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"title": "After the One Big Beautiful Bill, Free Clinics Are Stepping Up",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Marisol, it’s not strange to feel aches and pains all over her body when she comes home after work. She picks and packages fruit for farms in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/contra-costa-county\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>. Even when temperatures rise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, she’s out in the field collecting cherries, peaches, nectarines and apricots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She knows it takes a toll on her body. “Sometimes you’re so exhausted that it feels like there’s something wrong with your body, and you don’t know if you’re actually sick or just tired,” she said in Spanish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undocumented immigrant without employer-provided health insurance, actually finding out if she’s sick is a luxury. KQED is withholding her full name because publishing it could expose her to potential immigration enforcement. “I either pay my rent or I go to the doctor,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the summer of 2023 — when she began to feel several bumps on her breasts — she decided her health could no longer wait. She went to the one place she knew she could get care at no cost: \u003ca href=\"https://www.hijasdelcampo.org/\">Hijas del Campo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every Tuesday afternoon, the Contra Costa County Department of Public Health parks \u003ca href=\"https://www.cchealth.org/get-care/for-people-without-health-coverage/health-care-for-the-homeless\">a mobile clinic\u003c/a> outside the nonprofit’s Brentwood offices. The clinic offers limited free care to residents like Marisol who qualify. It’s one of dozens of free clinics across the Bay Area that serve low-income and undocumented immigrants who don’t have access to healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078942\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078942 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marisol, a farmworker in Brentwood, sits outside the Hijas del Campo offices, an organization that connects agricultural workers and their families to free health services, food assistance and legal support on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Free clinics across California are bracing for a surge of uninsured patients as provisions in President Donald Trump’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073880/tax-credits-trump-2026-refund-tips-child-tax-credit-car-loan-interest-documents\">One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>” take effect, eliminating federal subsidies for some Affordable Care Act plans and tightening Medicaid eligibility rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 160,000 Californians have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/many-californians-are-paying-more-for-health-insurance-from-covered-california/\">lost federal subsidies\u003c/a> that made their premiums cheaper and in the coming years, state officials \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">estimate\u003c/a> that the number of Californians without health insurance — currently around 2 million — could double by 2030, leaving safety-net clinics to absorb the growing demand for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2025/06/myth-vs-fact-the-one-big-beautiful-bill/\">defended\u003c/a> the OBBB, arguing that these changes will help eliminate “waste, fraud, and abuse” from the nation’s healthcare system. But doctors and volunteers who staff free clinics are already seeing people who have lost coverage and warn that a growing uninsured population could negatively impact care for all patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How free care works\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Free clinics have existed for decades across the Bay Area, offering primary care to those without health insurance. Many serve suburban and rural communities far from the medical infrastructure of the region’s larger cities. But even in San Francisco, free clinics serve thousands each year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.clinicbythebay.org/\">Clinic by the Bay\u003c/a> — located in San Francisco’s Excelsior District, one of the most \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/demographic-map-san-francisco-21310100.php\">ethnically diverse neighborhoods\u003c/a> in the city — sees many patients who are experiencing a transition that left them uninsured, often a layoff, aging out of their parents’ insurance or migrating to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079790\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079790\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson, executive director of Clinic by the Bay, poses for a portrait inside the clinic in San Francisco on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“And there’s people who are working but cannot afford their healthcare premiums, so they have decided to go without health insurance,” said Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson, executive director of Clinic by the Bay. She knows many patients by their first name, greeting them warmly when they come through the front door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are only a few requirements to get care there, McMeekin-Jackson said. A new patient must share a copy of an ID, proof of income and confirm they do not have health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 200 volunteers — many of them retired doctors, resident physicians and medical students — help the clinic offer primary and ongoing care for those living with chronic conditions, like diabetes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079789\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteer Melissa Castillo, left, and executive director Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson walk through a hallway inside Clinic by the Bay in San Francisco on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When a patient needs a service that’s not available in-house, staff work with the clinic’s extended network of physicians who are willing to donate their time. Companies like LabCorp also provide a limited number of free screenings, and skilled nursing homes regularly donate surplus medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big part of the puzzle is figuring out how we can get around the limitations to get free care,” McMeekin-Jackson said, adding that over the past year, volunteer numbers increased by about 30% to keep pace with the growing number of patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re anticipating that patient numbers will grow as premiums increase,” she said. “And there are Medi-Cal changes projected in the future.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Finding the limits\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As Congress raced to finalize the details of the OBBB last summer, lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-wsj-poll-tax-bill-support-ee51c67e\">sought to balance\u003c/a> the price tag of other Trump policy priorities — reshaping the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073880/tax-credits-trump-2026-refund-tips-child-tax-credit-car-loan-interest-documents\">nation’s tax system\u003c/a> and supercharging immigration enforcement — by freeing up funding elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans moved to end the subsidies that lowered the costs of healthcare premiums for millions of people nationwide who bought their plan through an Affordable Care Act marketplace, which includes Covered California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Jewish Community Free Clinic building is seen on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. The clinic provides free healthcare services to uninsured patients. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the federal government spent nearly $14 billion \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/medicaid/what-does-the-federal-government-spend-on-health-care/#Appendix-Table-3\">on subsidies\u003c/a>, which helped millions of Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/01/22/what-the-data-says-about-affordable-care-act-health-insurance-exchanges/\">enroll in a plan\u003c/a>. According to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20enhanced%20subsidies%20in%20the%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20reduce%20net%20premium%20costs%20by%2044%25%2C%20on%20average%2C%20for%20enrollees%20receiving%20premium%20tax%20credits%2C%20though%20the%20amount%20of%20savings%20varies%20by%20person.\">Kaiser Family Foundation\u003c/a>, a San Francisco-based public health research nonprofit, the subsidies lowered the annual premium payment in 2024 from about $1,600 to $900 — a difference of about 44%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Jan. 1, the majority of Covered California enrollees saw their \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/many-californians-are-paying-more-for-health-insurance-from-covered-california/\">premiums rise\u003c/a> as the federal government pulled back subsidies. But people making above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $62,000 for a single person — began paying the full monthly premium for their health insurance. In the Bay Area, some residents \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912612/how-are-you-coping-with-increased-health-insurance-premiums\">have shared\u003c/a> that their premiums have gone up by over 150%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re getting a lot of calls from people who lost their plan because they couldn’t pay these outrageous new premiums,” said Donna Waldman, the executive director of the Santa Rosa-based \u003ca href=\"https://www.jewishfreeclinic.org/\">Jewish Community Free Clinic\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Donna Waldman, executive director and one of the founders of the Jewish Community Free Clinic, listens during a conversation inside the clinic on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waldman, along with a handful of doctors and nurses, started the clinic in 2001. The majority of patients are immigrant farmworkers who power Sonoma County’s multimillion-dollar wine industry. Many are seeing a doctor for the first time in years and are coming in for a one-time check-in — a situation that the clinic is well-equipped for, Waldman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are not set up to do chronic disease maintenance,” she said. “Our system’s not set up to have you come back every three or four months to get your blood pressure checked — that’s not our type of practice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Higher premiums are not just forcing people to drop their plan, but also discouraging those who could qualify for a Covered California plan from signing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rivka Vaughs, who works at the front desk and assists with grant writing, sits in the waiting area of the Jewish Community Free Clinic on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Sonoma County, new enrollment this year \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/02/28/new-affordable-care-act-enrollment-declines-by-33-in-north-bay/\">decreased by 33%\u003c/a>, with officials reporting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2026/02/26/as-enhanced-federal-subsidies-expire-covered-california-ends-open-enrollment-with-state-subsidies-keeping-renewals-steady-for-now-and-new-signups-down/#:~:text=California%20allocated%20%24190%20million%20from,of%20the%20federal%20poverty%20level.\">similar drop statewide\u003c/a>. And according to \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">some researchers\u003c/a>, the first people to drop their Covered California plans are usually younger, healthier individuals who use fewer benefits. Those enrollees help lower the costs of care for everyone else. But with fewer healthier people in the marketplace, premiums could rise even higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When folks call in after dropping their plan, Waldman said the clinic can see them in the meantime, but they also work with the patient to see if they qualify for care at a \u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">federally qualified health center\u003c/a> — which serve patients on a sliding fee scale, but are subject to income limits and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/prwora-hhs-bans-illegal-aliens-accessing-taxpayer-funded-programs.html\">potential immigration rules\u003c/a> from the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have nothing to lose monetarily from the federal government,” Waldman said. “Free clinics play a really important role in the resiliency of the community right now because we are independent organizations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Influenza doesn’t know if you have insurance or not’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The OBBB’s next big shock to healthcare is expected at the end of this year. By Dec. 31, states must implement stricter eligibility requirements for patients enrolled in Medicaid — known as Medi-Cal in California, which provides free or low-cost care to roughly 15 million lower-income residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2010, the Obama administration expanded Medicaid eligibility to include adults aged 19-64 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. In the decade that followed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/medi-cal-has-expanded-health-coverage-in-california/\">Medi-Cal enrollment soared\u003c/a>, with the biggest increase in that newly-eligible group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hallway inside the San Francisco Free Clinic in the Richmond District on Feb. 27, 2026. The clinic provides free primary care and specialty services to patients without health insurance. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Under the OBBB, Medi-Cal recipients will need to renew their eligibility every six months, instead of annually, and those who are able-bodied and without dependents have to either work, go to school or do community service for at least 80 hours each month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/newsom-medicaid-impacts-memo.pdf\">estimated\u003c/a> the new requirements would result in up to 3.4 million Californians losing their Medi-Cal coverage. And because federal funding for Medi-Cal is dependent on how many people are enrolled, the state could lose over $30 billion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s unfortunate, said Ashley Tsang, medical director for the San Francisco Free Clinic, because more people on Medi-Cal means fewer people who are uninsured.[aside postID=news_12078480 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/AffordabilitySeriesIntro_Lede.jpg']“We were hoping that there were going to be fewer people uninsured as Medi-Cal covered more people,” Tsang said. “At some point, our numbers would have actually dropped.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The clinic currently sees around 1,500 uninsured patients each year with the help of a few dozen physicians and medical students. Tsang — who helps run the Richmond District clinic along with her husband and fellow physician Ian Nelligan — said the team hasn’t yet needed to expand service hours, but that’s something they are thinking about given the political situation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID-19 taught us that [infectious diseases don’t] know if you have insurance or not, and people will end up at the emergency department one way or the other,” she said. “We all end up paying for patients who have no health insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">recent report\u003c/a> from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts that care providers — including private and public hospitals that treat patients with coverage — may feel greater financial pressure as the uninsured population grows in the coming years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many providers, the report finds, “will still provide some care to these populations without receiving reimbursement,” and as these expenses go up, they may negotiate higher rates with private insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Pushing back on closed doors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>White House officials have argued that other parts of the OBBB — like larger tax deductibles and expanded flexible spending accounts — will make it easier for individuals to pay for health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the administration has made clear the changes will limit access to low-cost care for one group of people in particular: undocumented immigrants. Blocking this group from Medicaid is necessary “to preserve it for hardworking Americans who need it,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said before the bill’s passage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The OBBB reduced federal funds that helped states provide emergency Medicaid coverage to undocumented immigrants — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WFTCA-Illegal-Immigrant-Healthcare-Memo-FINAL.pdf\">White House memo\u003c/a> went as far as calling this move “closing the California loophole.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078937\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pro-farmworker posters adorn the walls inside the Hijas del Campo workspace. The group helps coordinate services including food distribution, healthcare access and legal aid for farmworkers and their families, on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This change — along with other expected healthcare cuts from the federal government — prompted state lawmakers last year to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-budget-newsom-democrats/\">block new Medi-Cal enrollment\u003c/a> for undocumented immigrants aged 19 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means Marisol can no longer sign up for Medi-Cal, leaving her with only the mobile clinic outside Hijas del Campo for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is an injustice,” the farmworker said. “Our work is very intense, and it’s what brings food to people’s tables. But this work is not valued.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078938\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078938\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dorina Salgado-Moraida, co-founder of Hijas del Campo, stands beside a Contra Costa Health Department mobile clinic used to provide free and low-cost medical services to farmworkers and underserved residents, on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When she first felt those bumps on her breasts in 2023, a doctor at the clinic confirmed she had a tumor — but a benign one that was treated thanks to the county program. Marisol still comes to the mobile clinic for follow-ups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People are still going to be sick,” said Hijas del Campo co-founder Dorina Salgado-Moraida, who pointed out that there are thousands of undocumented immigrants in other parts of the state who will be left with no options for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had some learnings from the pandemic, but then at the same time, we didn’t really learn much,” she said. “We didn’t put systems in place to protect those who are the most essential.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s Note: This story was updated to clarify medical terminology. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "After the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, many Californians no longer have access to healthcare because of higher premiums or their immigration status. Free clinics are rushing to fill the gaps in coverage.",
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"title": "After the One Big Beautiful Bill, Free Clinics Are Stepping Up | KQED",
"description": "After the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, many Californians no longer have access to healthcare because of higher premiums or their immigration status. Free clinics are rushing to fill the gaps in coverage.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Marisol, it’s not strange to feel aches and pains all over her body when she comes home after work. She picks and packages fruit for farms in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/contra-costa-county\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>. Even when temperatures rise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, she’s out in the field collecting cherries, peaches, nectarines and apricots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She knows it takes a toll on her body. “Sometimes you’re so exhausted that it feels like there’s something wrong with your body, and you don’t know if you’re actually sick or just tired,” she said in Spanish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undocumented immigrant without employer-provided health insurance, actually finding out if she’s sick is a luxury. KQED is withholding her full name because publishing it could expose her to potential immigration enforcement. “I either pay my rent or I go to the doctor,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the summer of 2023 — when she began to feel several bumps on her breasts — she decided her health could no longer wait. She went to the one place she knew she could get care at no cost: \u003ca href=\"https://www.hijasdelcampo.org/\">Hijas del Campo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every Tuesday afternoon, the Contra Costa County Department of Public Health parks \u003ca href=\"https://www.cchealth.org/get-care/for-people-without-health-coverage/health-care-for-the-homeless\">a mobile clinic\u003c/a> outside the nonprofit’s Brentwood offices. The clinic offers limited free care to residents like Marisol who qualify. It’s one of dozens of free clinics across the Bay Area that serve low-income and undocumented immigrants who don’t have access to healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078942\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078942 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_016_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marisol, a farmworker in Brentwood, sits outside the Hijas del Campo offices, an organization that connects agricultural workers and their families to free health services, food assistance and legal support on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Free clinics across California are bracing for a surge of uninsured patients as provisions in President Donald Trump’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073880/tax-credits-trump-2026-refund-tips-child-tax-credit-car-loan-interest-documents\">One Big Beautiful Bill\u003c/a>” take effect, eliminating federal subsidies for some Affordable Care Act plans and tightening Medicaid eligibility rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 160,000 Californians have already \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/many-californians-are-paying-more-for-health-insurance-from-covered-california/\">lost federal subsidies\u003c/a> that made their premiums cheaper and in the coming years, state officials \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">estimate\u003c/a> that the number of Californians without health insurance — currently around 2 million — could double by 2030, leaving safety-net clinics to absorb the growing demand for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House has \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2025/06/myth-vs-fact-the-one-big-beautiful-bill/\">defended\u003c/a> the OBBB, arguing that these changes will help eliminate “waste, fraud, and abuse” from the nation’s healthcare system. But doctors and volunteers who staff free clinics are already seeing people who have lost coverage and warn that a growing uninsured population could negatively impact care for all patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How free care works\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Free clinics have existed for decades across the Bay Area, offering primary care to those without health insurance. Many serve suburban and rural communities far from the medical infrastructure of the region’s larger cities. But even in San Francisco, free clinics serve thousands each year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.clinicbythebay.org/\">Clinic by the Bay\u003c/a> — located in San Francisco’s Excelsior District, one of the most \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/demographic-map-san-francisco-21310100.php\">ethnically diverse neighborhoods\u003c/a> in the city — sees many patients who are experiencing a transition that left them uninsured, often a layoff, aging out of their parents’ insurance or migrating to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079790\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079790\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson, executive director of Clinic by the Bay, poses for a portrait inside the clinic in San Francisco on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“And there’s people who are working but cannot afford their healthcare premiums, so they have decided to go without health insurance,” said Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson, executive director of Clinic by the Bay. She knows many patients by their first name, greeting them warmly when they come through the front door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are only a few requirements to get care there, McMeekin-Jackson said. A new patient must share a copy of an ID, proof of income and confirm they do not have health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 200 volunteers — many of them retired doctors, resident physicians and medical students — help the clinic offer primary and ongoing care for those living with chronic conditions, like diabetes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079789\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/030526_FREECLINICS-_GH_016-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteer Melissa Castillo, left, and executive director Katelyn McMeekin-Jackson walk through a hallway inside Clinic by the Bay in San Francisco on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When a patient needs a service that’s not available in-house, staff work with the clinic’s extended network of physicians who are willing to donate their time. Companies like LabCorp also provide a limited number of free screenings, and skilled nursing homes regularly donate surplus medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big part of the puzzle is figuring out how we can get around the limitations to get free care,” McMeekin-Jackson said, adding that over the past year, volunteer numbers increased by about 30% to keep pace with the growing number of patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re anticipating that patient numbers will grow as premiums increase,” she said. “And there are Medi-Cal changes projected in the future.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Finding the limits\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As Congress raced to finalize the details of the OBBB last summer, lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-wsj-poll-tax-bill-support-ee51c67e\">sought to balance\u003c/a> the price tag of other Trump policy priorities — reshaping the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073880/tax-credits-trump-2026-refund-tips-child-tax-credit-car-loan-interest-documents\">nation’s tax system\u003c/a> and supercharging immigration enforcement — by freeing up funding elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republicans moved to end the subsidies that lowered the costs of healthcare premiums for millions of people nationwide who bought their plan through an Affordable Care Act marketplace, which includes Covered California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079787\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_037-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Jewish Community Free Clinic building is seen on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. The clinic provides free healthcare services to uninsured patients. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the federal government spent nearly $14 billion \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/medicaid/what-does-the-federal-government-spend-on-health-care/#Appendix-Table-3\">on subsidies\u003c/a>, which helped millions of Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/01/22/what-the-data-says-about-affordable-care-act-health-insurance-exchanges/\">enroll in a plan\u003c/a>. According to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20enhanced%20subsidies%20in%20the%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20reduce%20net%20premium%20costs%20by%2044%25%2C%20on%20average%2C%20for%20enrollees%20receiving%20premium%20tax%20credits%2C%20though%20the%20amount%20of%20savings%20varies%20by%20person.\">Kaiser Family Foundation\u003c/a>, a San Francisco-based public health research nonprofit, the subsidies lowered the annual premium payment in 2024 from about $1,600 to $900 — a difference of about 44%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Jan. 1, the majority of Covered California enrollees saw their \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/many-californians-are-paying-more-for-health-insurance-from-covered-california/\">premiums rise\u003c/a> as the federal government pulled back subsidies. But people making above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $62,000 for a single person — began paying the full monthly premium for their health insurance. In the Bay Area, some residents \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912612/how-are-you-coping-with-increased-health-insurance-premiums\">have shared\u003c/a> that their premiums have gone up by over 150%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re getting a lot of calls from people who lost their plan because they couldn’t pay these outrageous new premiums,” said Donna Waldman, the executive director of the Santa Rosa-based \u003ca href=\"https://www.jewishfreeclinic.org/\">Jewish Community Free Clinic\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_027-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Donna Waldman, executive director and one of the founders of the Jewish Community Free Clinic, listens during a conversation inside the clinic on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waldman, along with a handful of doctors and nurses, started the clinic in 2001. The majority of patients are immigrant farmworkers who power Sonoma County’s multimillion-dollar wine industry. Many are seeing a doctor for the first time in years and are coming in for a one-time check-in — a situation that the clinic is well-equipped for, Waldman said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are not set up to do chronic disease maintenance,” she said. “Our system’s not set up to have you come back every three or four months to get your blood pressure checked — that’s not our type of practice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Higher premiums are not just forcing people to drop their plan, but also discouraging those who could qualify for a Covered California plan from signing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_029-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rivka Vaughs, who works at the front desk and assists with grant writing, sits in the waiting area of the Jewish Community Free Clinic on March 2, 2026, in Santa Rosa. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Sonoma County, new enrollment this year \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/02/28/new-affordable-care-act-enrollment-declines-by-33-in-north-bay/\">decreased by 33%\u003c/a>, with officials reporting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2026/02/26/as-enhanced-federal-subsidies-expire-covered-california-ends-open-enrollment-with-state-subsidies-keeping-renewals-steady-for-now-and-new-signups-down/#:~:text=California%20allocated%20%24190%20million%20from,of%20the%20federal%20poverty%20level.