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"content": "\n\u003cp>In response to backlash over data-sharing practices and privacy concerns, Richmond may join a growing list of Bay Area cities saying goodbye to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety \u003c/a>— and replacing the technology with other vendors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a $12 million contract with Axon Enterprise, a competing surveillance company. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city council will also hear a presentation from the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation about whether license plate-reading technology has reduced crime in the city, according to the meeting agenda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082871\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A protester holds a sign during a rally opposing Berkeley’s proposed contract expansion with surveillance company Flock Safety outside the Berkeley Unified School District boardroom in Berkeley on May 7, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As the City considers the continued use, expansion, or oversight of this technology, it is important that the City Council have objective information about whether LPRs are achieving their intended public safety outcomes and whether any benefits outweigh the risk of misuse of these technologies now or in the future,” a Sept. 22 agenda report states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s police chief, Timothy Simmons, wants the city to expand its relationship with Axon, which it already uses for its body-worn cameras, taser devices, interview room equipment and virtual reality training equipment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Axon Enterprise was shortlisted because it proposed a comprehensive, turnkey law enforcement solution that would integrate with technology already utilized by the Richmond Police Department,” Simmons \u003ca href=\"https://pub-richmond.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=62999\">wrote \u003c/a>in a Sept. 15 agenda report.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Axon will provide 110 solar-powered cameras, 60 CCTV cameras and drones for the Richmond Police Department to use starting next month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch from Flock to Axon will reduce annual costs by about $200,000, according to the report. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some community members, however, questioned the difference between the camera vendors and said they’d rather see the money spent on things like road safety and parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carlos Juarez, a member of community safety advocacy group Reimagine Richmond, called Axon a “sub” for Flock, and said the city has more important issues related to road safety.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily make sense,” Juarez told KQED. “They’re always telling the community of Richmond that they don’t have money for the Richmond infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock’s technology is used by thousands of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. But cities throughout California have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">ended contracts\u003c/a> with Flock Safety following public concerns around surveillance and repeated reports that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096106/anti-flock-organizers-ramp-up-bay-area-protests-urging-cities-to-cut-ties-with-company\">out-of-state agencies\u003c/a> have illegally accessed its customer agencies’ data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond city staff “determined that concerns about reliability, transparency, system performance and public confidence warranted consideration in the City’s overall evaluation,” according to the agenda report from Simmons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12051143\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Police Department in Richmond on Aug. 6, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In August, Antioch approved a $661,687 contract with Axon to start using their cameras, starting next month through November 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor\">Stanford\u003c/a> University also cut ties with Flock that same month and opted for Genetec Cloudrunner, which will be used for internal data sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock CEO Garrett Langley told \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/23/nx-s1-5931446-e1/flock-safety-alternatives-new-names-same-surveillance\">NPR\u003c/a> in August that he’s not worried about losing customers to competitors, like Axon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said that similar competitors lack Flock’s “guardrails” that provide transparency and accountability to providers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Richmond Police Department said it will hold data from the cameras for up to 30 days and won’t share it without authorization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet, Juarez said that the adoption of another surveillance tool doesn’t relieve concerns around civil liberties from residents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They do the same thing at the end of the day. They’re tracking us without our consent.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Axon will provide 110 solar-powered cameras, 60 CCTV cameras and drones for the Richmond Police Department to use starting next month.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily make sense,” Juarez told KQED. “They’re always telling the community of Richmond that they don’t have money for the Richmond infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock’s technology is used by thousands of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. But cities throughout California have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">ended contracts\u003c/a> with Flock Safety following public concerns around surveillance and repeated reports that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096106/anti-flock-organizers-ramp-up-bay-area-protests-urging-cities-to-cut-ties-with-company\">out-of-state agencies\u003c/a> have illegally accessed its customer agencies’ data. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Richmond city staff “determined that concerns about reliability, transparency, system performance and public confidence warranted consideration in the City’s overall evaluation,” according to the agenda report from Simmons. \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/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12051143\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Police Department in Richmond on Aug. 6, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/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/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12051143\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Police Department in Richmond on Aug. 6, 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>In August, Antioch approved a $661,687 contract with Axon to start using their cameras, starting next month through November 2030.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor\">Stanford\u003c/a> University also cut ties with Flock that same month and opted for Genetec Cloudrunner, which will be used for internal data sharing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor\">Stanford\u003c/a> University also cut ties with Flock that same month and opted for Genetec Cloudrunner, which will be used for internal data sharing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock CEO Garrett Langley told \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/23/nx-s1-5931446-e1/flock-safety-alternatives-new-names-same-surveillance\">NPR\u003c/a> in August that he’s not worried about losing customers to competitors, like Axon. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Flock CEO Garrett Langley told \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/23/nx-s1-5931446-e1/flock-safety-alternatives-new-names-same-surveillance\">NPR\u003c/a> in August that he’s not worried about losing customers to competitors, like Axon. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said that similar competitors lack Flock’s “guardrails” that provide transparency and accountability to providers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Richmond Police Department said it will hold data from the cameras for up to 30 days and won’t share it without authorization. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yet, Juarez said that the adoption of another surveillance tool doesn’t relieve concerns around civil liberties from residents. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They do the same thing at the end of the day. They’re tracking us without our consent.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Richmond City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a $12 million contract with a new license plate reader company.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>In response to backlash over data-sharing practices and privacy concerns, Richmond may join a growing list of Bay Area cities saying goodbye to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety \u003c/a>— and replacing the technology with other vendors. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a $12 million contract with Axon Enterprise, a competing surveillance company. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city council will also hear a presentation from the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation about whether license plate-reading technology has reduced crime in the city, according to the meeting agenda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082871\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A protester holds a sign during a rally opposing Berkeley’s proposed contract expansion with surveillance company Flock Safety outside the Berkeley Unified School District boardroom in Berkeley on May 7, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As the City considers the continued use, expansion, or oversight of this technology, it is important that the City Council have objective information about whether LPRs are achieving their intended public safety outcomes and whether any benefits outweigh the risk of misuse of these technologies now or in the future,” a Sept. 22 agenda report states. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s police chief, Timothy Simmons, wants the city to expand its relationship with Axon, which it already uses for its body-worn cameras, taser devices, interview room equipment and virtual reality training equipment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Axon Enterprise was shortlisted because it proposed a comprehensive, turnkey law enforcement solution that would integrate with technology already utilized by the Richmond Police Department,” Simmons \u003ca href=\"https://pub-richmond.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=62999\">wrote \u003c/a>in a Sept. 15 agenda report.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Axon will provide 110 solar-powered cameras, 60 CCTV cameras and drones for the Richmond Police Department to use starting next month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch from Flock to Axon will reduce annual costs by about $200,000, according to the report. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some community members, however, questioned the difference between the camera vendors and said they’d rather see the money spent on things like road safety and parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carlos Juarez, a member of community safety advocacy group Reimagine Richmond, called Axon a “sub” for Flock, and said the city has more important issues related to road safety.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t necessarily make sense,” Juarez told KQED. “They’re always telling the community of Richmond that they don’t have money for the Richmond infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock’s technology is used by thousands of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. But cities throughout California have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">ended contracts\u003c/a> with Flock Safety following public concerns around surveillance and repeated reports that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096106/anti-flock-organizers-ramp-up-bay-area-protests-urging-cities-to-cut-ties-with-company\">out-of-state agencies\u003c/a> have illegally accessed its customer agencies’ data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond city staff “determined that concerns about reliability, transparency, system performance and public confidence warranted consideration in the City’s overall evaluation,” according to the agenda report from Simmons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12051143\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250806-RICHMOND-POLICE-FILE-MD-03-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Police Department in Richmond on Aug. 6, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In August, Antioch approved a $661,687 contract with Axon to start using their cameras, starting next month through November 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor\">Stanford\u003c/a> University also cut ties with Flock that same month and opted for Genetec Cloudrunner, which will be used for internal data sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock CEO Garrett Langley told \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/23/nx-s1-5931446-e1/flock-safety-alternatives-new-names-same-surveillance\">NPR\u003c/a> in August that he’s not worried about losing customers to competitors, like Axon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said that similar competitors lack Flock’s “guardrails” that provide transparency and accountability to providers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Richmond Police Department said it will hold data from the cameras for up to 30 days and won’t share it without authorization. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet, Juarez said that the adoption of another surveillance tool doesn’t relieve concerns around civil liberties from residents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They do the same thing at the end of the day. They’re tracking us without our consent.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-north-richmond-farm-expands-food-access-as-calfresh-cuts-deepen-hunger-in-east-bay",
"title": "A North Richmond Farm Expands Food Access as CalFresh Cuts Deepen Hunger in East Bay",
"publishDate": 1789228800,
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"headTitle": "A North Richmond Farm Expands Food Access as CalFresh Cuts Deepen Hunger in East Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>On a sunny Tuesday in August, a group of volunteers rinsed the soil off of freshly harvested greens on an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/urban-agriculture\">urban farm\u003c/a> in North \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a>, beside beehives and greenhouses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the week’s end, the vegetables will be packed and delivered to doorsteps across Richmond and San Pablo, or will stock the tables of free farm stands in five neighborhoods. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as an East Bay nonprofit and community garden in 2005 has grown into a food access program serving hundreds. For some, the North Richmond farm is one of the few places they can reliably get fresh produce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A neighborhood with no grocery store\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>North Richmond has no full-service grocery store and limited infrastructure, said Chinue Fields, who directs food access programs for Urban Tilth, the Richmond nonprofit that runs the farm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting to a grocery store means a car or a bus, Fields said, and the neighborhood doesn’t have many sidewalks. Corner stores and liquor stores dot residential streets. The farm is within sight of a landfill and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says\">Chevron refinery\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The access is gone. The infrastructure is gone,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 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=\"12097662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta places bags of produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/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=\"12097660\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Purple carrots in a CSA box at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The weekly \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/\">produce\u003c/a> share, a community-supported agriculture subscription, reaches more than 400 households across West Contra Costa County. Half of recipients pay nothing. Since need is greater than what the 10-acre farm can grow, the organization buys from about a dozen small farms, prioritizing growers within 200 miles. The free farm stands open four days a week at five sites until the produce runs out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth said turnout at its free farm stands rose roughly 150% in the first quarter of this year, during the coldest and thinnest stretch of the growing calendar, when demand normally sags. Fields said that timing indicated food needs in the area were rising. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal at each stand is a bag per household, enough for one meal. During those busy weeks, Fields said, when supply is stretched thin, the bags include three to four items. Now, with new federal rules pushing Californians off food assistance, staff say more residents are turning to the farm for sustenance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>HR 1, the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, put more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">650,000 Californians\u003c/a> at risk of losing CalFresh — the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">changes\u003c/a> took effect on paper in June, but they land household by household as annual recertification deadlines come due. The changes also rolled back exemptions that protected veterans, former foster youth and people experiencing homelessness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>County and food bank officials expect the effects to become visible around October and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078490/hundreds-of-thousands-could-be-booted-from-calfresh-and-medi-cal-this-bill-aims-to-help\">continue into next year\u003c/a>. The farm bill, the sprawling federal law that sets both agriculture policy and the rules for SNAP, \u003ca href=\"https://www.naco.org/news/senate-agriculture-committee-holds-farm-bill-markup-remains-committee\">expires Sept. 30\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘It’s survival mode out here’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">1 in 4\u003c/a> California adults experienced food insecurity. As many as 104,900 Contra Costa County residents rely on CalFresh as of June, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/data-portal/research-and-data/calfresh-data-dashboard\">state data\u003c/a>. In District 1, which includes Richmond, a county \u003ca href=\"https://contra-costa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14903929&GUID=9C3B6018-6D20-4170-97F3-739C6E6AE6C4\">presentation\u003c/a> counted 28,035 individuals and 17,399 households — over a quarter of the county’s caseload — as having received CalFresh in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth’s free weekly delivery has a long waitlist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Cost of life has gone up. It’s survival mode out here,” said Adam Boisvert, Urban Tilth’s deputy director and director of education programs. “Sometimes we don’t have enough food to give to everybody, and that’s heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta, left, and procurement specialist Josue Mejia, right, place produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The strain has also started moving up the supply chain. Fields said churches that normally draw their distributions from the regional food bank began calling Urban Tilth directly after the food bank came up short.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, to be honest,” she said. “We consider the cut to SNAP as an emergency.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Costs are climbing on Urban Tilth’s side, too. Fuel surcharges have appeared on top of delivery fees from partner farms, and produce prices have risen. Urban Tilth raised its standard weekly share from $35 to $50 this year. A subsidized share runs $15 for the same bag and the same delivery, Fields said, and a third tier is free for residents who are unemployed, undocumented, unhoused, elderly or disabled.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Folks who really, really need that type of service and wouldn’t otherwise have access to that type or produce,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The model Urban Tilth uses — buying from small local growers at full price to feed people who can’t pay — is the same one the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program ran until the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088977/a-lifeline-for-californias-small-farms-just-expired-what-comes-next\">Trump administration ended it\u003c/a>. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget in June that includes $15 million to keep the state’s version alive for one more year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food as medicine, and as a job\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/veggierx\">VeggieRx\u003c/a> program, Urban Tilth delivers free produce to two groups of residents. For patients on Medi-Cal at LifeLong Medical Care, a doctor can decide the produce is part of their care, generally for people managing a chronic illness or recently out of the hospital, and the farm fills it through the same weekly share. A second, state-funded version covers anyone living in Richmond’s Iron Triangle, Santa Fe or Coronado neighborhoods. It runs through July 2027 and is already full, with a waitlist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fields said people rarely mention a diagnosis when they first come by the stand. There’s shame and stigma around nutrition-related disease, she said, especially in Black and other communities with people of color. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the stands set up in the same spots week after week, year after year, and eventually people volunteer the information themselves: an A1C reading that dropped, a mother who came off her blood-pressure medication.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Matthew Mackie fillls CSA boxes with produce at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Mackie works with Urban Tilth through nonprofit Vistability, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“We offer a high level of dignity with our food distribution,” Fields said. “We are there to really engage with people and get to know them on a personal level. We don’t want it to be a transactional relationship.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Staff record what city someone lives in, and more than 90% come from Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo. They don’t ask about income, need or disability. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The volunteers are usually borrowed. Local businesses, nonprofits and school groups schedule time to help pack, Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The staff, roughly 85% local, have largely come through the same pipeline: garden lessons at Verde Elementary, the urban agriculture course Boisvert teaches at Richmond High, a summer apprenticeship, a job.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097666\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval stands for a portrait at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Cathy Sandoval came up through Urban Tilth’s Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program four years ago, driving CSA deliveries, and now works in the greenhouses. She said the neighborhood changed how she understood the work. Growing food in a place with little access to organic produce, she said, is “basically political because you are going against what people here in the community are lacking, not having organic food and produce.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Anytime that I come here to the farm on a bad day, it always ends on a good day, always,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On bad days, she amends a bed, breaking up the rocky soil and aerating it — challenging, physical labor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re giving it life through anger and emotion, sadness, happiness, whatever it is,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sandoval’s grandfather and father farmed in Mexico, and growing food, in a way, helps her connect to her heritage and family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We tend to forget about our history and our culture,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Uniting neighbors over shared land\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than 20 Japanese American families grew flowers \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">across Richmond and El Cerrito\u003c/a> for decades, according to the Richmond Museum of History & Culture. In 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans. Most of the local flower families were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, where they were incarcerated for four years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the Nabeta family returned, and their business began to bounce back, their land was \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">seized\u003c/a> by the state in 1947 to build Interstate 80.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"917\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21-1536x704.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval places weeds into a bucket at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Right: Rows of crops at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>They then rebuilt in North Richmond — a Black neighborhood that was brimming with blues clubs and quickly becoming a nightlife hot spot in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Redlining and restrictive covenants had made it one of the few places in the area where Black families could live, according to Urban Tilth’s \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:363291a1-c927-4b85-884e-508bd4f5bebe\">history\u003c/a> of the neighborhood, and people who came from the South to work in the shipyards built homes there with their wages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The area was also contending with violent crime, and becoming a backdrop to some of the era’s radical politics: In 1967, one of the first pushes of the rising Black Panther Party involved investigating the killing of a North Richmond man by Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eventually most of the nurseries closed. In 2022, the Nabeta family decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-06/questions-of-justice-flare-in-bay-area-warehouse-dispute\">sell their land\u003c/a> to a developer. Urban Tilth, whose farm sat against the property line, learned the plan was a five-story warehouse, said Chito Floriano, the farm programs director.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It [would have been] shaded out by about five to six hours of sunlight,” Floriano said. What followed was what the farm called the “No Shade Campaign”: letters to the developer, letters to the family, a street mural on Brookside Drive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>About three months in, Floriano said, members of the Nabeta family walked over. They would rather sell to Urban Tilth if the price could be met, they said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Executive Director Doria Robinson \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-02/urban-farm-japanese-flower-nursery-warehouse-distribution-center-bay-area\">raised\u003c/a> more than $4.5 million to purchase it. The farm grew from 3 acres to 10.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth is part of a long lineage of people who have worked the land — the Ohlone, the Black cowboys who once kept horses here and the Japanese American nursery families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We aren’t the original light bearers of this movement,” he said. “Urban Tilth is gonna be a moment in history now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘By whatever means necessary’ \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In late 2024, Contra Costa County won a federal grant that would have paid for a new resilience center on the farm. The farm planned a solar-powered building where neighbors could wait out a heat wave, a refinery accident or a stretch of dangerous wildfire smoke, stocked with cots, first-aid supplies and portable showers, with a battery system able to run the air-filtration and refrigeration systems for up to three days off the grid. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano estimated construction would cost $6 million. It was one of \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/epa-community-change-grant-status/\">nine\u003c/a> projects across North Richmond covered by a $19 million grant to Contra Costa County from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA (community-supported agriculture) coordinator Marco Huerta fills bags with fruit at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks after the county secured the contract, the federal government pulled the plug. In February 2025, the nonprofit lost contact with the EPA’s grant administrator and later learned the staffer had been fired. The county did not receive formal notice that the EPA had terminated the grant until May of that year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We took it off the books as soon as we got wind that it wasn’t coming through,” Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Five \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d8774ef4-9c01-4ae5-b06b-88b18f55d0c9\">new buildings\u003c/a> now stand on the farm, paid for without federal money: a greenhouse, a native plant nursery, a watershed learning center, a toolshed and what Urban Tilth says is the first permitted public composting toilet in an urban area of Contra Costa County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth says it has raised more than $9.3 million of the roughly $14.3 million this phase will cost. It needs $5 million more to finish.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Among the \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/the-north-richmond-farm-project/\">remaining\u003c/a> line items is $250,000 for a \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:363291a1-c927-4b85-884e-508bd4f5bebe\">history walk\u003c/a>, a path running the length of the farm that tells the story of the neighborhood: the Ohlone, the blues clubs, the Black Panthers and the Japanese American nursery families, including the Nabetas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth receives almost no federal funds now, and is instead carried by state contracts, city creek restoration work, foundations and individual donors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth recently finished two outdoor classrooms, one in the crop rows and one in the orchard, and Boisvert said the spaces get more use as more kids cycle through. His two urban agriculture classes at Richmond High started back up with 80 students, and the farm still runs after-school sessions, senior gardening and a volunteer day every fourth Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“By whatever means necessary, we’re going to see this thing through,” Boisvert said. “Piece by piece, one day at a time, one grant at a time, getting buildings finished, getting projects done.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By the week’s end, the vegetables will be packed and delivered to doorsteps across Richmond and San Pablo, or will stock the tables of free farm stands in five neighborhoods. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>By the week’s end, the vegetables will be packed and delivered to doorsteps across Richmond and San Pablo, or will stock the tables of free farm stands in five neighborhoods. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What began as an East Bay nonprofit and community garden in 2005 has grown into a food access program serving hundreds. For some, the North Richmond farm is one of the few places they can reliably get fresh produce. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What began as an East Bay nonprofit and community garden in 2005 has grown into a food access program serving hundreds. For some, the North Richmond farm is one of the few places they can reliably get fresh produce. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>North Richmond has no full-service grocery store and limited infrastructure, said Chinue Fields, who directs food access programs for Urban Tilth, the Richmond nonprofit that runs the farm. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>North Richmond has no full-service grocery store and limited infrastructure, said Chinue Fields, who directs food access programs for Urban Tilth, the Richmond nonprofit that runs the farm. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Getting to a grocery store means a car or a bus, Fields said, and the neighborhood doesn’t have many sidewalks. Corner stores and liquor stores dot residential streets. The farm is within sight of a landfill and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says\">Chevron refinery\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Getting to a grocery store means a car or a bus, Fields said, and the neighborhood doesn’t have many sidewalks. Corner stores and liquor stores dot residential streets. The farm is within sight of a landfill and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says\">Chevron refinery\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The access is gone. The infrastructure is gone,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097662\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta places bags of produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The weekly \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/\">produce\u003c/a> share, a community-supported agriculture subscription, reaches more than 400 households across West Contra Costa County. Half of recipients pay nothing. Since need is greater than what the 10-acre farm can grow, the organization buys from about a dozen small farms, prioritizing growers within 200 miles. The free farm stands open four days a week at five sites until the produce runs out.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The weekly \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/\">produce\u003c/a> share, a community-supported agriculture subscription, reaches more than 400 households across West Contra Costa County. Half of recipients pay nothing. Since need is greater than what the 10-acre farm can grow, the organization buys from about a dozen small farms, prioritizing growers within 200 miles. The free farm stands open four days a week at five sites until the produce runs out.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth said turnout at its free farm stands rose roughly 150% in the first quarter of this year, during the coldest and thinnest stretch of the growing calendar, when demand normally sags. Fields said that timing indicated food needs in the area were rising. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth said turnout at its free farm stands rose roughly 150% in the first quarter of this year, during the coldest and thinnest stretch of the growing calendar, when demand normally sags. Fields said that timing indicated food needs in the area were rising. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The goal at each stand is a bag per household, enough for one meal. During those busy weeks, Fields said, when supply is stretched thin, the bags include three to four items. Now, with new federal rules pushing Californians off food assistance, staff say more residents are turning to the farm for sustenance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The goal at each stand is a bag per household, enough for one meal. During those busy weeks, Fields said, when supply is stretched thin, the bags include three to four items. Now, with new federal rules pushing Californians off food assistance, staff say more residents are turning to the farm for sustenance.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>HR 1, the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, put more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">650,000 Californians\u003c/a> at risk of losing CalFresh — the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">changes\u003c/a> took effect on paper in June, but they land household by household as annual recertification deadlines come due. The changes also rolled back exemptions that protected veterans, former foster youth and people experiencing homelessness.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>HR 1, the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, put more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">650,000 Californians\u003c/a> at risk of losing CalFresh — the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">changes\u003c/a> took effect on paper in June, but they land household by household as annual recertification deadlines come due. The changes also rolled back exemptions that protected veterans, former foster youth and people experiencing homelessness.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>County and food bank officials expect the effects to become visible around October and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078490/hundreds-of-thousands-could-be-booted-from-calfresh-and-medi-cal-this-bill-aims-to-help\">continue into next year\u003c/a>. The farm bill, the sprawling federal law that sets both agriculture policy and the rules for SNAP, \u003ca href=\"https://www.naco.org/news/senate-agriculture-committee-holds-farm-bill-markup-remains-committee\">expires Sept. 30\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>County and food bank officials expect the effects to become visible around October and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078490/hundreds-of-thousands-could-be-booted-from-calfresh-and-medi-cal-this-bill-aims-to-help\">continue into next year\u003c/a>. The farm bill, the sprawling federal law that sets both agriculture policy and the rules for SNAP, \u003ca href=\"https://www.naco.org/news/senate-agriculture-committee-holds-farm-bill-markup-remains-committee\">expires Sept. 30\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "‘It’s survival mode out here’",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘It’s survival mode out here’\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘It’s survival mode out here’\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">1 in 4\u003c/a> California adults experienced food insecurity. As many as 104,900 Contra Costa County residents rely on CalFresh as of June, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/data-portal/research-and-data/calfresh-data-dashboard\">state data\u003c/a>. In District 1, which includes Richmond, a county \u003ca href=\"https://contra-costa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14903929&GUID=9C3B6018-6D20-4170-97F3-739C6E6AE6C4\">presentation\u003c/a> counted 28,035 individuals and 17,399 households — over a quarter of the county’s caseload — as having received CalFresh in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">1 in 4\u003c/a> California adults experienced food insecurity. As many as 104,900 Contra Costa County residents rely on CalFresh as of June, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/data-portal/research-and-data/calfresh-data-dashboard\">state data\u003c/a>. In District 1, which includes Richmond, a county \u003ca href=\"https://contra-costa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14903929&GUID=9C3B6018-6D20-4170-97F3-739C6E6AE6C4\">presentation\u003c/a> counted 28,035 individuals and 17,399 households — over a quarter of the county’s caseload — as having received CalFresh in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth’s free weekly delivery has a long waitlist.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth’s free weekly delivery has a long waitlist.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Cost of life has gone up. It’s survival mode out here,” said Adam Boisvert, Urban Tilth’s deputy director and director of education programs. “Sometimes we don’t have enough food to give to everybody, and that’s heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Cost of life has gone up. It’s survival mode out here,” said Adam Boisvert, Urban Tilth’s deputy director and director of education programs. “Sometimes we don’t have enough food to give to everybody, and that’s heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-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\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta, left, and procurement specialist Josue Mejia, right, place produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097661\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta, left, and procurement specialist Josue Mejia, right, place produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The strain has also started moving up the supply chain. Fields said churches that normally draw their distributions from the regional food bank began calling Urban Tilth directly after the food bank came up short.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The strain has also started moving up the supply chain. Fields said churches that normally draw their distributions from the regional food bank began calling Urban Tilth directly after the food bank came up short.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, to be honest,” she said. “We consider the cut to SNAP as an emergency.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“That was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, to be honest,” she said. “We consider the cut to SNAP as an emergency.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Costs are climbing on Urban Tilth’s side, too. Fuel surcharges have appeared on top of delivery fees from partner farms, and produce prices have risen. Urban Tilth raised its standard weekly share from $35 to $50 this year. A subsidized share runs $15 for the same bag and the same delivery, Fields said, and a third tier is free for residents who are unemployed, undocumented, unhoused, elderly or disabled.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Costs are climbing on Urban Tilth’s side, too. Fuel surcharges have appeared on top of delivery fees from partner farms, and produce prices have risen. Urban Tilth raised its standard weekly share from $35 to $50 this year. A subsidized share runs $15 for the same bag and the same delivery, Fields said, and a third tier is free for residents who are unemployed, undocumented, unhoused, elderly or disabled.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Folks who really, really need that type of service and wouldn’t otherwise have access to that type or produce,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Folks who really, really need that type of service and wouldn’t otherwise have access to that type or produce,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The model Urban Tilth uses — buying from small local growers at full price to feed people who can’t pay — is the same one the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program ran until the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088977/a-lifeline-for-californias-small-farms-just-expired-what-comes-next\">Trump administration ended it\u003c/a>. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget in June that includes $15 million to keep the state’s version alive for one more year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The model Urban Tilth uses — buying from small local growers at full price to feed people who can’t pay — is the same one the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program ran until the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088977/a-lifeline-for-californias-small-farms-just-expired-what-comes-next\">Trump administration ended it\u003c/a>. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget in June that includes $15 million to keep the state’s version alive for one more year.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Food as medicine, and as a job",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food as medicine, and as a job\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food as medicine, and as a job\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/veggierx\">VeggieRx\u003c/a> program, Urban Tilth delivers free produce to two groups of residents. For patients on Medi-Cal at LifeLong Medical Care, a doctor can decide the produce is part of their care, generally for people managing a chronic illness or recently out of the hospital, and the farm fills it through the same weekly share. A second, state-funded version covers anyone living in Richmond’s Iron Triangle, Santa Fe or Coronado neighborhoods. It runs through July 2027 and is already full, with a waitlist.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/veggierx\">VeggieRx\u003c/a> program, Urban Tilth delivers free produce to two groups of residents. For patients on Medi-Cal at LifeLong Medical Care, a doctor can decide the produce is part of their care, generally for people managing a chronic illness or recently out of the hospital, and the farm fills it through the same weekly share. A second, state-funded version covers anyone living in Richmond’s Iron Triangle, Santa Fe or Coronado neighborhoods. It runs through July 2027 and is already full, with a waitlist.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fields said people rarely mention a diagnosis when they first come by the stand. There’s shame and stigma around nutrition-related disease, she said, especially in Black and other communities with people of color. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Fields said people rarely mention a diagnosis when they first come by the stand. There’s shame and stigma around nutrition-related disease, she said, especially in Black and other communities with people of color. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the stands set up in the same spots week after week, year after year, and eventually people volunteer the information themselves: an A1C reading that dropped, a mother who came off her blood-pressure medication.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But the stands set up in the same spots week after week, year after year, and eventually people volunteer the information themselves: an A1C reading that dropped, a mother who came off her blood-pressure medication.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-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\">Matthew Mackie fillls CSA boxes with produce at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Mackie works with Urban Tilth through nonprofit Vistability, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097658\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Matthew Mackie fillls CSA boxes with produce at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Mackie works with Urban Tilth through nonprofit Vistability, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We offer a high level of dignity with our food distribution,” Fields said. “We are there to really engage with people and get to know them on a personal level. We don’t want it to be a transactional relationship.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We offer a high level of dignity with our food distribution,” Fields said. “We are there to really engage with people and get to know them on a personal level. We don’t want it to be a transactional relationship.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Staff record what city someone lives in, and more than 90% come from Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo. They don’t ask about income, need or disability. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Staff record what city someone lives in, and more than 90% come from Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo. They don’t ask about income, need or disability. