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"content": "\u003cp>Former \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12006391/barbara-boxer-is-retired-but-still-deeply-engaged-in-politics\">U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer\u003c/a> is endorsing Connie Chan in the race to represent San Francisco in Congress. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The endorsement adds another legendary female politician to Chan’s list of supporters, which also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi\u003c/a>, whose upcoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retirement\u003c/a> has opened one of the most competitive elections for San Francisco’s seat in Congress in decades. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If ever we needed a fighter and coalition builder who puts working families first, it is now. Connie is that fighter,” Boxer said in a statement. Now retired, Boxer has remained active in politics, including supporting Democratic candidates like Will Rollins, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2024, and former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s brief bid for state treasurer the same year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11855572\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-536x402.jpg 536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, speaks during a press conference calling for the creation of an independent military justice system to deal with sexual harassment and assault in the military, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6, 2014. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Democrat served as a county supervisor in Marin before going on to represent parts of the San Francisco Bay Area in Congress from 1983 to 1993 — one of only 23 women at the time in the House of Representatives. She then served in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Although we have made great progress with now 125 women representatives out of 435, there’s still a lot of work to do. Connie will ensure that gap doesn’t grow,” Boxer said. “She will make us proud.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chan, a progressive Democrat with wide support from labor organizations, is running against state Sen. Scott Wiener, a former San Francisco supervisor known for his work around housing legislation and LGBTQ rights at the local and state level. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener, a more moderate Democrat, has nabbed support from labor leader Dolores Huerta, the majority of the city’s current Board of Supervisors and other Democratic elected officials, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Rep. Sam Liccardo, the former San José mayor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan meanwhile has found a powerful ally in Pelosi, who has thrown her fundraising muscle and political expertise behind her campaign. Recently, Pelosi \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/teampelosi/status/2085488807152136474?s=46\">sharply criticized\u003c/a> one of Wiener’s campaign moves to create an AI-powered chatbot mimicking Chan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Women have spent generations fighting to have our own voices heard in the halls of power,” Pelosi said about the chatbot. “We should not have to now fight against artificial intelligence putting words in our mouths.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener’s team later took down the AI chatbot, acknowledging that it “clearly missed the mark.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My campaign created ConnieChan.ai as a parody to draw attention to my opponent’s record of delay and obstruction around housing, public transit and other critical needs,” Wiener said in a statement following criticism that the tool also mocked Chan’s accent. “Innovation means trying new things, and it also means being honest when something doesn’t land the way you intended.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, the state senator held a “Women for Scott” rally with elected officials including East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and SF Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung, who have all endorsed Wiener. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener may have more name recognition, from his pro-housing supporters to national Republicans who have attacked his LGBTQ legislation, but recent polling suggests the race is competitive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan said in a statement that she was “deeply grateful” for Boxer’s support. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Her career has shown what it means to fight for working families and bring local government experience directly to Washington,” Chan said. “I’m honored to follow in Senator Boxer’s footsteps and look forward to carrying that fight to Congress.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chan meanwhile has found a powerful ally in Pelosi, who has thrown her fundraising muscle and political expertise behind her campaign. Recently, Pelosi \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/teampelosi/status/2085488807152136474?s=46\">sharply criticized\u003c/a> one of Wiener’s campaign moves to create an AI-powered chatbot mimicking Chan. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Women have spent generations fighting to have our own voices heard in the halls of power,” Pelosi said about the chatbot. “We should not have to now fight against artificial intelligence putting words in our mouths.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“My campaign created ConnieChan.ai as a parody to draw attention to my opponent’s record of delay and obstruction around housing, public transit and other critical needs,” Wiener said in a statement following criticism that the tool also mocked Chan’s accent. “Innovation means trying new things, and it also means being honest when something doesn’t land the way you intended.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Saturday, the state senator held a “Women for Scott” rally with elected officials including East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and SF Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung, who have all endorsed Wiener. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wiener may have more name recognition, from his pro-housing supporters to national Republicans who have attacked his LGBTQ legislation, but recent polling suggests the race is competitive.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chan said in a statement that she was “deeply grateful” for Boxer’s support. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Her career has shown what it means to fight for working families and bring local government experience directly to Washington,” Chan said. “I’m honored to follow in Senator Boxer’s footsteps and look forward to carrying that fight to Congress.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Chan has also found a powerful ally in Nancy Pelosi, whose retirement has opened up the first competitive race for the city’s House seat in decades.",
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"title": "Former Sen. Barbara Boxer Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress | KQED",
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"headline": "Former Sen. Barbara Boxer Endorses San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for Congress",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Former \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12006391/barbara-boxer-is-retired-but-still-deeply-engaged-in-politics\">U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer\u003c/a> is endorsing Connie Chan in the race to represent San Francisco in Congress. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The endorsement adds another legendary female politician to Chan’s list of supporters, which also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084132/nancy-pelosi-endorses-san-francisco-supervisor-connie-chan-for-congress\">House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi\u003c/a>, whose upcoming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062796/nancy-pelosi-leaves-congress-after-38-years-defining-generations-of-democratic-power\">retirement\u003c/a> has opened one of the most competitive elections for San Francisco’s seat in Congress in decades. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If ever we needed a fighter and coalition builder who puts working families first, it is now. Connie is that fighter,” Boxer said in a statement. Now retired, Boxer has remained active in politics, including supporting Democratic candidates like Will Rollins, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2024, and former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s brief bid for state treasurer the same year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11855572\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/01/8749_transform-536x402.jpg 536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, speaks during a press conference calling for the creation of an independent military justice system to deal with sexual harassment and assault in the military, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6, 2014. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Democrat served as a county supervisor in Marin before going on to represent parts of the San Francisco Bay Area in Congress from 1983 to 1993 — one of only 23 women at the time in the House of Representatives. She then served in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Although we have made great progress with now 125 women representatives out of 435, there’s still a lot of work to do. Connie will ensure that gap doesn’t grow,” Boxer said. “She will make us proud.”\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>Chan, a progressive Democrat with wide support from labor organizations, is running against state Sen. Scott Wiener, a former San Francisco supervisor known for his work around housing legislation and LGBTQ rights at the local and state level. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener, a more moderate Democrat, has nabbed support from labor leader Dolores Huerta, the majority of the city’s current Board of Supervisors and other Democratic elected officials, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Rep. Sam Liccardo, the former San José mayor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan meanwhile has found a powerful ally in Pelosi, who has thrown her fundraising muscle and political expertise behind her campaign. Recently, Pelosi \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/teampelosi/status/2085488807152136474?s=46\">sharply criticized\u003c/a> one of Wiener’s campaign moves to create an AI-powered chatbot mimicking Chan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Women have spent generations fighting to have our own voices heard in the halls of power,” Pelosi said about the chatbot. “We should not have to now fight against artificial intelligence putting words in our mouths.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener’s team later took down the AI chatbot, acknowledging that it “clearly missed the mark.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My campaign created ConnieChan.ai as a parody to draw attention to my opponent’s record of delay and obstruction around housing, public transit and other critical needs,” Wiener said in a statement following criticism that the tool also mocked Chan’s accent. “Innovation means trying new things, and it also means being honest when something doesn’t land the way you intended.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Saturday, the state senator held a “Women for Scott” rally with elected officials including East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and SF Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung, who have all endorsed Wiener. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wiener may have more name recognition, from his pro-housing supporters to national Republicans who have attacked his LGBTQ legislation, but recent polling suggests the race is competitive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan said in a statement that she was “deeply grateful” for Boxer’s support. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Her career has shown what it means to fight for working families and bring local government experience directly to Washington,” Chan said. “I’m honored to follow in Senator Boxer’s footsteps and look forward to carrying that fight to Congress.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "exclusive-errors-plagued-clipper-2-0-long-before-botched-launch-records-reveal",
"title": "Exclusive: Errors Plagued Clipper 2.0 Long Before Botched Launch, Records Reveal",
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"headTitle": "Exclusive: Errors Plagued Clipper 2.0 Long Before Botched Launch, Records Reveal | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The day before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies rolled out Clipper 2.0 — a long-anticipated upgrade to the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — a high-level staffer overseeing the project raised an important red flag. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Known as “next generation Clipper” and used by 22 Bay Area operators, the software promised to make riding transit easier with bank card tap-to-pay, rider discounts and other features. It had taken Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor in charge of the update, seven years — nearly three more than initially promised — to deliver the new system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But on the eve of the launch, Jason Weinstein, director of Clipper at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees Cubic’s contract, issued a formal letter, saying the MTC did not have confidence that the process for collecting fares and distributing them to the appropriate operator — a main function of the software — was happening appropriately. The problem, according to the MTC, was that it was not yet fully automated and relied too heavily on manual oversight in a system that handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weinstein said the commission would “hold Cubic accountable” for meeting the requirements of its contract. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers board Caltrain at the 22nd Street Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident revealed a fissure that had been deepening over the past year. Internal communications reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show software bugs like these were present long before Weinstein’s warning and Clipper 2.0’s public debut. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had for months complained the company was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the MTC, there was little time to spare. Executive Director Andrew Fremier said commissioners were eager to get the upgrades installed before the Super Bowl and World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of fans were expected to descend upon the Bay Area — and take transit to get to matches. With assurances from Cubic leadership that issues would be fixed quickly, Fremier said the commission determined the potential benefit of launching the systems’ new features outweighed the known risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re probably never going to have a perfect system,” Fremier told KQED. “ We didn’t want to be so risk-averse that we weren’t getting good products into people’s hands.” \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096162\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at the Bay Area Transit offices in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, however, Weinstein’s warning proved prescient, and Clipper 2.0 began to unravel. Upon attempting to log in to their accounts, some customers were locked out by error messages; others were charged incorrect fares; ticket vending machines took some riders’ money without crediting their accounts; fare inspection devices failed; and hold times to speak to customer service staff soared up to 100 minutes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During one outage that began on May 18 and lasted approximately 27 hours, BART riders were unable to purchase or add value to their Clipper cards at the agency’s ticket vending machines and faced delays with transactions at BART fare gates, according to a staff memo. The culprit turned out to be Cubic’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085683/zero-credibility-major-clipper-outage-caused-by-cubics-failure-to-pay-att-bill\">failure to pay an AT&T bill\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The botched rollout comes at a particularly inopportune time for the agencies that rely on the platform to collect fares. The largest among them — BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — are all facing existential budget crises and are seeking relief from voters through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">two\u003c/a> separate tax \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087755/san-francisco-voters-will-vote-on-munis-future-in-november\">measures\u003c/a> in order to avoid drastic service cuts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The reputational damage that we are facing on an item that should have been a win at a time when we really need a win is just unacceptable,” Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), said at a June meeting of the Clipper Executive Board. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider refills their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of the San Diego-based global technology company Cubic Corporation, declined to answer specific questions about Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cubic spokesperson Cory Shields described Clipper 2.0 as “one of the most complex fare payment systems in the world.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Integrating the distinct fare structures and operating needs of each agency creates unique challenges that require close coordination among Cubic, MTC and the region’s operators,” Shields told KQED. “Our commitment to our partners and Bay Area riders is unwavering, and we will continue to build upon this progress to deliver the reliable system riders deserve.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The MTC initially estimated that upgrading the system’s roughly 15 million cards to Clipper 2.0 would take two to three months, but as of July 16, only about 15% of those cards have been converted to the new system. \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=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"12096269\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096269\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message is displayed on a Clipper vending machine. The photo was obtained via a California Public Records Act request seeking information about the rollout of Clipper 2.0. (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"12096252\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096252\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message on a Clipper vending machine at the 16th Street BART Station on March 11, 2026. (Erin Baldassari/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The glitches, delays and service outages have increased the program’s cost by millions, and estimates by multiple transit agencies indicate more than $100,000 in lost fare revenue combined, although the MTC said it is still calculating the total revenue lost. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June, the leaders of those agencies urged the commission to pursue “all contractual remedies” against Cubic to recover lost fares. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said his first focus is ensuring Clipper 2.0 actually works. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’ve asked Cubic to focus on most directly is getting the system stable to the point where we can shut down the old Clipper system and be functioning in the brand-new Clipper 2 environment,” he told KQED, “and then try to pick up the pieces about who might be responsible for what.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said he expects those conversations to play out “over the next few months.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years in the making \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next generation Clipper, or Clipper 2.0, is the first update to Clipper since it launched in 2010. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The hope, Fremier said, was to offer a better product to riders that would in turn incentivize more people to take transit. Across the Bay Area’s nine counties, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/commute-mode-choice\">more than two-thirds of commuters\u003c/a> drove to work alone in 2024, according to the MTC. Just 8% took transit on a typical workday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the original Clipper infrastructure wouldn’t support the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065714/clipper-card-\">suite of new features\u003c/a> that the MTC envisioned, including family accounts, reduced or free transfers and improvements to how users add funds. The update moved Clipper from a “card-based” system to an “account-based” system, Fremier said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096159\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp> “The card used to do all the work, and it could only hold a certain amount of information, and that limited our ability to offer different fare products,” Fremier said. “By moving into newer technology, it offered us a lot more flexibility.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2018, MTC awarded Cubic a 10-year, $393 million contract, not including contingency funds, to develop and operate Clipper 2.0 for 10 years. That contract has since increased to $436 million to accommodate additional equipment and features. The company has held the previous contract for the original version of Clipper since 2009. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic has developed and upgraded fare payment systems in other major cities, including New York City’s \u003ca href=\"https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/05/20/mtas-demotes-omny-contractor-cubic-in-hopes-of-speeding-up-commuter-rail-fare-integration\">OMNY\u003c/a>, Chicago’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/to-really-foul-things-up-chicagoprivatizes-transit-payment-system/\">Ventra\u003c/a>, and Boston’s \u003ca href=\"https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative\">MBTA\u003c/a> — projects that also faced many of the same \u003ca href=\"https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-announces-steps-to-address-ventra-issues/\">issues\u003c/a> and delays that plague Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096308\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cubic Corporation logo at the Satellite 2024 conference and exhibition in Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Rebecca Long, a spokesperson for MTC, said that while the commission did “everything it could do from a legal and business perspective” to attract multiple bids, its priority was minimizing disruptions for customers, which meant it had to keep Clipper 1.0 running through the transition. She said, however, that decision “added complexity” to the contract. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That would be hard for anyone but Cubic,” Long said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic also has very few competitors in the industry that are able to supply a full suite of services, according to Fremier. Still, he said commissioners thought Cubic’s previous experience running Clipper would be a “helpful benefit.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Cubic responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In public meetings, Cubic representatives have apologized for the rocky rollout. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s completely unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry for the experiences that you are having,” Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, the former president of Cubic Transportation Systems, told the Clipper Executive Board at a Jan. 26 meeting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Montgomery-Torrellas left the company in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096264\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026, in Berkeley. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In private communications, however, company representatives blamed some of Clipper 2.0’s issues on the MTC for not authorizing sufficient field testing prior to the launch. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nine months before the rollout of Clipper 2.0, Cubic requested MTC increase the number of participants testing the new system from approximately 60 to at least 1,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To solidify the potential launch date for the C2 program, it is crucial to maximize the use of the production system,” Dennis Dewan, contracts manager at Cubic, wrote in an email to Weinstein on March 14, 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dewan said since the start of that year, fewer than 1,000 rides had been processed across only nine agencies, involving fewer than 100 unique accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Comprehensive validation of the system necessitates many more taps across a larger range of use cases,” Dewan wrote, referring to when riders “tap” their Clipper card on a card reader. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096263\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider scans their phone on a Clipper machine at the 22nd Street Caltrain station in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>But despite Cubic’s assertions that the system was ready for significantly larger pilot activity, the MTC declined to expand the number of testers, demanding Cubic resolve a known list of problems first.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“MTC does not plan to open the current field testing or to start [the] pilot with the public until an agreeable list of items is complete,” Weinstein told Dewan less than a week later. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Those items included successfully demonstrating that customer data — such as account credentials, payment methods and travel history — could be migrated from the old system to the new one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In mid-April, 2025, testing by Cubic still showed “significant failure rates,” with only 49% of tests passing and more than 500 open software bugs, according to a formal letter to Cubic signed by Fremier. The back-and-forth about whether to expand the pilot continued through the spring and summer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By October, the first time a possible launch date was discussed, field testing was 30% complete, and Google Wallet — a digital wallet where people could store their Clipper card on their smartphone — remained blocked, Fremier wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Super Bowl attendees exit a VTA light rail train at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Asked whether field testing was ever fully completed, Long told KQED, “Field testing was conducted on all components that could be validated in real-world conditions,” including Clipper device functionality, system reporting and website performance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even a week before launch, Diana Hammons, senior manager of revenue growth and reporting at the SFMTA, which runs Muni, expressed dissatisfaction with Cubic’s handling of known errors, asking the company to collate them into a master list. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This e-mail chain is not an ideal way for us to be tracking the progress on these issues and for me to be able to effectively update our General Manager,” she wrote on Dec. 3. “We are seven days away from the scheduled launch date.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite known issues, Cubic officials assured MTC it could meet a Dec. 10 launch date for Clipper 2.0, Fremier said, with the MTC agreeing to continue testing in “a more live environment” — a decision he later defended.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I do think the decision and the reason why we made it was the right one at the time,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1975\" height=\"1317\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096206\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg 1975w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1975px) 100vw, 1975px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Mangot stands at the 24th Street BART station in San Francisco on Aug. 3, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Dave Mangot, the founder and CEO of the software delivery consultancy Mangoteque, who reviewed Cubic’s outage reports obtained by KQED, said the MTC should not have relied on “assurances” from Cubic that the company would be able to fix the problems in a timely manner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Assurances are nonsense in software. Either the tests pass, or they don’t. That’s it,” Mangot said. “ Show me that this thing works like it’s supposed to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doing a comprehensive pilot with well-planned, well-defined and well-managed outcomes, including full systems load testing, would have been very important for a rollout of this magnitude, according to Shyam Dunna, the principal at nMomentum Corporation, a technology consulting and IT services firm that specializes in fare collection systems. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It appears that this was not done thoroughly enough based on the reports of system issues,” Dunna said, acknowledging that it can be difficult to comment without a forensic inspection of what caused them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Whac-A-Mole\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Clipper 2.0 launched on Dec. 10, 2025, with an eager crowd of transit agency heads and local leaders crowding a podium at the Embarcadero BART/Muni station to celebrate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “But that progress relies on a stable transit system.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That night, Angus Davol, assistant director of Clipper development and budget at MTC, told transit agency staff in an email that bankcard tap-to-pay acceptance “went smoothly overall,” but Cubic was investigating several issues, including customers “unable to manage their accounts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A BART fare gate displays an “Out of Service” message at North Berkeley Station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, internal emails and reports from MTC, transit agency staff and Cubic describe a software rollout similar to a game of Whac-A-Mole, in which issues would worsen and multiply while solutions remained elusive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By January, MTC staff expressed doubts the company would be able to meet its initial schedule for upgrading original Clipper accounts to Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They did not design a system and migration process that can handle 600 passes and the significant number of rules and devices that we have in use,” Kelley Jackson, assistant director of Clipper Operations and Customer Experience at MTC, wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In several instances when problems did occur, Cubic’s initial response was to perform rolling restarts of servers, which Mangot described as a “turn everything off and on again” approach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the 19th Street Oakland BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Which is great if my mom has a problem with her Mac and she needs help, but this isn’t that,” Mangot said. “This is a payment system that’s running 22 different transit agencies. ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again’ isn’t the answer.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In response to a two-hour outage on March 25, when Clipper ticket vending machines were unable to process credit or debit card payments, a Cubic staffer wrote that the company should “estimate the cost of building and maintaining a proper load test environment,” as an action item in response to the outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mangot said that response “seemed backwards.” Load testing, the process of testing a system under its expected peak capacity, typically happens before a new system launches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ So many of these issues that they are running into with [servers] being overutilized, that’s why we do load testing,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Cheated’ and ‘embarrassed’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following the December launch, the Clipper Customer Service center became overwhelmed with around \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071026/a-hot-mess-transit-riders-officials-skewer-contractor-over-flawed-clipper-2-0-rollout\">47,000 calls\u003c/a> to agents in roughly its first month of operation, nearly four times the amount it was originally contracted to handle. At the same time, Clipper’s customer service staff reported delays accessing customer accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART riders like Omar Sultan found themselves locked out of their accounts for weeks, unable to access the money they had set aside for riding transit. Sultan told the BART Board of Directors in a January email that he missed the reimbursement deadline for transit through his employer because he was unable to access his account for so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Riders are being charged for BART trips without the ability to audit those charges — a situation that would not be acceptable in any other payment system. I contacted Clipper customer service regarding this issue and received no response or guidance,” Sultan wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the days following the launch of Clipper 2.0 — the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — the system began to unravel, with some customers locked out by error messages, others charged incorrect fares and ticket vending machines taking some riders’ money without crediting their accounts. (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>AC Transit General Manager Salvador Llamas said the ongoing issues made it difficult to recruit passengers who qualify for Clipper START, a discount program for low-income riders. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s getting difficult to encourage people to get on Clipper START or other programs when the [ticket vending machines] don’t even work,” Llamas said at a July Clipper executive board meeting. “It’s hard for us to encourage people to trust the system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One longtime BART station agent who spoke to KQED on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak with the press said the problems with Clipper 2.0 made it harder to come to work, calling it “the worst systemwide morale killer amongst agents since I started working here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agent described months of problems with BART ticket vending machines where the machines would take riders’ money but not issue a Clipper card, and station agents “didn’t have an acceptable way to resolve the problem.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I care about our riders’ experience and can’t help but feel personally embarrassed, and organizationally incompetent, when our ‘product’ falls so far short of any reasonable expectations,” the station agent said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The station agent said eventually they turned the vending machine’s ticket dispensing capability off “so passengers wouldn’t get cheated out of their money.” Those problems persisted for months until an update by Cubic on Aug. 3 solved the problem, the station agent said, but “These software issues never should have taken this long to be fixed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While problems persisted, transit agencies lost money. Caltrain estimated in a March 5 email to MTC staff that from Clipper 2.0’s launch through Jan. 31, it lost $70,000 because fare inspection devices had failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On March 18, the MTC’s Davol told transit agency staff in an email that Cubic had identified around 125,000 card taps — when a rider pays for their trip using a Clipper card — that had not been priced, meaning the fares had not been deducted from customer accounts or settled with operators. Five days later, he said Cubic had suspended processing those taps because customers were being charged for trips that pre-existing passes should have otherwise covered, and that Cubic was reporting new instances of unpriced taps. By March, BART projected $33,000 in lost revenue because station agents had to give out free rides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iZooa/2/\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other errors included failing to update fare tables on New Year’s Day and charging some customers a local fare for express routes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this fiscal environment, Caltrain cannot afford to continue to [go] down this path,” Bruce Thompson, manager of fare program operations at Caltrain, wrote in one email to MTC staff, citing the agency’s forecasted $75 million annual budget \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-budget-deficit\">deficit\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Super Bowl and World Cup did indeed bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">record-setting\u003c/a> ridership to \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/news/ridership-records-broken-fifa-world-cup-stadium-opener\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260615-0\">BART\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip\">Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority\u003c/a>. But the ongoing issues with Clipper 2.0 forced the agencies to delay introducing new promotions and led some to promote other fare payment platforms, such as the Token Transit app, instead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> “There’s no question that it hasn’t been a good rollout, and it hasn’t served our customers well,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard told KQED in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between Dec. 10, 2025 and Aug. 10, 2026, Cubic logged 20 major incidents with the system, defined as an outage affecting things like card readers, or the Clipper website or app for more than an hour. The average length of the outages was approximately five hours. Of those 20 incidents, 19 were related to Cubic-managed systems, while one was related to a regional Microsoft outage, Long said.