\">similar drop statewide\u003c/a>. And according to \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">some researchers\u003c/a>, the first people to drop their Covered California plans are usually younger, healthier individuals who use fewer benefits. Those enrollees help lower the costs of care for everyone else. But with fewer healthier people in the marketplace, premiums could rise even higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When folks call in after dropping their plan, Waldman said the clinic can see them in the meantime, but they also work with the patient to see if they qualify for care at a \u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">federally qualified health center\u003c/a> — which serve patients on a sliding fee scale, but are subject to income limits and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/prwora-hhs-bans-illegal-aliens-accessing-taxpayer-funded-programs.html\">potential immigration rules\u003c/a> from the Trump administration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have nothing to lose monetarily from the federal government,” Waldman said. “Free clinics play a really important role in the resiliency of the community right now because we are independent organizations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Influenza doesn’t know if you have insurance or not’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The OBBB’s next big shock to healthcare is expected at the end of this year. By Dec. 31, states must implement stricter eligibility requirements for patients enrolled in Medicaid — known as Medi-Cal in California, which provides free or low-cost care to roughly 15 million lower-income residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2010, the Obama administration expanded Medicaid eligibility to include adults aged 19-64 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. In the decade that followed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/blog/medi-cal-has-expanded-health-coverage-in-california/\">Medi-Cal enrollment soared\u003c/a>, with the biggest increase in that newly-eligible group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/022726_FREE-CLINICS-_GH_009-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hallway inside the San Francisco Free Clinic in the Richmond District on Feb. 27, 2026. The clinic provides free primary care and specialty services to patients without health insurance. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Under the OBBB, Medi-Cal recipients will need to renew their eligibility every six months, instead of annually, and those who are able-bodied and without dependents have to either work, go to school or do community service for at least 80 hours each month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/newsom-medicaid-impacts-memo.pdf\">estimated\u003c/a> the new requirements would result in up to 3.4 million Californians losing their Medi-Cal coverage. And because federal funding for Medi-Cal is dependent on how many people are enrolled, the state could lose over $30 billion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s unfortunate, said Ashley Tsang, medical director for the San Francisco Free Clinic, because more people on Medi-Cal means fewer people who are uninsured.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“We were hoping that there were going to be fewer people uninsured as Medi-Cal covered more people,” Tsang said. “At some point, our numbers would have actually dropped.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The clinic currently sees around 1,500 uninsured patients each year with the help of a few dozen physicians and medical students. Tsang — who helps run the Richmond District clinic along with her husband and fellow physician Ian Nelligan — said the team hasn’t yet needed to expand service hours, but that’s something they are thinking about given the political situation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID-19 taught us that [infectious diseases don’t] know if you have insurance or not, and people will end up at the emergency department one way or the other,” she said. “We all end up paying for patients who have no health insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2026/5180/Changing_Landscape_Affects_Californias_Health_Care_System_050426.pdf\">recent report\u003c/a> from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts that care providers — including private and public hospitals that treat patients with coverage — may feel greater financial pressure as the uninsured population grows in the coming years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many providers, the report finds, “will still provide some care to these populations without receiving reimbursement,” and as these expenses go up, they may negotiate higher rates with private insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Pushing back on closed doors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>White House officials have argued that other parts of the OBBB — like larger tax deductibles and expanded flexible spending accounts — will make it easier for individuals to pay for health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the administration has made clear the changes will limit access to low-cost care for one group of people in particular: undocumented immigrants. Blocking this group from Medicaid is necessary “to preserve it for hardworking Americans who need it,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said before the bill’s passage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The OBBB reduced federal funds that helped states provide emergency Medicaid coverage to undocumented immigrants — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WFTCA-Illegal-Immigrant-Healthcare-Memo-FINAL.pdf\">White House memo\u003c/a> went as far as calling this move “closing the California loophole.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078937\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078937\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pro-farmworker posters adorn the walls inside the Hijas del Campo workspace. The group helps coordinate services including food distribution, healthcare access and legal aid for farmworkers and their families, on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This change — along with other expected healthcare cuts from the federal government — prompted state lawmakers last year to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-budget-newsom-democrats/\">block new Medi-Cal enrollment\u003c/a> for undocumented immigrants aged 19 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means Marisol can no longer sign up for Medi-Cal, leaving her with only the mobile clinic outside Hijas del Campo for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is an injustice,” the farmworker said. “Our work is very intense, and it’s what brings food to people’s tables. But this work is not valued.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078938\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078938\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033126Free-Clinics-Brentwood_GH_008_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dorina Salgado-Moraida, co-founder of Hijas del Campo, stands beside a Contra Costa Health Department mobile clinic used to provide free and low-cost medical services to farmworkers and underserved residents, on March 31, 2026, in Brentwood, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When she first felt those bumps on her breasts in 2023, a doctor at the clinic confirmed she had a tumor — but a benign one that was treated thanks to the county program. Marisol still comes to the mobile clinic for follow-ups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People are still going to be sick,” said Hijas del Campo co-founder Dorina Salgado-Moraida, who pointed out that there are thousands of undocumented immigrants in other parts of the state who will be left with no options for care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had some learnings from the pandemic, but then at the same time, we didn’t really learn much,” she said. “We didn’t put systems in place to protect those who are the most essential.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s Note: This story was updated to clarify medical terminology. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "middle-class-tax-refund-california-when-is-deadline-april-30-mctr-replacement-debit-card",
"title": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline",
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"headTitle": "You Could Have Unclaimed Cash From the State — but Thursday Is Your Deadline | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.[aside postID=news_12077664 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg']“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Eligible California residents have till April 30 to claim cash made available by the Middle Class Tax Refund. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "driving-in-the-bay-area-is-essential-for-many-its-only-gotten-more-expensive",
"title": "Driving in the Bay Area Is Essential for Many. It’s Only Gotten More Expensive",
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"headTitle": "Driving in the Bay Area Is Essential for Many. It’s Only Gotten More Expensive | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running late between work and school, Naomi Rodriguez pulled her blue 2000 Nissan Quest minivan into one of the most expensive gas stations in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located in San Francisco’s SoMA neighborhood, the gas station is a last chance for commuters like Rodriguez to fill up before heading east on the Bay Bridge. During the afternoon rush hour in early April, the marquee of the Shell station displayed $6.80 for a gallon of regular gas, about $3 higher than the national average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rodriguez paid $17 for around two and a half gallons, just enough to make it across the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The gas is making it impossible to even survive,” said Rodriguez, a 32-year-old student who graduated with a degree in political science from UC Berkeley last May and is working on a separate degree there in legal studies. “ I can’t even focus on putting my money toward getting a place for myself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area and California have long had some of the country’s highest gas prices, and they’ve soared in recent weeks, driven in part by the war with Iran. But sky-high gas prices are only one piece of a broader surge in driving costs that is reshaping life in the Bay Area, where residents already endure grueling, car-dependent commutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081540\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081540\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1889\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px-160x302.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px-813x1536.jpg 813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cost breakdown of owning and driving a new car in San Francisco includes multiple factors, such as gas, maintenance and insurance. \u003ccite>(\n\u003cp>Sources: \u003ca href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-california/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bankrate\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/drivingcosts/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAA Driving Costs Calculator\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAA Gas Prices\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.edmunds.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Edmunds\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/daily-miles-traveled\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Metropolitan Transportation Commission\u003c/a>. Graphic: Marnette Federis/KQED\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>)\u003c/p>\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rising vehicle prices, insurance, maintenance and loan payments are forcing many drivers to make stark tradeoffs — stretching budgets, delaying major purchases or abandoning car ownership altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The total expense of owning a car rose 40% from January 2020 to August 2025, with the sharpest increases associated with insurance, gasoline and repair costs, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://www.navyfederal.org/about/press-releases/2025-press-releases/coco-index-car-costs-rising.html\">index\u003c/a> from Navy Federal Credit Union. In 2025, the average cost to own and operate a new car in the U.S. was $11,577, or nearly $965 a month, according to \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UPDATE-AAA-Fact-Sheet-Your-Driving-Cost-9.2025-1.pdf\">AAA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The affordability crisis for cars right now is fairly intense,” said Jessica Caldwell, assistant vice president of insights at Edmunds, an automotive analytics company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The outer reaches of the Bay Area have long had some of the country’s highest \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=9fbef2021ab54de19615985df01ddb49\">populations \u003c/a>of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706621/the-life-of-a-bay-area-on-demand-super-commuter\">super commuters\u003c/a>, people who travel more than 90 minutes one-way. Contra Costa County residents had the longest commutes, averaging over 40 minutes by car or more than an hour on public transit, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Low-income workers may be more affected by sudden spikes in transportation costs, said Michael Anderson, who researches transportation economics at UC Berkeley. He explained that people with low-income jobs are more likely to be required to work in person and outside of normal business hours, when public transportation is unavailable, forcing them to drive more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Rodriguez, the rising price of driving means she can’t save for other necessities, like housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her daughter had to move out of on-campus family housing in February and have since been living with friends in Albany, Walnut Creek and Oakland, while Rodriguez commutes into San Francisco for work at a social justice nonprofit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can’t make it to places on time, you lose everything. I can’t lose my job. I can’t not finish school,” Rodriguez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said her own car is having trouble, and the minivan she pulled into the station is on loan from a friend. If she went shopping for a replacement, she’d likely find a market geared toward selling her something less than ideal for a penny-pinched Bay Area commuter.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bigger, more expensive cars\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>People shopping for a budget-friendly new car or truck don’t have a lot of options in today’s market, increasing costs across the entire auto industry, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Cars are expensive because Americans want bigger vehicles with more amenities and more features, and automakers are happy to produce them because they make more money on them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The number of vehicles priced at $60,000 or more has almost doubled since 2017, from 61 to 117, according to Sean Tucker, the managing editor at Kelley Blue Book. Meanwhile, the number of models priced at $25,000 or under has dropped from 36 to four, Tucker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033975\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033975 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/GettyImages-2207060270-scaled-e1777317412637.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1309\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brand new Toyota trucks are displayed on the sales lot at City Toyota on March 26, 2025, in Daly City, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The average age of a vehicle on American roads is now nearly 13 years old, a figure that has steadily increased since from almost 9 years in 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Caldwell said this has, in part, led to shrinking inventory in the used car market, making it harder for used car shoppers to find a deal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Bay Area drivers seeking shelter from the volatility of fuel prices, Tucker said a flood of lightly-used electric vehicles has hit the market, as three-year EV leases are running out for people who took advantage of a federal government tax credit. (Until last year, the federal government offered up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/credits-for-new-clean-vehicles-purchased-in-2023-or-after\">$7,500\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Higher prices for new cars and trucks are driving up insurance rates, repair costs and the length of auto loans.[aside postID=news_12080289 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260420-SLEEP-PODS-MD-01-KQED_1.jpg']“ It used to be that if you and I were in a fender bender, we needed a new bumper. Now we need a new bumper, a new radar, a new lidar, and two new cameras. We’re seeing even minor accidents are now costing $10,000,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurance rates nationwide are up 12% on average annually over the past five years, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights/replay-available-cox-automotive-q1-2026-industry-insights-and-sales-forecast-call/\">Cox Automotive\u003c/a>, a technology services company for the automotive industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The average cost of full coverage auto insurance in California is $3,119 per year — or 16% more than the national average — and people in dense cities like San Francisco pay significantly more than the state average, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-california/\">Bankrate\u003c/a>, a financial planning website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, drivers who opt for more expensive cars, or who have a tight budget, may decide to finance their purchase with auto loans over a longer period of time to reduce monthly payments, even if it means they will pay more interest overall, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Right or wrong, when most people think about the price of their vehicle, they’re looking at the monthly payment,” she said. “If the average is 70, it’s not unusual to have a loan term of 84 months.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of March, buyers financing a new vehicle at an average 7% annual percentage rate over about 70 months would pay roughly $10,000 in interest, Caldwell said. For used cars, the average APR was higher, at 11% in March, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Calculating the cost\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As costs associated with cars rise, drivers are keeping their vehicles on the road for longer, driving less or changing how they get around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Erin Rabourn relies on her 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid to get her 11-year-old son to school, soccer practice and friend hangouts. The family moved from South Berkeley to Richmond in 2023, when she and her husband bought a home after years of saving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We can’t be without a car. I can’t e-bike him from Richmond to South Berkeley. It’s not gonna happen,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081499\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081499\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RichmondCaliforniaNewCarsGetty-scaled-e1777318176581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1307\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A truck carries brand new cars on March 4, 2025, in Richmond, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rabourn said her car needs its 120,000-mile service and a new hybrid battery, and that her mechanic estimated it would cost $10,000 to keep it on the road over the next few years, suggesting it may be time to invest in a new vehicle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rabourn said she’s leaning toward keeping the Highlander, given the state of the market. Comparable SUVs, like a 2023 Toyota Rav4, would cost between $29,000 and $45,000, according to Kelley Blue Book, not to mention insurance and loan payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As maintenance costs on his 2011 Volkswagen Jetta grew, Albert Flynn DeSilver decided he had had enough. The resident of Woodacre in Marin County sold his car last year and now gets around on a Class 1 e-bike, though he still keeps a 2017 Honda Fit “mostly sitting in the driveway” for when he or his wife needs a car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It became too much. I realized I could be saving thousands of dollars every year by just letting go of that car,” DeSilver said, estimating he saves between $3,000 and $5,000 a year. DeSilver commutes eight miles to a coworking space in San Rafael, where he works as a publisher — a journey that takes him around 40 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081453\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas shows her gas log on her phone while she waits in line at a Costco gas station in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Shekinah Samaya-Thomas, 61, of East Oakland, the cost of driving is a matter of survival. On a recent March afternoon, she waited in line with other Bay Area drivers at a Costco gas station in San Leandro, where regular was $5.19 for a gallon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Every time I have to put an extra $25 or $30 into our car, that’s money I don’t have for food, utility bills, retirement or savings,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Samaya-Thomas, a substitute adult educator, described herself and her husband, who works in security, as “very much under-employed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081454\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081454\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas fills up her gas tank at a Costco gas station in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She said they have both been searching for full-time work for years. Combined, they made just $34,000 last year, and low housing costs through a partnership with the Oakland Community Land Trust are what keep them from becoming homeless, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Samaya-Thomas said when she drives, she bundles her errands into one trip to save.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Driving is reserved for getting to and from work and getting our basic needs met. I don’t see friends. I don’t go out. I don’t do social things,” Samaya-Thomas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081449\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081449\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas (left) and her husband Christopher Samaya-Thomas (right) walk into a food distribution center to pick up groceries in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When she or her husband, who share a 2016 Toyota Prius, are offered job opportunities, she said the first consideration is the logistics of showing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are some substitute opportunities that are just too far away from me to feel like I can drive to them with gas prices the way they are,” Samaya-Thomas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other times, she said her husband has been unable to take a job because it required showing up at 6 a.m. on a weekend, before BART service begins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081450\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christopher Samaya-Thomas (left) and his wife Shekinah Samaya-Thomas (right) pick up groceries at a food distribution center in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waiting to pump her gas at Costco, she said the line was longer than usual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a constant calculation trying to manage all this. It’s emotionally and physically exhausting, and it’s not easy on a marriage either,” she said, gripping her faded Mickey Mouse steering wheel cover, a reminder of her happy place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Faced with rising transportation costs and what she described as an already “bare bones” lifestyle, she said if prices kept rising, she’d be forced to cut one of the few things left that bring her and her husband joy: their streaming subscriptions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Other than that, I don’t know what’s left to cut,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>How We Get By\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running late between work and school, Naomi Rodriguez pulled her blue 2000 Nissan Quest minivan into one of the most expensive gas stations in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located in San Francisco’s SoMA neighborhood, the gas station is a last chance for commuters like Rodriguez to fill up before heading east on the Bay Bridge. During the afternoon rush hour in early April, the marquee of the Shell station displayed $6.80 for a gallon of regular gas, about $3 higher than the national average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rodriguez paid $17 for around two and a half gallons, just enough to make it across the bridge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The gas is making it impossible to even survive,” said Rodriguez, a 32-year-old student who graduated with a degree in political science from UC Berkeley last May and is working on a separate degree there in legal studies. “ I can’t even focus on putting my money toward getting a place for myself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area and California have long had some of the country’s highest gas prices, and they’ve soared in recent weeks, driven in part by the war with Iran. But sky-high gas prices are only one piece of a broader surge in driving costs that is reshaping life in the Bay Area, where residents already endure grueling, car-dependent commutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081540\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081540\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1889\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px-160x302.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Blue-Colorful-Illustrative-Buy-Used-Car-Tips-Infographic-Poster_1000px-813x1536.jpg 813w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cost breakdown of owning and driving a new car in San Francisco includes multiple factors, such as gas, maintenance and insurance. \u003ccite>(\n\u003cp>Sources: \u003ca href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-california/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bankrate\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/drivingcosts/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAA Driving Costs Calculator\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAA Gas Prices\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.edmunds.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Edmunds\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/daily-miles-traveled\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Metropolitan Transportation Commission\u003c/a>. Graphic: Marnette Federis/KQED\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>)\u003c/p>\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rising vehicle prices, insurance, maintenance and loan payments are forcing many drivers to make stark tradeoffs — stretching budgets, delaying major purchases or abandoning car ownership altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The total expense of owning a car rose 40% from January 2020 to August 2025, with the sharpest increases associated with insurance, gasoline and repair costs, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://www.navyfederal.org/about/press-releases/2025-press-releases/coco-index-car-costs-rising.html\">index\u003c/a> from Navy Federal Credit Union. In 2025, the average cost to own and operate a new car in the U.S. was $11,577, or nearly $965 a month, according to \u003ca href=\"https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UPDATE-AAA-Fact-Sheet-Your-Driving-Cost-9.2025-1.pdf\">AAA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The affordability crisis for cars right now is fairly intense,” said Jessica Caldwell, assistant vice president of insights at Edmunds, an automotive analytics company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The outer reaches of the Bay Area have long had some of the country’s highest \u003ca href=\"https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=9fbef2021ab54de19615985df01ddb49\">populations \u003c/a>of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706621/the-life-of-a-bay-area-on-demand-super-commuter\">super commuters\u003c/a>, people who travel more than 90 minutes one-way. Contra Costa County residents had the longest commutes, averaging over 40 minutes by car or more than an hour on public transit, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Low-income workers may be more affected by sudden spikes in transportation costs, said Michael Anderson, who researches transportation economics at UC Berkeley. He explained that people with low-income jobs are more likely to be required to work in person and outside of normal business hours, when public transportation is unavailable, forcing them to drive more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Rodriguez, the rising price of driving means she can’t save for other necessities, like housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her daughter had to move out of on-campus family housing in February and have since been living with friends in Albany, Walnut Creek and Oakland, while Rodriguez commutes into San Francisco for work at a social justice nonprofit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can’t make it to places on time, you lose everything. I can’t lose my job. I can’t not finish school,” Rodriguez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rodriguez said her own car is having trouble, and the minivan she pulled into the station is on loan from a friend. If she went shopping for a replacement, she’d likely find a market geared toward selling her something less than ideal for a penny-pinched Bay Area commuter.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bigger, more expensive cars\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>People shopping for a budget-friendly new car or truck don’t have a lot of options in today’s market, increasing costs across the entire auto industry, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Cars are expensive because Americans want bigger vehicles with more amenities and more features, and automakers are happy to produce them because they make more money on them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The number of vehicles priced at $60,000 or more has almost doubled since 2017, from 61 to 117, according to Sean Tucker, the managing editor at Kelley Blue Book. Meanwhile, the number of models priced at $25,000 or under has dropped from 36 to four, Tucker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033975\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033975 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/GettyImages-2207060270-scaled-e1777317412637.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1309\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brand new Toyota trucks are displayed on the sales lot at City Toyota on March 26, 2025, in Daly City, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The average age of a vehicle on American roads is now nearly 13 years old, a figure that has steadily increased since from almost 9 years in 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Caldwell said this has, in part, led to shrinking inventory in the used car market, making it harder for used car shoppers to find a deal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Bay Area drivers seeking shelter from the volatility of fuel prices, Tucker said a flood of lightly-used electric vehicles has hit the market, as three-year EV leases are running out for people who took advantage of a federal government tax credit. (Until last year, the federal government offered up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/credits-for-new-clean-vehicles-purchased-in-2023-or-after\">$7,500\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Higher prices for new cars and trucks are driving up insurance rates, repair costs and the length of auto loans.