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The volunteers are usually borrowed. Local businesses, nonprofits and school groups schedule time to help pack, Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The volunteers are usually borrowed. Local businesses, nonprofits and school groups schedule time to help pack, Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The staff, roughly 85% local, have largely come through the same pipeline: garden lessons at Verde Elementary, the urban agriculture course Boisvert teaches at Richmond High, a summer apprenticeship, a job.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The staff, roughly 85% local, have largely come through the same pipeline: garden lessons at Verde Elementary, the urban agriculture course Boisvert teaches at Richmond High, a summer apprenticeship, a job.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097666\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-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\">North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval stands for a portrait at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097666\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval stands for a portrait at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cathy Sandoval came up through Urban Tilth’s Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program four years ago, driving CSA deliveries, and now works in the greenhouses. She said the neighborhood changed how she understood the work. Growing food in a place with little access to organic produce, she said, is “basically political because you are going against what people here in the community are lacking, not having organic food and produce.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Cathy Sandoval came up through Urban Tilth’s Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program four years ago, driving CSA deliveries, and now works in the greenhouses. She said the neighborhood changed how she understood the work. Growing food in a place with little access to organic produce, she said, is “basically political because you are going against what people here in the community are lacking, not having organic food and produce.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Anytime that I come here to the farm on a bad day, it always ends on a good day, always,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Anytime that I come here to the farm on a bad day, it always ends on a good day, always,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On bad days, she amends a bed, breaking up the rocky soil and aerating it — challenging, physical labor. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On bad days, she amends a bed, breaking up the rocky soil and aerating it — challenging, physical labor. \u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You’re giving it life through anger and emotion, sadness, happiness, whatever it is,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“You’re giving it life through anger and emotion, sadness, happiness, whatever it is,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sandoval’s grandfather and father farmed in Mexico, and growing food, in a way, helps her connect to her heritage and family. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than 20 Japanese American families grew flowers \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">across Richmond and El Cerrito\u003c/a> for decades, according to the Richmond Museum of History & Culture. In 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans. Most of the local flower families were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, where they were incarcerated for four years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When the Nabeta family returned, and their business began to bounce back, their land was \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">seized\u003c/a> by the state in 1947 to build Interstate 80.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They then rebuilt in North Richmond — a Black neighborhood that was brimming with blues clubs and quickly becoming a nightlife hot spot in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Eventually most of the nurseries closed. In 2022, the Nabeta family decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-06/questions-of-justice-flare-in-bay-area-warehouse-dispute\">sell their land\u003c/a> to a developer. Urban Tilth, whose farm sat against the property line, learned the plan was a five-story warehouse, said Chito Floriano, the farm programs director.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It [would have been] shaded out by about five to six hours of sunlight,” Floriano said. What followed was what the farm called the “No Shade Campaign”: letters to the developer, letters to the family, a street mural on Brookside Drive.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>About three months in, Floriano said, members of the Nabeta family walked over. They would rather sell to Urban Tilth if the price could be met, they said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Executive Director Doria Robinson \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-02/urban-farm-japanese-flower-nursery-warehouse-distribution-center-bay-area\">raised\u003c/a> more than $4.5 million to purchase it. The farm grew from 3 acres to 10.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth is part of a long lineage of people who have worked the land — the Ohlone, the Black cowboys who once kept horses here and the Japanese American nursery families.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We aren’t the original light bearers of this movement,” he said. “Urban Tilth is gonna be a moment in history now.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In late 2024, Contra Costa County won a federal grant that would have paid for a new resilience center on the farm. The farm planned a solar-powered building where neighbors could wait out a heat wave, a refinery accident or a stretch of dangerous wildfire smoke, stocked with cots, first-aid supplies and portable showers, with a battery system able to run the air-filtration and refrigeration systems for up to three days off the grid. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In late 2024, Contra Costa County won a federal grant that would have paid for a new resilience center on the farm. The farm planned a solar-powered building where neighbors could wait out a heat wave, a refinery accident or a stretch of dangerous wildfire smoke, stocked with cots, first-aid supplies and portable showers, with a battery system able to run the air-filtration and refrigeration systems for up to three days off the grid. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Floriano estimated construction would cost $6 million. It was one of \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/epa-community-change-grant-status/\">nine\u003c/a> projects across North Richmond covered by a $19 million grant to Contra Costa County from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Floriano estimated construction would cost $6 million. It was one of \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/epa-community-change-grant-status/\">nine\u003c/a> projects across North Richmond covered by a $19 million grant to Contra Costa County from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-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\">CSA (community-supported agriculture) coordinator Marco Huerta fills bags with fruit at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weeks after the county secured the contract, the federal government pulled the plug. In February 2025, the nonprofit lost contact with the EPA’s grant administrator and later learned the staffer had been fired. The county did not receive formal notice that the EPA had terminated the grant until May of that year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weeks after the county secured the contract, the federal government pulled the plug. In February 2025, the nonprofit lost contact with the EPA’s grant administrator and later learned the staffer had been fired. The county did not receive formal notice that the EPA had terminated the grant until May of that year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We took it off the books as soon as we got wind that it wasn’t coming through,” Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Five \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d8774ef4-9c01-4ae5-b06b-88b18f55d0c9\">new buildings\u003c/a> now stand on the farm, paid for without federal money: a greenhouse, a native plant nursery, a watershed learning center, a toolshed and what Urban Tilth says is the first permitted public composting toilet in an urban area of Contra Costa County. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth says it has raised more than $9.3 million of the roughly $14.3 million this phase will cost. It needs $5 million more to finish.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Among the \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/the-north-richmond-farm-project/\">remaining\u003c/a> line items is $250,000 for a \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:363291a1-c927-4b85-884e-508bd4f5bebe\">history walk\u003c/a>, a path running the length of the farm that tells the story of the neighborhood: the Ohlone, the blues clubs, the Black Panthers and the Japanese American nursery families, including the Nabetas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth receives almost no federal funds now, and is instead carried by state contracts, city creek restoration work, foundations and individual donors.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth recently finished two outdoor classrooms, one in the crop rows and one in the orchard, and Boisvert said the spaces get more use as more kids cycle through. His two urban agriculture classes at Richmond High started back up with 80 students, and the farm still runs after-school sessions, senior gardening and a volunteer day every fourth Saturday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“By whatever means necessary, we’re going to see this thing through,” Boisvert said. “Piece by piece, one day at a time, one grant at a time, getting buildings finished, getting projects done.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "As new federal rules push hundreds of thousands of Californians off food assistance, an East Bay nonprofit is growing produce from 10 acres wedged between a landfill, a concrete recycler and the Chevron refinery.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>On a sunny Tuesday in August, a group of volunteers rinsed the soil off of freshly harvested greens on an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/urban-agriculture\">urban farm\u003c/a> in North \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a>, beside beehives and greenhouses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the week’s end, the vegetables will be packed and delivered to doorsteps across Richmond and San Pablo, or will stock the tables of free farm stands in five neighborhoods. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as an East Bay nonprofit and community garden in 2005 has grown into a food access program serving hundreds. For some, the North Richmond farm is one of the few places they can reliably get fresh produce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A neighborhood with no grocery store\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>North Richmond has no full-service grocery store and limited infrastructure, said Chinue Fields, who directs food access programs for Urban Tilth, the Richmond nonprofit that runs the farm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting to a grocery store means a car or a bus, Fields said, and the neighborhood doesn’t have many sidewalks. Corner stores and liquor stores dot residential streets. The farm is within sight of a landfill and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001777/residents-near-chevrons-richmond-refinery-face-higher-risk-of-cancer-air-district-says\">Chevron refinery\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The access is gone. The infrastructure is gone,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 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=\"12097662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta places bags of produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/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=\"12097660\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Purple carrots in a CSA box at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The weekly \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/\">produce\u003c/a> share, a community-supported agriculture subscription, reaches more than 400 households across West Contra Costa County. Half of recipients pay nothing. Since need is greater than what the 10-acre farm can grow, the organization buys from about a dozen small farms, prioritizing growers within 200 miles. The free farm stands open four days a week at five sites until the produce runs out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth said turnout at its free farm stands rose roughly 150% in the first quarter of this year, during the coldest and thinnest stretch of the growing calendar, when demand normally sags. Fields said that timing indicated food needs in the area were rising. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal at each stand is a bag per household, enough for one meal. During those busy weeks, Fields said, when supply is stretched thin, the bags include three to four items. Now, with new federal rules pushing Californians off food assistance, staff say more residents are turning to the farm for sustenance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>HR 1, the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, put more than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">650,000 Californians\u003c/a> at risk of losing CalFresh — the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfhsa.org/services/jobs/keep-benefits\">changes\u003c/a> took effect on paper in June, but they land household by household as annual recertification deadlines come due. The changes also rolled back exemptions that protected veterans, former foster youth and people experiencing homelessness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>County and food bank officials expect the effects to become visible around October and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078490/hundreds-of-thousands-could-be-booted-from-calfresh-and-medi-cal-this-bill-aims-to-help\">continue into next year\u003c/a>. The farm bill, the sprawling federal law that sets both agriculture policy and the rules for SNAP, \u003ca href=\"https://www.naco.org/news/senate-agriculture-committee-holds-farm-bill-markup-remains-committee\">expires Sept. 30\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘It’s survival mode out here’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091819/california-food-banks-brace-for-slow-moving-avalanche-of-snap-cuts\">1 in 4\u003c/a> California adults experienced food insecurity. As many as 104,900 Contra Costa County residents rely on CalFresh as of June, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/data-portal/research-and-data/calfresh-data-dashboard\">state data\u003c/a>. In District 1, which includes Richmond, a county \u003ca href=\"https://contra-costa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14903929&GUID=9C3B6018-6D20-4170-97F3-739C6E6AE6C4\">presentation\u003c/a> counted 28,035 individuals and 17,399 households — over a quarter of the county’s caseload — as having received CalFresh in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth’s free weekly delivery has a long waitlist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Cost of life has gone up. It’s survival mode out here,” said Adam Boisvert, Urban Tilth’s deputy director and director of education programs. “Sometimes we don’t have enough food to give to everybody, and that’s heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA coordinator Marco Huerta, left, and procurement specialist Josue Mejia, right, place produce into a walk-in cooler at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The strain has also started moving up the supply chain. Fields said churches that normally draw their distributions from the regional food bank began calling Urban Tilth directly after the food bank came up short.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, to be honest,” she said. “We consider the cut to SNAP as an emergency.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Costs are climbing on Urban Tilth’s side, too. Fuel surcharges have appeared on top of delivery fees from partner farms, and produce prices have risen. Urban Tilth raised its standard weekly share from $35 to $50 this year. A subsidized share runs $15 for the same bag and the same delivery, Fields said, and a third tier is free for residents who are unemployed, undocumented, unhoused, elderly or disabled.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Folks who really, really need that type of service and wouldn’t otherwise have access to that type or produce,” Fields said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The model Urban Tilth uses — buying from small local growers at full price to feed people who can’t pay — is the same one the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program ran until the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088977/a-lifeline-for-californias-small-farms-just-expired-what-comes-next\">Trump administration ended it\u003c/a>. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget in June that includes $15 million to keep the state’s version alive for one more year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food as medicine, and as a job\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Through its \u003ca href=\"https://www.urbantilthcsa.org/veggierx\">VeggieRx\u003c/a> program, Urban Tilth delivers free produce to two groups of residents. For patients on Medi-Cal at LifeLong Medical Care, a doctor can decide the produce is part of their care, generally for people managing a chronic illness or recently out of the hospital, and the farm fills it through the same weekly share. A second, state-funded version covers anyone living in Richmond’s Iron Triangle, Santa Fe or Coronado neighborhoods. It runs through July 2027 and is already full, with a waitlist.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fields said people rarely mention a diagnosis when they first come by the stand. There’s shame and stigma around nutrition-related disease, she said, especially in Black and other communities with people of color. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the stands set up in the same spots week after week, year after year, and eventually people volunteer the information themselves: an A1C reading that dropped, a mother who came off her blood-pressure medication.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Matthew Mackie fillls CSA boxes with produce at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Mackie works with Urban Tilth through nonprofit Vistability, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“We offer a high level of dignity with our food distribution,” Fields said. “We are there to really engage with people and get to know them on a personal level. We don’t want it to be a transactional relationship.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Staff record what city someone lives in, and more than 90% come from Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo. They don’t ask about income, need or disability. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The volunteers are usually borrowed. Local businesses, nonprofits and school groups schedule time to help pack, Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The staff, roughly 85% local, have largely come through the same pipeline: garden lessons at Verde Elementary, the urban agriculture course Boisvert teaches at Richmond High, a summer apprenticeship, a job.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097666\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval stands for a portrait at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Cathy Sandoval came up through Urban Tilth’s Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program four years ago, driving CSA deliveries, and now works in the greenhouses. She said the neighborhood changed how she understood the work. Growing food in a place with little access to organic produce, she said, is “basically political because you are going against what people here in the community are lacking, not having organic food and produce.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Anytime that I come here to the farm on a bad day, it always ends on a good day, always,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On bad days, she amends a bed, breaking up the rocky soil and aerating it — challenging, physical labor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re giving it life through anger and emotion, sadness, happiness, whatever it is,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sandoval’s grandfather and father farmed in Mexico, and growing food, in a way, helps her connect to her heritage and family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We tend to forget about our history and our culture,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Uniting neighbors over shared land\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than 20 Japanese American families grew flowers \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">across Richmond and El Cerrito\u003c/a> for decades, according to the Richmond Museum of History & Culture. In 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans. Most of the local flower families were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, where they were incarcerated for four years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the Nabeta family returned, and their business began to bounce back, their land was \u003ca href=\"https://richmondmuseum.org/flower-families-in-richmond/\">seized\u003c/a> by the state in 1947 to build Interstate 80.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"917\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21-160x73.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-21-1536x704.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: North Richmond farm co-manager Cathy Sandoval places weeds into a bucket at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. Right: Rows of crops at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>They then rebuilt in North Richmond — a Black neighborhood that was brimming with blues clubs and quickly becoming a nightlife hot spot in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Redlining and restrictive covenants had made it one of the few places in the area where Black families could live, according to Urban Tilth’s \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:363291a1-c927-4b85-884e-508bd4f5bebe\">history\u003c/a> of the neighborhood, and people who came from the South to work in the shipyards built homes there with their wages.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The area was also contending with violent crime, and becoming a backdrop to some of the era’s radical politics: In 1967, one of the first pushes of the rising Black Panther Party involved investigating the killing of a North Richmond man by Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eventually most of the nurseries closed. In 2022, the Nabeta family decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-06/questions-of-justice-flare-in-bay-area-warehouse-dispute\">sell their land\u003c/a> to a developer. Urban Tilth, whose farm sat against the property line, learned the plan was a five-story warehouse, said Chito Floriano, the farm programs director.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It [would have been] shaded out by about five to six hours of sunlight,” Floriano said. What followed was what the farm called the “No Shade Campaign”: letters to the developer, letters to the family, a street mural on Brookside Drive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>About three months in, Floriano said, members of the Nabeta family walked over. They would rather sell to Urban Tilth if the price could be met, they said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Executive Director Doria Robinson \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-02/urban-farm-japanese-flower-nursery-warehouse-distribution-center-bay-area\">raised\u003c/a> more than $4.5 million to purchase it. The farm grew from 3 acres to 10.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth is part of a long lineage of people who have worked the land — the Ohlone, the Black cowboys who once kept horses here and the Japanese American nursery families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We aren’t the original light bearers of this movement,” he said. “Urban Tilth is gonna be a moment in history now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘By whatever means necessary’ \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In late 2024, Contra Costa County won a federal grant that would have paid for a new resilience center on the farm. The farm planned a solar-powered building where neighbors could wait out a heat wave, a refinery accident or a stretch of dangerous wildfire smoke, stocked with cots, first-aid supplies and portable showers, with a battery system able to run the air-filtration and refrigeration systems for up to three days off the grid. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano estimated construction would cost $6 million. It was one of \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/epa-community-change-grant-status/\">nine\u003c/a> projects across North Richmond covered by a $19 million grant to Contra Costa County from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097659\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-UrbanTilth-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CSA (community-supported agriculture) coordinator Marco Huerta fills bags with fruit at Urban Tilth Farm in Richmond on Aug. 11, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Weeks after the county secured the contract, the federal government pulled the plug. In February 2025, the nonprofit lost contact with the EPA’s grant administrator and later learned the staffer had been fired. The county did not receive formal notice that the EPA had terminated the grant until May of that year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We took it off the books as soon as we got wind that it wasn’t coming through,” Boisvert said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Five \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d8774ef4-9c01-4ae5-b06b-88b18f55d0c9\">new buildings\u003c/a> now stand on the farm, paid for without federal money: a greenhouse, a native plant nursery, a watershed learning center, a toolshed and what Urban Tilth says is the first permitted public composting toilet in an urban area of Contra Costa County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth says it has raised more than $9.3 million of the roughly $14.3 million this phase will cost. It needs $5 million more to finish.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Among the \u003ca href=\"https://urbantilth.org/the-north-richmond-farm-project/\">remaining\u003c/a> line items is $250,000 for a \u003ca href=\"https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:363291a1-c927-4b85-884e-508bd4f5bebe\">history walk\u003c/a>, a path running the length of the farm that tells the story of the neighborhood: the Ohlone, the blues clubs, the Black Panthers and the Japanese American nursery families, including the Nabetas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Floriano said Urban Tilth receives almost no federal funds now, and is instead carried by state contracts, city creek restoration work, foundations and individual donors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Urban Tilth recently finished two outdoor classrooms, one in the crop rows and one in the orchard, and Boisvert said the spaces get more use as more kids cycle through. His two urban agriculture classes at Richmond High started back up with 80 students, and the farm still runs after-school sessions, senior gardening and a volunteer day every fourth Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“By whatever means necessary, we’re going to see this thing through,” Boisvert said. “Piece by piece, one day at a time, one grant at a time, getting buildings finished, getting projects done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>A Richmond woman accused of shooting and wounding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098390/richmond-police-officer-shot-during-mental-health-crisis-call\">a police officer\u003c/a> during a mental health crisis call last week was charged Wednesday with the attempted murder of eight officers, among a slew of other felony charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, faces 19 total felonies, including possessing an assault weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle after she fired multiple rounds of gunfire at law enforcement officials during an altercation near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Robinson made her initial court appearance on Thursday, where her arraignment was delayed for two weeks. She remains in custody at the West County Re-Entry, Treatment, and Housing facility on a $10.4 million bond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just before 7 p.m. on Sept. 3, Contra Costa County’s A3 crisis response team responded to Robinson’s home on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard to check on her mental health. Richmond Police accompanied the behavioral health team as backup support, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Police Chief Timothy Simmons, Robinson struck and injured Officer Justin Church “almost immediately” after arriving at the residence, and continued to fire “numerous rounds,” including at other law enforcement officers, after barricading herself in her home. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Church, a 20-year veteran of the department, was released from the hospital on Friday after being treated for nonfatal injuries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunfire also struck multiple neighboring residences and vehicles, including a patrol car that was shot at six times while an officer was inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Richmond Police Department’s SWAT team and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to assist and were able to arrest Robinson after officers deployed “chemical agents,” and she made a brief attempt to flee.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The shooting was the second involving \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Contra Costa County law enforcemen\u003c/a>t within a few hours last Thursday. On Wednesday, Pittsburg Police officers packed the Contra Costa County superior courthouse for the arraignment of Michael Sanchez Gardner Martin, who’s charged with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098702/pittsburg-police-made-serious-failure-by-allowing-suspect-to-sneak-gun-into-station\">sneaking a firearm\u003c/a> into the city’s police station and attacking and shooting an officer while he was being booked on an unrelated charge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mbernal\">\u003cem>Maria Fenanda Bernal\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, faces 19 total felonies, including possessing an assault weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle after she fired multiple rounds of gunfire at law enforcement officials during an altercation near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Robinson made her initial court appearance on Thursday, where her arraignment was delayed for two weeks. She remains in custody at the West County Re-Entry, Treatment, and Housing facility on a $10.4 million bond.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Just before 7 p.m. on Sept. 3, Contra Costa County’s A3 crisis response team responded to Robinson’s home on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard to check on her mental health. Richmond Police accompanied the behavioral health team as backup support, police said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to Police Chief Timothy Simmons, Robinson struck and injured Officer Justin Church “almost immediately” after arriving at the residence, and continued to fire “numerous rounds,” including at other law enforcement officers, after barricading herself in her home. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gunfire also struck multiple neighboring residences and vehicles, including a patrol car that was shot at six times while an officer was inside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The shooting was the second involving \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Contra Costa County law enforcemen\u003c/a>t within a few hours last Thursday. On Wednesday, Pittsburg Police officers packed the Contra Costa County superior courthouse for the arraignment of Michael Sanchez Gardner Martin, who’s charged with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098702/pittsburg-police-made-serious-failure-by-allowing-suspect-to-sneak-gun-into-station\">sneaking a firearm\u003c/a> into the city’s police station and attacking and shooting an officer while he was being booked on an unrelated charge.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mbernal\">\u003cem>Maria Fenanda Bernal\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>A Richmond woman accused of shooting and wounding \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098390/richmond-police-officer-shot-during-mental-health-crisis-call\">a police officer\u003c/a> during a mental health crisis call last week was charged Wednesday with the attempted murder of eight officers, among a slew of other felony charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, faces 19 total felonies, including possessing an assault weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle after she fired multiple rounds of gunfire at law enforcement officials during an altercation near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Robinson made her initial court appearance on Thursday, where her arraignment was delayed for two weeks. She remains in custody at the West County Re-Entry, Treatment, and Housing facility on a $10.4 million bond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just before 7 p.m. on Sept. 3, Contra Costa County’s A3 crisis response team responded to Robinson’s home on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard to check on her mental health. Richmond Police accompanied the behavioral health team as backup support, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Police Chief Timothy Simmons, Robinson struck and injured Officer Justin Church “almost immediately” after arriving at the residence, and continued to fire “numerous rounds,” including at other law enforcement officers, after barricading herself in her home. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Church, a 20-year veteran of the department, was released from the hospital on Friday after being treated for nonfatal injuries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunfire also struck multiple neighboring residences and vehicles, including a patrol car that was shot at six times while an officer was inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Richmond Police Department’s SWAT team and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to assist and were able to arrest Robinson after officers deployed “chemical agents,” and she made a brief attempt to flee.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The shooting was the second involving \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Contra Costa County law enforcemen\u003c/a>t within a few hours last Thursday. On Wednesday, Pittsburg Police officers packed the Contra Costa County superior courthouse for the arraignment of Michael Sanchez Gardner Martin, who’s charged with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098702/pittsburg-police-made-serious-failure-by-allowing-suspect-to-sneak-gun-into-station\">sneaking a firearm\u003c/a> into the city’s police station and attacking and shooting an officer while he was being booked on an unrelated charge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mbernal\">\u003cem>Maria Fenanda Bernal\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Richmond Police Identify Woman Who Shot Officer During Mental Health Crisis Call",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Police have identified the woman they say shot a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond-police-department\">Richmond police officer\u003c/a> during a mental health incident Thursday evening. The nonfatal shooting was the second involving a law enforcement officer in Contra Costa County within hours last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault with an assault weapon and kidnapping in connection with the shooting Thursday. She is currently in custody at a reentry treatment and housing facility on a $500,000 bail, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond police officer Justin Church, a 20-year veteran of the department, was released from the hospital Friday after being treated for his wounds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are grateful that our officer has been released from the hospital and, most importantly, did not suffer life-threatening injuries,” Richmond police said in a statement. “We are thankful for the care he received and continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Police Officer Justin Church was released from the hospital Friday after he was shot while responding to a mental health call last week. (Courtesy of the Richmond Police Department via Facebook)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials said the county’s behavioral health response team requested the officer as backup after receiving a mental health crisis call around 6:40 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police Chief Timothy Simmons said the officer was shot “almost immediately” after arriving at the scene on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard, near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito, where the shooter had barricaded herself inside her home. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Church was transported to a local hospital, Simmons said the suspect continued to fire “numerous rounds” of gunfire in multiple locations throughout the residence, striking multiple neighboring homes and vehicles, including a patrol car. Richmond Police Officers Association President Ben Therriault said the police vehicle was shot at six times while an officer was inside. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No residents or other law enforcement personnel were injured, according to police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Simmons said the Richmond Police Department SWAT team and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to assist, along with other law enforcement agencies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond Police’s crisis negotiations team contacted the suspect in an attempt to “bring the incident to a peaceful resolve,” Simmons said, before police ultimately deployed “chemical agents” in an attempt to get her to comply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Before the woman was taken into custody, Therriault said she briefly tried to “sprint and run away.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m extremely grateful that our officer is expected to survive and that no resident, no community member or no assisting personnel were injured in this unfortunate incident,” he said Thursday. “Given the number of rounds fired, this incident could have ended with many additional injuries or several losses of life.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Richmond police were likely still investigating, as the department had not yet referred Robinson’s case. The department said in a statement Friday that it anticipated filing additional charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Pittsburg officer and suspect\u003c/a> being booked into jail were shot in an altercation at the city’s police headquarters. Both were hospitalized and are in stable condition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aemslie\">\u003cem>Alex Emslie\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Police have identified the woman they say shot a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond-police-department\">Richmond police officer\u003c/a> during a mental health incident Thursday evening. The nonfatal shooting was the second involving a law enforcement officer in Contra Costa County within hours last week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault with an assault weapon and kidnapping in connection with the shooting Thursday. She is currently in custody at a reentry treatment and housing facility on a $500,000 bail, police said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are grateful that our officer has been released from the hospital and, most importantly, did not suffer life-threatening injuries,” Richmond police said in a statement. “We are thankful for the care he received and continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery.”\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/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Police Officer Justin Church was released from the hospital Friday after he was shot while responding to a mental health call last week.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of the Richmond Police Department via Facebook)\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/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098662\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Police Officer Justin Church was released from the hospital Friday after he was shot while responding to a mental health call last week.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of the Richmond Police Department via Facebook)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Officials said the county’s behavioral health response team requested the officer as backup after receiving a mental health crisis call around 6:40 p.m.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Police Chief Timothy Simmons said the officer was shot “almost immediately” after arriving at the scene on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard, near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito, where the shooter had barricaded herself inside her home. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Police Chief Timothy Simmons said the officer was shot “almost immediately” after arriving at the scene on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard, near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito, where the shooter had barricaded herself inside her home. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After Church was transported to a local hospital, Simmons said the suspect continued to fire “numerous rounds” of gunfire in multiple locations throughout the residence, striking multiple neighboring homes and vehicles, including a patrol car. Richmond Police Officers Association President Ben Therriault said the police vehicle was shot at six times while an officer was inside. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>After Church was transported to a local hospital, Simmons said the suspect continued to fire “numerous rounds” of gunfire in multiple locations throughout the residence, striking multiple neighboring homes and vehicles, including a patrol car. Richmond Police Officers Association President Ben Therriault said the police vehicle was shot at six times while an officer was inside. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No residents or other law enforcement personnel were injured, according to police. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Simmons said the Richmond Police Department SWAT team and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to assist, along with other law enforcement agencies. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Richmond Police’s crisis negotiations team contacted the suspect in an attempt to “bring the incident to a peaceful resolve,” Simmons said, before police ultimately deployed “chemical agents” in an attempt to get her to comply. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Richmond Police’s crisis negotiations team contacted the suspect in an attempt to “bring the incident to a peaceful resolve,” Simmons said, before police ultimately deployed “chemical agents” in an attempt to get her to comply. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Before the woman was taken into custody, Therriault said she briefly tried to “sprint and run away.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m extremely grateful that our officer is expected to survive and that no resident, no community member or no assisting personnel were injured in this unfortunate incident,” he said Thursday. “Given the number of rounds fired, this incident could have ended with many additional injuries or several losses of life.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I’m extremely grateful that our officer is expected to survive and that no resident, no community member or no assisting personnel were injured in this unfortunate incident,” he said Thursday. “Given the number of rounds fired, this incident could have ended with many additional injuries or several losses of life.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Richmond police were likely still investigating, as the department had not yet referred Robinson’s case. The department said in a statement Friday that it anticipated filing additional charges. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Richmond police were likely still investigating, as the department had not yet referred Robinson’s case. The department said in a statement Friday that it anticipated filing additional charges. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Pittsburg officer and suspect\u003c/a> being booked into jail were shot in an altercation at the city’s police headquarters. Both were hospitalized and are in stable condition. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aemslie\">\u003cem>Alex Emslie\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Richmond police officer Justin Church, a 20-year veteran of the police department, was released from the hospital Friday. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Police have identified the woman they say shot a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond-police-department\">Richmond police officer\u003c/a> during a mental health incident Thursday evening. The nonfatal shooting was the second involving a law enforcement officer in Contra Costa County within hours last week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jasmine Robinson, 39, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault with an assault weapon and kidnapping in connection with the shooting Thursday. She is currently in custody at a reentry treatment and housing facility on a $500,000 bail, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond police officer Justin Church, a 20-year veteran of the department, was released from the hospital Friday after being treated for his wounds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are grateful that our officer has been released from the hospital and, most importantly, did not suffer life-threatening injuries,” Richmond police said in a statement. “We are thankful for the care he received and continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12098662\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/Richmond-Police-01-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Police Officer Justin Church was released from the hospital Friday after he was shot while responding to a mental health call last week. (Courtesy of the Richmond Police Department via Facebook)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials said the county’s behavioral health response team requested the officer as backup after receiving a mental health crisis call around 6:40 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police Chief Timothy Simmons said the officer was shot “almost immediately” after arriving at the scene on the 2200 block of Key Boulevard, near the border of Richmond and El Cerrito, where the shooter had barricaded herself inside her home. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After Church was transported to a local hospital, Simmons said the suspect continued to fire “numerous rounds” of gunfire in multiple locations throughout the residence, striking multiple neighboring homes and vehicles, including a patrol car. Richmond Police Officers Association President Ben Therriault said the police vehicle was shot at six times while an officer was inside. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No residents or other law enforcement personnel were injured, according to police. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Simmons said the Richmond Police Department SWAT team and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to assist, along with other law enforcement agencies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Richmond Police’s crisis negotiations team contacted the suspect in an attempt to “bring the incident to a peaceful resolve,” Simmons said, before police ultimately deployed “chemical agents” in an attempt to get her to comply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Before the woman was taken into custody, Therriault said she briefly tried to “sprint and run away.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m extremely grateful that our officer is expected to survive and that no resident, no community member or no assisting personnel were injured in this unfortunate incident,” he said Thursday. “Given the number of rounds fired, this incident could have ended with many additional injuries or several losses of life.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Richmond police were likely still investigating, as the department had not yet referred Robinson’s case. The department said in a statement Friday that it anticipated filing additional charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Earlier on Thursday afternoon, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12098395/pittsburg-officer-man-shot-after-altercation-inside-police-headquarters\">Pittsburg officer and suspect\u003c/a> being booked into jail were shot in an altercation at the city’s police headquarters. Both were hospitalized and are in stable condition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/aemslie\">\u003cem>Alex Emslie\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-trip-to-the-remote-island-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-san-francisco-bay",
