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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Black Panther, which opened two years ago, sits on 7th Street, a corridor formerly known as the “Harlem of the West.” The area became a thriving arts and business mecca for the Bay Area’s growing Black population during the 1940s and 1950s. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The street now features elevated BART tracks with trains emitting ear-piercing, screeching sounds every few minutes during the day. Still, The Black Panther residents, including single mothers who spoke at the press event, said they are grateful for the affordable apartment units their children live in, and the building’s community events, free Wi-Fi and other amenities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In this so-called high-crime neighborhood, the only time we’ve ever had any windows broken or any damage to the building has been by the police themselves,” said Elaine Brown, 83, the primary co-owner of the five-story building. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In this so-called high-crime neighborhood, the only time we’ve ever had any windows broken or any damage to the building has been by the police themselves,” said Elaine Brown, 83, the primary co-owner of the five-story building. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Brown, who characterized SFPD’s operation as an “assault,” was the first and only woman to lead the Black Panther Party in the 1970s. Another party leader, Huey Newton, was shot and killed not far from the housing complex. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I say to the San Francisco Police Department and all who supported them actively or on the down-low that we know your predecessors did not crush us, and you won’t crush us,” said Brown, the chief executive officer of Oakland & the World Enterprises, a housing nonprofit that is part of 7th & Campbell LP. “I’m still standing. The people are still standing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I say to the San Francisco Police Department and all who supported them actively or on the down-low that we know your predecessors did not crush us, and you won’t crush us,” said Brown, the chief executive officer of Oakland & the World Enterprises, a housing nonprofit that is part of 7th & Campbell LP. “I’m still standing. The people are still standing.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The complaint alleges officers forcibly entered the West Oakland building and searched a resident’s unit without showing a required warrant. ",
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"title": "Lawsuit Accuses SFPD of Storming Apartments Co-Owned by Black Panther Leader | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sfpd\">San Francisco police\u003c/a> raided a West Oakland apartment building and failed to produce a required warrant before shattering a glass entrance door, handcuffing a security guard who tried to intervene and searching a resident’s unit on the fifth floor, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The civil rights complaint alleges that over 20 San Francisco Police Department officers, who first arrived in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles at The Black Panther, a 79-unit affordable housing complex, marched “like commandos into the building.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The search, connected to a robbery investigation in San Francisco, recovered only a pair of tennis shoes and a jacket, said Adanté Pointer, an attorney for the building’s owners, including a former leader of the Black Panther Party, and two staffers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12100131\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-160x120.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260916-BlackPantherApt-FJR-01-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Elaine Brown, former Black Panther Party chairwoman, speaks with reporters outside the affordable housing complex she co-owns, as attorney Adanté Pointer observes, on Sept. 16 in Oakland. The building owners are suing SFPD for allegedly breaking into the building during an investigation. (Farida Jhabvala Romero/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They assaulted the building, they assaulted the residents, they violated people’s rights. So we want to vindicate their rights,” Pointer told reporters at a press conference outside The Black Panther. “You must present a search warrant, and you must conduct that search in a reasonable way. Those SFPD police officers on that day refused to abide by their training in the law.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The complaint, which charges SFPD with illegally surveilling the property for 30 days and accessing its internet servers without residents’ consent, names the department and the city of San Francisco as defendants. It seeks damages for the security guard, the property manager, and 7th & Campbell LP, which owns The Black Panther property, for violations of the Fourth Amendment, trespass, vandalism, battery, unlawful arrest and other charges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFPD and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office referred questions to the city attorney’s office. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once we are served, we will review the complaint and respond in court,” said Alex Barrett-Shorter, deputy press secretary at the Office of City Attorney David Chiu.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Black Panther, which opened two years ago, sits on 7th Street, a corridor formerly known as the “Harlem of the West.” The area became a thriving arts and business mecca for the Bay Area’s growing Black population during the 1940s and 1950s. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The street now features elevated BART tracks with trains emitting ear-piercing, screeching sounds every few minutes during the day. Still, The Black Panther residents, including single mothers who spoke at the press event, said they are grateful for the affordable apartment units their children live in, and the building’s community events, free Wi-Fi and other amenities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this so-called high-crime neighborhood, the only time we’ve ever had any windows broken or any damage to the building has been by the police themselves,” said Elaine Brown, 83, the primary co-owner of the five-story building. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brown, who characterized SFPD’s operation as an “assault,” was the first and only woman to lead the Black Panther Party in the 1970s. Another party leader, Huey Newton, was shot and killed not far from the housing complex. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I say to the San Francisco Police Department and all who supported them actively or on the down-low that we know your predecessors did not crush us, and you won’t crush us,” said Brown, the chief executive officer of Oakland & the World Enterprises, a housing nonprofit that is part of 7th & Campbell LP. “I’m still standing. The people are still standing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Oakland City Council Advances Pay Raises for Police",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> City Council members voted Tuesday to advance a proposal that would give hefty raises and bonuses to police officers, despite some residents’ concerns about skyrocketing expenses amid a budget deficit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The tentative deal negotiated by the police union and city staff, \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/News-Releases/Oakland-Reaches-Tentative-5-Year-Agreement-with-Oakland-Police-Officers-Association\">announced last month,\u003c/a> would increase base wages by 14% over five years and offer longevity premium pay aimed at retaining and attracting qualified personnel to the understaffed department. The City Council plans to give the proposed salary changes a second reading on Oct. 6, a required step before the ordinance can take effect. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staffers praised the development as a compromise, with officers agreeing to pay more for their pension and healthcare costs. The city currently covers 100% of healthcare premiums for police rank-and-file as well as managers. Under the agreement, Oakland Police Officers’ Association members would contribute 10% to their employee healthcare by 2030 and an additional 3% to their pension later that year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These agreements strike an important balance between supporting officer retention, improving public safety and protecting the city’s long-term financial stability,” City Council President Kevin Jenkins said in a statement before the vote. “These contracts help the city remain competitive while recognizing the service of the officers who serve our community every day.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12038002\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Oakland Police Department squad car in downtown Oakland on April 28, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But residents who packed the council’s chambers on Tuesday voiced concerns that the deal’s total cost would overprioritize police over other needed services like trash pickup and fixing potholes, and leave fewer funds for lower-paid city employees who are still negotiating labor contracts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nod to concerns that police-overtime spending has often gone over budget by millions of dollars in recent years, employees would need written agreement from the police chief or his designee to earn compensatory time off when working overtime. But many Oaklanders said greater controls are needed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We got to make sure we are doing what’s best for the city,” said John Jones III, a longtime community activist, after noting that dozens of officers \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">made more than $200,000\u003c/a> in overtime alone in 2024. “I know what’s best for my soon-to-be-12-year-old son, and it is not just throwing tons of money at OPD because there are other needs that our children need as well in this city. Please hold them accountable on this.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some councilmembers questioned city staff on the long-term costs of longevity premium pay and whether the overtime pay process had been corrected. The directors for human resources, Mary Hao, and the finance department, Bradley Johnson, responded that the police department has recently decreased overtime costs, while the incentives to retain officers would be largely covered by employees contributing more to healthcare and pensions benefits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The additional savings the city has regarding those benefit costs more than offset the additional increases, leading to a total package that, over the course of the five years, is affordable within a reasonable estimation of the city’s budget,” Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Councilmember Carrol Fife asked why the tentative agreement also includes a clause that would allow police officers to benefit from even-higher-percentage raises in the future if other employee unions negotiate them for their members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just disagree,” said Fife, whose district includes West Oakland and downtown. “This feels like apples and oranges, because some of our highest-paid staff are in the Oakland Police Department. So how do we compare that with someone in SEIU who is working at a library that’s a temporary part-time worker?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, councilmembers voted 7 to 1 to move the proposal forward, with Fife casting the lone dissenting vote. The move comes after San Francisco and its police union earlier this year \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/04/police-fire-union-contract-poa-sf-city-budget-deficit/\">agreed\u003c/a> to give officers a 14% pay increase over four years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A city study by the Office of the Inspector General shows the department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/inspector-general/documents/published-reports/pfm-llc-opd-staffing-study.pdf\">370 officers short\u003c/a> of what it needs to be fully staffed. Out of 603 sworn officers, only 507 are available to work on any given day, according to the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We want police officers to stay in the city, to serve,” said Sgt. Huy Nguyen, the union president. “This is a significant time for our officers to see that there is a structure of support from our city government that appreciates the men and women of this agency who go out there and provide service to our community at a very challenging time.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12049035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1.jpg 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Oakland police officer walks by patrol cars at police headquarters on Dec. 6, 2012. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nguyen said that officers recognize the city is in a financial crisis and made concessions on benefits to which other city employee unions have not agreed. He acknowledged that the proposed longevity premium pay — which was previously paid as a lump sum — would be added to salary, with compounding impacts for raises and pensions. Those premiums would reach up to 15% of base wages for those with 20 or more years of service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At a time when police departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers, Nguyen said the pay incentives are crucial to ensure the department can respond in a timely way to 911 calls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our community members deserve better. They deserve a responsive police department, meaning an adequately staffed police department where, when they call, that police officer will show up, versus waiting for hours or even days until a police officer shows up,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staffers estimated the recent labor agreement would cost \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15830813&GUID=72FEF3E1-F781-456B-A057-F8D4C71E9343\">an additional $88.9 million \u003c/a>in wages and premiums over five years, after savings in benefit costs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Anne Janks, an advocate with the Coalition for Police Accountability, said she is disappointed that the public has not had a real chance to weigh in on the tentative deal or get more information about it. She doubted the city’s cost estimate factored in pay for nonunion officers and pension costs, which if true means the total could be higher. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This contract as proposed, it’s going to be a major, major hit on our budget,” said Janks, an Oakland resident for more than 25 years. “The question is, is it going to accomplish what they are proposing? That it’s gonna do retention? Let’s have a really open discussion about how much it’s actually gonna cost.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Policing is Oakland’s most expensive city service, with a \u003ca href=\"https://stories.opengov.com/oaklandca/3ce39ec8-ff7a-4ac4-9b21-3d6501715f3c/published/ua7_mOgX9?currentPageId=686ea3412dc9751cf6e6ee47\">$410.6 million budget\u003c/a> this fiscal year. The tentative labor agreement comes as the city faces annual \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14218302&GUID=DF96B4E0-3176-48D2-8DC3-55C9B4608017\">budget shortfalls\u003c/a> of about $120 million until 2030, and increased scrutiny over its police-overtime spending. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oaklandside \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">reported\u003c/a> earlier this year that a single lieutenant was paid more than $490,000 in overtime in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The cops are already well paid — the overtime is ridiculous — there wasn’t a transparent process. And the other piece of this is they have 45 officers sitting at home pulling a paycheck for months because they are waiting for disciplinary hearings,” said Jose Dorado, a former Oakland police commissioner from 2017 through 2021. “We need better management, better deployment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police officers receive base pay ranging between about $106,000 to $148,000 per year, plus additional pay incentives, according to a department recruiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.joinoaklandpd.com/\">website\u003c/a>. That’s above what some officers in the state make but in line with what police in other Bay Area cities earn. The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in California is about $112,000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes333051.htm\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These agreements strike an important balance between supporting officer retention, improving public safety and protecting the city’s long-term financial stability,” City Council President Kevin Jenkins said in a statement before the vote. “These contracts help the city remain competitive while recognizing the service of the officers who serve our community every day.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“These agreements strike an important balance between supporting officer retention, improving public safety and protecting the city’s long-term financial stability,” City Council President Kevin Jenkins said in a statement before the vote. “These contracts help the city remain competitive while recognizing the service of the officers who serve our community every day.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But residents who packed the council’s chambers on Tuesday voiced concerns that the deal’s total cost would overprioritize police over other needed services like trash pickup and fixing potholes, and leave fewer funds for lower-paid city employees who are still negotiating labor contracts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But residents who packed the council’s chambers on Tuesday voiced concerns that the deal’s total cost would overprioritize police over other needed services like trash pickup and fixing potholes, and leave fewer funds for lower-paid city employees who are still negotiating labor contracts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a nod to concerns that police-overtime spending has often gone over budget by millions of dollars in recent years, employees would need written agreement from the police chief or his designee to earn compensatory time off when working overtime. But many Oaklanders said greater controls are needed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a nod to concerns that police-overtime spending has often gone over budget by millions of dollars in recent years, employees would need written agreement from the police chief or his designee to earn compensatory time off when working overtime. But many Oaklanders said greater controls are needed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We got to make sure we are doing what’s best for the city,” said John Jones III, a longtime community activist, after noting that dozens of officers \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">made more than $200,000\u003c/a> in overtime alone in 2024. “I know what’s best for my soon-to-be-12-year-old son, and it is not just throwing tons of money at OPD because there are other needs that our children need as well in this city. Please hold them accountable on this.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We got to make sure we are doing what’s best for the city,” said John Jones III, a longtime community activist, after noting that dozens of officers \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">made more than $200,000\u003c/a> in overtime alone in 2024. “I know what’s best for my soon-to-be-12-year-old son, and it is not just throwing tons of money at OPD because there are other needs that our children need as well in this city. Please hold them accountable on this.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some councilmembers questioned city staff on the long-term costs of longevity premium pay and whether the overtime pay process had been corrected. The directors for human resources, Mary Hao, and the finance department, Bradley Johnson, responded that the police department has recently decreased overtime costs, while the incentives to retain officers would be largely covered by employees contributing more to healthcare and pensions benefits.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some councilmembers questioned city staff on the long-term costs of longevity premium pay and whether the overtime pay process had been corrected. The directors for human resources, Mary Hao, and the finance department, Bradley Johnson, responded that the police department has recently decreased overtime costs, while the incentives to retain officers would be largely covered by employees contributing more to healthcare and pensions benefits.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The additional savings the city has regarding those benefit costs more than offset the additional increases, leading to a total package that, over the course of the five years, is affordable within a reasonable estimation of the city’s budget,” Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The additional savings the city has regarding those benefit costs more than offset the additional increases, leading to a total package that, over the course of the five years, is affordable within a reasonable estimation of the city’s budget,” Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Councilmember Carrol Fife asked why the tentative agreement also includes a clause that would allow police officers to benefit from even-higher-percentage raises in the future if other employee unions negotiate them for their members. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Councilmember Carrol Fife asked why the tentative agreement also includes a clause that would allow police officers to benefit from even-higher-percentage raises in the future if other employee unions negotiate them for their members. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I just disagree,” said Fife, whose district includes West Oakland and downtown. “This feels like apples and oranges, because some of our highest-paid staff are in the Oakland Police Department. So how do we compare that with someone in SEIU who is working at a library that’s a temporary part-time worker?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I just disagree,” said Fife, whose district includes West Oakland and downtown. “This feels like apples and oranges, because some of our highest-paid staff are in the Oakland Police Department. So how do we compare that with someone in SEIU who is working at a library that’s a temporary part-time worker?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the end, councilmembers voted 7 to 1 to move the proposal forward, with Fife casting the lone dissenting vote. The move comes after San Francisco and its police union earlier this year \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/04/police-fire-union-contract-poa-sf-city-budget-deficit/\">agreed\u003c/a> to give officers a 14% pay increase over four years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the end, councilmembers voted 7 to 1 to move the proposal forward, with Fife casting the lone dissenting vote. The move comes after San Francisco and its police union earlier this year \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/04/police-fire-union-contract-poa-sf-city-budget-deficit/\">agreed\u003c/a> to give officers a 14% pay increase over four years. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A city study by the Office of the Inspector General shows the department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/inspector-general/documents/published-reports/pfm-llc-opd-staffing-study.pdf\">370 officers short\u003c/a> of what it needs to be fully staffed. Out of 603 sworn officers, only 507 are available to work on any given day, according to the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A city study by the Office of the Inspector General shows the department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/inspector-general/documents/published-reports/pfm-llc-opd-staffing-study.pdf\">370 officers short\u003c/a> of what it needs to be fully staffed. Out of 603 sworn officers, only 507 are available to work on any given day, according to the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We want police officers to stay in the city, to serve,” said Sgt. Huy Nguyen, the union president. “This is a significant time for our officers to see that there is a structure of support from our city government that appreciates the men and women of this agency who go out there and provide service to our community at a very challenging time.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We want police officers to stay in the city, to serve,” said Sgt. Huy Nguyen, the union president. “This is a significant time for our officers to see that there is a structure of support from our city government that appreciates the men and women of this agency who go out there and provide service to our community at a very challenging time.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nguyen said that officers recognize the city is in a financial crisis and made concessions on benefits to which other city employee unions have not agreed. He acknowledged that the proposed longevity premium pay — which was previously paid as a lump sum — would be added to salary, with compounding impacts for raises and pensions. Those premiums would reach up to 15% of base wages for those with 20 or more years of service.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nguyen said that officers recognize the city is in a financial crisis and made concessions on benefits to which other city employee unions have not agreed. He acknowledged that the proposed longevity premium pay — which was previously paid as a lump sum — would be added to salary, with compounding impacts for raises and pensions. Those premiums would reach up to 15% of base wages for those with 20 or more years of service.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At a time when police departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers, Nguyen said the pay incentives are crucial to ensure the department can respond in a timely way to 911 calls.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At a time when police departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers, Nguyen said the pay incentives are crucial to ensure the department can respond in a timely way to 911 calls.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our community members deserve better. They deserve a responsive police department, meaning an adequately staffed police department where, when they call, that police officer will show up, versus waiting for hours or even days until a police officer shows up,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Our community members deserve better. They deserve a responsive police department, meaning an adequately staffed police department where, when they call, that police officer will show up, versus waiting for hours or even days until a police officer shows up,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>City staffers estimated the recent labor agreement would cost \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15830813&GUID=72FEF3E1-F781-456B-A057-F8D4C71E9343\">an additional $88.9 million \u003c/a>in wages and premiums over five years, after savings in benefit costs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>City staffers estimated the recent labor agreement would cost \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15830813&GUID=72FEF3E1-F781-456B-A057-F8D4C71E9343\">an additional $88.9 million \u003c/a>in wages and premiums over five years, after savings in benefit costs. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Anne Janks, an advocate with the Coalition for Police Accountability, said she is disappointed that the public has not had a real chance to weigh in on the tentative deal or get more information about it. She doubted the city’s cost estimate factored in pay for nonunion officers and pension costs, which if true means the total could be higher. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Anne Janks, an advocate with the Coalition for Police Accountability, said she is disappointed that the public has not had a real chance to weigh in on the tentative deal or get more information about it. She doubted the city’s cost estimate factored in pay for nonunion officers and pension costs, which if true means the total could be higher. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This contract as proposed, it’s going to be a major, major hit on our budget,” said Janks, an Oakland resident for more than 25 years. “The question is, is it going to accomplish what they are proposing? That it’s gonna do retention? Let’s have a really open discussion about how much it’s actually gonna cost.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This contract as proposed, it’s going to be a major, major hit on our budget,” said Janks, an Oakland resident for more than 25 years. “The question is, is it going to accomplish what they are proposing? That it’s gonna do retention? Let’s have a really open discussion about how much it’s actually gonna cost.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Policing is Oakland’s most expensive city service, with a \u003ca href=\"https://stories.opengov.com/oaklandca/3ce39ec8-ff7a-4ac4-9b21-3d6501715f3c/published/ua7_mOgX9?currentPageId=686ea3412dc9751cf6e6ee47\">$410.6 million budget\u003c/a> this fiscal year. The tentative labor agreement comes as the city faces annual \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14218302&GUID=DF96B4E0-3176-48D2-8DC3-55C9B4608017\">budget shortfalls\u003c/a> of about $120 million until 2030, and increased scrutiny over its police-overtime spending. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Policing is Oakland’s most expensive city service, with a \u003ca href=\"https://stories.opengov.com/oaklandca/3ce39ec8-ff7a-4ac4-9b21-3d6501715f3c/published/ua7_mOgX9?currentPageId=686ea3412dc9751cf6e6ee47\">$410.6 million budget\u003c/a> this fiscal year. The tentative labor agreement comes as the city faces annual \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14218302&GUID=DF96B4E0-3176-48D2-8DC3-55C9B4608017\">budget shortfalls\u003c/a> of about $120 million until 2030, and increased scrutiny over its police-overtime spending. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oaklandside \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">reported\u003c/a> earlier this year that a single lieutenant was paid more than $490,000 in overtime in 2024. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Oaklandside \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">reported\u003c/a> earlier this year that a single lieutenant was paid more than $490,000 in overtime in 2024. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The cops are already well paid — the overtime is ridiculous — there wasn’t a transparent process. And the other piece of this is they have 45 officers sitting at home pulling a paycheck for months because they are waiting for disciplinary hearings,” said Jose Dorado, a former Oakland police commissioner from 2017 through 2021. “We need better management, better deployment.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The cops are already well paid — the overtime is ridiculous — there wasn’t a transparent process. And the other piece of this is they have 45 officers sitting at home pulling a paycheck for months because they are waiting for disciplinary hearings,” said Jose Dorado, a former Oakland police commissioner from 2017 through 2021. “We need better management, better deployment.