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“ It used to be that if you and I were in a fender bender, we needed a new bumper. Now we need a new bumper, a new radar, a new lidar, and two new cameras. We’re seeing even minor accidents are now costing $10,000,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurance rates nationwide are up 12% on average annually over the past five years, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights/replay-available-cox-automotive-q1-2026-industry-insights-and-sales-forecast-call/\">Cox Automotive\u003c/a>, a technology services company for the automotive industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The average cost of full coverage auto insurance in California is $3,119 per year — or 16% more than the national average — and people in dense cities like San Francisco pay significantly more than the state average, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance-in-california/\">Bankrate\u003c/a>, a financial planning website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, drivers who opt for more expensive cars, or who have a tight budget, may decide to finance their purchase with auto loans over a longer period of time to reduce monthly payments, even if it means they will pay more interest overall, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Right or wrong, when most people think about the price of their vehicle, they’re looking at the monthly payment,” she said. “If the average is 70, it’s not unusual to have a loan term of 84 months.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of March, buyers financing a new vehicle at an average 7% annual percentage rate over about 70 months would pay roughly $10,000 in interest, Caldwell said. For used cars, the average APR was higher, at 11% in March, Caldwell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Calculating the cost\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As costs associated with cars rise, drivers are keeping their vehicles on the road for longer, driving less or changing how they get around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Erin Rabourn relies on her 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid to get her 11-year-old son to school, soccer practice and friend hangouts. The family moved from South Berkeley to Richmond in 2023, when she and her husband bought a home after years of saving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We can’t be without a car. I can’t e-bike him from Richmond to South Berkeley. It’s not gonna happen,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081499\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081499\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RichmondCaliforniaNewCarsGetty-scaled-e1777318176581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1307\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A truck carries brand new cars on March 4, 2025, in Richmond, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rabourn said her car needs its 120,000-mile service and a new hybrid battery, and that her mechanic estimated it would cost $10,000 to keep it on the road over the next few years, suggesting it may be time to invest in a new vehicle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rabourn said she’s leaning toward keeping the Highlander, given the state of the market. Comparable SUVs, like a 2023 Toyota Rav4, would cost between $29,000 and $45,000, according to Kelley Blue Book, not to mention insurance and loan payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As maintenance costs on his 2011 Volkswagen Jetta grew, Albert Flynn DeSilver decided he had had enough. The resident of Woodacre in Marin County sold his car last year and now gets around on a Class 1 e-bike, though he still keeps a 2017 Honda Fit “mostly sitting in the driveway” for when he or his wife needs a car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It became too much. I realized I could be saving thousands of dollars every year by just letting go of that car,” DeSilver said, estimating he saves between $3,000 and $5,000 a year. DeSilver commutes eight miles to a coworking space in San Rafael, where he works as a publisher — a journey that takes him around 40 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081453\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081453\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00546_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas shows her gas log on her phone while she waits in line at a Costco gas station in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Shekinah Samaya-Thomas, 61, of East Oakland, the cost of driving is a matter of survival. On a recent March afternoon, she waited in line with other Bay Area drivers at a Costco gas station in San Leandro, where regular was $5.19 for a gallon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Every time I have to put an extra $25 or $30 into our car, that’s money I don’t have for food, utility bills, retirement or savings,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Samaya-Thomas, a substitute adult educator, described herself and her husband, who works in security, as “very much under-employed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081454\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081454\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00574_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas fills up her gas tank at a Costco gas station in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She said they have both been searching for full-time work for years. Combined, they made just $34,000 last year, and low housing costs through a partnership with the Oakland Community Land Trust are what keep them from becoming homeless, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Samaya-Thomas said when she drives, she bundles her errands into one trip to save.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Driving is reserved for getting to and from work and getting our basic needs met. I don’t see friends. I don’t go out. I don’t do social things,” Samaya-Thomas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081449\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081449\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00329_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekinah Samaya-Thomas (left) and her husband Christopher Samaya-Thomas (right) walk into a food distribution center to pick up groceries in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When she or her husband, who share a 2016 Toyota Prius, are offered job opportunities, she said the first consideration is the logistics of showing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are some substitute opportunities that are just too far away from me to feel like I can drive to them with gas prices the way they are,” Samaya-Thomas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other times, she said her husband has been unable to take a job because it required showing up at 6 a.m. on a weekend, before BART service begins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081450\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081450\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260416-COSTOFDRIVING00385_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christopher Samaya-Thomas (left) and his wife Shekinah Samaya-Thomas (right) pick up groceries at a food distribution center in Oakland on April 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Waiting to pump her gas at Costco, she said the line was longer than usual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a constant calculation trying to manage all this. It’s emotionally and physically exhausting, and it’s not easy on a marriage either,” she said, gripping her faded Mickey Mouse steering wheel cover, a reminder of her happy place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Faced with rising transportation costs and what she described as an already “bare bones” lifestyle, she said if prices kept rising, she’d be forced to cut one of the few things left that bring her and her husband joy: their streaming subscriptions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Other than that, I don’t know what’s left to cut,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "want-to-save-on-groceries-you-can-grow-your-own-garden",
"title": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden",
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"headTitle": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.[aside postID=news_12040961 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-1312721999-1020x680.jpg']You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.[aside postID=news_12078915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/012426_FREEOAKLANDUP_GH_011-KQED.jpg']The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "as-some-oil-deliveries-to-us-stop-flowing-california-braces-for-an-energy-crisis",
"title": "As Some Oil Deliveries to US Stop Flowing, California Braces for an Energy Crisis",
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"headTitle": "As Some Oil Deliveries to US Stop Flowing, California Braces for an Energy Crisis | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The final oil tankers to clear the Strait of Hormuz before t\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913572/what-will-it-take-to-end-the-war-in-iran\">he U.S.-Israeli war on Iran\u003c/a> began are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-when-oil-deliveries-to-us-could-stop-11762782\">dock\u003c/a> at West Coast ports this week, marking the end of a more than 45-day buffer that has largely shielded California’s economy from the closure’s full cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war began, killing thousands and triggering a wave of violence across the Middle East, Iran has cut off most maritime traffic through the narrow gulf passage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913326/what-do-rising-gas-prices-mean-for-californians\">ratcheting up oil prices in California\u003c/a> and around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some analysts believe prices have plateaued for now, the incoming deliveries mark a potential transition from sticker shock to a supply crisis for California — one that could worsen if Iran follows through on a fresh \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-15-2026#0000019d-90f6-d025-a59d-98fe909f0000\">threat\u003c/a> issued Wednesday to disrupt Red Sea trade if the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kyle Meng, an economics professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and formerly the White House’s senior climate and energy economist during the Biden administration, said oil and futures markets have likely already priced in the arrival of the final deliveries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, should Iran interfere with Saudi shipments out of the Red Sea, “that’s when you will see the next discrete jump in oil prices around the world,\u003cem>” \u003c/em>Meng said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to a lack of easy access to pipelines and globally uncompetitive production of its own, California imports most of its fuel. Of its imports, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/foreign-sources-crude-oil-imports\">17%\u003c/a> of crude comes from Iraq, which has also been affected by the war — compared to around \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67407#:~:text=The%20Middle%20East%20Gulf%20was,U.S.%20Energy%20Information%20Administration%20(EIA)\">8%\u003c/a> nationwide for imports overall from the Middle East Gulf region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state also gets refined products, like gasoline and jet fuel, from South Korea and other Asian countries, which are facing their own supply squeeze.[aside postID=news_12075377 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/RoKhannaGetty1.jpg']Kate Gordon, CEO of economics policy group California Forward, and a former Biden administration energy adviser, said the dominance of the agricultural sector makes the Golden State “uniquely vulnerable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Diesel prices are incredibly connected to food and ag — and logistics, which is a huge sector for California,” Gordon said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The repercussions could potentially reach the skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Jet-fuel prices are bonkers,” said Tom O’Connor, an ICF energy consultant who advises California’s Energy Commission after 30 years with ExxonMobil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jet fuel prices have nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/\">tripled\u003c/a> since February, and O’Connor said he believes airlines won’t have many options if Asian countries can’t meet demand coming from major airports in California, as well as Phoenix and Vegas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>They’re going to have to cut flights,” O’Connor said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Connor said he’s advised the state to come up with a plan for addressing shortages. Even if normal flow resumes, he said, things could remain elevated for at least four months. Both Meng and O’Connor advise Californians to “hedge” their bets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that means going down and getting an electric vehicle, try to do it, get a cheap one … if you can afford it,” O’Connor said. “Carpool with neighbors, things like that. I don’t want to make it sound overly dramatic, but as COVID proved, there’s one thing that will [drive] prices lower, and that’s lower demand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California is uniquely vulnerable to oil and gas shortages. Here’s how residents could be affected.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The final oil tankers to clear the Strait of Hormuz before t\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913572/what-will-it-take-to-end-the-war-in-iran\">he U.S.-Israeli war on Iran\u003c/a> began are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-when-oil-deliveries-to-us-could-stop-11762782\">dock\u003c/a> at West Coast ports this week, marking the end of a more than 45-day buffer that has largely shielded California’s economy from the closure’s full cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war began, killing thousands and triggering a wave of violence across the Middle East, Iran has cut off most maritime traffic through the narrow gulf passage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913326/what-do-rising-gas-prices-mean-for-californians\">ratcheting up oil prices in California\u003c/a> and around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some analysts believe prices have plateaued for now, the incoming deliveries mark a potential transition from sticker shock to a supply crisis for California — one that could worsen if Iran follows through on a fresh \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-15-2026#0000019d-90f6-d025-a59d-98fe909f0000\">threat\u003c/a> issued Wednesday to disrupt Red Sea trade if the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kyle Meng, an economics professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and formerly the White House’s senior climate and energy economist during the Biden administration, said oil and futures markets have likely already priced in the arrival of the final deliveries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, should Iran interfere with Saudi shipments out of the Red Sea, “that’s when you will see the next discrete jump in oil prices around the world,\u003cem>” \u003c/em>Meng said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to a lack of easy access to pipelines and globally uncompetitive production of its own, California imports most of its fuel. Of its imports, about \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/foreign-sources-crude-oil-imports\">17%\u003c/a> of crude comes from Iraq, which has also been affected by the war — compared to around \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67407#:~:text=The%20Middle%20East%20Gulf%20was,U.S.%20Energy%20Information%20Administration%20(EIA)\">8%\u003c/a> nationwide for imports overall from the Middle East Gulf region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state also gets refined products, like gasoline and jet fuel, from South Korea and other Asian countries, which are facing their own supply squeeze.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Kate Gordon, CEO of economics policy group California Forward, and a former Biden administration energy adviser, said the dominance of the agricultural sector makes the Golden State “uniquely vulnerable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Diesel prices are incredibly connected to food and ag — and logistics, which is a huge sector for California,” Gordon said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The repercussions could potentially reach the skies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Jet-fuel prices are bonkers,” said Tom O’Connor, an ICF energy consultant who advises California’s Energy Commission after 30 years with ExxonMobil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jet fuel prices have nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/\">tripled\u003c/a> since February, and O’Connor said he believes airlines won’t have many options if Asian countries can’t meet demand coming from major airports in California, as well as Phoenix and Vegas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>They’re going to have to cut flights,” O’Connor said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Connor said he’s advised the state to come up with a plan for addressing shortages. Even if normal flow resumes, he said, things could remain elevated for at least four months. Both Meng and O’Connor advise Californians to “hedge” their bets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If that means going down and getting an electric vehicle, try to do it, get a cheap one … if you can afford it,” O’Connor said. “Carpool with neighbors, things like that. I don’t want to make it sound overly dramatic, but as COVID proved, there’s one thing that will [drive] prices lower, and that’s lower demand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "‘No Hope for Someone Like Me’: Immigrants in California Pull Back From Filing Taxes",
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"content": "\u003cp>A bell chimes every time a new customer enters Martha Valencia’s tax shop in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sonoma-county\">Sonoma County.\u003c/a> The space is filled with knickknacks, gifts from customers and photos of family. During tax season, it’s usually filled with customers too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year has been slower than normal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bell used to be ringing off the hook, says Valencia, with lines out the door. She and her son would fit walk-ins between appointments, trying to keep wait times under an hour. But today, “it’s empty,” Valencia says. “They have to wait nothing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia, who has been doing immigration and tax services for over 20 years, says around 80% of her clients file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, the tax number used by people — like undocumented immigrants — who don’t qualify for a Social Security number.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, business isn’t just slow; it’s the worst she’s ever seen. Valencia says she’s seeing a 60% drop in clients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not even in the pandemic I had a drop like this,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia believes the drop is linked to larger governmental changes and fear in the current political climate. This year, H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, \u003ca href=\"https://lulac.org/impact_of_hr_1_one_big_beautiful_bill_act_on_immigrants_and_children_of_immigrants_who_are_us_citizens/\">tightened restrictions\u003c/a> on ITIN filers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the biggest changes for undocumented taxpayers as a result of H.R. 1’s passage includes restrictions on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit\">Additional Child Tax Credit\u003c/a>, which previously allowed many mixed‑status families to receive thousands of dollars back. That means ITIN filers can expect much smaller refunds, Valencia says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074131 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1251\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-1536x961.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is seen during an enrollment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on July 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The House passed the sweeping tax and spending bill after winning over fiscal hawks and moderate Republicans. The bill makes permanent President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases spending on defense and immigration enforcement and temporarily cuts taxes on tips, while at the same time, cutting funding for Medicaid, food assistance for the poor, clean energy and raises the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion. \u003ccite>(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Many of Valencia’s clients are long-term customers. The tax business is built on trust, she says. This year, before accepting any work, Valencia feels an ethical obligation to tell clients the bad news that their refunds will be smaller, and maybe nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mixed-status household could, in a normal year, expect to receive around $2,000 in the Additional Child Tax Credit. But this year, they’re lucky to get $500, she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia says the reaction to this information has been immediate. Prospective customers tell her: “You know what? I’m not going to file because I’m not getting any refund. So what’s the point of doing taxes?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undocumented immigrant, having proof of taxes is important. It builds a paper trail, so if the day comes to receive legal status, it shows work history, engagement with the system and U.S. presence.[aside postID=news_12079829 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/ImmigrantTaxes-GilsTaxServices.jpg']But Valencia says customers are coming in worn-down, without a vision for future immigration relief. They tell her their faith in the system is dropping.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Southern California city of Pomona, tax preparer Hayde Vigil says her business is also seeing about half its usual filings this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the steep drop looks different in Southern California, she explains. Most of her clients are documented, Vigil says in Spanish, but status doesn’t seem to be the issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re afraid to leave their homes because there are so many raids, and they’re scared they’ll be detained and deported,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigration enforcement agents have been active in that region, and her customers are afraid they’ll be picked up because they’re Latino, even if they are here legally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They weren’t going out at all before, and now they only go out for the bare minimum,” says Vigil, which doesn’t seem to include leaving the house to file taxes this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘There’s nothing for you’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Claudia, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, sits wringing her hands in her lap. As names are called out in the Northern California day labor hall where she sits in, she waits for the sound of her own, hoping to pick up some work for the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia, who did not want her full name to be used because her immigration status puts her at risk of deportation, has been living in California for over 20 years. In these decades, her work has ebbed and flowed, sometimes working multiple jobs at once. These days, Claudia is lucky to have her name called a few times a week. Regardless of workflow, she files her taxes every year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet it’s not just around tax season that she pays, Claudia explains in Spanish. “You pay taxes on what you earn, on what you buy, on everything you consume in this country,” Claudia says. “But you can’t get anything back from it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030566\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1993px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030566\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1993\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed.jpg 1993w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-800x535.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1020x682.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1920x1284.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1993px) 100vw, 1993px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Current federal tax forms are distributed at the offices of the Internal Revenue Service on Nov. 1, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois. \u003ccite>(Scott Olson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Claudia keeps filing year after year in the hope that one day she’ll have a pathway to documentation that would let her visit her family in Mexico, find work more easily and live with no fear about status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You hold onto the hope that, in the future, you’ll be able to do things the right way,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after over 20 years of filing, her hope toward legalization only seems to be dwindling. “In the end, there’s nothing there for you, is there?” she asks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia still sees no pathway to legal status and receives no Social Security benefits, no MediCal — and this year, for the first time, she was told she’ll receive no credits back for her son, who is a U.S. citizen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her voice grows soft. “So, what’s the point in paying?” she asks. “There’s no hope for someone like me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia says she went back and forth in her head, deciding if this would be the year she broke her commitment to a stable future here. In the end, she filed, but her doubt continues to grow, both in the system and her future in the United States.[aside postID=news_12079441 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260226-GovRaceForum-49-BL_qed.jpg']Yet for others, the doubt has already reached a tipping point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Northern California day labor facility, Velasco waits to hear his own name called.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Why should I pay taxes?” he asks in Spanish. “When you realize you’re paying in but not receiving anything in return, there’s no point anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Velasco, who also asked for his full name not to be shared out of fear of deportation, has lived in Northern California for 24 years. For the majority of that time, he worked at a lumber company and filed his taxes consistently. Filing always felt like a no‑brainer, he says — part of his civic responsibility, even without legal status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He always considered himself a rule follower. “After all, that’s how the country keeps running,” he says. “But lately, I’ve changed my tune.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many undocumented immigrants across the state, Velasco fears being seen in public, afraid he’ll be picked up and deported. He says he feels at odds with the federal government and has begun questioning why he should contribute to a system he believes wants him gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t exactly give you the desire to comply,” he says. “Yet when it comes to collecting taxes, [the government] certainly want to do that, don’t they?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Velasco no longer files. Now, he picks up odd jobs doing house maintenance and gets paid in cash, under the table.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Undocumented taxpayers are ‘extremely important’ to economy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a common belief that immigrants don’t pay taxes, says Abby Raisz, vice president of research at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. But it’s not true. “Undocumented immigrants maintain very high effective tax rates,” Raisz says — \u003ca href=\"https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-state-local-tax-contributions-2017/\">averaging 7.1% in state and local taxes\u003c/a>, higher than the rate paid by the top 1% of earners nationally, according to the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/\">Raisz’s team estimates\u003c/a> undocumented Californians contribute about \u003ca href=\"https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/our-work/publications/economic-impact-mass-deportation-california\">9% of the state’s GDP\u003c/a>, or roughly $278 billion, a figure on the order of the entire GDP of Nevada or Oregon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also \u003ca href=\"https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/do-immigrants-pay-taxes\">pay more\u003c/a> than $10.6 billion in state and local taxes and $13 billion in federal taxes, despite being excluded from most federal benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11863601\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11863601 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut.jpg\" alt=\"woman doing taxes with calculator\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1012\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Undocumented Californians generate about 9% of the state’s GDP — roughly $278 billion — and pay more than $10.6 billion in state and local taxes and $13 billion in federal taxes, despite being excluded from most federal benefits. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Josh Stehlik, policy director for the California Immigrant Policy Center, says those contributions are essential to the state’s fiscal health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Undocumented taxpayers are extremely important to the national economy and to California’s economy,” Stehlik says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But both Raisz and Stehlik say trust in the tax system is quickly eroding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the IRS was directed by the Trump administration to \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/policywatch/ice-and-irs-reach-agreement-to-share-taxpayer-information-of-suspected-undocumented-immigrants/\">share taxpayer information\u003c/a> with the Department of Homeland Security, a move that immigrant rights groups called unprecedented.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Federal courts \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/policywatch/ice-and-irs-reach-agreement-to-share-taxpayer-information-of-suspected-undocumented-immigrants/\">have since blocked\u003c/a> the IRS‑DHS data‑sharing agreement, but the episode has already shaken confidence in the system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raisz says, after speaking with tax providers throughout the state, the implications for an already fragile trust could be \u003ca href=\"https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/report/economic-impact-of-immigration-enforcement-bayarea/\">long‑lasting\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12077664 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg']“If this taxpayer information does in fact get related to other departments, ITIN is going to lose all of the trust that it currently has,” she says, and warned it probably won’t ever gain it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stehlik says new federal policy changes have only deepened the fear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigrant taxpayers are afraid to file because of the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on immigrant taxpayer confidentiality,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts warn that if undocumented immigrants disengage from the tax system, the consequences would be severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We could be looking at an $8.5 billion loss in revenue,” Stehlik says, referencing the amount that ITEP says undocumented Californians paid in state and local tax contributions in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raisz agrees that the long‑term implications would be enormous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Undocumented immigrants contribute billions in sales tax revenue, and their consumer spending powers local businesses already struggling with post‑pandemic declines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The larger concern seems to be the loss of trust and disengagement from the tax system,” Raisz says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She adds that undocumented taxpayers are often economically engaged, starting businesses, buying homes, and supporting local economies. If they continue to disengage, she says, the \u003ca href=\"https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/californias-undocumented-residents-make-significant-tax-contributions/\">economic fallout\u003c/a> “would be massive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Shandra Back covers immigration for Northern California Public Media through the \u003ca href=\"https://fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows/\">California Local News Fellowship\u003c/a>. This story was edited with help from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/californianewsroom\">The California Newsroom\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A bell chimes every time a new customer enters Martha Valencia’s tax shop in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sonoma-county\">Sonoma County.