"title": "A Trip to the Remote Island Lighthouse in the Middle of San Francisco Bay",
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"headTitle": "A Trip to the Remote Island Lighthouse in the Middle of San Francisco Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few years ago, a friend sent me the link for a job listing that seemed like an absolute dream. The opening was for a resident innkeeper at a bed and breakfast on an island in the middle of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a>. Even better, the B&B was housed in a 152-year-old working Victorian lighthouse! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From my cramped desk, I fantasized about a simpler life, spent outside in one of the most gorgeous settings I could imagine. And living rent-free while earning a salary! But reality came crashing down when I read the job required a boat operator’s license and high-quality culinary experience — both of which I lacked. Alas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the fantasy of East Brother Light Station stayed with me. So I was delighted when a Bay Curious listener named Kathleen Taylor wrote in, looking to learn more about the place. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066562\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“We were taking the ferry from Vallejo to a Giants game and passed by what looked like a small island with an East Coast-style lighthouse on it,” she recalled. It captured her imagination, too, and she got to wondering: “What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of what went on on that island?”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>So we headed to the island together to get some answers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#history-east-brother\">History of East Brother Light Station \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#early-lightkeepers\">What life was like for early lighthouse keepers\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#bed-and-breakfast\">How it was converted to a bed and breakfast\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#visiting-today\">Visiting East Brother Light Station today\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"history-east-brother\">History of East Brother Light Station\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. To get there, boats had to skirt around Point San Pablo, the thumb sticking out from Richmond, California. This part of the bay can be especially tough for mariners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The topography under the water is pretty interesting,” said Rae Colvin, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. “There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the [water] off to the side averages about 15 feet deep.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog, and it’s pretty precarious. So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and fog horn were needed. Initially, the Lighthouse Board hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but landowners fought back. They delayed things so profoundly that eventually an alternative site was chosen — East Brother Island. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066561\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Inn keeper Danielle La Vigne pilots a boat from Point San Pablo Harbor to East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>It was small, less than an acre in size, but it was land the U.S. government already owned. Construction began in 1873.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The exterior of the light station features gingerbread trim, scrollwork and a generous second-floor porch. Not the standard-issue government building we’ve come to expect today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The six-room Victorian light station was intended to house three lightkeepers, and two of them could have families. Downstairs was a bedroom and parlor for the principal keeper. Upstairs was a smaller bedroom and parlor for the assistant keeper. There was also a third bedroom for the most junior keeper. Things were cozy, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stacked on top of the living quarters was also the tower that housed the light. When the light station began operating on March 1, 1874, the light’s flame was powered by lard oil and featured a fourth-order \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens\">Fresnel lens\u003c/a>. The lens rotated on a clockwork mechanism. On a clear night, this beam, which appeared to flash every 30 seconds because of the design of the lens, could be seen from about 15 miles away. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"early-lightkeepers\">What life was like for early lightkeepers\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring,” Frank Perry wrote in his book, \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/East-Brother-History-Island-Station/dp/0578211750\">\u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. Much of what we know about life on the island comes from Perry’s book, which was compiled using primary sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 1874, the primary keeper earned $800 a year — the equivalent to about a $24,000 salary today. The assistants earned even less. Their primary responsibility was keeping the light running from sunset to sunrise every night and keeping the fog signal sounding during inclement weather.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Lightkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and slowly bring the flame up to the optimal size of about 1 and 13/16 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to the needs of the light.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066570\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Historic photos hang on the wall at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. One lighthouse keeper, John Stenmark, brought his wife and children to live on the island. They had many friends in the community and would host large gatherings on the island. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour,” said Danielle La Vigne, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The innkeepers also had to wipe the glass panes of the lantern room with dry towels to keep moisture away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On foggy nights, the keepers’ jobs were doubly hard. They had to run the fog signal, too, which sits in another building on the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light,” wrote Perry. “In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell every 15 seconds until the whistle could be sounded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Beyond the core responsibilities, keepers kept up with a long list of chores: cooking, cleaning, maintenance and repairs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 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=\"12066564\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066564\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The 19th-century lighthouse complex includes a restored fog signal that once warned ships navigating San Pablo Bay. (Beth LaBerge/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=\"12066563\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066563\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they needed food to supplement the dry rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town. At the time, that was San Quentin, about 2 1/2 miles away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor,” said La Vigne. “They had to row.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A daily log was kept by the primary keeper, accounting for the day’s weather and work. Most entries are not more than a sentence, but they do give us a glimpse at the day-to-day life on East Brother. A string of entries in 1882 mention an assistant keeper named Mr. Page, who was a bit of a screw-up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 14, 1882 – Wind S.W., strong. Mr. Page left for San Quentin A.M., capsized off the buoy near the West Brother at 12:15 p.m. Capt. Windsor hailed the Steamer Reform passing up at the time and sent her to his relief. The Reform picked him up ¼ of a mile N.N.E. of the Light House and landed him and the boat at the dock at 1:15 p.m. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, etc., etc., lost, also milk and can.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>\u003cbr>Dec. 14, 1882 – Wind N.E. Foggy from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Feb. 8 1883 – Wind N.E. Light, clear. Mr. Page went for mail and stores, drunk, no mail.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Feb. 10, 1883, a new assistant, Mr. Tippett, is mentioned, and Mr. Page is never spoken of again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Stenmark era\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though some keepers were men living on their own, passing through East Brother for only a few years, families lived here, too. John Stenmark moved here in 1894 with his wife and 3-month-old daughter, Annie, and they stayed for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They set up a vegetable garden and raised pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prior to the birth of each of his two sons [Mr. Stenmark] rowed all the way to San Quentin and back to fetch the doctor,” wrote Perry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the kids grew older, the government paid for a teacher to live on the island for a time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On April 18, 1906, Stenmark wrote about one of the most infamous days in local history in the logbook.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A heavy earthquake this morning at 5:15 a.m. Lenses of the light broken and glassware broke, and everything of glass broke. \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Doors open of themselves and the whole island rocking. All the lenses broke.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the next two days, the Stenmarks watched from their quiet island as the fire that followed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068602/san-franciscos-historic-relief-cottages-built-after-the-1906-earthquake-are-hidden-in-plain-sight\">earthquake consumed San Francisco\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The end of lighthouse keepers\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station, most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The original used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene,” Colvin 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/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066565\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view from the inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big change came in 1934 when electricity arrived on the island via an underwater cable that connected it to shore. A lightkeeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night — greatly reducing their daily chore load. The steam-powered fog signal was replaced with a diaphonic horn that can still be operated today and is one of only eight like it in the world. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident personnel from the island in 1969. They planned to demolish all the buildings and put the light on a steel tower. But residents living in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse off their shoreline and were ready to fight for it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bed-and-breakfast\">How it was converted to a bed and breakfast\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One of the first things [local residents] did was write a National Register nomination for it, which was successful,” said Tom Butt, founder and president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond and a longtime city council member. “That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down because it invoked the Historic Preservation Act of 1966.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group then tried to find a local organization to take on rehabilitating the site, because by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on organizations like the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District, but no one was interested.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think everybody looked at it and [thought] it was just too much,” said Butt. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He went to the island in 1978. “Looking back now,” he said, “I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, ‘you know, we can do this.’”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Marin Room, which faces Mount Tamalpais, at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\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-6 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=\"12066567\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066567\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lighthouse shower curtain hangs in a bathroom at the inn on East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/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=\"12066571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066571\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A room at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat. The inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabilitating everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“All the buildings at that point were covered with asbestos shingles,” Butt said. “All of the ornamental railings had long since been taken off. We were lucky we had original plans from the National Archives, so we were able to replicate all that trim and put that back on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Volunteers did electrical work, plumbing, plastering and painting. It was a ton of work, but they managed to get it all done in about a year. The nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast in 1980 to provide a stream of revenue to keep up with the maintenance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though most of the operational costs and maintenance for the B&B are now covered by the nightly fee guests pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-east-brother-lighthouse-replace-the-pier?cp_src=d\">a major fundraising effort\u003c/a> is underway to replace the dock and gangway on the east side of the island. It must be replaced, or access to the island could be threatened. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visiting-today\">Visiting East Brother Light Station today\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit B&B is open four nights a week for overnight guests, and it’s recommended you \u003ca href=\"https://ebls.org/?_gl=1%2A1oq51ai%2A_ga%2AMjkzMDI3NzY5LjE3ODYxMzI2MjI.%2A_ga_J5B5MW125P%2AczE3ODc4NzI0MjUkbzckZzEkdDE3ODc4NzI0NDMkajQyJGwwJGgw\">book one of the five rooms well in advance\u003c/a>. Rates range from $525 to $575 per night. During summer months, there is once-monthly day-use access for $45, which includes the boat ride to and from the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the overnight stays, guests are taken by boat from Point San Pablo Marina by innkeepers Colvin and La Vigne. Once on the island, hors d’oeuvre and champagne are served, Colvin gives a history talk, and then comes a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We try to focus as much as we can on keeping things local,” La Vigne said. “We collaborate with the little goat farm that’s in the harbor, and we tend to plan the meals around what is being harvested now, what’s in season.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Innkeepers Rachel (Rae) Colvin (left) and Danielle La Vigne at East Brother Light Station in Richmond on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>They also try to make meals part of the historical experience, using ingredients the keepers would have received as part of their rations — like potatoes, rice and salted pork.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have recipes from the Lighthouse Keeper’s Manual from 1891 that had recipes for how to stretch your rations. Last night we served for the first course a corn chowder that is from that original Lighthouse Keeper’s handbook,” La Vigne said. “Although their recipe was incredibly bland, and I spruced it up a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, historically inspired … but for a modern palate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Guests sleep in rooms neatly decorated with antiques. Most rooms are named after the view you see from the room, so there’s West Brother (the neighboring island), Marin Room, San Francisco Room. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A more modest room is out in the fog signal building — a popular choice for returning guests looking for a different experience, Colvin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the clientele are couples looking for a romantic getaway, but the house is also regularly rented out entirely by groups for birthdays, anniversaries or themed experiences.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had two murder mystery dinner parties in the past month,” La Vigne said. “Both parties dressed up. They were in character the whole time. It was 1920 the whole time they were here.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the morning, before guests depart, they offer a demonstration of the fog signal — I can attest, it’s loud!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price. This is Bay Curious.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>sound design of the sea: waves, gulls\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s something dreamy about lighthouses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their striking architecture, rising high above our human scale.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their symbolism. A literal light in the darkness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In me, lighthouses stir something nostalgic. A time before GPS and radar — when navigation was done with charts and stars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, many lighthouses across the United States have become tourism attractions, like Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But there’s a lighthouse near San Francisco that offers an experience like none other. Not just a quick trip to the top, but an opportunity to live like a lighthouse keeper of yore!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station looks like it could have been plucked from a child’s storybook. It’s a charming three-story wooden house, painted a creamy yellow with white gingerbread trim. At the top, stands a tower, where the brilliant light beckons through the fog.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kathleen got to wondering a lot of things about this lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of, you know, what went on on that Island?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So today we’re on a mission for answers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Step one! We have to get to the lighthouse. At a marina north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Kathleen and I make our way toward a small boat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There we meet Danielle La Vigne and Rae Colvin — the two keepers currently living on the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Oh, you guys can hop on board. Our insurance company does ask that you wear those.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Life vests are on, and we are off. Danielle and Rae have been living at the East Brother Light Station for about a year and half. But the helm of a boat is a familiar place for them.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene:\u003c/strong> Did you know how to drive a boat, or is this a recent skill you’ve had to acquire? ‘Cause you’ve, you guys have been on the job for…\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>I’ve been a commercial captain for almost 20 years. This is the smallest boat that I’ve ever operated professionally. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>As we’re making our way out of the marina, Rae spots a seal.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>A lot of seals live out by the island. … we have a bunch of birds and the harbor seals and sometimes a sea lion.\u003cem>\u003cs>\u003cbr>\u003c/s>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Danielle and Rae are the only two full-time \u003cem>human\u003c/em> residents of East Brother Light Station. But they’re far from alone out there. Because keeping the light running is not their main focus. Instead it’s catering to the weekly overnight guests who join them at the Light Station. Because these days East Brother is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, we just snuck around the bend, and I am seeing the light station probably 400 feet away or so.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I can’t see it from up on the water, but down beneath our boat lies the answer to one of Kathleen’s questions. Why is this lighthouse \u003cem>here\u003c/em>, some 15 miles from the open ocean?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra really ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant taking a boat — floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ships had to skirt around Point San Pablo — where our little boat just departed from. Rae Colvin explains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And they put a lighthouse out here because the topography under the water is pretty interesting. There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the open ocean off to the side that you can see averages out to about 15 feet deep. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog and it’s pretty precarious.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and foghorn were needed. Initially, they hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but quickly ran into issues…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The people who owned the land on the East Bay there didn’t want to sell to the government to let them build a lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After years of trying and failing to get the landowners to relent, the government changed course. Just offshore was \u003cem>East Brother Island\u003c/em> — a speck of land really, smaller than an acre — but it was enough. And better yet, it was land the U.S. government already owned. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Workers blasted sandstone from the top of the island to create a level plot. A foundation went in, walls went up, and in less than a year the six-room Victorian light station was complete. The design is quite striking…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of ornamental woodwork on it, and it’s three stories.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But it’s not exactly unique. Lighthouses with a similar design were built all over the West Coast. This is the oldest one still standing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fade up on sound of boat slowing down and approaching dock. Ambi of arriving sounds.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The wind picks up as our little boat approaches the island and sidles up to the dock. Once we’re off, Danielle and Rae work to get the boat lifted out of the water.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>If we left it in the water, it would just get thrashed against the dock all day long, and this dock already needs help so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>This one’s been here since I think the 1960s, and, you know, it’s seen better days.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The dock may need work, but as we make our way up some stairs and onto the property, a tidy semicircle of three buildings emerges. The main light station to the west, a small cottage to the north, and a fog signal building to the east. All fit on about three-quarters of an acre. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The buildings surround a low white dome covering something beneath the pavement. Danielle explains…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We need to collect rainwater to survive out here, this whole courtyard is set up to direct all of the rain flow down into the cistern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Across the courtyard we head into the main house, where today most of the overnight bed-and-breakfast guests stay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So of course we have to do the shameless product placement. As you enter the house, the first room you see is the gift shop.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>OK, so, the gift shop is not original to the light station, but the mugs they sell are popular with B&B guests. Couples often come out for romantic getaways. Kathleen and I learn learn groups stay here for birding weekends or murder-mystery parties.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> How often do you get groups that rent the whole island? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two, yeah, two to three times a month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The house has seen some changes over its 152-year life, but it’s not hard to imagine what it once was. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most often three lighthouse keepers, and sometimes their families, shared the home. There’d be a primary keeper, aka the boss, living downstairs. And then the first assistant upstairs, along with a junior keeper, someone just learning the ropes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They all lived, ate and slept beneath the tower that housed the light. Staying close because it needed constant attention. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> This is the parlor, which is the comfy hangout spot for the guests. Originally this would have been the junior keeper’s parlor. And the bedroom right over here, the Marin room, would have been the junior keeper’s bedroom. So it was kind of like a little apartment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, B&B guests stay in bedrooms with cozy beds, decorated with beautiful antiques. Historical maps and pictures of boats hang on the walls. And each room gets a name, based on what is visible outside the window.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So this is the San Francisco room, and it’s my personal favorite room. \u003cs>I\u003c/s>t has an arched ceiling, and it looks out to San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We make our way to the main attraction: the tower … which is made up of three tiny rooms stacked on top of each other. We start at the base.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So this is kind of the prep room where they’d get everything ready, but every half hour they had to go up there and trim the wick and refill the oil.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Next we head up to the Watch room.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> It’s a tightly winding staircase like you would expect in a Victorian mansion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We’re now 40 feet up. So you’ve got a pretty good view. If it’s stormy out, if it seems like it’s there’s a danger of a ship not seeing the light or whatever, that’s where you’re watching from so that you can signal those people if you need to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Finally, we head to the pinnacle. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> Up here is more winding stairs up into the actual lighthouse. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I will say, the view from this room is spectacular. The light itself, a little bit of a letdown. Today a 4 inch LED sits in the space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So the original light, it was a Fresnel lens with a little lantern torch in the middle. And originally that torch on this station was powered by lard oil.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fourth-order Fresnel lens! Imagine a magnificent orb of glass, made up of neat rows of prisms, standing several feet tall. They were designed to concentrate the light of a single flame so intensely it could be seen for about 15 miles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On March 1, 1874, as sunset approached, three lighthouse keepers climbed up into this very tower, and lit the oil lamp for the very first time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lighthouse has been operating, in some fashion or another, ever since.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>[Music moment]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When we return, we explore what life was like living and working at East Brother. And it might not be like you expect! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you enjoy stories like this one, consider becoming a financial supporter of KQED. Learn more at donate.kqed.org/podcasts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s easy to get enamored by the apparent simplicity of life on an island in the middle of the Bay. I know I imagine myself reading in a hammock. Our question asker, Kathleen, loves that cell reception out on East Brother is limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> It is great to decompress and turn your phone off, and we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And sure, that is the experience you will get here today as a guest at the B&B. But working here is hard, as Danielle can attest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>The work is never-ending. Because it’s just the two of us … So we’re the phones and the emails and the booking. There’s some degree of maintenance work that is pretty much always happening. The house needs to be deep cleaned every week between guests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Working here has always been hard. Historian Frank Perry makes clear that his book, \u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station.\u003c/em> Here’s an excerpt…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BOOK VO: \u003c/strong>Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Innkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and bring the flame slowly up to the optimal size, just shy of 2 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to its various needs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle \u003cstrong>La Vigne\u003c/strong>: \u003c/strong>And because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>On a clear night, the tiny flame, refracted through that powerful lens, could be seen from parts of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a foggy night, things got more complicated. Keepers had to run the fog signal across the courtyard too. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light. In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell until the whistle could be sounded. Danielle gave us a demonstration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Danielle whacking the bell\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>What a job.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bell ambi\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>Since the whistle might be put in operation night or day, off-duty keepers had to learn to sleep in spite of the noise. Some keepers apparently got quite good at this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Keepers were also quite busy with chores. Cooking, cleaning, maintenance, repairs. When they needed food to supplement the rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town, which at the time was San Quentin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> So in order to get anything, they had to go to San Quentin. And I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor. They had to row.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> So how far would the trip have been from here to San Quentin? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two and a half miles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Light Keepers also kept daily logbooks with short entries about the day’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Feb. 14 1883 – Wind S.W. Squally, strong. Employed all day cleaning engine room and lens in lantern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>…but sometimes you get a glimpse of more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music start\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There was an assistant keeper who got put down in the logbook as a drunken screw-up. He’s one of my favorites.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Joseph Page was his name. And let’s just say the head keeper at the time was not a fan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Dec. 14, 1882 – Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>July 14, 1882 – Mr. Page left for San Quentin. Capsized off the buoy at 12:15 p.m. … \u003cem>The Reform\u003c/em> picked him up ¼ mile NNE of light house. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, lost. Also milk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station … most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The originals used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One big change came in 1934 when the lens was electrified – via an underwater cable that connected the island to shore. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A light keeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night – greatly reducing their daily chore load – and probably greatly improving their quality of life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it was also the first step toward automation – and eliminating the need for lighthouse keepers altogether.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eventually that came, of course, in 1969. To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident keeper from the island. They planned to demolish the light station, and all the buildings on the island, and put the light on a steel tower.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But locals living nearby in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse out in the bay, and vowed to save it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>One of the first things they did was write a national register nomination for it, which was successful.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom Butt is the president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station made it onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The local group then tried to find a local organization to take on restoring the site — by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on groups like the National Parks Service and East Bay Regional Park District. But no one bit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> I think everybody looked at it, and they just it was it it it was just too much.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom went out to the island in 1978.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Looking back now, I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, you know, we can do this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabbing everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New concrete around the cistern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> We had to do electrical work, we had to do plumbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All the ornamental railings had been taken off, so they made new ones using the original plans they found in the National Archives.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Repainted everything on the inside. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There was asbestos to remove.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>It was a lot of work. And you know … it took a year, but we got it done. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When the work was complete around 1980, the nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast to provide a stream of revenue to keep up on the maintenance. And … well … because it’s fun!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the stay, guests get a boat ride out with innkeepers Danielle and Rae, just like we did at the beginning of the story. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>We do charcuterie and champagne…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A history tour with Rae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then dinner is a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fantastic sunset, if the weather cooperates…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then in the morning it’s a full breakfast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Just before heading back to shore, guests get a special demonstration that we also get to see on our tour…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>So the gasoline starter engine here is what actually starts the diesel … And this one starts with a ripped cord. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the fog signal building, Rae shows us the multistep process it takes to blow the foghorn like they did in the 1930s. The small room is packed with old mechanical equipment, some more than 100 years old. It smells like… old military? Is that a smell?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a couple diesel engines, a few air compressors … and they’re all kept running today as a museum piece … because the diaphonic horn is one of only eight like it still functioning in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The horn sounds cool in here, but it’s really cool out there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After 12 minutes of warming up, we head outside for the grand finale of our tour.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Foghorn blows loudly\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>You jumped.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz in scene: \u003c/strong>Well I didn’t know it was coming. I know you’re kinda counting 15, but you’re like…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Despite being ready, it still startled us all. Absolutely thrilling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I checked in with our question asker Kathleen, to see what she made of our tour today…\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>I think that a lot of times we see us in something we see something that interests us and we do a quick Google search and we think that we’ve kind of learned all we there is to know, but it isn’t until you actually take that boat ride, get out on the island to realize that it is just such a unique experience and really such a hidden secret in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>East Brother Light Station is such a special place. An improbable compromise carved into stone. A beacon of safety. The sound of warning. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For decades, keepers traded modern comfort for cold, salt air. They measured their lives in lonely night shifts spent tending a 2-inch flame.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Today this light station offers something softer – a chance to step off the boat, leave the modern world behind and sleep inside a piece of living history.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We hinted at it in this story, but the pier platform where boats dock at East Brother is in need of repair. The nonprofit is working to raise $750,000 to replace it, along with the gangway. Access to the island could be threatened if it’s not repaired. We’ll link to their fundraising page in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Big thanks to historian and author Frank Perry, whose book about East Brother Light Station provided much of the historical information in this episode. And to Kathleen Taylor, our question asker.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We just launched a new voting round at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>, so that means we need your help picking a question to answer in an upcoming episode. Here are your options!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 1:\u003c/strong> Why does this area have so many community colleges and won’t demographics result in fewer students and some needing to eventually close? How does the ratio of colleges to population compare with other states?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 2:\u003c/strong> Why did rogue botanists plant Venus flytraps in the Albion Pygmy Forest in Mendocino in the 1960s?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 3: \u003c/strong>I would love to hear about Sally Stanford, the renowned madam turned mayor. I recall my parents having many colorful conversations about her and her “Damn Bird” when we were living in Sausalito.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Vote anytime this month at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We get extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A few years ago, a friend sent me the link for a job listing that seemed like an absolute dream. The opening was for a resident innkeeper at a bed and breakfast on an island in the middle of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a>. Even better, the B&B was housed in a 152-year-old working Victorian lighthouse! \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>From my cramped desk, I fantasized about a simpler life, spent outside in one of the most gorgeous settings I could imagine. And living rent-free while earning a salary! But reality came crashing down when I read the job required a boat operator’s license and high-quality culinary experience — both of which I lacked. Alas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>From my cramped desk, I fantasized about a simpler life, spent outside in one of the most gorgeous settings I could imagine. And living rent-free while earning a salary! But reality came crashing down when I read the job required a boat operator’s license and high-quality culinary experience — both of which I lacked. Alas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the fantasy of East Brother Light Station stayed with me. So I was delighted when a Bay Curious listener named Kathleen Taylor wrote in, looking to learn more about the place. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066562\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-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\">The inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\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 aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066562\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We were taking the ferry from Vallejo to a Giants game and passed by what looked like a small island with an East Coast-style lighthouse on it,” she recalled. It captured her imagination, too, and she got to wondering: “What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of what went on on that island?”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>So we headed to the island together to get some answers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We were taking the ferry from Vallejo to a Giants game and passed by what looked like a small island with an East Coast-style lighthouse on it,” she recalled. It captured her imagination, too, and she got to wondering: “What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of what went on on that island?”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>So we headed to the island together to get some answers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#history-east-brother\">History of East Brother Light Station \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#early-lightkeepers\">What life was like for early lighthouse keepers\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. To get there, boats had to skirt around Point San Pablo, the thumb sticking out from Richmond, California. This part of the bay can be especially tough for mariners.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. To get there, boats had to skirt around Point San Pablo, the thumb sticking out from Richmond, California. This part of the bay can be especially tough for mariners.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The topography under the water is pretty interesting,” said Rae Colvin, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. “There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the [water] off to the side averages about 15 feet deep.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The topography under the water is pretty interesting,” said Rae Colvin, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. “There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the [water] off to the side averages about 15 feet deep.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog, and it’s pretty precarious. So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and fog horn were needed. Initially, the Lighthouse Board hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but landowners fought back. They delayed things so profoundly that eventually an alternative site was chosen — East Brother Island. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog, and it’s pretty precarious. So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and fog horn were needed. Initially, the Lighthouse Board hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but landowners fought back. They delayed things so profoundly that eventually an alternative site was chosen — East Brother Island. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066561\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-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\">Inn keeper Danielle La Vigne pilots a boat from Point San Pablo Harbor to East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California, on Dec. 8, 2025.\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 aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066561\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Inn keeper Danielle La Vigne pilots a boat from Point San Pablo Harbor to East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California, on Dec. 8, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was small, less than an acre in size, but it was land the U.S. government already owned. Construction began in 1873.