week when this episode airs, even if maybe they aren’t super plugged in to politics or maybe they’re even disillusioned with it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think there is probably going to be something there for all of them. Look, you know, there is a quote that has been playing in my mind often enough or particularly in the last couple of months since I’ve started this new well, politics is the art of the possible. And. What the Biden-Harris administration has been able to do is move mountains on policies that have made a real impact on everyday working families. Do we all want to see more progress faster? Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>And I joined the chorus of that. There is only one party that is invested in the American people in ensuring that the opportunities that I had, the way that Berkeley was able to become a home to me, this Jewish immigrant and refugee from Ukraine, that this is a place that everyone can call a loving home, where they are supported and where they have a safety net so that they can pursue their dreams, raise their kids if they choose to do that, and retire in dignity. Why?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Councilmember, thank you so much for making the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. And safe travels to Chicago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>Thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Igor Tregub, a Berkeley City Council member representing District four. He’s also a DNC delegate and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party. This 27 minute conversation was cut down and edited by Alan Montecillo and produced and scored by me. The Bay is a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks for listening. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": null,
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1729884772,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": true,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 32,
"wordCount": 1599
},
"headData": {
"title": "California Democrats Flock to Chicago for Democratic National Convention | KQED",
"description": "View the full episode transcript. Nearly 500 Californians are in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, where Democrats will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris as their party’s nominee for president. One of them is Igor Tregub, a newly elected member of the Berkeley City Council and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party. Episode Transcript This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors. Ericka Cruz Guevarra: I'm Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. Hundreds of Californians are going to Chicago this week",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "California Democrats Flock to Chicago for Democratic National Convention",
"datePublished": "2024-08-19T03:00:10-07:00",
"dateModified": "2024-10-25T12:32:52-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"audioUrl": "https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chrt.fm/track/G6C7C3/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC9810218721.mp3?updated=1723840778",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12000567",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12000567/california-democrats-flock-to-chicago-for-democratic-national-convention",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp class=\"p1\">\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nearly 500 Californians are in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, where Democrats will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris as their party’s nominee for president. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of them is Igor Tregub, a newly elected member of the Berkeley City Council and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"card card--enclosed grey\">\n\u003cp id=\"embed-code\" class=\"inconsolata\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=KQINC9810218721&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to the Bay. Local news to keep you rooted. Hundreds of Californians are going to Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That’s where party delegates will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris and gear up for the last 77 days of this wild presidential election. These delegates include people like Igor Tregub, a recently elected Berkeley City Council member who’s now in Chicago for his third DNC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s such a privilege to be able to go to Chicago and be able to represent the community that I now serve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Today, we talk with Berkeley City Council member Igor Tregub about representing California and the bay at the DNC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I’m Igor Tregub. I am a DNC delegate that was initially pledged to Biden and now I am pledged to Vice President Harris. This is my for the DNC convention. I was a delegate for Obama in 2012 and party in 2020. I chaired the Alameda County Democratic Party and was recently elected to the Berkeley City Council, and I am a Jewish refugee from Ukraine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I had a winding path to eventually make it to the States. I first lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, and then different parts of Southern California and 21 years ago. I think to the day I started my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, majoring in mechanical engineering and political science and fell in love with the Berkeley community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>And delegates are the people who represent the Democratic Party. Lots of them are people like Igor, local government officials or people just really involved in local politics who volunteer to represent their region at the convention. They also have input on the official party platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think delegates are the conscience of the Democratic Party. There are different ways to become a delegate. But in all three elections, I was honored to have been elected by the electorate in the congressional district where I am based that. And so it was a vote of Democrats in that congressional district that have been able to send me to the last three DNC conventions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Is this really your role as a delegate, sort of a volunteer thing, or do you get paid for it or, you know, how often are you meeting?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s a labor of love. We have to spend a lot of money to travel and get a hotel room. But it is it is a small price to pay for doing our part to defend democracy. I think it varies tool. In 2020, I remember as a party delegate, I was somewhat involved in different drafting committees to to provide certain inputs into what eventually became the DNC platform. I think it’s a little different when, well, it was going to be a reelection campaign for President Biden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>I want to ask you about the last couple of months, Igor, which has been pretty crazy to say the least. I’m curious where you were when you learned the news that President Biden was dropping out of the race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>Yeah, I was just speaking on a zoom of Democrats. I was asked to be there to talk about the race that I just finished for city council. And towards the end of the zoom, the news dropped and it it was very bittersweet, I have to say.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Delegates pledged their support to a certain candidate after the state votes in a caucus or primary. Long before the DNC even happens. So because President Biden won the California primary, they were pledged to him. But after he dropped out of the race, it left delegates with an open question Who would they pick as the party’s presidential nominee instead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Many quickly threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden endorsed Harris pretty quickly after after he dropped out of the race. But there was still that window of time when she gathered the support of the party. What did that look like for you on your end? As a as a delegate, it seemed like it was pretty fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It was very fast. I received an invitation. If it was an invitation, if I wanted to lend my name, committing my support. Now that President Biden has dropped out and passed the torch, committing it to Vice President Harris and I did that in a heartbeat. I was pleased at how smoothly that went where I think in the matter of a day, Vice President Harris amassed enough votes for California’s delegates for our state to declare our support for our hometown. Cheever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think the reason this happened so quickly is because California Democrats and Democrats in other states understand that this is a binary choice. We cannot have training wheels going into this election. And so it made sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, I think it’s safe to say it’s been pretty turbulent times. It’s now a brand new race that perhaps no one predicted even