\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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096260\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider uses a Clipper card machine at the Palo Alto Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>None of those outages affected riders’ ability to take transit if their Clipper card already had value on it, or if they could pay with a bank card, Long said, but she added that the outages did have “customer-facing impacts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last major outage was on June 10. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Long said the MTC is still evaluating the total financial impact of Clipper 2.0 to transit operators. In June, the Clipper Executive Board tacked on \u003ca href=\"https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/attachments/6584/3c_Clipper_Two_Year_Budget.pdf?cb=a83f1316\">another $11 million\u003c/a> to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget for costs related to Clipper 2.0 delays, including $3.4 million to keep the previous version of Clipper operational for up to nine more months and an additional $7.6 million for increased customer service center staffing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This came shortly after Cubic blew through a self-imposed May 30 deadline to resolve all critical issues and begin upgrading accounts to Clipper 2.0 en masse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning from mistakes\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Adina Levin, the executive director of the Bay Area transit advocacy nonprofit Seamless Bay Area, the problems with Clipper 2.0’s delivery are representative of broader issues when government agencies are in charge of overseeing large-scale technology projects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ What is needed is a learning process on what are the attributes of a well-managed technology project, and so what needs to be put in place to do things differently,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Levin said the MTC needs to be more involved in the technical planning of systems like Clipper 2.0 in order for them to be successful. \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adina Levin sits at the Menlo Park Caltrain station on Aug. 7, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“What is the network environment of this project, and is the system designed to work in this network? What is the testing plan to work in the network? The customer needs to be able to understand that in order to be able to manage it,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Levin suggested that for future projects, MTC could structure the contract with smaller components that could allow for more “competitive choices,” as Cubic being the single bidder meant there was no competition or alternatives to choose from. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As contract manager, Fremier said the MTC’s job “is to make sure that Cubic produces the system that they bid on and that we specified in the contract.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But he said so much of the work is done behind the scenes by programmers and people with technical expertise that there wasn’t much more the MTC could do to improve delivery of the system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ That’s not what we have on staff. We aren’t programmers. That’s a place that most owners, including us, do not have that expertise,” Fremier said. “That’s why you hire a professional contractor to do that.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Fremier, one takeaway is that the complexity of the Bay Area’s fare payment system contributed to issues rolling out the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some agencies like Caltrain and BART charge riders based on how far they ride, while others like MUNI and AC Transit charge a flat fee. Long said agencies’ inspection devices and ticket vending machines all rely on different underlying software which must interact with Clipper 2.0. Even the discount offered to senior or youth riders varies between agencies, Long said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We’ve all learned lessons about what we might be able to do better, including maybe down the road simplifying some of the connectivity challenges that we have with all the different systems,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said he’s confident that over the course of the summer and into the fall, the MTC will be able to shut down the old version of Clipper and manage the entire system on Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once that is done, it may be time to start on Clipper 3.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ These contracts take several years to procure and several years to build, which is multiple years in the making, which means we need to almost get started now on trying to figure out what that next generation might be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The day before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies rolled out Clipper 2.0 — a long-anticipated upgrade to the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — a high-level staffer overseeing the project raised an important red flag. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The day before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies rolled out Clipper 2.0 — a long-anticipated upgrade to the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — a high-level staffer overseeing the project raised an important red flag. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Known as “next generation Clipper” and used by 22 Bay Area operators, the software promised to make riding transit easier with bank card tap-to-pay, rider discounts and other features. It had taken Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor in charge of the update, seven years — nearly three more than initially promised — to deliver the new system.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Known as “next generation Clipper” and used by 22 Bay Area operators, the software promised to make riding transit easier with bank card tap-to-pay, rider discounts and other features. It had taken Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor in charge of the update, seven years — nearly three more than initially promised — to deliver the new system.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But on the eve of the launch, Jason Weinstein, director of Clipper at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees Cubic’s contract, issued a formal letter, saying the MTC did not have confidence that the process for collecting fares and distributing them to the appropriate operator — a main function of the software — was happening appropriately. The problem, according to the MTC, was that it was not yet fully automated and relied too heavily on manual oversight in a system that handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But on the eve of the launch, Jason Weinstein, director of Clipper at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees Cubic’s contract, issued a formal letter, saying the MTC did not have confidence that the process for collecting fares and distributing them to the appropriate operator — a main function of the software — was happening appropriately. The problem, according to the MTC, was that it was not yet fully automated and relied too heavily on manual oversight in a system that handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weinstein said the commission would “hold Cubic accountable” for meeting the requirements of its contract. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weinstein said the commission would “hold Cubic accountable” for meeting the requirements of its contract. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers board Caltrain at the 22nd Street Caltrain station on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096267\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers board Caltrain at the 22nd Street Caltrain station on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The incident revealed a fissure that had been deepening over the past year. Internal communications reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show software bugs like these were present long before Weinstein’s warning and Clipper 2.0’s public debut. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The incident revealed a fissure that had been deepening over the past year. Internal communications reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show software bugs like these were present long before Weinstein’s warning and Clipper 2.0’s public debut. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had for months complained the company was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had for months complained the company was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the MTC, there was little time to spare. Executive Director Andrew Fremier said commissioners were eager to get the upgrades installed before the Super Bowl and World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of fans were expected to descend upon the Bay Area — and take transit to get to matches. With assurances from Cubic leadership that issues would be fixed quickly, Fremier said the commission determined the potential benefit of launching the systems’ new features outweighed the known risks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the MTC, there was little time to spare. Executive Director Andrew Fremier said commissioners were eager to get the upgrades installed before the Super Bowl and World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of fans were expected to descend upon the Bay Area — and take transit to get to matches. With assurances from Cubic leadership that issues would be fixed quickly, Fremier said the commission determined the potential benefit of launching the systems’ new features outweighed the known risks. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You’re probably never going to have a perfect system,” Fremier told KQED. “ We didn’t want to be so risk-averse that we weren’t getting good products into people’s hands.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You’re probably never going to have a perfect system,” Fremier told KQED. “ We didn’t want to be so risk-averse that we weren’t getting good products into people’s hands.” \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096162\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at the Bay Area Transit offices in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2026.\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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096162\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at the Bay Area Transit offices in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, however, Weinstein’s warning proved prescient, and Clipper 2.0 began to unravel. Upon attempting to log in to their accounts, some customers were locked out by error messages; others were charged incorrect fares; ticket vending machines took some riders’ money without crediting their accounts; fare inspection devices failed; and hold times to speak to customer service staff soared up to 100 minutes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, however, Weinstein’s warning proved prescient, and Clipper 2.0 began to unravel. Upon attempting to log in to their accounts, some customers were locked out by error messages; others were charged incorrect fares; ticket vending machines took some riders’ money without crediting their accounts; fare inspection devices failed; and hold times to speak to customer service staff soared up to 100 minutes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During one outage that began on May 18 and lasted approximately 27 hours, BART riders were unable to purchase or add value to their Clipper cards at the agency’s ticket vending machines and faced delays with transactions at BART fare gates, according to a staff memo. The culprit turned out to be Cubic’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085683/zero-credibility-major-clipper-outage-caused-by-cubics-failure-to-pay-att-bill\">failure to pay an AT&T bill\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During one outage that began on May 18 and lasted approximately 27 hours, BART riders were unable to purchase or add value to their Clipper cards at the agency’s ticket vending machines and faced delays with transactions at BART fare gates, according to a staff memo. The culprit turned out to be Cubic’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085683/zero-credibility-major-clipper-outage-caused-by-cubics-failure-to-pay-att-bill\">failure to pay an AT&T bill\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The botched rollout comes at a particularly inopportune time for the agencies that rely on the platform to collect fares. The largest among them — BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — are all facing existential budget crises and are seeking relief from voters through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">two\u003c/a> separate tax \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087755/san-francisco-voters-will-vote-on-munis-future-in-november\">measures\u003c/a> in order to avoid drastic service cuts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The botched rollout comes at a particularly inopportune time for the agencies that rely on the platform to collect fares. The largest among them — BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — are all facing existential budget crises and are seeking relief from voters through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">two\u003c/a> separate tax \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087755/san-francisco-voters-will-vote-on-munis-future-in-november\">measures\u003c/a> in order to avoid drastic service cuts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The reputational damage that we are facing on an item that should have been a win at a time when we really need a win is just unacceptable,” Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), said at a June meeting of the Clipper Executive Board. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The reputational damage that we are facing on an item that should have been a win at a time when we really need a win is just unacceptable,” Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), said at a June meeting of the Clipper Executive Board. \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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider refills their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096265\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider refills their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of the San Diego-based global technology company Cubic Corporation, declined to answer specific questions about Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of the San Diego-based global technology company Cubic Corporation, declined to answer specific questions about Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cubic spokesperson Cory Shields described Clipper 2.0 as “one of the most complex fare payment systems in the world.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cubic spokesperson Cory Shields described Clipper 2.0 as “one of the most complex fare payment systems in the world.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Integrating the distinct fare structures and operating needs of each agency creates unique challenges that require close coordination among Cubic, MTC and the region’s operators,” Shields told KQED. “Our commitment to our partners and Bay Area riders is unwavering, and we will continue to build upon this progress to deliver the reliable system riders deserve.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Integrating the distinct fare structures and operating needs of each agency creates unique challenges that require close coordination among Cubic, MTC and the region’s operators,” Shields told KQED. “Our commitment to our partners and Bay Area riders is unwavering, and we will continue to build upon this progress to deliver the reliable system riders deserve.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The MTC initially estimated that upgrading the system’s roughly 15 million cards to Clipper 2.0 would take two to three months, but as of July 16, only about 15% of those cards have been converted to the new system. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The MTC initially estimated that upgrading the system’s roughly 15 million cards to Clipper 2.0 would take two to three months, but as of July 16, only about 15% of those cards have been converted to the new system. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n\n\u003c/figure>\n",
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null,
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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/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096269\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message is displayed on a Clipper vending machine. The photo was obtained via a California Public Records Act request seeking information about the rollout of Clipper 2.0.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096269\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message is displayed on a Clipper vending machine. The photo was obtained via a California Public Records Act request seeking information about the rollout of Clipper 2.0.\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/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096252\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message on a Clipper vending machine at the 16th Street BART Station on March 11, 2026. \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/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096252\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message on a Clipper vending machine at the 16th Street BART Station on March 11, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The glitches, delays and service outages have increased the program’s cost by millions, and estimates by multiple transit agencies indicate more than $100,000 in lost fare revenue combined, although the MTC said it is still calculating the total revenue lost. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The glitches, delays and service outages have increased the program’s cost by millions, and estimates by multiple transit agencies indicate more than $100,000 in lost fare revenue combined, although the MTC said it is still calculating the total revenue lost. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In June, the leaders of those agencies urged the commission to pursue “all contractual remedies” against Cubic to recover lost fares. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In June, the leaders of those agencies urged the commission to pursue “all contractual remedies” against Cubic to recover lost fares. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fremier said his first focus is ensuring Clipper 2.0 actually works. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fremier said his first focus is ensuring Clipper 2.0 actually works. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What we’ve asked Cubic to focus on most directly is getting the system stable to the point where we can shut down the old Clipper system and be functioning in the brand-new Clipper 2 environment,” he told KQED, “and then try to pick up the pieces about who might be responsible for what.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What we’ve asked Cubic to focus on most directly is getting the system stable to the point where we can shut down the old Clipper system and be functioning in the brand-new Clipper 2 environment,” he told KQED, “and then try to pick up the pieces about who might be responsible for what.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fremier said he expects those conversations to play out “over the next few months.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fremier said he expects those conversations to play out “over the next few months.” \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Years in the making ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years in the making \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years in the making \u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Next generation Clipper, or Clipper 2.0, is the first update to Clipper since it launched in 2010. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Next generation Clipper, or Clipper 2.0, is the first update to Clipper since it launched in 2010. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The hope, Fremier said, was to offer a better product to riders that would in turn incentivize more people to take transit. Across the Bay Area’s nine counties, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/commute-mode-choice\">more than two-thirds of commuters\u003c/a> drove to work alone in 2024, according to the MTC. Just 8% took transit on a typical workday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The hope, Fremier said, was to offer a better product to riders that would in turn incentivize more people to take transit. Across the Bay Area’s nine counties, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/commute-mode-choice\">more than two-thirds of commuters\u003c/a> drove to work alone in 2024, according to the MTC. Just 8% took transit on a typical workday. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the original Clipper infrastructure wouldn’t support the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065714/clipper-card-\">suite of new features\u003c/a> that the MTC envisioned, including family accounts, reduced or free transfers and improvements to how users add funds. The update moved Clipper from a “card-based” system to an “account-based” system, Fremier said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But the original Clipper infrastructure wouldn’t support the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065714/clipper-card-\">suite of new features\u003c/a> that the MTC envisioned, including family accounts, reduced or free transfers and improvements to how users add funds. The update moved Clipper from a “card-based” system to an “account-based” system, Fremier said.\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/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096159\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Darren Tu/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/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096159\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> “The card used to do all the work, and it could only hold a certain amount of information, and that limited our ability to offer different fare products,” Fremier said. “By moving into newer technology, it offered us a lot more flexibility.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> “The card used to do all the work, and it could only hold a certain amount of information, and that limited our ability to offer different fare products,” Fremier said. “By moving into newer technology, it offered us a lot more flexibility.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2018, MTC awarded Cubic a 10-year, $393 million contract, not including contingency funds, to develop and operate Clipper 2.0 for 10 years. That contract has since increased to $436 million to accommodate additional equipment and features. The company has held the previous contract for the original version of Clipper since 2009. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2018, MTC awarded Cubic a 10-year, $393 million contract, not including contingency funds, to develop and operate Clipper 2.0 for 10 years. That contract has since increased to $436 million to accommodate additional equipment and features. The company has held the previous contract for the original version of Clipper since 2009. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cubic has developed and upgraded fare payment systems in other major cities, including New York City’s \u003ca href=\"https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/05/20/mtas-demotes-omny-contractor-cubic-in-hopes-of-speeding-up-commuter-rail-fare-integration\">OMNY\u003c/a>, Chicago’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/to-really-foul-things-up-chicagoprivatizes-transit-payment-system/\">Ventra\u003c/a>, and Boston’s \u003ca href=\"https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative\">MBTA\u003c/a> — projects that also faced many of the same \u003ca href=\"https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-announces-steps-to-address-ventra-issues/\">issues\u003c/a> and delays that plague Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cubic has developed and upgraded fare payment systems in other major cities, including New York City’s \u003ca href=\"https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/05/20/mtas-demotes-omny-contractor-cubic-in-hopes-of-speeding-up-commuter-rail-fare-integration\">OMNY\u003c/a>, Chicago’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/to-really-foul-things-up-chicagoprivatizes-transit-payment-system/\">Ventra\u003c/a>, and Boston’s \u003ca href=\"https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative\">MBTA\u003c/a> — projects that also faced many of the same \u003ca href=\"https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-announces-steps-to-address-ventra-issues/\">issues\u003c/a> and delays that plague Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. \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/CubicCorpGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096308\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cubic Corporation logo at the Satellite 2024 conference and exhibition in Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)\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/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096308\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cubic Corporation logo at the Satellite 2024 conference and exhibition in Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rebecca Long, a spokesperson for MTC, said that while the commission did “everything it could do from a legal and business perspective” to attract multiple bids, its priority was minimizing disruptions for customers, which meant it had to keep Clipper 1.0 running through the transition. She said, however, that decision “added complexity” to the contract. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rebecca Long, a spokesperson for MTC, said that while the commission did “everything it could do from a legal and business perspective” to attract multiple bids, its priority was minimizing disruptions for customers, which meant it had to keep Clipper 1.0 running through the transition. She said, however, that decision “added complexity” to the contract. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That would be hard for anyone but Cubic,” Long said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That would be hard for anyone but Cubic,” Long said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cubic also has very few competitors in the industry that are able to supply a full suite of services, according to Fremier. Still, he said commissioners thought Cubic’s previous experience running Clipper would be a “helpful benefit.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cubic also has very few competitors in the industry that are able to supply a full suite of services, according to Fremier. Still, he said commissioners thought Cubic’s previous experience running Clipper would be a “helpful benefit.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Cubic responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Cubic responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In public meetings, Cubic representatives have apologized for the rocky rollout. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In public meetings, Cubic representatives have apologized for the rocky rollout. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s completely unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry for the experiences that you are having,” Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, the former president of Cubic Transportation Systems, told the Clipper Executive Board at a Jan. 26 meeting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s completely unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry for the experiences that you are having,” Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, the former president of Cubic Transportation Systems, told the Clipper Executive Board at a Jan. 26 meeting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Montgomery-Torrellas left the company in June. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Montgomery-Torrellas left the company in June. \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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096264\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026, in Berkeley.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096264\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026, in Berkeley.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In private communications, however, company representatives blamed some of Clipper 2.0’s issues on the MTC for not authorizing sufficient field testing prior to the launch. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In private communications, however, company representatives blamed some of Clipper 2.0’s issues on the MTC for not authorizing sufficient field testing prior to the launch. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nine months before the rollout of Clipper 2.0, Cubic requested MTC increase the number of participants testing the new system from approximately 60 to at least 1,000. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nine months before the rollout of Clipper 2.0, Cubic requested MTC increase the number of participants testing the new system from approximately 60 to at least 1,000. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To solidify the potential launch date for the C2 program, it is crucial to maximize the use of the production system,” Dennis Dewan, contracts manager at Cubic, wrote in an email to Weinstein on March 14, 2025. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“To solidify the potential launch date for the C2 program, it is crucial to maximize the use of the production system,” Dennis Dewan, contracts manager at Cubic, wrote in an email to Weinstein on March 14, 2025. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dewan said since the start of that year, fewer than 1,000 rides had been processed across only nine agencies, involving fewer than 100 unique accounts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dewan said since the start of that year, fewer than 1,000 rides had been processed across only nine agencies, involving fewer than 100 unique accounts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Comprehensive validation of the system necessitates many more taps across a larger range of use cases,” Dewan wrote, referring to when riders “tap” their Clipper card on a card reader. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Comprehensive validation of the system necessitates many more taps across a larger range of use cases,” Dewan wrote, referring to when riders “tap” their Clipper card on a card reader. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096263\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-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 Caltrain rider scans their phone on a Clipper machine at the 22nd Street Caltrain station in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096263\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider scans their phone on a Clipper machine at the 22nd Street Caltrain station in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But despite Cubic’s assertions that the system was ready for significantly larger pilot activity, the MTC declined to expand the number of testers, demanding Cubic resolve a known list of problems first.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But despite Cubic’s assertions that the system was ready for significantly larger pilot activity, the MTC declined to expand the number of testers, demanding Cubic resolve a known list of problems first.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“MTC does not plan to open the current field testing or to start [the] pilot with the public until an agreeable list of items is complete,” Weinstein told Dewan less than a week later. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“MTC does not plan to open the current field testing or to start [the] pilot with the public until an agreeable list of items is complete,” Weinstein told Dewan less than a week later. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Those items included successfully demonstrating that customer data — such as account credentials, payment methods and travel history — could be migrated from the old system to the new one. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Those items included successfully demonstrating that customer data — such as account credentials, payment methods and travel history — could be migrated from the old system to the new one. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In mid-April, 2025, testing by Cubic still showed “significant failure rates,” with only 49% of tests passing and more than 500 open software bugs, according to a formal letter to Cubic signed by Fremier. The back-and-forth about whether to expand the pilot continued through the spring and summer.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In mid-April, 2025, testing by Cubic still showed “significant failure rates,” with only 49% of tests passing and more than 500 open software bugs, according to a formal letter to Cubic signed by Fremier. The back-and-forth about whether to expand the pilot continued through the spring and summer.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By October, the first time a possible launch date was discussed, field testing was 30% complete, and Google Wallet — a digital wallet where people could store their Clipper card on their smartphone — remained blocked, Fremier wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>By October, the first time a possible launch date was discussed, field testing was 30% complete, and Google Wallet — a digital wallet where people could store their Clipper card on their smartphone — remained blocked, Fremier wrote.\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/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Super Bowl attendees exit a VTA light rail train at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096268\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Super Bowl attendees exit a VTA light rail train at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Asked whether field testing was ever fully completed, Long told KQED, “Field testing was conducted on all components that could be validated in real-world conditions,” including Clipper device functionality, system reporting and website performance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Asked whether field testing was ever fully completed, Long told KQED, “Field testing was conducted on all components that could be validated in real-world conditions,” including Clipper device functionality, system reporting and website performance.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But even a week before launch, Diana Hammons, senior manager of revenue growth and reporting at the SFMTA, which runs Muni, expressed dissatisfaction with Cubic’s handling of known errors, asking the company to collate them into a master list. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But even a week before launch, Diana Hammons, senior manager of revenue growth and reporting at the SFMTA, which runs Muni, expressed dissatisfaction with Cubic’s handling of known errors, asking the company to collate them into a master list. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This e-mail chain is not an ideal way for us to be tracking the progress on these issues and for me to be able to effectively update our General Manager,” she wrote on Dec. 3. “We are seven days away from the scheduled launch date.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This e-mail chain is not an ideal way for us to be tracking the progress on these issues and for me to be able to effectively update our General Manager,” she wrote on Dec. 3. “We are seven days away from the scheduled launch date.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite known issues, Cubic officials assured MTC it could meet a Dec. 10 launch date for Clipper 2.0, Fremier said, with the MTC agreeing to continue testing in “a more live environment” — a decision he later defended.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Despite known issues, Cubic officials assured MTC it could meet a Dec. 10 launch date for Clipper 2.0, Fremier said, with the MTC agreeing to continue testing in “a more live environment” — a decision he later defended.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I do think the decision and the reason why we made it was the right one at the time,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ I do think the decision and the reason why we made it was the right one at the time,” Fremier said. \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/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096206\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg 1975w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Mangot stands at the 24th Street BART station in San Francisco on Aug. 3, 2026.