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The exterior of the light station features gingerbread trim, scrollwork and a generous second-floor porch. Not the standard-issue government building we’ve come to expect today. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The six-room Victorian light station was intended to house three lightkeepers, and two of them could have families. Downstairs was a bedroom and parlor for the principal keeper. Upstairs was a smaller bedroom and parlor for the assistant keeper. There was also a third bedroom for the most junior keeper. Things were cozy, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The six-room Victorian light station was intended to house three lightkeepers, and two of them could have families. Downstairs was a bedroom and parlor for the principal keeper. Upstairs was a smaller bedroom and parlor for the assistant keeper. There was also a third bedroom for the most junior keeper. Things were cozy, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stacked on top of the living quarters was also the tower that housed the light. When the light station began operating on March 1, 1874, the light’s flame was powered by lard oil and featured a fourth-order \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens\">Fresnel lens\u003c/a>. The lens rotated on a clockwork mechanism. On a clear night, this beam, which appeared to flash every 30 seconds because of the design of the lens, could be seen from about 15 miles away. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Stacked on top of the living quarters was also the tower that housed the light. When the light station began operating on March 1, 1874, the light’s flame was powered by lard oil and featured a fourth-order \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens\">Fresnel lens\u003c/a>. The lens rotated on a clockwork mechanism. On a clear night, this beam, which appeared to flash every 30 seconds because of the design of the lens, could be seen from about 15 miles away. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring,” Frank Perry wrote in his book, \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/East-Brother-History-Island-Station/dp/0578211750\">\u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. Much of what we know about life on the island comes from Perry’s book, which was compiled using primary sources.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring,” Frank Perry wrote in his book, \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/East-Brother-History-Island-Station/dp/0578211750\">\u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. Much of what we know about life on the island comes from Perry’s book, which was compiled using primary sources.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 1874, the primary keeper earned $800 a year — the equivalent to about a $24,000 salary today. The assistants earned even less. Their primary responsibility was keeping the light running from sunset to sunrise every night and keeping the fog signal sounding during inclement weather.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Lightkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and slowly bring the flame up to the optimal size of about 1 and 13/16 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to the needs of the light.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Lightkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and slowly bring the flame up to the optimal size of about 1 and 13/16 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to the needs of the light.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066570\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-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\">Historic photos hang on the wall at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. One lighthouse keeper, John Stenmark, brought his wife and children to live on the island. They had many friends in the community and would host large gatherings on the island.\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 aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066570\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Historic photos hang on the wall at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. One lighthouse keeper, John Stenmark, brought his wife and children to live on the island. They had many friends in the community and would host large gatherings on the island.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour,” said Danielle La Vigne, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour,” said Danielle La Vigne, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The innkeepers also had to wipe the glass panes of the lantern room with dry towels to keep moisture away.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On foggy nights, the keepers’ jobs were doubly hard. They had to run the fog signal, too, which sits in another building on the island.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light,” wrote Perry. “In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light,” wrote Perry. “In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell every 15 seconds until the whistle could be sounded. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell every 15 seconds until the whistle could be sounded. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Beyond the core responsibilities, keepers kept up with a long list of chores: cooking, cleaning, maintenance and repairs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066564\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The 19th-century lighthouse complex includes a restored fog signal that once warned ships navigating San Pablo Bay.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066564\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The 19th-century lighthouse complex includes a restored fog signal that once warned ships navigating San Pablo Bay.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066563\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066563\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When they needed food to supplement the dry rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town. At the time, that was San Quentin, about 2 1/2 miles away.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When they needed food to supplement the dry rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town. At the time, that was San Quentin, about 2 1/2 miles away.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor,” said La Vigne. “They had to row.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor,” said La Vigne. “They had to row.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A daily log was kept by the primary keeper, accounting for the day’s weather and work. Most entries are not more than a sentence, but they do give us a glimpse at the day-to-day life on East Brother. A string of entries in 1882 mention an assistant keeper named Mr. Page, who was a bit of a screw-up.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A daily log was kept by the primary keeper, accounting for the day’s weather and work. Most entries are not more than a sentence, but they do give us a glimpse at the day-to-day life on East Brother. A string of entries in 1882 mention an assistant keeper named Mr. Page, who was a bit of a screw-up.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 14, 1882 – Wind S.W., strong. Mr. Page left for San Quentin A.M., capsized off the buoy near the West Brother at 12:15 p.m. Capt. Windsor hailed the Steamer Reform passing up at the time and sent her to his relief. The Reform picked him up ¼ of a mile N.N.E. of the Light House and landed him and the boat at the dock at 1:15 p.m. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, etc., etc., lost, also milk and can.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>\u003cbr>Dec. 14, 1882 – Wind N.E. Foggy from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Feb. 8 1883 – Wind N.E. Light, clear. Mr. Page went for mail and stores, drunk, no mail.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 14, 1882 – Wind S.W., strong. Mr. Page left for San Quentin A.M., capsized off the buoy near the West Brother at 12:15 p.m. Capt. Windsor hailed the Steamer Reform passing up at the time and sent her to his relief. The Reform picked him up ¼ of a mile N.N.E. of the Light House and landed him and the boat at the dock at 1:15 p.m. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, etc., etc., lost, also milk and can.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>\u003cbr>Dec. 14, 1882 – Wind N.E. Foggy from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Feb. 8 1883 – Wind N.E. Light, clear. Mr. Page went for mail and stores, drunk, no mail.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Feb. 10, 1883, a new assistant, Mr. Tippett, is mentioned, and Mr. Page is never spoken of again. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Feb. 10, 1883, a new assistant, Mr. Tippett, is mentioned, and Mr. Page is never spoken of again. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The Stenmark era",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though some keepers were men living on their own, passing through East Brother for only a few years, families lived here, too. John Stenmark moved here in 1894 with his wife and 3-month-old daughter, Annie, and they stayed for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Though some keepers were men living on their own, passing through East Brother for only a few years, families lived here, too. John Stenmark moved here in 1894 with his wife and 3-month-old daughter, Annie, and they stayed for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They set up a vegetable garden and raised pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They set up a vegetable garden and raised pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Prior to the birth of each of his two sons [Mr. Stenmark] rowed all the way to San Quentin and back to fetch the doctor,” wrote Perry.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Prior to the birth of each of his two sons [Mr. Stenmark] rowed all the way to San Quentin and back to fetch the doctor,” wrote Perry.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When the kids grew older, the government paid for a teacher to live on the island for a time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When the kids grew older, the government paid for a teacher to live on the island for a time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On April 18, 1906, Stenmark wrote about one of the most infamous days in local history in the logbook.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On April 18, 1906, Stenmark wrote about one of the most infamous days in local history in the logbook.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A heavy earthquake this morning at 5:15 a.m. Lenses of the light broken and glassware broke, and everything of glass broke. \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Doors open of themselves and the whole island rocking. All the lenses broke.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A heavy earthquake this morning at 5:15 a.m. Lenses of the light broken and glassware broke, and everything of glass broke. \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Doors open of themselves and the whole island rocking. All the lenses broke.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the next two days, the Stenmarks watched from their quiet island as the fire that followed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068602/san-franciscos-historic-relief-cottages-built-after-the-1906-earthquake-are-hidden-in-plain-sight\">earthquake consumed San Francisco\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the next two days, the Stenmarks watched from their quiet island as the fire that followed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068602/san-franciscos-historic-relief-cottages-built-after-the-1906-earthquake-are-hidden-in-plain-sight\">earthquake consumed San Francisco\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "The end of lighthouse keepers",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The end of lighthouse keepers\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station, most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The original used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene,” Colvin said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station, most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The original used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene,” Colvin 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/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066565\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-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\">A view from the inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. \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/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066565\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view from the inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One big change came in 1934 when electricity arrived on the island via an underwater cable that connected it to shore. A lightkeeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night — greatly reducing their daily chore load. The steam-powered fog signal was replaced with a diaphonic horn that can still be operated today and is one of only eight like it in the world. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One big change came in 1934 when electricity arrived on the island via an underwater cable that connected it to shore. A lightkeeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night — greatly reducing their daily chore load. The steam-powered fog signal was replaced with a diaphonic horn that can still be operated today and is one of only eight like it in the world. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident personnel from the island in 1969. They planned to demolish all the buildings and put the light on a steel tower. But residents living in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse off their shoreline and were ready to fight for it. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“One of the first things [local residents] did was write a National Register nomination for it, which was successful,” said Tom Butt, founder and president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond and a longtime city council member. “That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down because it invoked the Historic Preservation Act of 1966.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“One of the first things [local residents] did was write a National Register nomination for it, which was successful,” said Tom Butt, founder and president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond and a longtime city council member. “That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down because it invoked the Historic Preservation Act of 1966.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The group then tried to find a local organization to take on rehabilitating the site, because by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on organizations like the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District, but no one was interested.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The group then tried to find a local organization to take on rehabilitating the site, because by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on organizations like the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District, but no one was interested.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think everybody looked at it and [thought] it was just too much,” said Butt. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He went to the island in 1978. “Looking back now,” he said, “I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, ‘you know, we can do this.’”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He went to the island in 1978. “Looking back now,” he said, “I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, ‘you know, we can do this.’”\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066569\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Marin Room, which faces Mount Tamalpais, at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066567\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lighthouse shower curtain hangs in a bathroom at the inn on East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066571\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A room at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat. The inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066571\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A room at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat. The inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabilitating everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“All the buildings at that point were covered with asbestos shingles,” Butt said. “All of the ornamental railings had long since been taken off. We were lucky we had original plans from the National Archives, so we were able to replicate all that trim and put that back on.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“All the buildings at that point were covered with asbestos shingles,” Butt said. “All of the ornamental railings had long since been taken off. We were lucky we had original plans from the National Archives, so we were able to replicate all that trim and put that back on.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Volunteers did electrical work, plumbing, plastering and painting. It was a ton of work, but they managed to get it all done in about a year. The nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast in 1980 to provide a stream of revenue to keep up with the maintenance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Volunteers did electrical work, plumbing, plastering and painting. It was a ton of work, but they managed to get it all done in about a year. The nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast in 1980 to provide a stream of revenue to keep up with the maintenance.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though most of the operational costs and maintenance for the B&B are now covered by the nightly fee guests pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-east-brother-lighthouse-replace-the-pier?cp_src=d\">a major fundraising effort\u003c/a> is underway to replace the dock and gangway on the east side of the island. It must be replaced, or access to the island could be threatened. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Though most of the operational costs and maintenance for the B&B are now covered by the nightly fee guests pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-east-brother-lighthouse-replace-the-pier?cp_src=d\">a major fundraising effort\u003c/a> is underway to replace the dock and gangway on the east side of the island. It must be replaced, or access to the island could be threatened. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Visiting East Brother Light Station today",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nonprofit B&B is open four nights a week for overnight guests, and it’s recommended you \u003ca href=\"https://ebls.org/?_gl=1%2A1oq51ai%2A_ga%2AMjkzMDI3NzY5LjE3ODYxMzI2MjI.%2A_ga_J5B5MW125P%2AczE3ODc4NzI0MjUkbzckZzEkdDE3ODc4NzI0NDMkajQyJGwwJGgw\">book one of the five rooms well in advance\u003c/a>. Rates range from $525 to $575 per night. During summer months, there is once-monthly day-use access for $45, which includes the boat ride to and from the island.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The nonprofit B&B is open four nights a week for overnight guests, and it’s recommended you \u003ca href=\"https://ebls.org/?_gl=1%2A1oq51ai%2A_ga%2AMjkzMDI3NzY5LjE3ODYxMzI2MjI.%2A_ga_J5B5MW125P%2AczE3ODc4NzI0MjUkbzckZzEkdDE3ODc4NzI0NDMkajQyJGwwJGgw\">book one of the five rooms well in advance\u003c/a>. Rates range from $525 to $575 per night. During summer months, there is once-monthly day-use access for $45, which includes the boat ride to and from the island.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the overnight stays, guests are taken by boat from Point San Pablo Marina by innkeepers Colvin and La Vigne. Once on the island, hors d’oeuvre and champagne are served, Colvin gives a history talk, and then comes a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the overnight stays, guests are taken by boat from Point San Pablo Marina by innkeepers Colvin and La Vigne. Once on the island, hors d’oeuvre and champagne are served, Colvin gives a history talk, and then comes a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We try to focus as much as we can on keeping things local,” La Vigne said. “We collaborate with the little goat farm that’s in the harbor, and we tend to plan the meals around what is being harvested now, what’s in season.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We try to focus as much as we can on keeping things local,” La Vigne said. “We collaborate with the little goat farm that’s in the harbor, and we tend to plan the meals around what is being harvested now, what’s in season.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-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\">Innkeepers Rachel (Rae) Colvin (left) and Danielle La Vigne at East Brother Light Station in Richmond on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They also try to make meals part of the historical experience, using ingredients the keepers would have received as part of their rations — like potatoes, rice and salted pork.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have recipes from the Lighthouse Keeper’s Manual from 1891 that had recipes for how to stretch your rations. Last night we served for the first course a corn chowder that is from that original Lighthouse Keeper’s handbook,” La Vigne said. “Although their recipe was incredibly bland, and I spruced it up a lot.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So, historically inspired … but for a modern palate. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Guests sleep in rooms neatly decorated with antiques. Most rooms are named after the view you see from the room, so there’s West Brother (the neighboring island), Marin Room, San Francisco Room. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Guests sleep in rooms neatly decorated with antiques. Most rooms are named after the view you see from the room, so there’s West Brother (the neighboring island), Marin Room, San Francisco Room. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A more modest room is out in the fog signal building — a popular choice for returning guests looking for a different experience, Colvin said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most of the clientele are couples looking for a romantic getaway, but the house is also regularly rented out entirely by groups for birthdays, anniversaries or themed experiences.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We had two murder mystery dinner parties in the past month,” La Vigne said. “Both parties dressed up. They were in character the whole time. It was 1920 the whole time they were here.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the morning, before guests depart, they offer a demonstration of the fog signal — I can attest, it’s loud!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price. This is Bay Curious.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>sound design of the sea: waves, gulls\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price. This is Bay Curious.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>sound design of the sea: waves, gulls\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s something dreamy about lighthouses.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s something dreamy about lighthouses.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their striking architecture, rising high above our human scale.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their symbolism. A literal light in the darkness.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In me, lighthouses stir something nostalgic. A time before GPS and radar — when navigation was done with charts and stars.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Today, many lighthouses across the United States have become tourism attractions, like Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Today, many lighthouses across the United States have become tourism attractions, like Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But there’s a lighthouse near San Francisco that offers an experience like none other. Not just a quick trip to the top, but an opportunity to live like a lighthouse keeper of yore!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But there’s a lighthouse near San Francisco that offers an experience like none other. Not just a quick trip to the top, but an opportunity to live like a lighthouse keeper of yore!\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station looks like it could have been plucked from a child’s storybook. It’s a charming three-story wooden house, painted a creamy yellow with white gingerbread trim. At the top, stands a tower, where the brilliant light beckons through the fog.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station looks like it could have been plucked from a child’s storybook. It’s a charming three-story wooden house, painted a creamy yellow with white gingerbread trim. At the top, stands a tower, where the brilliant light beckons through the fog.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kathleen got to wondering a lot of things about this lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kathleen got to wondering a lot of things about this lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of, you know, what went on on that Island?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of, you know, what went on on that Island?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So today we’re on a mission for answers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So today we’re on a mission for answers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Step one! We have to get to the lighthouse. At a marina north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Kathleen and I make our way toward a small boat.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Step one! We have to get to the lighthouse. At a marina north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Kathleen and I make our way toward a small boat.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There we meet Danielle La Vigne and Rae Colvin — the two keepers currently living on the island.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There we meet Danielle La Vigne and Rae Colvin — the two keepers currently living on the island.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Oh, you guys can hop on board. Our insurance company does ask that you wear those.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Oh, you guys can hop on board. Our insurance company does ask that you wear those.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Life vests are on, and we are off. Danielle and Rae have been living at the East Brother Light Station for about a year and half. But the helm of a boat is a familiar place for them.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene:\u003c/strong> Did you know how to drive a boat, or is this a recent skill you’ve had to acquire? ‘Cause you’ve, you guys have been on the job for…\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>I’ve been a commercial captain for almost 20 years. This is the smallest boat that I’ve ever operated professionally. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Life vests are on, and we are off. Danielle and Rae have been living at the East Brother Light Station for about a year and half. But the helm of a boat is a familiar place for them.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene:\u003c/strong> Did you know how to drive a boat, or is this a recent skill you’ve had to acquire? ‘Cause you’ve, you guys have been on the job for…\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>I’ve been a commercial captain for almost 20 years. This is the smallest boat that I’ve ever operated professionally. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>As we’re making our way out of the marina, Rae spots a seal.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>A lot of seals live out by the island. … we have a bunch of birds and the harbor seals and sometimes a sea lion.\u003cem>\u003cs>\u003cbr>\u003c/s>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Danielle and Rae are the only two full-time \u003cem>human\u003c/em> residents of East Brother Light Station. But they’re far from alone out there. Because keeping the light running is not their main focus. Instead it’s catering to the weekly overnight guests who join them at the Light Station. Because these days East Brother is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>As we’re making our way out of the marina, Rae spots a seal.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>A lot of seals live out by the island. … we have a bunch of birds and the harbor seals and sometimes a sea lion.\u003cem>\u003cs>\u003cbr>\u003c/s>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Danielle and Rae are the only two full-time \u003cem>human\u003c/em> residents of East Brother Light Station. But they’re far from alone out there. Because keeping the light running is not their main focus. Instead it’s catering to the weekly overnight guests who join them at the Light Station. Because these days East Brother is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, we just snuck around the bend, and I am seeing the light station probably 400 feet away or so.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I can’t see it from up on the water, but down beneath our boat lies the answer to one of Kathleen’s questions. Why is this lighthouse \u003cem>here\u003c/em>, some 15 miles from the open ocean?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, we just snuck around the bend, and I am seeing the light station probably 400 feet away or so.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I can’t see it from up on the water, but down beneath our boat lies the answer to one of Kathleen’s questions. Why is this lighthouse \u003cem>here\u003c/em>, some 15 miles from the open ocean?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra really ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant taking a boat — floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra really ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant taking a boat — floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ships had to skirt around Point San Pablo — where our little boat just departed from. Rae Colvin explains.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ships had to skirt around Point San Pablo — where our little boat just departed from. Rae Colvin explains.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And they put a lighthouse out here because the topography under the water is pretty interesting. There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the open ocean off to the side that you can see averages out to about 15 feet deep. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And they put a lighthouse out here because the topography under the water is pretty interesting. There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the open ocean off to the side that you can see averages out to about 15 feet deep. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog and it’s pretty precarious.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog and it’s pretty precarious.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and foghorn were needed. Initially, they hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but quickly ran into issues…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and foghorn were needed. Initially, they hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but quickly ran into issues…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The people who owned the land on the East Bay there didn’t want to sell to the government to let them build a lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The people who owned the land on the East Bay there didn’t want to sell to the government to let them build a lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After years of trying and failing to get the landowners to relent, the government changed course. Just offshore was \u003cem>East Brother Island\u003c/em> — a speck of land really, smaller than an acre — but it was enough. And better yet, it was land the U.S. government already owned. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After years of trying and failing to get the landowners to relent, the government changed course. Just offshore was \u003cem>East Brother Island\u003c/em> — a speck of land really, smaller than an acre — but it was enough. And better yet, it was land the U.S. government already owned. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Workers blasted sandstone from the top of the island to create a level plot. A foundation went in, walls went up, and in less than a year the six-room Victorian light station was complete. The design is quite striking…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Workers blasted sandstone from the top of the island to create a level plot. A foundation went in, walls went up, and in less than a year the six-room Victorian light station was complete. The design is quite striking…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of ornamental woodwork on it, and it’s three stories.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of ornamental woodwork on it, and it’s three stories.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But it’s not exactly unique. Lighthouses with a similar design were built all over the West Coast. This is the oldest one still standing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But it’s not exactly unique. Lighthouses with a similar design were built all over the West Coast. This is the oldest one still standing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fade up on sound of boat slowing down and approaching dock. Ambi of arriving sounds.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fade up on sound of boat slowing down and approaching dock. Ambi of arriving sounds.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The wind picks up as our little boat approaches the island and sidles up to the dock. Once we’re off, Danielle and Rae work to get the boat lifted out of the water.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The wind picks up as our little boat approaches the island and sidles up to the dock. Once we’re off, Danielle and Rae work to get the boat lifted out of the water.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>If we left it in the water, it would just get thrashed against the dock all day long, and this dock already needs help so.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>If we left it in the water, it would just get thrashed against the dock all day long, and this dock already needs help so.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>This one’s been here since I think the 1960s, and, you know, it’s seen better days.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>This one’s been here since I think the 1960s, and, you know, it’s seen better days.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The dock may need work, but as we make our way up some stairs and onto the property, a tidy semicircle of three buildings emerges. The main light station to the west, a small cottage to the north, and a fog signal building to the east. All fit on about three-quarters of an acre. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The dock may need work, but as we make our way up some stairs and onto the property, a tidy semicircle of three buildings emerges. The main light station to the west, a small cottage to the north, and a fog signal building to the east. All fit on about three-quarters of an acre. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The buildings surround a low white dome covering something beneath the pavement. Danielle explains…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The buildings surround a low white dome covering something beneath the pavement. Danielle explains…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We need to collect rainwater to survive out here, this whole courtyard is set up to direct all of the rain flow down into the cistern.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We need to collect rainwater to survive out here, this whole courtyard is set up to direct all of the rain flow down into the cistern.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Across the courtyard we head into the main house, where today most of the overnight bed-and-breakfast guests stay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Across the courtyard we head into the main house, where today most of the overnight bed-and-breakfast guests stay.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So of course we have to do the shameless product placement. As you enter the house, the first room you see is the gift shop.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>OK, so, the gift shop is not original to the light station, but the mugs they sell are popular with B&B guests. Couples often come out for romantic getaways. Kathleen and I learn learn groups stay here for birding weekends or murder-mystery parties.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So of course we have to do the shameless product placement. As you enter the house, the first room you see is the gift shop.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>OK, so, the gift shop is not original to the light station, but the mugs they sell are popular with B&B guests. Couples often come out for romantic getaways. Kathleen and I learn learn groups stay here for birding weekends or murder-mystery parties.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> How often do you get groups that rent the whole island? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> How often do you get groups that rent the whole island? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two, yeah, two to three times a month. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two, yeah, two to three times a month. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The house has seen some changes over its 152-year life, but it’s not hard to imagine what it once was. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The house has seen some changes over its 152-year life, but it’s not hard to imagine what it once was. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most often three lighthouse keepers, and sometimes their families, shared the home. There’d be a primary keeper, aka the boss, living downstairs. And then the first assistant upstairs, along with a junior keeper, someone just learning the ropes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Most often three lighthouse keepers, and sometimes their families, shared the home. There’d be a primary keeper, aka the boss, living downstairs. And then the first assistant upstairs, along with a junior keeper, someone just learning the ropes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They all lived, ate and slept beneath the tower that housed the light. Staying close because it needed constant attention. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They all lived, ate and slept beneath the tower that housed the light. Staying close because it needed constant attention. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> This is the parlor, which is the comfy hangout spot for the guests. Originally this would have been the junior keeper’s parlor. And the bedroom right over here, the Marin room, would have been the junior keeper’s bedroom. So it was kind of like a little apartment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> This is the parlor, which is the comfy hangout spot for the guests. Originally this would have been the junior keeper’s parlor. And the bedroom right over here, the Marin room, would have been the junior keeper’s bedroom. So it was kind of like a little apartment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, B&B guests stay in bedrooms with cozy beds, decorated with beautiful antiques. Historical maps and pictures of boats hang on the walls. And each room gets a name, based on what is visible outside the window.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, B&B guests stay in bedrooms with cozy beds, decorated with beautiful antiques. Historical maps and pictures of boats hang on the walls. And each room gets a name, based on what is visible outside the window.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So this is the San Francisco room, and it’s my personal favorite room. \u003cs>I\u003c/s>t has an arched ceiling, and it looks out to San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So this is the San Francisco room, and it’s my personal favorite room. \u003cs>I\u003c/s>t has an arched ceiling, and it looks out to San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We make our way to the main attraction: the tower … which is made up of three tiny rooms stacked on top of each other. We start at the base.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We make our way to the main attraction: the tower … which is made up of three tiny rooms stacked on top of each other. We start at the base.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So this is kind of the prep room where they’d get everything ready, but every half hour they had to go up there and trim the wick and refill the oil.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Next we head up to the Watch room.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So this is kind of the prep room where they’d get everything ready, but every half hour they had to go up there and trim the wick and refill the oil.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Next we head up to the Watch room.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> It’s a tightly winding staircase like you would expect in a Victorian mansion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> It’s a tightly winding staircase like you would expect in a Victorian mansion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We’re now 40 feet up. So you’ve got a pretty good view. If it’s stormy out, if it seems like it’s there’s a danger of a ship not seeing the light or whatever, that’s where you’re watching from so that you can signal those people if you need to.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We’re now 40 feet up. So you’ve got a pretty good view. If it’s stormy out, if it seems like it’s there’s a danger of a ship not seeing the light or whatever, that’s where you’re watching from so that you can signal those people if you need to.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Finally, we head to the pinnacle. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Finally, we head to the pinnacle. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> Up here is more winding stairs up into the actual lighthouse. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> Up here is more winding stairs up into the actual lighthouse. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I will say, the view from this room is spectacular. The light itself, a little bit of a letdown. Today a 4 inch LED sits in the space.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I will say, the view from this room is spectacular. The light itself, a little bit of a letdown. Today a 4 inch LED sits in the space.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So the original light, it was a Fresnel lens with a little lantern torch in the middle. And originally that torch on this station was powered by lard oil.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So the original light, it was a Fresnel lens with a little lantern torch in the middle. And originally that torch on this station was powered by lard oil.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fourth-order Fresnel lens! Imagine a magnificent orb of glass, made up of neat rows of prisms, standing several feet tall. They were designed to concentrate the light of a single flame so intensely it could be seen for about 15 miles.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fourth-order Fresnel lens! Imagine a magnificent orb of glass, made up of neat rows of prisms, standing several feet tall. They were designed to concentrate the light of a single flame so intensely it could be seen for about 15 miles.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On March 1, 1874, as sunset approached, three lighthouse keepers climbed up into this very tower, and lit the oil lamp for the very first time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On March 1, 1874, as sunset approached, three lighthouse keepers climbed up into this very tower, and lit the oil lamp for the very first time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The lighthouse has been operating, in some fashion or another, ever since.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>[Music moment]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The lighthouse has been operating, in some fashion or another, ever since.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>[Music moment]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When we return, we explore what life was like living and working at East Brother. And it might not be like you expect! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When we return, we explore what life was like living and working at East Brother. And it might not be like you expect! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you enjoy stories like this one, consider becoming a financial supporter of KQED. Learn more at donate.kqed.org/podcasts.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you enjoy stories like this one, consider becoming a financial supporter of KQED. Learn more at donate.kqed.org/podcasts.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s easy to get enamored by the apparent simplicity of life on an island in the middle of the Bay. I know I imagine myself reading in a hammock. Our question asker, Kathleen, loves that cell reception out on East Brother is limited.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s easy to get enamored by the apparent simplicity of life on an island in the middle of the Bay. I know I imagine myself reading in a hammock. Our question asker, Kathleen, loves that cell reception out on East Brother is limited.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> It is great to decompress and turn your phone off, and we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> It is great to decompress and turn your phone off, and we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And sure, that is the experience you will get here today as a guest at the B&B. But working here is hard, as Danielle can attest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And sure, that is the experience you will get here today as a guest at the B&B. But working here is hard, as Danielle can attest.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>The work is never-ending. Because it’s just the two of us … So we’re the phones and the emails and the booking. There’s some degree of maintenance work that is pretty much always happening. The house needs to be deep cleaned every week between guests.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>The work is never-ending. Because it’s just the two of us … So we’re the phones and the emails and the booking. There’s some degree of maintenance work that is pretty much always happening. The house needs to be deep cleaned every week between guests.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Working here has always been hard. Historian Frank Perry makes clear that his book, \u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station.\u003c/em> Here’s an excerpt…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Working here has always been hard. Historian Frank Perry makes clear that his book, \u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station.\u003c/em> Here’s an excerpt…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BOOK VO: \u003c/strong>Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BOOK VO: \u003c/strong>Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Innkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and bring the flame slowly up to the optimal size, just shy of 2 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to its various needs.