\u003c/a> The space is filled with knickknacks, gifts from customers and photos of family. During tax season, it’s usually filled with customers too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this year has been slower than normal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bell used to be ringing off the hook, says Valencia, with lines out the door. She and her son would fit walk-ins between appointments, trying to keep wait times under an hour. But today, “it’s empty,” Valencia says. “They have to wait nothing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia, who has been doing immigration and tax services for over 20 years, says around 80% of her clients file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, the tax number used by people — like undocumented immigrants — who don’t qualify for a Social Security number.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, business isn’t just slow; it’s the worst she’s ever seen. Valencia says she’s seeing a 60% drop in clients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not even in the pandemic I had a drop like this,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia believes the drop is linked to larger governmental changes and fear in the current political climate. This year, H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, \u003ca href=\"https://lulac.org/impact_of_hr_1_one_big_beautiful_bill_act_on_immigrants_and_children_of_immigrants_who_are_us_citizens/\">tightened restrictions\u003c/a> on ITIN filers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the biggest changes for undocumented taxpayers as a result of H.R. 1’s passage includes restrictions on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit\">Additional Child Tax Credit\u003c/a>, which previously allowed many mixed‑status families to receive thousands of dollars back. That means ITIN filers can expect much smaller refunds, Valencia says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074131 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1251\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-1536x961.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is seen during an enrollment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on July 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The House passed the sweeping tax and spending bill after winning over fiscal hawks and moderate Republicans. The bill makes permanent President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases spending on defense and immigration enforcement and temporarily cuts taxes on tips, while at the same time, cutting funding for Medicaid, food assistance for the poor, clean energy and raises the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion. \u003ccite>(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Many of Valencia’s clients are long-term customers. The tax business is built on trust, she says. This year, before accepting any work, Valencia feels an ethical obligation to tell clients the bad news that their refunds will be smaller, and maybe nonexistent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mixed-status household could, in a normal year, expect to receive around $2,000 in the Additional Child Tax Credit. But this year, they’re lucky to get $500, she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Valencia says the reaction to this information has been immediate. Prospective customers tell her: “You know what? I’m not going to file because I’m not getting any refund. So what’s the point of doing taxes?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As an undocumented immigrant, having proof of taxes is important. It builds a paper trail, so if the day comes to receive legal status, it shows work history, engagement with the system and U.S. presence.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But Valencia says customers are coming in worn-down, without a vision for future immigration relief. They tell her their faith in the system is dropping.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Southern California city of Pomona, tax preparer Hayde Vigil says her business is also seeing about half its usual filings this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the steep drop looks different in Southern California, she explains. Most of her clients are documented, Vigil says in Spanish, but status doesn’t seem to be the issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re afraid to leave their homes because there are so many raids, and they’re scared they’ll be detained and deported,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immigration enforcement agents have been active in that region, and her customers are afraid they’ll be picked up because they’re Latino, even if they are here legally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They weren’t going out at all before, and now they only go out for the bare minimum,” says Vigil, which doesn’t seem to include leaving the house to file taxes this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘There’s nothing for you’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Claudia, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, sits wringing her hands in her lap. As names are called out in the Northern California day labor hall where she sits in, she waits for the sound of her own, hoping to pick up some work for the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia, who did not want her full name to be used because her immigration status puts her at risk of deportation, has been living in California for over 20 years. In these decades, her work has ebbed and flowed, sometimes working multiple jobs at once. These days, Claudia is lucky to have her name called a few times a week. Regardless of workflow, she files her taxes every year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet it’s not just around tax season that she pays, Claudia explains in Spanish. “You pay taxes on what you earn, on what you buy, on everything you consume in this country,” Claudia says. “But you can’t get anything back from it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030566\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1993px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030566\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1993\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed.jpg 1993w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-800x535.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1020x682.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/taxes041511_qed-1920x1284.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1993px) 100vw, 1993px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Current federal tax forms are distributed at the offices of the Internal Revenue Service on Nov. 1, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois. \u003ccite>(Scott Olson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Claudia keeps filing year after year in the hope that one day she’ll have a pathway to documentation that would let her visit her family in Mexico, find work more easily and live with no fear about status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You hold onto the hope that, in the future, you’ll be able to do things the right way,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after over 20 years of filing, her hope toward legalization only seems to be dwindling. “In the end, there’s nothing there for you, is there?” she asks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia still sees no pathway to legal status and receives no Social Security benefits, no MediCal — and this year, for the first time, she was told she’ll receive no credits back for her son, who is a U.S. citizen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her voice grows soft. “So, what’s the point in paying?” she asks. “There’s no hope for someone like me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Claudia says she went back and forth in her head, deciding if this would be the year she broke her commitment to a stable future here. In the end, she filed, but her doubt continues to grow, both in the system and her future in the United States.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Yet for others, the doubt has already reached a tipping point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Northern California day labor facility, Velasco waits to hear his own name called.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Why should I pay taxes?” he asks in Spanish. “When you realize you’re paying in but not receiving anything in return, there’s no point anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Velasco, who also asked for his full name not to be shared out of fear of deportation, has lived in Northern California for 24 years. For the majority of that time, he worked at a lumber company and filed his taxes consistently. Filing always felt like a no‑brainer, he says — part of his civic responsibility, even without legal status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He always considered himself a rule follower. “After all, that’s how the country keeps running,” he says. “But lately, I’ve changed my tune.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many undocumented immigrants across the state, Velasco fears being seen in public, afraid he’ll be picked up and deported. He says he feels at odds with the federal government and has begun questioning why he should contribute to a system he believes wants him gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t exactly give you the desire to comply,” he says. “Yet when it comes to collecting taxes, [the government] certainly want to do that, don’t they?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Velasco no longer files. Now, he picks up odd jobs doing house maintenance and gets paid in cash, under the table.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Undocumented taxpayers are ‘extremely important’ to economy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a common belief that immigrants don’t pay taxes, says Abby Raisz, vice president of research at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. But it’s not true. “Undocumented immigrants maintain very high effective tax rates,” Raisz says — \u003ca href=\"https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-state-local-tax-contributions-2017/\">averaging 7.1% in state and local taxes\u003c/a>, higher than the rate paid by the top 1% of earners nationally, according to the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/\">Raisz’s team estimates\u003c/a> undocumented Californians contribute about \u003ca href=\"https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/our-work/publications/economic-impact-mass-deportation-california\">9% of the state’s GDP\u003c/a>, or roughly $278 billion, a figure on the order of the entire GDP of Nevada or Oregon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also \u003ca href=\"https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/do-immigrants-pay-taxes\">pay more\u003c/a> than $10.6 billion in state and local taxes and $13 billion in federal taxes, despite being excluded from most federal benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11863601\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11863601 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut.jpg\" alt=\"woman doing taxes with calculator\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1012\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47577_iStock-915488206-qut-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Undocumented Californians generate about 9% of the state’s GDP — roughly $278 billion — and pay more than $10.6 billion in state and local taxes and $13 billion in federal taxes, despite being excluded from most federal benefits. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Josh Stehlik, policy director for the California Immigrant Policy Center, says those contributions are essential to the state’s fiscal health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Undocumented taxpayers are extremely important to the national economy and to California’s economy,” Stehlik says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But both Raisz and Stehlik say trust in the tax system is quickly eroding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the IRS was directed by the Trump administration to \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/policywatch/ice-and-irs-reach-agreement-to-share-taxpayer-information-of-suspected-undocumented-immigrants/\">share taxpayer information\u003c/a> with the Department of Homeland Security, a move that immigrant rights groups called unprecedented.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Federal courts \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/policywatch/ice-and-irs-reach-agreement-to-share-taxpayer-information-of-suspected-undocumented-immigrants/\">have since blocked\u003c/a> the IRS‑DHS data‑sharing agreement, but the episode has already shaken confidence in the system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raisz says, after speaking with tax providers throughout the state, the implications for an already fragile trust could be \u003ca href=\"https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/report/economic-impact-of-immigration-enforcement-bayarea/\">long‑lasting\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“If this taxpayer information does in fact get related to other departments, ITIN is going to lose all of the trust that it currently has,” she says, and warned it probably won’t ever gain it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stehlik says new federal policy changes have only deepened the fear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigrant taxpayers are afraid to file because of the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on immigrant taxpayer confidentiality,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts warn that if undocumented immigrants disengage from the tax system, the consequences would be severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We could be looking at an $8.5 billion loss in revenue,” Stehlik says, referencing the amount that ITEP says undocumented Californians paid in state and local tax contributions in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raisz agrees that the long‑term implications would be enormous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Undocumented immigrants contribute billions in sales tax revenue, and their consumer spending powers local businesses already struggling with post‑pandemic declines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The larger concern seems to be the loss of trust and disengagement from the tax system,” Raisz says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She adds that undocumented taxpayers are often economically engaged, starting businesses, buying homes, and supporting local economies. If they continue to disengage, she says, the \u003ca href=\"https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/californias-undocumented-residents-make-significant-tax-contributions/\">economic fallout\u003c/a> “would be massive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Shandra Back covers immigration for Northern California Public Media through the \u003ca href=\"https://fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows/\">California Local News Fellowship\u003c/a>. This story was edited with help from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/californianewsroom\">The California Newsroom\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "tax-day-2026-what-is-tax-strike-financial-legal-consequences-irs-april-15",
"title": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn't Pay Their Federal Taxes?",
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"headTitle": "What Actually Happens If a Person Doesn’t Pay Their Federal Taxes? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>2026 Tax Day is around the corner on Wednesday, April 15 — the last day to file and pay your federal and state income\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/taxes\"> taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While millions have already taken care of their taxes, some people \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1qd76pb/okay_everyone_hear_me_out_we_gotta_stop_paying/\">have shared\u003c/a> online that they are considering not paying their federal taxes \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/KatanaSpeaks/status/2030786670480810351\">as a form of protest\u003c/a> against the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, Chicago lawyer Rachel Cohen went viral on social media when \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbmBC3jwld/?hl=en\">she announced\u003c/a> her intention not to pay over $8,800 in income taxes. She \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/11/trump-income-tax-protest\">told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she refused to pay taxes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go\">could fund\u003c/a> aggressive immigration enforcement tactics or military actions in the Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Refusing to pay taxes has existed as a form of protest in the United States for centuries. During the Vietnam War, musician Joan Baez \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/joan-baez-75th-birthday-celebration-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-joan-baez/4904/#:~:text=In%201964%2C%20she%20withheld%2060,Quentin%20during%20a%20Christmas%20vigil\">withheld 60%\u003c/a> of her income tax from the Internal Revenue Service to protest U.S. military spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the decades since, voices on both the left and the right have called for a “tax strike” as a response to U.S. intervention abroad. Last year, former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed the idea of a “tax revolt” \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2006343025480306948\">on social media\u003c/a>, with the term “tax strike” seeing its biggest spike ever \u003ca href=\"https://trends.google.com/explore?q=tax%20strike&date=all&geo=US\">in Google searches\u003c/a> in the days that followed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, tax professionals and legal experts consistently warn that refusing to file or pay taxes carries significant consequences. Under federal law, individuals who fail to meet their obligations may end up having to pay a lot more than what they originally owed — and in more serious cases, face enforcement actions by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know ahead of April 15, the last day to file and pay taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What U.S. law says I need to pay taxes?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. became an independent nation, the federal government financed itself mostly by charging tariffs on imported goods. By the end of the 19th century, elected officials from \u003ca href=\"https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/history\">across the political spectrum\u003c/a> were calling for some sort of income tax in order to finance a growing federal government and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7293419/robert-la-follettes-progressive-vision/\">respond to the massive inequality\u003c/a> of the Gilded Age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it wasn’t until 1913 that the country ratified the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states that Congress “shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12077685 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In New York City, a coalition of anti-war groups gathered outside the IRS offices in Manhattan, demanding no taxes for war and militarism on April 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since then, Congress has approved multiple laws that regulate how individuals should file and pay income taxes. All of these rules make up the \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103\">Internal Revenue Code\u003c/a>, which regulates how the IRS can go about doing its job. The Code also establishes clear limits for the agency, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">limiting how it uses\u003c/a> taxpayers’ personal information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do not have a voluntary tax system,” said Amy Spivey, professor and director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at UC Law in San Francisco. “Anyone who earns or receives income in the United States has to file and pay taxes — that includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">people who are undocumented\u003c/a> as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I refuse to pay my taxes, what happens first?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Let’s say April 15 comes and goes, and you didn’t file anything with the IRS documenting your income from the previous year (and didn’t request an extension either). Will Uncle Sam be at your door on April 16?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not exactly, Spivey said, but nonetheless, a clock at the IRS offices will begin to tick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each month that passes, the IRS can charge you two kinds of fees — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty\">failure to file penalty\u003c/a> and a separate \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-pay-penalty\">failure to pay penalty\u003c/a> — which are calculated as a percentage of the total amount you owe them. Meaning: The longer you don’t deal with your taxes, the bigger the amount the IRS will be expecting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11964303 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/GettyImages-1438452854-e1741641207115.jpg\" alt=\"A Black woman wearing a tan sweater sits at a desk holding a piece of paper in one hand and staring at a laptop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With each passing month, the IRS can impose two separate penalties — one for failing to file and another for failing to pay — both calculated as a percentage of the total taxes owed. \u003ccite>(Pixdeluxe via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of how much you owe, that’s going to add up,” said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based \u003ca href=\"https://tax-aid.org/\">Tax-Aid\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may start receiving letters from the IRS letting you know that your liability is growing. If you ignore this communication and let more time pass by, both penalties will keep stacking up on each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, there is a point when the IRS can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6020\">file a return\u003c/a> \u003cem>for \u003c/em>you based on your income information from years past — called a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-to-expect-after-receiving-a-non-filer-compliance-alert-notice-and-what-to-do-to-resolve\">substitute return\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One downside of the IRS filing for you: Regardless of your living situation, the agency can actually file you as single and only give you a standard deduction, Spivey said. “You don’t get the benefit of any deductions, and it ultimately results in a higher tax burden,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>when \u003c/em>this might happen, Spivey said that in her experience, the IRS filing a return for you doesn’t happen immediately and could even take place a few years down the road. But in the meantime, both the failure to file and failure to pay penalties will keep accumulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Uncle Sam gets serious\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the IRS will kickstart a collection process to get what you owe. Here, the agency has two powerful tools available, Spivey said: a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-a-federal-tax-lien\">lien\u003c/a> and a levy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lien is a document that establishes a legal claim by the federal government against your property or financial assets when you fail to pay a tax debt. “If you sell assets — for example, a home — you would have to hand over the proceeds or pay the taxes that you owe,” Spivey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A levy, on the other hand, allows the federal government to seize your property or financial assets to cover what you owe the IRS. Once you get a notice of intent to levy, you usually have 30 days to enter some sort of \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-with-a-tax-bill-they-cant-pay\">payment arrangement\u003c/a> with the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tax experts note that even if no federal taxes are withheld from your paycheck, you’re still legally required to pay taxes on those earnings later. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This agreement could potentially include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise\">“offer in compromise”\u003c/a> if you’re unable to pay your full tax liability or doing so “creates a financial hardship,” according to the agency. This may potentially reduce your tax debt — but relies on the IRS agreeing with your assessment of your finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you ignore this notice, the IRS will go ahead and levy your property anyway. This could look like taking what you owe directly from your bank account, since your bank is required by law to comply with a levy, and if you don’t have enough money in your account, you’ll also be liable for overdraft fees from your bank.[aside postID=news_12073445 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/internal-revenue-service_qed-1020x680.jpg']In certain cases, the IRS can garnish your wages, meaning the agency communicates with your employer to require that a certain percentage of your salary be used to cover your debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spivey said that the IRS — depending on how much you owe — can also levy your retirement account. In extreme circumstances, they can even take your home or revoke your passport or block you from applying for one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Collection proceedings usually go through civil law, but in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-counsel/tax_crimes_handbook.pdf\">very specific cases\u003c/a>, the federal government can also enforce tax law through criminal prosecutions — which could result in much more severe penalties, including prison time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if someone’s situation does not get to that level, experts point out that not filing can complicate other parts of life. “A tax return is oftentimes a requirement for proof of income, with things like housing, education and federal loans like FAFSA,” Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you also skipped on your state taxes, California’s Franchise Tax Board also has similar powers. “The Franchise Tax Board can also file a lien, they can levy your accounts, they can garnish your wages,” Spivey said. “You could potentially be looking at both the IRS and FTB both coming to collect the taxes that you owe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do those refusing to pay taxes say?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Advocates of a tax strike say that international conflicts involving the U.S. — most recently, the ongoing war with Iran — are boosting public interest in what they call “tax resistance” as a form of political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lincoln Rice, coordinator for the Milwaukee-based National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, told KQED that before Israel’s invasion of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> in 2023, around 20 people would attend his group’s online trainings.[aside postID=news_11909786 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668869-672x372.jpg']But hundreds of people are now showing up, he said. Training sessions cover “legal and illegal methods of war tax resistance along with the associated risks,” he said, adding that the group organizes a fund that aims to help members cover penalties and interests collected by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rice said his group has also “offered W-4 workshops, where we explain how employees can lower or eliminate the federal tax withholding done by their employer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But tax experts are quick to point out that even if you have zero federal tax withholdings on your paycheck, the law still requires you to pay taxes on those earnings down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ tax system, which means that taxpayers are required to pay taxes throughout the year on your income,” Spivey said. “If you underpay throughout the year, you may be hit with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/underpayment-of-estimated-tax-by-individuals-penalty\">Underpayment of Estimated Tax penalty\u003c/a>, in addition to any tax you may owe related to the under-withholding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Seen online talk about not paying income taxes as a form of protest against the federal government? We talk with experts to understand the consequences.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>2026 Tax Day is around the corner on Wednesday, April 15 — the last day to file and pay your federal and state income\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/taxes\"> taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While millions have already taken care of their taxes, some people \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/oregon/comments/1qd76pb/okay_everyone_hear_me_out_we_gotta_stop_paying/\">have shared\u003c/a> online that they are considering not paying their federal taxes \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/KatanaSpeaks/status/2030786670480810351\">as a form of protest\u003c/a> against the federal government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In March, Chicago lawyer Rachel Cohen went viral on social media when \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbmBC3jwld/?hl=en\">she announced\u003c/a> her intention not to pay over $8,800 in income taxes. She \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/11/trump-income-tax-protest\">told \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>\u003c/a> that she refused to pay taxes that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go\">could fund\u003c/a> aggressive immigration enforcement tactics or military actions in the Middle East.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Refusing to pay taxes has existed as a form of protest in the United States for centuries. During the Vietnam War, musician Joan Baez \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/joan-baez-75th-birthday-celebration-8-things-you-didnt-know-about-joan-baez/4904/#:~:text=In%201964%2C%20she%20withheld%2060,Quentin%20during%20a%20Christmas%20vigil\">withheld 60%\u003c/a> of her income tax from the Internal Revenue Service to protest U.S. military spending.