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland police officers receive base pay ranging between about $106,000 to $148,000 per year, plus additional pay incentives, according to a department recruiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.joinoaklandpd.com/\">website\u003c/a>. That’s above what some officers in the state make but in line with what police in other Bay Area cities earn. The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in California is about $112,000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes333051.htm\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Oakland police officers receive base pay ranging between about $106,000 to $148,000 per year, plus additional pay incentives, according to a department recruiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.joinoaklandpd.com/\">website\u003c/a>. That’s above what some officers in the state make but in line with what police in other Bay Area cities earn. The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in California is about $112,000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes333051.htm\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "City staffers praised the deal as a compromise that will help retain and recruit qualified officers, but some residents have unanswered questions. \n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> City Council members voted Tuesday to advance a proposal that would give hefty raises and bonuses to police officers, despite some residents’ concerns about skyrocketing expenses amid a budget deficit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The tentative deal negotiated by the police union and city staff, \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/News-Releases/Oakland-Reaches-Tentative-5-Year-Agreement-with-Oakland-Police-Officers-Association\">announced last month,\u003c/a> would increase base wages by 14% over five years and offer longevity premium pay aimed at retaining and attracting qualified personnel to the understaffed department. The City Council plans to give the proposed salary changes a second reading on Oct. 6, a required step before the ordinance can take effect. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staffers praised the development as a compromise, with officers agreeing to pay more for their pension and healthcare costs. The city currently covers 100% of healthcare premiums for police rank-and-file as well as managers. Under the agreement, Oakland Police Officers’ Association members would contribute 10% to their employee healthcare by 2030 and an additional 3% to their pension later that year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These agreements strike an important balance between supporting officer retention, improving public safety and protecting the city’s long-term financial stability,” City Council President Kevin Jenkins said in a statement before the vote. “These contracts help the city remain competitive while recognizing the service of the officers who serve our community every day.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12038002\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/250428-OPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Oakland Police Department squad car in downtown Oakland on April 28, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But residents who packed the council’s chambers on Tuesday voiced concerns that the deal’s total cost would overprioritize police over other needed services like trash pickup and fixing potholes, and leave fewer funds for lower-paid city employees who are still negotiating labor contracts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a nod to concerns that police-overtime spending has often gone over budget by millions of dollars in recent years, employees would need written agreement from the police chief or his designee to earn compensatory time off when working overtime. But many Oaklanders said greater controls are needed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We got to make sure we are doing what’s best for the city,” said John Jones III, a longtime community activist, after noting that dozens of officers \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">made more than $200,000\u003c/a> in overtime alone in 2024. “I know what’s best for my soon-to-be-12-year-old son, and it is not just throwing tons of money at OPD because there are other needs that our children need as well in this city. Please hold them accountable on this.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some councilmembers questioned city staff on the long-term costs of longevity premium pay and whether the overtime pay process had been corrected. The directors for human resources, Mary Hao, and the finance department, Bradley Johnson, responded that the police department has recently decreased overtime costs, while the incentives to retain officers would be largely covered by employees contributing more to healthcare and pensions benefits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The additional savings the city has regarding those benefit costs more than offset the additional increases, leading to a total package that, over the course of the five years, is affordable within a reasonable estimation of the city’s budget,” Johnson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Councilmember Carrol Fife asked why the tentative agreement also includes a clause that would allow police officers to benefit from even-higher-percentage raises in the future if other employee unions negotiate them for their members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just disagree,” said Fife, whose district includes West Oakland and downtown. “This feels like apples and oranges, because some of our highest-paid staff are in the Oakland Police Department. So how do we compare that with someone in SEIU who is working at a library that’s a temporary part-time worker?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, councilmembers voted 7 to 1 to move the proposal forward, with Fife casting the lone dissenting vote. The move comes after San Francisco and its police union earlier this year \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/04/police-fire-union-contract-poa-sf-city-budget-deficit/\">agreed\u003c/a> to give officers a 14% pay increase over four years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A city study by the Office of the Inspector General shows the department is \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/inspector-general/documents/published-reports/pfm-llc-opd-staffing-study.pdf\">370 officers short\u003c/a> of what it needs to be fully staffed. Out of 603 sworn officers, only 507 are available to work on any given day, according to the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We want police officers to stay in the city, to serve,” said Sgt. Huy Nguyen, the union president. “This is a significant time for our officers to see that there is a structure of support from our city government that appreciates the men and women of this agency who go out there and provide service to our community at a very challenging time.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12049035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1.jpg 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/OaklandPoliceCar_qed-1-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Oakland police officer walks by patrol cars at police headquarters on Dec. 6, 2012. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nguyen said that officers recognize the city is in a financial crisis and made concessions on benefits to which other city employee unions have not agreed. He acknowledged that the proposed longevity premium pay — which was previously paid as a lump sum — would be added to salary, with compounding impacts for raises and pensions. Those premiums would reach up to 15% of base wages for those with 20 or more years of service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At a time when police departments nationwide are struggling to recruit officers, Nguyen said the pay incentives are crucial to ensure the department can respond in a timely way to 911 calls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our community members deserve better. They deserve a responsive police department, meaning an adequately staffed police department where, when they call, that police officer will show up, versus waiting for hours or even days until a police officer shows up,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>City staffers estimated the recent labor agreement would cost \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15830813&GUID=72FEF3E1-F781-456B-A057-F8D4C71E9343\">an additional $88.9 million \u003c/a>in wages and premiums over five years, after savings in benefit costs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Anne Janks, an advocate with the Coalition for Police Accountability, said she is disappointed that the public has not had a real chance to weigh in on the tentative deal or get more information about it. She doubted the city’s cost estimate factored in pay for nonunion officers and pension costs, which if true means the total could be higher. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This contract as proposed, it’s going to be a major, major hit on our budget,” said Janks, an Oakland resident for more than 25 years. “The question is, is it going to accomplish what they are proposing? That it’s gonna do retention? Let’s have a really open discussion about how much it’s actually gonna cost.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Policing is Oakland’s most expensive city service, with a \u003ca href=\"https://stories.opengov.com/oaklandca/3ce39ec8-ff7a-4ac4-9b21-3d6501715f3c/published/ua7_mOgX9?currentPageId=686ea3412dc9751cf6e6ee47\">$410.6 million budget\u003c/a> this fiscal year. The tentative labor agreement comes as the city faces annual \u003ca href=\"https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14218302&GUID=DF96B4E0-3176-48D2-8DC3-55C9B4608017\">budget shortfalls\u003c/a> of about $120 million until 2030, and increased scrutiny over its police-overtime spending. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oaklandside \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/29/oakland-police-overtime/\">reported\u003c/a> earlier this year that a single lieutenant was paid more than $490,000 in overtime in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The cops are already well paid — the overtime is ridiculous — there wasn’t a transparent process. And the other piece of this is they have 45 officers sitting at home pulling a paycheck for months because they are waiting for disciplinary hearings,” said Jose Dorado, a former Oakland police commissioner from 2017 through 2021. “We need better management, better deployment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police officers receive base pay ranging between about $106,000 to $148,000 per year, plus additional pay incentives, according to a department recruiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.joinoaklandpd.com/\">website\u003c/a>. That’s above what some officers in the state make but in line with what police in other Bay Area cities earn. The mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in California is about $112,000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes333051.htm\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-historically-black-college-in-oakland-a-task-force-is-dreaming",
"title": "A Historically Black College in Oakland? A Task Force Is Dreaming",
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"headTitle": "A Historically Black College in Oakland? A Task Force Is Dreaming | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A task force is quietly working to expand higher education offerings in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> by bringing a historically Black college or university here. And Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/barbara-lee\">Barbara Lee\u003c/a> is central to the effort.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are a little over 100 recognized HBCUs in the country, but they are concentrated in the Southeast since many were established in the years following the Civil War, when African Americans were barred from most colleges and universities. The West Coast has only one historically Black educational institution — the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, one of only a handful of historically Black medical schools in the nation. If an HBCU lands in Oakland, it could offer the first opportunity for undergraduate students in California to get a culturally relevant education closer to home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When students head east to enroll at an HBCU, they often don’t come back, said Kim Thompson, a member of the Oakland HBCU task force. She described that as a loss for California’s workforce.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s a big brain drain and loss of students who could be staying here and gaining access to high-wage STEM careers that the Bay Area has to offer,” Thompson told The Oaklandside. “There’s a lot of students we think could benefit from the culturally affirming education that an HBCU could provide.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12015107\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-800x449.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1536x862.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1920x1078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., mostly in the Southeast. The West Coast has only one, in Los Angeles. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Oakland HBCU initiative, a fiscally sponsored project of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandfund.org/oaklandhbcu\">Oakland Fund\u003c/a>, officially launched last year and is still in the early stages. A volunteer task force composed of Mayor Lee along with individuals from business, higher education, civic and philanthropic communities in Oakland is leading the effort.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The task force undertook a feasibility study this year to explore the potential economic impacts of a campus for Oakland and to identify which industries here are primed for growth. Thompson said the task force plans to publish the results of the study in the next month, but said they’ve already identified technology, entrepreneurship, life sciences, artificial intelligence, logistics and transportation as areas of focus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The task force will then move to the next phase: solidifying a list of interested schools and settling on a location. The team is exploring a range of ideas, including a satellite campus for a single college, a hub center that would allow multiple colleges and universities to offer classes in Oakland and a partnership with the Peralta Community Colleges District to offer a pathway to a four-year degree from an HBCU.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s community colleges already have a \u003ca href=\"https://icangotocollege.com/hbcu-transfer-opportunities\">transfer pathway for students to enroll at HBCUs\u003c/a>, which guarantees admission to more than 30 colleges and comes with a $5,000 scholarship, but few students take it, Taína Knox, another member of the task force, said. While tens of thousands of students transfer from community college to a UC or Cal State campus each year, those taking advantage of the HBCU transfer pathway number in the tens, Knox said. Five students received the Cal-HBCU transfer grant in 2024-2025, 10 in 2025-2026, and five payments are in progress for this academic year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Students are still hesitant to transfer to out-of-state schools, and having an HBCU school here in California would have an impact,” Knox told The Oaklandside. “We think that an HBCU partnership could bolster what is already happening and hopefully increase students’ resiliency to continue through with the process that they start.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2022, Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, was in talks to \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2022/04/21/texas-hbcu-paul-quinn-college-expansion-oakland-california/\">establish a campus in Oakland\u003c/a>. In 2024, Thompson and others, including then-deputy mayor Kimberly Mayfield representing the mayor’s office, attended the annual conference of the United Negro College Fund, the HBCU membership organization, to scout interest in Oakland. But the conference took place in July 2024, weeks after then mayor \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/tag/oakland-fbi-raids/\">Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI\u003c/a>, so timing wasn’t ideal, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Lee became mayor last year, the talks restarted. At one point, Howard University, the country’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/asia-alexander/2026/08/01/top-hbcus-20-historically-black-colleges-universities-that-set-grads-up-for-success/\">top-ranked private HBCU\u003c/a>, was interested, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They came out for a site visit, we had ongoing conversations with them for several months,” Thompson said. “Currently, they have an interim leader in place, so now is not perfect timing for them to be making a definitive decision on something like this, but we continue to keep them in mind.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said she is able to tap connections with HBCUs that she built during her time in Congress. Lee, who graduated from Mills College, the former women’s college in Oakland, has \u003ca href=\"https://uncf.org/the-latest/the-murell-family-legacy-establishing-a-uncf-scholarship-to-expand-educational-opportunity\">family members who attended HBCUs\u003c/a> and received an \u003ca href=\"https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/go-where-need-greatest-honorary-degree-designee-barbara-lee-has-spent-lifetime-uplifting-people\">honorary doctorate from Howard University last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland City Hall in Oakland on April 28, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Establishing an HBCU in Oakland could be crucial to stabilizing the Black population here, Lee said. When she was elected to Congress, 40% of Oakland was Black, she said, and now it’s around 20%.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Here in Oakland, gentrification, redlining, and systemic discrimination has been a driver of bringing our population down,” she told The Oaklandside. “This would give some stability in many ways to the Black population and for everyone in Oakland to see that we still care about the Black community and Black students.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In exploring potential locations, the task force has toured the former Holy Names University campus in the hills, as well as locations in downtown Oakland, but they don’t want to commit to a site until they’re further along in talks with the colleges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group also held listening sessions last fall with students to gauge their interest in an HBCU here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A lot of students said, ‘It’d be great to go to an HBCU, but I’m the first in my family to go to college, and it’s expensive to travel out of state,’” Thompson said. “But if it were here, that would be a great alternative opportunity to go to an HBCU, which many students had an interest in attending.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/\">The Oaklandside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12015107\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-800x449.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1536x862.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1920x1078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., mostly in the Southeast. The West Coast has only one, in Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12015107\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., mostly in the Southeast. The West Coast has only one, in Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Oakland HBCU initiative, a fiscally sponsored project of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandfund.org/oaklandhbcu\">Oakland Fund\u003c/a>, officially launched last year and is still in the early stages. A volunteer task force composed of Mayor Lee along with individuals from business, higher education, civic and philanthropic communities in Oakland is leading the effort.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Oakland HBCU initiative, a fiscally sponsored project of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandfund.org/oaklandhbcu\">Oakland Fund\u003c/a>, officially launched last year and is still in the early stages. A volunteer task force composed of Mayor Lee along with individuals from business, higher education, civic and philanthropic communities in Oakland is leading the effort.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The task force undertook a feasibility study this year to explore the potential economic impacts of a campus for Oakland and to identify which industries here are primed for growth. Thompson said the task force plans to publish the results of the study in the next month, but said they’ve already identified technology, entrepreneurship, life sciences, artificial intelligence, logistics and transportation as areas of focus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The task force undertook a feasibility study this year to explore the potential economic impacts of a campus for Oakland and to identify which industries here are primed for growth. Thompson said the task force plans to publish the results of the study in the next month, but said they’ve already identified technology, entrepreneurship, life sciences, artificial intelligence, logistics and transportation as areas of focus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The task force will then move to the next phase: solidifying a list of interested schools and settling on a location. The team is exploring a range of ideas, including a satellite campus for a single college, a hub center that would allow multiple colleges and universities to offer classes in Oakland and a partnership with the Peralta Community Colleges District to offer a pathway to a four-year degree from an HBCU.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The task force will then move to the next phase: solidifying a list of interested schools and settling on a location. The team is exploring a range of ideas, including a satellite campus for a single college, a hub center that would allow multiple colleges and universities to offer classes in Oakland and a partnership with the Peralta Community Colleges District to offer a pathway to a four-year degree from an HBCU.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California’s community colleges already have a \u003ca href=\"https://icangotocollege.com/hbcu-transfer-opportunities\">transfer pathway for students to enroll at HBCUs\u003c/a>, which guarantees admission to more than 30 colleges and comes with a $5,000 scholarship, but few students take it, Taína Knox, another member of the task force, said. While tens of thousands of students transfer from community college to a UC or Cal State campus each year, those taking advantage of the HBCU transfer pathway number in the tens, Knox said. Five students received the Cal-HBCU transfer grant in 2024-2025, 10 in 2025-2026, and five payments are in progress for this academic year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California’s community colleges already have a \u003ca href=\"https://icangotocollege.com/hbcu-transfer-opportunities\">transfer pathway for students to enroll at HBCUs\u003c/a>, which guarantees admission to more than 30 colleges and comes with a $5,000 scholarship, but few students take it, Taína Knox, another member of the task force, said. While tens of thousands of students transfer from community college to a UC or Cal State campus each year, those taking advantage of the HBCU transfer pathway number in the tens, Knox said. Five students received the Cal-HBCU transfer grant in 2024-2025, 10 in 2025-2026, and five payments are in progress for this academic year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Students are still hesitant to transfer to out-of-state schools, and having an HBCU school here in California would have an impact,” Knox told The Oaklandside. “We think that an HBCU partnership could bolster what is already happening and hopefully increase students’ resiliency to continue through with the process that they start.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Students are still hesitant to transfer to out-of-state schools, and having an HBCU school here in California would have an impact,” Knox told The Oaklandside. “We think that an HBCU partnership could bolster what is already happening and hopefully increase students’ resiliency to continue through with the process that they start.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2022, Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, was in talks to \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2022/04/21/texas-hbcu-paul-quinn-college-expansion-oakland-california/\">establish a campus in Oakland\u003c/a>. In 2024, Thompson and others, including then-deputy mayor Kimberly Mayfield representing the mayor’s office, attended the annual conference of the United Negro College Fund, the HBCU membership organization, to scout interest in Oakland. But the conference took place in July 2024, weeks after then mayor \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/tag/oakland-fbi-raids/\">Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI\u003c/a>, so timing wasn’t ideal, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2022, Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, was in talks to \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2022/04/21/texas-hbcu-paul-quinn-college-expansion-oakland-california/\">establish a campus in Oakland\u003c/a>. In 2024, Thompson and others, including then-deputy mayor Kimberly Mayfield representing the mayor’s office, attended the annual conference of the United Negro College Fund, the HBCU membership organization, to scout interest in Oakland. But the conference took place in July 2024, weeks after then mayor \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/tag/oakland-fbi-raids/\">Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI\u003c/a>, so timing wasn’t ideal, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After Lee became mayor last year, the talks restarted. At one point, Howard University, the country’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/asia-alexander/2026/08/01/top-hbcus-20-historically-black-colleges-universities-that-set-grads-up-for-success/\">top-ranked private HBCU\u003c/a>, was interested, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After Lee became mayor last year, the talks restarted. At one point, Howard University, the country’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/asia-alexander/2026/08/01/top-hbcus-20-historically-black-colleges-universities-that-set-grads-up-for-success/\">top-ranked private HBCU\u003c/a>, was interested, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They came out for a site visit, we had ongoing conversations with them for several months,” Thompson said. “Currently, they have an interim leader in place, so now is not perfect timing for them to be making a definitive decision on something like this, but we continue to keep them in mind.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They came out for a site visit, we had ongoing conversations with them for several months,” Thompson said. “Currently, they have an interim leader in place, so now is not perfect timing for them to be making a definitive decision on something like this, but we continue to keep them in mind.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lee said she is able to tap connections with HBCUs that she built during her time in Congress. Lee, who graduated from Mills College, the former women’s college in Oakland, has \u003ca href=\"https://uncf.org/the-latest/the-murell-family-legacy-establishing-a-uncf-scholarship-to-expand-educational-opportunity\">family members who attended HBCUs\u003c/a> and received an \u003ca href=\"https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/go-where-need-greatest-honorary-degree-designee-barbara-lee-has-spent-lifetime-uplifting-people\">honorary doctorate from Howard University last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lee said she is able to tap connections with HBCUs that she built during her time in Congress. Lee, who graduated from Mills College, the former women’s college in Oakland, has \u003ca href=\"https://uncf.org/the-latest/the-murell-family-legacy-establishing-a-uncf-scholarship-to-expand-educational-opportunity\">family members who attended HBCUs\u003c/a> and received an \u003ca href=\"https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/go-where-need-greatest-honorary-degree-designee-barbara-lee-has-spent-lifetime-uplifting-people\">honorary doctorate from Howard University last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland City Hall in Oakland on April 28, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Establishing an HBCU in Oakland could be crucial to stabilizing the Black population here, Lee said. When she was elected to Congress, 40% of Oakland was Black, she said, and now it’s around 20%.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Establishing an HBCU in Oakland could be crucial to stabilizing the Black population here, Lee said. When she was elected to Congress, 40% of Oakland was Black, she said, and now it’s around 20%.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Here in Oakland, gentrification, redlining, and systemic discrimination has been a driver of bringing our population down,” she told The Oaklandside. “This would give some stability in many ways to the Black population and for everyone in Oakland to see that we still care about the Black community and Black students.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Here in Oakland, gentrification, redlining, and systemic discrimination has been a driver of bringing our population down,” she told The Oaklandside. “This would give some stability in many ways to the Black population and for everyone in Oakland to see that we still care about the Black community and Black students.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In exploring potential locations, the task force has toured the former Holy Names University campus in the hills, as well as locations in downtown Oakland, but they don’t want to commit to a site until they’re further along in talks with the colleges.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In exploring potential locations, the task force has toured the former Holy Names University campus in the hills, as well as locations in downtown Oakland, but they don’t want to commit to a site until they’re further along in talks with the colleges.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The group also held listening sessions last fall with students to gauge their interest in an HBCU here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The group also held listening sessions last fall with students to gauge their interest in an HBCU here.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“A lot of students said, ‘It’d be great to go to an HBCU, but I’m the first in my family to go to college, and it’s expensive to travel out of state,’” Thompson said. “But if it were here, that would be a great alternative opportunity to go to an HBCU, which many students had an interest in attending.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“A lot of students said, ‘It’d be great to go to an HBCU, but I’m the first in my family to go to college, and it’s expensive to travel out of state,’” Thompson said. “But if it were here, that would be a great alternative opportunity to go to an HBCU, which many students had an interest in attending.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/\">The Oaklandside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/\">The Oaklandside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A task force is quietly working to expand higher education offerings in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a> by bringing a historically Black college or university here. And Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/barbara-lee\">Barbara Lee\u003c/a> is central to the effort.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are a little over 100 recognized HBCUs in the country, but they are concentrated in the Southeast since many were established in the years following the Civil War, when African Americans were barred from most colleges and universities. The West Coast has only one historically Black educational institution — the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, one of only a handful of historically Black medical schools in the nation. If an HBCU lands in Oakland, it could offer the first opportunity for undergraduate students in California to get a culturally relevant education closer to home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When students head east to enroll at an HBCU, they often don’t come back, said Kim Thompson, a member of the Oakland HBCU task force. She described that as a loss for California’s workforce.