a couple of months ago. What of the last few weeks been like for you, Igor? It also occurs to me that you were also just recently elected to the Berkeley City Council. You are new to this seat. I’m sure you’re doing a lot of work in the background, sort of adjusting to your new role. I mean, what have the last couple of weeks been like for you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>It’s been very hectic. I am not going to sugarcoat it. But. I think about what is at stake and. It’s such a privilege to be able to go to Chicago and be able to represent the community that I now serve in that way. The gravity of the situation in this time, in this moment is not lost on me either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>When I have family members and friends literally fighting on the front lines of democracy in Ukraine, whatever turbulence I have been going through is a very small price to pay to do my small part, to be a part of making history and defending and preserving democracy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>What is your main goal at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>My main goal is to show up. I am looking forward to building relationships. It is also an opportunity to do everything that I possibly can to then go back and organize, spread the message of what is at stake to those in my community and do my part to ensure that we not only elect the Harris Wallace ticket, but that they get the support that they need from a Democratic majority in the Senate in conquest and down ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Why do you think people here in the Bay Area should tune in to the DNC this week when this episode airs, even if maybe they aren’t super plugged in to politics or maybe they’re even disillusioned with it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>I think there is probably going to be something there for all of them. Look, you know, there is a quote that has been playing in my mind often enough or particularly in the last couple of months since I’ve started this new well, politics is the art of the possible. And. What the Biden-Harris administration has been able to do is move mountains on policies that have made a real impact on everyday working families. Do we all want to see more progress faster? Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>And I joined the chorus of that. There is only one party that is invested in the American people in ensuring that the opportunities that I had, the way that Berkeley was able to become a home to me, this Jewish immigrant and refugee from Ukraine, that this is a place that everyone can call a loving home, where they are supported and where they have a safety net so that they can pursue their dreams, raise their kids if they choose to do that, and retire in dignity. Why?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>Well, Councilmember, thank you so much for making the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. And safe travels to Chicago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Igor Tregub: \u003c/strong>Thank you so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra: \u003c/strong>That was Igor Tregub, a Berkeley City Council member representing District four. He’s also a DNC delegate and chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party. This 27 minute conversation was cut down and edited by Alan Montecillo and produced and scored by me. The Bay is a production of listeners supported KQED in San Francisco. I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks for listening. Peace.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12000567/california-democrats-flock-to-chicago-for-democratic-national-convention",
"authors": [
"8654",
"11649"
],
"programs": [
"news_28779"
],
"categories": [
"news_8",
"news_33520"
],
"tags": [
"news_34416",
"news_33812",
"news_61",
"news_17968",
"news_22598"
],
"featImg": "news_12000569",
"label": "news_28779"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026PresidentialReducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/news?program=the-bay": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 48,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 932,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12006359",
"news_12006445",
"news_12005954",
"news_12005960",
"news_12005762",
"news_12003363",
"news_12002796",
"news_12002385",
"news_12002068",
"news_12001435",
"news_12000955",
"news_12000567"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news_program_the-bay": {
"isLoading": true
},
"news_28779": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28779",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28779",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "The Bay is a daily news and culture program from KQED that covers the latest headlines, trends, and stories that matter to the Bay Area.",
"title": "The Bay Area Archives | KQED",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28796,
"slug": "the-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/program/the-bay"
},
"source_news_12006359": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12006359",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Prop Fest 2024",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12006445": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12006445",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Prop Fest 2024",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12005954": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12005954",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Prop Fest 2024",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12005960": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12005960",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Prop Fest 2024",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/propfest",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12003363": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12003363",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12002796": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12002796",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12002385": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12002385",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12002068": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12002068",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12001435": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12001435",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_news_12000955": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_news_12000955",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "The Bay",
"link": "https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/thebay",
"isLoading": false
},
"news_33523": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33523",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33523",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Curious",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "program",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Curious Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33540,
"slug": "bay-curious",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/program/bay-curious"
},
"news_17986": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17986",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17986",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/11/BayCuriousLogoFinal01-e1493662037229.png",
"name": "Bay Curious",
"description": "\u003ch2>A podcast exploring the Bay Area one question at a time\u003c/h2>\r\n\r\n\u003caside>\r\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; padding-right: 20px;\">\r\n\r\nKQED’s \u003cstrong>Bay Curious\u003c/strong> 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.\r\n\u003cbr />\r\n\u003cspan class=\"alignleft\">\u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1172473406\">\u003cimg width=\"75px\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/11/DownloadOniTunes_100x100.png\">\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://goo.gl/app/playmusic?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Ipi2mc5aqfen4nr2daayiziiyuy?t%3DBay_Curious\">\u003cimg width=\"75px\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/11/Google_Play_100x100.png\">\u003c/a>\u003c/span>\u003c/div>\r\n\u003c/aside> \r\n\u003ch2>What's your question?\u003c/h2>\r\n\u003cdiv id=\"huxq6\" class=\"curiosity-module\" data-pym-src=\"//modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/curiosity_modules/133\">\u003c/div>\r\n\u003cscript src=\"//assets.wearehearken.com/production/thirdparty/p.m.js\">\u003c/script>\r\n\u003ch2>Bay Curious monthly newsletter\u003c/h2>\r\nWe're launching it soon! \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEtzbyNbSQkRHCCAkKhoGiAl3Bd0zWxhk0ZseJ1KH_o_ZDjQ/viewform\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up\u003c/a> so you don't miss it when it drops.\r\n",
"taxonomy": "series",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "A podcast exploring the Bay Area one question at a time KQED’s 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. What's your question? Bay Curious monthly newsletter We're launching it soon! Sign up so you don't miss it when it drops.",
"title": "Bay Curious Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18020,