\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/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096206\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Mangot stands at the 24th Street BART station in San Francisco on Aug. 3, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dave Mangot, the founder and CEO of the software delivery consultancy Mangoteque, who reviewed Cubic’s outage reports obtained by KQED, said the MTC should not have relied on “assurances” from Cubic that the company would be able to fix the problems in a timely manner. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dave Mangot, the founder and CEO of the software delivery consultancy Mangoteque, who reviewed Cubic’s outage reports obtained by KQED, said the MTC should not have relied on “assurances” from Cubic that the company would be able to fix the problems in a timely manner. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Assurances are nonsense in software. Either the tests pass, or they don’t. That’s it,” Mangot said. “ Show me that this thing works like it’s supposed to.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Assurances are nonsense in software. Either the tests pass, or they don’t. That’s it,” Mangot said. “ Show me that this thing works like it’s supposed to.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Doing a comprehensive pilot with well-planned, well-defined and well-managed outcomes, including full systems load testing, would have been very important for a rollout of this magnitude, according to Shyam Dunna, the principal at nMomentum Corporation, a technology consulting and IT services firm that specializes in fare collection systems. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Doing a comprehensive pilot with well-planned, well-defined and well-managed outcomes, including full systems load testing, would have been very important for a rollout of this magnitude, according to Shyam Dunna, the principal at nMomentum Corporation, a technology consulting and IT services firm that specializes in fare collection systems. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It appears that this was not done thoroughly enough based on the reports of system issues,” Dunna said, acknowledging that it can be difficult to comment without a forensic inspection of what caused them. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It appears that this was not done thoroughly enough based on the reports of system issues,” Dunna said, acknowledging that it can be difficult to comment without a forensic inspection of what caused them. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Whac-A-Mole",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Whac-A-Mole\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Clipper 2.0 launched on Dec. 10, 2025, with an eager crowd of transit agency heads and local leaders crowding a podium at the Embarcadero BART/Muni station to celebrate. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Clipper 2.0 launched on Dec. 10, 2025, with an eager crowd of transit agency heads and local leaders crowding a podium at the Embarcadero BART/Muni station to celebrate. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “But that progress relies on a stable transit system.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “But that progress relies on a stable transit system.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That night, Angus Davol, assistant director of Clipper development and budget at MTC, told transit agency staff in an email that bankcard tap-to-pay acceptance “went smoothly overall,” but Cubic was investigating several issues, including customers “unable to manage their accounts.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That night, Angus Davol, assistant director of Clipper development and budget at MTC, told transit agency staff in an email that bankcard tap-to-pay acceptance “went smoothly overall,” but Cubic was investigating several issues, including customers “unable to manage their accounts.”\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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A BART fare gate displays an “Out of Service” message at North Berkeley Station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096275\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A BART fare gate displays an “Out of Service” message at North Berkeley Station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, internal emails and reports from MTC, transit agency staff and Cubic describe a software rollout similar to a game of Whac-A-Mole, in which issues would worsen and multiply while solutions remained elusive.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, internal emails and reports from MTC, transit agency staff and Cubic describe a software rollout similar to a game of Whac-A-Mole, in which issues would worsen and multiply while solutions remained elusive.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By January, MTC staff expressed doubts the company would be able to meet its initial schedule for upgrading original Clipper accounts to Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>By January, MTC staff expressed doubts the company would be able to meet its initial schedule for upgrading original Clipper accounts to Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They did not design a system and migration process that can handle 600 passes and the significant number of rules and devices that we have in use,” Kelley Jackson, assistant director of Clipper Operations and Customer Experience at MTC, wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They did not design a system and migration process that can handle 600 passes and the significant number of rules and devices that we have in use,” Kelley Jackson, assistant director of Clipper Operations and Customer Experience at MTC, wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In several instances when problems did occur, Cubic’s initial response was to perform rolling restarts of servers, which Mangot described as a “turn everything off and on again” approach. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In several instances when problems did occur, Cubic’s initial response was to perform rolling restarts of servers, which Mangot described as a “turn everything off and on again” approach. \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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the 19th Street Oakland BART station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096277\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the 19th Street Oakland BART station on July 28, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ Which is great if my mom has a problem with her Mac and she needs help, but this isn’t that,” Mangot said. “This is a payment system that’s running 22 different transit agencies. ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again’ isn’t the answer.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ Which is great if my mom has a problem with her Mac and she needs help, but this isn’t that,” Mangot said. “This is a payment system that’s running 22 different transit agencies. ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again’ isn’t the answer.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In response to a two-hour outage on March 25, when Clipper ticket vending machines were unable to process credit or debit card payments, a Cubic staffer wrote that the company should “estimate the cost of building and maintaining a proper load test environment,” as an action item in response to the outage. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In response to a two-hour outage on March 25, when Clipper ticket vending machines were unable to process credit or debit card payments, a Cubic staffer wrote that the company should “estimate the cost of building and maintaining a proper load test environment,” as an action item in response to the outage. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mangot said that response “seemed backwards.” Load testing, the process of testing a system under its expected peak capacity, typically happens before a new system launches. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mangot said that response “seemed backwards.” Load testing, the process of testing a system under its expected peak capacity, typically happens before a new system launches. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ So many of these issues that they are running into with [servers] being overutilized, that’s why we do load testing,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ So many of these issues that they are running into with [servers] being overutilized, that’s why we do load testing,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "‘Cheated’ and ‘embarrassed’",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Cheated’ and ‘embarrassed’\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Following the December launch, the Clipper Customer Service center became overwhelmed with around \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071026/a-hot-mess-transit-riders-officials-skewer-contractor-over-flawed-clipper-2-0-rollout\">47,000 calls\u003c/a> to agents in roughly its first month of operation, nearly four times the amount it was originally contracted to handle. At the same time, Clipper’s customer service staff reported delays accessing customer accounts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Following the December launch, the Clipper Customer Service center became overwhelmed with around \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071026/a-hot-mess-transit-riders-officials-skewer-contractor-over-flawed-clipper-2-0-rollout\">47,000 calls\u003c/a> to agents in roughly its first month of operation, nearly four times the amount it was originally contracted to handle. At the same time, Clipper’s customer service staff reported delays accessing customer accounts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BART riders like Omar Sultan found themselves locked out of their accounts for weeks, unable to access the money they had set aside for riding transit. Sultan told the BART Board of Directors in a January email that he missed the reimbursement deadline for transit through his employer because he was unable to access his account for so long.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>BART riders like Omar Sultan found themselves locked out of their accounts for weeks, unable to access the money they had set aside for riding transit. Sultan told the BART Board of Directors in a January email that he missed the reimbursement deadline for transit through his employer because he was unable to access his account for so long.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Riders are being charged for BART trips without the ability to audit those charges — a situation that would not be acceptable in any other payment system. I contacted Clipper customer service regarding this issue and received no response or guidance,” Sultan wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Riders are being charged for BART trips without the ability to audit those charges — a situation that would not be acceptable in any other payment system. I contacted Clipper customer service regarding this issue and received no response or guidance,” Sultan wrote.\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/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the days following the launch of Clipper 2.0 — the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — the system began to unravel, with some customers locked out by error messages, others charged incorrect fares and ticket vending machines taking some riders’ money without crediting their accounts.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Darren Tu/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/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096160\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the days following the launch of Clipper 2.0 — the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — the system began to unravel, with some customers locked out by error messages, others charged incorrect fares and ticket vending machines taking some riders’ money without crediting their accounts.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>AC Transit General Manager Salvador Llamas said the ongoing issues made it difficult to recruit passengers who qualify for Clipper START, a discount program for low-income riders. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>AC Transit General Manager Salvador Llamas said the ongoing issues made it difficult to recruit passengers who qualify for Clipper START, a discount program for low-income riders. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s getting difficult to encourage people to get on Clipper START or other programs when the [ticket vending machines] don’t even work,” Llamas said at a July Clipper executive board meeting. “It’s hard for us to encourage people to trust the system.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s getting difficult to encourage people to get on Clipper START or other programs when the [ticket vending machines] don’t even work,” Llamas said at a July Clipper executive board meeting. “It’s hard for us to encourage people to trust the system.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One longtime BART station agent who spoke to KQED on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak with the press said the problems with Clipper 2.0 made it harder to come to work, calling it “the worst systemwide morale killer amongst agents since I started working here.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"resolvedEmbed": "\u003cblockquote class=\"bluesky-embed\" data-bluesky-uri=\"at://did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsatydsds27\" data-bluesky-cid=\"bafyreifdfglkqclqpxzovr4utk4g5f4urxiifc4kwgcr7mlcgoamd77n7q\">\u003cp lang=\"en\">BART Station Agent Audio:@BART was having Problems withParking Validation & Clipper Card Vending MachinesEspecially at El Cerrito del Norte and Richmond BART StationsJune 8, 2026, 6:08 AM @danbrekke.bsky.social\u003c/p>— \u003ca href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o?ref_src=embed\"> (@bartfare.bsky.social)\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27?ref_src=embed\">2026-06-08T17:54:32.179Z\u003c/a>\u003c/blockquote>\u003cscript async src=\"https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003c/script>"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I care about our riders’ experience and can’t help but feel personally embarrassed, and organizationally incompetent, when our ‘product’ falls so far short of any reasonable expectations,” the station agent said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I care about our riders’ experience and can’t help but feel personally embarrassed, and organizationally incompetent, when our ‘product’ falls so far short of any reasonable expectations,” the station agent said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The station agent said eventually they turned the vending machine’s ticket dispensing capability off “so passengers wouldn’t get cheated out of their money.” Those problems persisted for months until an update by Cubic on Aug. 3 solved the problem, the station agent said, but “These software issues never should have taken this long to be fixed.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The station agent said eventually they turned the vending machine’s ticket dispensing capability off “so passengers wouldn’t get cheated out of their money.” Those problems persisted for months until an update by Cubic on Aug. 3 solved the problem, the station agent said, but “These software issues never should have taken this long to be fixed.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While problems persisted, transit agencies lost money. Caltrain estimated in a March 5 email to MTC staff that from Clipper 2.0’s launch through Jan. 31, it lost $70,000 because fare inspection devices had failed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While problems persisted, transit agencies lost money. Caltrain estimated in a March 5 email to MTC staff that from Clipper 2.0’s launch through Jan. 31, it lost $70,000 because fare inspection devices had failed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On March 18, the MTC’s Davol told transit agency staff in an email that Cubic had identified around 125,000 card taps — when a rider pays for their trip using a Clipper card — that had not been priced, meaning the fares had not been deducted from customer accounts or settled with operators. Five days later, he said Cubic had suspended processing those taps because customers were being charged for trips that pre-existing passes should have otherwise covered, and that Cubic was reporting new instances of unpriced taps. By March, BART projected $33,000 in lost revenue because station agents had to give out free rides.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On March 18, the MTC’s Davol told transit agency staff in an email that Cubic had identified around 125,000 card taps — when a rider pays for their trip using a Clipper card — that had not been priced, meaning the fares had not been deducted from customer accounts or settled with operators. Five days later, he said Cubic had suspended processing those taps because customers were being charged for trips that pre-existing passes should have otherwise covered, and that Cubic was reporting new instances of unpriced taps. By March, BART projected $33,000 in lost revenue because station agents had to give out free rides.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other errors included failing to update fare tables on New Year’s Day and charging some customers a local fare for express routes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In this fiscal environment, Caltrain cannot afford to continue to [go] down this path,” Bruce Thompson, manager of fare program operations at Caltrain, wrote in one email to MTC staff, citing the agency’s forecasted $75 million annual budget \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-budget-deficit\">deficit\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In this fiscal environment, Caltrain cannot afford to continue to [go] down this path,” Bruce Thompson, manager of fare program operations at Caltrain, wrote in one email to MTC staff, citing the agency’s forecasted $75 million annual budget \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-budget-deficit\">deficit\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Super Bowl and World Cup did indeed bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">record-setting\u003c/a> ridership to \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/news/ridership-records-broken-fifa-world-cup-stadium-opener\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260615-0\">BART\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip\">Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority\u003c/a>. But the ongoing issues with Clipper 2.0 forced the agencies to delay introducing new promotions and led some to promote other fare payment platforms, such as the Token Transit app, instead. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Super Bowl and World Cup did indeed bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">record-setting\u003c/a> ridership to \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/news/ridership-records-broken-fifa-world-cup-stadium-opener\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260615-0\">BART\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip\">Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority\u003c/a>. But the ongoing issues with Clipper 2.0 forced the agencies to delay introducing new promotions and led some to promote other fare payment platforms, such as the Token Transit app, instead. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> “There’s no question that it hasn’t been a good rollout, and it hasn’t served our customers well,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard told KQED in June. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> “There’s no question that it hasn’t been a good rollout, and it hasn’t served our customers well,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard told KQED in June. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Between Dec. 10, 2025 and Aug. 10, 2026, Cubic logged 20 major incidents with the system, defined as an outage affecting things like card readers, or the Clipper website or app for more than an hour. The average length of the outages was approximately five hours. Of those 20 incidents, 19 were related to Cubic-managed systems, while one was related to a regional Microsoft outage, Long said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Between Dec. 10, 2025 and Aug. 10, 2026, Cubic logged 20 major incidents with the system, defined as an outage affecting things like card readers, or the Clipper website or app for more than an hour. The average length of the outages was approximately five hours. Of those 20 incidents, 19 were related to Cubic-managed systems, while one was related to a regional Microsoft outage, Long said.\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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096260\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-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 Caltrain rider uses a Clipper card machine at the Palo Alto Caltrain station on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096260\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider uses a Clipper card machine at the Palo Alto Caltrain station on July 29, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>None of those outages affected riders’ ability to take transit if their Clipper card already had value on it, or if they could pay with a bank card, Long said, but she added that the outages did have “customer-facing impacts.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The last major outage was on June 10. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Long said the MTC is still evaluating the total financial impact of Clipper 2.0 to transit operators. In June, the Clipper Executive Board tacked on \u003ca href=\"https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/attachments/6584/3c_Clipper_Two_Year_Budget.pdf?cb=a83f1316\">another $11 million\u003c/a> to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget for costs related to Clipper 2.0 delays, including $3.4 million to keep the previous version of Clipper operational for up to nine more months and an additional $7.6 million for increased customer service center staffing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Long said the MTC is still evaluating the total financial impact of Clipper 2.0 to transit operators. In June, the Clipper Executive Board tacked on \u003ca href=\"https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/attachments/6584/3c_Clipper_Two_Year_Budget.pdf?cb=a83f1316\">another $11 million\u003c/a> to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget for costs related to Clipper 2.0 delays, including $3.4 million to keep the previous version of Clipper operational for up to nine more months and an additional $7.6 million for increased customer service center staffing. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This came shortly after Cubic blew through a self-imposed May 30 deadline to resolve all critical issues and begin upgrading accounts to Clipper 2.0 en masse.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This came shortly after Cubic blew through a self-imposed May 30 deadline to resolve all critical issues and begin upgrading accounts to Clipper 2.0 en masse.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning from mistakes\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Adina Levin, the executive director of the Bay Area transit advocacy nonprofit Seamless Bay Area, the problems with Clipper 2.0’s delivery are representative of broader issues when government agencies are in charge of overseeing large-scale technology projects. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For Adina Levin, the executive director of the Bay Area transit advocacy nonprofit Seamless Bay Area, the problems with Clipper 2.0’s delivery are representative of broader issues when government agencies are in charge of overseeing large-scale technology projects. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ What is needed is a learning process on what are the attributes of a well-managed technology project, and so what needs to be put in place to do things differently,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ What is needed is a learning process on what are the attributes of a well-managed technology project, and so what needs to be put in place to do things differently,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Levin said the MTC needs to be more involved in the technical planning of systems like Clipper 2.0 in order for them to be successful. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Levin said the MTC needs to be more involved in the technical planning of systems like Clipper 2.0 in order for them to be successful. \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adina Levin sits at the Menlo Park Caltrain station on Aug. 7, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What is the network environment of this project, and is the system designed to work in this network? What is the testing plan to work in the network? The customer needs to be able to understand that in order to be able to manage it,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What is the network environment of this project, and is the system designed to work in this network? What is the testing plan to work in the network? The customer needs to be able to understand that in order to be able to manage it,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Levin suggested that for future projects, MTC could structure the contract with smaller components that could allow for more “competitive choices,” as Cubic being the single bidder meant there was no competition or alternatives to choose from. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Levin suggested that for future projects, MTC could structure the contract with smaller components that could allow for more “competitive choices,” as Cubic being the single bidder meant there was no competition or alternatives to choose from. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As contract manager, Fremier said the MTC’s job “is to make sure that Cubic produces the system that they bid on and that we specified in the contract.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As contract manager, Fremier said the MTC’s job “is to make sure that Cubic produces the system that they bid on and that we specified in the contract.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But he said so much of the work is done behind the scenes by programmers and people with technical expertise that there wasn’t much more the MTC could do to improve delivery of the system.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ That’s not what we have on staff. We aren’t programmers. That’s a place that most owners, including us, do not have that expertise,” Fremier said. “That’s why you hire a professional contractor to do that.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ That’s not what we have on staff. We aren’t programmers. That’s a place that most owners, including us, do not have that expertise,” Fremier said. “That’s why you hire a professional contractor to do that.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Fremier, one takeaway is that the complexity of the Bay Area’s fare payment system contributed to issues rolling out the system. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some agencies like Caltrain and BART charge riders based on how far they ride, while others like MUNI and AC Transit charge a flat fee. Long said agencies’ inspection devices and ticket vending machines all rely on different underlying software which must interact with Clipper 2.0. Even the discount offered to senior or youth riders varies between agencies, Long said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some agencies like Caltrain and BART charge riders based on how far they ride, while others like MUNI and AC Transit charge a flat fee. Long said agencies’ inspection devices and ticket vending machines all rely on different underlying software which must interact with Clipper 2.0. Even the discount offered to senior or youth riders varies between agencies, Long said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ We’ve all learned lessons about what we might be able to do better, including maybe down the road simplifying some of the connectivity challenges that we have with all the different systems,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ We’ve all learned lessons about what we might be able to do better, including maybe down the road simplifying some of the connectivity challenges that we have with all the different systems,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fremier said he’s confident that over the course of the summer and into the fall, the MTC will be able to shut down the old version of Clipper and manage the entire system on Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fremier said he’s confident that over the course of the summer and into the fall, the MTC will be able to shut down the old version of Clipper and manage the entire system on Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Once that is done, it may be time to start on Clipper 3.0.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ These contracts take several years to procure and several years to build, which is multiple years in the making, which means we need to almost get started now on trying to figure out what that next generation might be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ These contracts take several years to procure and several years to build, which is multiple years in the making, which means we need to almost get started now on trying to figure out what that next generation might be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "An analysis of internal emails and other records by KQED found that problems with Clipper 2.0 persisted long before its bungled rollout late last year. ",
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"title": "Exclusive: Errors Plagued Clipper 2.0 Long Before Botched Launch, Records Reveal | KQED",
"description": "An analysis of internal emails and other records by KQED found that problems with Clipper 2.0 persisted long before its bungled rollout late last year. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The day before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies rolled out Clipper 2.0 — a long-anticipated upgrade to the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — a high-level staffer overseeing the project raised an important red flag. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Known as “next generation Clipper” and used by 22 Bay Area operators, the software promised to make riding transit easier with bank card tap-to-pay, rider discounts and other features. It had taken Cubic Transportation Systems, the contractor in charge of the update, seven years — nearly three more than initially promised — to deliver the new system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But on the eve of the launch, Jason Weinstein, director of Clipper at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees Cubic’s contract, issued a formal letter, saying the MTC did not have confidence that the process for collecting fares and distributing them to the appropriate operator — a main function of the software — was happening appropriately. The problem, according to the MTC, was that it was not yet fully automated and relied too heavily on manual oversight in a system that handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weinstein said the commission would “hold Cubic accountable” for meeting the requirements of its contract. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-19_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Passengers board Caltrain at the 22nd Street Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The incident revealed a fissure that had been deepening over the past year. Internal communications reviewed by KQED between the MTC and Cubic staff show software bugs like these were present long before Weinstein’s warning and Clipper 2.0’s public debut. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Transit agency leaders and officials at the MTC had for months complained the company was struggling to resolve persistent errors with the software, while Cubic staffers said MTC hadn’t authorized the company to complete enough testing to ensure the system’s success. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the MTC, there was little time to spare. Executive Director Andrew Fremier said commissioners were eager to get the upgrades installed before the Super Bowl and World Cup, when hundreds of thousands of fans were expected to descend upon the Bay Area — and take transit to get to matches. With assurances from Cubic leadership that issues would be fixed quickly, Fremier said the commission determined the potential benefit of launching the systems’ new features outweighed the known risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You’re probably never going to have a perfect system,” Fremier told KQED. “ We didn’t want to be so risk-averse that we weren’t getting good products into people’s hands.” \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096162\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at the Bay Area Transit offices in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, however, Weinstein’s warning proved prescient, and Clipper 2.0 began to unravel. Upon attempting to log in to their accounts, some customers were locked out by error messages; others were charged incorrect fares; ticket vending machines took some riders’ money without crediting their accounts; fare inspection devices failed; and hold times to speak to customer service staff soared up to 100 minutes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During one outage that began on May 18 and lasted approximately 27 hours, BART riders were unable to purchase or add value to their Clipper cards at the agency’s ticket vending machines and faced delays with transactions at BART fare gates, according to a staff memo. The culprit turned out to be Cubic’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085683/zero-credibility-major-clipper-outage-caused-by-cubics-failure-to-pay-att-bill\">failure to pay an AT&T bill\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The botched rollout comes at a particularly inopportune time for the agencies that rely on the platform to collect fares. The largest among them — BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — are all facing existential budget crises and are seeking relief from voters through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">two\u003c/a> separate tax \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087755/san-francisco-voters-will-vote-on-munis-future-in-november\">measures\u003c/a> in order to avoid drastic service cuts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The reputational damage that we are facing on an item that should have been a win at a time when we really need a win is just unacceptable,” Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), said at a June meeting of the Clipper Executive Board. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-06-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider refills their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of the San Diego-based global technology company Cubic Corporation, declined to answer specific questions about Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cubic spokesperson Cory Shields described Clipper 2.0 as “one of the most complex fare payment systems in the world.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Integrating the distinct fare structures and operating needs of each agency creates unique challenges that require close coordination among Cubic, MTC and the region’s operators,” Shields told KQED. “Our commitment to our partners and Bay Area riders is unwavering, and we will continue to build upon this progress to deliver the reliable system riders deserve.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The MTC initially estimated that upgrading the system’s roughly 15 million cards to Clipper 2.0 would take two to three months, but as of July 16, only about 15% of those cards have been converted to the new system. \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=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"12096269\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096269\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_courtesy1-1-Edit-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message is displayed on a Clipper vending machine. The photo was obtained via a California Public Records Act request seeking information about the rollout of Clipper 2.0. (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"12096252\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096252\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Investigation_DahlstromEckman_vending-machine-error_veritcle-.00_00_21_01.Still001-Edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An error message on a Clipper vending machine at the 16th Street BART Station on March 11, 2026. (Erin Baldassari/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The glitches, delays and service outages have increased the program’s cost by millions, and estimates by multiple transit agencies indicate more than $100,000 in lost fare revenue combined, although the MTC said it is still calculating the total revenue lost. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June, the leaders of those agencies urged the commission to pursue “all contractual remedies” against Cubic to recover lost fares. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said his first focus is ensuring Clipper 2.0 actually works. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What we’ve asked Cubic to focus on most directly is getting the system stable to the point where we can shut down the old Clipper system and be functioning in the brand-new Clipper 2 environment,” he told KQED, “and then try to pick up the pieces about who might be responsible for what.