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s a big brain drain and loss of students who could be staying here and gaining access to high-wage STEM careers that the Bay Area has to offer,” Thompson told The Oaklandside. “There’s a lot of students we think could benefit from the culturally affirming education that an HBCU could provide.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12015107\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-800x449.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1536x862.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/OaklandGetty-1920x1078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., mostly in the Southeast. The West Coast has only one, in Los Angeles. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Oakland HBCU initiative, a fiscally sponsored project of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandfund.org/oaklandhbcu\">Oakland Fund\u003c/a>, officially launched last year and is still in the early stages. A volunteer task force composed of Mayor Lee along with individuals from business, higher education, civic and philanthropic communities in Oakland is leading the effort.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The task force undertook a feasibility study this year to explore the potential economic impacts of a campus for Oakland and to identify which industries here are primed for growth. Thompson said the task force plans to publish the results of the study in the next month, but said they’ve already identified technology, entrepreneurship, life sciences, artificial intelligence, logistics and transportation as areas of focus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The task force will then move to the next phase: solidifying a list of interested schools and settling on a location. The team is exploring a range of ideas, including a satellite campus for a single college, a hub center that would allow multiple colleges and universities to offer classes in Oakland and a partnership with the Peralta Community Colleges District to offer a pathway to a four-year degree from an HBCU.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s community colleges already have a \u003ca href=\"https://icangotocollege.com/hbcu-transfer-opportunities\">transfer pathway for students to enroll at HBCUs\u003c/a>, which guarantees admission to more than 30 colleges and comes with a $5,000 scholarship, but few students take it, Taína Knox, another member of the task force, said. While tens of thousands of students transfer from community college to a UC or Cal State campus each year, those taking advantage of the HBCU transfer pathway number in the tens, Knox said. Five students received the Cal-HBCU transfer grant in 2024-2025, 10 in 2025-2026, and five payments are in progress for this academic year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Students are still hesitant to transfer to out-of-state schools, and having an HBCU school here in California would have an impact,” Knox told The Oaklandside. “We think that an HBCU partnership could bolster what is already happening and hopefully increase students’ resiliency to continue through with the process that they start.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2022, Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, was in talks to \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/2022/04/21/texas-hbcu-paul-quinn-college-expansion-oakland-california/\">establish a campus in Oakland\u003c/a>. In 2024, Thompson and others, including then-deputy mayor Kimberly Mayfield representing the mayor’s office, attended the annual conference of the United Negro College Fund, the HBCU membership organization, to scout interest in Oakland. But the conference took place in July 2024, weeks after then mayor \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/tag/oakland-fbi-raids/\">Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI\u003c/a>, so timing wasn’t ideal, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Lee became mayor last year, the talks restarted. At one point, Howard University, the country’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/asia-alexander/2026/08/01/top-hbcus-20-historically-black-colleges-universities-that-set-grads-up-for-success/\">top-ranked private HBCU\u003c/a>, was interested, Thompson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They came out for a site visit, we had ongoing conversations with them for several months,” Thompson said. “Currently, they have an interim leader in place, so now is not perfect timing for them to be making a definitive decision on something like this, but we continue to keep them in mind.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said she is able to tap connections with HBCUs that she built during her time in Congress. Lee, who graduated from Mills College, the former women’s college in Oakland, has \u003ca href=\"https://uncf.org/the-latest/the-murell-family-legacy-establishing-a-uncf-scholarship-to-expand-educational-opportunity\">family members who attended HBCUs\u003c/a> and received an \u003ca href=\"https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/go-where-need-greatest-honorary-degree-designee-barbara-lee-has-spent-lifetime-uplifting-people\">honorary doctorate from Howard University last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/250428-OAKLAND-CITY-HALL-FILE-MD-02-KQED-1920x1280-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland City Hall in Oakland on April 28, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Establishing an HBCU in Oakland could be crucial to stabilizing the Black population here, Lee said. When she was elected to Congress, 40% of Oakland was Black, she said, and now it’s around 20%.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Here in Oakland, gentrification, redlining, and systemic discrimination has been a driver of bringing our population down,” she told The Oaklandside. “This would give some stability in many ways to the Black population and for everyone in Oakland to see that we still care about the Black community and Black students.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In exploring potential locations, the task force has toured the former Holy Names University campus in the hills, as well as locations in downtown Oakland, but they don’t want to commit to a site until they’re further along in talks with the colleges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group also held listening sessions last fall with students to gauge their interest in an HBCU here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A lot of students said, ‘It’d be great to go to an HBCU, but I’m the first in my family to go to college, and it’s expensive to travel out of state,’” Thompson said. “But if it were here, that would be a great alternative opportunity to go to an HBCU, which many students had an interest in attending.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandside.org/\">The Oaklandside\u003c/a> and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "conservative-group-claims-oakland-unified-programs-discriminate-against-white-students",
"title": "Conservative Group Claims Oakland Unified Programs Discriminate Against White Students",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland-unified-school-district\">Oakland Unified School District’s\u003c/a> Latino Men and Boys program and Latinx Mentoring and Achievement program are aimed at helping Latino youth improve outcomes in their personal lives and studies, but a conservative-parents group claims the initiatives are discriminatory. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Defending Education filed a federal civil rights complaint \u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/complaints/defending-ed-files-civil-rights-complaint-against-oakland-unified-school-district-for-race-and-sex-discrimination/\">this week\u003c/a> with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging the district violated Titles VI and IX of federal civil rights law by discriminating based on sex and race. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Over the past decade, OUSD has offered racially discriminatory programs to students ranging from high school seniors to three-year-old preschoolers,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “These programs provide additional academic support, mentoring, and even cash payments based on students’ race and sex.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014399\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students run behind a wall providing shade in the schoolyard at International Community School in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2022. Defending Education claims in a federal civil rights complaint that Oakland Unified discriminated against white students. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defending Education said the Latino Men and Boys program offers services that aren’t offered to white students, and the Latinx Mentoring and Achievement program for female-identifying and nonbinary students discriminates based on gender. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Unity Council, which helps operate the Latino student programs, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the school district. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On \u003ca href=\"https://unitycouncil.org/program/youth-achievement-programs/\">its website\u003c/a>, the Unity Council said the programs “significantly increase” graduation rates and promote healthy lifestyles. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">Advocates, including those in the Bay Area, say\u003c/a> such programs are necessary to level the playing field for students. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12080868\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students play a game during recess at Grass Valley Elementary School in Oakland on April 28, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defending Education’s complaint, which urges the Office of Civil Rights to open an investigation into the district, isn’t the first time the group has made such claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the name “Parents Defending Education,” the conservative group \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">claimed\u003c/a> that San Leandro Unified discriminated against other students by offering programming specifically for Black boys. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, in San Francisco Unified, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081794/sfusd-new-ethnic-studies-curriculum-adopted-over-controversy-and-some-parents-complaints\">the organization raised concerns\u003c/a> over an ethnic studies curriculum that was ultimately adopted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The parents’ organization is, according to its website, dedicated to “working to restore schools at all levels from activists imposing harmful agendas.” An “\u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/map/\">IndoctriNation Map\u003c/a>” on the site identifies incidents of diversity, equity and inclusion, ethnic studies, “indoctrination,” and other programs in schools across the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its allegations against Bay Area districts, including the most recent against Oakland Unified, are tied to a nationwide movement by conservative leaders to end DEI and initiatives related to ethnic studies in K-12 schools. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In President Donald Trump’ssecond term, he signed an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/\">executive order\u003c/a> that called on the government to remove funding from schools that implement such programming. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Leaders in the West Contra Costa Unified School District \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/west-contra-costa-unified-loses-big-chunk-of-federal-grant-to-support-students-mental-health/731842\">suggested\u003c/a> that the administration’s cutback on such services caused it to lose a mental health grant focusing on diversity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Office of Civil Rights has not said whether it will open an investigation into Oakland Unified.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Defending Education filed a federal civil rights complaint \u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/complaints/defending-ed-files-civil-rights-complaint-against-oakland-unified-school-district-for-race-and-sex-discrimination/\">this week\u003c/a> with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging the district violated Titles VI and IX of federal civil rights law by discriminating based on sex and race. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Over the past decade, OUSD has offered racially discriminatory programs to students ranging from high school seniors to three-year-old preschoolers,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “These programs provide additional academic support, mentoring, and even cash payments based on students’ race and sex.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014399\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students run behind a wall providing shade in the schoolyard at International Community School in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2022. Defending Education claims in a federal civil rights complaint that Oakland Unified discriminated against white students. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014399\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students run behind a wall providing shade in the schoolyard at International Community School in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2022. Defending Education claims in a federal civil rights complaint that Oakland Unified discriminated against white students. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defending Education said the Latino Men and Boys program offers services that aren’t offered to white students, and the Latinx Mentoring and Achievement program for female-identifying and nonbinary students discriminates based on gender. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Unity Council, which helps operate the Latino student programs, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the school district. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Unity Council, which helps operate the Latino student programs, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the school district. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On \u003ca href=\"https://unitycouncil.org/program/youth-achievement-programs/\">its website\u003c/a>, the Unity Council said the programs “significantly increase” graduation rates and promote healthy lifestyles. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">Advocates, including those in the Bay Area, say\u003c/a> such programs are necessary to level the playing field for students. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On \u003ca href=\"https://unitycouncil.org/program/youth-achievement-programs/\">its website\u003c/a>, the Unity Council said the programs “significantly increase” graduation rates and promote healthy lifestyles. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">Advocates, including those in the Bay Area, say\u003c/a> such programs are necessary to level the playing field for students. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12080868\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students play a game during recess at Grass Valley Elementary School in Oakland on April 28, 2022.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defending Education’s complaint, which urges the Office of Civil Rights to open an investigation into the district, isn’t the first time the group has made such claims. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under the name “Parents Defending Education,” the conservative group \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">claimed\u003c/a> that San Leandro Unified discriminated against other students by offering programming specifically for Black boys. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Under the name “Parents Defending Education,” the conservative group \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">claimed\u003c/a> that San Leandro Unified discriminated against other students by offering programming specifically for Black boys. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then, in San Francisco Unified, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081794/sfusd-new-ethnic-studies-curriculum-adopted-over-controversy-and-some-parents-complaints\">the organization raised concerns\u003c/a> over an ethnic studies curriculum that was ultimately adopted. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The parents’ organization is, according to its website, dedicated to “working to restore schools at all levels from activists imposing harmful agendas.” An “\u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/map/\">IndoctriNation Map\u003c/a>” on the site identifies incidents of diversity, equity and inclusion, ethnic studies, “indoctrination,” and other programs in schools across the country. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The parents’ organization is, according to its website, dedicated to “working to restore schools at all levels from activists imposing harmful agendas.” An “\u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/map/\">IndoctriNation Map\u003c/a>” on the site identifies incidents of diversity, equity and inclusion, ethnic studies, “indoctrination,” and other programs in schools across the country. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Its allegations against Bay Area districts, including the most recent against Oakland Unified, are tied to a nationwide movement by conservative leaders to end DEI and initiatives related to ethnic studies in K-12 schools. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Its allegations against Bay Area districts, including the most recent against Oakland Unified, are tied to a nationwide movement by conservative leaders to end DEI and initiatives related to ethnic studies in K-12 schools. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In President Donald Trump’ssecond term, he signed an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/\">executive order\u003c/a> that called on the government to remove funding from schools that implement such programming. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Leaders in the West Contra Costa Unified School District \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/west-contra-costa-unified-loses-big-chunk-of-federal-grant-to-support-students-mental-health/731842\">suggested\u003c/a> that the administration’s cutback on such services caused it to lose a mental health grant focusing on diversity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Office of Civil Rights has not said whether it will open an investigation into Oakland Unified.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "It’s not the first time Defending Education has made such claims against Bay Area school districts.",
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"title": "Conservative Group Claims Oakland Unified Programs Discriminate Against White Students | KQED",
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"headline": "Conservative Group Claims Oakland Unified Programs Discriminate Against White Students",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland-unified-school-district\">Oakland Unified School District’s\u003c/a> Latino Men and Boys program and Latinx Mentoring and Achievement program are aimed at helping Latino youth improve outcomes in their personal lives and studies, but a conservative-parents group claims the initiatives are discriminatory. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Defending Education filed a federal civil rights complaint \u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/complaints/defending-ed-files-civil-rights-complaint-against-oakland-unified-school-district-for-race-and-sex-discrimination/\">this week\u003c/a> with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging the district violated Titles VI and IX of federal civil rights law by discriminating based on sex and race. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Over the past decade, OUSD has offered racially discriminatory programs to students ranging from high school seniors to three-year-old preschoolers,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “These programs provide additional academic support, mentoring, and even cash payments based on students’ race and sex.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12014399\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/028_KQEDScience_IntCommunitySchoolOakland_10202022_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students run behind a wall providing shade in the schoolyard at International Community School in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2022. Defending Education claims in a federal civil rights complaint that Oakland Unified discriminated against white students. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defending Education said the Latino Men and Boys program offers services that aren’t offered to white students, and the Latinx Mentoring and Achievement program for female-identifying and nonbinary students discriminates based on gender. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Unity Council, which helps operate the Latino student programs, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the school district. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On \u003ca href=\"https://unitycouncil.org/program/youth-achievement-programs/\">its website\u003c/a>, the Unity Council said the programs “significantly increase” graduation rates and promote healthy lifestyles. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">Advocates, including those in the Bay Area, say\u003c/a> such programs are necessary to level the playing field for students. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12080868\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/027_KQED_GrassValleyElementarySchoolOakland_04282022_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students play a game during recess at Grass Valley Elementary School in Oakland on April 28, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defending Education’s complaint, which urges the Office of Civil Rights to open an investigation into the district, isn’t the first time the group has made such claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the name “Parents Defending Education,” the conservative group \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028442/san-leandro-schools-tried-uplift-black-boys-now-they-face-discrimination-complaint\">claimed\u003c/a> that San Leandro Unified discriminated against other students by offering programming specifically for Black boys. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, in San Francisco Unified, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081794/sfusd-new-ethnic-studies-curriculum-adopted-over-controversy-and-some-parents-complaints\">the organization raised concerns\u003c/a> over an ethnic studies curriculum that was ultimately adopted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The parents’ organization is, according to its website, dedicated to “working to restore schools at all levels from activists imposing harmful agendas.” An “\u003ca href=\"https://defendinged.org/map/\">IndoctriNation Map\u003c/a>” on the site identifies incidents of diversity, equity and inclusion, ethnic studies, “indoctrination,” and other programs in schools across the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its allegations against Bay Area districts, including the most recent against Oakland Unified, are tied to a nationwide movement by conservative leaders to end DEI and initiatives related to ethnic studies in K-12 schools. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In President Donald Trump’ssecond term, he signed an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/\">executive order\u003c/a> that called on the government to remove funding from schools that implement such programming. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Leaders in the West Contra Costa Unified School District \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/west-contra-costa-unified-loses-big-chunk-of-federal-grant-to-support-students-mental-health/731842\">suggested\u003c/a> that the administration’s cutback on such services caused it to lose a mental health grant focusing on diversity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Office of Civil Rights has not said whether it will open an investigation into Oakland Unified.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "oakland-mayor-lee-says-she-will-try-to-fund-civic-assemblys-vacant-lot-ideas",
"title": "Oakland Mayor Lee Says She Will Try to Fund Civic Assembly’s Vacant-Lot Ideas",
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"headTitle": "Oakland Mayor Lee Says She Will Try to Fund Civic Assembly’s Vacant-Lot Ideas | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Thousands of vacant lots – storefronts, larger commercial space, residential spaces, buildings you can’t even tell what they once were – are just sitting there across \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But if 40 residents who have the ear of Mayor Barbara Lee get a say, things might change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The residents were chosen at random to participate in a three-month-long process in which they get together to formulate their own solutions to the problem. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, they were guided by a question that followed them around their meeting at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center, room to room: “How do we transform vacant lots and commercial retail spaces to be sites of flourishing and resilience?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099369\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Delegates of the Oakland Civic Assembly discuss the issue of vacant storefronts at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Participants drew on expert advice from panel guests and broke into smaller groups to refine their ideas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee spoke to them for a portion of the meeting, fielding a handful of questions from groups. Residents wanted to know in what ways their suggestions would be prioritized and how any development would be funded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said she doesn’t know how proposals would be funded and didn’t make any commitments aside from future formal consideration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099344\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, which sponsors the Oakland Civic Assembly, poses for a portrait outside Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will see a visible response to what comes out,” said Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink and professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. “But for me hope is not a wish; hope is a discipline. It is the discipline of doing the work to find out what are the problems, using the data to figure out who’s being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around 3,500 properties are vacant in Oakland, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandauditor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260709-Performance-Audit-of-the-Vacant-Property-Tax-1.pdf\">a recent city auditor’s report\u003c/a> showed that 3,200 properties were likely vacant in fiscal year 2025-26. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Glover Blackwell said she especially notices the amount of neglect in communities like East and West Oakland, as compared with more affluent areas of the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know what it feels like to live in a community that seems disrespected,” Glover Blackwell said. “The disconnect between the spirit of the residents and the availability that is not being mined for their use is clear.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee told delegates on Saturday that she’s been looking into exactly where vacant lots are located and who owns them — the city has a vacancy parcel tax in place that was taxing 1,966 properties last fiscal year, according to the auditor’s office — but that recommendations from members would need to be taken in the context of other issues that officials are working to address. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This project falls within all of my priorities, really,” Lee said. “Once completed, then we’ll go back to the drawing board and see where it falls. … And of course, we work with the council.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said funding of the recommendations depends on the budget’s standing when the time comes. Some of the suggestions, she said, could involve receiving funding from the private sector. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ll see, but I want to make sure we do fund,” Lee said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099345\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An empty storefront at 1407 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision isn’t entirely up to Lee, as she told participants, since any budget she submits would need approval from City Council members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The assembly is still working on exactly what the proposals they submit will be. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the final week of deliberations in October, members are expected to present their group-accepted proposals to officials.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thousands of vacant lots – storefronts, larger commercial space, residential spaces, buildings you can’t even tell what they once were – are just sitting there across \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But if 40 residents who have the ear of Mayor Barbara Lee get a say, things might change. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thousands of vacant lots – storefronts, larger commercial space, residential spaces, buildings you can’t even tell what they once were – are just sitting there across \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But if 40 residents who have the ear of Mayor Barbara Lee get a say, things might change. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The residents were chosen at random to participate in a three-month-long process in which they get together to formulate their own solutions to the problem. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Saturday, they were guided by a question that followed them around their meeting at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center, room to room: “How do we transform vacant lots and commercial retail spaces to be sites of flourishing and resilience?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Saturday, they were guided by a question that followed them around their meeting at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center, room to room: “How do we transform vacant lots and commercial retail spaces to be sites of flourishing and resilience?” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099369\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Delegates of the Oakland Civic Assembly discuss the issue of vacant storefronts at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099369\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Delegates of the Oakland Civic Assembly discuss the issue of vacant storefronts at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Participants drew on expert advice from panel guests and broke into smaller groups to refine their ideas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lee spoke to them for a portion of the meeting, fielding a handful of questions from groups. Residents wanted to know in what ways their suggestions would be prioritized and how any development would be funded. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lee spoke to them for a portion of the meeting, fielding a handful of questions from groups. Residents wanted to know in what ways their suggestions would be prioritized and how any development would be funded. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lee said she doesn’t know how proposals would be funded and didn’t make any commitments aside from future formal consideration.