"slug": "baycurious",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/series/baycurious"
},
"news_6188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6212,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/law-and-justice"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_33520": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33520",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33520",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Podcast",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Podcast Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33537,
"slug": "podcast",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/podcast"
},
"news_13": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_13",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "13",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 13,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/politics"
},
"news_28606": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28606",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28606",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Curious Prop Fest",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Curious Prop Fest Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28623,
"slug": "bay-curious-prop-fest",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-curious-prop-fest"
},
"news_32839": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32839",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32839",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Election 2024",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Election 2024 Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32856,
"slug": "election-2024",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/election-2024"
},
"news_33812": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33812",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33812",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Interests",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Interests Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33829,
"slug": "interests",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/interests"
},
"news_34560": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34560",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34560",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "podcasts | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34577,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/podcasts"
},
"news_28645": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28645",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28645",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "prop fest",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "prop fest Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28662,
"slug": "prop-fest",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/prop-fest"
},
"news_24207": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_24207",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "24207",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "proposition 6",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "proposition 6 Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 24224,
"slug": "proposition-6",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-6"
},
"news_22598": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22598",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22598",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "The Bay",
"description": "\u003cimg class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-11638190\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/02/TheBay_1200x6301.png\" alt=\"\" />\r\n\u003cbr/>\r\n\r\nEvery good story starts local. So that’s where we start. \u003ci>The Bay\u003c/i> is storytelling for daily news. KQED host Devin Katayama talks with reporters to help us make sense of what’s happening in the Bay Area. One story. One conversation. One idea.\r\n\r\n\u003cstrong>Subscribe to The Bay:\u003c/strong>\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452?mt=2\">\u003cimg src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-e1515635079510.png\" />\u003c/a>",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Every good story starts local. So that’s where we start. The Bay is storytelling for daily news. KQED host Devin Katayama talks with reporters to help us make sense of what’s happening in the Bay Area. One story. One conversation. One idea. Subscribe to The Bay:",
"title": "The Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22615,
"slug": "the-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/the-bay"
},
"news_33738": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33738",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33738",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33755,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/california"
},
"news_33745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33762,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/criminal-justice"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"news_6266": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6266",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6266",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6290,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/housing"
},
"news_34577": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34577",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34577",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "proposition-5",
"slug": "proposition-5",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "proposition-5 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 34594,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-5"
},
"news_33739": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33739",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33739",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33756,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/housing"
},
"news_34165": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34165",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34165",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Climate",
"slug": "climate",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34182,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/climate"
},
"news_34559": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34559",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34559",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "proposition 4",
"slug": "proposition-4",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "proposition 4 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34576,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-4"
},
"news_34168": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34168",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34168",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Guides and Explainers",
"slug": "guides-and-explainers",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Guides and Explainers Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34185,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/guides-and-explainers"
},
"news_20004": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20004",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20004",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "LGBTQ",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "LGBTQ Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20021,
"slug": "lgbtq",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/lgbtq"
},
"news_34563": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34563",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34563",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Proposition-3",
"slug": "proposition-3",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Proposition-3 | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 34580,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-3"
},
"news_322": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_322",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "322",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "same-sex marriage",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "same-sex marriage Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 330,
"slug": "same-sex-marriage",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/same-sex-marriage"
},
"news_18540": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18540",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18540",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Education",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Education Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2595,
"slug": "education",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/education"
},
"news_20013": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20013",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20013",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "education",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "education Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20030,
"slug": "education",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/education"
},
"news_17102": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17102",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17102",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Proposition 2",