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the decades since, voices on both the left and the right have called for a “tax strike” as a response to U.S. intervention abroad. Last year, former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed the idea of a “tax revolt” \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2006343025480306948\">on social media\u003c/a>, with the term “tax strike” seeing its biggest spike ever \u003ca href=\"https://trends.google.com/explore?q=tax%20strike&date=all&geo=US\">in Google searches\u003c/a> in the days that followed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, tax professionals and legal experts consistently warn that refusing to file or pay taxes carries significant consequences. Under federal law, individuals who fail to meet their obligations may end up having to pay a lot more than what they originally owed — and in more serious cases, face enforcement actions by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know ahead of April 15, the last day to file and pay taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What U.S. law says I need to pay taxes?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. became an independent nation, the federal government financed itself mostly by charging tariffs on imported goods. By the end of the 19th century, elected officials from \u003ca href=\"https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/history\">across the political spectrum\u003c/a> were calling for some sort of income tax in order to finance a growing federal government and \u003ca href=\"https://time.com/7293419/robert-la-follettes-progressive-vision/\">respond to the massive inequality\u003c/a> of the Gilded Age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it wasn’t until 1913 that the country ratified the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states that Congress “shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12077685 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/TaxesGetty-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In New York City, a coalition of anti-war groups gathered outside the IRS offices in Manhattan, demanding no taxes for war and militarism on April 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since then, Congress has approved multiple laws that regulate how individuals should file and pay income taxes. All of these rules make up the \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103\">Internal Revenue Code\u003c/a>, which regulates how the IRS can go about doing its job. The Code also establishes clear limits for the agency, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">limiting how it uses\u003c/a> taxpayers’ personal information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We do not have a voluntary tax system,” said Amy Spivey, professor and director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at UC Law in San Francisco. “Anyone who earns or receives income in the United States has to file and pay taxes — that includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">people who are undocumented\u003c/a> as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I refuse to pay my taxes, what happens first?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Let’s say April 15 comes and goes, and you didn’t file anything with the IRS documenting your income from the previous year (and didn’t request an extension either). Will Uncle Sam be at your door on April 16?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not exactly, Spivey said, but nonetheless, a clock at the IRS offices will begin to tick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each month that passes, the IRS can charge you two kinds of fees — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty\">failure to file penalty\u003c/a> and a separate \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-pay-penalty\">failure to pay penalty\u003c/a> — which are calculated as a percentage of the total amount you owe them. Meaning: The longer you don’t deal with your taxes, the bigger the amount the IRS will be expecting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11964303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11964303 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/GettyImages-1438452854-e1741641207115.jpg\" alt=\"A Black woman wearing a tan sweater sits at a desk holding a piece of paper in one hand and staring at a laptop.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">With each passing month, the IRS can impose two separate penalties — one for failing to file and another for failing to pay — both calculated as a percentage of the total taxes owed. \u003ccite>(Pixdeluxe via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Regardless of how much you owe, that’s going to add up,” said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based \u003ca href=\"https://tax-aid.org/\">Tax-Aid\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may start receiving letters from the IRS letting you know that your liability is growing. If you ignore this communication and let more time pass by, both penalties will keep stacking up on each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, there is a point when the IRS can actually \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6020\">file a return\u003c/a> \u003cem>for \u003c/em>you based on your income information from years past — called a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-to-expect-after-receiving-a-non-filer-compliance-alert-notice-and-what-to-do-to-resolve\">substitute return\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One downside of the IRS filing for you: Regardless of your living situation, the agency can actually file you as single and only give you a standard deduction, Spivey said. “You don’t get the benefit of any deductions, and it ultimately results in a higher tax burden,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>when \u003c/em>this might happen, Spivey said that in her experience, the IRS filing a return for you doesn’t happen immediately and could even take place a few years down the road. But in the meantime, both the failure to file and failure to pay penalties will keep accumulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Uncle Sam gets serious\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Eventually, the IRS will kickstart a collection process to get what you owe. Here, the agency has two powerful tools available, Spivey said: a \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-a-federal-tax-lien\">lien\u003c/a> and a levy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lien is a document that establishes a legal claim by the federal government against your property or financial assets when you fail to pay a tax debt. “If you sell assets — for example, a home — you would have to hand over the proceeds or pay the taxes that you owe,” Spivey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A levy, on the other hand, allows the federal government to seize your property or financial assets to cover what you owe the IRS. Once you get a notice of intent to levy, you usually have 30 days to enter some sort of \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-with-a-tax-bill-they-cant-pay\">payment arrangement\u003c/a> with the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tax experts note that even if no federal taxes are withheld from your paycheck, you’re still legally required to pay taxes on those earnings later. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This agreement could potentially include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise\">“offer in compromise”\u003c/a> if you’re unable to pay your full tax liability or doing so “creates a financial hardship,” according to the agency. This may potentially reduce your tax debt — but relies on the IRS agreeing with your assessment of your finances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you ignore this notice, the IRS will go ahead and levy your property anyway. This could look like taking what you owe directly from your bank account, since your bank is required by law to comply with a levy, and if you don’t have enough money in your account, you’ll also be liable for overdraft fees from your bank.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In certain cases, the IRS can garnish your wages, meaning the agency communicates with your employer to require that a certain percentage of your salary be used to cover your debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spivey said that the IRS — depending on how much you owe — can also levy your retirement account. In extreme circumstances, they can even take your home or revoke your passport or block you from applying for one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Collection proceedings usually go through civil law, but in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-counsel/tax_crimes_handbook.pdf\">very specific cases\u003c/a>, the federal government can also enforce tax law through criminal prosecutions — which could result in much more severe penalties, including prison time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if someone’s situation does not get to that level, experts point out that not filing can complicate other parts of life. “A tax return is oftentimes a requirement for proof of income, with things like housing, education and federal loans like FAFSA,” Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you also skipped on your state taxes, California’s Franchise Tax Board also has similar powers. “The Franchise Tax Board can also file a lien, they can levy your accounts, they can garnish your wages,” Spivey said. “You could potentially be looking at both the IRS and FTB both coming to collect the taxes that you owe.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do those refusing to pay taxes say?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Advocates of a tax strike say that international conflicts involving the U.S. — most recently, the ongoing war with Iran — are boosting public interest in what they call “tax resistance” as a form of political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lincoln Rice, coordinator for the Milwaukee-based National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, told KQED that before Israel’s invasion of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gaza\">Gaza\u003c/a> in 2023, around 20 people would attend his group’s online trainings.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But hundreds of people are now showing up, he said. Training sessions cover “legal and illegal methods of war tax resistance along with the associated risks,” he said, adding that the group organizes a fund that aims to help members cover penalties and interests collected by the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rice said his group has also “offered W-4 workshops, where we explain how employees can lower or eliminate the federal tax withholding done by their employer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But tax experts are quick to point out that even if you have zero federal tax withholdings on your paycheck, the law still requires you to pay taxes on those earnings down the line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ tax system, which means that taxpayers are required to pay taxes throughout the year on your income,” Spivey said. “If you underpay throughout the year, you may be hit with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/payments/underpayment-of-estimated-tax-by-individuals-penalty\">Underpayment of Estimated Tax penalty\u003c/a>, in addition to any tax you may owe related to the under-withholding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From a young age, Liam Chavez felt different from the people around him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Thousand Oaks, he got bullied. In high school, he didn’t know anyone who was openly gay or queer. “I didn’t really fit in,” said Chavez, 28. “It was really hard.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He was sure something was wrong with him. It wasn’t until he moved to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley \u003c/a>a decade ago for college that he felt like he was home. “A lot of people I meet are surprised to learn I didn’t grow up here because I enjoy it so much and fit in so well,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the first time, he’d found the language and the identity that matched his experience. “Basically, the day that I found out that trans men existed, I realized I was a trans man,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But staying here has come at a real cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he came out to his family, they cut him off. His parents told him it was Berkeley’s fault, “that I’ve been brainwashed,” he said. His father refused to come to his graduation, and he said he’s hardly spoken to either parent since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fresh out of school, he felt overwhelmed. He struggled to find his financial footing, knowing nobody was there to catch him if he fell. At the same time, he was trying to heal from the trauma of a sexual assault by another college student, and he had developed chronic migraines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I go back to that time, I just remember terror,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079248\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079248\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez examines yarn for an upcoming artisans fair on April 8, 2026, at Avenue Yarn in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With no family support and significant medical expenses, including medication for his migraines and therapy, in part for the assault, the gap between what he earned and what he needed to live widened fast. But he couldn’t go home, and leaving the state for somewhere cheaper didn’t feel like an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Chavez was transitioning, his doctor sat him down and issued some advice: Don’t leave California, at least not for a while. “I think she was right,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, transgender Californians like Chavez have found that the calculation of whether to stay or go is about more than rent prices.[aside postID=news_12078915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/012426_FREEOAKLANDUP_GH_011-KQED.jpg']In \u003ca href=\"https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/transgender-moving-desire/\">a national survey\u003c/a> conducted following the 2024 presidential election, nearly half of trans respondents said they had already moved, or were considering moving, in search of a more trans-friendly community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To afford life here, Chavez patched together part-time work as a tutor and dog sitter and picked up random gigs on Craigslist. His friends joked that he was always hustling. “I had no choice,” he said. “I had to, and it was exhausting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it still wasn’t enough, he turned to credit cards. He charged food, gas and rent until he owed close to $15,000, on top of his student loan debt. “It felt crushing,” he said. “It felt like I could never get out from under that money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-poverty-us/\">Research has found\u003c/a> that nearly 1 in 3 transgender Americans lives in poverty — double the rate of cisgender straight people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whether you’re looking at individual income, household income, food insecurity or housing instability, what you’ll see among trans people are much higher rates of economic vulnerability,” said Brad Sears, a distinguished scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for these discrepancies lies, in part, in demographics. Research from the Williams Institute found that, compared with cisgender straight men, transgender people are more likely to be young and people of color, and almost twice as likely to be living with a disability — all factors that can make it more difficult to achieve financial stability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079250\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079250\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez and Avenue Yarn employee Leti Iversen compare yarn colors on April 8, 2026, in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But even when researchers compared people with the same education, age, race and disability status, they found that transgender people still have 70% higher odds of living in poverty than cisgender straight men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sears attributes this to the unique layer of discrimination that transgender people face. “The pathways to poverty really start with [family] rejection, over-criminalization, homelessness … while trans people are still young,” he said. “That continues into adult life, where you continue to see high rates of discrimination in all parts of life, including housing, but particularly in the workplace.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Addressing these disparities, he said, means working with parents to decrease family rejection, and with law enforcement — “so it’s not a crime to be walking while trans” — in order to keep trans people out of the foster care and criminal justice systems, “which are just huge predictors for future poverty.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079251\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez speaks with Avenue Yarn employee Leti Iversen on April 8, 2026, in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Workplace protections also make a big difference. Although federal employment protections prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the Trump administration has sought to \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/trumps-executive-orders-promoting-sex-discrimination-explained\">limit and roll back safeguards\u003c/a> for transgender Americans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California, meanwhile, has one of the country’s strongest \u003ca href=\"https://transgenderlawcenter.org/resources/employment/know-your-rights/faq-the-gender-nondiscrimination-act/\">nondiscrimination frameworks for transgender people\u003c/a>, and some Bay Area cities add \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/san-francisco-all-gender-restroom-ordinance?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">additional\u003c/a> protection \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/title-vi-nondiscrimination-policy#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Berkeley%20is,Rights%20Restoration%20Act%20of%201987\">through\u003c/a> local \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/employment-investigations-and-civil-rights-compliance/documents/working-for-oakland/workplace-amp-employment-standards/employment-investigations-and-civil-rights-compliance/city-of-oakland-gender-inclusion-policy-ai-73.pdf\">policies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sears said having a gender identity nondiscrimination policy is a good start, but workplaces should also have a plan in place to support employees who want to transition by doing things like ensuring there’s an appropriate bathroom available and providing colleagues with training. “Visible support from leadership at the top is one of the biggest things that make a difference,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘A whole future that I can think about’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Chavez, the turning point came when, out of desperation, he called the free, 24-hour 211 helpline that connects callers to social services. The operator referred him to a nonprofit credit counseling agency, Money Management International, where a counselor helped him build a monthly budget and negotiated with his creditors to cut his interest rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency consolidated his debt into a single monthly payment automatically drafted from his bank account — something that credit counseling agencies have set up in agreements with major creditors to help close accounts and dig borrowers out of crushing debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079242\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079242\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez opens the trunk of his car as he prepares for a morning swim at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach on March 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“These creditors know that when people come to us, they’re not just getting plugged into this affordable repayment plan, but they’re also getting budgeting advice and advice that helps people achieve financial stability, which makes it more likely that they will repay the debt that they owe when presented with more affordable repayment terms,” said Bruce McClary, a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chavez said the counselor’s debt management plan helps hold him accountable, and the low monthly payment has allowed him to chip away at his balance. “That’s really helped because it’s really the interest that is just like a killer,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years later, he has paid off more than $10,000. “I really want to be debt-free,” he said. “And I’m so close.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of Chavez’s life today is structured around that goal.[aside postID=news_12075761 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260401-AFFORDABILITYCHILDCARE00263_TV-KQED.jpg']At home in Oakland, he tracks every dollar in a spreadsheet: rent, insurance, groceries, savings, income from his job and side gigs like a pet-sitting job he recently took on. “I’m actually pretty comfortable this month, which I’m kind of like, whoa, this is new,” he said, laughing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To cut costs, he keeps his heater off and uses an electric blanket. He buys clothes, furniture and appliances secondhand. Groceries come from a mix of bulk purchases, discount markets and Trader Joe’s. When money gets tight, he turns to food pantries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just visited a couple weeks ago because I had some unexpected expenses and I was really hungry and I needed to eat,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He shares a one-bedroom apartment with Erasmo, a 7-year-old Greek tortoise he got during a difficult stretch in college. “I thought to myself, it might be good to have somebody to be responsible to, another creature,” Chavez said. “In order to take care of him, I have to take care of myself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tortoise’s name means “beloved” in Greek, and Chavez has a custom bumper sticker on his car that reads: My tortoise is smarter than your honor student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, Chavez has a full-time job at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, where he administers grant funding to students working on community health projects and helps them manage budgets — skills he’s honed through hard experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, he ran his salary through an online calculator and was surprised to find himself labeled middle class, like his family had been growing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079296\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079296\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez swims in the bay at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda on March 30, 2026. He says open water swimming helps him manage stress and reconnect with his body. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I was like, really?” he said. “Because … I think about my family, they could go out and buy their RV, and they could go on vacations. But I don’t do any of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even small splurges require planning. Instead of credit cards, Chavez sometimes uses “buy now, pay later services” to spread out costs, like when he bought a hot pink inflatable flamingo-shaped buoy that he named Chorizo, which bobs along behind him to keep him safe on his open-water swims off Crown Beach in Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s been swimming since he was a kid. As an adult, it’s become a kind of therapy. “Sport has been such an instrumental way of me reclaiming my bodily autonomy and my power,” he said. It’s one of the small, hard-won pleasures that make staying in the Bay Area feel worth it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079297\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079297\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez swims across the bay with “Chorizo” trailing behind him at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda on March 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In his spare time, he volunteers on a crisis line for sexual assault survivors. He said he recently took a call from someone whose circumstances closely mirrored his own. “It was incredible that I could answer that call and be their advocate and be their support,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s considering pursuing a master’s degree in social work or public health once his debt is paid off — a path he hopes will lead him to a stable career.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s kinda been crazy for me to think about, like, oh wow, I actually have a whole future that I can think about,” he said. “I can have professional aspirations now instead of just thinking about: Where’s my next meal? How am I gonna pay the rent?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some months, Chavez is still living with little room to spare. His medical expenses remain high, and the cost of living continues to climb. But for the first time in years, he said, “I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">How We Get By\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">full series here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From a young age, Liam Chavez felt different from the people around him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Growing up in Thousand Oaks, he got bullied. In high school, he didn’t know anyone who was openly gay or queer. “I didn’t really fit in,” said Chavez, 28. “It was really hard.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He was sure something was wrong with him. It wasn’t until he moved to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley \u003c/a>a decade ago for college that he felt like he was home. “A lot of people I meet are surprised to learn I didn’t grow up here because I enjoy it so much and fit in so well,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the first time, he’d found the language and the identity that matched his experience. “Basically, the day that I found out that trans men existed, I realized I was a trans man,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But staying here has come at a real cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he came out to his family, they cut him off. His parents told him it was Berkeley’s fault, “that I’ve been brainwashed,” he said. His father refused to come to his graduation, and he said he’s hardly spoken to either parent since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fresh out of school, he felt overwhelmed. He struggled to find his financial footing, knowing nobody was there to catch him if he fell. At the same time, he was trying to heal from the trauma of a sexual assault by another college student, and he had developed chronic migraines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I go back to that time, I just remember terror,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079248\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079248\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_003_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez examines yarn for an upcoming artisans fair on April 8, 2026, at Avenue Yarn in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With no family support and significant medical expenses, including medication for his migraines and therapy, in part for the assault, the gap between what he earned and what he needed to live widened fast. But he couldn’t go home, and leaving the state for somewhere cheaper didn’t feel like an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Chavez was transitioning, his doctor sat him down and issued some advice: Don’t leave California, at least not for a while. “I think she was right,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, transgender Californians like Chavez have found that the calculation of whether to stay or go is about more than rent prices.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/transgender-moving-desire/\">a national survey\u003c/a> conducted following the 2024 presidential election, nearly half of trans respondents said they had already moved, or were considering moving, in search of a more trans-friendly community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To afford life here, Chavez patched together part-time work as a tutor and dog sitter and picked up random gigs on Craigslist. His friends joked that he was always hustling. “I had no choice,” he said. “I had to, and it was exhausting.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it still wasn’t enough, he turned to credit cards. He charged food, gas and rent until he owed close to $15,000, on top of his student loan debt. “It felt crushing,” he said. “It felt like I could never get out from under that money.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-poverty-us/\">Research has found\u003c/a> that nearly 1 in 3 transgender Americans lives in poverty — double the rate of cisgender straight people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Whether you’re looking at individual income, household income, food insecurity or housing instability, what you’ll see among trans people are much higher rates of economic vulnerability,” said Brad Sears, a distinguished scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for these discrepancies lies, in part, in demographics. Research from the Williams Institute found that, compared with cisgender straight men, transgender people are more likely to be young and people of color, and almost twice as likely to be living with a disability — all factors that can make it more difficult to achieve financial stability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079250\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079250\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_007_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez and Avenue Yarn employee Leti Iversen compare yarn colors on April 8, 2026, in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But even when researchers compared people with the same education, age, race and disability status, they found that transgender people still have 70% higher odds of living in poverty than cisgender straight men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sears attributes this to the unique layer of discrimination that transgender people face. “The pathways to poverty really start with [family] rejection, over-criminalization, homelessness … while trans people are still young,” he said. “That continues into adult life, where you continue to see high rates of discrimination in all parts of life, including housing, but particularly in the workplace.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Addressing these disparities, he said, means working with parents to decrease family rejection, and with law enforcement — “so it’s not a crime to be walking while trans” — in order to keep trans people out of the foster care and criminal justice systems, “which are just huge predictors for future poverty.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079251\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079251\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/040826TransAffordability-_GH_008_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez speaks with Avenue Yarn employee Leti Iversen on April 8, 2026, in Albany, California. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Workplace protections also make a big difference. Although federal employment protections prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the Trump administration has sought to \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/trumps-executive-orders-promoting-sex-discrimination-explained\">limit and roll back safeguards\u003c/a> for transgender Americans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California, meanwhile, has one of the country’s strongest \u003ca href=\"https://transgenderlawcenter.org/resources/employment/know-your-rights/faq-the-gender-nondiscrimination-act/\">nondiscrimination frameworks for transgender people\u003c/a>, and some Bay Area cities add \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/san-francisco-all-gender-restroom-ordinance?