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099344\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, which sponsors the Oakland Civic Assembly, poses for a portrait outside Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099344\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, which sponsors the Oakland Civic Assembly, poses for a portrait outside Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will see a visible response to what comes out,” said Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink and professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. “But for me hope is not a wish; hope is a discipline. It is the discipline of doing the work to find out what are the problems, using the data to figure out who’s being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will see a visible response to what comes out,” said Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink and professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. “But for me hope is not a wish; hope is a discipline. It is the discipline of doing the work to find out what are the problems, using the data to figure out who’s being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Around 3,500 properties are vacant in Oakland, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandauditor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260709-Performance-Audit-of-the-Vacant-Property-Tax-1.pdf\">a recent city auditor’s report\u003c/a> showed that 3,200 properties were likely vacant in fiscal year 2025-26. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Glover Blackwell said she especially notices the amount of neglect in communities like East and West Oakland, as compared with more affluent areas of the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I know what it feels like to live in a community that seems disrespected,” Glover Blackwell said. “The disconnect between the spirit of the residents and the availability that is not being mined for their use is clear.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lee told delegates on Saturday that she’s been looking into exactly where vacant lots are located and who owns them — the city has a vacancy parcel tax in place that was taxing 1,966 properties last fiscal year, according to the auditor’s office — but that recommendations from members would need to be taken in the context of other issues that officials are working to address. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lee told delegates on Saturday that she’s been looking into exactly where vacant lots are located and who owns them — the city has a vacancy parcel tax in place that was taxing 1,966 properties last fiscal year, according to the auditor’s office — but that recommendations from members would need to be taken in the context of other issues that officials are working to address. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This project falls within all of my priorities, really,” Lee said. “Once completed, then we’ll go back to the drawing board and see where it falls. … And of course, we work with the council.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This project falls within all of my priorities, really,” Lee said. “Once completed, then we’ll go back to the drawing board and see where it falls. … And of course, we work with the council.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lee said funding of the recommendations depends on the budget’s standing when the time comes. Some of the suggestions, she said, could involve receiving funding from the private sector. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lee said funding of the recommendations depends on the budget’s standing when the time comes. Some of the suggestions, she said, could involve receiving funding from the private sector. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ll see, but I want to make sure we do fund,” Lee said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099345\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An empty storefront at 1407 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099345\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An empty storefront at 1407 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After the final week of deliberations in October, members are expected to present their group-accepted proposals to officials.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The city’s first civic assembly brings together 40 residents who are developing ideas to address thousands of vacant properties. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Thousands of vacant lots – storefronts, larger commercial space, residential spaces, buildings you can’t even tell what they once were – are just sitting there across \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland\u003c/a>. But if 40 residents who have the ear of Mayor Barbara Lee get a say, things might change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The residents were chosen at random to participate in a three-month-long process in which they get together to formulate their own solutions to the problem. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, they were guided by a question that followed them around their meeting at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center, room to room: “How do we transform vacant lots and commercial retail spaces to be sites of flourishing and resilience?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099369\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00128_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Delegates of the Oakland Civic Assembly discuss the issue of vacant storefronts at Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Participants drew on expert advice from panel guests and broke into smaller groups to refine their ideas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee spoke to them for a portion of the meeting, fielding a handful of questions from groups. Residents wanted to know in what ways their suggestions would be prioritized and how any development would be funded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said she doesn’t know how proposals would be funded and didn’t make any commitments aside from future formal consideration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099344\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00352_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, which sponsors the Oakland Civic Assembly, poses for a portrait outside Juntos Fruitvale Cultural Arts Center in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I hope that we will see a visible response to what comes out,” said Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink and professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. “But for me hope is not a wish; hope is a discipline. It is the discipline of doing the work to find out what are the problems, using the data to figure out who’s being impacted.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around 3,500 properties are vacant in Oakland, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandauditor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260709-Performance-Audit-of-the-Vacant-Property-Tax-1.pdf\">a recent city auditor’s report\u003c/a> showed that 3,200 properties were likely vacant in fiscal year 2025-26. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Glover Blackwell said she especially notices the amount of neglect in communities like East and West Oakland, as compared with more affluent areas of the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know what it feels like to live in a community that seems disrespected,” Glover Blackwell said. “The disconnect between the spirit of the residents and the availability that is not being mined for their use is clear.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee told delegates on Saturday that she’s been looking into exactly where vacant lots are located and who owns them — the city has a vacancy parcel tax in place that was taxing 1,966 properties last fiscal year, according to the auditor’s office — but that recommendations from members would need to be taken in the context of other issues that officials are working to address. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This project falls within all of my priorities, really,” Lee said. “Once completed, then we’ll go back to the drawing board and see where it falls. … And of course, we work with the council.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lee said funding of the recommendations depends on the budget’s standing when the time comes. Some of the suggestions, she said, could involve receiving funding from the private sector. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ll see, but I want to make sure we do fund,” Lee said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099345\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260912-oakstorefronts-00367_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An empty storefront at 1407 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland on Sept. 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision isn’t entirely up to Lee, as she told participants, since any budget she submits would need approval from City Council members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The assembly is still working on exactly what the proposals they submit will be. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the final week of deliberations in October, members are expected to present their group-accepted proposals to officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "alameda-county-prosecutors-drop-murder-charges-against-man-jailed-for-nearly-2-years",
"title": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years",
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"headTitle": "Alameda County Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges Against Man Jailed for Nearly 2 Years | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Michael Perillo, 47, was arrested in September 2024 after a brutal killing in Oakland, California. His family says they want accountability and answers.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Michael Perillo spent nearly two years insisting he was in jail for a murder he didn’t commit before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/alameda-county\">Alameda County\u003c/a> prosecutors dropped the charges and released him last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Perillo’s family and supporters say investigators charged and prosecuted him for the brutal 2024 death of Edson Perez on the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown based on faulty and insufficient evidence. In a press release the family says they are considering legal action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s mother, Christy White, said the period of incarceration traumatized her 47-year-old son, who was unhoused and struggling with mental illness at the time of his arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I cannot tell you the relief that I had,” White said. “All the trauma that my son has gone through, and that he stuck with it, and I always knew he was innocent.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police arrested Perillo in September 2024, alleging that he was one of two people who chased Perez and then beat him to death with a bike and a mallet. Police told \u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/09/11/oakland-man-charged-in-fatal-beating-where-bicycle-was-used-as-a-weapon/\">local news outlets\u003c/a> at the time that surveillance footage and eyewitnesses helped them identify Perillo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01516-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White shows a photo of her son Michael Perillo, at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. Perillo was released from jail last week, two years after he was charged with a murder in Oakland’s Chinatown. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perillo’s lawyer, Tamani Taylor, said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the testimony of one man, Earl Pratt. Pratt, who was a part of the same unhoused community as Perillo, identified him to police using stills from the surveillance video. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During a February preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Stevens noted Pratt was “all over the map,” as the witness went off on tangents and gave confusing answers on the stand, records show. Pratt also provided conflicting information when asked to identify photos from the crime. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To me, he made absolutely no sense at all, and he lacked all credibility,” Taylor said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor suggested that the same footage could have cleared Perillo: A man in completely different clothes from the attackers could be seen on a yellow bike, which Perillo was known to ride, minutes before and after the attack on nearby streets. Clothes found with Perillo at the time of his arrest also matched the outfit of the person on the yellow bike, Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Having joined the case in July after a previous lawyer declared a conflict of interest, Taylor said she pointed out these issues in a meeting with Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Edward Vieira-Ducey. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors in return offered Perillo a plea deal of felony assault and credit for time served, Taylor said, meaning his incarceration could end if he pleaded guilty to a less severe charge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would only make sense for them to make that kind of offer if they had a clue that they could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Taylor said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office repeated their offer numerous times, Taylor said, including on Aug. 31 — the day that both sides were in court to begin scheduling the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taylor declined, and they dismissed the case the same day, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes, district attorney’s offices are like a dog with a bone,” Taylor said. “Even if the bone is rotten and poisonous, they hang onto the bone because they don’t know anything else. … They’re still banking on getting something from an innocent person to wrap up a case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was released from Santa Rita Jail that same night, two years and a day after Perez’s death. He went home with his parents to their home in Ione, in Amador County.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The first night he slept out on our patio; he just felt like he couldn’t be in a bedroom,” White said. “It made me really sad because he’s been traumatized. He wanted to be out and breathe fresh air.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260905-insufficientevidence-TV01498-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christy White (left), Michael Perillo’s mother, and Brandon Owen (right), a friend of the family, pose for a portrait together at Castle Oaks Club House in Ione, California, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White spoke to KQED on Perillo’s behalf, citing his mental illness challenges and recent hardships. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her son was assaulted numerous times while in jail. She recalled visiting him and seeing bruises and cuts around his face or blood coming out of his ear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In June of 2025, he asked me to no longer come to visit him because I would sit there and cry the entire time because I saw what was happening to him physically,” White said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Desperate for help, White reached out to Brandon Owen, a friend and Republican candidate for state Assembly with a law enforcement background as a game warden for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As part of an independent investigation, Owen and two others traveled to Oakland in June 2026 to talk to people near the encampment where Perillo stayed. Within three hours, they met and spoke with several residents, including Pratt, the key witness for the prosecution who had identified Perillo in the footage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/20250319_AlamedaCourthouse_GC-15_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland, California, on March 19, 2025. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a recorded interview reviewed by KQED, Owen showed Pratt pictures of people from security footage and asked him to identify them. Pratt complained that he couldn’t because of the quality of the images. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You can’t identify none of them,” Pratt says in the interview. “You can’t even see none of them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One picture included Pratt himself, who was present on the night of the killing. When asked, Pratt denied that it was him in the photo. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I know this much: That man right there who was in court, right? Innocent,” Pratt said in the interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owen said he and his fellow investigators brought the results of their search to the Oakland police officer who originally investigated Perez’s slaying. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sgt. Kevin Godchaux was highly offended that we were present,” Owen said. “He was, in my opinion, disturbed that we were doing the investigation. … At one point he almost refused to take the information from us.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland police did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police records shared in court show that police had another suspect in the killing: a man named Anthony Otenbriet, who was identified based on similarities between his motorcycle and one in security footage showing it being ridden by the person who attacked and chased Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Otenbriet died in a motorcycle accident just five days after Perez died, according to police records. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether police have any other active suspects, or whether they plan to make any more arrests for the killing of Edson Perez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both White and Taylor said they felt like Perillo was being prosecuted to bring closure to an otherwise unsolved murder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that they may have viewed him as an easy brownie point. ‘We’ll score, he’ll be convicted and go to prison,’” White said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>White said her family’s experience has changed her “whole sense” of the criminal justice system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I don’t think any of us should be discarded,” she said. “And I was treated that way by the district attorney in the homicide unit in Oakland … They didn’t care. They made up their mind without all of the evidence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-to-show-up-for-your-community-this-hispanic-heritage-month",
"title": "How to Show Up for Your Community This Hispanic Heritage Month",
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"headTitle": "How to Show Up for Your Community This Hispanic Heritage Month | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was reported for K Onda KQED, a monthly newsletter focused on the Bay Area’s Latinx community. \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/k-onda\">\u003cem>Click here to subscribe.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tucked inside a compact shop near the corner of 25th and Mission streets in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Mission Lotería is evolving from promoting local businesses into a small business of its own.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization, which started in 2019, plans to open its first storefront on Sept. 10 at 2884 Mission St., selling giftable items such as hand-painted clay coffee mugs, purses designed by a Colombian artist, clothing, and stationery and cards designed by Bay Area artists. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What began years ago as a creative campaign celebrating the Mission, supporting neighborhood businesses, and bringing our community together has grown into more than we could have imagined,” said Luis Quiroz, founder of Mission Lotería. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The store’s opening coincides with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I intentionally planned the store opening just before Hispanic Heritage Month so that we could lean into the festivities that were to come and be able to highlight the Latino voices and the Latino artists that are going to be featured here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098318\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lotería art at Mission Lotería’s new storefront in San Francisco on Sept. 3, 2026. The space will serve as a home for community events, workshops and local art. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mission Lotería takes inspiration from Lotería, a beloved bingo-style board game from Mexico known for iconic images such as a cactus plant, a woman in a small boat on Lake Chapala, a man carrying a large globe on his back and a radiant sun. Quiroz, 36, created the marketing platform to support local artists and small businesses by organizing community events and neighborhood tours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I want people to visit Mission Lotería and then venture into a cafe shop or a taqueria or a restaurant or another brick-and-mortar store,” Quiroz said. “It’s the starting point to bring them to the other parts of the Mission.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization provides a template for how to support Latino businesses with intention and thoughtfulness, especially at a time when the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087915/bay-area-cities-ask-us-judge-to-block-trump-from-cutting-funds-over-dei-immigration\">vigorously attacks diversity initiatives\u003c/a> and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097313/northern-california-ice-arrests-surged-this-summer\">launched a deportation apparatus\u003c/a> that has largely targeted Latino immigrants and hurts Latine communities nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To be sitting here and about to open a storefront in the Mission, in the Latino cultural district of San Francisco,” said Quiroz, who was previously undocumented. “It’s my way of resisting. They’re not going to hold me down. They’re not going to hold us down. We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re out here. We’re thriving.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for Latinos to support businesses, organizations and community members who have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096833/how-immigration-raids-are-affecting-children-in-los-angeles\">felt the toll\u003c/a> of the administration’s anti-immigration policies that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913621/the-psychological-toll-of-trumps-immigration-policies-on-bay-area-latinos\">have had a chilling effect\u003c/a>, with immigrants staying home, shopping less, attending fewer public events and even being afraid to speak Spanish in public. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This has also been a challenging year for many Latinx-owned businesses between the fear immigrants are feeling and higher costs of doing business, said Alicia Villanueva, owner and founder of Hayward-based Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seeing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073728/us-citizen-army-veteran-detained-by-ice-sues-for-damages-in-federal-court\">hardworking people\u003c/a> picked up off the street, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094994/detained-at-green-card-interview-how-a-bay-area-family-is-healing-from-sudden-separation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock&utm_content=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock+8642121190\">families being separated\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028303/ice-arrest-left-bay-area-man-hospitalized-struggling-breathe-attorney-says\">parents being detained\u003c/a> and leaving children behind is demoralizing, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am a citizen now, since last year, and I still feel this trauma,” she said. “Like when I’m driving, and I see the police or something — it scares me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many food vendors, Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the busiest times of the year, Villanueva said, but this year is different because the community needs a morale boost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We really celebrate our cultures, our cuisine and all these traditions that we bring from our countries,” she said. “To keep our traditions alive is one of the responsibilities that we have for future generations.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098323\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Concha candles and mugs for sale at Mission Lotería’s new storefront in San Francisco on Sept. 3, 2026. The space will serve as a home for community events, workshops and local art. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Villanueva said it pains her to see immigrants living in fear and suffering, especially since she understands the desire to come to the United States to work and advance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She started her company in 2010 after selling tamales door to door. She joined a business incubator program for entrepreneurs at San Francisco-based La Cocina that helped her establish a wholesale and catering business and secure capital to grow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sixteen years later, Villanueva employs 21 workers who cater events, sell food to retail stores, provide passenger meals for Alaska Airlines and make school lunches for students throughout Northern California. Her next goal is national distribution, the 65-year-old said. She embodies an ethos of permanent optimism that many immigrants espouse. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The time is really hard,” Villanueva said. “But if you have your passion, your dreams, no matter what, just keep going. Don’t be afraid.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, for many Latines, Hispanic Heritage Month can come off as cringe. Corporations use it as a time to pander to Latinos and perform solidarity with clichés such as adding pictures of tacos to non-food-related content or putting the Spanish letter ñ where it doesn’t belong. So it’s no wonder why many people tend to snub their noses at seasonal, tone-deaf marketing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What I can appreciate about Hispanic Heritage Month is the opportunity to unapologetically lean into the beauty, strength and value of Latino culture. Lately, I have been hearing the phrase, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo” (Only the community will save the community), which reminds me that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month might include sharing our culture with others — but it’s most important to show up for ourselves. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We think about Latinx heritage 365 days a year,” said Josiah Alderete, co-owner of Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco. The bookstore is Black- and Latino-owned and has made a point to stock books written by and about people of color from its inception five years ago — not just for affinity months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m always thrilled people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but the truth is, we are always celebrating it,” he said. “You can come in here and see yourself 12 months of the year.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical ways to show up this Hispanic Heritage Month: \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attend Hispanic Heritage Month events \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cities and organizations across the Bay Area are planning festivities to honor and celebrate Latine residents and culture, which has turned into an act of resistance. (Check out K Onda’s comprehensive guide.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the last year, several event organizers have said they were advised against holding large public gatherings like festivals for fear of ICE showing up and detaining people. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But most organizers decided that offering joy, reinforcing culture and coming together was more important than giving in to fear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12030084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolls for sale at Luz de Luna, a gift store on 24th Street in San Francisco, on March 5, 2025. Owner Denise Gonzales says about 70% of the products sold in store are imported from Mexico. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prioritize shopping at Latino-owned businesses, especially small ones\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I covered retail and consumer issues many years ago, and the biggest lesson I learned was that consumers have way more power than they know. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Every dollar people spend fuels someone’s bottom line, so choose where you shop wisely, because our spending power picks winners and losers every day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s why I don’t feel bad buying an artisan or locally made item such as soaps, honey, produce from a farmer’s market or a handmade gift, even if I could have found something cheaper at a big-box store. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When I buy a cup of fruit from a street vendor, I feel good about buying a healthy snack and supporting someone who is often depending on that day’s sales to survive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more books about Latin American identity and history by Latino authors\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For a dose of cultural criticism and an exploration of how personal histories intersect with mainstream culture, I recommend \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704670/magicalrealism-by-vanessa-angelica-villarreal/\">\u003cem>Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders\u003c/em> by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal\u003c/a>, which I recently read and found evocative. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other books to check out: \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Migrant-Heart/Reyna-Grande/9781668055274\">\u003cem>Migrant Heart\u003c/em> by Reyna Grande\u003c/a>, a true gem of a writer who makes her home in Northern California, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keeper-of-My-Kin/Ada-Ferrer/9781668025659\">\u003cem>Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Ada Ferrer, who appeared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913858/a-family-divided-by-cubas-revolution\">on Forum earlier this year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, here are some recommendations from Alderete, of Medicine for Nightmares: the young adult novel, \u003ca href=\"https://www.harpercollins.com/products/estela-undrowning-rene-pena-govea\">\u003cem>Estela, Undrowning\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by San Francisco writer and educator \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913189/local-ya-novels-tell-san-francisco-stories\">René Peña-Govea\u003c/a>; the poetry collection \u003ca href=\"https://unpress.nevada.edu/9781647792183/where-heaven-sinks/\">\u003cem>When Heaven Sinks\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by María Esquinca (who coincidently is a former KQED colleague); the nonfiction book \u003ca href=\"https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324004370\">\u003cem>Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire & Revolution in the Borderlands\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Kelly Lytle Hernández; and the memoir \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803724/terrestre-spanish-edition-by-cristina-rivera-garza/\">\u003cem>Terrestre\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and scholar Cristina Rivera Garza.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was reported for K Onda KQED, a monthly newsletter focused on the Bay Area’s Latinx community. \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/k-onda\">\u003cem>Click here to subscribe.