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Innkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and bring the flame slowly up to the optimal size, just shy of 2 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to its various needs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle \u003cstrong>La Vigne\u003c/strong>: \u003c/strong>And because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle \u003cstrong>La Vigne\u003c/strong>: \u003c/strong>And because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>On a clear night, the tiny flame, refracted through that powerful lens, could be seen from parts of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>On a clear night, the tiny flame, refracted through that powerful lens, could be seen from parts of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a foggy night, things got more complicated. Keepers had to run the fog signal across the courtyard too. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On a foggy night, things got more complicated. Keepers had to run the fog signal across the courtyard too. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light. In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light. In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell until the whistle could be sounded. Danielle gave us a demonstration.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell until the whistle could be sounded. Danielle gave us a demonstration.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Danielle whacking the bell\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Danielle whacking the bell\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>What a job.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>What a job.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bell ambi\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bell ambi\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>Since the whistle might be put in operation night or day, off-duty keepers had to learn to sleep in spite of the noise. Some keepers apparently got quite good at this.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>Since the whistle might be put in operation night or day, off-duty keepers had to learn to sleep in spite of the noise. Some keepers apparently got quite good at this.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Keepers were also quite busy with chores. Cooking, cleaning, maintenance, repairs. When they needed food to supplement the rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town, which at the time was San Quentin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Keepers were also quite busy with chores. Cooking, cleaning, maintenance, repairs. When they needed food to supplement the rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town, which at the time was San Quentin.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> So in order to get anything, they had to go to San Quentin. And I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor. They had to row.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> So in order to get anything, they had to go to San Quentin. And I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor. They had to row.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> So how far would the trip have been from here to San Quentin? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> So how far would the trip have been from here to San Quentin? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two and a half miles.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two and a half miles.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Light Keepers also kept daily logbooks with short entries about the day’s work.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Light Keepers also kept daily logbooks with short entries about the day’s work.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Feb. 14 1883 – Wind S.W. Squally, strong. Employed all day cleaning engine room and lens in lantern.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Feb. 14 1883 – Wind S.W. Squally, strong. Employed all day cleaning engine room and lens in lantern.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>…but sometimes you get a glimpse of more. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>…but sometimes you get a glimpse of more. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music start\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music start\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There was an assistant keeper who got put down in the logbook as a drunken screw-up. He’s one of my favorites.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There was an assistant keeper who got put down in the logbook as a drunken screw-up. He’s one of my favorites.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Joseph Page was his name. And let’s just say the head keeper at the time was not a fan.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Joseph Page was his name. And let’s just say the head keeper at the time was not a fan.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Dec. 14, 1882 – Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Dec. 14, 1882 – Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>July 14, 1882 – Mr. Page left for San Quentin. Capsized off the buoy at 12:15 p.m. … \u003cem>The Reform\u003c/em> picked him up ¼ mile NNE of light house. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, lost. Also milk.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>July 14, 1882 – Mr. Page left for San Quentin. Capsized off the buoy at 12:15 p.m. … \u003cem>The Reform\u003c/em> picked him up ¼ mile NNE of light house. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, lost. Also milk.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station … most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station … most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The originals used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One big change came in 1934 when the lens was electrified – via an underwater cable that connected the island to shore. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A light keeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night – greatly reducing their daily chore load – and probably greatly improving their quality of life. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A light keeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night – greatly reducing their daily chore load – and probably greatly improving their quality of life. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it was also the first step toward automation – and eliminating the need for lighthouse keepers altogether.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Eventually that came, of course, in 1969. To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident keeper from the island. They planned to demolish the light station, and all the buildings on the island, and put the light on a steel tower.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Eventually that came, of course, in 1969. To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident keeper from the island. They planned to demolish the light station, and all the buildings on the island, and put the light on a steel tower.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But locals living nearby in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse out in the bay, and vowed to save it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>One of the first things they did was write a national register nomination for it, which was successful.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom Butt is the president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>One of the first things they did was write a national register nomination for it, which was successful.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom Butt is the president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station made it onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The local group then tried to find a local organization to take on restoring the site — by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on groups like the National Parks Service and East Bay Regional Park District. But no one bit.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> I think everybody looked at it, and they just it was it it it was just too much.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> I think everybody looked at it, and they just it was it it it was just too much.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom went out to the island in 1978.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Looking back now, I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, you know, we can do this.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabbing everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>New concrete around the cistern.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> We had to do electrical work, we had to do plumbing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All the ornamental railings had been taken off, so they made new ones using the original plans they found in the National Archives.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Repainted everything on the inside. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There was asbestos to remove.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>It was a lot of work. And you know … it took a year, but we got it done. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When the work was complete around 1980, the nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast to provide a stream of revenue to keep up on the maintenance. And … well … because it’s fun!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the stay, guests get a boat ride out with innkeepers Danielle and Rae, just like we did at the beginning of the story. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the stay, guests get a boat ride out with innkeepers Danielle and Rae, just like we did at the beginning of the story. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>We do charcuterie and champagne…\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A history tour with Rae.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then dinner is a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then dinner is a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fantastic sunset, if the weather cooperates…\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then in the morning it’s a full breakfast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then in the morning it’s a full breakfast.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Just before heading back to shore, guests get a special demonstration that we also get to see on our tour…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Just before heading back to shore, guests get a special demonstration that we also get to see on our tour…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>So the gasoline starter engine here is what actually starts the diesel … And this one starts with a ripped cord. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>So the gasoline starter engine here is what actually starts the diesel … And this one starts with a ripped cord. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the fog signal building, Rae shows us the multistep process it takes to blow the foghorn like they did in the 1930s. The small room is packed with old mechanical equipment, some more than 100 years old. It smells like… old military? Is that a smell?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the fog signal building, Rae shows us the multistep process it takes to blow the foghorn like they did in the 1930s. The small room is packed with old mechanical equipment, some more than 100 years old. It smells like… old military? Is that a smell?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s a couple diesel engines, a few air compressors … and they’re all kept running today as a museum piece … because the diaphonic horn is one of only eight like it still functioning in the world.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s a couple diesel engines, a few air compressors … and they’re all kept running today as a museum piece … because the diaphonic horn is one of only eight like it still functioning in the world.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The horn sounds cool in here, but it’s really cool out there.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The horn sounds cool in here, but it’s really cool out there.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After 12 minutes of warming up, we head outside for the grand finale of our tour.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After 12 minutes of warming up, we head outside for the grand finale of our tour.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Foghorn blows loudly\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Foghorn blows loudly\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>You jumped.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>You jumped.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz in scene: \u003c/strong>Well I didn’t know it was coming. I know you’re kinda counting 15, but you’re like…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz in scene: \u003c/strong>Well I didn’t know it was coming. I know you’re kinda counting 15, but you’re like…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Despite being ready, it still startled us all. Absolutely thrilling. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Despite being ready, it still startled us all. Absolutely thrilling. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I checked in with our question asker Kathleen, to see what she made of our tour today…\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>I think that a lot of times we see us in something we see something that interests us and we do a quick Google search and we think that we’ve kind of learned all we there is to know, but it isn’t until you actually take that boat ride, get out on the island to realize that it is just such a unique experience and really such a hidden secret in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I checked in with our question asker Kathleen, to see what she made of our tour today…\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>I think that a lot of times we see us in something we see something that interests us and we do a quick Google search and we think that we’ve kind of learned all we there is to know, but it isn’t until you actually take that boat ride, get out on the island to realize that it is just such a unique experience and really such a hidden secret in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>East Brother Light Station is such a special place. An improbable compromise carved into stone. A beacon of safety. The sound of warning. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>East Brother Light Station is such a special place. An improbable compromise carved into stone. A beacon of safety. The sound of warning. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For decades, keepers traded modern comfort for cold, salt air. They measured their lives in lonely night shifts spent tending a 2-inch flame.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Today this light station offers something softer – a chance to step off the boat, leave the modern world behind and sleep inside a piece of living history.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For decades, keepers traded modern comfort for cold, salt air. They measured their lives in lonely night shifts spent tending a 2-inch flame.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Today this light station offers something softer – a chance to step off the boat, leave the modern world behind and sleep inside a piece of living history.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>We hinted at it in this story, but the pier platform where boats dock at East Brother is in need of repair. The nonprofit is working to raise $750,000 to replace it, along with the gangway. Access to the island could be threatened if it’s not repaired. We’ll link to their fundraising page in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>We hinted at it in this story, but the pier platform where boats dock at East Brother is in need of repair. The nonprofit is working to raise $750,000 to replace it, along with the gangway. Access to the island could be threatened if it’s not repaired. We’ll link to their fundraising page in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Big thanks to historian and author Frank Perry, whose book about East Brother Light Station provided much of the historical information in this episode. And to Kathleen Taylor, our question asker.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Big thanks to historian and author Frank Perry, whose book about East Brother Light Station provided much of the historical information in this episode. And to Kathleen Taylor, our question asker.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>We just launched a new voting round at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>, so that means we need your help picking a question to answer in an upcoming episode. Here are your options!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>We just launched a new voting round at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>, so that means we need your help picking a question to answer in an upcoming episode. Here are your options!\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 1:\u003c/strong> Why does this area have so many community colleges and won’t demographics result in fewer students and some needing to eventually close? How does the ratio of colleges to population compare with other states?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 1:\u003c/strong> Why does this area have so many community colleges and won’t demographics result in fewer students and some needing to eventually close? How does the ratio of colleges to population compare with other states?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 2:\u003c/strong> Why did rogue botanists plant Venus flytraps in the Albion Pygmy Forest in Mendocino in the 1960s?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 2:\u003c/strong> Why did rogue botanists plant Venus flytraps in the Albion Pygmy Forest in Mendocino in the 1960s?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 3: \u003c/strong>I would love to hear about Sally Stanford, the renowned madam turned mayor. I recall my parents having many colorful conversations about her and her “Damn Bird” when we were living in Sausalito.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 3: \u003c/strong>I would love to hear about Sally Stanford, the renowned madam turned mayor. I recall my parents having many colorful conversations about her and her “Damn Bird” when we were living in Sausalito.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Vote anytime this month at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Vote anytime this month at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>We get extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>We get extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week!\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "East Brother Light Station is a gold-rush era relic that was almost torn down. Spending the night there can feel like time traveling.",
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"title": "A Trip to the Remote Island Lighthouse in the Middle of San Francisco Bay | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few years ago, a friend sent me the link for a job listing that seemed like an absolute dream. The opening was for a resident innkeeper at a bed and breakfast on an island in the middle of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-bay\">San Francisco Bay\u003c/a>. Even better, the B&B was housed in a 152-year-old working Victorian lighthouse! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From my cramped desk, I fantasized about a simpler life, spent outside in one of the most gorgeous settings I could imagine. And living rent-free while earning a salary! But reality came crashing down when I read the job required a boat operator’s license and high-quality culinary experience — both of which I lacked. Alas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the fantasy of East Brother Light Station stayed with me. So I was delighted when a Bay Curious listener named Kathleen Taylor wrote in, looking to learn more about the place. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066562\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“We were taking the ferry from Vallejo to a Giants game and passed by what looked like a small island with an East Coast-style lighthouse on it,” she recalled. It captured her imagination, too, and she got to wondering: “What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of what went on on that island?”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>So we headed to the island together to get some answers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#history-east-brother\">History of East Brother Light Station \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#early-lightkeepers\">What life was like for early lighthouse keepers\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#bed-and-breakfast\">How it was converted to a bed and breakfast\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#visiting-today\">Visiting East Brother Light Station today\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"history-east-brother\">History of East Brother Light Station\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. To get there, boats had to skirt around Point San Pablo, the thumb sticking out from Richmond, California. This part of the bay can be especially tough for mariners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The topography under the water is pretty interesting,” said Rae Colvin, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. “There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the [water] off to the side averages about 15 feet deep.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog, and it’s pretty precarious. So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and fog horn were needed. Initially, the Lighthouse Board hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but landowners fought back. They delayed things so profoundly that eventually an alternative site was chosen — East Brother Island. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066561\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Inn keeper Danielle La Vigne pilots a boat from Point San Pablo Harbor to East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>It was small, less than an acre in size, but it was land the U.S. government already owned. Construction began in 1873.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The exterior of the light station features gingerbread trim, scrollwork and a generous second-floor porch. Not the standard-issue government building we’ve come to expect today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The six-room Victorian light station was intended to house three lightkeepers, and two of them could have families. Downstairs was a bedroom and parlor for the principal keeper. Upstairs was a smaller bedroom and parlor for the assistant keeper. There was also a third bedroom for the most junior keeper. Things were cozy, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stacked on top of the living quarters was also the tower that housed the light. When the light station began operating on March 1, 1874, the light’s flame was powered by lard oil and featured a fourth-order \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens\">Fresnel lens\u003c/a>. The lens rotated on a clockwork mechanism. On a clear night, this beam, which appeared to flash every 30 seconds because of the design of the lens, could be seen from about 15 miles away. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"early-lightkeepers\">What life was like for early lightkeepers\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring,” Frank Perry wrote in his book, \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/East-Brother-History-Island-Station/dp/0578211750\">\u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. Much of what we know about life on the island comes from Perry’s book, which was compiled using primary sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 1874, the primary keeper earned $800 a year — the equivalent to about a $24,000 salary today. The assistants earned even less. Their primary responsibility was keeping the light running from sunset to sunrise every night and keeping the fog signal sounding during inclement weather.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Lightkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and slowly bring the flame up to the optimal size of about 1 and 13/16 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to the needs of the light.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066570\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-69-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Historic photos hang on the wall at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. One lighthouse keeper, John Stenmark, brought his wife and children to live on the island. They had many friends in the community and would host large gatherings on the island. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour,” said Danielle La Vigne, one of the resident innkeepers at East Brother Light Station. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The innkeepers also had to wipe the glass panes of the lantern room with dry towels to keep moisture away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On foggy nights, the keepers’ jobs were doubly hard. They had to run the fog signal, too, which sits in another building on the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light,” wrote Perry. “In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell every 15 seconds until the whistle could be sounded. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Beyond the core responsibilities, keepers kept up with a long list of chores: cooking, cleaning, maintenance and repairs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 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=\"12066564\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066564\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The 19th-century lighthouse complex includes a restored fog signal that once warned ships navigating San Pablo Bay. (Beth LaBerge/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=\"12066563\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066563\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-17-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The foghorn machinery at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When they needed food to supplement the dry rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town. At the time, that was San Quentin, about 2 1/2 miles away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor,” said La Vigne. “They had to row.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A daily log was kept by the primary keeper, accounting for the day’s weather and work. Most entries are not more than a sentence, but they do give us a glimpse at the day-to-day life on East Brother. A string of entries in 1882 mention an assistant keeper named Mr. Page, who was a bit of a screw-up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 14, 1882 – Wind S.W., strong. Mr. Page left for San Quentin A.M., capsized off the buoy near the West Brother at 12:15 p.m. Capt. Windsor hailed the Steamer Reform passing up at the time and sent her to his relief. The Reform picked him up ¼ of a mile N.N.E. of the Light House and landed him and the boat at the dock at 1:15 p.m. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, etc., etc., lost, also milk and can.\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>\u003cbr>Dec. 14, 1882 – Wind N.E. Foggy from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Feb. 8 1883 – Wind N.E. Light, clear. Mr. Page went for mail and stores, drunk, no mail.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Feb. 10, 1883, a new assistant, Mr. Tippett, is mentioned, and Mr. Page is never spoken of again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Stenmark era\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though some keepers were men living on their own, passing through East Brother for only a few years, families lived here, too. John Stenmark moved here in 1894 with his wife and 3-month-old daughter, Annie, and they stayed for 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They set up a vegetable garden and raised pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prior to the birth of each of his two sons [Mr. Stenmark] rowed all the way to San Quentin and back to fetch the doctor,” wrote Perry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When the kids grew older, the government paid for a teacher to live on the island for a time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On April 18, 1906, Stenmark wrote about one of the most infamous days in local history in the logbook.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003cp>\u003cem>A heavy earthquake this morning at 5:15 a.m. Lenses of the light broken and glassware broke, and everything of glass broke. \u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cem>Doors open of themselves and the whole island rocking. All the lenses broke.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the next two days, the Stenmarks watched from their quiet island as the fire that followed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068602/san-franciscos-historic-relief-cottages-built-after-the-1906-earthquake-are-hidden-in-plain-sight\">earthquake consumed San Francisco\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The end of lighthouse keepers\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station, most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The original used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene,” Colvin 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/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066565\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-40-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view from the inn at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big change came in 1934 when electricity arrived on the island via an underwater cable that connected it to shore. A lightkeeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night — greatly reducing their daily chore load. The steam-powered fog signal was replaced with a diaphonic horn that can still be operated today and is one of only eight like it in the world. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident personnel from the island in 1969. They planned to demolish all the buildings and put the light on a steel tower. But residents living in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse off their shoreline and were ready to fight for it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bed-and-breakfast\">How it was converted to a bed and breakfast\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One of the first things [local residents] did was write a National Register nomination for it, which was successful,” said Tom Butt, founder and president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond and a longtime city council member. “That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down because it invoked the Historic Preservation Act of 1966.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group then tried to find a local organization to take on rehabilitating the site, because by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on organizations like the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District, but no one was interested.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think everybody looked at it and [thought] it was just too much,” said Butt. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He went to the island in 1978. “Looking back now,” he said, “I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, ‘you know, we can do this.’”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-68-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Marin Room, which faces Mount Tamalpais, at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\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-6 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=\"12066567\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066567\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-54-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A lighthouse shower curtain hangs in a bathroom at the inn on East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/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=\"12066571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066571\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-76-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A room at East Brother Light Station, an island just off the Richmond shoreline, on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat. The inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabilitating everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“All the buildings at that point were covered with asbestos shingles,” Butt said. “All of the ornamental railings had long since been taken off. We were lucky we had original plans from the National Archives, so we were able to replicate all that trim and put that back on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Volunteers did electrical work, plumbing, plastering and painting. It was a ton of work, but they managed to get it all done in about a year. The nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast in 1980 to provide a stream of revenue to keep up with the maintenance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though most of the operational costs and maintenance for the B&B are now covered by the nightly fee guests pay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-east-brother-lighthouse-replace-the-pier?cp_src=d\">a major fundraising effort\u003c/a> is underway to replace the dock and gangway on the east side of the island. It must be replaced, or access to the island could be threatened. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visiting-today\">Visiting East Brother Light Station today\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit B&B is open four nights a week for overnight guests, and it’s recommended you \u003ca href=\"https://ebls.org/?_gl=1%2A1oq51ai%2A_ga%2AMjkzMDI3NzY5LjE3ODYxMzI2MjI.%2A_ga_J5B5MW125P%2AczE3ODc4NzI0MjUkbzckZzEkdDE3ODc4NzI0NDMkajQyJGwwJGgw\">book one of the five rooms well in advance\u003c/a>. Rates range from $525 to $575 per night. During summer months, there is once-monthly day-use access for $45, which includes the boat ride to and from the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the overnight stays, guests are taken by boat from Point San Pablo Marina by innkeepers Colvin and La Vigne. Once on the island, hors d’oeuvre and champagne are served, Colvin gives a history talk, and then comes a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We try to focus as much as we can on keeping things local,” La Vigne said. “We collaborate with the little goat farm that’s in the harbor, and we tend to plan the meals around what is being harvested now, what’s in season.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251208-EASTBROTHER-64-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Innkeepers Rachel (Rae) Colvin (left) and Danielle La Vigne at East Brother Light Station in Richmond on Dec. 8, 2025. The historic lighthouse sits on a small, rocky outcrop in San Pablo Bay and is accessible only by boat, and the inn provides overnight stays in the restored 19th-century keeper’s quarters. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>They also try to make meals part of the historical experience, using ingredients the keepers would have received as part of their rations — like potatoes, rice and salted pork.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have recipes from the Lighthouse Keeper’s Manual from 1891 that had recipes for how to stretch your rations. Last night we served for the first course a corn chowder that is from that original Lighthouse Keeper’s handbook,” La Vigne said. “Although their recipe was incredibly bland, and I spruced it up a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, historically inspired … but for a modern palate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Guests sleep in rooms neatly decorated with antiques. Most rooms are named after the view you see from the room, so there’s West Brother (the neighboring island), Marin Room, San Francisco Room. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A more modest room is out in the fog signal building — a popular choice for returning guests looking for a different experience, Colvin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the clientele are couples looking for a romantic getaway, but the house is also regularly rented out entirely by groups for birthdays, anniversaries or themed experiences.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We had two murder mystery dinner parties in the past month,” La Vigne said. “Both parties dressed up. They were in character the whole time. It was 1920 the whole time they were here.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the morning, before guests depart, they offer a demonstration of the fog signal — I can attest, it’s loud!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price. This is Bay Curious.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>sound design of the sea: waves, gulls\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s something dreamy about lighthouses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their striking architecture, rising high above our human scale.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their symbolism. A literal light in the darkness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In me, lighthouses stir something nostalgic. A time before GPS and radar — when navigation was done with charts and stars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, many lighthouses across the United States have become tourism attractions, like Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But there’s a lighthouse near San Francisco that offers an experience like none other. Not just a quick trip to the top, but an opportunity to live like a lighthouse keeper of yore!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station looks like it could have been plucked from a child’s storybook. It’s a charming three-story wooden house, painted a creamy yellow with white gingerbread trim. At the top, stands a tower, where the brilliant light beckons through the fog.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kathleen got to wondering a lot of things about this lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>What’s the history? Did somebody live on that island previously? Just how far back do we have documentation of, you know, what went on on that Island?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>So today we’re on a mission for answers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Step one! We have to get to the lighthouse. At a marina north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Kathleen and I make our way toward a small boat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There we meet Danielle La Vigne and Rae Colvin — the two keepers currently living on the island.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Oh, you guys can hop on board. Our insurance company does ask that you wear those.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Life vests are on, and we are off. Danielle and Rae have been living at the East Brother Light Station for about a year and half. But the helm of a boat is a familiar place for them.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene:\u003c/strong> Did you know how to drive a boat, or is this a recent skill you’ve had to acquire? ‘Cause you’ve, you guys have been on the job for…\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>I’ve been a commercial captain for almost 20 years. This is the smallest boat that I’ve ever operated professionally. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>As we’re making our way out of the marina, Rae spots a seal.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>A lot of seals live out by the island. … we have a bunch of birds and the harbor seals and sometimes a sea lion.\u003cem>\u003cs>\u003cbr>\u003c/s>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Danielle and Rae are the only two full-time \u003cem>human\u003c/em> residents of East Brother Light Station. But they’re far from alone out there. Because keeping the light running is not their main focus. Instead it’s catering to the weekly overnight guests who join them at the Light Station. Because these days East Brother is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, we just snuck around the bend, and I am seeing the light station probably 400 feet away or so.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I can’t see it from up on the water, but down beneath our boat lies the answer to one of Kathleen’s questions. Why is this lighthouse \u003cem>here\u003c/em>, some 15 miles from the open ocean?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the decades after gold was first found in California in 1848, mining activity in the Sierra really ramped up. Getting supplies from San Francisco up into the mountains often meant taking a boat — floating things up the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ships had to skirt around Point San Pablo — where our little boat just departed from. Rae Colvin explains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And they put a lighthouse out here because the topography under the water is pretty interesting. There’s a 160-foot-deep chasm right off the island. But most of the open ocean off to the side that you can see averages out to about 15 feet deep. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Ships passing through this channel were constantly at risk of running aground even in good weather. Add in some dense fog and it’s pretty precarious.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So in the early 1870s, it was decided a lighthouse and foghorn were needed. Initially, they hoped to put the light station on the mainland, but quickly ran into issues…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The people who owned the land on the East Bay there didn’t want to sell to the government to let them build a lighthouse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After years of trying and failing to get the landowners to relent, the government changed course. Just offshore was \u003cem>East Brother Island\u003c/em> — a speck of land really, smaller than an acre — but it was enough. And better yet, it was land the U.S. government already owned. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Workers blasted sandstone from the top of the island to create a level plot. A foundation went in, walls went up, and in less than a year the six-room Victorian light station was complete. The design is quite striking…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There’s a lot of ornamental woodwork on it, and it’s three stories.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> But it’s not exactly unique. Lighthouses with a similar design were built all over the West Coast. This is the oldest one still standing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Fade up on sound of boat slowing down and approaching dock. Ambi of arriving sounds.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The wind picks up as our little boat approaches the island and sidles up to the dock. Once we’re off, Danielle and Rae work to get the boat lifted out of the water.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>If we left it in the water, it would just get thrashed against the dock all day long, and this dock already needs help so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>This one’s been here since I think the 1960s, and, you know, it’s seen better days.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The dock may need work, but as we make our way up some stairs and onto the property, a tidy semicircle of three buildings emerges. The main light station to the west, a small cottage to the north, and a fog signal building to the east. All fit on about three-quarters of an acre. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The buildings surround a low white dome covering something beneath the pavement. Danielle explains…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We need to collect rainwater to survive out here, this whole courtyard is set up to direct all of the rain flow down into the cistern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Across the courtyard we head into the main house, where today most of the overnight bed-and-breakfast guests stay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So of course we have to do the shameless product placement. As you enter the house, the first room you see is the gift shop.\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>OK, so, the gift shop is not original to the light station, but the mugs they sell are popular with B&B guests. Couples often come out for romantic getaways. Kathleen and I learn learn groups stay here for birding weekends or murder-mystery parties.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> How often do you get groups that rent the whole island? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two, yeah, two to three times a month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The house has seen some changes over its 152-year life, but it’s not hard to imagine what it once was. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most often three lighthouse keepers, and sometimes their families, shared the home. There’d be a primary keeper, aka the boss, living downstairs. And then the first assistant upstairs, along with a junior keeper, someone just learning the ropes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They all lived, ate and slept beneath the tower that housed the light. Staying close because it needed constant attention. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> This is the parlor, which is the comfy hangout spot for the guests. Originally this would have been the junior keeper’s parlor. And the bedroom right over here, the Marin room, would have been the junior keeper’s bedroom. So it was kind of like a little apartment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today, B&B guests stay in bedrooms with cozy beds, decorated with beautiful antiques. Historical maps and pictures of boats hang on the walls. And each room gets a name, based on what is visible outside the window.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So this is the San Francisco room, and it’s my personal favorite room. \u003cs>I\u003c/s>t has an arched ceiling, and it looks out to San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We make our way to the main attraction: the tower … which is made up of three tiny rooms stacked on top of each other. We start at the base.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>So this is kind of the prep room where they’d get everything ready, but every half hour they had to go up there and trim the wick and refill the oil.\u003cem>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Next we head up to the Watch room.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> It’s a tightly winding staircase like you would expect in a Victorian mansion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>We’re now 40 feet up. So you’ve got a pretty good view. If it’s stormy out, if it seems like it’s there’s a danger of a ship not seeing the light or whatever, that’s where you’re watching from so that you can signal those people if you need to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Finally, we head to the pinnacle. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> Up here is more winding stairs up into the actual lighthouse. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I will say, the view from this room is spectacular. The light itself, a little bit of a letdown. Today a 4 inch LED sits in the space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin:\u003c/strong> So the original light, it was a Fresnel lens with a little lantern torch in the middle. And originally that torch on this station was powered by lard oil.