"description": "Proposition 2 has passed, and California will overhaul its rainy day fund to pay down more debt and provide a bigger buffer against future state budget shortfalls. Get \u003ca href=\"http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/maps/ballot-measures/prop/2/\" target=\"_blank\">detailed election results\u003c/a> for Proposition 2 from the secretary of state.",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Proposition 2 has passed, and California will overhaul its rainy day fund to pay down more debt and provide a bigger buffer against future state budget shortfalls. Get detailed election results for Proposition 2 from the secretary of state.",
"title": "Proposition 2 Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17131,
"slug": "proposition-2",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/proposition-2"
},
"news_18269": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18269",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18269",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "farmworkers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "farmworkers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18303,
"slug": "farmworkers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/farmworkers"
},
"news_1775": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1775",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1775",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "housing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "housing Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1790,
"slug": "housing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/housing"
},
"news_34503": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34503",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34503",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "moonridge",
"slug": "moonridge",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "moonridge | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 34520,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/moonridge"
},
"news_260": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_260",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "260",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Alameda County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Alameda County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 268,
"slug": "alameda-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/alameda-county"
},
"news_20754": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20754",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20754",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "child care",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "child care Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20771,
"slug": "child-care",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/child-care"
},
"news_23314": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_23314",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "23314",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Measure C",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Measure C Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 23331,
"slug": "measure-c",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/measure-c"
},
"news_93": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_93",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "93",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Google",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Google Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 96,
"slug": "google",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/google"
},
"news_17996": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17996",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17996",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18030,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/news"
},
"news_17968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 18002,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/politics"
},
"news_34464": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34464",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34464",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "youth voting",
"slug": "youth-voting",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "youth voting | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34481,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/youth-voting"
},
"news_248": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_248",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "248",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Technology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Technology Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 256,
"slug": "technology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/technology"
},
"news_33689": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33689",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33689",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "california forever",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "california forever Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33706,
"slug": "california-forever",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california-forever"
},
"news_23938": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_23938",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "23938",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Solano County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Solano County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 23955,
"slug": "solano-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/solano-county"
},
"news_1631": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1631",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1631",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Technology",
"slug": "technology",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Technology | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 1643,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/technology"
},
"news_424": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_424",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "424",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Chevron",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Chevron Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 433,
"slug": "chevron",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/chevron"
},
"news_30247": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_30247",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "30247",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "fossil fuels",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "fossil fuels Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 30264,
"slug": "fossil-fuels",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fossil-fuels"
},
"news_579": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_579",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "579",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Richmond",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Richmond Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2717,
"slug": "richmond",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/richmond"
},
"news_34416": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34416",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34416",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "DNC",
"slug": "dnc",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "DNC | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34433,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/dnc"
},
"news_61": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_61",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "61",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Kamala Harris",
"slug": "kamala-harris",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": "Browse all our stories on Vice President Kamala Harris, including archive coverage of her accomplishments — and controversies — during her time in Bay Area and California politics before 2020.\r\n\r\nThe Oakland-born, Berkeley-raised Harris was San Francisco district attorney from 2004–10, California attorney general from 2011–17 and United States senator for California from 2017–21. In 2020, she became the first woman, the first Black woman and the first South Asian woman to be elected to vice president.",
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Kamala Harris Archives | KQED News",
"description": "Browse all our stories on Vice President Kamala Harris, including archive coverage of her accomplishments — and controversies — during her time in Bay Area and California politics before 2020. The Oakland-born, Berkeley-raised Harris was San Francisco district attorney from 2004–10, California attorney general from 2011–17 and United States senator for California from 2017–21. In 2020, she became the first woman, the first Black woman and the first South Asian woman to be elected to vice president.",
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 62,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/kamala-harris"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
}
}