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tucked inside a compact shop near the corner of 25th and Mission streets in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Mission Lotería is evolving from promoting local businesses into a small business of its own.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Tucked inside a compact shop near the corner of 25th and Mission streets in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Mission Lotería is evolving from promoting local businesses into a small business of its own.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The organization, which started in 2019, plans to open its first storefront on Sept. 10 at 2884 Mission St., selling giftable items such as hand-painted clay coffee mugs, purses designed by a Colombian artist, clothing, and stationery and cards designed by Bay Area artists. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The organization, which started in 2019, plans to open its first storefront on Sept. 10 at 2884 Mission St., selling giftable items such as hand-painted clay coffee mugs, purses designed by a Colombian artist, clothing, and stationery and cards designed by Bay Area artists. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What began years ago as a creative campaign celebrating the Mission, supporting neighborhood businesses, and bringing our community together has grown into more than we could have imagined,” said Luis Quiroz, founder of Mission Lotería. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What began years ago as a creative campaign celebrating the Mission, supporting neighborhood businesses, and bringing our community together has grown into more than we could have imagined,” said Luis Quiroz, founder of Mission Lotería. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The store’s opening coincides with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The store’s opening coincides with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I intentionally planned the store opening just before Hispanic Heritage Month so that we could lean into the festivities that were to come and be able to highlight the Latino voices and the Latino artists that are going to be featured here.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I intentionally planned the store opening just before Hispanic Heritage Month so that we could lean into the festivities that were to come and be able to highlight the Latino voices and the Latino artists that are going to be featured here.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mission Lotería takes inspiration from Lotería, a beloved bingo-style board game from Mexico known for iconic images such as a cactus plant, a woman in a small boat on Lake Chapala, a man carrying a large globe on his back and a radiant sun. Quiroz, 36, created the marketing platform to support local artists and small businesses by organizing community events and neighborhood tours. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I want people to visit Mission Lotería and then venture into a cafe shop or a taqueria or a restaurant or another brick-and-mortar store,” Quiroz said. “It’s the starting point to bring them to the other parts of the Mission.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The organization provides a template for how to support Latino businesses with intention and thoughtfulness, especially at a time when the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087915/bay-area-cities-ask-us-judge-to-block-trump-from-cutting-funds-over-dei-immigration\">vigorously attacks diversity initiatives\u003c/a> and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097313/northern-california-ice-arrests-surged-this-summer\">launched a deportation apparatus\u003c/a> that has largely targeted Latino immigrants and hurts Latine communities nationwide.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The organization provides a template for how to support Latino businesses with intention and thoughtfulness, especially at a time when the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087915/bay-area-cities-ask-us-judge-to-block-trump-from-cutting-funds-over-dei-immigration\">vigorously attacks diversity initiatives\u003c/a> and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097313/northern-california-ice-arrests-surged-this-summer\">launched a deportation apparatus\u003c/a> that has largely targeted Latino immigrants and hurts Latine communities nationwide.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To be sitting here and about to open a storefront in the Mission, in the Latino cultural district of San Francisco,” said Quiroz, who was previously undocumented. “It’s my way of resisting. They’re not going to hold me down. They’re not going to hold us down. We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re out here. We’re thriving.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for Latinos to support businesses, organizations and community members who have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096833/how-immigration-raids-are-affecting-children-in-los-angeles\">felt the toll\u003c/a> of the administration’s anti-immigration policies that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913621/the-psychological-toll-of-trumps-immigration-policies-on-bay-area-latinos\">have had a chilling effect\u003c/a>, with immigrants staying home, shopping less, attending fewer public events and even being afraid to speak Spanish in public. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for Latinos to support businesses, organizations and community members who have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096833/how-immigration-raids-are-affecting-children-in-los-angeles\">felt the toll\u003c/a> of the administration’s anti-immigration policies that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913621/the-psychological-toll-of-trumps-immigration-policies-on-bay-area-latinos\">have had a chilling effect\u003c/a>, with immigrants staying home, shopping less, attending fewer public events and even being afraid to speak Spanish in public. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This has also been a challenging year for many Latinx-owned businesses between the fear immigrants are feeling and higher costs of doing business, said Alicia Villanueva, owner and founder of Hayward-based Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This has also been a challenging year for many Latinx-owned businesses between the fear immigrants are feeling and higher costs of doing business, said Alicia Villanueva, owner and founder of Hayward-based Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Seeing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073728/us-citizen-army-veteran-detained-by-ice-sues-for-damages-in-federal-court\">hardworking people\u003c/a> picked up off the street, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094994/detained-at-green-card-interview-how-a-bay-area-family-is-healing-from-sudden-separation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock&utm_content=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock+8642121190\">families being separated\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028303/ice-arrest-left-bay-area-man-hospitalized-struggling-breathe-attorney-says\">parents being detained\u003c/a> and leaving children behind is demoralizing, she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Seeing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073728/us-citizen-army-veteran-detained-by-ice-sues-for-damages-in-federal-court\">hardworking people\u003c/a> picked up off the street, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094994/detained-at-green-card-interview-how-a-bay-area-family-is-healing-from-sudden-separation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock&utm_content=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock+8642121190\">families being separated\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028303/ice-arrest-left-bay-area-man-hospitalized-struggling-breathe-attorney-says\">parents being detained\u003c/a> and leaving children behind is demoralizing, she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I am a citizen now, since last year, and I still feel this trauma,” she said. “Like when I’m driving, and I see the police or something — it scares me.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I am a citizen now, since last year, and I still feel this trauma,” she said. “Like when I’m driving, and I see the police or something — it scares me.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For many food vendors, Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the busiest times of the year, Villanueva said, but this year is different because the community needs a morale boost.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For many food vendors, Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the busiest times of the year, Villanueva said, but this year is different because the community needs a morale boost.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We really celebrate our cultures, our cuisine and all these traditions that we bring from our countries,” she said. “To keep our traditions alive is one of the responsibilities that we have for future generations.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We really celebrate our cultures, our cuisine and all these traditions that we bring from our countries,” she said. “To keep our traditions alive is one of the responsibilities that we have for future generations.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Villanueva said it pains her to see immigrants living in fear and suffering, especially since she understands the desire to come to the United States to work and advance. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She started her company in 2010 after selling tamales door to door. She joined a business incubator program for entrepreneurs at San Francisco-based La Cocina that helped her establish a wholesale and catering business and secure capital to grow. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She started her company in 2010 after selling tamales door to door. She joined a business incubator program for entrepreneurs at San Francisco-based La Cocina that helped her establish a wholesale and catering business and secure capital to grow. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sixteen years later, Villanueva employs 21 workers who cater events, sell food to retail stores, provide passenger meals for Alaska Airlines and make school lunches for students throughout Northern California. Her next goal is national distribution, the 65-year-old said. She embodies an ethos of permanent optimism that many immigrants espouse. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sixteen years later, Villanueva employs 21 workers who cater events, sell food to retail stores, provide passenger meals for Alaska Airlines and make school lunches for students throughout Northern California. Her next goal is national distribution, the 65-year-old said. She embodies an ethos of permanent optimism that many immigrants espouse. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The time is really hard,” Villanueva said. “But if you have your passion, your dreams, no matter what, just keep going. Don’t be afraid.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, for many Latines, Hispanic Heritage Month can come off as cringe. Corporations use it as a time to pander to Latinos and perform solidarity with clichés such as adding pictures of tacos to non-food-related content or putting the Spanish letter ñ where it doesn’t belong. So it’s no wonder why many people tend to snub their noses at seasonal, tone-deaf marketing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Still, for many Latines, Hispanic Heritage Month can come off as cringe. Corporations use it as a time to pander to Latinos and perform solidarity with clichés such as adding pictures of tacos to non-food-related content or putting the Spanish letter ñ where it doesn’t belong. So it’s no wonder why many people tend to snub their noses at seasonal, tone-deaf marketing. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What I can appreciate about Hispanic Heritage Month is the opportunity to unapologetically lean into the beauty, strength and value of Latino culture. Lately, I have been hearing the phrase, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo” (Only the community will save the community), which reminds me that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month might include sharing our culture with others — but it’s most important to show up for ourselves. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What I can appreciate about Hispanic Heritage Month is the opportunity to unapologetically lean into the beauty, strength and value of Latino culture. Lately, I have been hearing the phrase, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo” (Only the community will save the community), which reminds me that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month might include sharing our culture with others — but it’s most important to show up for ourselves. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We think about Latinx heritage 365 days a year,” said Josiah Alderete, co-owner of Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco. The bookstore is Black- and Latino-owned and has made a point to stock books written by and about people of color from its inception five years ago — not just for affinity months. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We think about Latinx heritage 365 days a year,” said Josiah Alderete, co-owner of Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco. The bookstore is Black- and Latino-owned and has made a point to stock books written by and about people of color from its inception five years ago — not just for affinity months. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m always thrilled people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but the truth is, we are always celebrating it,” he said. “You can come in here and see yourself 12 months of the year.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I’m always thrilled people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but the truth is, we are always celebrating it,” he said. “You can come in here and see yourself 12 months of the year.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Practical ways to show up this Hispanic Heritage Month: ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical ways to show up this Hispanic Heritage Month: \u003c/h2>\n",
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"text": "Attend Hispanic Heritage Month events "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attend Hispanic Heritage Month events \u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cities and organizations across the Bay Area are planning festivities to honor and celebrate Latine residents and culture, which has turned into an act of resistance. (Check out K Onda’s comprehensive guide.) \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Cities and organizations across the Bay Area are planning festivities to honor and celebrate Latine residents and culture, which has turned into an act of resistance. (Check out K Onda’s comprehensive guide.) \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the last year, several event organizers have said they were advised against holding large public gatherings like festivals for fear of ICE showing up and detaining people. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Over the last year, several event organizers have said they were advised against holding large public gatherings like festivals for fear of ICE showing up and detaining people. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But most organizers decided that offering joy, reinforcing culture and coming together was more important than giving in to fear. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12030084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolls for sale at Luz de Luna, a gift store on 24th Street in San Francisco, on March 5, 2025. Owner Denise Gonzales says about 70% of the products sold in store are imported from Mexico.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12030084\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolls for sale at Luz de Luna, a gift store on 24th Street in San Francisco, on March 5, 2025. Owner Denise Gonzales says about 70% of the products sold in store are imported from Mexico.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Prioritize shopping at Latino-owned businesses, especially small ones"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I covered retail and consumer issues many years ago, and the biggest lesson I learned was that consumers have way more power than they know. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I covered retail and consumer issues many years ago, and the biggest lesson I learned was that consumers have way more power than they know. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Every dollar people spend fuels someone’s bottom line, so choose where you shop wisely, because our spending power picks winners and losers every day. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Every dollar people spend fuels someone’s bottom line, so choose where you shop wisely, because our spending power picks winners and losers every day. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s why I don’t feel bad buying an artisan or locally made item such as soaps, honey, produce from a farmer’s market or a handmade gift, even if I could have found something cheaper at a big-box store. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That’s why I don’t feel bad buying an artisan or locally made item such as soaps, honey, produce from a farmer’s market or a handmade gift, even if I could have found something cheaper at a big-box store. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When I buy a cup of fruit from a street vendor, I feel good about buying a healthy snack and supporting someone who is often depending on that day’s sales to survive. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When I buy a cup of fruit from a street vendor, I feel good about buying a healthy snack and supporting someone who is often depending on that day’s sales to survive. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Read more books about Latin American identity and history by Latino authors "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more books about Latin American identity and history by Latino authors\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For a dose of cultural criticism and an exploration of how personal histories intersect with mainstream culture, I recommend \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704670/magicalrealism-by-vanessa-angelica-villarreal/\">\u003cem>Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders\u003c/em> by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal\u003c/a>, which I recently read and found evocative. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For a dose of cultural criticism and an exploration of how personal histories intersect with mainstream culture, I recommend \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704670/magicalrealism-by-vanessa-angelica-villarreal/\">\u003cem>Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders\u003c/em> by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal\u003c/a>, which I recently read and found evocative. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other books to check out: \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Migrant-Heart/Reyna-Grande/9781668055274\">\u003cem>Migrant Heart\u003c/em> by Reyna Grande\u003c/a>, a true gem of a writer who makes her home in Northern California, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keeper-of-My-Kin/Ada-Ferrer/9781668025659\">\u003cem>Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Ada Ferrer, who appeared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913858/a-family-divided-by-cubas-revolution\">on Forum earlier this year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Other books to check out: \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Migrant-Heart/Reyna-Grande/9781668055274\">\u003cem>Migrant Heart\u003c/em> by Reyna Grande\u003c/a>, a true gem of a writer who makes her home in Northern California, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keeper-of-My-Kin/Ada-Ferrer/9781668025659\">\u003cem>Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Ada Ferrer, who appeared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913858/a-family-divided-by-cubas-revolution\">on Forum earlier this year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And, here are some recommendations from Alderete, of Medicine for Nightmares: the young adult novel, \u003ca href=\"https://www.harpercollins.com/products/estela-undrowning-rene-pena-govea\">\u003cem>Estela, Undrowning\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by San Francisco writer and educator \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913189/local-ya-novels-tell-san-francisco-stories\">René Peña-Govea\u003c/a>; the poetry collection \u003ca href=\"https://unpress.nevada.edu/9781647792183/where-heaven-sinks/\">\u003cem>When Heaven Sinks\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by María Esquinca (who coincidently is a former KQED colleague); the nonfiction book \u003ca href=\"https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324004370\">\u003cem>Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire & Revolution in the Borderlands\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Kelly Lytle Hernández; and the memoir \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803724/terrestre-spanish-edition-by-cristina-rivera-garza/\">\u003cem>Terrestre\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and scholar Cristina Rivera Garza.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "This Hispanic Heritage Month, support your community with intention and thoughtfulness. \n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was reported for K Onda KQED, a monthly newsletter focused on the Bay Area’s Latinx community. \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/k-onda\">\u003cem>Click here to subscribe.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tucked inside a compact shop near the corner of 25th and Mission streets in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Mission Lotería is evolving from promoting local businesses into a small business of its own.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization, which started in 2019, plans to open its first storefront on Sept. 10 at 2884 Mission St., selling giftable items such as hand-painted clay coffee mugs, purses designed by a Colombian artist, clothing, and stationery and cards designed by Bay Area artists. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What began years ago as a creative campaign celebrating the Mission, supporting neighborhood businesses, and bringing our community together has grown into more than we could have imagined,” said Luis Quiroz, founder of Mission Lotería. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The store’s opening coincides with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I intentionally planned the store opening just before Hispanic Heritage Month so that we could lean into the festivities that were to come and be able to highlight the Latino voices and the Latino artists that are going to be featured here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098318\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lotería art at Mission Lotería’s new storefront in San Francisco on Sept. 3, 2026. The space will serve as a home for community events, workshops and local art. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mission Lotería takes inspiration from Lotería, a beloved bingo-style board game from Mexico known for iconic images such as a cactus plant, a woman in a small boat on Lake Chapala, a man carrying a large globe on his back and a radiant sun. Quiroz, 36, created the marketing platform to support local artists and small businesses by organizing community events and neighborhood tours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I want people to visit Mission Lotería and then venture into a cafe shop or a taqueria or a restaurant or another brick-and-mortar store,” Quiroz said. “It’s the starting point to bring them to the other parts of the Mission.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization provides a template for how to support Latino businesses with intention and thoughtfulness, especially at a time when the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087915/bay-area-cities-ask-us-judge-to-block-trump-from-cutting-funds-over-dei-immigration\">vigorously attacks diversity initiatives\u003c/a> and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097313/northern-california-ice-arrests-surged-this-summer\">launched a deportation apparatus\u003c/a> that has largely targeted Latino immigrants and hurts Latine communities nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To be sitting here and about to open a storefront in the Mission, in the Latino cultural district of San Francisco,” said Quiroz, who was previously undocumented. “It’s my way of resisting. They’re not going to hold me down. They’re not going to hold us down. We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re out here. We’re thriving.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for Latinos to support businesses, organizations and community members who have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096833/how-immigration-raids-are-affecting-children-in-los-angeles\">felt the toll\u003c/a> of the administration’s anti-immigration policies that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913621/the-psychological-toll-of-trumps-immigration-policies-on-bay-area-latinos\">have had a chilling effect\u003c/a>, with immigrants staying home, shopping less, attending fewer public events and even being afraid to speak Spanish in public. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This has also been a challenging year for many Latinx-owned businesses between the fear immigrants are feeling and higher costs of doing business, said Alicia Villanueva, owner and founder of Hayward-based Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seeing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073728/us-citizen-army-veteran-detained-by-ice-sues-for-damages-in-federal-court\">hardworking people\u003c/a> picked up off the street, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094994/detained-at-green-card-interview-how-a-bay-area-family-is-healing-from-sudden-separation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock&utm_content=20260814_NewsDaily_Newsletter_SponsorBlock+8642121190\">families being separated\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028303/ice-arrest-left-bay-area-man-hospitalized-struggling-breathe-attorney-says\">parents being detained\u003c/a> and leaving children behind is demoralizing, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am a citizen now, since last year, and I still feel this trauma,” she said. “Like when I’m driving, and I see the police or something — it scares me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many food vendors, Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the busiest times of the year, Villanueva said, but this year is different because the community needs a morale boost.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We really celebrate our cultures, our cuisine and all these traditions that we bring from our countries,” she said. “To keep our traditions alive is one of the responsibilities that we have for future generations.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098323\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/260903-KOndaSeptember-06-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Concha candles and mugs for sale at Mission Lotería’s new storefront in San Francisco on Sept. 3, 2026. The space will serve as a home for community events, workshops and local art. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Villanueva said it pains her to see immigrants living in fear and suffering, especially since she understands the desire to come to the United States to work and advance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She started her company in 2010 after selling tamales door to door. She joined a business incubator program for entrepreneurs at San Francisco-based La Cocina that helped her establish a wholesale and catering business and secure capital to grow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sixteen years later, Villanueva employs 21 workers who cater events, sell food to retail stores, provide passenger meals for Alaska Airlines and make school lunches for students throughout Northern California. Her next goal is national distribution, the 65-year-old said. She embodies an ethos of permanent optimism that many immigrants espouse. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The time is really hard,” Villanueva said. “But if you have your passion, your dreams, no matter what, just keep going. Don’t be afraid.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, for many Latines, Hispanic Heritage Month can come off as cringe. Corporations use it as a time to pander to Latinos and perform solidarity with clichés such as adding pictures of tacos to non-food-related content or putting the Spanish letter ñ where it doesn’t belong. So it’s no wonder why many people tend to snub their noses at seasonal, tone-deaf marketing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What I can appreciate about Hispanic Heritage Month is the opportunity to unapologetically lean into the beauty, strength and value of Latino culture. Lately, I have been hearing the phrase, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo” (Only the community will save the community), which reminds me that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month might include sharing our culture with others — but it’s most important to show up for ourselves. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We think about Latinx heritage 365 days a year,” said Josiah Alderete, co-owner of Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco. The bookstore is Black- and Latino-owned and has made a point to stock books written by and about people of color from its inception five years ago — not just for affinity months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m always thrilled people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but the truth is, we are always celebrating it,” he said. “You can come in here and see yourself 12 months of the year.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical ways to show up this Hispanic Heritage Month: \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attend Hispanic Heritage Month events \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cities and organizations across the Bay Area are planning festivities to honor and celebrate Latine residents and culture, which has turned into an act of resistance. (Check out K Onda’s comprehensive guide.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the last year, several event organizers have said they were advised against holding large public gatherings like festivals for fear of ICE showing up and detaining people. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But most organizers decided that offering joy, reinforcing culture and coming together was more important than giving in to fear. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12030084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250305_TariffsImpact_GC-10_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolls for sale at Luz de Luna, a gift store on 24th Street in San Francisco, on March 5, 2025. Owner Denise Gonzales says about 70% of the products sold in store are imported from Mexico. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prioritize shopping at Latino-owned businesses, especially small ones\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I covered retail and consumer issues many years ago, and the biggest lesson I learned was that consumers have way more power than they know. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Every dollar people spend fuels someone’s bottom line, so choose where you shop wisely, because our spending power picks winners and losers every day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s why I don’t feel bad buying an artisan or locally made item such as soaps, honey, produce from a farmer’s market or a handmade gift, even if I could have found something cheaper at a big-box store. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When I buy a cup of fruit from a street vendor, I feel good about buying a healthy snack and supporting someone who is often depending on that day’s sales to survive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read more books about Latin American identity and history by Latino authors\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For a dose of cultural criticism and an exploration of how personal histories intersect with mainstream culture, I recommend \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704670/magicalrealism-by-vanessa-angelica-villarreal/\">\u003cem>Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders\u003c/em> by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal\u003c/a>, which I recently read and found evocative. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other books to check out: \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Migrant-Heart/Reyna-Grande/9781668055274\">\u003cem>Migrant Heart\u003c/em> by Reyna Grande\u003c/a>, a true gem of a writer who makes her home in Northern California, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Keeper-of-My-Kin/Ada-Ferrer/9781668025659\">\u003cem>Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Ada Ferrer, who appeared \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913858/a-family-divided-by-cubas-revolution\">on Forum earlier this year\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And, here are some recommendations from Alderete, of Medicine for Nightmares: the young adult novel, \u003ca href=\"https://www.harpercollins.com/products/estela-undrowning-rene-pena-govea\">\u003cem>Estela, Undrowning\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by San Francisco writer and educator \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913189/local-ya-novels-tell-san-francisco-stories\">René Peña-Govea\u003c/a>; the poetry collection \u003ca href=\"https://unpress.nevada.edu/9781647792183/where-heaven-sinks/\">\u003cem>When Heaven Sinks\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by María Esquinca (who coincidently is a former KQED colleague); the nonfiction book \u003ca href=\"https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324004370\">\u003cem>Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire & Revolution in the Borderlands\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Kelly Lytle Hernández; and the memoir \u003ca href=\"https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803724/terrestre-spanish-edition-by-cristina-rivera-garza/\">\u003cem>Terrestre\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and scholar Cristina Rivera Garza.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "oakland-jury-awards-5-million-to-sonoma-county-man-for-wrongful-arrest",