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fourth-order Fresnel lens! Imagine a magnificent orb of glass, made up of neat rows of prisms, standing several feet tall. They were designed to concentrate the light of a single flame so intensely it could be seen for about 15 miles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On March 1, 1874, as sunset approached, three lighthouse keepers climbed up into this very tower, and lit the oil lamp for the very first time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The lighthouse has been operating, in some fashion or another, ever since.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cem>[Music moment]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When we return, we explore what life was like living and working at East Brother. And it might not be like you expect! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor messages\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>If you enjoy stories like this one, consider becoming a financial supporter of KQED. Learn more at donate.kqed.org/podcasts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music begins\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It’s easy to get enamored by the apparent simplicity of life on an island in the middle of the Bay. I know I imagine myself reading in a hammock. Our question asker, Kathleen, loves that cell reception out on East Brother is limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> It is great to decompress and turn your phone off, and we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> And sure, that is the experience you will get here today as a guest at the B&B. But working here is hard, as Danielle can attest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne: \u003c/strong>The work is never-ending. Because it’s just the two of us … So we’re the phones and the emails and the booking. There’s some degree of maintenance work that is pretty much always happening. The house needs to be deep cleaned every week between guests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Working here has always been hard. Historian Frank Perry makes clear that his book, \u003cem>East Brother: History of an Island Light Station.\u003c/em> Here’s an excerpt…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BOOK VO: \u003c/strong>Despite the romantic portrayal of lighthouse keeping in novels, poems and art, the job was monotonous, and the Lighthouse Board knew it. Pay was modest and much of the work boring. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The nightly routine would begin at sunset. Innkeepers would fill the lamp with lard oil, light the wick, and bring the flame slowly up to the optimal size, just shy of 2 inches. If they did this too quickly, the glass chimney inside the rotating Fresnel lens could crack from the change in temperature. That alone was a 30-minute job. Then the keepers had to sit in the watch room all night, tending to its various needs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle \u003cstrong>La Vigne\u003c/strong>: \u003c/strong>And because of the timing on that clockwork mechanism and how quickly the wicks would burn down, you gotta check it every half hour.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>On a clear night, the tiny flame, refracted through that powerful lens, could be seen from parts of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a foggy night, things got more complicated. Keepers had to run the fog signal across the courtyard too. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>The whistle was sometimes more important in aiding mariners than the light. In dense fog or heavy rain, East Brother’s powerful light was virtually useless. The 10-inch whistle, on the other hand, could often be heard from 10 or 12 miles away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>It took about 45 minutes to build up enough steam in the boiler for the fog whistle to work. So in the meantime, one of the keepers went outside and struck a large bell until the whistle could be sounded. Danielle gave us a demonstration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Danielle whacking the bell\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>What a job.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bell ambi\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Book VO: \u003c/strong>Since the whistle might be put in operation night or day, off-duty keepers had to learn to sleep in spite of the noise. Some keepers apparently got quite good at this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Keepers were also quite busy with chores. Cooking, cleaning, maintenance, repairs. When they needed food to supplement the rations that got delivered once a year or so, they had to leave the island for the nearest town, which at the time was San Quentin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> So in order to get anything, they had to go to San Quentin. And I have a 200 horsepower motorboat to get back and forth to our little harbor. They had to row.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor:\u003c/strong> So how far would the trip have been from here to San Quentin? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Danielle La Vigne:\u003c/strong> Two and a half miles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Light Keepers also kept daily logbooks with short entries about the day’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Feb. 14 1883 – Wind S.W. Squally, strong. Employed all day cleaning engine room and lens in lantern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>…but sometimes you get a glimpse of more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music start\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>There was an assistant keeper who got put down in the logbook as a drunken screw-up. He’s one of my favorites.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Joseph Page was his name. And let’s just say the head keeper at the time was not a fan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>Dec. 14, 1882 – Mr. Page went to San Quentin for mail, returned as usual, drunk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over: \u003c/strong>July 14, 1882 – Mr. Page left for San Quentin. Capsized off the buoy at 12:15 p.m. … \u003cem>The Reform\u003c/em> picked him up ¼ mile NNE of light house. Oars, rudder, mail and all the marketing – consisting of mutton, cabbages, peas, lost. Also milk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003cbr>\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, technological improvements came regularly to East Brother Light Station … most often to the fuel source used to power the light.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The originals used lard oil lamps, and then they switched to mineral oil, and then they used kerosene.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>One big change came in 1934 when the lens was electrified – via an underwater cable that connected the island to shore. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A light keeper was no longer needed to keep a flame burning all night – greatly reducing their daily chore load – and probably greatly improving their quality of life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it was also the first step toward automation – and eliminating the need for lighthouse keepers altogether.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eventually that came, of course, in 1969. To save on salaries, the U.S. Coast Guard automated everything and pulled the last resident keeper from the island. They planned to demolish the light station, and all the buildings on the island, and put the light on a steel tower.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music end\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But locals living nearby in Point Richmond had other plans. They had grown attached to the charming lighthouse out in the bay, and vowed to save it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>One of the first things they did was write a national register nomination for it, which was successful.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom Butt is the president of East Brother Light Station Inc., the nonprofit that operates the bed and breakfast. He’s also the former mayor of Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>East Brother Light Station made it onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> That didn’t save it, but it made it harder for the Coast Guard to tear it down.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>The local group then tried to find a local organization to take on restoring the site — by that point it was more than a decade behind on maintenance and needed serious work. They focused on groups like the National Parks Service and East Bay Regional Park District. But no one bit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> I think everybody looked at it, and they just it was it it it was just too much.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Tom went out to the island in 1978.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Looking back now, I was a lot younger and not near as smart as I am now, and I was intrigued by it and said, you know, we can do this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>He and others formed a nonprofit and started leasing the site from the Coast Guard. They spent a year rehabbing everything, mostly with volunteer work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>New concrete around the cistern.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt:\u003c/strong> We had to do electrical work, we had to do plumbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>All the ornamental railings had been taken off, so they made new ones using the original plans they found in the National Archives.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>Repainted everything on the inside. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There was asbestos to remove.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tom Butt: \u003c/strong>It was a lot of work. And you know … it took a year, but we got it done. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>When the work was complete around 1980, the nonprofit began running the site as a bed and breakfast to provide a stream of revenue to keep up on the maintenance. And … well … because it’s fun!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the beginning of the stay, guests get a boat ride out with innkeepers Danielle and Rae, just like we did at the beginning of the story. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>We do charcuterie and champagne…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A history tour with Rae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then dinner is a four-course dinner with wine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>A fantastic sunset, if the weather cooperates…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>And then in the morning it’s a full breakfast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Just before heading back to shore, guests get a special demonstration that we also get to see on our tour…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>So the gasoline starter engine here is what actually starts the diesel … And this one starts with a ripped cord. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>In the fog signal building, Rae shows us the multistep process it takes to blow the foghorn like they did in the 1930s. The small room is packed with old mechanical equipment, some more than 100 years old. It smells like… old military? Is that a smell?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a couple diesel engines, a few air compressors … and they’re all kept running today as a museum piece … because the diaphonic horn is one of only eight like it still functioning in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rae Colvin: \u003c/strong>The horn sounds cool in here, but it’s really cool out there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>After 12 minutes of warming up, we head outside for the grand finale of our tour.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Foghorn blows loudly\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price in scene: \u003c/strong>You jumped.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katrina Schwartz in scene: \u003c/strong>Well I didn’t know it was coming. I know you’re kinda counting 15, but you’re like…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Despite being ready, it still startled us all. Absolutely thrilling. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I checked in with our question asker Kathleen, to see what she made of our tour today…\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>I think that a lot of times we see us in something we see something that interests us and we do a quick Google search and we think that we’ve kind of learned all we there is to know, but it isn’t until you actually take that boat ride, get out on the island to realize that it is just such a unique experience and really such a hidden secret in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>East Brother Light Station is such a special place. An improbable compromise carved into stone. A beacon of safety. The sound of warning. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For decades, keepers traded modern comfort for cold, salt air. They measured their lives in lonely night shifts spent tending a 2-inch flame.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Today this light station offers something softer – a chance to step off the boat, leave the modern world behind and sleep inside a piece of living history.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We hinted at it in this story, but the pier platform where boats dock at East Brother is in need of repair. The nonprofit is working to raise $750,000 to replace it, along with the gangway. Access to the island could be threatened if it’s not repaired. We’ll link to their fundraising page in the show notes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Big thanks to historian and author Frank Perry, whose book about East Brother Light Station provided much of the historical information in this episode. And to Kathleen Taylor, our question asker.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We just launched a new voting round at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>, so that means we need your help picking a question to answer in an upcoming episode. Here are your options!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 1:\u003c/strong> Why does this area have so many community colleges and won’t demographics result in fewer students and some needing to eventually close? How does the ratio of colleges to population compare with other states?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 2:\u003c/strong> Why did rogue botanists plant Venus flytraps in the Albion Pygmy Forest in Mendocino in the 1960s?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Question 3: \u003c/strong>I would love to hear about Sally Stanford, the renowned madam turned mayor. I recall my parents having many colorful conversations about her and her “Damn Bird” when we were living in Sausalito.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Vote anytime this month at \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kathleen Taylor: \u003c/strong>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>We get extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week!\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
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"slug": "nepali-solidarity-takes-root-in-east-bay-after-apocalyptic-flash-flooding",
"title": "Nepali Solidarity Takes Root in East Bay After ‘Apocalyptic’ Flash Flooding",
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"headTitle": "Nepali Solidarity Takes Root in East Bay After ‘Apocalyptic’ Flash Flooding | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>More than a dozen members of Janak Raj Dhungana’s family are still missing following the flash flooding in Nepal and Tibet. Another two dozen of the \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond \u003c/a>resident’s friends – some from his childhood in Nepal – are also unaccounted for. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s really very hard to control my emotions,” he said at a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond. “We are praying for them. We can’t do nothing.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least 676 people died in the flooding that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, and almost 3,000 people are still missing, according to Saturday morning figures from both governments. Nepali authorities said that 65 U.S. citizens are among the missing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees sit and stand around candles arranged on the ground during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raj Dhungana was with about 100 people who said a prayer thousands of miles away for their families and friends who number among the missing and dead.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Members of the Nepali Association of Northern California bowed their heads on Friday night at its community center, surrounding candles they had placed on the ground in patterns. One of the arrangements spelled out the word: “PRAY.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sheela Dawadi, a Pittsburg resident, said she doesn’t have any blood relatives affected by the floods, but that “family” includes everyone right now. \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097503\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sheela Dawadi kneels as she places rows of candles before a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[The whole of] Nepal is family right now,” Dawadi said. “I’m far away. I feel so hopeless.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is home to upwards of 35,000 Nepali people in the diaspora, according to Preetesh Karki, president of the Nepali Association of Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Geological Survey said the flooding was “likely triggered” by rapid slope failure that involved a glacier. Though the agency hasn’t definitely said the cause is a melting glacier and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/28/world/nepal-tibet-flash-floods\">an investigation into the incident\u003c/a> is still underway, climate experts say that it’s likely. \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=\"12097504\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097504\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee bows her head as people gather around candles during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/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=\"12097501\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097501\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yashoda Bhattarai, center, and her daughter Ravya listen to speakers during a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climate change has increased the speed at which glaciers defrost, meaning events like those in Nepal are becoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/28/nx-s1-5945799/nepal-floods-climate-change-himalayas\">more frequent\u003c/a>. Karki and Tika Lamsal, president of the Buddha Nepal Peace Foundation, said the disaster didn’t have to happen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s kind of surreal, apocalyptic for all of us,” Lamsal said at the vigil. “It is not only Nepal that is suffering right now, it’s all the community in the world because global warming is real.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Karki agreed, blasting other countries that disproportionately contribute to climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People from a country like mine who have nothing to do with all this impact are the people who are losing life,” Karki said before the vigil. “Nepal don’t just need your prayer. We need your apology.” \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097510\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees light candles during a vigil for victims of flooding in Nepal at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nepal contributed less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. In comparison, the U.S. made up 15.5% and China, 32.1%, that same year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The recent wars in Iran and Russia also contribute to the increase in emissions, Karki said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People living in the world, especially in developed countries, are enjoying their everyday life, that luxury is being paid by someone remote who has nothing to do [with it],” Karki said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Nepali Association of Northern California said it is \u003ca href=\"https://nancusa.org/donations/support-nepal-flood-victims/\">doubling donations\u003c/a> going toward flood relief.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/psibulo\">\u003cem>Paula Sibulo\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than a dozen members of Janak Raj Dhungana’s family are still missing following the flash flooding in Nepal and Tibet. Another two dozen of the \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond \u003c/a>resident’s friends – some from his childhood in Nepal – are also unaccounted for. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>More than a dozen members of Janak Raj Dhungana’s family are still missing following the flash flooding in Nepal and Tibet. Another two dozen of the \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond \u003c/a>resident’s friends – some from his childhood in Nepal – are also unaccounted for. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s really very hard to control my emotions,” he said at a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond. “We are praying for them. We can’t do nothing.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s really very hard to control my emotions,” he said at a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond. “We are praying for them. We can’t do nothing.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At least 676 people died in the flooding that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, and almost 3,000 people are still missing, according to Saturday morning figures from both governments. Nepali authorities said that 65 U.S. citizens are among the missing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At least 676 people died in the flooding that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, and almost 3,000 people are still missing, according to Saturday morning figures from both governments. Nepali authorities said that 65 U.S. citizens are among the missing. \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees sit and stand around candles arranged on the ground during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097502\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees sit and stand around candles arranged on the ground during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Raj Dhungana was with about 100 people who said a prayer thousands of miles away for their families and friends who number among the missing and dead.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Members of the Nepali Association of Northern California bowed their heads on Friday night at its community center, surrounding candles they had placed on the ground in patterns. One of the arrangements spelled out the word: “PRAY.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sheela Dawadi, a Pittsburg resident, said she doesn’t have any blood relatives affected by the floods, but that “family” includes everyone right now. \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097503\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_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\">Sheela Dawadi kneels as she places rows of candles before a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“[The whole of] Nepal is family right now,” Dawadi said. “I’m far away. I feel so hopeless.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is home to upwards of 35,000 Nepali people in the diaspora, according to Preetesh Karki, president of the Nepali Association of Northern California. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. Geological Survey said the flooding was “likely triggered” by rapid slope failure that involved a glacier. Though the agency hasn’t definitely said the cause is a melting glacier and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/28/world/nepal-tibet-flash-floods\">an investigation into the incident\u003c/a> is still underway, climate experts say that it’s likely. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climate change has increased the speed at which glaciers defrost, meaning events like those in Nepal are becoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/28/nx-s1-5945799/nepal-floods-climate-change-himalayas\">more frequent\u003c/a>. Karki and Tika Lamsal, president of the Buddha Nepal Peace Foundation, said the disaster didn’t have to happen. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climate change has increased the speed at which glaciers defrost, meaning events like those in Nepal are becoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/28/nx-s1-5945799/nepal-floods-climate-change-himalayas\">more frequent\u003c/a>. Karki and Tika Lamsal, president of the Buddha Nepal Peace Foundation, said the disaster didn’t have to happen. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s kind of surreal, apocalyptic for all of us,” Lamsal said at the vigil. “It is not only Nepal that is suffering right now, it’s all the community in the world because global warming is real.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People from a country like mine who have nothing to do with all this impact are the people who are losing life,” Karki said before the vigil. “Nepal don’t just need your prayer. We need your apology.” \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097510\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_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\">Attendees light candles during a vigil for victims of flooding in Nepal at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nepal contributed less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. In comparison, the U.S. made up 15.5% and China, 32.1%, that same year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The recent wars in Iran and Russia also contribute to the increase in emissions, Karki said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Nepali Association of Northern California said it is \u003ca href=\"https://nancusa.org/donations/support-nepal-flood-victims/\">doubling donations\u003c/a> going toward flood relief.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/psibulo\">\u003cem>Paula Sibulo\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Contra Costa residents prayed for loved ones following this week’s flash flooding at the country’s border while blasting climate change for the event. ",
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"title": "Nepali Solidarity Takes Root in East Bay After ‘Apocalyptic’ Flash Flooding | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>More than a dozen members of Janak Raj Dhungana’s family are still missing following the flash flooding in Nepal and Tibet. Another two dozen of the \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond \u003c/a>resident’s friends – some from his childhood in Nepal – are also unaccounted for. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s really very hard to control my emotions,” he said at a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond. “We are praying for them. We can’t do nothing.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least 676 people died in the flooding that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, and almost 3,000 people are still missing, according to Saturday morning figures from both governments. Nepali authorities said that 65 U.S. citizens are among the missing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1998\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_020_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees sit and stand around candles arranged on the ground during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raj Dhungana was with about 100 people who said a prayer thousands of miles away for their families and friends who number among the missing and dead.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Members of the Nepali Association of Northern California bowed their heads on Friday night at its community center, surrounding candles they had placed on the ground in patterns. One of the arrangements spelled out the word: “PRAY.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sheela Dawadi, a Pittsburg resident, said she doesn’t have any blood relatives affected by the floods, but that “family” includes everyone right now. \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097503\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_004_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sheela Dawadi kneels as she places rows of candles before a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[The whole of] Nepal is family right now,” Dawadi said. “I’m far away. I feel so hopeless.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area is home to upwards of 35,000 Nepali people in the diaspora, according to Preetesh Karki, president of the Nepali Association of Northern California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Geological Survey said the flooding was “likely triggered” by rapid slope failure that involved a glacier. Though the agency hasn’t definitely said the cause is a melting glacier and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/28/world/nepal-tibet-flash-floods\">an investigation into the incident\u003c/a> is still underway, climate experts say that it’s likely. \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=\"12097504\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097504\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_009_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee bows her head as people gather around candles during a vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/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=\"12097501\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097501\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_007_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yashoda Bhattarai, center, and her daughter Ravya listen to speakers during a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climate change has increased the speed at which glaciers defrost, meaning events like those in Nepal are becoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/28/nx-s1-5945799/nepal-floods-climate-change-himalayas\">more frequent\u003c/a>. Karki and Tika Lamsal, president of the Buddha Nepal Peace Foundation, said the disaster didn’t have to happen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s kind of surreal, apocalyptic for all of us,” Lamsal said at the vigil. “It is not only Nepal that is suffering right now, it’s all the community in the world because global warming is real.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Karki agreed, blasting other countries that disproportionately contribute to climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People from a country like mine who have nothing to do with all this impact are the people who are losing life,” Karki said before the vigil. “Nepal don’t just need your prayer. We need your apology.” \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/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12097510\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/082826_NepalVigil_GH_001_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees light candles during a vigil for victims of flooding in Nepal at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond on Aug. 28, 2026. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nepal contributed less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. In comparison, the U.S. made up 15.5% and China, 32.1%, that same year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The recent wars in Iran and Russia also contribute to the increase in emissions, Karki said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People living in the world, especially in developed countries, are enjoying their everyday life, that luxury is being paid by someone remote who has nothing to do [with it],” Karki said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Nepali Association of Northern California said it is \u003ca href=\"https://nancusa.org/donations/support-nepal-flood-victims/\">doubling donations\u003c/a> going toward flood relief.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/psibulo\">\u003cem>Paula Sibulo\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-lawmakers-move-to-preserve-safety-rules",
"title": "California Lawmakers Move to Preserve Refinery Safety Rules",
"publishDate": 1786878000,
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"headTitle": "California Lawmakers Move to Preserve Refinery Safety Rules | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>lawmakers are advancing an effort to preserve oil refinery safety rules that were designed to prevent fires, explosions and other catastrophes despite industry opposition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The union-backed proposal, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb966\">Senate Bill 966\u003c/a>, would enshrine existing worker protections into state law as California regulators move to revise them in response to a legal settlement with the state’s oil lobby.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to get the best regulations possible for these industries,” said Nick Plurkowski, a leader of a Bay Area local of the United Steelworkers. “An industry where you have to write into regulation … that it’s okay to refuse work that could lead to your death.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11975694\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery in Richmond on Oct. 27, 2023. A 2012 fire that broke out at the facility prompted safety regulations that state lawmakers are now looking to lock in. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill would lock in workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work, participate in safety reviews, choose their own representatives for safety planning and report hazards anonymously. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The measure is among several targeting the oil and gas industry this year, including proposals aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1259\">refinery closure plans\u003c/a> and a bid to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb493\">curb high gas prices during wartime\u003c/a> by expanding the state’s price-gouging law. Lawmakers’ focus on refineries comes as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">California drivers\u003c/a> face the \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/\">nation’s highest gasoline prices\u003c/a> and the Iran war pushes up the global price of crude oil.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The worker safety bill would lock in provisions adopted after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/chevron-richmond-refinery-fire/\">2012 Chevron refinery fire\u003c/a> in Richmond that prompted 15,000 people to seek medical attention. The Western States Petroleum Association, the state’s main oil lobby, formally opposes the measure, arguing it would override a 2024 legal settlement the industry reached with regulators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The industry and union players fighting over the bill do not contribute much money directly to lawmakers, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry can be toxic in elections for the state’s politically dominant Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But WSPA is a powerhouse when it comes to lobbying. It’s routinely the biggest spender in the Capitol among the many interest groups that hire lobbyists, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/data/2025/04/california-lobbying-spending-2024/\">according to state records\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180844&amendid=0\">WSPA\u003c/a> reported lobbying on the measure, and is joined by some of the state’s largest refiners, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180792&amendid=0\">Chevron\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3178680&amendid=0\">Marathon Petroleum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3173091&amendid=0\">PBF Energy\u003c/a>, according to lobbying reports reviewed by CalMatters. Those three companies \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/californias-oil-refineries\">run refineries\u003c/a> that comprise nearly 90% of California’s crude oil refining capacity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposal, which cleared a key fiscal committee this week, is authored by State Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lena-gonzalez-165452\">Lena Gonzalez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Long Beach, and comes after \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/10/refinery-explosion-federal-state-oversight/\">an explosion last year\u003c/a> at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery. That blast rattled windows across nearby neighborhoods and shot uncontrolled columns of flame into the air, raising new concerns about the safety of the state’s aging refineries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Zach Leary, a lobbyist for WSPA, in testimony at a legislative hearing earlier this summer, argued the proposal would override a 2024 settlement under which California regulators agreed to pursue changes to refinery safety rules in exchange for the industry dropping years of litigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, it’s this type of regulatory and legislative whiplash that creates a business environment that is very difficult to operate in,” \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279744#t=1879&f=ddaaef2166740a84e19faea99e5135db\">Leary said in June\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Finance \u003ca href=\"https://leganalysis.dof.ca.gov/getPdf/15789\">also opposes the bill\u003c/a>, arguing it adds additional costs not included in this year’s budget, could expose the state to further litigation expenses and may conflict with an ongoing process to rewrite the rules following the 2024 settlement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California has some of the nation’s toughest refinery safety measures because of two earlier explosions: the 2012 Richmond refinery fire, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/20/exxonmobil_report_for_public_release.pdf?15813#page=6\">another in 2015\u003c/a> at a refinery in Torrance then owned by ExxonMobil that came close to releasing modified hydrofluoric acid, a potentially deadly industrial chemical.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"728\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2013/12/RS268_chevron20120810.jpg\" alt=\"The Chevron refinery fire in Richmond in August 2012 sent smoke across the Bay Area. (Stephen Schiller/Flickr)\" class=\"wp-image-120958\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery fire in Richmond in August 2012 sent smoke across the Bay Area. (Stephen Schiller/Flickr)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The worker rules are built around the concept of process safety, which requires refineries to identify and address hazards before they lead to accidents and gives workers a direct role in safety reviews and investigations. The goal is to prevent failures that can lead to refinery fires and explosions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But WSPA sued to block the rules in 2019, calling them unclear and invalid. California \u003ca href=\"https://publichealthwatch.org/2025/04/22/secret-deal-in-california-would-weaken-regulations-for-oil-refineries/\">quietly settled\u003c/a> in 2024. In response to the settlement, the California Environmental Protection Agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28552134-2026-0226-01s-approval/\">finalized amendments\u003c/a> this year to its refinery safety rules, including how workers take part in safety decisions and how hazards are reviewed. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Petroleum-Refineries-Notice-Jan2026.pdf\">companion rule revision\u003c/a> at the state’s workplace safety agency is ongoing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plurkowski, of the local United Steelworkers union, said that the outcome at CalEPA prompted the push for the worker safety measures to be written into law. The regional United Steelworkers District 12 sponsored the measure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Part of what led to SB 966 was how quickly CalEPA folded,” Plurkowski said. “People’s lives are at stake, communities are at stake, we’ve learned enough lessons to know better at this point.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/digital-democracy/2026/08/refinery-safety-california-gas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>lawmakers are advancing an effort to preserve oil refinery safety rules that were designed to prevent fires, explosions and other catastrophes despite industry opposition. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>lawmakers are advancing an effort to preserve oil refinery safety rules that were designed to prevent fires, explosions and other catastrophes despite industry opposition. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The union-backed proposal, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb966\">Senate Bill 966\u003c/a>, would enshrine existing worker protections into state law as California regulators move to revise them in response to a legal settlement with the state’s oil lobby.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to get the best regulations possible for these industries,” said Nick Plurkowski, a leader of a Bay Area local of the United Steelworkers. “An industry where you have to write into regulation … that it’s okay to refuse work that could lead to your death.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to get the best regulations possible for these industries,” said Nick Plurkowski, a leader of a Bay Area local of the United Steelworkers. “An industry where you have to write into regulation … that it’s okay to refuse work that could lead to your death.”\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/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11975694\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery in Richmond on Oct. 27, 2023. A 2012 fire that broke out at the facility prompted safety regulations that state lawmakers are now looking to lock in. \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/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11975694\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery in Richmond on Oct. 27, 2023. A 2012 fire that broke out at the facility prompted safety regulations that state lawmakers are now looking to lock in. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bill would lock in workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work, participate in safety reviews, choose their own representatives for safety planning and report hazards anonymously. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bill would lock in workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work, participate in safety reviews, choose their own representatives for safety planning and report hazards anonymously. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The measure is among several targeting the oil and gas industry this year, including proposals aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1259\">refinery closure plans\u003c/a> and a bid to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb493\">curb high gas prices during wartime\u003c/a> by expanding the state’s price-gouging law. Lawmakers’ focus on refineries comes as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">California drivers\u003c/a> face the \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/\">nation’s highest gasoline prices\u003c/a> and the Iran war pushes up the global price of crude oil.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The measure is among several targeting the oil and gas industry this year, including proposals aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1259\">refinery closure plans\u003c/a> and a bid to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb493\">curb high gas prices during wartime\u003c/a> by expanding the state’s price-gouging law. Lawmakers’ focus on refineries comes as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">California drivers\u003c/a> face the \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/\">nation’s highest gasoline prices\u003c/a> and the Iran war pushes up the global price of crude oil.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The worker safety bill would lock in provisions adopted after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/chevron-richmond-refinery-fire/\">2012 Chevron refinery fire\u003c/a> in Richmond that prompted 15,000 people to seek medical attention. The Western States Petroleum Association, the state’s main oil lobby, formally opposes the measure, arguing it would override a 2024 legal settlement the industry reached with regulators.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The worker safety bill would lock in provisions adopted after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/chevron-richmond-refinery-fire/\">2012 Chevron refinery fire\u003c/a> in Richmond that prompted 15,000 people to seek medical attention. The Western States Petroleum Association, the state’s main oil lobby, formally opposes the measure, arguing it would override a 2024 legal settlement the industry reached with regulators.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The industry and union players fighting over the bill do not contribute much money directly to lawmakers, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry can be toxic in elections for the state’s politically dominant Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The industry and union players fighting over the bill do not contribute much money directly to lawmakers, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry can be toxic in elections for the state’s politically dominant Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But WSPA is a powerhouse when it comes to lobbying. It’s routinely the biggest spender in the Capitol among the many interest groups that hire lobbyists, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/data/2025/04/california-lobbying-spending-2024/\">according to state records\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But WSPA is a powerhouse when it comes to lobbying. It’s routinely the biggest spender in the Capitol among the many interest groups that hire lobbyists, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/data/2025/04/california-lobbying-spending-2024/\">according to state records\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180844&amendid=0\">WSPA\u003c/a> reported lobbying on the measure, and is joined by some of the state’s largest refiners, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180792&amendid=0\">Chevron\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3178680&amendid=0\">Marathon Petroleum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3173091&amendid=0\">PBF Energy\u003c/a>, according to lobbying reports reviewed by CalMatters. Those three companies \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/californias-oil-refineries\">run refineries\u003c/a> that comprise nearly 90% of California’s crude oil refining capacity.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180844&amendid=0\">WSPA\u003c/a> reported lobbying on the measure, and is joined by some of the state’s largest refiners, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180792&amendid=0\">Chevron\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3178680&amendid=0\">Marathon Petroleum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3173091&amendid=0\">PBF Energy\u003c/a>, according to lobbying reports reviewed by CalMatters. Those three companies \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/californias-oil-refineries\">run refineries\u003c/a> that comprise nearly 90% of California’s crude oil refining capacity.