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">additional\u003c/a> protection \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/title-vi-nondiscrimination-policy#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Berkeley%20is,Rights%20Restoration%20Act%20of%201987\">through\u003c/a> local \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/employment-investigations-and-civil-rights-compliance/documents/working-for-oakland/workplace-amp-employment-standards/employment-investigations-and-civil-rights-compliance/city-of-oakland-gender-inclusion-policy-ai-73.pdf\">policies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sears said having a gender identity nondiscrimination policy is a good start, but workplaces should also have a plan in place to support employees who want to transition by doing things like ensuring there’s an appropriate bathroom available and providing colleagues with training. “Visible support from leadership at the top is one of the biggest things that make a difference,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘A whole future that I can think about’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Chavez, the turning point came when, out of desperation, he called the free, 24-hour 211 helpline that connects callers to social services. The operator referred him to a nonprofit credit counseling agency, Money Management International, where a counselor helped him build a monthly budget and negotiated with his creditors to cut his interest rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency consolidated his debt into a single monthly payment automatically drafted from his bank account — something that credit counseling agencies have set up in agreements with major creditors to help close accounts and dig borrowers out of crushing debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079242\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079242\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez opens the trunk of his car as he prepares for a morning swim at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach on March 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“These creditors know that when people come to us, they’re not just getting plugged into this affordable repayment plan, but they’re also getting budgeting advice and advice that helps people achieve financial stability, which makes it more likely that they will repay the debt that they owe when presented with more affordable repayment terms,” said Bruce McClary, a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chavez said the counselor’s debt management plan helps hold him accountable, and the low monthly payment has allowed him to chip away at his balance. “That’s really helped because it’s really the interest that is just like a killer,” Chavez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years later, he has paid off more than $10,000. “I really want to be debt-free,” he said. “And I’m so close.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of Chavez’s life today is structured around that goal.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>At home in Oakland, he tracks every dollar in a spreadsheet: rent, insurance, groceries, savings, income from his job and side gigs like a pet-sitting job he recently took on. “I’m actually pretty comfortable this month, which I’m kind of like, whoa, this is new,” he said, laughing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To cut costs, he keeps his heater off and uses an electric blanket. He buys clothes, furniture and appliances secondhand. Groceries come from a mix of bulk purchases, discount markets and Trader Joe’s. When money gets tight, he turns to food pantries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just visited a couple weeks ago because I had some unexpected expenses and I was really hungry and I needed to eat,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He shares a one-bedroom apartment with Erasmo, a 7-year-old Greek tortoise he got during a difficult stretch in college. “I thought to myself, it might be good to have somebody to be responsible to, another creature,” Chavez said. “In order to take care of him, I have to take care of myself.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tortoise’s name means “beloved” in Greek, and Chavez has a custom bumper sticker on his car that reads: My tortoise is smarter than your honor student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, Chavez has a full-time job at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, where he administers grant funding to students working on community health projects and helps them manage budgets — skills he’s honed through hard experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, he ran his salary through an online calculator and was surprised to find himself labeled middle class, like his family had been growing up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079296\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079296\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_012_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez swims in the bay at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda on March 30, 2026. He says open water swimming helps him manage stress and reconnect with his body. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I was like, really?” he said. “Because … I think about my family, they could go out and buy their RV, and they could go on vacations. But I don’t do any of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even small splurges require planning. Instead of credit cards, Chavez sometimes uses “buy now, pay later services” to spread out costs, like when he bought a hot pink inflatable flamingo-shaped buoy that he named Chorizo, which bobs along behind him to keep him safe on his open-water swims off Crown Beach in Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s been swimming since he was a kid. As an adult, it’s become a kind of therapy. “Sport has been such an instrumental way of me reclaiming my bodily autonomy and my power,” he said. It’s one of the small, hard-won pleasures that make staying in the Bay Area feel worth it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079297\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079297\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/033026Trans-affordability-_GH_013_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Chavez swims across the bay with “Chorizo” trailing behind him at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda on March 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In his spare time, he volunteers on a crisis line for sexual assault survivors. He said he recently took a call from someone whose circumstances closely mirrored his own. “It was incredible that I could answer that call and be their advocate and be their support,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s considering pursuing a master’s degree in social work or public health once his debt is paid off — a path he hopes will lead him to a stable career.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s kinda been crazy for me to think about, like, oh wow, I actually have a whole future that I can think about,” he said. “I can have professional aspirations now instead of just thinking about: Where’s my next meal? How am I gonna pay the rent?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some months, Chavez is still living with little room to spare. His medical expenses remain high, and the cost of living continues to climb. But for the first time in years, he said, “I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "as-kaisers-presence-in-downtown-oakland-dwindles-so-does-foot-traffic",
"title": "As Kaiser’s Presence in Downtown Oakland Dwindles, So Does Foot Traffic",
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"content": "\u003cp>For decades, lunchtime at Roy Mejia’s downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> bar meant a steady stream of Kaiser Permanente workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doctors, nurses and office staff from nearby buildings would stop in for a soda or a sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’d come in, have a soda, bring a sandwich,” recalled Mejia, adding that he was “surrounded by Kaiser.” “We all got along. It was beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Mejia looks out at blocks of empty storefronts — and far fewer customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And every day there’s one more,” he said. “One more, one more.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mejia arrived in Oakland from Sacramento in 1970. By January 1992, he opened his 19th Street Station, a bar in the heart of downtown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I fell in love with Oakland,” Mejia said. “It was a beautiful city back then.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, his bar had thrived on a stream of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/kaiser\">Kaiser Permanente employees\u003c/a> who worked nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076762\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076762\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roy Mejia tends bar at 19th Street Station in Oakland on March 16, 2026. Mejia says he’s able to keep costs down by not employing others to work at the bar. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kaiser Permanente — long one of downtown Oakland’s largest employers — has been steadily shrinking its local office presence in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The health care giant has relocated workers to suburban offices, reduced its real estate footprint and laid off hundreds of employees across California, changes that economists say are contributing to quieter streets and struggling small businesses in the city’s core.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kaiser Permanente, once an anchor of downtown Oakland’s office workforce, has in recent years pulled workers out of the city’s core.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kaiser Layoffs by County in California\" aria-label=\"Column Chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-bE2I4\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/bE2I4/3/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"553\" data-external=\"1\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, Kaiser relocated over 1,000 members of its Oakland workforce to a suburban hub, citing “changes in how and where employees have been working since the COVID-19 pandemic.” Not too long after, they issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/kaiser-to-oakland-workers-stay-inside-for-work-and-lunch\">a memo\u003c/a> directing downtown Oakland employees to stay inside for lunch due to safety concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in 2025, Kaiser laid off over 400 employees across 16 California counties. Alameda County — home to Oakland, the company’s national headquarters, and the Kaiser Pleasanton campus — accounts for nearly half of these layoffs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in a written statement, a spokesperson from Kaiser said that it “remains committed to the City of Oakland, which is an integral part of Kaiser Permanente’s history and future.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The layoffs coincided with Kaiser’s decreasing real estate footprint in Oakland, a trend that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the Kaiser Center at 300 Lakeside Drive was \u003ca href=\"https://www.tmgpartners.com/news/tmg-partners-acquires-future-oakland-pge-headquarters\">sold to TMG Partners\u003c/a>, and Kaiser terminated their occupancy in the building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An empty storefront at 19th Street and Harrison Street in Oakland on March 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Similar acquisitions happened in 2024: Kaiser’s 2000 Broadway building was sold to BART, the office tower and garage on Franklin Street went to Behring Companies, and 10% of Kaiser’s Oakland-based employees were moved to Pleasanton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An \u003ca href=\"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/908311/000090831125000007/cmct-20250108.htm\">SEC filing\u003c/a> shows that in January 2025, Kaiser extended its lease for 236,692 square feet of the Ordway building through 2027. The space, listed as Kaiser’s corporate office on Google Maps, is down from the 366,000 square feet that Kaiser occupied in 2024, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/kaiser-oakland-19932710.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The broader health care sector remains one of Oakland’s few stable pillars supported by the presence of hospitals, clinics and social service providers,” said Christopher Skerritt, an economist at\u003ca href=\"https://kweconomics.com/services/health-economics/california/oakland\"> Kincaid Wolstein\u003c/a>. “But office consolidation and telehealth adoption have limited in-city job growth.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, big cities like Oakland and San Francisco are losing commercial real estate to suburban hubs like Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, which have seen comparatively faster rates of economic recovery since the pandemic, according to Skerritt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076764\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076764\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Empty storefronts along 19th Street in Oakland on March 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Many of the health care workers who remain in the city are remote or hybrid employees, Skerritt said, a change that, combined with Kaiser’s downsized office footprint, has contributed to downtown Oakland’s quieter streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The shift has cut daytime population density, reducing spending at restaurants, coffee shops, small retailers that depend on office workers for business,” Skerritt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small businesses in downtown Oakland have felt these effects. Tierra Mia Coffee, a six-minute walk from 1 Kaiser Plaza, has “most definitely” seen a drop in business since early 2024, according to its supervisor, Odiseo Castrejon.[aside postID=news_12076753 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260318-KAISER-MENTAL-HEALTH-STRIKE-MD-07-KQED-1.jpg']Since Kaiser’s early 2024 decision to move part of its Oakland workforce to Pleasanton, its sales have shrunk by more than a quarter, according to Castrejon. Before, customers wearing scrubs or hospital badges were noticeable, Castrejon said. Now, not so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This obvious decrease in foot traffic can be felt all throughout the downtown area. Nearly 38% of office space in Oakland’s central business district is vacant, according to \u003ca href=\"https://assets.cushmanwakefield.com/-/media/cw/marketbeat-pdfs/2025/q3/us-reports/office/eastbayoakland_americas_marketbeat_office_q3_2025.pdf?rev=f9920db83ed249778a3790b110e88270&_gl=1*1pz1tnl*_gcl_au*ODM3MjQxMTU5LjE3NjE1Mjg5Mjc\">a report\u003c/a> by commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID has really changed the way that people work, and companies’ need for space,” said Cushman & Wakefield’s East Bay research manager, Wescott Owen, who authored the report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small business owners like Mejia are hit hard by these changes. On a recent afternoon, he stood behind the bar he opened more than three decades ago, watching pedestrians pass by outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the nearby offices are quieter than they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve got 32 years here,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer I’m going to hang in there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cjlab.stanford.edu/projects/big-local-news/\">\u003cem>Big Local News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a data-sharing platform and collaborative at Stanford University that supports local journalism. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "After Kaiser’s decision to relocate part of its workforce away from Downtown Oakland, everyone from small business owners to economists is feeling the impacts, bracing themselves for an uncertain economic future.",
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"title": "As Kaiser’s Presence in Downtown Oakland Dwindles, So Does Foot Traffic | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For decades, lunchtime at Roy Mejia’s downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> bar meant a steady stream of Kaiser Permanente workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doctors, nurses and office staff from nearby buildings would stop in for a soda or a sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’d come in, have a soda, bring a sandwich,” recalled Mejia, adding that he was “surrounded by Kaiser.” “We all got along. It was beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Mejia looks out at blocks of empty storefronts — and far fewer customers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And every day there’s one more,” he said. “One more, one more.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mejia arrived in Oakland from Sacramento in 1970. By January 1992, he opened his 19th Street Station, a bar in the heart of downtown.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I fell in love with Oakland,” Mejia said. “It was a beautiful city back then.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, his bar had thrived on a stream of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/kaiser\">Kaiser Permanente employees\u003c/a> who worked nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076762\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076762\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-08-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roy Mejia tends bar at 19th Street Station in Oakland on March 16, 2026. Mejia says he’s able to keep costs down by not employing others to work at the bar. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kaiser Permanente — long one of downtown Oakland’s largest employers — has been steadily shrinking its local office presence in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The health care giant has relocated workers to suburban offices, reduced its real estate footprint and laid off hundreds of employees across California, changes that economists say are contributing to quieter streets and struggling small businesses in the city’s core.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kaiser Permanente, once an anchor of downtown Oakland’s office workforce, has in recent years pulled workers out of the city’s core.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kaiser Layoffs by County in California\" aria-label=\"Column Chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-bE2I4\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/bE2I4/3/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"553\" data-external=\"1\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, Kaiser relocated over 1,000 members of its Oakland workforce to a suburban hub, citing “changes in how and where employees have been working since the COVID-19 pandemic.” Not too long after, they issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/kaiser-to-oakland-workers-stay-inside-for-work-and-lunch\">a memo\u003c/a> directing downtown Oakland employees to stay inside for lunch due to safety concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in 2025, Kaiser laid off over 400 employees across 16 California counties. Alameda County — home to Oakland, the company’s national headquarters, and the Kaiser Pleasanton campus — accounts for nearly half of these layoffs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in a written statement, a spokesperson from Kaiser said that it “remains committed to the City of Oakland, which is an integral part of Kaiser Permanente’s history and future.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The layoffs coincided with Kaiser’s decreasing real estate footprint in Oakland, a trend that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the Kaiser Center at 300 Lakeside Drive was \u003ca href=\"https://www.tmgpartners.com/news/tmg-partners-acquires-future-oakland-pge-headquarters\">sold to TMG Partners\u003c/a>, and Kaiser terminated their occupancy in the building.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-12-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An empty storefront at 19th Street and Harrison Street in Oakland on March 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Similar acquisitions happened in 2024: Kaiser’s 2000 Broadway building was sold to BART, the office tower and garage on Franklin Street went to Behring Companies, and 10% of Kaiser’s Oakland-based employees were moved to Pleasanton.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An \u003ca href=\"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/908311/000090831125000007/cmct-20250108.htm\">SEC filing\u003c/a> shows that in January 2025, Kaiser extended its lease for 236,692 square feet of the Ordway building through 2027. The space, listed as Kaiser’s corporate office on Google Maps, is down from the 366,000 square feet that Kaiser occupied in 2024, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/kaiser-oakland-19932710.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The broader health care sector remains one of Oakland’s few stable pillars supported by the presence of hospitals, clinics and social service providers,” said Christopher Skerritt, an economist at\u003ca href=\"https://kweconomics.com/services/health-economics/california/oakland\"> Kincaid Wolstein\u003c/a>. “But office consolidation and telehealth adoption have limited in-city job growth.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a result, big cities like Oakland and San Francisco are losing commercial real estate to suburban hubs like Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, which have seen comparatively faster rates of economic recovery since the pandemic, according to Skerritt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076764\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076764\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260317-KAISER-RETREATS-MD-11-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Empty storefronts along 19th Street in Oakland on March 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Many of the health care workers who remain in the city are remote or hybrid employees, Skerritt said, a change that, combined with Kaiser’s downsized office footprint, has contributed to downtown Oakland’s quieter streets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The shift has cut daytime population density, reducing spending at restaurants, coffee shops, small retailers that depend on office workers for business,” Skerritt said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small businesses in downtown Oakland have felt these effects. Tierra Mia Coffee, a six-minute walk from 1 Kaiser Plaza, has “most definitely” seen a drop in business since early 2024, according to its supervisor, Odiseo Castrejon.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Since Kaiser’s early 2024 decision to move part of its Oakland workforce to Pleasanton, its sales have shrunk by more than a quarter, according to Castrejon. Before, customers wearing scrubs or hospital badges were noticeable, Castrejon said. Now, not so much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This obvious decrease in foot traffic can be felt all throughout the downtown area. Nearly 38% of office space in Oakland’s central business district is vacant, according to \u003ca href=\"https://assets.cushmanwakefield.com/-/media/cw/marketbeat-pdfs/2025/q3/us-reports/office/eastbayoakland_americas_marketbeat_office_q3_2025.pdf?rev=f9920db83ed249778a3790b110e88270&_gl=1*1pz1tnl*_gcl_au*ODM3MjQxMTU5LjE3NjE1Mjg5Mjc\">a report\u003c/a> by commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“COVID has really changed the way that people work, and companies’ need for space,” said Cushman & Wakefield’s East Bay research manager, Wescott Owen, who authored the report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small business owners like Mejia are hit hard by these changes. On a recent afternoon, he stood behind the bar he opened more than three decades ago, watching pedestrians pass by outside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the nearby offices are quieter than they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve got 32 years here,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer I’m going to hang in there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cjlab.stanford.edu/projects/big-local-news/\">\u003cem>Big Local News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a data-sharing platform and collaborative at Stanford University that supports local journalism. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-passed-a-law-to-curb-spikes-in-gas-prices-why-isnt-it-using-those-powers-now",
"title": "California Passed a Law to Curb Spikes in Gas Prices. Why Isn’t It Using Those Powers Now?",
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"headTitle": "California Passed a Law to Curb Spikes in Gas Prices. Why Isn’t It Using Those Powers Now? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years ago, California built a first-in-the-nation system aimed at protecting drivers when oil \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/economy\">markets turn calamitous\u003c/a>. The Legislature passed it. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it. He proclaimed “California took on Big Oil and won.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Its author, then-Sen. Nancy Skinner called it a “landmark law” that “will allow us to hold oil companies accountable if they pad their profits at the expense of hard-working families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the law — which gave regulators the power to cap refinery profits and penalize oil companies for price gouging — has never been used. Instead, last year, the California Energy Commission voted to delay the rules for five years. Skinner – who wrote the law as a Senator – was absent when her own commission voted to delay it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, with gas \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/09/california-gas-prices-iran-war\">topping $5.30 a gallon\u003c/a> statewide, that decision is under a new spotlight. The Iran war has sent global oil prices soaring — but the war is only part of the story. California has a structural problem: fewer refineries, a captive market and no easy outside supply options. When prices rise nationally, they can rise even more here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/AP23086788063121-scaled-e1770414780894.jpg\" alt=\"A sign at a gas station shows very high gas prices, approaching $6 a gallon. The Bay Bridge can be scene in the background.\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1319\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Bay Bridge rises behind the price board of a gas station in San Francisco on July 20, 2022. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents say this is precisely the moment the 2023 law was designed for. The commissioners last year left the door open to rescind the delay — and move forward with the rule before the five years — if they change their minds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are the moments we need them, because when the price of a commodity goes through the roof — be it crude oil or refined gasoline — that’s when companies make outrageous profits,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who backed the delay argue it was a necessary concession — that penalizing refiners risked driving them out of the state entirely. It’s a tension that cuts to the heart of California’s energy predicament: how to protect consumers today from an industry the state can’t yet afford to lose, while still making good on its promise to leave that industry behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>California’s unused gas-price tools\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When the California Energy Commission met last August Newsom was already retreating from his confrontation with the oil industry. The question before commissioners was whether to move ahead with aggressive rules targeting refinery profits — or step back, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/oil-compromise-california-legislature/\">as the governor was doing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076525\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076525\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at the Friendship House Association of American Indians in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It was a sharp reversal. Newsom had declared \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2024/08/california-gas-prices-newsom-special-session/\">special legislative sessions\u003c/a> in 2022 and 2024, pushing through sweeping new powers to curb gasoline price spikes — including requirements that refiners store more fuel and replace lost supply during maintenance, and the profit-cap rules now sitting dormant. A new energy commission oversight division created by the law found an unexplained gasoline premium of about 41 cents per gallon between 2015 and 2024, costing drivers \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/CEC-900-2025-001.pdf\">an estimated $59 billion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are critically important laws,” said Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity. “What that information shows is that Californians are at the mercy of a very few refiners with immense power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s oil industry strongly opposed the measures, and some economists remain skeptical of them. UC Berkeley energy economist Severin Borenstein warned that capping refinery profits during shortages could backfire.[aside postID=news_12076523 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-2264208891-2000x1465.jpg']“The last thing we need is to start trying to regulate refinery margins,” he said. “As much as people don’t like high gasoline prices, they really, really hate gas lines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By last August, refinery closures were looming and warnings of $8-a-gallon gasoline circulated in Sacramento. Newsom and Democratic leaders were negotiating with the oil industry to boost production in Kern County — talks that produced a law that has since driven an uptick in drilling permits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Valero said it would close its Benicia refinery, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Newsom-Gupta-Letter-4.21.pdf\">Newsom directed Siva Gunda\u003c/a>, vice chair of the California Energy Commission, to “redouble the state’s efforts to work closely with refiners on short- and long-term planning” and ensure a “reliable supply of transportation fuels.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gunda responded with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/CEC%27s_Respone_to_Governor_Newsom%27s_Letter_June-27-2025_ada.pdf\">series of recommendations\u003c/a> that aligned largely with industry’s desires — among them a pause in the state’s profit-cap rule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Against that backdrop, energy commissioners \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/filebrowser/download/7958?fid=7958\">voted on Aug. 29\u003c/a> to delay the rules for five years. Ahead of the vote, Gunda said the delay would help boost “investor confidence” in the state’s oil refiners, “thereby ensuring a reliable in-state refining capacity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12037671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12037671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Valero refinery in Benicia on Sept. 21, 2023. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Oil industry representatives say the decision made sense – the profit-cap measures, they argued, miss the real problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The real problem is California is an energy island — we’re losing 17% of our refining capacity,” said Zachary Leary, a lobbyist for the Western States Petroleum Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Court, of Consumer Watchdog, said the governor “panicked,” leaving the state without the “hammer” it now needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you have this type of level of gas run up, you’re going to need those tools,” Court said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The difficult middle of the energy transition\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California has committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045 — but it still depends heavily on gasoline, and it is losing the refineries that produce it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Phillips 66 last year shut its Los Angeles refinery, citing concerns about the sustainability of the California market. Valero is closing its Benicia refinery next month, pointing to a challenging regulatory environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11960711\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11960711\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"The silhouettes of several smokestacks emit fumes into the air.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery Wilmington Plant stands beyond a residential street on November 28, 2022 in Wilmington. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“If you start losing refineries — as we are going to — and you don’t have an alternative source of supply, we’re going to start getting price spikes when there’s any sort of disruption at one of our refineries,” Borenstein said. “Or just during high demand periods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The challenge of reducing fossil fuel use while maintaining adequate supply has created what Gunda — Newsom’s point person in negotiations with the oil industry — calls the “mid-transition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not going to be a smooth transition,” Gunda said last month in testimony to a state Senate committee. “Every time you lose a refinery, it’s going to be a double-digit percent of refined fuel lost in California. So that abrupt transition will mean an abrupt increase in imports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A global oil shock hits California\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recent jump in gasoline prices reflects a global oil shock tied to the war with Iran — not a policy change unique to California, experts said. But the surge highlights how exposed the state remains to global energy markets as it loses refining capacity and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65704\">imports more crude\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/112525-californias-gasoline-demand-met-with-increased-global-supply-as-refineries-close\">gasoline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the conflict began, the international benchmark for crude oil has climbed more than $25 a barrel — a shift that typically translates to about 60 cents per gallon at the pump, in line with the increase in California retail prices, argues Borenstein, of UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of demonstrators march along Market Street during a “Hands Off Iran” rally on Feb. 28, 2026, in San Francisco. Protesters took over the roadway while calling for an arms embargo and an end to U.S. participation in the strikes. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“All of the change we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks is in line with the change in crude oil prices, and therefore is not California specific,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom has made a similar argument, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/03/10/governor-newsom-blasts-trump-for-raising-gasoline-prices-on-americans-with-no-plan-and-no-accountability/\">blaming the spike\u003c/a> on global oil markets and the war with Iran rather than California policies. But analysts note that the state’s shrinking refinery base means global shocks land harder here than elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A key concern is the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, the narrow waterway carried \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Hormuz%2C%20located,of%20global%20petroleum%20liquids%20consumption.\">more than 20 million barrels of oil a day\u003c/a> — roughly one-fifth of global supply. Traffic is now at a standstill, and crude prices topped $100 a barrel again — even after more than 30 countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.iea.org/news/iea-member-countries-to-carry-out-largest-ever-oil-stock-release-amid-market-disruptions-from-middle-east-conflict\">announced\u003c/a> releases from emergency reserves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ryan Cummings, chief of staff at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policymaking, said a prolonged closure could push crude prices above $130 or $140 per barrel — driving California prices closer to $7, with a worst-case scenario approaching $10 at some stations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076648\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076648\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The port city of Gwadar balochistan on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, just outside the Strait of Hormuz near key shipping routes in and out of the Persian Gulf. \u003ccite>(SM Rafiq Photography via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most analysts consider that outcome unlikely but no longer unthinkable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, this doesn’t appear likely, but it is a worst-case scenario that is growing by the day,” Cummings said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Competing ideas for what comes next\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Siegel, of the Center for Biological Diversity, said California should move forward immediately to implement the profit-cap rules and require companies to hold larger fuel inventories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our leaders shouldn’t rest until the rules are in place to prevent price gouging on top of volatility, and should not rest until people get their money back,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Economists say California’s biggest challenge may be infrastructure. Valero plans to close its Benicia refinery, which produces about 10% of the state’s gasoline, next month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051503\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051503\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luna Angulo looks at the Chevron Refinery from the Wildcat Marsh Staging Area in Richmond on Aug. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In an \u003ca href=\"https://nealemahoney.substack.com/p/an-analysis-of-the-valero-benicia\">analysis posted last year\u003c/a>, Stanford economist Neale Mahoney and Cummings said California could offset lost refinery production with gasoline imports – if permitting allows refineries like Benicia to convert to fuel import terminals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom said in January his administration is \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/01/06/governor-newsoms-statement-on-valeros-benicia-refinery-update/\">working with the company\u003c/a> to continue importing gasoline into Northern California after its refinery operations close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I was in the Legislature right now, all of my energies and effort would be built on, one, making sure that Benicia gets turned into an import terminal — and two, making sure whoever owns or operates that is not an incumbent,” Cummings said.[aside postID=news_12075522 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/RobBontaAP.jpg']Court, of Consumer Watchdog, pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.phillips66.com/newsroom/western-gateway-pipeline/\">a proposed Phillips 66 pipeline\u003c/a> that could bring refined gasoline from Midwest refineries into the state – something California has never had, relying instead on in-state refining and marine imports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dubbed the Western Gateway Pipeline, the project would build a new pipeline and reverse an existing one to move gasoline and diesel from central U.S. refineries to Arizona and California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One state lawmaker has \u003ca href=\"https://ransom.asmdc.org/press-releases/20260219-assemblymember-rhodesia-ransom-introduces-bill-gives-access-cheaper\">proposed expanding access to E85\u003c/a>, a cheaper ethanol blend. Both ideas remain proposals without clear timelines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27873034-mpc-proposed-cap-and-invest-amendments-concerns-30926/\">some oil companies\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27813814-asm-member-letter-carb-ci-regs-concerns-march-9/\">even some Democrats\u003c/a> are warning California’s climate policies could raise production costs enough that refineries reconsider operating in California — adding another pressure point to an already strained supply picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The profit-cap rules that could penalize oil companies remain on hold until 2029. By then, California may have lost more refineries — and may still be grappling with the problem Newsom once promised to solve: gasoline price shocks in the country’s most unaffordable market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California built a first-in-the-nation system to police refinery profits during price spikes. Regulators delayed it for five years.",
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"title": "California Passed a Law to Curb Spikes in Gas Prices. Why Isn’t It Using Those Powers Now? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three years ago, California built a first-in-the-nation system aimed at protecting drivers when oil \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/economy\">markets turn calamitous\u003c/a>. The Legislature passed it. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it. He proclaimed “California took on Big Oil and won.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Its author, then-Sen. Nancy Skinner called it a “landmark law” that “will allow us to hold oil companies accountable if they pad their profits at the expense of hard-working families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the law — which gave regulators the power to cap refinery profits and penalize oil companies for price gouging — has never been used. Instead, last year, the California Energy Commission voted to delay the rules for five years. Skinner – who wrote the law as a Senator – was absent when her own commission voted to delay it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, with gas \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/09/california-gas-prices-iran-war\">topping $5.30 a gallon\u003c/a> statewide, that decision is under a new spotlight. The Iran war has sent global oil prices soaring — but the war is only part of the story. California has a structural problem: fewer refineries, a captive market and no easy outside supply options. When prices rise nationally, they can rise even more here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11944934\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11944934\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/03/AP23086788063121-scaled-e1770414780894.jpg\" alt=\"A sign at a gas station shows very high gas prices, approaching $6 a gallon. The Bay Bridge can be scene in the background.\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1319\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Bay Bridge rises behind the price board of a gas station in San Francisco on July 20, 2022. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents say this is precisely the moment the 2023 law was designed for. The commissioners last year left the door open to rescind the delay — and move forward with the rule before the five years — if they change their minds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These are the moments we need them, because when the price of a commodity goes through the roof — be it crude oil or refined gasoline — that’s when companies make outrageous profits,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who backed the delay argue it was a necessary concession — that penalizing refiners risked driving them out of the state entirely. It’s a tension that cuts to the heart of California’s energy predicament: how to protect consumers today from an industry the state can’t yet afford to lose, while still making good on its promise to leave that industry behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>California’s unused gas-price tools\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When the California Energy Commission met last August Newsom was already retreating from his confrontation with the oil industry. The question before commissioners was whether to move ahead with aggressive rules targeting refinery profits — or step back, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/oil-compromise-california-legislature/\">as the governor was doing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076525\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076525\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-33-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at the Friendship House Association of American Indians in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It was a sharp reversal. Newsom had declared \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2024/08/california-gas-prices-newsom-special-session/\">special legislative sessions\u003c/a> in 2022 and 2024, pushing through sweeping new powers to curb gasoline price spikes — including requirements that refiners store more fuel and replace lost supply during maintenance, and the profit-cap rules now sitting dormant. A new energy commission oversight division created by the law found an unexplained gasoline premium of about 41 cents per gallon between 2015 and 2024, costing drivers \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/CEC-900-2025-001.pdf\">an estimated $59 billion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are critically important laws,” said Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity. “What that information shows is that Californians are at the mercy of a very few refiners with immense power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s oil industry strongly opposed the measures, and some economists remain skeptical of them. UC Berkeley energy economist Severin Borenstein warned that capping refinery profits during shortages could backfire.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“The last thing we need is to start trying to regulate refinery margins,” he said. “As much as people don’t like high gasoline prices, they really, really hate gas lines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By last August, refinery closures were looming and warnings of $8-a-gallon gasoline circulated in Sacramento. Newsom and Democratic leaders were negotiating with the oil industry to boost production in Kern County — talks that produced a law that has since driven an uptick in drilling permits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Valero said it would close its Benicia refinery, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Newsom-Gupta-Letter-4.21.pdf\">Newsom directed Siva Gunda\u003c/a>, vice chair of the California Energy Commission, to “redouble the state’s efforts to work closely with refiners on short- and long-term planning” and ensure a “reliable supply of transportation fuels.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gunda responded with a \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/CEC%27s_Respone_to_Governor_Newsom%27s_Letter_June-27-2025_ada.pdf\">series of recommendations\u003c/a> that aligned largely with industry’s desires — among them a pause in the state’s profit-cap rule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Against that backdrop, energy commissioners \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/filebrowser/download/7958?fid=7958\">voted on Aug. 29\u003c/a> to delay the rules for five years. Ahead of the vote, Gunda said the delay would help boost “investor confidence” in the state’s oil refiners, “thereby ensuring a reliable in-state refining capacity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12037671\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12037671\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/230921-VALERO-BENICIA-REFINERY-MD-02_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Valero refinery in Benicia on Sept. 21, 2023. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Oil industry representatives say the decision made sense – the profit-cap measures, they argued, miss the real problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The real problem is California is an energy island — we’re losing 17% of our refining capacity,” said Zachary Leary, a lobbyist for the Western States Petroleum Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Court, of Consumer Watchdog, said the governor “panicked,” leaving the state without the “hammer” it now needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When you have this type of level of gas run up, you’re going to need those tools,” Court said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The difficult middle of the energy transition\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California has committed to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045 — but it still depends heavily on gasoline, and it is losing the refineries that produce it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Phillips 66 last year shut its Los Angeles refinery, citing concerns about the sustainability of the California market. Valero is closing its Benicia refinery next month, pointing to a challenging regulatory environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11960711\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11960711\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"The silhouettes of several smokestacks emit fumes into the air.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/239011-OIL-AIR-QUALITY-Getty-MT-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery Wilmington Plant stands beyond a residential street on November 28, 2022 in Wilmington. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“If you start losing refineries — as we are going to — and you don’t have an alternative source of supply, we’re going to start getting price spikes when there’s any sort of disruption at one of our refineries,” Borenstein said. “Or just during high demand periods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The challenge of reducing fossil fuel use while maintaining adequate supply has created what Gunda — Newsom’s point person in negotiations with the oil industry — calls the “mid-transition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is not going to be a smooth transition,” Gunda said last month in testimony to a state Senate committee. “Every time you lose a refinery, it’s going to be a double-digit percent of refined fuel lost in California. So that abrupt transition will mean an abrupt increase in imports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A global oil shock hits California\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recent jump in gasoline prices reflects a global oil shock tied to the war with Iran — not a policy change unique to California, experts said. But the surge highlights how exposed the state remains to global energy markets as it loses refining capacity and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65704\">imports more crude\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/112525-californias-gasoline-demand-met-with-increased-global-supply-as-refineries-close\">gasoline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since the conflict began, the international benchmark for crude oil has climbed more than $25 a barrel — a shift that typically translates to about 60 cents per gallon at the pump, in line with the increase in California retail prices, argues Borenstein, of UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12075007\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12075007\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022826_IRAN-BAY-AREA-RESPONSE_GH_011-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of demonstrators march along Market Street during a “Hands Off Iran” rally on Feb. 28, 2026, in San Francisco. Protesters took over the roadway while calling for an arms embargo and an end to U.S. participation in the strikes. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“All of the change we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks is in line with the change in crude oil prices, and therefore is not California specific,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom has made a similar argument, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/03/10/governor-newsom-blasts-trump-for-raising-gasoline-prices-on-americans-with-no-plan-and-no-accountability/\">blaming the spike\u003c/a> on global oil markets and the war with Iran rather than California policies. But analysts note that the state’s shrinking refinery base means global shocks land harder here than elsewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A key concern is the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, the narrow waterway carried \u003ca href=\"https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Hormuz%2C%20located,of%20global%20petroleum%20liquids%20consumption.\">more than 20 million barrels of oil a day\u003c/a> — roughly one-fifth of global supply. Traffic is now at a standstill, and crude prices topped $100 a barrel again — even after more than 30 countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.iea.org/news/iea-member-countries-to-carry-out-largest-ever-oil-stock-release-amid-market-disruptions-from-middle-east-conflict\">announced\u003c/a> releases from emergency reserves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ryan Cummings, chief of staff at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policymaking, said a prolonged closure could push crude prices above $130 or $140 per barrel — driving California prices closer to $7, with a worst-case scenario approaching $10 at some stations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076648\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076648\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GettyImages-639787574-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The port city of Gwadar balochistan on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, just outside the Strait of Hormuz near key shipping routes in and out of the Persian Gulf. \u003ccite>(SM Rafiq Photography via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most analysts consider that outcome unlikely but no longer unthinkable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, this doesn’t appear likely, but it is a worst-case scenario that is growing by the day,” Cummings said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Competing ideas for what comes next\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Siegel, of the Center for Biological Diversity, said California should move forward immediately to implement the profit-cap rules and require companies to hold larger fuel inventories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our leaders shouldn’t rest until the rules are in place to prevent price gouging on top of volatility, and should not rest until people get their money back,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Economists say California’s biggest challenge may be infrastructure. Valero plans to close its Benicia refinery, which produces about 10% of the state’s gasoline, next month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051503\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051503\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250808-CAP-AND-TRADE-ENVIRO-JUSTICE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Luna Angulo looks at the Chevron Refinery from the Wildcat Marsh Staging Area in Richmond on Aug. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In an \u003ca href=\"https://nealemahoney.substack.com/p/an-analysis-of-the-valero-benicia\">analysis posted last year\u003c/a>, Stanford economist Neale Mahoney and Cummings said California could offset lost refinery production with gasoline imports – if permitting allows refineries like Benicia to convert to fuel import terminals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom said in January his administration is \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/01/06/governor-newsoms-statement-on-valeros-benicia-refinery-update/\">working with the company\u003c/a> to continue importing gasoline into Northern California after its refinery operations close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I was in the Legislature right now, all of my energies and effort would be built on, one, making sure that Benicia gets turned into an import terminal — and two, making sure whoever owns or operates that is not an incumbent,” Cummings said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Court, of Consumer Watchdog, pointed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.phillips66.com/newsroom/western-gateway-pipeline/\">a proposed Phillips 66 pipeline\u003c/a> that could bring refined gasoline from Midwest refineries into the state – something California has never had, relying instead on in-state refining and marine imports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dubbed the Western Gateway Pipeline, the project would build a new pipeline and reverse an existing one to move gasoline and diesel from central U.S. refineries to Arizona and California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One state lawmaker has \u003ca href=\"https://ransom.asmdc.org/press-releases/20260219-assemblymember-rhodesia-ransom-introduces-bill-gives-access-cheaper\">proposed expanding access to E85\u003c/a>, a cheaper ethanol blend. Both ideas remain proposals without clear timelines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27873034-mpc-proposed-cap-and-invest-amendments-concerns-30926/\">some oil companies\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27813814-asm-member-letter-carb-ci-regs-concerns-march-9/\">even some Democrats\u003c/a> are warning California’s climate policies could raise production costs enough that refineries reconsider operating in California — adding another pressure point to an already strained supply picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The profit-cap rules that could penalize oil companies remain on hold until 2029. By then, California may have lost more refineries — and may still be grappling with the problem Newsom once promised to solve: gasoline price shocks in the country’s most unaffordable market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-joins-multistate-lawsuit-to-block-trumps-new-global-tariffs",
"title": "California Joins Multistate Lawsuit to Block Trump’s New Global Tariffs",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> and 23 other states sued President \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">Donald Trump\u003c/a> on Thursday over his latest tariffs, arguing the administration is using an obscure law to bypass the Supreme Court and create new costs for families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Last month, the Supreme Court struck down those tariffs as unlawful, rightfully so,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference announcing the lawsuit. “Today, we’re back for round two, because instead of accepting the ruling, the president doubled down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit zeroes in on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose temporary tariffs during specific economic emergencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though the tariff is currently set to 10%, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed this week that the rate will rise to 15% within days. The states are asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to declare the tariffs unlawful and refund money already collected, with interest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Section 122 was enacted in 1974 to address a specific type of financial crisis tied to a fixed exchange rate system, during a time when currencies were tied to a set value like gold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20, 2026. \u003ccite>(Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The U.S. abandoned that system just two years later in favor of today’s floating rate system, where currency values fluctuate freely on global markets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is an archaic statute that was never intended for its current purpose as used by the Trump administration,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For California, the financial stakes of global trade policy are significant. The state is the fourth largest economy in the world, the nation’s largest importer and its second largest exporter. Previous International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs cost each American between roughly\u003ca href=\"https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/state-us-tariffs-january-19-2026\"> $1,000 and $2,000\u003c/a> over the course of a year, Bonta said — or an estimated $40 billion to $80 billion in costs to Californians alone.[aside postID=news_12074141 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/DonaldTrumpTariffsAP.jpg']The new Section 122 tariffs, if allowed to stand, are estimated to cost the average American household an additional $200 to $600 per year, he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For the President of the United States, twice, to act unlawfully to raise prices after promising the American people he would lower prices, I think that tells you all you need to know,” Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s economy has already shown signs of strain from the administration’s trade policy. Businesses in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12036939/san-francisco-chinatown-businesses-survival-mode-trade-war\">San Francisco’s Chinatown\u003c/a> have struggled to stay afloat amid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trade-war\">trade war\u003c/a>, and officials at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12037649/trumps-tariffs-are-stifling-shipping-demand-at-port-of-oakland-officials-warn\">Port of Oakland\u003c/a> warned that tariffs would stifle shipping demand at one of the West Coast’s busiest trade hubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12039333/california-farmers-hit-hard-trumps-trade-war-havent-turned-against-him-yet\">California farmers\u003c/a>, who depend heavily on export relationships with Canada and other trading partners, have also raised alarms about disruptions to long-standing trade ties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit also challenges Trump’s justification for invoking it. To use Section 122, a president must identify a “large and serious” balance-of-payments deficit — but the complaint argues Trump mischaracterized the term by focusing only on the nation’s goods trade deficit while ignoring a financial account surplus of roughly $1.13 trillion in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12048615\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12048615\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Schnitzer Steel manufacturing facility shreds scrap metal at the Port of Oakland on March 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When all components are properly included, the lawsuit said, the actual U.S. balance of payments position amounted to approximately negative $53 billion, or about 0.2% of GDP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A trade deficit is not a balance of payment deficit,” Bonta said. “The president either doesn’t know the difference, or he doesn’t care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit also marks the 60th time California has sued the White House since Trump took office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Attorney General Rob Bonta said the new tax will cost California families an additional $200 to $600 each year. ",