"title": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest",
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"headTitle": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-highway-patrol\">California Highway Patrol\u003c/a> officer and sergeant must pay $5 million to a Sonoma County man for violating his constitutional rights in an unlawful arrest, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097290/oakland-jury-to-decide-if-california-highway-patrol-officers-committed-unlawful-arrest\">Oakland federal jury \u003c/a>decided Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2329\" height=\"1308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2329px) 100vw, 2329px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s what the jury found happened here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte’s case was unique because it was simply about a wrongful arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1380\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is like the perfect case for a plaintiff,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Nicholas La Motte had claimed in a federal civil rights lawsuit that California Highway Patrol arrested him without cause.\n",
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"title": "Oakland Jury Awards $5 Million to Sonoma County Man for Wrongful Arrest | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-highway-patrol\">California Highway Patrol\u003c/a> officer and sergeant must pay $5 million to a Sonoma County man for violating his constitutional rights in an unlawful arrest, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097290/oakland-jury-to-decide-if-california-highway-patrol-officers-committed-unlawful-arrest\">Oakland federal jury \u003c/a>decided Monday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury found that CHP Officer Jayce Ray and Sgt. John Snider acted with “malice, recklessness, oppression or a conscious or reckless disregard” for the rights of Nicholas La Motte when they arrested him without probable cause in April 2023 for driving under the influence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>La Motte testified last week that around 1:30 a.m. on April 25, 2023, he was driving home from visiting his grandmother in San Francisco. While driving northbound on U.S. 101, he noticed he was being followed by a car — it was Ray in his cruiser. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray pulled him over, and La Motte began filming the encounter, footage that proved to key in his case against CHP. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ray impounded La Motte’s Mercedes and arrested him, claiming he showed signs of intoxication, including red eyes. He then took La Motte to a nearby hospital to have his blood drawn. La Motte argued in his lawsuit that this violated his constitutional rights against unnecessary search and seizure because Ray lacked probable cause for the arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2329\" height=\"1308\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097803\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1.jpg 2329w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_horizontal-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2329px) 100vw, 2329px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (left) poses for a photo with his attorney, Izaak Schwaiger. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP further justified La Motte’s arrest with a set of field sobriety tests that Snider administered at the Santa Rosa station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Six months later, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office formally dropped charges against La Motte.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict is significant because law enforcement and other government officials are generally protected from liability while on the job, under a legal framework known as qualified immunity. They lose that protection, however, if they violate someone’s rights while performing their duties. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s what the jury found happened here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Izaak Schwaiger, La Motte’s attorney, said that, had his client not recorded the incident, there wouldn’t have been any evidence to combat the police’s version of events because CHP doesn’t require its officers to wear body cameras. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would say this is probably the 20th case that we received calls about, the CHP in and around the Sonoma County area making false arrests, but there was never any evidence,” Schwaiger said. “And what can you do when it’s the word of the individual against the word of the cops?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said he took La Motte’s case because he was “waiting for the right one to come, where somebody had done something to preserve some kind of evidence, so that we could prove that this was going on, because it happens a lot.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But without proof,” the lawyer continued, “what can you do? Nick had that video, and the video showed that these cops were lying, and that’s what carried the case.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte’s case was unique because it was simply about a wrongful arrest. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The DA rejected this case because there wasn’t enough evidence that he had committed a crime,” Schwaiger said, adding that La Motte wasn’t prosecuted, nor held in jail for a significant time, nor physically beaten by the officers. “None of those things.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was super important to Nick what happened. It profoundly affected his life, and he did a really good job of explaining that to the jury, such that when it came time to ask the jury for a verdict, we just said, ‘Do what you feel is right,’” Schwaiger said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury’s verdict awarded La Motte $3 million in punitive damages — an amount for which Snider and Ray will not likely be personally liable, Schwaiger said — and $2 million in compensatory damages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1380\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097799\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED.jpg 1380w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-160x232.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/CHPVerdict_2-KQED-1060x1536.jpg 1060w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonoma County resident Nicholas La Motte (right) poses for a photo with his daughter. A jury found LaMotte’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a 2023 unlawful arrest by two California Highway Patrol officers. (Courtesy of Nicholas La Motte)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“The law says California doesn’t have to cover them,” Schwaiger said. “In practice, it’s highly likely that the state will cover them because there will be a lot of pressure from the police unions and whatnot to do that. And the police unions are quite powerful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>CHP and the California Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://law.stanford.edu/robert-weisberg/\">Robert Weisberg\u003c/a>, a Stanford law professor, said a case like La Motte’s doesn’t usually unfold with a jury award because an unlawful arrest is usually challenged in the middle of criminal proceedings, not in a civil case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s rare that people have the legal resources or the incentive to challenge an arrest in a civil suit like this, and they are very hard to win,” Weisberg said. “Because the most obvious fact is an arrest isn’t illegal simply because it turns out that, in retrospect, there wasn’t probable cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The plaintiff has to prove that, in effect, no reasonable officer in that situation could have surmised that there was probable cause,” Weisberg continued. “And that’s a hard standard to meet.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In defending the officers, the state called Capt. Lorenzo Glenn of the Anaheim Police Department, who testified that he reviewed the case file and found the officer’s actions to be reasonable. But when questioned by Schwaiger, Glenn admitted he wasn’t an expert in DUI or drug recognition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I find it just bizarre that they put on a so-called expert witness who acknowledged that he wasn’t an expert,” Weisberg said. “It’s not that hard to find experts who will testify for the government in this regard.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government lawyering in this case was less than impressive, let’s put it that way,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weisberg said the case was unusual because the government’s evidence supporting the arrest was weak, La Motte recorded his arrest, and the police weren’t afforded qualified immunity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is like the perfect case for a plaintiff,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the California Justice Department, in defense of Ray and Snider, moved to have the case thrown out on the basis of qualified immunity. It lost its appeal of a district judge’s ruling at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the state’s petition to be frivolous. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied a similar motion last week after La Motte’s attorneys rested their case, saying the DOJ further failed to bring up qualified immunity earlier in the proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schwaiger said La Motte called him Tuesday morning and said that he hoped people would hear about the verdict and take similar action, namely by safely filming interactions with police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This was the result of a yearslong process where a man, against all odds, decided to stand up for himself and refused to say that what happened was OK,” Schwaiger said. “There’s an important lesson there, and I think if more people do stand up for themselves, that’s how we really affect change.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "in-oakland-kaiser-nurses-take-staffing-ai-concerns-to-the-picket-lines",
"title": "In Oakland, Kaiser Nurses Take Staffing, AI Concerns to the Picket Lines",
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"headTitle": "In Oakland, Kaiser Nurses Take Staffing, AI Concerns to the Picket Lines | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Nurses at nearly two dozen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/kaiser\">Kaiser\u003c/a> facilities across California are picketing to protest their concerns about inadequate staffing and potentially questionable AI practices in the company’s future patient care technology. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The scarlet-clad nurses gathered outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Tuesday, holding signs and chanting for “safe staffing” levels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kaiser workers’ latest action is a sign that ongoing contract negotiations between the hospital and its union, the California Nurses Association, are already hitting a snag since their existing deal expired Aug. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097886\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dozens of nurses staged what they called an “informational picket” outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Tuesday to demand better staffing levels and limits on AI. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"12097892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097892\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dozens of nurses gathered outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Sept. 1, 2026. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"12097883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097883\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Workers also voiced their concerns about the steadily increasing use of AI in health care systems, which they believe could adversely impact staffing decisions and patient care. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Outside the center on Broadway, veteran pediatric nurse Craig Cedotal said that, in nearly a dozen bargaining sessions so far, management has failed to properly address his concerns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cedotal said he believes Kaiser’s short staffing is evidenced by the Assignment Despite Objection forms that procedure nurses use to signal concerns on a shift. “We’re talking about 5,000 of them altogether,” he said, regarding the volume of forms submitted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We know what the problems are — they disagree with what we say — but that’s not uncommon for management to disagree,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Kaiser said it staffs at state-mandated ratios using a system that the company co-developed alongside the California Nurses Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Workers accused management of manipulating that system to their advantage, with avoidable consequences.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Mixing infectious patients with noninfectious patients … that happens. Now, we do have PPE that we can put on,” Cedotal said, using shorthand for personal protective equipment. “But if you can staff to a point where you don’t even have to risk the exposure, why would you?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The protest also marked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097097/bay-area-nurses-protest-use-of-palantirs-ai-tech-at-hospitals\">yet another opportunity\u003c/a> for workers to voice their objections to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the health care system, which they said could inappropriately influence staffing decisions and care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Nursing, we need to speak to our patients. We’re compassionate because we’re humans, right?” said patient care coordinator and bargaining team member Robin Carson. “AI does not have compassion.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kaiser said its deal with CNA already ensures that technology supports its nurses to care for patients and apply their clinical expertise, not to replace them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Union leaders said the two sides have not yet discussed wages. Talks are expected to resume Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We know what the problems are — they disagree with what we say — but that’s not uncommon for management to disagree,” he added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a statement, Kaiser said it staffs at state-mandated ratios using a system that the company co-developed alongside the California Nurses Association.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Workers accused management of manipulating that system to their advantage, with avoidable consequences.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Mixing infectious patients with noninfectious patients … that happens. Now, we do have PPE that we can put on,” Cedotal said, using shorthand for personal protective equipment. “But if you can staff to a point where you don’t even have to risk the exposure, why would you?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Mixing infectious patients with noninfectious patients … that happens. Now, we do have PPE that we can put on,” Cedotal said, using shorthand for personal protective equipment. “But if you can staff to a point where you don’t even have to risk the exposure, why would you?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The protest also marked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097097/bay-area-nurses-protest-use-of-palantirs-ai-tech-at-hospitals\">yet another opportunity\u003c/a> for workers to voice their objections to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the health care system, which they said could inappropriately influence staffing decisions and care.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The protest also marked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097097/bay-area-nurses-protest-use-of-palantirs-ai-tech-at-hospitals\">yet another opportunity\u003c/a> for workers to voice their objections to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the health care system, which they said could inappropriately influence staffing decisions and care.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Nursing, we need to speak to our patients. We’re compassionate because we’re humans, right?” said patient care coordinator and bargaining team member Robin Carson. “AI does not have compassion.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kaiser said its deal with CNA already ensures that technology supports its nurses to care for patients and apply their clinical expertise, not to replace them. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Union leaders said the two sides have not yet discussed wages. Talks are expected to resume Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Ongoing contract negotiations between Kaiser and its unionized nurses have reportedly faced roadblocks since their existing deal expired on Aug. 31.",
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"title": "In Oakland, Kaiser Nurses Take Staffing, AI Concerns to the Picket Lines | KQED",
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"headline": "In Oakland, Kaiser Nurses Take Staffing, AI Concerns to the Picket Lines",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Nurses at nearly two dozen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/kaiser\">Kaiser\u003c/a> facilities across California are picketing to protest their concerns about inadequate staffing and potentially questionable AI practices in the company’s future patient care technology. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The scarlet-clad nurses gathered outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Tuesday, holding signs and chanting for “safe staffing” levels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kaiser workers’ latest action is a sign that ongoing contract negotiations between the hospital and its union, the California Nurses Association, are already hitting a snag since their existing deal expired Aug. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097886\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dozens of nurses staged what they called an “informational picket” outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Tuesday to demand better staffing levels and limits on AI. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"12097892\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097892\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-1-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dozens of nurses gathered outside Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Sept. 1, 2026. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"12097883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097883\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Kaiser-Labor-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Workers also voiced their concerns about the steadily increasing use of AI in health care systems, which they believe could adversely impact staffing decisions and patient care. (Courtesy of California Nurses Association)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Outside the center on Broadway, veteran pediatric nurse Craig Cedotal said that, in nearly a dozen bargaining sessions so far, management has failed to properly address his concerns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cedotal said he believes Kaiser’s short staffing is evidenced by the Assignment Despite Objection forms that procedure nurses use to signal concerns on a shift. “We’re talking about 5,000 of them altogether,” he said, regarding the volume of forms submitted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We know what the problems are — they disagree with what we say — but that’s not uncommon for management to disagree,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Kaiser said it staffs at state-mandated ratios using a system that the company co-developed alongside the California Nurses Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Workers accused management of manipulating that system to their advantage, with avoidable consequences.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Mixing infectious patients with noninfectious patients … that happens. Now, we do have PPE that we can put on,” Cedotal said, using shorthand for personal protective equipment. “But if you can staff to a point where you don’t even have to risk the exposure, why would you?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The protest also marked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097097/bay-area-nurses-protest-use-of-palantirs-ai-tech-at-hospitals\">yet another opportunity\u003c/a> for workers to voice their objections to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the health care system, which they said could inappropriately influence staffing decisions and care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Nursing, we need to speak to our patients. We’re compassionate because we’re humans, right?” said patient care coordinator and bargaining team member Robin Carson. “AI does not have compassion.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kaiser said its deal with CNA already ensures that technology supports its nurses to care for patients and apply their clinical expertise, not to replace them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Union leaders said the two sides have not yet discussed wages. Talks are expected to resume Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "sheng-thao-trial-government-asks-judge-to-block-questions-about-key-informants-past",
"title": "Sheng Thao Trial: Government Asks Judge to Block Questions About Key Informant’s Past",
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"headTitle": "Sheng Thao Trial: Government Asks Judge to Block Questions About Key Informant’s Past | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors gearing up for the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> are asking a judge to bar defense attorneys from cross-examining their star witness about certain aspects of his checkered past, along with a shooting that took place in front of his home several days after he first spoke with federal investigators. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The long-awaited trial, scheduled to begin with jury selection on Oct. 13, is expected to feature testimony from that witness, Mario Juarez, an Oakland businessman and political operative who was a key informant in the FBI’s investigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys have argued that Juarez has a history of accusing others of wrongdoing when business relationships collapse, pointing to numerous lawsuits they say he has been a party to, including fraud cases involving former business partners. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones and father-and-son recycling executives David and Andy Duong will also be on trial. The four were indicted last year on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Andy Duong faces an additional charge related to lying to federal agents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081856\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong speaks with guests after the screening of The King of Trash on Jan. 10, 2026, at Regal Jack London in Oakland. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao agreed to use her power to extend the Duongs’ recycling contract, commit the city to purchase homes from a housing company co-owned by the Duongs and Juarez, and appoint city officials they selected to work in high-level staff positions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In exchange, the Duongs financed negative campaign mailers targeting Thao’s opponents in the 2022 mayoral election and paid Jones for a no-show job, prosecutors allege. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Juarez has pleaded guilty to participating in the alleged conspiracy and is expected to testify at trial about his interactions with the defendants as well as his experience as a co-founder of Evolutionary Homes, the housing company at the heart of the alleged conspiracy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Court records show the government is also asking the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from bringing up a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091317/oakland-councilmember-proposes-a-409000-severance-for-former-city-administrator\">text message scandal\u003c/a> that rocked Oakland earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekingoftrash.us/\">documentary the Duongs released\u003c/a> last year about their origin story and arguments that the prosecution of the case is politically biased.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a motion filed in federal court on Thursday, government attorneys argued that defense lawyers should not be permitted to ask Juarez about “decades-old” lawsuits, including any actions related to his surrendered real estate license, as well as “unsubstantiated allegations of unrelated fraud, or prior arrests and criminal charges that did not result in convictions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The filing mentions, among other things, a 2016 federal money laundering investigation of Juarez that was closed without any arrests or charges, allegations of real estate fraud and Juarez’s prior arrests and charges for theft and embezzlement, battery and grand theft. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Juarez does not have any criminal convictions, the motion notes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Juarez is not on trial in this case, and his cross-examination should not serve as an opportunity for the defense to stage a mini-trial about any acts Juarez may have committed,” the motion states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A hearing to discuss the pre-trial motion and a collection of others is scheduled for Sept. 11. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12069397\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong talks with attendees after a private screening of The King of Trash at Regal Jack London in Oakland on Jan. 10, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several defense attorneys in the case did not respond to KQED’s request for comment on the government’s motions. One attorney representing David Duong said lawyers would respond in a brief this week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied a series of motions filed by defense attorneys \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071314/fbi-informant-tested-corruption-case-against-oaklands-former-mayor\">raising questions about Juarez’s past\u003c/a> and his credibility as a witness. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062614/defense-in-oakland-corruption-case-files-motion-targeting-key-informants-credibility\">argued\u003c/a> that the FBI left out key information about Juarez’s history in affidavits used to secure search warrants of their clients’ homes, vehicles and businesses, which they said rested heavily on his claims. Some of the seized evidence should be suppressed, they argued. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors responded that they had accumulated extensive documentary evidence related to the alleged conspiracy long before ever speaking with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their motion filed last week, lawyers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Juarez should not be questioned about government investigations into his conduct, allegations that he misappropriated funds from Evolutionary Homes and a 2024 shooting in front of his house. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The filing specifically points to a 2024 affidavit submitted in support of a warrant to search Juarez’s bank records following a complaint that he had defrauded Oakland businessman and president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Stewart Chen, of a $250,000 loan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The affidavit, filed by an inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, describes an interview with Jack Cohen of Balboa LLC, who claimed he loaned Juarez $3 million and that Juarez never paid it back. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The inspector also spoke with Andy Duong, who described the Duongs’ and Juarez’s business investment in Evolutionary Homes and their subsequent falling out, the affidavit reads. According to Duong, he and David Duong “fell victim to what he considered theft of their investment.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12046768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The government’s star witness, Oakland businessman and political operative Mario Juarez, has been a main focus in the federal prosecution of the alleged corruption scheme. (Sebastian Barros/Nur Photo via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To date, the district attorney’s office has not filed charges in the case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The affidavit was filed about five and a half weeks after a shooting took place in front of Juarez’s house. Several days earlier, Juarez had spoken with the government about the alleged scheme involving Thao and the Duongs for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors wrote in their motion on Thursday that Juarez initially reported to Oakland police and the FBI that he had confronted two individuals breaking into his vehicle, and that one of them shot at him and he returned fire. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The FBI believed that the shooting might have been related to Juarez’s cooperation with law enforcement and that he was in potential physical danger,” it reads. “The day after the shooting, the FBI relocated Juarez for his safety and paid for a hotel room, rental car, and per diem for meals for Juarez, amounting to approximately $8,568.07 in expenses.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12073250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Federal Courthouse in Oakland on Feb. 11, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The FBI later determined it was likely that Juarez shot first, rather than returning fire, the document reads. When FBI agents then interviewed Juarez about the shooting, he said he shot first after another individual pointed a gun at him, and he thought his life was in danger. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss a criminal case against a suspect in the shooting in May after learning of Juarez’s inconsistent statements, a document filed in Alameda County Superior Court shows. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In the light of the material inconsistencies in [Juarez’s] statement regarding the event and the absence of any physical evidence that would corroborate [his] statement, the People cannot sustain their burden beyond a reasonable doubt,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their motion filed Thursday, federal prosecutors asked the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from questioning Juarez about the shooting, his statements to law enforcement about it and the government’s response. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They also requested that the judge prohibit the defense from asking former Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson and former Assistant City Administrator Harold Duffey about text messages they sent each other regarding female city of Oakland employees, which surfaced in May, leading to Johnson’s abrupt resignation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Duffey is now a city manager for the city of Brentwood, where he is currently on administrative leave. Both are on the government’s list of potential witnesses expected to testify. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the months following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11991242/fbi-agents-raid-home-of-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao\">FBI’s search of Thao’s home\u003c/a> in 2024, both she and her attorney raised questions about the timing of the raid, which took place several months before a general election in which she was facing a recall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors have asked that defendants not be permitted to argue that the government’s investigation of the case is politically motivated. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At an anti-recall campaign event in October 2024, Thao told a crowd of supporters and media that she was innocent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>I am not the target of the investigation,” Thao said. “Unfortunately, like the Jim Comey investigation into Hillary Clinton that swayed the 2016 presidential election that got us Trump, this overreach of the FBI is undoubtedly putting a finger on the scale influencing this election.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022612/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-3-others-charged-with-bribery-sprawling-corruption-probe\">indicted roughly three months\u003c/a> later.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors gearing up for the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> are asking a judge to bar defense attorneys from cross-examining their star witness about certain aspects of his checkered past, along with a shooting that took place in front of his home several days after he first spoke with federal investigators. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors gearing up for the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> are asking a judge to bar defense attorneys from cross-examining their star witness about certain aspects of his checkered past, along with a shooting that took place in front of his home several days after he first spoke with federal investigators. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The long-awaited trial, scheduled to begin with jury selection on Oct. 13, is expected to feature testimony from that witness, Mario Juarez, an Oakland businessman and political operative who was a key informant in the FBI’s investigation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys have argued that Juarez has a history of accusing others of wrongdoing when business relationships collapse, pointing to numerous lawsuits they say he has been a party to, including fraud cases involving former business partners. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys have argued that Juarez has a history of accusing others of wrongdoing when business relationships collapse, pointing to numerous lawsuits they say he has been a party to, including fraud cases involving former business partners. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones and father-and-son recycling executives David and Andy Duong will also be on trial. The four were indicted last year on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Andy Duong faces an additional charge related to lying to federal agents. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones and father-and-son recycling executives David and Andy Duong will also be on trial. The four were indicted last year on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Andy Duong faces an additional charge related to lying to federal agents. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081856\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong speaks with guests after the screening of The King of Trash on Jan. 10, 2026, at Regal Jack London in Oakland.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081856\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong speaks with guests after the screening of The King of Trash on Jan. 10, 2026, at Regal Jack London in Oakland.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao agreed to use her power to extend the Duongs’ recycling contract, commit the city to purchase homes from a housing company co-owned by the Duongs and Juarez, and appoint city officials they selected to work in high-level staff positions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao agreed to use her power to extend the Duongs’ recycling contract, commit the city to purchase homes from a housing company co-owned by the Duongs and Juarez, and appoint city officials they selected to work in high-level staff positions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In exchange, the Duongs financed negative campaign mailers targeting Thao’s opponents in the 2022 mayoral election and paid Jones for a no-show job, prosecutors allege. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Juarez has pleaded guilty to participating in the alleged conspiracy and is expected to testify at trial about his interactions with the defendants as well as his experience as a co-founder of Evolutionary Homes, the housing company at the heart of the alleged conspiracy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Juarez has pleaded guilty to participating in the alleged conspiracy and is expected to testify at trial about his interactions with the defendants as well as his experience as a co-founder of Evolutionary Homes, the housing company at the heart of the alleged conspiracy. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Court records show the government is also asking the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from bringing up a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091317/oakland-councilmember-proposes-a-409000-severance-for-former-city-administrator\">text message scandal\u003c/a> that rocked Oakland earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekingoftrash.us/\">documentary the Duongs released\u003c/a> last year about their origin story and arguments that the prosecution of the case is politically biased.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Court records show the government is also asking the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from bringing up a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091317/oakland-councilmember-proposes-a-409000-severance-for-former-city-administrator\">text message scandal\u003c/a> that rocked Oakland earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekingoftrash.us/\">documentary the Duongs released\u003c/a> last year about their origin story and arguments that the prosecution of the case is politically biased.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a motion filed in federal court on Thursday, government attorneys argued that defense lawyers should not be permitted to ask Juarez about “decades-old” lawsuits, including any actions related to his surrendered real estate license, as well as “unsubstantiated allegations of unrelated fraud, or prior arrests and criminal charges that did not result in convictions.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a motion filed in federal court on Thursday, government attorneys argued that defense lawyers should not be permitted to ask Juarez about “decades-old” lawsuits, including any actions related to his surrendered real estate license, as well as “unsubstantiated allegations of unrelated fraud, or prior arrests and criminal charges that did not result in convictions.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The filing mentions, among other things, a 2016 federal money laundering investigation of Juarez that was closed without any arrests or charges, allegations of real estate fraud and Juarez’s prior arrests and charges for theft and embezzlement, battery and grand theft. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The filing mentions, among other things, a 2016 federal money laundering investigation of Juarez that was closed without any arrests or charges, allegations of real estate fraud and Juarez’s prior arrests and charges for theft and embezzlement, battery and grand theft. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Juarez does not have any criminal convictions, the motion notes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Juarez is not on trial in this case, and his cross-examination should not serve as an opportunity for the defense to stage a mini-trial about any acts Juarez may have committed,” the motion states. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Juarez is not on trial in this case, and his cross-examination should not serve as an opportunity for the defense to stage a mini-trial about any acts Juarez may have committed,” the motion states. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A hearing to discuss the pre-trial motion and a collection of others is scheduled for Sept. 11. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A hearing to discuss the pre-trial motion and a collection of others is scheduled for Sept. 11. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12069397\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong talks with attendees after a private screening of The King of Trash at Regal Jack London in Oakland on Jan. 10, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12069397\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong talks with attendees after a private screening of The King of Trash at Regal Jack London in Oakland on Jan. 10, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Several defense attorneys in the case did not respond to KQED’s request for comment on the government’s motions. One attorney representing David Duong said lawyers would respond in a brief this week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Several defense attorneys in the case did not respond to KQED’s request for comment on the government’s motions. One attorney representing David Duong said lawyers would respond in a brief this week. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In April, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied a series of motions filed by defense attorneys \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071314/fbi-informant-tested-corruption-case-against-oaklands-former-mayor\">raising questions about Juarez’s past\u003c/a> and his credibility as a witness. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In April, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied a series of motions filed by defense attorneys \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071314/fbi-informant-tested-corruption-case-against-oaklands-former-mayor\">raising questions about Juarez’s past\u003c/a> and his credibility as a witness. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062614/defense-in-oakland-corruption-case-files-motion-targeting-key-informants-credibility\">argued\u003c/a> that the FBI left out key information about Juarez’s history in affidavits used to secure search warrants of their clients’ homes, vehicles and businesses, which they said rested heavily on his claims. Some of the seized evidence should be suppressed, they argued. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors responded that they had accumulated extensive documentary evidence related to the alleged conspiracy long before ever speaking with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In their motion filed last week, lawyers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Juarez should not be questioned about government investigations into his conduct, allegations that he misappropriated funds from Evolutionary Homes and a 2024 shooting in front of his house. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In their motion filed last week, lawyers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Juarez should not be questioned about government investigations into his conduct, allegations that he misappropriated funds from Evolutionary Homes and a 2024 shooting in front of his house. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The filing specifically points to a 2024 affidavit submitted in support of a warrant to search Juarez’s bank records following a complaint that he had defrauded Oakland businessman and president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Stewart Chen, of a $250,000 loan. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The filing specifically points to a 2024 affidavit submitted in support of a warrant to search Juarez’s bank records following a complaint that he had defrauded Oakland businessman and president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Stewart Chen, of a $250,000 loan. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The affidavit, filed by an inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, describes an interview with Jack Cohen of Balboa LLC, who claimed he loaned Juarez $3 million and that Juarez never paid it back. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The affidavit, filed by an inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, describes an interview with Jack Cohen of Balboa LLC, who claimed he loaned Juarez $3 million and that Juarez never paid it back. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The inspector also spoke with Andy Duong, who described the Duongs’ and Juarez’s business investment in Evolutionary Homes and their subsequent falling out, the affidavit reads. According to Duong, he and David Duong “fell victim to what he considered theft of their investment.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12046768\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The government’s star witness, Oakland businessman and political operative Mario Juarez, has been a main focus in the federal prosecution of the alleged corruption scheme.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Sebastian Barros/Nur Photo via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To date, the district attorney’s office has not filed charges in the case. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The affidavit was filed about five and a half weeks after a shooting took place in front of Juarez’s house. Several days earlier, Juarez had spoken with the government about the alleged scheme involving Thao and the Duongs for the first time.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The affidavit was filed about five and a half weeks after a shooting took place in front of Juarez’s house. Several days earlier, Juarez had spoken with the government about the alleged scheme involving Thao and the Duongs for the first time.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors wrote in their motion on Thursday that Juarez initially reported to Oakland police and the FBI that he had confronted two individuals breaking into his vehicle, and that one of them shot at him and he returned fire. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors wrote in their motion on Thursday that Juarez initially reported to Oakland police and the FBI that he had confronted two individuals breaking into his vehicle, and that one of them shot at him and he returned fire. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The FBI believed that the shooting might have been related to Juarez’s cooperation with law enforcement and that he was in potential physical danger,” it reads. “The day after the shooting, the FBI relocated Juarez for his safety and paid for a hotel room, rental car, and per diem for meals for Juarez, amounting to approximately $8,568.07 in expenses.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The FBI later determined it was likely that Juarez shot first, rather than returning fire, the document reads. When FBI agents then interviewed Juarez about the shooting, he said he shot first after another individual pointed a gun at him, and he thought his life was in danger. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The FBI later determined it was likely that Juarez shot first, rather than returning fire, the document reads. When FBI agents then interviewed Juarez about the shooting, he said he shot first after another individual pointed a gun at him, and he thought his life was in danger. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss a criminal case against a suspect in the shooting in May after learning of Juarez’s inconsistent statements, a document filed in Alameda County Superior Court shows. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss a criminal case against a suspect in the shooting in May after learning of Juarez’s inconsistent statements, a document filed in Alameda County Superior Court shows. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In the light of the material inconsistencies in [Juarez’s] statement regarding the event and the absence of any physical evidence that would corroborate [his] statement, the People cannot sustain their burden beyond a reasonable doubt,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In their motion filed Thursday, federal prosecutors asked the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from questioning Juarez about the shooting, his statements to law enforcement about it and the government’s response. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They also requested that the judge prohibit the defense from asking former Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson and former Assistant City Administrator Harold Duffey about text messages they sent each other regarding female city of Oakland employees, which surfaced in May, leading to Johnson’s abrupt resignation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They also requested that the judge prohibit the defense from asking former Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson and former Assistant City Administrator Harold Duffey about text messages they sent each other regarding female city of Oakland employees, which surfaced in May, leading to Johnson’s abrupt resignation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Duffey is now a city manager for the city of Brentwood, where he is currently on administrative leave. Both are on the government’s list of potential witnesses expected to testify. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the months following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11991242/fbi-agents-raid-home-of-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao\">FBI’s search of Thao’s home\u003c/a> in 2024, both she and her attorney raised questions about the timing of the raid, which took place several months before a general election in which she was facing a recall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the months following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11991242/fbi-agents-raid-home-of-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao\">FBI’s search of Thao’s home\u003c/a> in 2024, both she and her attorney raised questions about the timing of the raid, which took place several months before a general election in which she was facing a recall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors have asked that defendants not be permitted to argue that the government’s investigation of the case is politically motivated. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At an anti-recall campaign event in October 2024, Thao told a crowd of supporters and media that she was innocent. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>I am not the target of the investigation,” Thao said. “Unfortunately, like the Jim Comey investigation into Hillary Clinton that swayed the 2016 presidential election that got us Trump, this overreach of the FBI is undoubtedly putting a finger on the scale influencing this election.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>I am not the target of the investigation,” Thao said. “Unfortunately, like the Jim Comey investigation into Hillary Clinton that swayed the 2016 presidential election that got us Trump, this overreach of the FBI is undoubtedly putting a finger on the scale influencing this election.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022612/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-3-others-charged-with-bribery-sprawling-corruption-probe\">indicted roughly three months\u003c/a> later.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022612/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-3-others-charged-with-bribery-sprawling-corruption-probe\">indicted roughly three months\u003c/a> later.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The government’s star witness, Oakland businessman and political operative Mario Juarez, and his checkered past have been a main focus in the federal prosecution of the alleged corruption scheme.",
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"title": "Sheng Thao Trial: Government Asks Judge to Block Questions About Key Informant’s Past | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Prosecutors gearing up for the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sheng-thao\">Sheng Thao\u003c/a> are asking a judge to bar defense attorneys from cross-examining their star witness about certain aspects of his checkered past, along with a shooting that took place in front of his home several days after he first spoke with federal investigators. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The long-awaited trial, scheduled to begin with jury selection on Oct. 13, is expected to feature testimony from that witness, Mario Juarez, an Oakland businessman and political operative who was a key informant in the FBI’s investigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys have argued that Juarez has a history of accusing others of wrongdoing when business relationships collapse, pointing to numerous lawsuits they say he has been a party to, including fraud cases involving former business partners. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thao, her longtime romantic partner Andre Jones and father-and-son recycling executives David and Andy Duong will also be on trial. The four were indicted last year on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges in an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Andy Duong faces an additional charge related to lying to federal agents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081856\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/011026_KingofTrash-_GH_005_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Duong speaks with guests after the screening of The King of Trash on Jan. 10, 2026, at Regal Jack London in Oakland. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors allege Thao agreed to use her power to extend the Duongs’ recycling contract, commit the city to purchase homes from a housing company co-owned by the Duongs and Juarez, and appoint city officials they selected to work in high-level staff positions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In exchange, the Duongs financed negative campaign mailers targeting Thao’s opponents in the 2022 mayoral election and paid Jones for a no-show job, prosecutors allege. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Juarez has pleaded guilty to participating in the alleged conspiracy and is expected to testify at trial about his interactions with the defendants as well as his experience as a co-founder of Evolutionary Homes, the housing company at the heart of the alleged conspiracy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Court records show the government is also asking the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from bringing up a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091317/oakland-councilmember-proposes-a-409000-severance-for-former-city-administrator\">text message scandal\u003c/a> that rocked Oakland earlier this year, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekingoftrash.us/\">documentary the Duongs released\u003c/a> last year about their origin story and arguments that the prosecution of the case is politically biased.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a motion filed in federal court on Thursday, government attorneys argued that defense lawyers should not be permitted to ask Juarez about “decades-old” lawsuits, including any actions related to his surrendered real estate license, as well as “unsubstantiated allegations of unrelated fraud, or prior arrests and criminal charges that did not result in convictions.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The filing mentions, among other things, a 2016 federal money laundering investigation of Juarez that was closed without any arrests or charges, allegations of real estate fraud and Juarez’s prior arrests and charges for theft and embezzlement, battery and grand theft. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Juarez does not have any criminal convictions, the motion notes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Juarez is not on trial in this case, and his cross-examination should not serve as an opportunity for the defense to stage a mini-trial about any acts Juarez may have committed,” the motion states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A hearing to discuss the pre-trial motion and a collection of others is scheduled for Sept. 11. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12069397\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/011026_KINGOFTRASH-_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">David Duong talks with attendees after a private screening of The King of Trash at Regal Jack London in Oakland on Jan. 10, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several defense attorneys in the case did not respond to KQED’s request for comment on the government’s motions. One attorney representing David Duong said lawyers would respond in a brief this week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied a series of motions filed by defense attorneys \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071314/fbi-informant-tested-corruption-case-against-oaklands-former-mayor\">raising questions about Juarez’s past\u003c/a> and his credibility as a witness. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062614/defense-in-oakland-corruption-case-files-motion-targeting-key-informants-credibility\">argued\u003c/a> that the FBI left out key information about Juarez’s history in affidavits used to secure search warrants of their clients’ homes, vehicles and businesses, which they said rested heavily on his claims. Some of the seized evidence should be suppressed, they argued. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors responded that they had accumulated extensive documentary evidence related to the alleged conspiracy long before ever speaking with Juarez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their motion filed last week, lawyers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Juarez should not be questioned about government investigations into his conduct, allegations that he misappropriated funds from Evolutionary Homes and a 2024 shooting in front of his house. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The filing specifically points to a 2024 affidavit submitted in support of a warrant to search Juarez’s bank records following a complaint that he had defrauded Oakland businessman and president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Stewart Chen, of a $250,000 loan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The affidavit, filed by an inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, describes an interview with Jack Cohen of Balboa LLC, who claimed he loaned Juarez $3 million and that Juarez never paid it back. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The inspector also spoke with Andy Duong, who described the Duongs’ and Juarez’s business investment in Evolutionary Homes and their subsequent falling out, the affidavit reads. According to Duong, he and David Duong “fell victim to what he considered theft of their investment.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1330\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12046768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/FBIJacketGetty1-1536x1021.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The government’s star witness, Oakland businessman and political operative Mario Juarez, has been a main focus in the federal prosecution of the alleged corruption scheme. (Sebastian Barros/Nur Photo via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To date, the district attorney’s office has not filed charges in the case. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The affidavit was filed about five and a half weeks after a shooting took place in front of Juarez’s house. Several days earlier, Juarez had spoken with the government about the alleged scheme involving Thao and the Duongs for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors wrote in their motion on Thursday that Juarez initially reported to Oakland police and the FBI that he had confronted two individuals breaking into his vehicle, and that one of them shot at him and he returned fire. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The FBI believed that the shooting might have been related to Juarez’s cooperation with law enforcement and that he was in potential physical danger,” it reads. “The day after the shooting, the FBI relocated Juarez for his safety and paid for a hotel room, rental car, and per diem for meals for Juarez, amounting to approximately $8,568.07 in expenses.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12073250\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Federal Courthouse in Oakland on Feb. 11, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The FBI later determined it was likely that Juarez shot first, rather than returning fire, the document reads. When FBI agents then interviewed Juarez about the shooting, he said he shot first after another individual pointed a gun at him, and he thought his life was in danger. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss a criminal case against a suspect in the shooting in May after learning of Juarez’s inconsistent statements, a document filed in Alameda County Superior Court shows. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In the light of the material inconsistencies in [Juarez’s] statement regarding the event and the absence of any physical evidence that would corroborate [his] statement, the People cannot sustain their burden beyond a reasonable doubt,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their motion filed Thursday, federal prosecutors asked the judge to prohibit defense attorneys from questioning Juarez about the shooting, his statements to law enforcement about it and the government’s response. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They also requested that the judge prohibit the defense from asking former Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson and former Assistant City Administrator Harold Duffey about text messages they sent each other regarding female city of Oakland employees, which surfaced in May, leading to Johnson’s abrupt resignation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Duffey is now a city manager for the city of Brentwood, where he is currently on administrative leave. Both are on the government’s list of potential witnesses expected to testify. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the months following the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11991242/fbi-agents-raid-home-of-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao\">FBI’s search of Thao’s home\u003c/a> in 2024, both she and her attorney raised questions about the timing of the raid, which took place several months before a general election in which she was facing a recall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors have asked that defendants not be permitted to argue that the government’s investigation of the case is politically motivated. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At an anti-recall campaign event in October 2024, Thao told a crowd of supporters and media that she was innocent. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>I am not the target of the investigation,” Thao said. “Unfortunately, like the Jim Comey investigation into Hillary Clinton that swayed the 2016 presidential election that got us Trump, this overreach of the FBI is undoubtedly putting a finger on the scale influencing this election.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12022612/ex-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-3-others-charged-with-bribery-sprawling-corruption-probe\">indicted roughly three months\u003c/a> later.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "oakland-residents-continue-push-against-data-centers",