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said he expects those conversations to play out “over the next few months.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Years in the making \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next generation Clipper, or Clipper 2.0, is the first update to Clipper since it launched in 2010. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The hope, Fremier said, was to offer a better product to riders that would in turn incentivize more people to take transit. Across the Bay Area’s nine counties, \u003ca href=\"https://vitalsigns.mtc.ca.gov/indicators/commute-mode-choice\">more than two-thirds of commuters\u003c/a> drove to work alone in 2024, according to the MTC. Just 8% took transit on a typical workday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the original Clipper infrastructure wouldn’t support the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065714/clipper-card-\">suite of new features\u003c/a> that the MTC envisioned, including family accounts, reduced or free transfers and improvements to how users add funds. The update moved Clipper from a “card-based” system to an “account-based” system, Fremier said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096159\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustration-2_7-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp> “The card used to do all the work, and it could only hold a certain amount of information, and that limited our ability to offer different fare products,” Fremier said. “By moving into newer technology, it offered us a lot more flexibility.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2018, MTC awarded Cubic a 10-year, $393 million contract, not including contingency funds, to develop and operate Clipper 2.0 for 10 years. That contract has since increased to $436 million to accommodate additional equipment and features. The company has held the previous contract for the original version of Clipper since 2009. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic has developed and upgraded fare payment systems in other major cities, including New York City’s \u003ca href=\"https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/05/20/mtas-demotes-omny-contractor-cubic-in-hopes-of-speeding-up-commuter-rail-fare-integration\">OMNY\u003c/a>, Chicago’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/to-really-foul-things-up-chicagoprivatizes-transit-payment-system/\">Ventra\u003c/a>, and Boston’s \u003ca href=\"https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative\">MBTA\u003c/a> — projects that also faced many of the same \u003ca href=\"https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-announces-steps-to-address-ventra-issues/\">issues\u003c/a> and delays that plague Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Cubic was the sole bidder for the MTC’s contract, which officials acknowledge is uniquely complex. The system is used by nearly two dozen transit operators across nine counties with a variety of accepted payment methods, internal hardware, software programs and fare structures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096308\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/CubicCorpGetty-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Cubic Corporation logo at the Satellite 2024 conference and exhibition in Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Rebecca Long, a spokesperson for MTC, said that while the commission did “everything it could do from a legal and business perspective” to attract multiple bids, its priority was minimizing disruptions for customers, which meant it had to keep Clipper 1.0 running through the transition. She said, however, that decision “added complexity” to the contract. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That would be hard for anyone but Cubic,” Long said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cubic also has very few competitors in the industry that are able to supply a full suite of services, according to Fremier. Still, he said commissioners thought Cubic’s previous experience running Clipper would be a “helpful benefit.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Cubic responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In public meetings, Cubic representatives have apologized for the rocky rollout. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s completely unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry for the experiences that you are having,” Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, the former president of Cubic Transportation Systems, told the Clipper Executive Board at a Jan. 26 meeting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Montgomery-Torrellas left the company in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096264\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-20-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the North Berkeley BART station on July 28, 2026, in Berkeley. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In private communications, however, company representatives blamed some of Clipper 2.0’s issues on the MTC for not authorizing sufficient field testing prior to the launch. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nine months before the rollout of Clipper 2.0, Cubic requested MTC increase the number of participants testing the new system from approximately 60 to at least 1,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To solidify the potential launch date for the C2 program, it is crucial to maximize the use of the production system,” Dennis Dewan, contracts manager at Cubic, wrote in an email to Weinstein on March 14, 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dewan said since the start of that year, fewer than 1,000 rides had been processed across only nine agencies, involving fewer than 100 unique accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Comprehensive validation of the system necessitates many more taps across a larger range of use cases,” Dewan wrote, referring to when riders “tap” their Clipper card on a card reader. \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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096263\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-5_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider scans their phone on a Clipper machine at the 22nd Street Caltrain station in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>But despite Cubic’s assertions that the system was ready for significantly larger pilot activity, the MTC declined to expand the number of testers, demanding Cubic resolve a known list of problems first.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“MTC does not plan to open the current field testing or to start [the] pilot with the public until an agreeable list of items is complete,” Weinstein told Dewan less than a week later. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Those items included successfully demonstrating that customer data — such as account credentials, payment methods and travel history — could be migrated from the old system to the new one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In mid-April, 2025, testing by Cubic still showed “significant failure rates,” with only 49% of tests passing and more than 500 open software bugs, according to a formal letter to Cubic signed by Fremier. The back-and-forth about whether to expand the pilot continued through the spring and summer.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By October, the first time a possible launch date was discussed, field testing was 30% complete, and Google Wallet — a digital wallet where people could store their Clipper card on their smartphone — remained blocked, Fremier wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260208-superbowlsunday00274_TV_qed-Edit-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Super Bowl attendees exit a VTA light rail train at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Asked whether field testing was ever fully completed, Long told KQED, “Field testing was conducted on all components that could be validated in real-world conditions,” including Clipper device functionality, system reporting and website performance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even a week before launch, Diana Hammons, senior manager of revenue growth and reporting at the SFMTA, which runs Muni, expressed dissatisfaction with Cubic’s handling of known errors, asking the company to collate them into a master list. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This e-mail chain is not an ideal way for us to be tracking the progress on these issues and for me to be able to effectively update our General Manager,” she wrote on Dec. 3. “We are seven days away from the scheduled launch date.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite known issues, Cubic officials assured MTC it could meet a Dec. 10 launch date for Clipper 2.0, Fremier said, with the MTC agreeing to continue testing in “a more live environment” — a decision he later defended.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I do think the decision and the reason why we made it was the right one at the time,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1975\" height=\"1317\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096206\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL.jpg 1975w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260803-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1975px) 100vw, 1975px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Mangot stands at the 24th Street BART station in San Francisco on Aug. 3, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Dave Mangot, the founder and CEO of the software delivery consultancy Mangoteque, who reviewed Cubic’s outage reports obtained by KQED, said the MTC should not have relied on “assurances” from Cubic that the company would be able to fix the problems in a timely manner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Assurances are nonsense in software. Either the tests pass, or they don’t. That’s it,” Mangot said. “ Show me that this thing works like it’s supposed to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Doing a comprehensive pilot with well-planned, well-defined and well-managed outcomes, including full systems load testing, would have been very important for a rollout of this magnitude, according to Shyam Dunna, the principal at nMomentum Corporation, a technology consulting and IT services firm that specializes in fare collection systems. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It appears that this was not done thoroughly enough based on the reports of system issues,” Dunna said, acknowledging that it can be difficult to comment without a forensic inspection of what caused them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Whac-A-Mole\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Clipper 2.0 launched on Dec. 10, 2025, with an eager crowd of transit agency heads and local leaders crowding a podium at the Embarcadero BART/Muni station to celebrate. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “But that progress relies on a stable transit system.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That night, Angus Davol, assistant director of Clipper development and budget at MTC, told transit agency staff in an email that bankcard tap-to-pay acceptance “went smoothly overall,” but Cubic was investigating several issues, including customers “unable to manage their accounts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-12-MC_qed-copy-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A BART fare gate displays an “Out of Service” message at North Berkeley Station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>In the days that followed, internal emails and reports from MTC, transit agency staff and Cubic describe a software rollout similar to a game of Whac-A-Mole, in which issues would worsen and multiply while solutions remained elusive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By January, MTC staff expressed doubts the company would be able to meet its initial schedule for upgrading original Clipper accounts to Clipper 2.0. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They did not design a system and migration process that can handle 600 passes and the significant number of rules and devices that we have in use,” Kelley Jackson, assistant director of Clipper Operations and Customer Experience at MTC, wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In several instances when problems did occur, Cubic’s initial response was to perform rolling restarts of servers, which Mangot described as a “turn everything off and on again” approach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/072826-ClipperInvestigation-14-MC_qed-Edit-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rider scans their Clipper card at the 19th Street Oakland BART station on July 28, 2026. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Which is great if my mom has a problem with her Mac and she needs help, but this isn’t that,” Mangot said. “This is a payment system that’s running 22 different transit agencies. ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again’ isn’t the answer.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In response to a two-hour outage on March 25, when Clipper ticket vending machines were unable to process credit or debit card payments, a Cubic staffer wrote that the company should “estimate the cost of building and maintaining a proper load test environment,” as an action item in response to the outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mangot said that response “seemed backwards.” Load testing, the process of testing a system under its expected peak capacity, typically happens before a new system launches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ So many of these issues that they are running into with [servers] being overutilized, that’s why we do load testing,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Cheated’ and ‘embarrassed’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following the December launch, the Clipper Customer Service center became overwhelmed with around \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071026/a-hot-mess-transit-riders-officials-skewer-contractor-over-flawed-clipper-2-0-rollout\">47,000 calls\u003c/a> to agents in roughly its first month of operation, nearly four times the amount it was originally contracted to handle. At the same time, Clipper’s customer service staff reported delays accessing customer accounts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART riders like Omar Sultan found themselves locked out of their accounts for weeks, unable to access the money they had set aside for riding transit. Sultan told the BART Board of Directors in a January email that he missed the reimbursement deadline for transit through his employer because he was unable to access his account for so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Riders are being charged for BART trips without the ability to audit those charges — a situation that would not be acceptable in any other payment system. I contacted Clipper customer service regarding this issue and received no response or guidance,” Sultan wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1240\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096160\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Clipper-Card-Illustratoin-3_5-1536x992.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the days following the launch of Clipper 2.0 — the region’s electronic train, bus and ferry tickets — the system began to unravel, with some customers locked out by error messages, others charged incorrect fares and ticket vending machines taking some riders’ money without crediting their accounts. (Darren Tu/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>AC Transit General Manager Salvador Llamas said the ongoing issues made it difficult to recruit passengers who qualify for Clipper START, a discount program for low-income riders. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s getting difficult to encourage people to get on Clipper START or other programs when the [ticket vending machines] don’t even work,” Llamas said at a July Clipper executive board meeting. “It’s hard for us to encourage people to trust the system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One longtime BART station agent who spoke to KQED on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak with the press said the problems with Clipper 2.0 made it harder to come to work, calling it “the worst systemwide morale killer amongst agents since I started working here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agent described months of problems with BART ticket vending machines where the machines would take riders’ money but not issue a Clipper card, and station agents “didn’t have an acceptable way to resolve the problem.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dv5kwqbcc24iv2xrvlc5s33o/post/3mnsatydsds27\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I care about our riders’ experience and can’t help but feel personally embarrassed, and organizationally incompetent, when our ‘product’ falls so far short of any reasonable expectations,” the station agent said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The station agent said eventually they turned the vending machine’s ticket dispensing capability off “so passengers wouldn’t get cheated out of their money.” Those problems persisted for months until an update by Cubic on Aug. 3 solved the problem, the station agent said, but “These software issues never should have taken this long to be fixed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While problems persisted, transit agencies lost money. Caltrain estimated in a March 5 email to MTC staff that from Clipper 2.0’s launch through Jan. 31, it lost $70,000 because fare inspection devices had failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On March 18, the MTC’s Davol told transit agency staff in an email that Cubic had identified around 125,000 card taps — when a rider pays for their trip using a Clipper card — that had not been priced, meaning the fares had not been deducted from customer accounts or settled with operators. Five days later, he said Cubic had suspended processing those taps because customers were being charged for trips that pre-existing passes should have otherwise covered, and that Cubic was reporting new instances of unpriced taps. By March, BART projected $33,000 in lost revenue because station agents had to give out free rides.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr />\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iZooa/2/\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other errors included failing to update fare tables on New Year’s Day and charging some customers a local fare for express routes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In this fiscal environment, Caltrain cannot afford to continue to [go] down this path,” Bruce Thompson, manager of fare program operations at Caltrain, wrote in one email to MTC staff, citing the agency’s forecasted $75 million annual budget \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-budget-deficit\">deficit\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Super Bowl and World Cup did indeed bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">record-setting\u003c/a> ridership to \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/news/ridership-records-broken-fifa-world-cup-stadium-opener\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2026/news20260615-0\">BART\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip\">Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority\u003c/a>. But the ongoing issues with Clipper 2.0 forced the agencies to delay introducing new promotions and led some to promote other fare payment platforms, such as the Token Transit app, instead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> “There’s no question that it hasn’t been a good rollout, and it hasn’t served our customers well,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard told KQED in June. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Between Dec. 10, 2025 and Aug. 10, 2026, Cubic logged 20 major incidents with the system, defined as an outage affecting things like card readers, or the Clipper website or app for more than an hour. The average length of the outages was approximately five hours. Of those 20 incidents, 19 were related to Cubic-managed systems, while one was related to a regional Microsoft outage, Long said.\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/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096260\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260729-ClipperInvestigation-NG-38_qed-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Caltrain rider uses a Clipper card machine at the Palo Alto Caltrain station on July 29, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>None of those outages affected riders’ ability to take transit if their Clipper card already had value on it, or if they could pay with a bank card, Long said, but she added that the outages did have “customer-facing impacts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last major outage was on June 10. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Long said the MTC is still evaluating the total financial impact of Clipper 2.0 to transit operators. In June, the Clipper Executive Board tacked on \u003ca href=\"https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/attachments/6584/3c_Clipper_Two_Year_Budget.pdf?cb=a83f1316\">another $11 million\u003c/a> to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget for costs related to Clipper 2.0 delays, including $3.4 million to keep the previous version of Clipper operational for up to nine more months and an additional $7.6 million for increased customer service center staffing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This came shortly after Cubic blew through a self-imposed May 30 deadline to resolve all critical issues and begin upgrading accounts to Clipper 2.0 en masse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning from mistakes\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Adina Levin, the executive director of the Bay Area transit advocacy nonprofit Seamless Bay Area, the problems with Clipper 2.0’s delivery are representative of broader issues when government agencies are in charge of overseeing large-scale technology projects. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ What is needed is a learning process on what are the attributes of a well-managed technology project, and so what needs to be put in place to do things differently,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Levin said the MTC needs to be more involved in the technical planning of systems like Clipper 2.0 in order for them to be successful. \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/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260807-ClipperInvestigationPortraits-01-BL-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adina Levin sits at the Menlo Park Caltrain station on Aug. 7, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“What is the network environment of this project, and is the system designed to work in this network? What is the testing plan to work in the network? The customer needs to be able to understand that in order to be able to manage it,” Levin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Levin suggested that for future projects, MTC could structure the contract with smaller components that could allow for more “competitive choices,” as Cubic being the single bidder meant there was no competition or alternatives to choose from. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As contract manager, Fremier said the MTC’s job “is to make sure that Cubic produces the system that they bid on and that we specified in the contract.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But he said so much of the work is done behind the scenes by programmers and people with technical expertise that there wasn’t much more the MTC could do to improve delivery of the system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ That’s not what we have on staff. We aren’t programmers. That’s a place that most owners, including us, do not have that expertise,” Fremier said. “That’s why you hire a professional contractor to do that.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Fremier, one takeaway is that the complexity of the Bay Area’s fare payment system contributed to issues rolling out the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some agencies like Caltrain and BART charge riders based on how far they ride, while others like MUNI and AC Transit charge a flat fee. Long said agencies’ inspection devices and ticket vending machines all rely on different underlying software which must interact with Clipper 2.0. Even the discount offered to senior or youth riders varies between agencies, Long said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We’ve all learned lessons about what we might be able to do better, including maybe down the road simplifying some of the connectivity challenges that we have with all the different systems,” Fremier said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fremier said he’s confident that over the course of the summer and into the fall, the MTC will be able to shut down the old version of Clipper and manage the entire system on Clipper 2.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once that is done, it may be time to start on Clipper 3.0.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ These contracts take several years to procure and several years to build, which is multiple years in the making, which means we need to almost get started now on trying to figure out what that next generation might be,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "SF Mayor, Backers Renew Push for Increased Mayoral Power",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco \u003c/a>Mayor Daniel Lurie is among those saying that recent allegations against a city official are all the more reason to pass a ballot measure that would give the mayor more power to oust commission members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie’s Clean Up City Hall committee said on the heels of allegations against Sheriff’s Office Oversight Board President William Palmer on Friday that the mayor’s proposed Proposition F would mean that officials “aren’t shielded from accountability.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/william-palmer-san-francisco-sheriff-22395646.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> report\u003c/a> detailed allegations of Palmer picking a woman experiencing a mental health crisis up off the street, pressuring her to have sex and giving her drugs. Palmer was not arrested and is not facing charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11985221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">City Hall in San Francisco on Aug. 8, 2023. Proposition F would allow the mayor and supervisors to remove commission members they appoint without cause. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palmer, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to the body in 2021, has during his term been accused by four women of violence, including a rape allegation. A fifth woman got a restraining order against him. That, the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>reports, is in addition to several traffic violations and almost $10,000 in parking fees in six years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palmer has denied wrongdoing and did not respond to KQED’s request for comment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To remove him from his position wouldn’t be easy, proponents of Proposition F say. San Francisco’s current charter requires officials to demonstrate the board member engaged in proven official misconduct. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill told the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>that he hopes to begin that process in a few weeks. \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/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12024441\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supervisor Stephen Sherrill speaks during a press conference with elected and public safety officials and labor leaders in front of City Hall in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Sherrill has called for an investigation into Palmer’s alleged conduct. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It includes “a high threshold” that involves a long process, according to the Clean Up City Hall campaign. After proving official misconduct, for example, three-fourths of the Board of Supervisors would still need to vote in favor of the removal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s sort of the price you pay to have good government,” said Justin Dolezal, president of Small Business Forward, which opposes the measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Lurie said in a statement released by Clean Up City Hall that the “broken and corrupt system” was created “by insiders to protect insiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Franciscans deserve a government where responsibility is clear, accountability is real, and the people entrusted to serve this city are held to the highest standards,” Lurie said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proposition F would expand the mayor’s and board’s authority to allow the removal of most commissioners without cause and include the hiring and firing of most department heads. It’s one of a handful of measures Lurie put on the November ballot that proponents say would streamline city functions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Max Szabo, a spokesperson for the Clean Up City Hall campaign, said the way things are set up now also creates a system with a lot of excuses. The measure, by contrast, would create a more accountable system of government, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Dolezal said he sees the measures, including Proposition F, as “blatant power grabs.” Using the allegations against Palmer to bolster the case for the measure is not something done in good faith, Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> ”City government works best for people when there are checks and balances and when commissions are not just rubber stamps on whatever the mayor wants to do,” Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco, Supervisor Jackie Fielder and former Supervisor Dean Preston said in their argument against the measure that it’s already easy for the mayor to remove corrupt officials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prop F lets the Mayor unilaterally remove public servants who’ve done nothing wrong,” the officials and others \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Nov2026_PropF_RebuttalToProponentArgument_Redacted.pdf\">wrote days ago in an official argument against the measure\u003c/a>. “That’s a recipe for politically-motivated removals of whistleblowers who would expose corruption.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some unions back Proposition F. The committee, which is backed in part by tech founder Chris Larsen and \u003cem>The San Francisco Standard\u003c/em> chairman Michael Moritz, has so far raised $9.4 million in support of the measures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jason McDaniel, a proponent of Proposition F and an associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said that the measure wouldn’t grant unchecked power. Supervisors and the mayor would only be able to remove their own appointees. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t just empower the mayor to remove appointees from commissions, right? It allows the ‘appointing authority’ to remove commissioners,” McDaniel said. “I personally am feeling like the balance has been preserved.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/dmeagley\">\u003cem>Desmond Bracken\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11985221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">City Hall in San Francisco on Aug. 8, 2023. Proposition F would allow the mayor and supervisors to remove commission members they appoint without cause. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Palmer, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to the body in 2021, has during his term been accused by four women of violence, including a rape allegation. A fifth woman got a restraining order against him. That, the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>reports, is in addition to several traffic violations and almost $10,000 in parking fees in six years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To remove him from his position wouldn’t be easy, proponents of Proposition F say. San Francisco’s current charter requires officials to demonstrate the board member engaged in proven official misconduct. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill told the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>that he hopes to begin that process in a few weeks. \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/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12024441\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supervisor Stephen Sherrill speaks during a press conference with elected and public safety officials and labor leaders in front of City Hall in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Sherrill has called for an investigation into Palmer’s alleged conduct.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It includes “a high threshold” that involves a long process, according to the Clean Up City Hall campaign. After proving official misconduct, for example, three-fourths of the Board of Supervisors would still need to vote in favor of the removal. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It includes “a high threshold” that involves a long process, according to the Clean Up City Hall campaign. After proving official misconduct, for example, three-fourths of the Board of Supervisors would still need to vote in favor of the removal. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That’s sort of the price you pay to have good government,” said Justin Dolezal, president of Small Business Forward, which opposes the measure. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Lurie said in a statement released by Clean Up City Hall that the “broken and corrupt system” was created “by insiders to protect insiders.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“San Franciscans deserve a government where responsibility is clear, accountability is real, and the people entrusted to serve this city are held to the highest standards,” Lurie said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Proposition F would expand the mayor’s and board’s authority to allow the removal of most commissioners without cause and include the hiring and firing of most department heads. It’s one of a handful of measures Lurie put on the November ballot that proponents say would streamline city functions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cp>Max Szabo, a spokesperson for the Clean Up City Hall campaign, said the way things are set up now also creates a system with a lot of excuses. The measure, by contrast, would create a more accountable system of government, he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Dolezal said he sees the measures, including Proposition F, as “blatant power grabs.” Using the allegations against Palmer to bolster the case for the measure is not something done in good faith, Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> ”City government works best for people when there are checks and balances and when commissions are not just rubber stamps on whatever the mayor wants to do,” Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> ”City government works best for people when there are checks and balances and when commissions are not just rubber stamps on whatever the mayor wants to do,” Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco, Supervisor Jackie Fielder and former Supervisor Dean Preston said in their argument against the measure that it’s already easy for the mayor to remove corrupt officials. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Prop F lets the Mayor unilaterally remove public servants who’ve done nothing wrong,” the officials and others \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Nov2026_PropF_RebuttalToProponentArgument_Redacted.pdf\">wrote days ago in an official argument against the measure\u003c/a>. “That’s a recipe for politically-motivated removals of whistleblowers who would expose corruption.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Prop F lets the Mayor unilaterally remove public servants who’ve done nothing wrong,” the officials and others \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Nov2026_PropF_RebuttalToProponentArgument_Redacted.pdf\">wrote days ago in an official argument against the measure\u003c/a>. “That’s a recipe for politically-motivated removals of whistleblowers who would expose corruption.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some unions back Proposition F. The committee, which is backed in part by tech founder Chris Larsen and \u003cem>The San Francisco Standard\u003c/em> chairman Michael Moritz, has so far raised $9.4 million in support of the measures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some unions back Proposition F. The committee, which is backed in part by tech founder Chris Larsen and \u003cem>The San Francisco Standard\u003c/em> chairman Michael Moritz, has so far raised $9.4 million in support of the measures. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jason McDaniel, a proponent of Proposition F and an associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said that the measure wouldn’t grant unchecked power. Supervisors and the mayor would only be able to remove their own appointees. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jason McDaniel, a proponent of Proposition F and an associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said that the measure wouldn’t grant unchecked power. Supervisors and the mayor would only be able to remove their own appointees. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t just empower the mayor to remove appointees from commissions, right? It allows the ‘appointing authority’ to remove commissioners,” McDaniel said. “I personally am feeling like the balance has been preserved.