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"title": "California Joins Multistate Lawsuit to Block Trump’s New Global Tariffs | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> and 23 other states sued President \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">Donald Trump\u003c/a> on Thursday over his latest tariffs, arguing the administration is using an obscure law to bypass the Supreme Court and create new costs for families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Last month, the Supreme Court struck down those tariffs as unlawful, rightfully so,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference announcing the lawsuit. “Today, we’re back for round two, because instead of accepting the ruling, the president doubled down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit zeroes in on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose temporary tariffs during specific economic emergencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though the tariff is currently set to 10%, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed this week that the rate will rise to 15% within days. The states are asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to declare the tariffs unlawful and refund money already collected, with interest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Section 122 was enacted in 1974 to address a specific type of financial crisis tied to a fixed exchange rate system, during a time when currencies were tied to a set value like gold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070783\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070783\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/GettyImages-2256680653-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20, 2026. \u003ccite>(Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The U.S. abandoned that system just two years later in favor of today’s floating rate system, where currency values fluctuate freely on global markets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is an archaic statute that was never intended for its current purpose as used by the Trump administration,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For California, the financial stakes of global trade policy are significant. The state is the fourth largest economy in the world, the nation’s largest importer and its second largest exporter. Previous International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs cost each American between roughly\u003ca href=\"https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/state-us-tariffs-january-19-2026\"> $1,000 and $2,000\u003c/a> over the course of a year, Bonta said — or an estimated $40 billion to $80 billion in costs to Californians alone.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The new Section 122 tariffs, if allowed to stand, are estimated to cost the average American household an additional $200 to $600 per year, he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For the President of the United States, twice, to act unlawfully to raise prices after promising the American people he would lower prices, I think that tells you all you need to know,” Bonta said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s economy has already shown signs of strain from the administration’s trade policy. Businesses in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12036939/san-francisco-chinatown-businesses-survival-mode-trade-war\">San Francisco’s Chinatown\u003c/a> have struggled to stay afloat amid the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trade-war\">trade war\u003c/a>, and officials at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12037649/trumps-tariffs-are-stifling-shipping-demand-at-port-of-oakland-officials-warn\">Port of Oakland\u003c/a> warned that tariffs would stifle shipping demand at one of the West Coast’s busiest trade hubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12039333/california-farmers-hit-hard-trumps-trade-war-havent-turned-against-him-yet\">California farmers\u003c/a>, who depend heavily on export relationships with Canada and other trading partners, have also raised alarms about disruptions to long-standing trade ties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit also challenges Trump’s justification for invoking it. To use Section 122, a president must identify a “large and serious” balance-of-payments deficit — but the complaint argues Trump mischaracterized the term by focusing only on the nation’s goods trade deficit while ignoring a financial account surplus of roughly $1.13 trillion in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12048615\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12048615\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/025_KQED_SchnitzerSteelPortofOakland_03082022_qed-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Schnitzer Steel manufacturing facility shreds scrap metal at the Port of Oakland on March 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When all components are properly included, the lawsuit said, the actual U.S. balance of payments position amounted to approximately negative $53 billion, or about 0.2% of GDP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A trade deficit is not a balance of payment deficit,” Bonta said. “The president either doesn’t know the difference, or he doesn’t care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit also marks the 60th time California has sued the White House since Trump took office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "tax-credits-trump-2026-refund-tips-child-tax-credit-car-loan-interest-documents",
"title": "How Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Change How You File Taxes This Year",
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"headTitle": "How Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Change How You File Taxes This Year | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>It’s been over half a year since President Donald Trump \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047824/trump-got-his-tax-bill-over-the-finish-line-now-he-has-to-sell-it-to-voters\">signed into law\u003c/a> the massive spending plan known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” And families are still grappling with the full impact of this legislation, which has brought major changes to the nation’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047647/trumps-health-law-spurs-big-medi-cal-changes-what-californians-need-to-know\">health care sector\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/03/g-s1-75609/big-beautiful-bill-ice-funding-immigration\">immigration enforcement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/social-policy/explainer-understanding-snap-program-and-what-cuts\">food assistance benefits\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law also overhauls the federal tax system, leading the White House to \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/president-trump-delivers-largest-tax-refund-season-in-u-s-history/\">claim\u003c/a> that this year will be “the biggest tax refund season ever,” with average refunds increasing by at least $1,000 from the previous year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some taxpayers are already sharing \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/IRS/comments/1qo15nc/for_those_who_successfully_filed_expect_a_refund/\">different experiences online\u003c/a> when it comes to their refunds, noting that they are actually smaller this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>OBBB has expanded some existing rebates, like the Child Tax Credit, and created new ones, like a $25,000 deduction on income made from tips. But there are limits on how much these credits can actually reduce what you owe the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And other filers — specifically immigrant families that file with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">Individual Taxpayer Identification Number\u003c/a> — are now blocked from receiving many existing credits, potentially cutting their refunds by thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To understand who’s able to claim some of the latest federal credits, KQED spoke to tax professionals across California about what taxpayers should know — and some of the restrictions that could impact how much you ultimately end up receiving in your refund.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No taxes on tips (to a point)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re a waiter, bartender, hairstylist or working in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-listing-occupations-where-workers-customarily-and-regularly-receive-tips-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill\">another profession\u003c/a> in which you make tips along with your regular wages, you can now deduct up to $25,000 from tips you made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What this means: When you’re calculating your total income, you can subtract up to $25,000 from the full amount of tips you received in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you earned $40,000 in wages and made $30,000 in tips, you can deduct $25,000 from tips, giving you a total income of $45,000 (that is, your wages plus $5,000 in tips). If you earned $40,000 in wages and $10,000 in tips, you can deduct tips entirely — as that tip amount is smaller than $25,000 — and only list $40,000 as your total income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074099 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty-1536x958.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Some workers keep a log of all their tips,” said Lindsay Rojas, director of free tax help at United Way Bay Area. “And if they have one, they should bring that with them.” \u003ccite>(Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Don’t remember how much you made in tips last year? Your employer should have listed that amount in your W-2 form, usually in box 14, said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based Tax-Aid. “The best thing to do when you’re heading to file is to bring your W-2,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you made additional tips besides the amount reported on your W-2, let your tax preparer know, recommended Lindsay Rojas, director of free tax help at \u003ca href=\"https://uwba.org/what-we-do/free-tax-help/\">United Way Bay Area\u003c/a>. “Some workers keep a log of all their tips,” she said, “and if they have one, they should bring that with them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that this deduction only applies to what the IRS \u003ca href=\"http://irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-listing-occupations-where-workers-customarily-and-regularly-receive-tips-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill\">calls “qualified tips,”\u003c/a> which are those customers give directly, or which come from a tip pool organized by workers. If a business charges customers an extra \u003cem>fee \u003c/em>for services — say a service charge at a restaurant for large parties — and then distributes that amount to employees, that is not a qualified tip, given the customer was required to pay that charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No: Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No taxes on \u003cem>some\u003c/em> overtime payments\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can now deduct up to $12,500 from how much you made in overtime when calculating your total income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In most cases, \u003ca href=\"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime\">federal law\u003c/a> requires that hourly wage employees be paid at least 1.5 times their regular pay for each extra hour worked. Overtime is any hour worked over 40 in one week.[aside postID=news_11909786 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668869-672x372.jpg']If you’re paid $20 an hour and your boss asks you to work 48 hours in one week, you should be paid at least $30 an hour for those additional eight hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The extra $10 you made each hour is what can be deducted when calculating your total income. In this example, if you only worked eight hours of overtime throughout 2025, you could deduct $80 from your yearly total. The maximum deduction available for overtime is $12,500.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some employers will mark your extra overtime income on box 14 of your W-2, you can also bring your last pay stub from 2025, said Rojas from United Way Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The last pay stub usually states the overtime amount that they worked,” she explained. “From there, the tax preparer can see what amount would qualify.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No. Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A bigger Child Tax Credit — with restrictions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Parents and guardians will now receive a $2,200 credit for each child who is their dependent — $200 more than what was available for the 2024 tax year. To be eligible for this rebate, a child must have been younger than 17 before the end of 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, only $1,700 of the $2,200 credit is \u003cem>refundable \u003c/em>— meaning that while the total $2,200 can be used to pay off what you owe the IRS, you can only get up to $1,700 per child as part of your actual refund. If you owe $1,000 to the IRS and have one eligible child, only $700 will go to your refund check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, there are credits that are not refundable,” said Sage from Tax-Aid. “You may get the credit to offset your tax liability, but you don’t get the full $2,200 back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No: Both the filer and any child under 17 claimed as a dependent need to have a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit. However, families filing with an ITIN are still eligible for California’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/young-child-tax-credit.html\">Young Child Tax Credit\u003c/a> if they have kids under 6 years old, as the state does not require filers to provide a Social Security number to receive this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Larger deductions for seniors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Filers who are 65 or older can claim a $6,000 deduction for taxable income from 2025, on top of whatever standard deduction they already qualify for. If someone is no longer working, this deduction can apply to money they receive from pension funds or gambling winnings — and even some Social Security benefits if their total annual income \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/faqs/social-security-income\">exceeds certain thresholds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For couples who are married and filing jointly, the deduction maximum doubles to $12,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074131 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1251\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-1536x961.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is seen during an enrollment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on July 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The bill makes permanent President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases spending on defense and immigration enforcement and temporarily cuts taxes on tips, while at the same time cutting funding for Medicaid, food assistance, clean energy and raising the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion. \u003ccite>(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This credit is not refundable, meaning it won’t contribute to someone’s refund check, Rojas said. “If there’s no taxes owed, then it won’t really affect them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “if they have other taxable income there, that will potentially bring down what they may owe for taxes,” Rojas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No. Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit. But many seniors living in California are still eligible for the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/caleitc/eligibility-and-credit-information.html\">Earned Income Tax Credit\u003c/a>, as the state does not require filers to provide a Social Security Number for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Deductions for car loan interest payments\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you purchased a car in 2025, you can deduct the interest paid on any loan you took out to pay for that vehicle. The maximum deduction available is $10,000. If you’re leasing your car, this deduction does not apply.[aside postID=news_12073445 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/internal-revenue-service_qed-1020x680.jpg']In addition to only being for cars that are for personal use, there’s another requirement: Your vehicle’s “last assembly has to be completed in the United States,” Rojas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Acknowledging that it may be confusing for some folks to figure out where their car was last assembled, she recommended that tax filers “should bring whatever documentation they received at the time of the purchase” to their tax preparation appointment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The IRS requires that filers also include their car’s vehicle identification number, a 17-character number marked “VIN” that you can usually find on the interior of the driver’s door or on the closest dashboard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> Potentially, as the IRS does not require having a Social Security number to claim this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No e-file and longer wait times to receive refunds without direct deposit\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Last November, the IRS announced that it would \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/irs-ends-free-direct-file-tax-program-best-alternatives/\">end its Direct File Tool\u003c/a>, which allowed taxpayers to file directly for free without needing the help of a tax professional or an online tax service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11909786/how-to-find-free-tax-help-near-you-and-prepare-everything-you-need-for-your-appointment\">find free tax help from a community organization\u003c/a> certified by the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Many VITA sites offer assistance in Spanish, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and other languages, and some also offer unscheduled walk-in appointments. Find the VITA site closest to you using United Way Bay Area’s \u003ca href=\"https://uwba.org/what-we-do/free-tax-help/#fthMap\">interactive map\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The IRS is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts\">strongly encouraging filers\u003c/a> to sign up for direct deposit to receive their refund. Taxpayers can still request to receive their refund in the mail as a check, but that may end up taking a lot longer, Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re really encouraging people who don’t have a bank account to sign up for one,” she said, “so they can get direct deposit and access that money quicker.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Many filers will be able to claim bigger deductions this year, thanks to new rules in the tax code. We spoke to the experts to learn who's eligible for these credits and how to claim them.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s been over half a year since President Donald Trump \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047824/trump-got-his-tax-bill-over-the-finish-line-now-he-has-to-sell-it-to-voters\">signed into law\u003c/a> the massive spending plan known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” And families are still grappling with the full impact of this legislation, which has brought major changes to the nation’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047647/trumps-health-law-spurs-big-medi-cal-changes-what-californians-need-to-know\">health care sector\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/03/g-s1-75609/big-beautiful-bill-ice-funding-immigration\">immigration enforcement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/social-policy/explainer-understanding-snap-program-and-what-cuts\">food assistance benefits\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law also overhauls the federal tax system, leading the White House to \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/president-trump-delivers-largest-tax-refund-season-in-u-s-history/\">claim\u003c/a> that this year will be “the biggest tax refund season ever,” with average refunds increasing by at least $1,000 from the previous year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some taxpayers are already sharing \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/IRS/comments/1qo15nc/for_those_who_successfully_filed_expect_a_refund/\">different experiences online\u003c/a> when it comes to their refunds, noting that they are actually smaller this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>OBBB has expanded some existing rebates, like the Child Tax Credit, and created new ones, like a $25,000 deduction on income made from tips. But there are limits on how much these credits can actually reduce what you owe the IRS.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And other filers — specifically immigrant families that file with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073445/tax-day-filing-2026-ice-irs-trump-itin-number-no-social-security-number\">Individual Taxpayer Identification Number\u003c/a> — are now blocked from receiving many existing credits, potentially cutting their refunds by thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To understand who’s able to claim some of the latest federal credits, KQED spoke to tax professionals across California about what taxpayers should know — and some of the restrictions that could impact how much you ultimately end up receiving in your refund.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No taxes on tips (to a point)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re a waiter, bartender, hairstylist or working in \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-listing-occupations-where-workers-customarily-and-regularly-receive-tips-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill\">another profession\u003c/a> in which you make tips along with your regular wages, you can now deduct up to $25,000 from tips you made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What this means: When you’re calculating your total income, you can subtract up to $25,000 from the full amount of tips you received in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you earned $40,000 in wages and made $30,000 in tips, you can deduct $25,000 from tips, giving you a total income of $45,000 (that is, your wages plus $5,000 in tips). If you earned $40,000 in wages and $10,000 in tips, you can deduct tips entirely — as that tip amount is smaller than $25,000 — and only list $40,000 as your total income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074099 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/TaxonTipsGetty-1536x958.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Some workers keep a log of all their tips,” said Lindsay Rojas, director of free tax help at United Way Bay Area. “And if they have one, they should bring that with them.” \u003ccite>(Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Don’t remember how much you made in tips last year? Your employer should have listed that amount in your W-2 form, usually in box 14, said Minnie Sage, program director of San Francisco-based Tax-Aid. “The best thing to do when you’re heading to file is to bring your W-2,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you made additional tips besides the amount reported on your W-2, let your tax preparer know, recommended Lindsay Rojas, director of free tax help at \u003ca href=\"https://uwba.org/what-we-do/free-tax-help/\">United Way Bay Area\u003c/a>. “Some workers keep a log of all their tips,” she said, “and if they have one, they should bring that with them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that this deduction only applies to what the IRS \u003ca href=\"http://irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-listing-occupations-where-workers-customarily-and-regularly-receive-tips-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill\">calls “qualified tips,”\u003c/a> which are those customers give directly, or which come from a tip pool organized by workers. If a business charges customers an extra \u003cem>fee \u003c/em>for services — say a service charge at a restaurant for large parties — and then distributes that amount to employees, that is not a qualified tip, given the customer was required to pay that charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No: Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No taxes on \u003cem>some\u003c/em> overtime payments\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can now deduct up to $12,500 from how much you made in overtime when calculating your total income.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In most cases, \u003ca href=\"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime\">federal law\u003c/a> requires that hourly wage employees be paid at least 1.5 times their regular pay for each extra hour worked. Overtime is any hour worked over 40 in one week.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If you’re paid $20 an hour and your boss asks you to work 48 hours in one week, you should be paid at least $30 an hour for those additional eight hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The extra $10 you made each hour is what can be deducted when calculating your total income. In this example, if you only worked eight hours of overtime throughout 2025, you could deduct $80 from your yearly total. The maximum deduction available for overtime is $12,500.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some employers will mark your extra overtime income on box 14 of your W-2, you can also bring your last pay stub from 2025, said Rojas from United Way Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The last pay stub usually states the overtime amount that they worked,” she explained. “From there, the tax preparer can see what amount would qualify.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No. Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A bigger Child Tax Credit — with restrictions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Parents and guardians will now receive a $2,200 credit for each child who is their dependent — $200 more than what was available for the 2024 tax year. To be eligible for this rebate, a child must have been younger than 17 before the end of 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, only $1,700 of the $2,200 credit is \u003cem>refundable \u003c/em>— meaning that while the total $2,200 can be used to pay off what you owe the IRS, you can only get up to $1,700 per child as part of your actual refund. If you owe $1,000 to the IRS and have one eligible child, only $700 will go to your refund check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day, there are credits that are not refundable,” said Sage from Tax-Aid. “You may get the credit to offset your tax liability, but you don’t get the full $2,200 back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No: Both the filer and any child under 17 claimed as a dependent need to have a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit. However, families filing with an ITIN are still eligible for California’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/young-child-tax-credit.html\">Young Child Tax Credit\u003c/a> if they have kids under 6 years old, as the state does not require filers to provide a Social Security number to receive this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Larger deductions for seniors\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Filers who are 65 or older can claim a $6,000 deduction for taxable income from 2025, on top of whatever standard deduction they already qualify for. If someone is no longer working, this deduction can apply to money they receive from pension funds or gambling winnings — and even some Social Security benefits if their total annual income \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/faqs/social-security-income\">exceeds certain thresholds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For couples who are married and filing jointly, the deduction maximum doubles to $12,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074131 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1251\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/OneBigBeautifulBillGetty-1536x961.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is seen during an enrollment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on July 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The bill makes permanent President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases spending on defense and immigration enforcement and temporarily cuts taxes on tips, while at the same time cutting funding for Medicaid, food assistance, clean energy and raising the nation’s debt limit by $5 trillion. \u003ccite>(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This credit is not refundable, meaning it won’t contribute to someone’s refund check, Rojas said. “If there’s no taxes owed, then it won’t really affect them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “if they have other taxable income there, that will potentially bring down what they may owe for taxes,” Rojas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> No. Taxpayers need to file with a Social Security number to be eligible for this credit. But many seniors living in California are still eligible for the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/caleitc/eligibility-and-credit-information.html\">Earned Income Tax Credit\u003c/a>, as the state does not require filers to provide a Social Security Number for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Deductions for car loan interest payments\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you purchased a car in 2025, you can deduct the interest paid on any loan you took out to pay for that vehicle. The maximum deduction available is $10,000. If you’re leasing your car, this deduction does not apply.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In addition to only being for cars that are for personal use, there’s another requirement: Your vehicle’s “last assembly has to be completed in the United States,” Rojas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Acknowledging that it may be confusing for some folks to figure out where their car was last assembled, she recommended that tax filers “should bring whatever documentation they received at the time of the purchase” to their tax preparation appointment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The IRS requires that filers also include their car’s vehicle identification number, a 17-character number marked “VIN” that you can usually find on the interior of the driver’s door or on the closest dashboard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do ITIN holders qualify?\u003c/strong> Potentially, as the IRS does not require having a Social Security number to claim this credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>No e-file and longer wait times to receive refunds without direct deposit\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Last November, the IRS announced that it would \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/irs-ends-free-direct-file-tax-program-best-alternatives/\">end its Direct File Tool\u003c/a>, which allowed taxpayers to file directly for free without needing the help of a tax professional or an online tax service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11909786/how-to-find-free-tax-help-near-you-and-prepare-everything-you-need-for-your-appointment\">find free tax help from a community organization\u003c/a> certified by the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Many VITA sites offer assistance in Spanish, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and other languages, and some also offer unscheduled walk-in appointments. Find the VITA site closest to you using United Way Bay Area’s \u003ca href=\"https://uwba.org/what-we-do/free-tax-help/#fthMap\">interactive map\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The IRS is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts\">strongly encouraging filers\u003c/a> to sign up for direct deposit to receive their refund. Taxpayers can still request to receive their refund in the mail as a check, but that may end up taking a lot longer, Sage said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re really encouraging people who don’t have a bank account to sign up for one,” she said, “so they can get direct deposit and access that money quicker.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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