"title": "Oakland Residents Continue Push Against Data Centers",
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"headTitle": "Oakland Residents Continue Push Against Data Centers | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The Rev. Jeffrey Parker spoke almost sermon-like in front of more than a hundred people in his \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland \u003c/a>church this weekend, but it wasn’t the typical service the place was used to hearing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He had something else in mind: data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parker joined organizers from the Party for Socialism and Liberation on Saturday to call for city leaders to stop the possibility of data centers in the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097522\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rev. Jeffrey Parker speaks at an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>PSL and around 7,000 petition signers have urged a citywide ban on the facilities after a proposal by Behring Companies to bring a 20,000-square-foot data center to downtown drew backlash. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ire among opponents has recently grown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tesla and Prometheus, an AI startup cofounded by Jeff Bezos, signed leases at another site in the city, according to the \u003cem>San Francisco Business Times\u003c/em>. It’s not yet known what Tesla and Prometheus have planned for the projects or if they’ll end up being data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am against Oakland becoming a place where powerful technology companies can come into our community, consume enormous amounts of resources, and potentially leave Oakland residents to deal with the consequences,” Parker said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12097523\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097523\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland residents attend an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12097520\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097520\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland residents attend an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The AI industry as a whole has come under fire for concerns over environmental impacts — water and energy usage, along with noise pollution — that residents worry will disproportionately hurt lower-income or Black and Brown communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Xavier Buck, executive director of the Huey P. Newton Foundation and founding director of the Black Panther Party Museum in Oakland, said he thinks cities like Oakland are intentionally targeted to be “sacrifice zones for the AI boom.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The power structure is not choosing these cities by accident; it is choosing them because these are cities where we built the most powerful organizing models,” Buck said. “[It’s] the most efficient way to destroy both the communities and the blueprint simultaneously.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, whose district the Behring proposal falls in, said in a social media post that she had already reached out to the city attorney about what it would mean to regulate data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ve not shared my perspective on data centers or my political perspective because I’m forming it,” Fife \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcC9M7GkgSa/\">said \u003c/a>in her social media video. “I know what I’ve seen in other places is unacceptable, completely.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More recently, the Bay Area News Group reported that Fife had been working on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/30/billionaire-backed-data-center-proposals-cause-rift-in-oakland/\">proposal for a moratorium\u003c/a> on data centers. As of publication, Fife had not responded to KQED’s request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Developers have also set their sites on the cities of Pittsburg, Gilroy and San Jose for current or future data centers. Residents in those cities have similarly called for a moratorium and then a permanent ban on the facilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Aditi Varshneya, an organizer with PSL, said that hundreds of people came to a previous organizing meeting about the Behring project and almost 200 more showed up this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The location of Behring’s proposed data center at 415 20th St. in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. (Juan Carlos Lara/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just goes to show how united the community is and how ready they are to organize and fight back,” Varshneya said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Opponents in Oakland have said they’re not opposed to technology. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“AI is not a technological advancement,” Buck said. “If it is damaging humans, the places we live and the ecosystem we survive on, what’s advanced about that?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Organizers plan to show up at the next Oakland City Council meeting to continue calls for a data center ban.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097522\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rev. Jeffrey Parker speaks at an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tesla and Prometheus, an AI startup cofounded by Jeff Bezos, signed leases at another site in the city, according to the \u003cem>San Francisco Business Times\u003c/em>. It’s not yet known what Tesla and Prometheus have planned for the projects or if they’ll end up being data centers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097523\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland residents attend an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The AI industry as a whole has come under fire for concerns over environmental impacts — water and energy usage, along with noise pollution — that residents worry will disproportionately hurt lower-income or Black and Brown communities.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The AI industry as a whole has come under fire for concerns over environmental impacts — water and energy usage, along with noise pollution — that residents worry will disproportionately hurt lower-income or Black and Brown communities.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Xavier Buck, executive director of the Huey P. Newton Foundation and founding director of the Black Panther Party Museum in Oakland, said he thinks cities like Oakland are intentionally targeted to be “sacrifice zones for the AI boom.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The power structure is not choosing these cities by accident; it is choosing them because these are cities where we built the most powerful organizing models,” Buck said. “[It’s] the most efficient way to destroy both the communities and the blueprint simultaneously.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, whose district the Behring proposal falls in, said in a social media post that she had already reached out to the city attorney about what it would mean to regulate data centers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’ve not shared my perspective on data centers or my political perspective because I’m forming it,” Fife \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcC9M7GkgSa/\">said \u003c/a>in her social media video. “I know what I’ve seen in other places is unacceptable, completely.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More recently, the Bay Area News Group reported that Fife had been working on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/30/billionaire-backed-data-center-proposals-cause-rift-in-oakland/\">proposal for a moratorium\u003c/a> on data centers. As of publication, Fife had not responded to KQED’s request for comment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Developers have also set their sites on the cities of Pittsburg, Gilroy and San Jose for current or future data centers. Residents in those cities have similarly called for a moratorium and then a permanent ban on the facilities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Aditi Varshneya, an organizer with PSL, said that hundreds of people came to a previous organizing meeting about the Behring project and almost 200 more showed up this weekend.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The location of Behring’s proposed data center at 415 20th St. in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juan Carlos Lara/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It just goes to show how united the community is and how ready they are to organize and fight back,” Varshneya said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“AI is not a technological advancement,” Buck said. “If it is damaging humans, the places we live and the ecosystem we survive on, what’s advanced about that?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Organizers plan to show up at the next Oakland City Council meeting to continue calls for a data center ban.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The Rev. Jeffrey Parker spoke almost sermon-like in front of more than a hundred people in his \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/oakland\">Oakland \u003c/a>church this weekend, but it wasn’t the typical service the place was used to hearing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He had something else in mind: data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parker joined organizers from the Party for Socialism and Liberation on Saturday to call for city leaders to stop the possibility of data centers in the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097522\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00383_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rev. Jeffrey Parker speaks at an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>PSL and around 7,000 petition signers have urged a citywide ban on the facilities after a proposal by Behring Companies to bring a 20,000-square-foot data center to downtown drew backlash. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ire among opponents has recently grown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tesla and Prometheus, an AI startup cofounded by Jeff Bezos, signed leases at another site in the city, according to the \u003cem>San Francisco Business Times\u003c/em>. It’s not yet known what Tesla and Prometheus have planned for the projects or if they’ll end up being data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am against Oakland becoming a place where powerful technology companies can come into our community, consume enormous amounts of resources, and potentially leave Oakland residents to deal with the consequences,” Parker said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12097523\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097523\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00391_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland residents attend an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12097520\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097520\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260829-oakdatacentermeeting-TV00386_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakland residents attend an anti-data center meeting hosted by Party for Socialism and Liberation at the Church of All Faiths in Oakland on Aug. 29, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The AI industry as a whole has come under fire for concerns over environmental impacts — water and energy usage, along with noise pollution — that residents worry will disproportionately hurt lower-income or Black and Brown communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Xavier Buck, executive director of the Huey P. Newton Foundation and founding director of the Black Panther Party Museum in Oakland, said he thinks cities like Oakland are intentionally targeted to be “sacrifice zones for the AI boom.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The power structure is not choosing these cities by accident; it is choosing them because these are cities where we built the most powerful organizing models,” Buck said. “[It’s] the most efficient way to destroy both the communities and the blueprint simultaneously.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, whose district the Behring proposal falls in, said in a social media post that she had already reached out to the city attorney about what it would mean to regulate data centers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ve not shared my perspective on data centers or my political perspective because I’m forming it,” Fife \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcC9M7GkgSa/\">said \u003c/a>in her social media video. “I know what I’ve seen in other places is unacceptable, completely.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More recently, the Bay Area News Group reported that Fife had been working on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/30/billionaire-backed-data-center-proposals-cause-rift-in-oakland/\">proposal for a moratorium\u003c/a> on data centers. As of publication, Fife had not responded to KQED’s request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Developers have also set their sites on the cities of Pittsburg, Gilroy and San Jose for current or future data centers. Residents in those cities have similarly called for a moratorium and then a permanent ban on the facilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Aditi Varshneya, an organizer with PSL, said that hundreds of people came to a previous organizing meeting about the Behring project and almost 200 more showed up this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/OAK-Data-Center-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The location of Behring’s proposed data center at 415 20th St. in Oakland on Aug. 14, 2026. (Juan Carlos Lara/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just goes to show how united the community is and how ready they are to organize and fight back,” Varshneya said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Opponents in Oakland have said they’re not opposed to technology. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“AI is not a technological advancement,” Buck said. “If it is damaging humans, the places we live and the ecosystem we survive on, what’s advanced about that?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Organizers plan to show up at the next Oakland City Council meeting to continue calls for a data center ban.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A judge rejected an effort to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095616/bay-area-group-files-lawsuit-against-transit-funding-measure-says-its-deceptive\">rewrite a major Bay Area\u003c/a> public transit funding ballot question set to go before voters this November. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Frederick S. Chung ruled Thursday that a petition alleging the question was written in a misleading and biased way failed to reach a necessary burden of proof.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The court finds the Petitioners’ argument to be unpersuasive,” Chung wrote in the ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The challenge was filed last week by ten Bay Area voters, some of whom are aligned with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit\u003c/a>, a group opposed to the regional sales tax measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re disappointed with the outcome, but we will be continuing to fight this tax with all the abilities that we have,” said Gregg Dieguez, one of the petitioners and the president of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit. “We continue to think that it’s a very bad choice for the Bay Area, given the Bay Area’s incredible level of unaffordability that this will exacerbate.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passengers stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station May 12, 2008, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Major Bay Area transit agencies are facing steep budget deficits due to ongoing drops in revenue and ridership related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are warning of drastic service cuts without passage of the regional measure known as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">Connect Bay Area Act\u003c/a>. The act would establish a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, as well as a 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco, for 14 years, generating an estimated $980 million annually, according to Metropolitan Transportation Commission figures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters of the measure see it as critical to maintaining the Bay Area’s economy and quality of life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The ballot question, as approved last month by a governing body known as the Public Transit Revenue Measure District, and made up of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission board of directors, is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by: Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, reliability; Repairing targeted roads/potholes; Requiring financial transparency, oversight, accountability; shall the measure enacting a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties), and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taking a fine-tooth comb to that wording, the challengers wanted to hit the delete button on references to service cuts and preservation, among other issues.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Dieguez and his co-petitioners, these details matter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Preserving BART implies that it’s at risk in some way, whereas funding it implies what it is, giving it more money to continue to operate,” Dieguez told KQED on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chung, however, ruled that the petitioners failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the word “preserving” was false, misleading, partial or argumentative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It accurately describes the purpose of the ballot measure, and it is not factually incorrect,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dieguez and the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit dispute that the agencies would fail without the additional tax revenue. The committee argues that transit operators could utilize existing capital funds to cover operating costs, reduce overtime pay or evaluate contracts with labor unions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the Connect Bay Area campaign, previously told KQED the committee’s claims were “not based in reality.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our focus right now is explaining to voters that, if we don’t pass this measure, there will be catastrophic cuts to public transit that will hurt communities in all five counties,” Cretan told KQED on Aug. 17. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filed by attorney Jason Bezis of Lafayette, the petition also disputed the amount of money the sales tax would generate, arguing the MTC determined in September 2025 that it would generate about $220,000,000 more annually than currently disclosed. The petition asked for the amount listed on the ballot to be changed, which Chung also denied. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Rather than engage their own consultant to perform a contrary calculation, Petitioners have relied on simplistic arithmetic to come up with a contrary figure. This is insufficient,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his ruling, Chung said he had “less than two and a half days” to review relevant cases, given an Aug. 28 deadline set by county election offices.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re disappointed with the outcome, but we will be continuing to fight this tax with all the abilities that we have,” said Gregg Dieguez, one of the petitioners and the president of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit. “We continue to think that it’s a very bad choice for the Bay Area, given the Bay Area’s incredible level of unaffordability that this will exacerbate.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Major Bay Area transit agencies are facing steep budget deficits due to ongoing drops in revenue and ridership related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are warning of drastic service cuts without passage of the regional measure known as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">Connect Bay Area Act\u003c/a>. The act would establish a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, as well as a 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco, for 14 years, generating an estimated $980 million annually, according to Metropolitan Transportation Commission figures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The ballot question, as approved last month by a governing body known as the Public Transit Revenue Measure District, and made up of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission board of directors, is as follows:\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by: Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, reliability; Repairing targeted roads/potholes; Requiring financial transparency, oversight, accountability; shall the measure enacting a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties), and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Taking a fine-tooth comb to that wording, the challengers wanted to hit the delete button on references to service cuts and preservation, among other issues.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Dieguez and his co-petitioners, these details matter. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ Preserving BART implies that it’s at risk in some way, whereas funding it implies what it is, giving it more money to continue to operate,” Dieguez told KQED on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ Preserving BART implies that it’s at risk in some way, whereas funding it implies what it is, giving it more money to continue to operate,” Dieguez told KQED on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chung, however, ruled that the petitioners failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the word “preserving” was false, misleading, partial or argumentative.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It accurately describes the purpose of the ballot measure, and it is not factually incorrect,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dieguez and the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit dispute that the agencies would fail without the additional tax revenue. The committee argues that transit operators could utilize existing capital funds to cover operating costs, reduce overtime pay or evaluate contracts with labor unions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dieguez and the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit dispute that the agencies would fail without the additional tax revenue. The committee argues that transit operators could utilize existing capital funds to cover operating costs, reduce overtime pay or evaluate contracts with labor unions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the Connect Bay Area campaign, previously told KQED the committee’s claims were “not based in reality.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our focus right now is explaining to voters that, if we don’t pass this measure, there will be catastrophic cuts to public transit that will hurt communities in all five counties,” Cretan told KQED on Aug. 17. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Filed by attorney Jason Bezis of Lafayette, the petition also disputed the amount of money the sales tax would generate, arguing the MTC determined in September 2025 that it would generate about $220,000,000 more annually than currently disclosed. The petition asked for the amount listed on the ballot to be changed, which Chung also denied. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Filed by attorney Jason Bezis of Lafayette, the petition also disputed the amount of money the sales tax would generate, arguing the MTC determined in September 2025 that it would generate about $220,000,000 more annually than currently disclosed. The petition asked for the amount listed on the ballot to be changed, which Chung also denied. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Rather than engage their own consultant to perform a contrary calculation, Petitioners have relied on simplistic arithmetic to come up with a contrary figure. This is insufficient,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A court rejected the challenge to the Bay Area transit tax ballot measure ahead of a November vote.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A judge rejected an effort to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095616/bay-area-group-files-lawsuit-against-transit-funding-measure-says-its-deceptive\">rewrite a major Bay Area\u003c/a> public transit funding ballot question set to go before voters this November. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Frederick S. Chung ruled Thursday that a petition alleging the question was written in a misleading and biased way failed to reach a necessary burden of proof.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The court finds the Petitioners’ argument to be unpersuasive,” Chung wrote in the ruling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The challenge was filed last week by ten Bay Area voters, some of whom are aligned with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit\u003c/a>, a group opposed to the regional sales tax measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re disappointed with the outcome, but we will be continuing to fight this tax with all the abilities that we have,” said Gregg Dieguez, one of the petitioners and the president of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit. “We continue to think that it’s a very bad choice for the Bay Area, given the Bay Area’s incredible level of unaffordability that this will exacerbate.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passengers stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station May 12, 2008, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Major Bay Area transit agencies are facing steep budget deficits due to ongoing drops in revenue and ridership related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are warning of drastic service cuts without passage of the regional measure known as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">Connect Bay Area Act\u003c/a>. The act would establish a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, as well as a 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco, for 14 years, generating an estimated $980 million annually, according to Metropolitan Transportation Commission figures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters of the measure see it as critical to maintaining the Bay Area’s economy and quality of life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The ballot question, as approved last month by a governing body known as the Public Transit Revenue Measure District, and made up of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission board of directors, is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by: Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities; Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, reliability; Repairing targeted roads/potholes; Requiring financial transparency, oversight, accountability; shall the measure enacting a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties), and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Taking a fine-tooth comb to that wording, the challengers wanted to hit the delete button on references to service cuts and preservation, among other issues.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Dieguez and his co-petitioners, these details matter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Preserving BART implies that it’s at risk in some way, whereas funding it implies what it is, giving it more money to continue to operate,” Dieguez told KQED on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chung, however, ruled that the petitioners failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that the word “preserving” was false, misleading, partial or argumentative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It accurately describes the purpose of the ballot measure, and it is not factually incorrect,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dieguez and the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit dispute that the agencies would fail without the additional tax revenue. The committee argues that transit operators could utilize existing capital funds to cover operating costs, reduce overtime pay or evaluate contracts with labor unions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the Connect Bay Area campaign, previously told KQED the committee’s claims were “not based in reality.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our focus right now is explaining to voters that, if we don’t pass this measure, there will be catastrophic cuts to public transit that will hurt communities in all five counties,” Cretan told KQED on Aug. 17. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Filed by attorney Jason Bezis of Lafayette, the petition also disputed the amount of money the sales tax would generate, arguing the MTC determined in September 2025 that it would generate about $220,000,000 more annually than currently disclosed. The petition asked for the amount listed on the ballot to be changed, which Chung also denied. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Rather than engage their own consultant to perform a contrary calculation, Petitioners have relied on simplistic arithmetic to come up with a contrary figure. This is insufficient,” Chung wrote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In his ruling, Chung said he had “less than two and a half days” to review relevant cases, given an Aug. 28 deadline set by county election offices.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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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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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
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"filters": [
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},
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},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
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}
}