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t just empower the mayor to remove appointees from commissions, right? It allows the ‘appointing authority’ to remove commissioners,” McDaniel said. “I personally am feeling like the balance has been preserved.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/dmeagley\">\u003cem>Desmond Bracken\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Lurie says Proposition F would help oust officials accused of wrongdoing. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco \u003c/a>Mayor Daniel Lurie is among those saying that recent allegations against a city official are all the more reason to pass a ballot measure that would give the mayor more power to oust commission members. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lurie’s Clean Up City Hall committee said on the heels of allegations against Sheriff’s Office Oversight Board President William Palmer on Friday that the mayor’s proposed Proposition F would mean that officials “aren’t shielded from accountability.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/william-palmer-san-francisco-sheriff-22395646.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> report\u003c/a> detailed allegations of Palmer picking a woman experiencing a mental health crisis up off the street, pressuring her to have sex and giving her drugs. Palmer was not arrested and is not facing charges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11985221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/230808-SanFranciscoCityHall-25-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">City Hall in San Francisco on Aug. 8, 2023. Proposition F would allow the mayor and supervisors to remove commission members they appoint without cause. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palmer, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to the body in 2021, has during his term been accused by four women of violence, including a rape allegation. A fifth woman got a restraining order against him. That, the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>reports, is in addition to several traffic violations and almost $10,000 in parking fees in six years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palmer has denied wrongdoing and did not respond to KQED’s request for comment. \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>To remove him from his position wouldn’t be easy, proponents of Proposition F say. San Francisco’s current charter requires officials to demonstrate the board member engaged in proven official misconduct. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill told the \u003cem>Chronicle \u003c/em>that he hopes to begin that process in a few weeks. \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/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12024441\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/250128-SFImmigration-49-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supervisor Stephen Sherrill speaks during a press conference with elected and public safety officials and labor leaders in front of City Hall in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Sherrill has called for an investigation into Palmer’s alleged conduct. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It includes “a high threshold” that involves a long process, according to the Clean Up City Hall campaign. After proving official misconduct, for example, three-fourths of the Board of Supervisors would still need to vote in favor of the removal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s sort of the price you pay to have good government,” said Justin Dolezal, president of Small Business Forward, which opposes the measure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Lurie said in a statement released by Clean Up City Hall that the “broken and corrupt system” was created “by insiders to protect insiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“San Franciscans deserve a government where responsibility is clear, accountability is real, and the people entrusted to serve this city are held to the highest standards,” Lurie said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proposition F would expand the mayor’s and board’s authority to allow the removal of most commissioners without cause and include the hiring and firing of most department heads. It’s one of a handful of measures Lurie put on the November ballot that proponents say would streamline city functions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Max Szabo, a spokesperson for the Clean Up City Hall campaign, said the way things are set up now also creates a system with a lot of excuses. The measure, by contrast, would create a more accountable system of government, he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Dolezal said he sees the measures, including Proposition F, as “blatant power grabs.” Using the allegations against Palmer to bolster the case for the measure is not something done in good faith, Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> ”City government works best for people when there are checks and balances and when commissions are not just rubber stamps on whatever the mayor wants to do,” Dolezal said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco, Supervisor Jackie Fielder and former Supervisor Dean Preston said in their argument against the measure that it’s already easy for the mayor to remove corrupt officials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Prop F lets the Mayor unilaterally remove public servants who’ve done nothing wrong,” the officials and others \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Nov2026_PropF_RebuttalToProponentArgument_Redacted.pdf\">wrote days ago in an official argument against the measure\u003c/a>. “That’s a recipe for politically-motivated removals of whistleblowers who would expose corruption.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some unions back Proposition F. The committee, which is backed in part by tech founder Chris Larsen and \u003cem>The San Francisco Standard\u003c/em> chairman Michael Moritz, has so far raised $9.4 million in support of the measures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jason McDaniel, a proponent of Proposition F and an associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said that the measure wouldn’t grant unchecked power. Supervisors and the mayor would only be able to remove their own appointees. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t just empower the mayor to remove appointees from commissions, right? It allows the ‘appointing authority’ to remove commissioners,” McDaniel said. “I personally am feeling like the balance has been preserved.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/dmeagley\">\u003cem>Desmond Bracken\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "homeless-counts-dropped-in-alameda-san-francisco-counties-this-year",
"title": "Homeless Counts Dropped in Alameda, San Francisco Counties This Year",
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"headTitle": "Homeless Counts Dropped in Alameda, San Francisco Counties This Year | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> reduced its official homeless count in 2025 after years of increases. Now, preliminary data for 2026 shows many places in the state are continuing to make progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties up and down the state are reporting that their homeless populations dropped this year, citing early results of the point-in-time count conducted in January. Some of the drops were significant. San Joaquin County cut its total unhoused population by nearly a third compared to 2024 and nearly halved the number of people sleeping on the street without shelter. Others were more modest, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">San Francisco’s 4% drop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the 28 counties or continuums of care (which group smaller counties together into single counts) that released 2026 data, more than half reported a decline in homelessness. Eight others did not conduct a point-in-time count this year, while seven had not publicly released their results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officials in counties where the homeless count dropped credit their progress to creating more shelter beds and low-income housing, which they say was made possible by new state funds released over the past several years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, some activists are questioning whether the numbers really are as rosy as they seem. Cities have ramped up enforcement against unhoused people in recent years – clearing encampments and citing people for illegal camping more frequently – which causes people to scatter and become harder to count. Just because someone is missing from an official count doesn’t mean they moved off the street and into housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even in counties celebrating wins this year, officials wonder whether they can maintain those gains in the face of recent \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/08/medi-cal-the-cut-healthcare-threatened/\">federal cuts to Medi-Cal\u003c/a> and social services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve made progress,” said Jonathan Russell, director of Alameda County Health Housing and Homelessness Services, which reported \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084262/homelessness-is-down-in-alameda-county-can-it-maintain-that-progress\">a 13% drop in homelessness compared to 2024\u003c/a>. “And there are real threats, real peril.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What the 2026 point-in-time counts show\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federal government requires every county to conduct a point-in-time census of its homeless population at least every other year, though some do it every year. Typically, volunteers join city, county and nonprofit staffers on a single night in January to tally every unhoused person they see. The results are generally considered an undercount, as it’s easy to overlook people tucked away behind bushes or hunkered down in parked cars. But despite the count’s flaws, it’s the only standardized way the state (and the rest of the country) has to measure fluctuations in its homeless populations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There were 181,934 homeless Californians counted last year – a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/05/point-in-time-homelessness-report/\">nearly 3% drop\u003c/a> from 2024. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which compiles the data from each county, won’t release the official statewide or nationwide 2026 count for many months. But most counties that did a 2026 count have published the preliminary results on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"datawrapper-vis-6oAWh\" style=\"min-height: 931px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6oAWh/full.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing the change in total homeless counts, expressed as a percent change, between either 2024 or 2025 and 2026. The largest decline was in Fresno and Madera counties, with a 34% drop. The largest increase was in Amador, Calveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne which saw a more than doubling —130%.\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>In some counties, the results were disappointing. Los Angeles County, after two years of declines, reported a 1% increase in homelessness this year. Homelessness increased 13% throughout Sacramento County from 2024, though it was down within the city of Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/contra-costa-county\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>, after a significant decrease between 2024 and 2025, saw homelessness creep up 7% this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, there were several reminders this year that the point-in-time counts are not perfect. \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-11/accounting-glitch-caused-nearly-half-of-l-a-s-increase-in-homeless-count\">The Los Angeles Times\u003c/a> uncovered an accounting glitch that inflated the city’s homeless count by more than 600 people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11678220\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11678220 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/06/RS23880_20170126_CC_county_homeless_count_215-e1530300027897.jpg\" alt=\"The homeless camp of Jarrett Keesling and Kelli Lengele, whom are among the hundreds of homeless the Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) interacted with as it conducts its annual count of homeless county residents Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A homeless encampment near an overpass in Contra Costa County, on Jan. 26, 2017. The county recorded an almost 7% increase in homelessness this year since 2025. \u003ccite>(Eric Kayne/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Central California, Fresno and Madera counties, which combined reported a 34% drop in homelessness compared to last year, appeared to have the largest reduction in the state. But the counties \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cc7bc02e8ba44aa938ccd4f/t/6a234bea54fe294ede543e7c/1780698092853/2026+PIT+Preliminary+Summary.pdf\">changed\u003c/a> the way they counted this year, potentially skewing the numbers. Instead of tallying everyone who was visible on the street as they did in 2025, this year, volunteers counted only people who confirmed they are homeless and agreed to participate in a survey. That change makes this year’s count difficult to compare to 2025 data, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fresnobee.com/article316062827.html\">officials admitted\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties touted wins in moving people off the street and into shelters – a feat that’s considered progress even though those people are still considered homeless. In Alameda County, the percentage of unhoused people living in shelters \u003ca href=\"https://weblink.alamedacountyca.gov/ACHHS/DocView.aspx?id=2336&dbid=0&repo=ACH-DocumentLibrary&cr=1\">increased\u003c/a> from 21% in 2019 to 37% this year.[aside postID=news_12084262 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1247572601-scaled-e1760372488675.jpg']Alameda County reached another significant milestone last year: for the first time since the county began tracking in 2021, slightly more people left homelessness and moved into housing than became newly homeless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell credits a major influx of state homelessness dollars that appeared in the county’s coffers about four years ago, including investments in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2026/05/newsom-homekey-records/\">Homekey\u003c/a> (the state program that helps cities and counties buy hotels to turn into homeless housing) and the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention fund. The state also awarded additional housing funds for homeless Californians with mental illness and substance use disorder in 2023 and 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Joaquin County, which boasted one of the biggest drops in overall homelessness and unsheltered homelessness in California, added more than 100 shelter beds and more than 1,000 permanent housing units between 2024 and 2026. That allowed the county to increase the number of people living in permanent housing by 86%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There just wasn’t money available 10 years ago like there is now,” said Dawn McLeish, deputy director of the county’s human services department. “It just took a couple years for those investments to get all the way off the ground.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"datawrapper-vis-7JDyb\" style=\"min-height: 826px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/7JDyb/full.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing the change in total homeless counts, expressed as a percent change, between either 2024 or 2025 and 2026. The largest decline was in Fresno and Madera counties, with a 34% drop. The largest increase was in Amador, Calveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne which saw a more than doubling —130%.\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Niki Jones, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, views downward-trending numbers across the state with suspicion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They can call it progress if they want to,” she said. “I call baloney.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024 \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/06/california-homeless-camps-grants-pass-ruling/\">gave cities more leeway\u003c/a> to crack down on homeless encampments, cities have \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/09/camping-ban-ordinances/\">passed new ordinances\u003c/a> banning camps, police are giving out \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/06/homelessness-enforcement-data/\">more citations\u003c/a> for camping-related offenses and activists are reporting more frequent encampment clearings. When people are forced to disperse from their camps, they become more difficult to spot during point-in-time counts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a lot harder to find one person with a blanket somewhere than it is to see a camp,” Jones said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4903-1.html\">recent study\u003c/a> looking at the Skid Row, Hollywood and Venice neighborhoods in Los Angeles found the overall level of unsheltered homelessness didn’t change between December 2024 and January 2026. But the number of people living in tents dropped 23%, while the number of people “sleeping rough” (without a tent, tarp or other shelter) increased 20%, according to data from the nonprofit research organization RAND.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12077679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man walks at the homeless encampment located along Coleman Avenue between West Hedding Street and Asbury Street in San Jose on June 22, 2021. \u003ccite>(Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That shift away from camps could pose a challenge in getting people into housing, as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ main intervention – the Inside Safe program – specifically targets people living in tent encampments and moves them into hotels. In addition, rough sleepers generally have a harder time holding onto their personal documents and phones, making it harder for them to navigate the process of getting into housing, according to the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Increased enforcement could lead to people going uncounted, but it’s hard to tell how much that is really affecting point-in-time count results, said Roxanne Wilson, homeless services director for Monterey County. She does know that she’s seeing more people in her community move into housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monterey County saw a 15% decrease in overall homelessness compared to 2024, while the number of people living outdoors dropped by nearly a quarter. Wilson attributes that largely to state funds. Monterey County won three state Encampment Resolution Grants that helped it move more than 150 people out of encampments along the Pajaro River levee, in Soledad and in King City. The money went toward opening a new shelter for the Pajaro River residents in Santa Cruz County, tiny homes in Soledad and hotel rooms in King City, Wilson said. People moved from the camps into those temporary accommodations, where they could then focus on securing permanent housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wilson called that a “huge accomplishment.” But state homelessness funding comes in the form of one-time grants, meaning counties never know for sure how much money they’ll get next year – or if they’ll get anything at all. That makes it hard to plan ahead and invest in long-term strategies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The reality is that it’s going to be hard to hold this line,” Wilson said, “if we don’t start having more stable funding sources.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story reflected an incorrect number of new shelter beds in San Joaquin County. The correct number is 100.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/08/pit-counts-2026/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California reduced its official homeless count in 2025 after years of increases. Now, preliminary data for 2026 shows many places in the state, including some Bay Area counties, are continuing to make progress.",
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"title": "Homeless Counts Dropped in Alameda, San Francisco Counties This Year | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> reduced its official homeless count in 2025 after years of increases. Now, preliminary data for 2026 shows many places in the state are continuing to make progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties up and down the state are reporting that their homeless populations dropped this year, citing early results of the point-in-time count conducted in January. Some of the drops were significant. San Joaquin County cut its total unhoused population by nearly a third compared to 2024 and nearly halved the number of people sleeping on the street without shelter. Others were more modest, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">San Francisco’s 4% drop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the 28 counties or continuums of care (which group smaller counties together into single counts) that released 2026 data, more than half reported a decline in homelessness. Eight others did not conduct a point-in-time count this year, while seven had not publicly released their results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officials in counties where the homeless count dropped credit their progress to creating more shelter beds and low-income housing, which they say was made possible by new state funds released over the past several years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, some activists are questioning whether the numbers really are as rosy as they seem. Cities have ramped up enforcement against unhoused people in recent years – clearing encampments and citing people for illegal camping more frequently – which causes people to scatter and become harder to count. Just because someone is missing from an official count doesn’t mean they moved off the street and into housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even in counties celebrating wins this year, officials wonder whether they can maintain those gains in the face of recent \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/08/medi-cal-the-cut-healthcare-threatened/\">federal cuts to Medi-Cal\u003c/a> and social services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve made progress,” said Jonathan Russell, director of Alameda County Health Housing and Homelessness Services, which reported \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084262/homelessness-is-down-in-alameda-county-can-it-maintain-that-progress\">a 13% drop in homelessness compared to 2024\u003c/a>. “And there are real threats, real peril.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What the 2026 point-in-time counts show\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federal government requires every county to conduct a point-in-time census of its homeless population at least every other year, though some do it every year. Typically, volunteers join city, county and nonprofit staffers on a single night in January to tally every unhoused person they see. The results are generally considered an undercount, as it’s easy to overlook people tucked away behind bushes or hunkered down in parked cars. But despite the count’s flaws, it’s the only standardized way the state (and the rest of the country) has to measure fluctuations in its homeless populations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There were 181,934 homeless Californians counted last year – a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/05/point-in-time-homelessness-report/\">nearly 3% drop\u003c/a> from 2024. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which compiles the data from each county, won’t release the official statewide or nationwide 2026 count for many months. But most counties that did a 2026 count have published the preliminary results on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"datawrapper-vis-6oAWh\" style=\"min-height: 931px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6oAWh/full.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing the change in total homeless counts, expressed as a percent change, between either 2024 or 2025 and 2026. The largest decline was in Fresno and Madera counties, with a 34% drop. The largest increase was in Amador, Calveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne which saw a more than doubling —130%.\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>In some counties, the results were disappointing. Los Angeles County, after two years of declines, reported a 1% increase in homelessness this year. Homelessness increased 13% throughout Sacramento County from 2024, though it was down within the city of Sacramento.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/contra-costa-county\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>, after a significant decrease between 2024 and 2025, saw homelessness creep up 7% this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, there were several reminders this year that the point-in-time counts are not perfect. \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-11/accounting-glitch-caused-nearly-half-of-l-a-s-increase-in-homeless-count\">The Los Angeles Times\u003c/a> uncovered an accounting glitch that inflated the city’s homeless count by more than 600 people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11678220\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11678220 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/06/RS23880_20170126_CC_county_homeless_count_215-e1530300027897.jpg\" alt=\"The homeless camp of Jarrett Keesling and Kelli Lengele, whom are among the hundreds of homeless the Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) interacted with as it conducts its annual count of homeless county residents Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A homeless encampment near an overpass in Contra Costa County, on Jan. 26, 2017. The county recorded an almost 7% increase in homelessness this year since 2025. \u003ccite>(Eric Kayne/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Central California, Fresno and Madera counties, which combined reported a 34% drop in homelessness compared to last year, appeared to have the largest reduction in the state. But the counties \u003ca href=\"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cc7bc02e8ba44aa938ccd4f/t/6a234bea54fe294ede543e7c/1780698092853/2026+PIT+Preliminary+Summary.pdf\">changed\u003c/a> the way they counted this year, potentially skewing the numbers. Instead of tallying everyone who was visible on the street as they did in 2025, this year, volunteers counted only people who confirmed they are homeless and agreed to participate in a survey. That change makes this year’s count difficult to compare to 2025 data, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fresnobee.com/article316062827.html\">officials admitted\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties touted wins in moving people off the street and into shelters – a feat that’s considered progress even though those people are still considered homeless. In Alameda County, the percentage of unhoused people living in shelters \u003ca href=\"https://weblink.alamedacountyca.gov/ACHHS/DocView.aspx?id=2336&dbid=0&repo=ACH-DocumentLibrary&cr=1\">increased\u003c/a> from 21% in 2019 to 37% this year.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Alameda County reached another significant milestone last year: for the first time since the county began tracking in 2021, slightly more people left homelessness and moved into housing than became newly homeless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Russell credits a major influx of state homelessness dollars that appeared in the county’s coffers about four years ago, including investments in \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2026/05/newsom-homekey-records/\">Homekey\u003c/a> (the state program that helps cities and counties buy hotels to turn into homeless housing) and the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention fund. The state also awarded additional housing funds for homeless Californians with mental illness and substance use disorder in 2023 and 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Joaquin County, which boasted one of the biggest drops in overall homelessness and unsheltered homelessness in California, added more than 100 shelter beds and more than 1,000 permanent housing units between 2024 and 2026. That allowed the county to increase the number of people living in permanent housing by 86%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There just wasn’t money available 10 years ago like there is now,” said Dawn McLeish, deputy director of the county’s human services department. “It just took a couple years for those investments to get all the way off the ground.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"datawrapper-vis-7JDyb\" style=\"min-height: 826px\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/7JDyb/full.png\" alt=\"A bar chart showing the change in total homeless counts, expressed as a percent change, between either 2024 or 2025 and 2026. The largest decline was in Fresno and Madera counties, with a 34% drop. The largest increase was in Amador, Calveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne which saw a more than doubling —130%.\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Niki Jones, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, views downward-trending numbers across the state with suspicion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They can call it progress if they want to,” she said. “I call baloney.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024 \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/06/california-homeless-camps-grants-pass-ruling/\">gave cities more leeway\u003c/a> to crack down on homeless encampments, cities have \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/09/camping-ban-ordinances/\">passed new ordinances\u003c/a> banning camps, police are giving out \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/06/homelessness-enforcement-data/\">more citations\u003c/a> for camping-related offenses and activists are reporting more frequent encampment clearings. When people are forced to disperse from their camps, they become more difficult to spot during point-in-time counts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a lot harder to find one person with a blanket somewhere than it is to see a camp,” Jones said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4903-1.html\">recent study\u003c/a> looking at the Skid Row, Hollywood and Venice neighborhoods in Los Angeles found the overall level of unsheltered homelessness didn’t change between December 2024 and January 2026. But the number of people living in tents dropped 23%, while the number of people “sleeping rough” (without a tent, tarp or other shelter) increased 20%, according to data from the nonprofit research organization RAND.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12077679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12077679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/050422-SAN-JOSE-HOMELESS-SJM-DS-CM-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man walks at the homeless encampment located along Coleman Avenue between West Hedding Street and Asbury Street in San Jose on June 22, 2021. \u003ccite>(Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That shift away from camps could pose a challenge in getting people into housing, as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ main intervention – the Inside Safe program – specifically targets people living in tent encampments and moves them into hotels. In addition, rough sleepers generally have a harder time holding onto their personal documents and phones, making it harder for them to navigate the process of getting into housing, according to the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Increased enforcement could lead to people going uncounted, but it’s hard to tell how much that is really affecting point-in-time count results, said Roxanne Wilson, homeless services director for Monterey County. She does know that she’s seeing more people in her community move into housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Monterey County saw a 15% decrease in overall homelessness compared to 2024, while the number of people living outdoors dropped by nearly a quarter. Wilson attributes that largely to state funds. Monterey County won three state Encampment Resolution Grants that helped it move more than 150 people out of encampments along the Pajaro River levee, in Soledad and in King City. The money went toward opening a new shelter for the Pajaro River residents in Santa Cruz County, tiny homes in Soledad and hotel rooms in King City, Wilson said. People moved from the camps into those temporary accommodations, where they could then focus on securing permanent housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wilson called that a “huge accomplishment.” But state homelessness funding comes in the form of one-time grants, meaning counties never know for sure how much money they’ll get next year – or if they’ll get anything at all. That makes it hard to plan ahead and invest in long-term strategies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The reality is that it’s going to be hard to hold this line,” Wilson said, “if we don’t start having more stable funding sources.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story reflected an incorrect number of new shelter beds in San Joaquin County. The correct number is 100.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/08/pit-counts-2026/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown",
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"headTitle": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The group of seven pro-Palestine activists faced a maximum of five-year sentences, a fraction of what was promised if jurors had not deadlocked last month on the top conspiracy charge. Prosecutors announced they will not retry the charges that divided jurors Friday.",