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The proposal, which cleared a key fiscal committee this week, is authored by State Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lena-gonzalez-165452\">Lena Gonzalez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Long Beach, and comes after \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/10/refinery-explosion-federal-state-oversight/\">an explosion last year\u003c/a> at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery. That blast rattled windows across nearby neighborhoods and shot uncontrolled columns of flame into the air, raising new concerns about the safety of the state’s aging refineries.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The proposal, which cleared a key fiscal committee this week, is authored by State Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lena-gonzalez-165452\">Lena Gonzalez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Long Beach, and comes after \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/10/refinery-explosion-federal-state-oversight/\">an explosion last year\u003c/a> at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery. That blast rattled windows across nearby neighborhoods and shot uncontrolled columns of flame into the air, raising new concerns about the safety of the state’s aging refineries.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Zach Leary, a lobbyist for WSPA, in testimony at a legislative hearing earlier this summer, argued the proposal would override a 2024 settlement under which California regulators agreed to pursue changes to refinery safety rules in exchange for the industry dropping years of litigation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Zach Leary, a lobbyist for WSPA, in testimony at a legislative hearing earlier this summer, argued the proposal would override a 2024 settlement under which California regulators agreed to pursue changes to refinery safety rules in exchange for the industry dropping years of litigation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, it’s this type of regulatory and legislative whiplash that creates a business environment that is very difficult to operate in,” \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279744#t=1879&f=ddaaef2166740a84e19faea99e5135db\">Leary said in June\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, it’s this type of regulatory and legislative whiplash that creates a business environment that is very difficult to operate in,” \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279744#t=1879&f=ddaaef2166740a84e19faea99e5135db\">Leary said in June\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Finance \u003ca href=\"https://leganalysis.dof.ca.gov/getPdf/15789\">also opposes the bill\u003c/a>, arguing it adds additional costs not included in this year’s budget, could expose the state to further litigation expenses and may conflict with an ongoing process to rewrite the rules following the 2024 settlement.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Finance \u003ca href=\"https://leganalysis.dof.ca.gov/getPdf/15789\">also opposes the bill\u003c/a>, arguing it adds additional costs not included in this year’s budget, could expose the state to further litigation expenses and may conflict with an ongoing process to rewrite the rules following the 2024 settlement.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California has some of the nation’s toughest refinery safety measures because of two earlier explosions: the 2012 Richmond refinery fire, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/20/exxonmobil_report_for_public_release.pdf?15813#page=6\">another in 2015\u003c/a> at a refinery in Torrance then owned by ExxonMobil that came close to releasing modified hydrofluoric acid, a potentially deadly industrial chemical.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California has some of the nation’s toughest refinery safety measures because of two earlier explosions: the 2012 Richmond refinery fire, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/20/exxonmobil_report_for_public_release.pdf?15813#page=6\">another in 2015\u003c/a> at a refinery in Torrance then owned by ExxonMobil that came close to releasing modified hydrofluoric acid, a potentially deadly industrial chemical.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The worker rules are built around the concept of process safety, which requires refineries to identify and address hazards before they lead to accidents and gives workers a direct role in safety reviews and investigations. The goal is to prevent failures that can lead to refinery fires and explosions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The worker rules are built around the concept of process safety, which requires refineries to identify and address hazards before they lead to accidents and gives workers a direct role in safety reviews and investigations. The goal is to prevent failures that can lead to refinery fires and explosions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But WSPA sued to block the rules in 2019, calling them unclear and invalid. California \u003ca href=\"https://publichealthwatch.org/2025/04/22/secret-deal-in-california-would-weaken-regulations-for-oil-refineries/\">quietly settled\u003c/a> in 2024. In response to the settlement, the California Environmental Protection Agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28552134-2026-0226-01s-approval/\">finalized amendments\u003c/a> this year to its refinery safety rules, including how workers take part in safety decisions and how hazards are reviewed. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Petroleum-Refineries-Notice-Jan2026.pdf\">companion rule revision\u003c/a> at the state’s workplace safety agency is ongoing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plurkowski, of the local United Steelworkers union, said that the outcome at CalEPA prompted the push for the worker safety measures to be written into law. The regional United Steelworkers District 12 sponsored the measure.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Part of what led to SB 966 was how quickly CalEPA folded,” Plurkowski said. “People’s lives are at stake, communities are at stake, we’ve learned enough lessons to know better at this point.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/digital-democracy/2026/08/refinery-safety-california-gas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California lawmakers advanced a union-backed bill to preserve refinery worker rules as the state moves to rewrite them following an oil industry settlement.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>lawmakers are advancing an effort to preserve oil refinery safety rules that were designed to prevent fires, explosions and other catastrophes despite industry opposition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The union-backed proposal, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb966\">Senate Bill 966\u003c/a>, would enshrine existing worker protections into state law as California regulators move to revise them in response to a legal settlement with the state’s oil lobby.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to get the best regulations possible for these industries,” said Nick Plurkowski, a leader of a Bay Area local of the United Steelworkers. “An industry where you have to write into regulation … that it’s okay to refuse work that could lead to your death.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11975694\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/231027-CHEVRON-RICHMOND-REFINERY-MD-01-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery in Richmond on Oct. 27, 2023. A 2012 fire that broke out at the facility prompted safety regulations that state lawmakers are now looking to lock in. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill would lock in workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work, participate in safety reviews, choose their own representatives for safety planning and report hazards anonymously. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The measure is among several targeting the oil and gas industry this year, including proposals aimed at \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1259\">refinery closure plans\u003c/a> and a bid to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb493\">curb high gas prices during wartime\u003c/a> by expanding the state’s price-gouging law. Lawmakers’ focus on refineries comes as \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/03/california-iran-oil-profit-spike/\">California drivers\u003c/a> face the \u003ca href=\"https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/\">nation’s highest gasoline prices\u003c/a> and the Iran war pushes up the global price of crude oil.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The worker safety bill would lock in provisions adopted after a \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/chevron-richmond-refinery-fire/\">2012 Chevron refinery fire\u003c/a> in Richmond that prompted 15,000 people to seek medical attention. The Western States Petroleum Association, the state’s main oil lobby, formally opposes the measure, arguing it would override a 2024 legal settlement the industry reached with regulators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The industry and union players fighting over the bill do not contribute much money directly to lawmakers, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry can be toxic in elections for the state’s politically dominant Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But WSPA is a powerhouse when it comes to lobbying. It’s routinely the biggest spender in the Capitol among the many interest groups that hire lobbyists, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/data/2025/04/california-lobbying-spending-2024/\">according to state records\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180844&amendid=0\">WSPA\u003c/a> reported lobbying on the measure, and is joined by some of the state’s largest refiners, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3180792&amendid=0\">Chevron\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3178680&amendid=0\">Marathon Petroleum\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=3173091&amendid=0\">PBF Energy\u003c/a>, according to lobbying reports reviewed by CalMatters. Those three companies \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/californias-petroleum-market/californias-oil-refineries\">run refineries\u003c/a> that comprise nearly 90% of California’s crude oil refining capacity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposal, which cleared a key fiscal committee this week, is authored by State Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lena-gonzalez-165452\">Lena Gonzalez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Long Beach, and comes after \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/10/refinery-explosion-federal-state-oversight/\">an explosion last year\u003c/a> at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery. That blast rattled windows across nearby neighborhoods and shot uncontrolled columns of flame into the air, raising new concerns about the safety of the state’s aging refineries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Zach Leary, a lobbyist for WSPA, in testimony at a legislative hearing earlier this summer, argued the proposal would override a 2024 settlement under which California regulators agreed to pursue changes to refinery safety rules in exchange for the industry dropping years of litigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, it’s this type of regulatory and legislative whiplash that creates a business environment that is very difficult to operate in,” \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279744#t=1879&f=ddaaef2166740a84e19faea99e5135db\">Leary said in June\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Finance \u003ca href=\"https://leganalysis.dof.ca.gov/getPdf/15789\">also opposes the bill\u003c/a>, arguing it adds additional costs not included in this year’s budget, could expose the state to further litigation expenses and may conflict with an ongoing process to rewrite the rules following the 2024 settlement.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California has some of the nation’s toughest refinery safety measures because of two earlier explosions: the 2012 Richmond refinery fire, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/20/exxonmobil_report_for_public_release.pdf?15813#page=6\">another in 2015\u003c/a> at a refinery in Torrance then owned by ExxonMobil that came close to releasing modified hydrofluoric acid, a potentially deadly industrial chemical.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"728\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2013/12/RS268_chevron20120810.jpg\" alt=\"The Chevron refinery fire in Richmond in August 2012 sent smoke across the Bay Area. (Stephen Schiller/Flickr)\" class=\"wp-image-120958\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Chevron refinery fire in Richmond in August 2012 sent smoke across the Bay Area. (Stephen Schiller/Flickr)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The worker rules are built around the concept of process safety, which requires refineries to identify and address hazards before they lead to accidents and gives workers a direct role in safety reviews and investigations. The goal is to prevent failures that can lead to refinery fires and explosions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But WSPA sued to block the rules in 2019, calling them unclear and invalid. California \u003ca href=\"https://publichealthwatch.org/2025/04/22/secret-deal-in-california-would-weaken-regulations-for-oil-refineries/\">quietly settled\u003c/a> in 2024. In response to the settlement, the California Environmental Protection Agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28552134-2026-0226-01s-approval/\">finalized amendments\u003c/a> this year to its refinery safety rules, including how workers take part in safety decisions and how hazards are reviewed. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Petroleum-Refineries-Notice-Jan2026.pdf\">companion rule revision\u003c/a> at the state’s workplace safety agency is ongoing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plurkowski, of the local United Steelworkers union, said that the outcome at CalEPA prompted the push for the worker safety measures to be written into law. The regional United Steelworkers District 12 sponsored the measure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Part of what led to SB 966 was how quickly CalEPA folded,” Plurkowski said. “People’s lives are at stake, communities are at stake, we’ve learned enough lessons to know better at this point.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/digital-democracy/2026/08/refinery-safety-california-gas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "historic-richmond-pool-keeps-on-swimming-100-years-later",
"title": "Historic Richmond Pool Keeps on Swimming, 100 Years Later",
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"headTitle": "Historic Richmond Pool Keeps on Swimming, 100 Years Later | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The city of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> is throwing a pool party on Saturday to mark the 100th birthday of a beloved community gathering space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The celebration for the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, more commonly known as the Richmond Plunge, marks a significant milestone because the centenarian indoor pool almost didn’t make it. The Plunge was shuttered for years and slated for demolition until a group of community volunteers organized to save it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You just don’t see 100-year-old pools,” said John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish swim team, which practices at the pool. “ Almost every week, I meet someone who comes in and says, ‘Oh, I haven’t been here for 50 years,’ or, ‘I used to swim here in the ’70s when I was a kid.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093731\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Municipal Natatorium, also known as the Richmond Plunge, on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\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-13 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=\"12093763\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093763\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shantel Jackson and her son Maison, 7, on July 31, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095157\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left, Richmond Plunge Masters swimmers Jane Randolph, John Ajero, Leo Tarasov and Ling Hsieh enjoy the pool on Aug. 5, 2026.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Plunge opened in 1926, and it still harkens back to a time when indoor pools were a major public attraction. The city of Richmond compares the pool to Sutro Baths in San Francisco, another historic public swimming pool that’s now long gone. Just like Sutro Baths, which sourced its water from the ocean, the Plunge was once filled with saltwater from the bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bright, airy space has over a hundred operable windows and a white, vaulted ceiling with exposed steel beams. Mosaic tiles adorn the entrances to the bathrooms. The Plunge also once had a bandshell, so spectators could watch synchronized swimming performances with live music from the second-story balcony, which exists today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Plunge’s history inspired Berkeley architect Todd Jersey to help save it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095151\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095151\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish, instructs the team. \u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095154\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Richmond Sailfish swimmer practices his form.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ When I first walked into this place, I was really taken with the sheer size of it, and the amount of light and air from these wonderful windows,” he said. The Plunge’s original design featured one single pool double the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool. Today, the pool is split into two separate areas, one for lap swimming and the other for recreation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, including damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Repairs would have been expensive, and after voters rejected a bond measure in 1997 to reinforce the pool, the city decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">close\u003c/a> it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, people were allowed to swim in it, as the Plunge bore a “swim at your own risk” sign. Finally, the city shut down the site in 2001. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093737\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The interior of the Richmond Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2005, Jersey said he saw a \u003ca href=\"https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_55-79v16cst\">documentary\u003c/a> about the pool and thought he could help. Working with the nonprofit Richmond Friends of Recreation, he came up with a plan to reopen it for $1.3 million, far less than an approximately $12 million prior bid from another architect, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was the momentum the nonprofit needed to begin fundraising to renovate the Plunge. It finally reopened in 2010 after sitting unused for nine years with a total restoration cost of around $8 million, Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The work involved repairing wooden window frames, strengthening cracked walls and putting in the necessary infrastructure to run a pool. Because of its many windows, the Plunge doesn’t require the large ventilation systems typical of modern pools, reducing its energy bill, Jersey said. The roof also now has electrical solar panels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093741\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Berkeley architect Todd Jersey poses for a photo at the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\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-15 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=\"1380\" data-id=\"12093732\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093732\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lifeguard Rafa Arteaga watches swimmers on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for 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=\"12093747\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093747\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Swimmers enjoy the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Kind of a ridiculous amount of love and care went into this building,” Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent Friday afternoon, 62-year-old Otis Mobley of Richmond sat on the pool deck and watched his 12-year-old granddaughter Naomi swim in the deep end for the first time after passing her swim test. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We bring her here to refresh some memories and give her some for her future,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 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=\"12093745\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Otis Mobley, 62, watches his granddaughter Naomi, 12, swim.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095155\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Naomi Mobley swims in the deep end. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mobley said he came to the Plunge “almost every day during the summer,” when he was a child in the 1970s.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lisa Klein, 73, makes the trip to the Plunge from Oakland a few times a month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I love the beauty of the mural. I love the history of it, this big old building. And as soon as I get in the water and start swimming, whatever problems or things I’m working on dissolves, and I’m just here,” Klein said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 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=\"12093746\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093746\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lisa Klein, 73, swims at the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for 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=\"12095153\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095153\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Sailfish swimmers practice diving on Aug. 5, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-18 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=\"12095152\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095152\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oscar Solano Jr. leads an aqua Zumba class on Aug. 5, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095156\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A participant of aqua Zumba strikes a pose. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to recreational and lap swimming, in its two pools, these days the Plunge hosts aqua Zumba and kayaking classes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ It’s used pretty much all day long and all year long,” Schonder said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">celebration\u003c/a> will feature a building dedication with speeches, offering two hours of family recreation swim for $1.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> is throwing a pool party on Saturday to mark the 100th birthday of a beloved community gathering space.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The city of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> is throwing a pool party on Saturday to mark the 100th birthday of a beloved community gathering space.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The celebration for the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, more commonly known as the Richmond Plunge, marks a significant milestone because the centenarian indoor pool almost didn’t make it. The Plunge was shuttered for years and slated for demolition until a group of community volunteers organized to save it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The celebration for the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, more commonly known as the Richmond Plunge, marks a significant milestone because the centenarian indoor pool almost didn’t make it. The Plunge was shuttered for years and slated for demolition until a group of community volunteers organized to save it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You just don’t see 100-year-old pools,” said John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish swim team, which practices at the pool. “ Almost every week, I meet someone who comes in and says, ‘Oh, I haven’t been here for 50 years,’ or, ‘I used to swim here in the ’70s when I was a kid.’” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You just don’t see 100-year-old pools,” said John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish swim team, which practices at the pool. “ Almost every week, I meet someone who comes in and says, ‘Oh, I haven’t been here for 50 years,’ or, ‘I used to swim here in the ’70s when I was a kid.’” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093731\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-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\">The Richmond Municipal Natatorium, also known as the Richmond Plunge, on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093763\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shantel Jackson and her son Maison, 7, on July 31, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093763\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shantel Jackson and her son Maison, 7, on July 31, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095157\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left, Richmond Plunge Masters swimmers Jane Randolph, John Ajero, Leo Tarasov and Ling Hsieh enjoy the pool on Aug. 5, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Plunge opened in 1926, and it still harkens back to a time when indoor pools were a major public attraction. The city of Richmond compares the pool to Sutro Baths in San Francisco, another historic public swimming pool that’s now long gone. Just like Sutro Baths, which sourced its water from the ocean, the Plunge was once filled with saltwater from the bay. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Plunge opened in 1926, and it still harkens back to a time when indoor pools were a major public attraction. The city of Richmond compares the pool to Sutro Baths in San Francisco, another historic public swimming pool that’s now long gone. Just like Sutro Baths, which sourced its water from the ocean, the Plunge was once filled with saltwater from the bay. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bright, airy space has over a hundred operable windows and a white, vaulted ceiling with exposed steel beams. Mosaic tiles adorn the entrances to the bathrooms. The Plunge also once had a bandshell, so spectators could watch synchronized swimming performances with live music from the second-story balcony, which exists today. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bright, airy space has over a hundred operable windows and a white, vaulted ceiling with exposed steel beams. Mosaic tiles adorn the entrances to the bathrooms. The Plunge also once had a bandshell, so spectators could watch synchronized swimming performances with live music from the second-story balcony, which exists today. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Plunge’s history inspired Berkeley architect Todd Jersey to help save it. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095151\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish, instructs the team. \u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ When I first walked into this place, I was really taken with the sheer size of it, and the amount of light and air from these wonderful windows,” he said. The Plunge’s original design featured one single pool double the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool. Today, the pool is split into two separate areas, one for lap swimming and the other for recreation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, including damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Repairs would have been expensive, and after voters rejected a bond measure in 1997 to reinforce the pool, the city decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">close\u003c/a> it. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, including damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Repairs would have been expensive, and after voters rejected a bond measure in 1997 to reinforce the pool, the city decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">close\u003c/a> it. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, people were allowed to swim in it, as the Plunge bore a “swim at your own risk” sign. Finally, the city shut down the site in 2001. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2005, Jersey said he saw a \u003ca href=\"https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_55-79v16cst\">documentary\u003c/a> about the pool and thought he could help. Working with the nonprofit Richmond Friends of Recreation, he came up with a plan to reopen it for $1.3 million, far less than an approximately $12 million prior bid from another architect, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2005, Jersey said he saw a \u003ca href=\"https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_55-79v16cst\">documentary\u003c/a> about the pool and thought he could help. Working with the nonprofit Richmond Friends of Recreation, he came up with a plan to reopen it for $1.3 million, far less than an approximately $12 million prior bid from another architect, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was the momentum the nonprofit needed to begin fundraising to renovate the Plunge. It finally reopened in 2010 after sitting unused for nine years with a total restoration cost of around $8 million, Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It was the momentum the nonprofit needed to begin fundraising to renovate the Plunge. It finally reopened in 2010 after sitting unused for nine years with a total restoration cost of around $8 million, Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The work involved repairing wooden window frames, strengthening cracked walls and putting in the necessary infrastructure to run a pool. Because of its many windows, the Plunge doesn’t require the large ventilation systems typical of modern pools, reducing its energy bill, Jersey said. The roof also now has electrical solar panels. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The work involved repairing wooden window frames, strengthening cracked walls and putting in the necessary infrastructure to run a pool. Because of its many windows, the Plunge doesn’t require the large ventilation systems typical of modern pools, reducing its energy bill, Jersey said. The roof also now has electrical solar panels. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093741\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-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\">Berkeley architect Todd Jersey poses for a photo at the Plunge on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093732\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lifeguard Rafa Arteaga watches swimmers on July 31, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ Kind of a ridiculous amount of love and care went into this building,” Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a recent Friday afternoon, 62-year-old Otis Mobley of Richmond sat on the pool deck and watched his 12-year-old granddaughter Naomi swim in the deep end for the first time after passing her swim test. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On a recent Friday afternoon, 62-year-old Otis Mobley of Richmond sat on the pool deck and watched his 12-year-old granddaughter Naomi swim in the deep end for the first time after passing her swim test. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ We bring her here to refresh some memories and give her some for her future,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093745\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Otis Mobley, 62, watches his granddaughter Naomi, 12, swim.\u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mobley said he came to the Plunge “almost every day during the summer,” when he was a child in the 1970s.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lisa Klein, 73, makes the trip to the Plunge from Oakland a few times a month.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I love the beauty of the mural. I love the history of it, this big old building. And as soon as I get in the water and start swimming, whatever problems or things I’m working on dissolves, and I’m just here,” Klein said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In addition to recreational and lap swimming, in its two pools, these days the Plunge hosts aqua Zumba and kayaking classes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Saturday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">celebration\u003c/a> will feature a building dedication with speeches, offering two hours of family recreation swim for $1.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Richmond Plunge, a fixture for generations, was once slated for demolition until a community effort intervened to reopen it.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The city of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/richmond\">Richmond\u003c/a> is throwing a pool party on Saturday to mark the 100th birthday of a beloved community gathering space.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The celebration for the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, more commonly known as the Richmond Plunge, marks a significant milestone because the centenarian indoor pool almost didn’t make it. The Plunge was shuttered for years and slated for demolition until a group of community volunteers organized to save it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You just don’t see 100-year-old pools,” said John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish swim team, which practices at the pool. “ Almost every week, I meet someone who comes in and says, ‘Oh, I haven’t been here for 50 years,’ or, ‘I used to swim here in the ’70s when I was a kid.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093731\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Richmond Municipal Natatorium, also known as the Richmond Plunge, on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\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-13 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=\"12093763\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093763\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-18-KQED-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shantel Jackson and her son Maison, 7, on July 31, 2026.\u003cbr>\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095157\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-13_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left, Richmond Plunge Masters swimmers Jane Randolph, John Ajero, Leo Tarasov and Ling Hsieh enjoy the pool on Aug. 5, 2026.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Plunge opened in 1926, and it still harkens back to a time when indoor pools were a major public attraction. The city of Richmond compares the pool to Sutro Baths in San Francisco, another historic public swimming pool that’s now long gone. Just like Sutro Baths, which sourced its water from the ocean, the Plunge was once filled with saltwater from the bay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bright, airy space has over a hundred operable windows and a white, vaulted ceiling with exposed steel beams. Mosaic tiles adorn the entrances to the bathrooms. The Plunge also once had a bandshell, so spectators could watch synchronized swimming performances with live music from the second-story balcony, which exists today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Plunge’s history inspired Berkeley architect Todd Jersey to help save it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095151\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095151\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Schonder, head coach of the Richmond Sailfish, instructs the team. \u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095154\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Richmond Sailfish swimmer practices his form.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ When I first walked into this place, I was really taken with the sheer size of it, and the amount of light and air from these wonderful windows,” he said. The Plunge’s original design featured one single pool double the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool. Today, the pool is split into two separate areas, one for lap swimming and the other for recreation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, including damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Repairs would have been expensive, and after voters rejected a bond measure in 1997 to reinforce the pool, the city decided to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">close\u003c/a> it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, people were allowed to swim in it, as the Plunge bore a “swim at your own risk” sign. Finally, the city shut down the site in 2001. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093737\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-10-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The interior of the Richmond Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2005, Jersey said he saw a \u003ca href=\"https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_55-79v16cst\">documentary\u003c/a> about the pool and thought he could help. Working with the nonprofit Richmond Friends of Recreation, he came up with a plan to reopen it for $1.3 million, far less than an approximately $12 million prior bid from another architect, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was the momentum the nonprofit needed to begin fundraising to renovate the Plunge. It finally reopened in 2010 after sitting unused for nine years with a total restoration cost of around $8 million, Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The work involved repairing wooden window frames, strengthening cracked walls and putting in the necessary infrastructure to run a pool. Because of its many windows, the Plunge doesn’t require the large ventilation systems typical of modern pools, reducing its energy bill, Jersey said. The roof also now has electrical solar panels. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093741\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Berkeley architect Todd Jersey poses for a photo at the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\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-15 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=\"1380\" data-id=\"12093732\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093732\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-4-KQED-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lifeguard Rafa Arteaga watches swimmers on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for 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=\"12093747\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093747\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-24-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Swimmers enjoy the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Kind of a ridiculous amount of love and care went into this building,” Jersey said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent Friday afternoon, 62-year-old Otis Mobley of Richmond sat on the pool deck and watched his 12-year-old granddaughter Naomi swim in the deep end for the first time after passing her swim test. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We bring her here to refresh some memories and give her some for her future,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 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=\"12093745\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Otis Mobley, 62, watches his granddaughter Naomi, 12, swim.\u003cbr> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095155\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-2_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Naomi Mobley swims in the deep end. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mobley said he came to the Plunge “almost every day during the summer,” when he was a child in the 1970s.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lisa Klein, 73, makes the trip to the Plunge from Oakland a few times a month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I love the beauty of the mural. I love the history of it, this big old building. And as soon as I get in the water and start swimming, whatever problems or things I’m working on dissolves, and I’m just here,” Klein said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 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=\"12093746\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093746\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260731_RichmondPlunge100_GC-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lisa Klein, 73, swims at the Plunge on July 31, 2026. (Gina Castro for 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=\"12095153\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095153\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-7_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richmond Sailfish swimmers practice diving on Aug. 5, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-18 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=\"12095152\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095152\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-16_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oscar Solano Jr. leads an aqua Zumba class on Aug. 5, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12095156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095156\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260805_RichmondPlungeDay2_GC-14_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A participant of aqua Zumba strikes a pose. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to recreational and lap swimming, in its two pools, these days the Plunge hosts aqua Zumba and kayaking classes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ It’s used pretty much all day long and all year long,” Schonder said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Saturday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4975/Plunge-100-Year-Anniversary\">celebration\u003c/a> will feature a building dedication with speeches, offering two hours of family recreation swim for $1.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "richmonds-kennedy-high-to-stay-closed-pending-test-for-toxic-chemical",
"title": "Richmond’s Kennedy High to Stay Closed Pending Test for Toxic Chemical",
"publishDate": 1786140390,