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"title": "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Get Jail Time for Golden Gate Bridge Shutdown | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> judge sentenced seven pro-Palestinian activists to 30 days in county jail and six months of probation on Friday for their roles in a 2024 protest that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085224/these-protesters-could-go-to-prison-for-blocking-the-golden-gate-bridge\">stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a> for roughly four hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office also dismissed multiple outstanding charges, including the most serious for felony conspiracy, that the jury failed to reach a consensus on in July.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences,” Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese said before handing down the sentences. “In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions.”\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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096383\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-23_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Rocky Chau (right) celebrates with Raye Kahn, a spokesperson for the activists, after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Law enforcement had originally arrested more than two dozen people for the Tax Day demonstration, which was organized in opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid ongoing military strikes on Gaza. The seven who went to trial included six who used lockboxes to chain themselves to cars blocking southbound lanes on the bridge, complicating removal efforts. The seventh had served as a liaison between activists and law enforcement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The sentences are significantly lighter than the 14-to-15-year maximum terms that the seven Bay Area residents — Bhavika Anandpura, River Allen, Sara Cantor, Rocky Chau, Conrad de Jesus, Sarah Ferrell and Em Tillotson — faced at the start of the trial. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A jury last month convicted all seven defendants of several misdemeanors, including unlawful assembly, obstructing a thoroughfare and multiple counts of false imprisonment. But they failed to reach a consensus on felony conspiracy, which carried the most significant maximum sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Following Friday’s sentencing, the DA’s office moved to dismiss the conspiracy and outstanding trespassing charge, saying the protesters had been held accountable, and that they were cognizant of the public resources a retrial would require. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision was met with loud cheers outside the courtroom from the protesters’ supporters. The activists and their lawyers have argued for over two years that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12004860/golden-gate-bridge-protesters-plead-not-guilty-to-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges\">the felony charges were politically motivated\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12011165/felony-charges-against-golden-gate-bridge-protesters-can-go-to-trial-judge-rules\">a disproportionate response\u003c/a> to a protest on the Golden Gate Bridge, a historically common site for acts of civil disobedience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ultimately, the government has overcharged this case,” defense attorney Shaffy Moeel told KQED in an April interview before the start of trial.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Felony charges should be reserved for the most serious and egregious charges that we can commit against one another, and blocking a bridge in order to prevent mass atrocities happening with our money doesn’t seem like the kind of felonious charge that any legislature intended,” Moeel said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096381\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-19_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Supporters of the seven defendants hug outside of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have never seen a felony conspiracy charge for a protest,” Deputy Public Defender Anthony Gedeon said. “There is no rationale besides a political motivation.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Defense attorneys believe their clients’ sentences, which require 15 days in county jail, while the other 15 can be served through the city’s Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, will ultimately amount to just five days in jail and six in the work program. The jail sentence will be stayed pending appeal, Caffese said Friday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each defendant was also given six months of probation and multiple fines and restitution amounting to over $1,300.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The courtroom was quiet as Caffese delivered the sentences, but defense attorneys pushed back on the jail time, requesting an explanation and home detention for their clients, citing various personal reasons. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese denied most of those requests, but she granted Cantor, who has a disability that requires her to use a cane, home detention for half of her sentence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the hearing, the protesters’ supporters rallied outside the court. \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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096382\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-21_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Defendant Em Tillotson celebrates after the sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>De Jesus thanked his co-defendants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In them, I have found love and support and a community that I care deeply for,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Two years of fighting the DA has taken a toll on us mentally and physically,” de Jesus continued. “However, it only takes a moment to reflect on what Palestinians in Gaza are going through to make us fight even harder for a free Palestine.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Prosecutors argued in court that the action was a premeditated effort to break the law and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">trap commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>, both inconveniencing and risking the safety of residents driving into the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People missed doctors’ appointments, nurses were missing from their jobs, children were forced to defecate in bags, people had little to no water,” Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084403/golden-gate-bridge-protest-trial-opens-in-san-francisco\">during the trial’s opening statements in May.\u003c/a> “Because these seven individuals decided that their cause, their message, was more important.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants sincerely believed that by engaging in the April 15 protest, they could prevent the loss of Palestinian lives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bridge shutdown was just one of a number of actions across the country meant to disrupt economic activity and pressure the U.S. government to end its material support for Israel. \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/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12096384\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260821-GGBS-NG-26_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A supporter places their hand on defendant River Allen’s back outside a courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on Aug. 21 2026, during a recess at the sentencing hearing for seven defendants who were found guilty of blocking traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District filed but ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">dropped\u003c/a> a restitution claim against the protesters, arguing that the protest cost it $163,000 in lost bridge tolls. The defendants did pay $5,300 to a group of residents who said they suffered economic losses due to the shutdown, mostly through lost wages for the day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Caffese addressed the defendants individually, saying that letters of support submitted on their behalf showed that they had backgrounds in community activism and service, and care about laudable causes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You are not being sentenced for your beliefs,” Caffese told the group.\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>“You, the defendants, are not new to civil disobedience,” she said. “Each of you knew you were violating the law.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "What Are the Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco — and Can I Watch?",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Next week, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> will host the 2026 Pokémon World Championships — along with the inaugural PokémonXP fan convention — from Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 30.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Organizers are expecting more than 50,000 people to descend on Moscone Convention Center throughout the weekend, which will include \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/dailyschedule\">events \u003c/a>like scavenger hunts, opportunities to trade pins and playing cards, DJ booths playing classic Pokémon tracks and even panels featuring the minds behind this decades-spanning, globe-trotting franchise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s only \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_World_Championships\">the second time ever \u003c/a>that San Francisco has hosted this super-popular annual event, and die-hard Pokémon players — known as trainers — and fans have been eagerly awaiting the \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/dailyschedule\">weekend’s events\u003c/a> for months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095947\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the championships, how to get involved and how street closures around SOMA could impact your commute.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#road-closures\">Street closures in downtown San Francisco around the 2026 Pokémon World Championships \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who competes in the Pokémon World Championships, and how does the tournament work?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First launched as a video game for the Game Boy console in 1996, Pokémon has since expanded to include movies, television, manga, trading cards, clothing and theme parks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And the franchise will be celebrating its 30th birthday — along with 10 years since the launch of the hit mobile app Pokémon GO — as part of the big weekend in San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Pokémon World Championships — also known as “Worlds” — feature the best trainers across different Pokémon platforms, including the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, UNITE and the newly released Pokémon Champions video game.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095948\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is really the cream of the crop — the best of the best,” said Nick Salazar, from The Pokémon Company International’s public relations team.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To get an invitation to compete at Worlds, someone has to earn a certain amount of points, Salazar said. “You can earn points at your local hobby shop,” he said, adding that you can earn more points by competing at regional or international tournaments held year-round.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships will be held at Moscone, but the final matches will be at Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Worlds, both kids and adults compete in their own age-specific categories. The youngest category, junior, features players 12 or younger. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I go check out the 2026 Pokémon World Championships myself?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sign-ups for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships’ “interest lists” for badge purchases began months ago, and the last available sign-up list — for single-day access — recently closed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So unfortunately, all that buzz means that if you were hoping to casually check out the festivities as a spectator, entry badges for both the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention are \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/main\">completely sold out \u003c/a>— and you can’t enter Moscone Center next weekend without one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying a badge from someone else online? Keep in mind that this comes with big risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If someone bought a badge, that’s linked to both their name and their Pokémon Trainer Central account. When you show up to Moscone Center, you will have to show a government-issued ID to pick up your badge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Reddit, users \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1t6kvzg/pokemon_2026_world_championship_arena_pass_sold/\">have cautioned\u003c/a> against paying money for someone else’s badge, with some saying it’s very likely that you would fall for a scam.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If I can’t go in person, how else can I get involved with the 2026 Pokémon World Championships?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can watch livestreams of the competitions, panels and award ceremonies for free on \u003ca href=\"http://pokemonxp.com\">PokemonXP.com\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the big weekend, the San Francisco Giants will be hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — which includes Pokémon GO activations around Oracle Park and a themed drone show — during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, Aug. 27. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While tickets for Pokémon Worlds Night itself are currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/drone-show\">sold out\u003c/a>, single-game tickets \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/single-game-tickets#game=823179\">are still available\u003c/a> for the Giants-Diamondbacks game — and according to the Giants’ site, you can stay to watch the drone show afterward. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you were hoping to snag a special Worlds Pikachu Jersey designed for the occasion, bad news: the item has sold out already. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"road-closures\">Will the 2026 Pokémon World Championships mean any road closures in San Francisco?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the event will spell street closures and traffic detours in the SOMA neighborhood around the Moscone Center — not just during the Aug. 28-30 event period, but starting Tuesday, Aug. 19, and lasting into Tuesday, Sept. 1.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The biggest closures will be:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>A full closure of Howard Street between Third and Fourth streets (starts 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, ends 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>A full closure of a stretch of Minna Street by Fourth Street (from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from Tuesday, Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 30)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/2026-pok%C3%A9mon-world-championship-friday-sunday-august-28-30-2026\">See the full list of street closures for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parking garages in the area will remain fully open to the public during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. And while there’ll be no impact on Muni service, SFMTA warns that “some minor delays may be possible in the area.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Organizers are expecting more than 50,000 people to descend on Moscone Convention Center throughout the weekend, which will include \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/dailyschedule\">events \u003c/a>like scavenger hunts, opportunities to trade pins and playing cards, DJ booths playing classic Pokémon tracks and even panels featuring the minds behind this decades-spanning, globe-trotting franchise.\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/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095947\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-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 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#road-closures\">Street closures in downtown San Francisco around the 2026 Pokémon World Championships \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#road-closures\">Street closures in downtown San Francisco around the 2026 Pokémon World Championships \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Who competes in the Pokémon World Championships, and how does the tournament work?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First launched as a video game for the Game Boy console in 1996, Pokémon has since expanded to include movies, television, manga, trading cards, clothing and theme parks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And the franchise will be celebrating its 30th birthday — along with 10 years since the launch of the hit mobile app Pokémon GO — as part of the big weekend in San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Pokémon World Championships — also known as “Worlds” — feature the best trainers across different Pokémon platforms, including the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, UNITE and the newly released Pokémon Champions video game.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Pokémon World Championships — also known as “Worlds” — feature the best trainers across different Pokémon platforms, including the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, UNITE and the newly released Pokémon Champions video game.\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/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095948\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-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 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/cite>\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/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095948\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is really the cream of the crop — the best of the best,” said Nick Salazar, from The Pokémon Company International’s public relations team.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To get an invitation to compete at Worlds, someone has to earn a certain amount of points, Salazar said. “You can earn points at your local hobby shop,” he said, adding that you can earn more points by competing at regional or international tournaments held year-round.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To get an invitation to compete at Worlds, someone has to earn a certain amount of points, Salazar said. “You can earn points at your local hobby shop,” he said, adding that you can earn more points by competing at regional or international tournaments held year-round.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships will be held at Moscone, but the final matches will be at Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Most of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships will be held at Moscone, but the final matches will be at Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Worlds, both kids and adults compete in their own age-specific categories. The youngest category, junior, features players 12 or younger. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At Worlds, both kids and adults compete in their own age-specific categories. The youngest category, junior, features players 12 or younger. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Can I go check out the 2026 Pokémon World Championships myself?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I go check out the 2026 Pokémon World Championships myself?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sign-ups for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships’ “interest lists” for badge purchases began months ago, and the last available sign-up list — for single-day access — recently closed.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Sign-ups for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships’ “interest lists” for badge purchases began months ago, and the last available sign-up list — for single-day access — recently closed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So unfortunately, all that buzz means that if you were hoping to casually check out the festivities as a spectator, entry badges for both the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention are \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/main\">completely sold out \u003c/a>— and you can’t enter Moscone Center next weekend without one.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So unfortunately, all that buzz means that if you were hoping to casually check out the festivities as a spectator, entry badges for both the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention are \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/main\">completely sold out \u003c/a>— and you can’t enter Moscone Center next weekend without one.\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/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-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 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/cite>\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/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095949\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying a badge from someone else online? Keep in mind that this comes with big risks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If someone bought a badge, that’s linked to both their name and their Pokémon Trainer Central account. When you show up to Moscone Center, you will have to show a government-issued ID to pick up your badge.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If someone bought a badge, that’s linked to both their name and their Pokémon Trainer Central account. When you show up to Moscone Center, you will have to show a government-issued ID to pick up your badge.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Reddit, users \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1t6kvzg/pokemon_2026_world_championship_arena_pass_sold/\">have cautioned\u003c/a> against paying money for someone else’s badge, with some saying it’s very likely that you would fall for a scam.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Reddit, users \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1t6kvzg/pokemon_2026_world_championship_arena_pass_sold/\">have cautioned\u003c/a> against paying money for someone else’s badge, with some saying it’s very likely that you would fall for a scam.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "If I can’t go in person, how else can I get involved with the 2026 Pokémon World Championships?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If I can’t go in person, how else can I get involved with the 2026 Pokémon World Championships?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can watch livestreams of the competitions, panels and award ceremonies for free on \u003ca href=\"http://pokemonxp.com\">PokemonXP.com\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can watch livestreams of the competitions, panels and award ceremonies for free on \u003ca href=\"http://pokemonxp.com\">PokemonXP.com\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ahead of the big weekend, the San Francisco Giants will be hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — which includes Pokémon GO activations around Oracle Park and a themed drone show — during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, Aug. 27. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ahead of the big weekend, the San Francisco Giants will be hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — which includes Pokémon GO activations around Oracle Park and a themed drone show — during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, Aug. 27. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While tickets for Pokémon Worlds Night itself are currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/drone-show\">sold out\u003c/a>, single-game tickets \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/single-game-tickets#game=823179\">are still available\u003c/a> for the Giants-Diamondbacks game — and according to the Giants’ site, you can stay to watch the drone show afterward. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While tickets for Pokémon Worlds Night itself are currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/drone-show\">sold out\u003c/a>, single-game tickets \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/single-game-tickets#game=823179\">are still available\u003c/a> for the Giants-Diamondbacks game — and according to the Giants’ site, you can stay to watch the drone show afterward. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you were hoping to snag a special Worlds Pikachu Jersey designed for the occasion, bad news: the item has sold out already. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But if you were hoping to snag a special Worlds Pikachu Jersey designed for the occasion, bad news: the item has sold out already. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Will the 2026 Pokémon World Championships mean any road closures in San Francisco?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes: According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the event will spell street closures and traffic detours in the SOMA neighborhood around the Moscone Center — not just during the Aug. 28-30 event period, but starting Tuesday, Aug. 19, and lasting into Tuesday, Sept. 1.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes: According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the event will spell street closures and traffic detours in the SOMA neighborhood around the Moscone Center — not just during the Aug. 28-30 event period, but starting Tuesday, Aug. 19, and lasting into Tuesday, Sept. 1.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The biggest closures will be:\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>A full closure of Howard Street between Third and Fourth streets (starts 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, ends 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.)\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>A full closure of a stretch of Minna Street by Fourth Street (from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from Tuesday, Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 30)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/2026-pok%C3%A9mon-world-championship-friday-sunday-august-28-30-2026\">See the full list of street closures for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/2026-pok%C3%A9mon-world-championship-friday-sunday-august-28-30-2026\">See the full list of street closures for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Parking garages in the area will remain fully open to the public during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. And while there’ll be no impact on Muni service, SFMTA warns that “some minor delays may be possible in the area.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "What to know about the incredibly popular annual event coming to the Bay Area next weekend, how you can participate and street closures to know.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Next week, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> will host the 2026 Pokémon World Championships — along with the inaugural PokémonXP fan convention — from Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 30.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Organizers are expecting more than 50,000 people to descend on Moscone Convention Center throughout the weekend, which will include \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/dailyschedule\">events \u003c/a>like scavenger hunts, opportunities to trade pins and playing cards, DJ booths playing classic Pokémon tracks and even panels featuring the minds behind this decades-spanning, globe-trotting franchise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s only \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_World_Championships\">the second time ever \u003c/a>that San Francisco has hosted this super-popular annual event, and die-hard Pokémon players — known as trainers — and fans have been eagerly awaiting the \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/dailyschedule\">weekend’s events\u003c/a> for months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095947\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Competitors-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the championships, how to get involved and how street closures around SOMA could impact your commute.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#road-closures\">Street closures in downtown San Francisco around the 2026 Pokémon World Championships \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who competes in the Pokémon World Championships, and how does the tournament work?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First launched as a video game for the Game Boy console in 1996, Pokémon has since expanded to include movies, television, manga, trading cards, clothing and theme parks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And the franchise will be celebrating its 30th birthday — along with 10 years since the launch of the hit mobile app Pokémon GO — as part of the big weekend in San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Pokémon World Championships — also known as “Worlds” — feature the best trainers across different Pokémon platforms, including the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, UNITE and the newly released Pokémon Champions video game.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095948\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Crowd-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is really the cream of the crop — the best of the best,” said Nick Salazar, from The Pokémon Company International’s public relations team.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To get an invitation to compete at Worlds, someone has to earn a certain amount of points, Salazar said. “You can earn points at your local hobby shop,” he said, adding that you can earn more points by competing at regional or international tournaments held year-round.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships will be held at Moscone, but the final matches will be at Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Worlds, both kids and adults compete in their own age-specific categories. The youngest category, junior, features players 12 or younger. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I go check out the 2026 Pokémon World Championships myself?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sign-ups for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships’ “interest lists” for badge purchases began months ago, and the last available sign-up list — for single-day access — recently closed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So unfortunately, all that buzz means that if you were hoping to casually check out the festivities as a spectator, entry badges for both the Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP fan convention are \u003ca href=\"https://registration.pokemon.com/flow/pokemon/26sanfrancisco/landing/page/main\">completely sold out \u003c/a>— and you can’t enter Moscone Center next weekend without one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095949\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/Pokemon_World_Championships_Pikachu-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 2025 Pokémon World Championships on Aug. 15, 2025, in Anaheim, California. (Courtesy of The Pokémon Company International)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying a badge from someone else online? Keep in mind that this comes with big risks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If someone bought a badge, that’s linked to both their name and their Pokémon Trainer Central account. When you show up to Moscone Center, you will have to show a government-issued ID to pick up your badge.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Reddit, users \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1t6kvzg/pokemon_2026_world_championship_arena_pass_sold/\">have cautioned\u003c/a> against paying money for someone else’s badge, with some saying it’s very likely that you would fall for a scam.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If I can’t go in person, how else can I get involved with the 2026 Pokémon World Championships?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can watch livestreams of the competitions, panels and award ceremonies for free on \u003ca href=\"http://pokemonxp.com\">PokemonXP.com\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the big weekend, the San Francisco Giants will be hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pokemon-worlds-night\">Pokémon Worlds Night\u003c/a> — which includes Pokémon GO activations around Oracle Park and a themed drone show — during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, Aug. 27. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While tickets for Pokémon Worlds Night itself are currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/drone-show\">sold out\u003c/a>, single-game tickets \u003ca href=\"https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/single-game-tickets#game=823179\">are still available\u003c/a> for the Giants-Diamondbacks game — and according to the Giants’ site, you can stay to watch the drone show afterward. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you were hoping to snag a special Worlds Pikachu Jersey designed for the occasion, bad news: the item has sold out already. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"road-closures\">Will the 2026 Pokémon World Championships mean any road closures in San Francisco?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes: According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the event will spell street closures and traffic detours in the SOMA neighborhood around the Moscone Center — not just during the Aug. 28-30 event period, but starting Tuesday, Aug. 19, and lasting into Tuesday, Sept. 1.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The biggest closures will be:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>A full closure of Howard Street between Third and Fourth streets (starts 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, ends 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>A full closure of a stretch of Minna Street by Fourth Street (from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from Tuesday, Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 30)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/2026-pok%C3%A9mon-world-championship-friday-sunday-august-28-30-2026\">See the full list of street closures for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parking garages in the area will remain fully open to the public during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. And while there’ll be no impact on Muni service, SFMTA warns that “some minor delays may be possible in the area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "openai-introduces-chatgpt-for-teens-promising-a-more-age-appropriate-chatbot",
"title": "OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT for Teens, Promising a More Age-Appropriate Chatbot",
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"headTitle": "OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT for Teens, Promising a More Age-Appropriate Chatbot | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp> OpenAI on Tuesday introduced a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers — the first generation to grow up \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/artificial-intelligence\">with artificial intelligence\u003c/a> — who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens is tailored for kids ages 13 to 17 with stronger protections including content restrictions around things like suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats. It also provides homework and study support designed to help students learn rather than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095554/most-teens-use-ai-for-homework-even-if-some-think-theyre-missing-out-on-learning\">spit out answers\u003c/a> and school essays.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The idea is to guide teens toward healthy AI use in an age-appropriate environment, the company said.\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/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094819\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three teenage boys look at their smartphone screens on April 11, 2026. In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We want to treat teens like teens, which means that we have to make sure that we’re showing up with the right developmental stage when we’re not either talking down to them or treating them like kids, but we’re also making sure that they’re not exposed to material that they shouldn’t be exposed to,” said Ann O’Leary, vice president of global policy at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effectiveness of the safeguards remains to be seen, said Brendan Bouffard, associate general counsel for AI and privacy at children’s advocacy group Fairplay. He said it is unclear whether OpenAI’s actions are enough to address young users’ compulsive use of and emotional dependence on chatbots.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Announcements like these can be seen as a step in the right direction,” he said. “But I also would caution against parents being lured into this false sense of safety based on the announcement.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Risks abound in widespread teen usage of AI chatbots\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents, educators and child development experts have been sounding alarms over children’s use of AI chatbots, which have been blamed for facilitating cheating on schoolwork and even \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbot-teens-congress-chatgpt-character-ce3959b6a3ea1a4997bf1ccabb4f0de2\">suicide\u003c/a>. While even adults can fall victim to anthropomorphizing AI and developing unhealthy relationships with it, teenagers’ brains are not yet fully developed and they can be particularly vulnerable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, research from a watchdog group found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048270/teens-under-the-influence-of-chatbots\">ChatGPT would tell 13-year-olds\u003c/a> how to get drunk and high, instruct them on how to conceal eating disorders and even compose a heartbreaking suicide letter to their parents if asked. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In interactions with researchers posing as vulnerable teens, ChatGPT typically warned against risky activity but went on to deliver startlingly detailed and personalized plans for drug use, calorie-restricted diets or self-injury.\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/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11998856\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Several bills addressing generative artificial intelligence are moving through the state Legislature in California’s piecemeal approach to regulation. (Jaque Silva/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media, a group that studies and advocates for using digital media sensibly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company is trying to study “emotional overreliance” on the technology, describing it last year as a “really common thing” with young people.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For users of ChatGPT for Teens, the chatbot is prevented from suggesting it has personal feelings toward the user or implying that it is conscious or experiences emotions, according to OpenAI. That’s in addition to blocking romantic or sexual chats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We went through and identified what are the hypothetical cues that a model could give that might make a teenager kind of develop a relationship to it,” said Allison Mishkin, head of child development at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A new version of the chatbot expands safety protections\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OpenAI doesn’t verify users’ ages, but it already uses age assurance to estimate if someone is under 18 based on factors such as their types of queries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If someone is identified or identifies themselves as a minor, they are automatically placed into the teen version of the chatbot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is similar to Meta’s approach to \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/instagram-meta-teen-accounts-kids-425a05cc37f81b6ff2b7439d3884c54a\">teen accounts on Instagram\u003c/a>, which have stricter content, chat and privacy restrictions than regular accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12036125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Meta, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads logos are screened on a mobile phone on Jan. 25, 2025. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To use parental controls, both the teen user and their parent or guardian have to opt in. But O’Leary said the idea with the teen chatbot is to “make sure that this is safe, even if you don’t use parental controls.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents with linked teen accounts can set “quiet hours” when their teen can’t access ChatGPT, and receive safety notifications in limited high-risk situations, such as the possibility of a user hurting themself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are adding additional notifications related to eating disorders, while limiting what is shared and focusing on moments when offline support may matter most,” OpenAI said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bouffard of Fairplay said some of what he would consider to be the most important safeguards, such as restricting ChatGPT’s long-term memory, are not in place by default in the teen accounts and would require the intervention of parental controls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That creates “a major gap in safety” despite the default protections around content and other areas of concern, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For homework help, OpenAI said the teen chatbot is designed to guide students to come up with answers on their own. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company already offers a version of ChatGPT for teachers, and tailoring a model to help kids with studying and homework could give OpenAI more ways to bring its product to schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We continue to also invest in expanding interactive learning because research shows that people learn more effectively when they actively engage and struggle with concepts,” Mishkin said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094819\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three teenage boys look at their smartphone screens on April 11, 2026. In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media.\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/MetaTeensGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094819\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three teenage boys look at their smartphone screens on April 11, 2026. In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We want to treat teens like teens, which means that we have to make sure that we’re showing up with the right developmental stage when we’re not either talking down to them or treating them like kids, but we’re also making sure that they’re not exposed to material that they shouldn’t be exposed to,” said Ann O’Leary, vice president of global policy at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The effectiveness of the safeguards remains to be seen, said Brendan Bouffard, associate general counsel for AI and privacy at children’s advocacy group Fairplay. He said it is unclear whether OpenAI’s actions are enough to address young users’ compulsive use of and emotional dependence on chatbots.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Announcements like these can be seen as a step in the right direction,” he said. “But I also would caution against parents being lured into this false sense of safety based on the announcement.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company is trying to study “emotional overreliance” on the technology, describing it last year as a “really common thing” with young people.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company is trying to study “emotional overreliance” on the technology, describing it last year as a “really common thing” with young people.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For users of ChatGPT for Teens, the chatbot is prevented from suggesting it has personal feelings toward the user or implying that it is conscious or experiences emotions, according to OpenAI. That’s in addition to blocking romantic or sexual chats.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For users of ChatGPT for Teens, the chatbot is prevented from suggesting it has personal feelings toward the user or implying that it is conscious or experiences emotions, according to OpenAI. That’s in addition to blocking romantic or sexual chats.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We went through and identified what are the hypothetical cues that a model could give that might make a teenager kind of develop a relationship to it,” said Allison Mishkin, head of child development at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>OpenAI doesn’t verify users’ ages, but it already uses age assurance to estimate if someone is under 18 based on factors such as their types of queries. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is similar to Meta’s approach to \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/instagram-meta-teen-accounts-kids-425a05cc37f81b6ff2b7439d3884c54a\">teen accounts on Instagram\u003c/a>, which have stricter content, chat and privacy restrictions than regular accounts.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp> OpenAI on Tuesday introduced a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers — the first generation to grow up \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/artificial-intelligence\">with artificial intelligence\u003c/a> — who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens is tailored for kids ages 13 to 17 with stronger protections including content restrictions around things like suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats. It also provides homework and study support designed to help students learn rather than \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095554/most-teens-use-ai-for-homework-even-if-some-think-theyre-missing-out-on-learning\">spit out answers\u003c/a> and school essays.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The idea is to guide teens toward healthy AI use in an age-appropriate environment, the company said.\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/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094819\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/MetaTeensGetty-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Three teenage boys look at their smartphone screens on April 11, 2026. In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We want to treat teens like teens, which means that we have to make sure that we’re showing up with the right developmental stage when we’re not either talking down to them or treating them like kids, but we’re also making sure that they’re not exposed to material that they shouldn’t be exposed to,” said Ann O’Leary, vice president of global policy at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The effectiveness of the safeguards remains to be seen, said Brendan Bouffard, associate general counsel for AI and privacy at children’s advocacy group Fairplay. He said it is unclear whether OpenAI’s actions are enough to address young users’ compulsive use of and emotional dependence on chatbots.\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>“Announcements like these can be seen as a step in the right direction,” he said. “But I also would caution against parents being lured into this false sense of safety based on the announcement.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Risks abound in widespread teen usage of AI chatbots\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents, educators and child development experts have been sounding alarms over children’s use of AI chatbots, which have been blamed for facilitating cheating on schoolwork and even \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbot-teens-congress-chatgpt-character-ce3959b6a3ea1a4997bf1ccabb4f0de2\">suicide\u003c/a>. While even adults can fall victim to anthropomorphizing AI and developing unhealthy relationships with it, teenagers’ brains are not yet fully developed and they can be particularly vulnerable.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last year, research from a watchdog group found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048270/teens-under-the-influence-of-chatbots\">ChatGPT would tell 13-year-olds\u003c/a> how to get drunk and high, instruct them on how to conceal eating disorders and even compose a heartbreaking suicide letter to their parents if asked. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In interactions with researchers posing as vulnerable teens, ChatGPT typically warned against risky activity but went on to deliver startlingly detailed and personalized plans for drug use, calorie-restricted diets or self-injury.\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/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11998856\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/ChatGPTGetty-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Several bills addressing generative artificial intelligence are moving through the state Legislature in California’s piecemeal approach to regulation. (Jaque Silva/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the U.S., more than 70% of teens are turning to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12038154/kids-talking-ai-companion-chatbots-stanford-researchers-say-thats-bad-idea\">AI chatbots for companionship\u003c/a> and half use AI companions regularly, according to a 2025 study from Common Sense Media, a group that studies and advocates for using digital media sensibly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company is trying to study “emotional overreliance” on the technology, describing it last year as a “really common thing” with young people.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For users of ChatGPT for Teens, the chatbot is prevented from suggesting it has personal feelings toward the user or implying that it is conscious or experiences emotions, according to OpenAI. That’s in addition to blocking romantic or sexual chats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We went through and identified what are the hypothetical cues that a model could give that might make a teenager kind of develop a relationship to it,” said Allison Mishkin, head of child development at OpenAI.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A new version of the chatbot expands safety protections\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OpenAI doesn’t verify users’ ages, but it already uses age assurance to estimate if someone is under 18 based on factors such as their types of queries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If someone is identified or identifies themselves as a minor, they are automatically placed into the teen version of the chatbot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is similar to Meta’s approach to \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/instagram-meta-teen-accounts-kids-425a05cc37f81b6ff2b7439d3884c54a\">teen accounts on Instagram\u003c/a>, which have stricter content, chat and privacy restrictions than regular accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12036125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/MetaGetty2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Meta, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads logos are screened on a mobile phone on Jan. 25, 2025. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To use parental controls, both the teen user and their parent or guardian have to opt in. But O’Leary said the idea with the teen chatbot is to “make sure that this is safe, even if you don’t use parental controls.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents with linked teen accounts can set “quiet hours” when their teen can’t access ChatGPT, and receive safety notifications in limited high-risk situations, such as the possibility of a user hurting themself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are adding additional notifications related to eating disorders, while limiting what is shared and focusing on moments when offline support may matter most,” OpenAI said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bouffard of Fairplay said some of what he would consider to be the most important safeguards, such as restricting ChatGPT’s long-term memory, are not in place by default in the teen accounts and would require the intervention of parental controls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That creates “a major gap in safety” despite the default protections around content and other areas of concern, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For homework help, OpenAI said the teen chatbot is designed to guide students to come up with answers on their own. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The company already offers a version of ChatGPT for teachers, and tailoring a model to help kids with studying and homework could give OpenAI more ways to bring its product to schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We continue to also invest in expanding interactive learning because research shows that people learn more effectively when they actively engage and struggle with concepts,” Mishkin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A major sports event is on its way to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082963/ballhalla-rising-golden-state-valkyries-cool-off-phoenix-mercury-to-take-home-opener\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>: San Francisco will host the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game at Chase Center, the league announced Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Festivities will be held July 30 and July 31, 2027, capped on the last night by the All-Star Game at Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — a team that has surpassed high expectations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert thanked Valkyries fans and team owner, Joe Lacob, at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x7Bztv1JfE\">press conference\u003c/a> at Chase Center shortly after the announcement. \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/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Golden State Valkyries play the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Golden State has shown what can happen when you bring together a passionate fan base, a dedicated ownership group — thank you, Joe — and an organization with a clear vision and a strong commitment from local leaders who believe in the power of women’s sports,” Engelbert said. “We all know women’s sports is not easy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hot off their \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49645344/valkyries-beat-wings-clinch-playoff-spot-second-straight-season\">victory\u003c/a> against the Dallas Wings on Monday night, the violet-clad players became the first expansion team — or a newly founded franchise — to make the playoffs in each of its two seasons.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who professed his love of the team at Tuesday’s press conference, tied the rapid rise of the Golden State Valkyries to the city’s broader “comeback,” and said that the team has helped make the city ready to welcome visitors from around the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re a city on the rise,” Lurie said. “The confidence of the WNBA and the commissioner allowing us to host their marquee event is something that we’re going to be ready for.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the last 18 months, the region has played host to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LX and several FIFA World Cup games. While the receipts from the World Cup are still being tallied, the Super Bowl generated more than $720 million in revenue, breaking economic records, said Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO and president of the Bay Area Host Committee, which helps the nine counties prepare for major events. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just shows what leagues and governing bodies are looking for when they’re selecting a city or a region to host an event,” Janmohamed said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The news followed last week’s announcement that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095311/major-league-baseball-to-hold-2028-all-star-game-at-san-franciscos-oracle-park\">2028 MLB All-Star Game\u003c/a> will be held at Oracle Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That contest takes place days before the 2028 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, where baseball returns for the first time since 2020. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lacob, who also owns the Golden State Warriors, shouted out the franchise’s dedicated local fanbase. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Next year, we intend to show out as well as we can, and to put on a tremendous event for our city,” he said. “Our fans are incredible, and they will be ready. It should just be an enormous opportunity to show the world how great the WNBA is.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the last 18 months, the region has played host to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LX and several FIFA World Cup games. While the receipts from the World Cup are still being tallied, the Super Bowl generated more than $720 million in revenue, breaking economic records, said Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO and president of the Bay Area Host Committee, which helps the nine counties prepare for major events. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Over the last 18 months, the region has played host to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LX and several FIFA World Cup games. While the receipts from the World Cup are still being tallied, the Super Bowl generated more than $720 million in revenue, breaking economic records, said Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO and president of the Bay Area Host Committee, which helps the nine counties prepare for major events. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It just shows what leagues and governing bodies are looking for when they’re selecting a city or a region to host an event,” Janmohamed said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The news followed last week’s announcement that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095311/major-league-baseball-to-hold-2028-all-star-game-at-san-franciscos-oracle-park\">2028 MLB All-Star Game\u003c/a> will be held at Oracle Park.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That contest takes place days before the 2028 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, where baseball returns for the first time since 2020. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lacob, who also owns the Golden State Warriors, shouted out the franchise’s dedicated local fanbase. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Next year, we intend to show out as well as we can, and to put on a tremendous event for our city,” he said. “Our fans are incredible, and they will be ready. It should just be an enormous opportunity to show the world how great the WNBA is.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Next year, we intend to show out as well as we can, and to put on a tremendous event for our city,” he said. “Our fans are incredible, and they will be ready. It should just be an enormous opportunity to show the world how great the WNBA is.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Mayor Daniel Lurie tied the astronomical rise of the Golden State Valkyries to the city’s “comeback.”",
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"title": "San Francisco to Host 2027 WNBA All-Star Game at Chase Center | KQED",
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"headline": "San Francisco to Host 2027 WNBA All-Star Game at Chase Center",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A major sports event is on its way to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082963/ballhalla-rising-golden-state-valkyries-cool-off-phoenix-mercury-to-take-home-opener\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>: San Francisco will host the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game at Chase Center, the league announced Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Festivities will be held July 30 and July 31, 2027, capped on the last night by the All-Star Game at Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — a team that has surpassed high expectations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert thanked Valkyries fans and team owner, Joe Lacob, at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x7Bztv1JfE\">press conference\u003c/a> at Chase Center shortly after the announcement. \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/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Golden State Valkyries play the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Golden State has shown what can happen when you bring together a passionate fan base, a dedicated ownership group — thank you, Joe — and an organization with a clear vision and a strong commitment from local leaders who believe in the power of women’s sports,” Engelbert said. “We all know women’s sports is not easy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hot off their \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49645344/valkyries-beat-wings-clinch-playoff-spot-second-straight-season\">victory\u003c/a> against the Dallas Wings on Monday night, the violet-clad players became the first expansion team — or a newly founded franchise — to make the playoffs in each of its two seasons.\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>San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who professed his love of the team at Tuesday’s press conference, tied the rapid rise of the Golden State Valkyries to the city’s broader “comeback,” and said that the team has helped make the city ready to welcome visitors from around the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re a city on the rise,” Lurie said. “The confidence of the WNBA and the commissioner allowing us to host their marquee event is something that we’re going to be ready for.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the last 18 months, the region has played host to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LX and several FIFA World Cup games. While the receipts from the World Cup are still being tallied, the Super Bowl generated more than $720 million in revenue, breaking economic records, said Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO and president of the Bay Area Host Committee, which helps the nine counties prepare for major events. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It just shows what leagues and governing bodies are looking for when they’re selecting a city or a region to host an event,” Janmohamed said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The news followed last week’s announcement that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095311/major-league-baseball-to-hold-2028-all-star-game-at-san-franciscos-oracle-park\">2028 MLB All-Star Game\u003c/a> will be held at Oracle Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That contest takes place days before the 2028 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, where baseball returns for the first time since 2020. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lacob, who also owns the Golden State Warriors, shouted out the franchise’s dedicated local fanbase. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Next year, we intend to show out as well as we can, and to put on a tremendous event for our city,” he said. “Our fans are incredible, and they will be ready. It should just be an enormous opportunity to show the world how great the WNBA is.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "as-sfusd-welcomes-back-students-officials-plan-to-revamp-enrollment-consider-closures",
"title": "As SFUSD Welcomes Back Students, Officials Plan to Revamp Enrollment, Consider Closures",
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"headTitle": "As SFUSD Welcomes Back Students, Officials Plan to Revamp Enrollment, Consider Closures | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sfusd\">San Francisco public schools \u003c/a>welcomed students back to school Monday morning, touting high teacher staffing and brand-new gains in literacy and math proficiency districtwide. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jose Ortega Elementary School in Ingleside buzzed with excitement in the early morning fog, as hundreds of young students greeted classmates, found their new teachers on the blacktop, and taught new transitional kindergarteners the “Jose Bears Cheer” — complete with a deafening, and high-pitched, roar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First graders Ellie, Genevieve and Olivia said they were most excited to be reunited with their friends — they waited for each other on the campus’s front steps before making their way to the playground for the morning circle.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A student takes a picture on his first day of school at Jose Ortega Elementary School on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mom Kathryn Yu said the first day was exciting, but also nerve-wracking for parents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We see them growing up,” Yu said. “It has been a great summer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first day festivities marked the beginning of what Superintendent Maria Su hopes will be a period of stability for SFUSD, after a tumultuous few years,, which saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">botched school closure plan\u003c/a>, unexpected superintendent departure, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072729/san-francisco-teachers-walk-out-in-first-strike-in-nearly-50-years\">historic teachers’ strike\u003c/a> and federal inquiries into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086634/white-house-opens-probe-into-san-francisco-schools-over-gender-ideology\">progressive district curriculum and policies\u003c/a>. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-unified-school-district\">San Francisco Unified School District\u003c/a> is still far from smooth sailing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the first day of classes, the school board laid the groundwork to begin tackling two long-awaited and controversial changes this school year: a new enrollment system to take effect in 2028, and an evaluation of the district’s school portfolio, which could include campus closures and mergers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are building operations and systems that are really meeting the demands of our students, our families and our employees. We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Maria Su said at the district’s first board meeting of the academic year earlier this month. “But we’re not there yet; we’ve got a lot of work to do.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By April, Su is expected to deliver a proposal for a new student assignment method to finally replace the embattled “lottery,” which SFUSD introduced in 2011.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The current system, which allows families to seek a spot at any campus, was intended to reduce the number of racially isolated and underenrolled schools, according to \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hfSeb1kMqU6yVS5FNN3-HC3PkSMKP6je/view\">district documents\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, it’s created long waitlists and padded PTA funds at some of the most successful SFUSD campuses, while others suffer from significant underenrollment and limited resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2018, board members first proposed an overhaul after finding that “SFUSD’s choice system has increased inequity and has not provided equitable access to a range of opportunities.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two years later, district leaders approved a zone-based assignment system focused on elementary schools, slated to go into effect in 2023. That was pushed back to 2026, and later, delayed indefinitely amid leadership upheaval and budget concerns.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, speaks during Jose Ortega Elementary School’s first morning circle of the school year on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last fall, the school board instructed Su to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064366/sf-school-board-set-to-make-maria-su-the-permanent-superintendent-for-city-schools\">pick back up the project\u003c/a> and introduce a new strategy by the spring, but not all parents and commissioners seem confident that district staff will deliver. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It constantly is coming up and then nothing happens,” said Veronica Gray, who has a second grader at Jose Ortega and an eighth grader who’s been in SFUSD for years. “I’m just going to take it day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the spring, several board members expressed frustration after Su delayed the school assignment proposal by another two years — announcing her intention to roll out a new system in 2028 — without their input. She also told the board the conversation around whether schools could close or merge would wait until after the enrollment overhaul — by 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At their first meeting this fall, the board made it clear that deferring further won’t be an option. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ll just name my discomfort … because the board had indicated a timeline of two years and we saw that pushed out to four years. I just don’t want a repeat of what had happened,” Commissioner Parag Gupta said, referring to the spring. “That would be frankly unacceptable.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Su assured the board that her team was on track to recommend an assignment system in April, and told them that developing the new enrollment process will lead to a “a very organic process” on school consolidations.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Talya Huntley (left) hugs Jose Ortega Elementary School principal Paula Antram (right) while Shamir Caston waits for his first day of the school year to start on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As we start to decide how we are going to assign students to schools, we are going to very quickly see that perhaps there are some neighborhoods in our city that won’t have enough students for the number of schools we currently have in those neighborhoods,” she said. “We as a body will have to figure out what to do with that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That could mean changing how the district fills schools or uses its school buildings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Su has repeatedly posited that some sites could be reconfigured for new language pathways — including a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048313/san-francisco-unified-plans-new-mandarin-immersion-school-amid-charter-push\">forthcoming K-8 Mandarin Immersion program\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085270/sfusd-to-open-new-special-education-program-for-students-with-extensive-needs\">expanded special education services\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have committed to our community that number one, we are going to open a K-8 Mandarin school and number two, we will share with the community the temporary site of that school and then go through a community engagement process to identify the long-term site,” Su said. “That in and of itself is a portfolio change that is necessary and required.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since she took over the district in distress in the fall of 2024, Su focused primarily on balancing a $130 million budget deficit and settling multi-year contracts with the district’s labor partners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Classrooms opening today have the highest rate of permanent teachers in years — with 96% of classrooms staffed — and students will be welcomed to a brand \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094176/im-ready-for-kindergarten-san-franciscos-mission-bay-gets-first-public-school-in-20-years\">new campus in Mission Bay\u003c/a>, the neighborhood’s first public school 25 years in the making.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095609\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students arrive at Jose Ortega Elementary School for the first day of their school year on August 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re excited to get this year started,” said Justin Schnieder, whose daughter is now a second grader at Jose Ortega. “I feel confident that we’re going to go through the whole year without any strikes or closures, so that’s all I can say.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, major structural changes will be Su’s next target. The school board has also set lofty student achievement benchmarks for 3rd grade literacy rates and 8th grade math proficiency, both of which have slipped across the state since the COVID-19 pandemic. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, Su said that new data from the end of last year showed a 2% increase in 3rd grade reading, and a nearly 4% increase in 8th grade math. That data hasn’t been publicly released yet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The board has set some very audacious goals for us to achieve,” Su said. “They are our North Star.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sfusd\">San Francisco public schools \u003c/a>welcomed students back to school Monday morning, touting high teacher staffing and brand-new gains in literacy and math proficiency districtwide. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jose Ortega Elementary School in Ingleside buzzed with excitement in the early morning fog, as hundreds of young students greeted classmates, found their new teachers on the blacktop, and taught new transitional kindergarteners the “Jose Bears Cheer” — complete with a deafening, and high-pitched, roar.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jose Ortega Elementary School in Ingleside buzzed with excitement in the early morning fog, as hundreds of young students greeted classmates, found their new teachers on the blacktop, and taught new transitional kindergarteners the “Jose Bears Cheer” — complete with a deafening, and high-pitched, roar.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First graders Ellie, Genevieve and Olivia said they were most excited to be reunited with their friends — they waited for each other on the campus’s front steps before making their way to the playground for the morning circle.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First graders Ellie, Genevieve and Olivia said they were most excited to be reunited with their friends — they waited for each other on the campus’s front steps before making their way to the playground for the morning circle.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-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\">A student takes a picture on his first day of school at Jose Ortega Elementary School on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095559\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A student takes a picture on his first day of school at Jose Ortega Elementary School on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mom Kathryn Yu said the first day was exciting, but also nerve-wracking for parents. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We see them growing up,” Yu said. “It has been a great summer.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The first day festivities marked the beginning of what Superintendent Maria Su hopes will be a period of stability for SFUSD, after a tumultuous few years,, which saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">botched school closure plan\u003c/a>, unexpected superintendent departure, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072729/san-francisco-teachers-walk-out-in-first-strike-in-nearly-50-years\">historic teachers’ strike\u003c/a> and federal inquiries into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086634/white-house-opens-probe-into-san-francisco-schools-over-gender-ideology\">progressive district curriculum and policies\u003c/a>. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-unified-school-district\">San Francisco Unified School District\u003c/a> is still far from smooth sailing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The first day festivities marked the beginning of what Superintendent Maria Su hopes will be a period of stability for SFUSD, after a tumultuous few years,, which saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">botched school closure plan\u003c/a>, unexpected superintendent departure, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072729/san-francisco-teachers-walk-out-in-first-strike-in-nearly-50-years\">historic teachers’ strike\u003c/a> and federal inquiries into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086634/white-house-opens-probe-into-san-francisco-schools-over-gender-ideology\">progressive district curriculum and policies\u003c/a>. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-unified-school-district\">San Francisco Unified School District\u003c/a> is still far from smooth sailing. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ahead of the first day of classes, the school board laid the groundwork to begin tackling two long-awaited and controversial changes this school year: a new enrollment system to take effect in 2028, and an evaluation of the district’s school portfolio, which could include campus closures and mergers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ahead of the first day of classes, the school board laid the groundwork to begin tackling two long-awaited and controversial changes this school year: a new enrollment system to take effect in 2028, and an evaluation of the district’s school portfolio, which could include campus closures and mergers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are building operations and systems that are really meeting the demands of our students, our families and our employees. We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Maria Su said at the district’s first board meeting of the academic year earlier this month. “But we’re not there yet; we’ve got a lot of work to do.