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"headTitle": "Richmond’s Kennedy High to Stay Closed Pending Test for Toxic Chemical | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Students and staff may not be returning to John F. Kennedy High School campus in Richmond for the new school year as the state carries out more testing for tetrachloroethylene — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pollution\">carcinogenic solvent\u003c/a> once common in the dry-cleaning process. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The West Contra Costa Unified School District closed Kennedy out of what it called an abundance of caution after underground soil samples detected “varying levels” of the solvent otherwise known as PCE on July 31. Kennedy is \u003ca href=\"https://richmondside.org/2026/08/05/richmond-has-6-pce-chemical-sources-under-investigation/\">one of six\u003c/a> PCE sources in Richmond under investigation, and, along with the former headquarters of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, is one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981077/state-regulators-scrutinize-climate-plan-for-controversial-richmond-housing-development\">115 toxic spots across the city\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy High School’s soil may have become contaminated from a PCE plume linked to a dry cleaner that operated at its San Pablo Avenue location for 40 years, officials with the Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday at a town hall in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.\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/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The campus of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond is closed on Aug. 7, 2026. The campus has been under construction since 2025. (Brian Krans/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The current and former owners of Omo’s Fabricare Dry Cleaners reached \u003ca href=\"https://dtsc.ca.gov/2026/03/26/dtsc-secures-more-than-100000-settlement-with-former-bay-area-dry-cleaner-for-cleanup-violations/\">a $100,800 settlement\u003c/a> with the state in March for failing to effectively clean up the site. A \u003ca href=\"http://envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/getfile?filename=/public%2Fdeliverable_documents%2F4800373673%2F20231006%20OMO%20ORDER_enc_signed.pdf\">cleanup order from 2023\u003c/a> said the dry cleaner transitioned to safer solvents in the early 2000s before closing in 2015. The site has been fenced off and unoccupied since 2017. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State officials told the school district there is no immediate danger to students or staff. On Friday afternoon, the school nevertheless remained closed until further notice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The campus has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.wccusd.net/departments-and-areas/facilities-construction-projects/kennedy-modernization\">under construction\u003c/a> following the July 2025 demolition of Kennedy High School’s main building as part of a school modernization plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the town hall on Thursday, Jeff Carter, assistant superintendent of business services for the school district, said WCCUSD has chosen alternative sites for Kennedy students to begin their school year if air-sample testing shows a danger. Those sites include Contra Costa College in San Pablo, the Craneway Pavilion on the waterfront next to the ferry terminal, or some other district-owned site.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are planning for no delays for the start of the school year for Kennedy High School,” Carter said. “The test results will help us determine where we will open for the start of school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carter said testing of the site will continue through Saturday, with results expected by Wednesday of next week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first day of school for the district is Aug. 18.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ian Utz, a DTSC senior environmental scientist and project manager, said there is no immediate risk to neighbors of the Kennedy campus, and that testing will show if PCE made it indoors where students and staff could be exposed. \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/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094386\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Posters announce the closure of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond on Aug. 7, 2026, a week after soil samples detected the presence of PCE, a carcinogenic solvent used in dry cleaning. (Brian Krans/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Utz said concerns over contamination date back two decades before PCE was detected on July 31. He said it was unclear when PCE first entered the campus, but it was detected in five out of six soil samples taken along Cutting Boulevard and 45th Street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Additional steps may be warranted,” Utz said. “In the meantime, DTSC continues its investigation to determine the source of the contamination and the extent of impacts on both the school site and the surrounding neighborhood.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the Kennedy campus, city officials closed the adjacent Richmond Swim Center until further notice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>LaShonda White, Richmond’s deputy city manager for community services, said The Plunge in Point Richmond, which is open seven days a week, will host all registered classes at the swim center until the city and school district deem the swim center safe to reopen.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Students and staff may not be returning to John F. Kennedy High School campus in Richmond for the new school year as the state carries out more testing for tetrachloroethylene — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pollution\">carcinogenic solvent\u003c/a> once common in the dry-cleaning process. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Students and staff may not be returning to John F. Kennedy High School campus in Richmond for the new school year as the state carries out more testing for tetrachloroethylene — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pollution\">carcinogenic solvent\u003c/a> once common in the dry-cleaning process. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The West Contra Costa Unified School District closed Kennedy out of what it called an abundance of caution after underground soil samples detected “varying levels” of the solvent otherwise known as PCE on July 31. Kennedy is \u003ca href=\"https://richmondside.org/2026/08/05/richmond-has-6-pce-chemical-sources-under-investigation/\">one of six\u003c/a> PCE sources in Richmond under investigation, and, along with the former headquarters of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, is one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981077/state-regulators-scrutinize-climate-plan-for-controversial-richmond-housing-development\">115 toxic spots across the city\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The West Contra Costa Unified School District closed Kennedy out of what it called an abundance of caution after underground soil samples detected “varying levels” of the solvent otherwise known as PCE on July 31. Kennedy is \u003ca href=\"https://richmondside.org/2026/08/05/richmond-has-6-pce-chemical-sources-under-investigation/\">one of six\u003c/a> PCE sources in Richmond under investigation, and, along with the former headquarters of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, is one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981077/state-regulators-scrutinize-climate-plan-for-controversial-richmond-housing-development\">115 toxic spots across the city\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kennedy High School’s soil may have become contaminated from a PCE plume linked to a dry cleaner that operated at its San Pablo Avenue location for 40 years, officials with the Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday at a town hall in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kennedy High School’s soil may have become contaminated from a PCE plume linked to a dry cleaner that operated at its San Pablo Avenue location for 40 years, officials with the Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday at a town hall in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-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\">The campus of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond is closed on Aug. 7, 2026. The campus has been under construction since 2025. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094385\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The campus of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond is closed on Aug. 7, 2026. The campus has been under construction since 2025. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The current and former owners of Omo’s Fabricare Dry Cleaners reached \u003ca href=\"https://dtsc.ca.gov/2026/03/26/dtsc-secures-more-than-100000-settlement-with-former-bay-area-dry-cleaner-for-cleanup-violations/\">a $100,800 settlement\u003c/a> with the state in March for failing to effectively clean up the site. A \u003ca href=\"http://envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/getfile?filename=/public%2Fdeliverable_documents%2F4800373673%2F20231006%20OMO%20ORDER_enc_signed.pdf\">cleanup order from 2023\u003c/a> said the dry cleaner transitioned to safer solvents in the early 2000s before closing in 2015. The site has been fenced off and unoccupied since 2017. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The current and former owners of Omo’s Fabricare Dry Cleaners reached \u003ca href=\"https://dtsc.ca.gov/2026/03/26/dtsc-secures-more-than-100000-settlement-with-former-bay-area-dry-cleaner-for-cleanup-violations/\">a $100,800 settlement\u003c/a> with the state in March for failing to effectively clean up the site. A \u003ca href=\"http://envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/getfile?filename=/public%2Fdeliverable_documents%2F4800373673%2F20231006%20OMO%20ORDER_enc_signed.pdf\">cleanup order from 2023\u003c/a> said the dry cleaner transitioned to safer solvents in the early 2000s before closing in 2015. The site has been fenced off and unoccupied since 2017. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>State officials told the school district there is no immediate danger to students or staff. On Friday afternoon, the school nevertheless remained closed until further notice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The campus has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.wccusd.net/departments-and-areas/facilities-construction-projects/kennedy-modernization\">under construction\u003c/a> following the July 2025 demolition of Kennedy High School’s main building as part of a school modernization plan. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the town hall on Thursday, Jeff Carter, assistant superintendent of business services for the school district, said WCCUSD has chosen alternative sites for Kennedy students to begin their school year if air-sample testing shows a danger. Those sites include Contra Costa College in San Pablo, the Craneway Pavilion on the waterfront next to the ferry terminal, or some other district-owned site.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the town hall on Thursday, Jeff Carter, assistant superintendent of business services for the school district, said WCCUSD has chosen alternative sites for Kennedy students to begin their school year if air-sample testing shows a danger. Those sites include Contra Costa College in San Pablo, the Craneway Pavilion on the waterfront next to the ferry terminal, or some other district-owned site.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are planning for no delays for the start of the school year for Kennedy High School,” Carter said. “The test results will help us determine where we will open for the start of school.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Carter said testing of the site will continue through Saturday, with results expected by Wednesday of next week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The first day of school for the district is Aug. 18.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ian Utz, a DTSC senior environmental scientist and project manager, said there is no immediate risk to neighbors of the Kennedy campus, and that testing will show if PCE made it indoors where students and staff could be exposed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ian Utz, a DTSC senior environmental scientist and project manager, said there is no immediate risk to neighbors of the Kennedy campus, and that testing will show if PCE made it indoors where students and staff could be exposed. \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/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094386\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Posters announce the closure of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond on Aug. 7, 2026, a week after soil samples detected the presence of PCE, a carcinogenic solvent used in dry cleaning.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Utz said concerns over contamination date back two decades before PCE was detected on July 31. He said it was unclear when PCE first entered the campus, but it was detected in five out of six soil samples taken along Cutting Boulevard and 45th Street.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Utz said concerns over contamination date back two decades before PCE was detected on July 31. He said it was unclear when PCE first entered the campus, but it was detected in five out of six soil samples taken along Cutting Boulevard and 45th Street.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Additional steps may be warranted,” Utz said. “In the meantime, DTSC continues its investigation to determine the source of the contamination and the extent of impacts on both the school site and the surrounding neighborhood.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Additional steps may be warranted,” Utz said. “In the meantime, DTSC continues its investigation to determine the source of the contamination and the extent of impacts on both the school site and the surrounding neighborhood.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In addition to the Kennedy campus, city officials closed the adjacent Richmond Swim Center until further notice. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>LaShonda White, Richmond’s deputy city manager for community services, said The Plunge in Point Richmond, which is open seven days a week, will host all registered classes at the swim center until the city and school district deem the swim center safe to reopen.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The West Contra Costa Unified School District wants to know if the same carcinogenic solvent that turned up in soil samples is also in the air.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Students and staff may not be returning to John F. Kennedy High School campus in Richmond for the new school year as the state carries out more testing for tetrachloroethylene — a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/pollution\">carcinogenic solvent\u003c/a> once common in the dry-cleaning process. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The West Contra Costa Unified School District closed Kennedy out of what it called an abundance of caution after underground soil samples detected “varying levels” of the solvent otherwise known as PCE on July 31. Kennedy is \u003ca href=\"https://richmondside.org/2026/08/05/richmond-has-6-pce-chemical-sources-under-investigation/\">one of six\u003c/a> PCE sources in Richmond under investigation, and, along with the former headquarters of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, is one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1981077/state-regulators-scrutinize-climate-plan-for-controversial-richmond-housing-development\">115 toxic spots across the city\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kennedy High School’s soil may have become contaminated from a PCE plume linked to a dry cleaner that operated at its San Pablo Avenue location for 40 years, officials with the Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday at a town hall in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.\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/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094385\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The campus of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond is closed on Aug. 7, 2026. The campus has been under construction since 2025. (Brian Krans/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The current and former owners of Omo’s Fabricare Dry Cleaners reached \u003ca href=\"https://dtsc.ca.gov/2026/03/26/dtsc-secures-more-than-100000-settlement-with-former-bay-area-dry-cleaner-for-cleanup-violations/\">a $100,800 settlement\u003c/a> with the state in March for failing to effectively clean up the site. A \u003ca href=\"http://envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/getfile?filename=/public%2Fdeliverable_documents%2F4800373673%2F20231006%20OMO%20ORDER_enc_signed.pdf\">cleanup order from 2023\u003c/a> said the dry cleaner transitioned to safer solvents in the early 2000s before closing in 2015. The site has been fenced off and unoccupied since 2017. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State officials told the school district there is no immediate danger to students or staff. On Friday afternoon, the school nevertheless remained closed until further notice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The campus has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.wccusd.net/departments-and-areas/facilities-construction-projects/kennedy-modernization\">under construction\u003c/a> following the July 2025 demolition of Kennedy High School’s main building as part of a school modernization plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the town hall on Thursday, Jeff Carter, assistant superintendent of business services for the school district, said WCCUSD has chosen alternative sites for Kennedy students to begin their school year if air-sample testing shows a danger. Those sites include Contra Costa College in San Pablo, the Craneway Pavilion on the waterfront next to the ferry terminal, or some other district-owned site.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are planning for no delays for the start of the school year for Kennedy High School,” Carter said. “The test results will help us determine where we will open for the start of school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Carter said testing of the site will continue through Saturday, with results expected by Wednesday of next week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first day of school for the district is Aug. 18.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ian Utz, a DTSC senior environmental scientist and project manager, said there is no immediate risk to neighbors of the Kennedy campus, and that testing will show if PCE made it indoors where students and staff could be exposed. \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/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094386\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-Kennedy-High-BK-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Posters announce the closure of John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond on Aug. 7, 2026, a week after soil samples detected the presence of PCE, a carcinogenic solvent used in dry cleaning. (Brian Krans/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Utz said concerns over contamination date back two decades before PCE was detected on July 31. He said it was unclear when PCE first entered the campus, but it was detected in five out of six soil samples taken along Cutting Boulevard and 45th Street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Additional steps may be warranted,” Utz said. “In the meantime, DTSC continues its investigation to determine the source of the contamination and the extent of impacts on both the school site and the surrounding neighborhood.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the Kennedy campus, city officials closed the adjacent Richmond Swim Center until further notice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>LaShonda White, Richmond’s deputy city manager for community services, said The Plunge in Point Richmond, which is open seven days a week, will host all registered classes at the swim center until the city and school district deem the swim center safe to reopen.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "it-wasnt-right-woman-arrested-by-ice-at-sfo-is-a-san-francisco-photographer-barista",
"title": "‘It Wasn’t Right’: Woman Arrested by ICE at SFO Is a San Francisco Photographer, Barista",
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"headTitle": "‘It Wasn’t Right’: Woman Arrested by ICE at SFO Is a San Francisco Photographer, Barista | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A Ukrainian woman who has lived in the U.S. for 16 years was detained by immigration enforcement agents at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport\">San Francisco International Airport\u003c/a> on Wednesday after a flight home from Portland. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Iryna Gorb, 38, was arrested by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after landing in San Francisco, where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She is currently in detention at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073215/judge-orders-ice-to-provide-medical-care-in-largest-immigration-jail-in-california\">California City Detention Facility\u003c/a> in Kern County, according to Andy Eblin, who’s been a friend of Gorb’s for 13 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Videos of Gorb’s arrest circulated on social media Wednesday evening after Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson, who was traveling through the airport at the time, \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DoriaforRichmond\">posted\u003c/a> footage of the incident on Facebook. She said two ICE agents approached Gorb in a store in Terminal 3.\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/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066313\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doria Robinson speaks at the West Contra Costa United School District rally at Marina Bay Park in Richmond on Dec. 5, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They put hands on her, pulled her down to the ground and we see the agent get on top of her,” Robinson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the videos, Gorb can be heard yelling: “They’re f—n ICE, I’m from Ukraine, please, somebody.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She can be seen telling the agents to let her go, and heard saying, “You’re f—ing choking me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Robinson said the officials did not respond to bystanders who asked them to identify themselves. They handcuffed Gorb to an airport wheelchair and rolled her away, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t right,” Robinson said. “It just felt in your heart and your soul that that was not right. That was not the way we should be doing things.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb called him from an ICE field office in Stockton late Wednesday, and told him she had been detained and would be transferred to the California City Detention Facility. She asked him to tell her boss at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill, where she is a head barista, and a few friends whom she was supposed to cat-sit for this week, that she would not be able to work. Eblin said Gorb also requested that he ask her neighbor to water her plants. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I can’t think of a better explanation of Iryna as a person than those concerns,” Eblin said. “She’s a good person that helped out a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said she was “not certain exactly” why she was detained, and as far as he knew, she hadn’t received any paperwork regarding her visa status. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Gorb entered the U.S. lawfully in 2010 under a visa that expired in May 2011. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gorb overstayed her visa and remained in the United States illegally for 15 years in violation of our nation’s laws. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the spokesperson said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb moved to the U.S. to attend college in Boston before relocating to San Francisco 13 years ago. He said she’s an active part of the city’s coffee and art communities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-160x213.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Iryna Gorb worked as a head barista at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill and was an active member of San Francisco’s coffee community, according to friends. (Courtesy of Andy Eblin)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Gorb is a professional photographer and has run a vintage pop-up over the years, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Her absence leaves a tremendous void in our cafe and in our community,” Better Half, the coffee shop where Gorb works, posted on social media Thursday. “She has been such an important part of this space, and her presence will be deeply missed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said that when he was able to connect with Gorb again Thursday evening, she had been transferred to California City and sounded “substantially rattled.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said she’s expected to meet with an attorney on Friday afternoon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our predominant concern at this point is getting her released on bond so she’s able to wait out any proceedings in a safe, dignified place and dignified setting, which California City is absolutely not,” Eblin told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Milli Atkinson, director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program at the San Francisco Bar Association, immigration advocates began seeing ICE detentions at airports outside of Customs and Border Protection last year anecdotally, but in the last month, they have become a “consistent tactic.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’re seeing now is ICE showing up at airports because they have information about travelers, they have ID information,” she said. “The Department of Homeland Security includes TSA, so it just appears that TSA is now cooperating with ICE at a level that we haven’t seen before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said via email that ICE and DHS operate outside the jurisdiction of U.S. airports, and that SFO is “not involved in any decisions about their operations, nor are we notified when they occur.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Atkinson said for people who are not U.S. citizens, “now is not a safe time to be traveling through airports unless you’ve spoken to an attorney and you assess what risk there is.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A Ukrainian woman who has lived in the U.S. for 16 years was detained by immigration enforcement agents at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport\">San Francisco International Airport\u003c/a> on Wednesday after a flight home from Portland. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Iryna Gorb, 38, was arrested by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after landing in San Francisco, where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She is currently in detention at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073215/judge-orders-ice-to-provide-medical-care-in-largest-immigration-jail-in-california\">California City Detention Facility\u003c/a> in Kern County, according to Andy Eblin, who’s been a friend of Gorb’s for 13 years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Videos of Gorb’s arrest circulated on social media Wednesday evening after Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson, who was traveling through the airport at the time, \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DoriaforRichmond\">posted\u003c/a> footage of the incident on Facebook. She said two ICE agents approached Gorb in a store in Terminal 3.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They put hands on her, pulled her down to the ground and we see the agent get on top of her,” Robinson said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the videos, Gorb can be heard yelling: “They’re f—n ICE, I’m from Ukraine, please, somebody.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Robinson said the officials did not respond to bystanders who asked them to identify themselves. They handcuffed Gorb to an airport wheelchair and rolled her away, she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t right,” Robinson said. “It just felt in your heart and your soul that that was not right. That was not the way we should be doing things.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb called him from an ICE field office in Stockton late Wednesday, and told him she had been detained and would be transferred to the California City Detention Facility. She asked him to tell her boss at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill, where she is a head barista, and a few friends whom she was supposed to cat-sit for this week, that she would not be able to work. Eblin said Gorb also requested that he ask her neighbor to water her plants. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I can’t think of a better explanation of Iryna as a person than those concerns,” Eblin said. “She’s a good person that helped out a lot.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Gorb entered the U.S. lawfully in 2010 under a visa that expired in May 2011. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Gorb overstayed her visa and remained in the United States illegally for 15 years in violation of our nation’s laws. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the spokesperson said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb moved to the U.S. to attend college in Boston before relocating to San Francisco 13 years ago. He said she’s an active part of the city’s coffee and art communities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-160x213.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Iryna Gorb worked as a head barista at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill and was an active member of San Francisco’s coffee community, according to friends. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Her absence leaves a tremendous void in our cafe and in our community,” Better Half, the coffee shop where Gorb works, posted on social media Thursday. “She has been such an important part of this space, and her presence will be deeply missed.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "‘It Wasn’t Right’: Woman Arrested by ICE at SFO Is a San Francisco Photographer, Barista | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A Ukrainian woman who has lived in the U.S. for 16 years was detained by immigration enforcement agents at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-international-airport\">San Francisco International Airport\u003c/a> on Wednesday after a flight home from Portland. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Iryna Gorb, 38, was arrested by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after landing in San Francisco, where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She is currently in detention at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073215/judge-orders-ice-to-provide-medical-care-in-largest-immigration-jail-in-california\">California City Detention Facility\u003c/a> in Kern County, according to Andy Eblin, who’s been a friend of Gorb’s for 13 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Videos of Gorb’s arrest circulated on social media Wednesday evening after Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson, who was traveling through the airport at the time, \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DoriaforRichmond\">posted\u003c/a> footage of the incident on Facebook. She said two ICE agents approached Gorb in a store in Terminal 3.\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/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12066313\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251205-WCCUSDSTRIKERALLY01540_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doria Robinson speaks at the West Contra Costa United School District rally at Marina Bay Park in Richmond on Dec. 5, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They put hands on her, pulled her down to the ground and we see the agent get on top of her,” Robinson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the videos, Gorb can be heard yelling: “They’re f—n ICE, I’m from Ukraine, please, somebody.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She can be seen telling the agents to let her go, and heard saying, “You’re f—ing choking me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Robinson said the officials did not respond to bystanders who asked them to identify themselves. They handcuffed Gorb to an airport wheelchair and rolled her away, she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It wasn’t right,” Robinson said. “It just felt in your heart and your soul that that was not right. That was not the way we should be doing things.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb called him from an ICE field office in Stockton late Wednesday, and told him she had been detained and would be transferred to the California City Detention Facility. She asked him to tell her boss at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill, where she is a head barista, and a few friends whom she was supposed to cat-sit for this week, that she would not be able to work. Eblin said Gorb also requested that he ask her neighbor to water her plants. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I can’t think of a better explanation of Iryna as a person than those concerns,” Eblin said. “She’s a good person that helped out a lot.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said she was “not certain exactly” why she was detained, and as far as he knew, she hadn’t received any paperwork regarding her visa status. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Gorb entered the U.S. lawfully in 2010 under a visa that expired in May 2011. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gorb overstayed her visa and remained in the United States illegally for 15 years in violation of our nation’s laws. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the spokesperson said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said Gorb moved to the U.S. to attend college in Boston before relocating to San Francisco 13 years ago. He said she’s an active part of the city’s coffee and art communities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-2000x2667.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-160x213.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260724-SFO-ICE-02-KQED-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Iryna Gorb worked as a head barista at Better Half Coffee in Nob Hill and was an active member of San Francisco’s coffee community, according to friends. (Courtesy of Andy Eblin)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Gorb is a professional photographer and has run a vintage pop-up over the years, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Her absence leaves a tremendous void in our cafe and in our community,” Better Half, the coffee shop where Gorb works, posted on social media Thursday. “She has been such an important part of this space, and her presence will be deeply missed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eblin said that when he was able to connect with Gorb again Thursday evening, she had been transferred to California City and sounded “substantially rattled.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said she’s expected to meet with an attorney on Friday afternoon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our predominant concern at this point is getting her released on bond so she’s able to wait out any proceedings in a safe, dignified place and dignified setting, which California City is absolutely not,” Eblin told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to Milli Atkinson, director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program at the San Francisco Bar Association, immigration advocates began seeing ICE detentions at airports outside of Customs and Border Protection last year anecdotally, but in the last month, they have become a “consistent tactic.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’re seeing now is ICE showing up at airports because they have information about travelers, they have ID information,” she said. “The Department of Homeland Security includes TSA, so it just appears that TSA is now cooperating with ICE at a level that we haven’t seen before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said via email that ICE and DHS operate outside the jurisdiction of U.S. airports, and that SFO is “not involved in any decisions about their operations, nor are we notified when they occur.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Atkinson said for people who are not U.S. citizens, “now is not a safe time to be traveling through airports unless you’ve spoken to an attorney and you assess what risk there is.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Workers at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12061054/bay-area-regulators-settle-with-wastewater-plant-for-734000-over-foul-odor\">C&H Sugar\u003c/a> hope to sit down at the negotiating table with the company this week, after dozens walked out last month over disputes about retirement benefits and overtime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The talks will be the first since the strike began. They come only days after allied workers who typically unload the sugar at the Crockett refinery said some of the operations were outsourced to a terminal in Richmond because they joined the picket line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Around 90 International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 6 warehouse workers at the refinery started an open-ended strike on June 15 following an impasse in negotiations. C&H dockworkers from ILWU Local 10 refused to cross the picket line and joined the strike in solidarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cesar Garibay, a business agent with ILWU Local 6, said he was hopeful that the company would come with better offers to the negotiating table.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“During negotiations, we offered them some compromise to some of the language they wanted,” Garibay said. “The frustrating part is that everybody on the company side of the table was clueless on how the warehouse operates, so we had to explain to them how it works and how they can accomplish what they want without tearing our contract apart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Workers say that C&H wants to cut half of their sick days – five of the 10 days – and get rid of benefits for those who’ve retired. That’s as the company offers a 20% cumulative raise over the five-year term, which union members say isn’t worth the trade-off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Workers say the company has engaged in bad faith bargaining in the process. Kendra Sparks, an ILWU Local 6 worker for almost 30 years, said the union met with the company on the day the strike started, but wasn’t able to come to a last-minute deal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They just basically slapped down like, ‘This is what we’re proposing and take it or leave it,’ basically,” Sparks said.[aside postID=news_12061054 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/CHSugarCrockettGetty.jpg']Though the move toward more negotiation talks this week is a good sign, she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know it’s not business as usual for them, so hopefully the pressure of increased attention on the situation will help,” Sparks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dockworkers are also claiming foul over the company taking some of its operations over to the Levin Richmond Terminal at the beginning of this month, unloading raw sugar in the same area that things like coal and oil are unloaded. C&H workers from ILWU Local 10 who usually unload the sugar are not crossing the picket line, so the company shifted operations to a different terminal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The move raised health concerns among union members and, for Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, it diminished “the power of the workers” during negotiations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead of focusing on alternate ways to deliver the sugar, [the company should] focus on reaching an agreement with the workers so that the sugar ships from the Philippines go to Crockett and not to a coal facility in Richmond,” Gioia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gioia said that the county health department reached out to state and federal officials about the company unloading at the Richmond terminal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-air-quality-management-district\">Bay Area Air District\u003c/a> inspected the location on Thursday, and said in a statement that it found no visible emissions from sugar or coal handling operations and documented no violations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087608\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087608\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite>(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A C&H spokesperson said that it’s “common practice for raw sugar logistics globally to be handled via bulk ships and bulk terminals similar to how it is being handled at the Levin Terminal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once it has been processed in our refinery, we assure the quality of our finished sugar,” C&H said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even though C&H says that raw sugar is not a food product, well, you could’ve fooled me because it is,” said Michael Villeggiante, president of Local 10. “It’s being mixed with a lot of toxic materials.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Records show the ship carrying the sugar, known as the Tai Herald, was in Richmond for about eight and a half days. The ship moved on to Crockett late Friday night and has been docked ever since, according to vessel traffic records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Though the move toward more negotiation talks this week is a good sign, she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know it’s not business as usual for them, so hopefully the pressure of increased attention on the situation will help,” Sparks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dockworkers are also claiming foul over the company taking some of its operations over to the Levin Richmond Terminal at the beginning of this month, unloading raw sugar in the same area that things like coal and oil are unloaded. C&H workers from ILWU Local 10 who usually unload the sugar are not crossing the picket line, so the company shifted operations to a different terminal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The move raised health concerns among union members and, for Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, it diminished “the power of the workers” during negotiations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead of focusing on alternate ways to deliver the sugar, [the company should] focus on reaching an agreement with the workers so that the sugar ships from the Philippines go to Crockett and not to a coal facility in Richmond,” Gioia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gioia said that the county health department reached out to state and federal officials about the company unloading at the Richmond terminal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-air-quality-management-district\">Bay Area Air District\u003c/a> inspected the location on Thursday, and said in a statement that it found no visible emissions from sugar or coal handling operations and documented no violations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087608\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087608\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1306\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CoalOaklandGetty-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A train loaded with coal approaches the Levin-Richmond Terminal in Richmond, California, on July 23, 2015. \u003ccite>(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A C&H spokesperson said that it’s “common practice for raw sugar logistics globally to be handled via bulk ships and bulk terminals similar to how it is being handled at the Levin Terminal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once it has been processed in our refinery, we assure the quality of our finished sugar,” C&H said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even though C&H says that raw sugar is not a food product, well, you could’ve fooled me because it is,” said Michael Villeggiante, president of Local 10. “It’s being mixed with a lot of toxic materials.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Records show the ship carrying the sugar, known as the Tai Herald, was in Richmond for about eight and a half days. The ship moved on to Crockett late Friday night and has been docked ever since, according to vessel traffic records.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jlara\">\u003cem>Juan Carlos Lara\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez appears poised to lose his \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/richmond-mayor\">reelection bid\u003c/a>, with City Councilmember Claudia Jimenez and Ahmad Anderson seemingly headed to a runoff in November based on unofficial election results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m feeling good that the early results show me leading this, but it’s still a lot of other votes that we need to count,” Jimenez told KQED on Wednesday. “People believe and see what I have done. I am not just saying what I will do, but I am saying, look at this is what I had done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jimenez, who represents the North and East Richmond neighborhoods on the City Council, appeared to be the frontrunner with 34% of the vote, according to results posted by Contra Costa County early Wednesday. Anderson, who has positioned himself as a more moderate alternative to Jimenez and Martinez, was in the second spot, with 28.64% of the vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Martinez’s reelection bid followed calls for him to resign at the end of last year, after he reposted \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068010/jewish-group-demands-richmond-mayors-resignation-over-bondi-beach-shooting-conspiracies\">antisemitic conspiracy theories\u003c/a> on LinkedIn. One of the posts alleged that an attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was an Israeli “false flag” operation, while another said that “the root cause of antisemitism is the behavior of Israel and Israelis.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fellow council members proposed, but failed to pass, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068817/richmond-mayor-faces-possible-censure-by-city-council-after-bondi-beach-conspiracy-posts\">measure to censure\u003c/a> him over the posts.[aside label=\"Live 2026 Election Results\" link1='https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/governor,Learn about the results of the California Governor Election' hero=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/04/Aside-California-Governor-2026-Primary-Election-1200x1200@2x.png]In January, he read an apology letter at a City Council meeting, saying it was a mistake to share the posts. Martinez did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jimenez made waves when she launched her campaign in March, taking on the mayor, a progressive ally. She said she wasn’t planning to run for the seat until she was urged to by residents and local organizations, but quickly amassed support from the prominent Richmond Progressive Alliance, which supported Martinez’s 2022 election bid, and campaign contributions from many of the labor unions that supported his first campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I am the candidate who had shown that I had the skills, I had the perseverance to finish the things that I am doing, showing results and a vision for Richmond,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jimenez, who did not support the move to censure Martinez, said she doesn’t believe the controversy played a role in the election outcome. Instead, she said she believes Richmond voters see her as a stronger candidate to champion the progressive initiatives she’s supported on the council.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people feel like I am a stronger leader and they want a stronger leader for mayor,” she said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the posts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anderson, who has previously run two unsuccessful campaigns for City Council, gained the support of the city’s police association, the state and county democratic party organizations and East Bay state legislators Buffy Wicks and Jesse Arreguín.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The message I’ve been sharing that the bread and butter things are important — public safety, economic development and workforce development, housing and environmental justice — it resonates citywide,” Anderson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county is expected to release additional election results by Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In January, he read an apology letter at a City Council meeting, saying it was a mistake to share the posts. Martinez did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jimenez made waves when she launched her campaign in March, taking on the mayor, a progressive ally. She said she wasn’t planning to run for the seat until she was urged to by residents and local organizations, but quickly amassed support from the prominent Richmond Progressive Alliance, which supported Martinez’s 2022 election bid, and campaign contributions from many of the labor unions that supported his first campaign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I am the candidate who had shown that I had the skills, I had the perseverance to finish the things that I am doing, showing results and a vision for Richmond,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jimenez, who did not support the move to censure Martinez, said she doesn’t believe the controversy played a role in the election outcome. Instead, she said she believes Richmond voters see her as a stronger candidate to champion the progressive initiatives she’s supported on the council.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people feel like I am a stronger leader and they want a stronger leader for mayor,” she said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the posts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anderson, who has previously run two unsuccessful campaigns for City Council, gained the support of the city’s police association, the state and county democratic party organizations and East Bay state legislators Buffy Wicks and Jesse Arreguín.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The message I’ve been sharing that the bread and butter things are important — public safety, economic development and workforce development, housing and environmental justice — it resonates citywide,” Anderson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county is expected to release additional election results by Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
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"meta": {
"site": "radio",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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}
},
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"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
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"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
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"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
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"id": "here-and-now",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
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},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
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"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
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},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
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"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
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"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
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}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
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}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
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"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
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"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
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},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
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