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We are building operations and systems that are really meeting the demands of our students, our families and our employees. We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Maria Su said at the district’s first board meeting of the academic year earlier this month. “But we’re not there yet; we’ve got a lot of work to do.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By April, Su is expected to deliver a proposal for a new student assignment method to finally replace the embattled “lottery,” which SFUSD introduced in 2011.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The current system, which allows families to seek a spot at any campus, was intended to reduce the number of racially isolated and underenrolled schools, according to \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hfSeb1kMqU6yVS5FNN3-HC3PkSMKP6je/view\">district documents\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The current system, which allows families to seek a spot at any campus, was intended to reduce the number of racially isolated and underenrolled schools, according to \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hfSeb1kMqU6yVS5FNN3-HC3PkSMKP6je/view\">district documents\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, it’s created long waitlists and padded PTA funds at some of the most successful SFUSD campuses, while others suffer from significant underenrollment and limited resources. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Instead, it’s created long waitlists and padded PTA funds at some of the most successful SFUSD campuses, while others suffer from significant underenrollment and limited resources. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2018, board members first proposed an overhaul after finding that “SFUSD’s choice system has increased inequity and has not provided equitable access to a range of opportunities.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2018, board members first proposed an overhaul after finding that “SFUSD’s choice system has increased inequity and has not provided equitable access to a range of opportunities.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two years later, district leaders approved a zone-based assignment system focused on elementary schools, slated to go into effect in 2023. That was pushed back to 2026, and later, delayed indefinitely amid leadership upheaval and budget concerns.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Two years later, district leaders approved a zone-based assignment system focused on elementary schools, slated to go into effect in 2023. That was pushed back to 2026, and later, delayed indefinitely amid leadership upheaval and budget concerns.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-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\">San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, speaks during Jose Ortega Elementary School’s first morning circle of the school year on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095566\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, speaks during Jose Ortega Elementary School’s first morning circle of the school year on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last fall, the school board instructed Su to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064366/sf-school-board-set-to-make-maria-su-the-permanent-superintendent-for-city-schools\">pick back up the project\u003c/a> and introduce a new strategy by the spring, but not all parents and commissioners seem confident that district staff will deliver. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Last fall, the school board instructed Su to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064366/sf-school-board-set-to-make-maria-su-the-permanent-superintendent-for-city-schools\">pick back up the project\u003c/a> and introduce a new strategy by the spring, but not all parents and commissioners seem confident that district staff will deliver. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It constantly is coming up and then nothing happens,” said Veronica Gray, who has a second grader at Jose Ortega and an eighth grader who’s been in SFUSD for years. “I’m just going to take it day by day.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It constantly is coming up and then nothing happens,” said Veronica Gray, who has a second grader at Jose Ortega and an eighth grader who’s been in SFUSD for years. “I’m just going to take it day by day.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the spring, several board members expressed frustration after Su delayed the school assignment proposal by another two years — announcing her intention to roll out a new system in 2028 — without their input. She also told the board the conversation around whether schools could close or merge would wait until after the enrollment overhaul — by 2030.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the spring, several board members expressed frustration after Su delayed the school assignment proposal by another two years — announcing her intention to roll out a new system in 2028 — without their input. She also told the board the conversation around whether schools could close or merge would wait until after the enrollment overhaul — by 2030.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At their first meeting this fall, the board made it clear that deferring further won’t be an option. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’ll just name my discomfort … because the board had indicated a timeline of two years and we saw that pushed out to four years. I just don’t want a repeat of what had happened,” Commissioner Parag Gupta said, referring to the spring. “That would be frankly unacceptable.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Su assured the board that her team was on track to recommend an assignment system in April, and told them that developing the new enrollment process will lead to a “a very organic process” on school consolidations.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Su assured the board that her team was on track to recommend an assignment system in April, and told them that developing the new enrollment process will lead to a “a very organic process” on school consolidations.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-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\">Talya Huntley (left) hugs Jose Ortega Elementary School principal Paula Antram (right) while Shamir Caston waits for his first day of the school year to start on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As we start to decide how we are going to assign students to schools, we are going to very quickly see that perhaps there are some neighborhoods in our city that won’t have enough students for the number of schools we currently have in those neighborhoods,” she said. “We as a body will have to figure out what to do with that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That could mean changing how the district fills schools or uses its school buildings. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Su has repeatedly posited that some sites could be reconfigured for new language pathways — including a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048313/san-francisco-unified-plans-new-mandarin-immersion-school-amid-charter-push\">forthcoming K-8 Mandarin Immersion program\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085270/sfusd-to-open-new-special-education-program-for-students-with-extensive-needs\">expanded special education services\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Su has repeatedly posited that some sites could be reconfigured for new language pathways — including a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048313/san-francisco-unified-plans-new-mandarin-immersion-school-amid-charter-push\">forthcoming K-8 Mandarin Immersion program\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085270/sfusd-to-open-new-special-education-program-for-students-with-extensive-needs\">expanded special education services\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have committed to our community that number one, we are going to open a K-8 Mandarin school and number two, we will share with the community the temporary site of that school and then go through a community engagement process to identify the long-term site,” Su said. “That in and of itself is a portfolio change that is necessary and required.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since she took over the district in distress in the fall of 2024, Su focused primarily on balancing a $130 million budget deficit and settling multi-year contracts with the district’s labor partners.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Classrooms opening today have the highest rate of permanent teachers in years — with 96% of classrooms staffed — and students will be welcomed to a brand \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094176/im-ready-for-kindergarten-san-franciscos-mission-bay-gets-first-public-school-in-20-years\">new campus in Mission Bay\u003c/a>, the neighborhood’s first public school 25 years in the making.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re excited to get this year started,” said Justin Schnieder, whose daughter is now a second grader at Jose Ortega. “I feel confident that we’re going to go through the whole year without any strikes or closures, so that’s all I can say.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, major structural changes will be Su’s next target. The school board has also set lofty student achievement benchmarks for 3rd grade literacy rates and 8th grade math proficiency, both of which have slipped across the state since the COVID-19 pandemic. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Now, major structural changes will be Su’s next target. The school board has also set lofty student achievement benchmarks for 3rd grade literacy rates and 8th grade math proficiency, both of which have slipped across the state since the COVID-19 pandemic. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, Su said that new data from the end of last year showed a 2% increase in 3rd grade reading, and a nearly 4% increase in 8th grade math. That data hasn’t been publicly released yet. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, Su said that new data from the end of last year showed a 2% increase in 3rd grade reading, and a nearly 4% increase in 8th grade math. That data hasn’t been publicly released yet. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The board has set some very audacious goals for us to achieve,” Su said. “They are our North Star.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Superintendent Maria Su must present a new school assignment system by April; she told the Board of Education that school consolidations could follow.",
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"title": "As SFUSD Welcomes Back Students, Officials Plan to Revamp Enrollment, Consider Closures | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/sfusd\">San Francisco public schools \u003c/a>welcomed students back to school Monday morning, touting high teacher staffing and brand-new gains in literacy and math proficiency districtwide. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jose Ortega Elementary School in Ingleside buzzed with excitement in the early morning fog, as hundreds of young students greeted classmates, found their new teachers on the blacktop, and taught new transitional kindergarteners the “Jose Bears Cheer” — complete with a deafening, and high-pitched, roar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First graders Ellie, Genevieve and Olivia said they were most excited to be reunited with their friends — they waited for each other on the campus’s front steps before making their way to the playground for the morning circle.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-03-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A student takes a picture on his first day of school at Jose Ortega Elementary School on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mom Kathryn Yu said the first day was exciting, but also nerve-wracking for parents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We see them growing up,” Yu said. “It has been a great summer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first day festivities marked the beginning of what Superintendent Maria Su hopes will be a period of stability for SFUSD, after a tumultuous few years,, which saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">botched school closure plan\u003c/a>, unexpected superintendent departure, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072729/san-francisco-teachers-walk-out-in-first-strike-in-nearly-50-years\">historic teachers’ strike\u003c/a> and federal inquiries into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086634/white-house-opens-probe-into-san-francisco-schools-over-gender-ideology\">progressive district curriculum and policies\u003c/a>. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-unified-school-district\">San Francisco Unified School District\u003c/a> is still far from smooth sailing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the first day of classes, the school board laid the groundwork to begin tackling two long-awaited and controversial changes this school year: a new enrollment system to take effect in 2028, and an evaluation of the district’s school portfolio, which could include campus closures and mergers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are building operations and systems that are really meeting the demands of our students, our families and our employees. We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Maria Su said at the district’s first board meeting of the academic year earlier this month. “But we’re not there yet; we’ve got a lot of work to do.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By April, Su is expected to deliver a proposal for a new student assignment method to finally replace the embattled “lottery,” which SFUSD introduced in 2011.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The current system, which allows families to seek a spot at any campus, was intended to reduce the number of racially isolated and underenrolled schools, according to \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hfSeb1kMqU6yVS5FNN3-HC3PkSMKP6je/view\">district documents\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, it’s created long waitlists and padded PTA funds at some of the most successful SFUSD campuses, while others suffer from significant underenrollment and limited resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2018, board members first proposed an overhaul after finding that “SFUSD’s choice system has increased inequity and has not provided equitable access to a range of opportunities.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two years later, district leaders approved a zone-based assignment system focused on elementary schools, slated to go into effect in 2023. That was pushed back to 2026, and later, delayed indefinitely amid leadership upheaval and budget concerns.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-14-MC-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, Dr. Maria Su, speaks during Jose Ortega Elementary School’s first morning circle of the school year on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last fall, the school board instructed Su to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064366/sf-school-board-set-to-make-maria-su-the-permanent-superintendent-for-city-schools\">pick back up the project\u003c/a> and introduce a new strategy by the spring, but not all parents and commissioners seem confident that district staff will deliver. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It constantly is coming up and then nothing happens,” said Veronica Gray, who has a second grader at Jose Ortega and an eighth grader who’s been in SFUSD for years. “I’m just going to take it day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the spring, several board members expressed frustration after Su delayed the school assignment proposal by another two years — announcing her intention to roll out a new system in 2028 — without their input. She also told the board the conversation around whether schools could close or merge would wait until after the enrollment overhaul — by 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At their first meeting this fall, the board made it clear that deferring further won’t be an option. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ll just name my discomfort … because the board had indicated a timeline of two years and we saw that pushed out to four years. I just don’t want a repeat of what had happened,” Commissioner Parag Gupta said, referring to the spring. “That would be frankly unacceptable.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Su assured the board that her team was on track to recommend an assignment system in April, and told them that developing the new enrollment process will lead to a “a very organic process” on school consolidations.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFIRSTDAY-04-MC-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Talya Huntley (left) hugs Jose Ortega Elementary School principal Paula Antram (right) while Shamir Caston waits for his first day of the school year to start on Aug. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As we start to decide how we are going to assign students to schools, we are going to very quickly see that perhaps there are some neighborhoods in our city that won’t have enough students for the number of schools we currently have in those neighborhoods,” she said. “We as a body will have to figure out what to do with that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That could mean changing how the district fills schools or uses its school buildings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Su has repeatedly posited that some sites could be reconfigured for new language pathways — including a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12048313/san-francisco-unified-plans-new-mandarin-immersion-school-amid-charter-push\">forthcoming K-8 Mandarin Immersion program\u003c/a> — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085270/sfusd-to-open-new-special-education-program-for-students-with-extensive-needs\">expanded special education services\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have committed to our community that number one, we are going to open a K-8 Mandarin school and number two, we will share with the community the temporary site of that school and then go through a community engagement process to identify the long-term site,” Su said. “That in and of itself is a portfolio change that is necessary and required.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since she took over the district in distress in the fall of 2024, Su focused primarily on balancing a $130 million budget deficit and settling multi-year contracts with the district’s labor partners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Classrooms opening today have the highest rate of permanent teachers in years — with 96% of classrooms staffed — and students will be welcomed to a brand \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094176/im-ready-for-kindergarten-san-franciscos-mission-bay-gets-first-public-school-in-20-years\">new campus in Mission Bay\u003c/a>, the neighborhood’s first public school 25 years in the making.\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/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095609\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed.jpg 1998w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/081726-SFUSDFirstDay-20-MC_qed-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students arrive at Jose Ortega Elementary School for the first day of their school year on August 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (Miles Cull/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re excited to get this year started,” said Justin Schnieder, whose daughter is now a second grader at Jose Ortega. “I feel confident that we’re going to go through the whole year without any strikes or closures, so that’s all I can say.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, major structural changes will be Su’s next target. The school board has also set lofty student achievement benchmarks for 3rd grade literacy rates and 8th grade math proficiency, both of which have slipped across the state since the COVID-19 pandemic. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, Su said that new data from the end of last year showed a 2% increase in 3rd grade reading, and a nearly 4% increase in 8th grade math. That data hasn’t been publicly released yet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The board has set some very audacious goals for us to achieve,” Su said. “They are our North Star.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-child-care-free-elfa-discount-subsidies-how-to-apply-who-qualifies",
"title": "San Francisco Is Expanding Access to Free or Discounted Childcare. How Do Families Sign Up?",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Is Expanding Access to Free or Discounted Childcare. How Do Families Sign Up? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of How We Get By, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069711/san-francisco-expands-child-care-subsidies-to-tackle-affordability-issues\">widening access to early childhood education\u003c/a> and care for children from birth to 5 years old — by offering families financial aid.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few years ago, the city began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948690/business-tax-provides-crucial-funding-for-early-childhood-education-and-care-in-san-francisco\">using revenue from a local business tax\u003c/a>, plus state and federal dollars, to fund free childcare and preschool for families with low and moderate incomes. Starting this summer, higher-income families can apply for a 50% tuition discount.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The expansion is expected to take some financial pressure off young families in the city as they grapple with the \u003ca href=\"https://tootris.com/edu/blog/parents/cost-of-child-care-in-california-by-city-age-and-type-of-care-provider/\">highest childcare costs in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But there’s a catch: financial aid is only available to families who enroll in any of the approximately 560 early learning programs participating in the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">Early Learning For All, also known as ELFA,\u003c/a> network. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s what San Francisco families need to know about the system and how they can sign up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who qualifies for San Francisco’s financial aid for childcare?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free tuition\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Free tuition is available for families who live in San Francisco and earn up to\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>110% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. That means a single parent with a child, who makes up to $142,650 per year — or a couple with one child earning $160,500 per year — would qualify for free tuition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full tuition credit\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families earning between 111% and 150% of the AMI (that’s up to $194,550 for a family of two, and up to $218,850 for a family of three) can get full tuition credit to pay for \u003cem>most \u003c/em>of the cost of childcare or preschool. The subsidy goes directly to the provider, but families might need to cover a co-pay and any extra hours of care.\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/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lyuba Shkolnik teaches children how to bake muffins at her in-home childcare business called Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, a branch of the city’s government, sets the rates it will reimburse to providers in the ELFA network. \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Early_Learning_For_All_Rates_FY_26-27_uwckwsW.pdf\">For the 2026-27 fiscal year\u003c/a>, which began July 1, families can save the following amounts in childcare per month for each child in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Infants (0 to 24 months): $3,027 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $2,306 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $2,115 per month\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">50% tuition discount\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families earning between 151% and 200% of the AMI (that’s up to $259,400 for a family of two, and up to $291,800 for a family of three) can apply for 50% off the reimbursement rates — but they must pay the rest of the tuition costs set by the provider and any extra hours of care or fees. Here’s how much families can save in childcare per month for children in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli> Infants (0 to 24 months): $1,514 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $1,153 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $1,058 per month\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is income eligibility determined?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The AMI is based on gross income, which is the amount you earn \u003cem>before \u003c/em>any taxes or other deductions are taken out of your paycheck. Families can submit tax documents from the previous year or their most recent pay stubs. Eligibility is determined based on the documentation provided and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/eligibility-for-free-or-low-cost-preschool-and-child-care\">the family’s household size\u003c/a>, said Jonathan Rubinsky, a spokesman for the Department of Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I sign up for San Francisco childcare subsidies?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can sign up yourself on the \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service\">Department of Early Childhood’s online portal\u003c/a> — or you can contact these \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">three Childcare Resource and Referral agencies \u003c/a>who can help you apply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also contact a preschool or childcare program in the ELFA network and their staff will help you apply for the subsidy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I choose among the hundreds of childcare programs and preschools in the ELFA network? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families can browse through a \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service/search/list?near=San%20Francisco,%20CA\">centralized list\u003c/a> of childcare and preschool programs in the ELFA network to learn about their locations, hours, prices, available spaces and educational approaches, such as immersing children in specific languages or in a Montessori or play-based curriculum. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also click on the provider’s state license number to look up details of their health and safety records, state regulators’ inspections of their facilities, and any citations or complaints they received. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with long, black braids and a brown hoodie plays with a baby in a sunhat in the backyard on a sunny day.\" class=\"wp-image-11957186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little over 50% of family childcare providers in California are 50 years old or older, yet less than a quarter of them have any retirement savings, according to research from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Programs based in the provider’s home and licensed to serve up to 14 children are categorized as “Family Child Care.” Larger programs with multiple classrooms and staff are categorized as “centers.” Some families prefer a home environment for their children, while others prefer larger centers — and you can request a tour of the facility to inform your decision. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents of 4-year-olds can also opt for a school-based program called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11989955/what-to-expect-when-enrolling-your-child-in-transitional-kindergarten\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a>. The pre-kindergarten program is taught at San Francisco Unified School District elementary schools or early education centers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I really want to enroll my child in a certain program, but they don’t have any openings. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some childcare homes or centers have waitlists because the demand for a space in their program is driven by parental choice, according to Meenoo Yashar, deputy director of early learning at the city’s Department of Early Childhood. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said parents can contact the provider to find out when they might have an opening and get on their waitlist. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the quality of these programs?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of these programs meet the state’s minimum health and safety standards for licensed centers and family childcare homes. These include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Passing staff background checks\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Receiving staff training in pediatric CPR and First Aid\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Maintaining specific staff-to-child ratios\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Ensuring safe indoor and outdoor physical space\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To join the Early Learning For All network, they also must meet the Department of Early Childhood’s \u003ca href=\"https://provider.sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/Quality-Standard_Updated_6_8_26_ENG.pdf\">quality standards\u003c/a>, which are higher than state and federal requirements, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/ca-upk-mixed-delivery-systems-report\">analysis by the Learning Policy Institute\u003c/a>. \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/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076655\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Victoria Golobordko walks a child at Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. San Francisco is expanding access to childcare by offering 50% discounts to middle- and upper-middle-income earners in an effort to tackle affordability issues in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Daycare Bumblebee is trying to get approval to enter the city’s Early Learning For All system. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yashar said those expectations include providing a “welcoming, culturally responsive environment” to parents, where there are multiple communication channels to tell them what’s going on in the classroom and how their children are developing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yashar said members must also provide a “rich learning environment with lots of opportunities for children to do exploratory play.” That means early educators are providing a variety of hands-on learning materials, and they’re also interacting meaningfully with children. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To join ELFA, educators get assessed on the way they engage with children, Yashar said. “Are they asking open-ended questions? Are there opportunities where children are talking to each other, or are they just being talked to?” she said. “We’re looking to see, are the teachers also helping the children understand what’s going to happen in their day?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Providers in the ELFA network must also provide data regularly to the Department of Early Childhood. In return, they receive wage supplements for the teaching staff and funding to improve their facilities, including outdoor play areas. Teachers also receive professional development, coaching and access to mental health consultants. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The department also covers tuition for educators who want to complete their degrees in early childhood education at local colleges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This work has to do with optimizing brain development during a critical time, and so we want our educators to have access to higher education and understand the latest research and methodology for working with young kids,” Yashar said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Higher pay has helped stabilize staffing in a sector plagued by workplace burnout due to low wages and lack of support and benefits. Last year, a study by \u003ca href=\"https://cscce.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/state-of-ece-san-francisco-2025-updated-jan2026.pdf\">UC Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment\u003c/a> found that the turnover rate for teachers and assistant teachers in San Francisco was 17%, which is 23% to 35% lower than in other places in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re getting better paid, hopefully you’re going to stay in your job,” Yashar said. A stable staff is a marker of quality, she said, because it allows children to strengthen relationships with their educator. \u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A few years ago, the city began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948690/business-tax-provides-crucial-funding-for-early-childhood-education-and-care-in-san-francisco\">using revenue from a local business tax\u003c/a>, plus state and federal dollars, to fund free childcare and preschool for families with low and moderate incomes. Starting this summer, higher-income families can apply for a 50% tuition discount.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The expansion is expected to take some financial pressure off young families in the city as they grapple with the \u003ca href=\"https://tootris.com/edu/blog/parents/cost-of-child-care-in-california-by-city-age-and-type-of-care-provider/\">highest childcare costs in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But there’s a catch: financial aid is only available to families who enroll in any of the approximately 560 early learning programs participating in the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">Early Learning For All, also known as ELFA,\u003c/a> network. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But there’s a catch: financial aid is only available to families who enroll in any of the approximately 560 early learning programs participating in the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">Early Learning For All, also known as ELFA,\u003c/a> network. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here’s what San Francisco families need to know about the system and how they can sign up. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Here’s what San Francisco families need to know about the system and how they can sign up. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Who qualifies for San Francisco’s financial aid for childcare?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who qualifies for San Francisco’s financial aid for childcare?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who qualifies for San Francisco’s financial aid for childcare?\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Free tuition"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free tuition\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free tuition\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Free tuition is available for families who live in San Francisco and earn up to\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>110% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. That means a single parent with a child, who makes up to $142,650 per year — or a couple with one child earning $160,500 per year — would qualify for free tuition.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Free tuition is available for families who live in San Francisco and earn up to\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>110% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. That means a single parent with a child, who makes up to $142,650 per year — or a couple with one child earning $160,500 per year — would qualify for free tuition.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Full tuition credit"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full tuition credit\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full tuition credit\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Families earning between 111% and 150% of the AMI (that’s up to $194,550 for a family of two, and up to $218,850 for a family of three) can get full tuition credit to pay for \u003cem>most \u003c/em>of the cost of childcare or preschool. The subsidy goes directly to the provider, but families might need to cover a co-pay and any extra hours of care.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Families earning between 111% and 150% of the AMI (that’s up to $194,550 for a family of two, and up to $218,850 for a family of three) can get full tuition credit to pay for \u003cem>most \u003c/em>of the cost of childcare or preschool. The subsidy goes directly to the provider, but families might need to cover a co-pay and any extra hours of care.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-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/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lyuba Shkolnik teaches children how to bake muffins at her in-home childcare business called Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076653\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lyuba Shkolnik teaches children how to bake muffins at her in-home childcare business called Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, a branch of the city’s government, sets the rates it will reimburse to providers in the ELFA network. \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Early_Learning_For_All_Rates_FY_26-27_uwckwsW.pdf\">For the 2026-27 fiscal year\u003c/a>, which began July 1, families can save the following amounts in childcare per month for each child in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, a branch of the city’s government, sets the rates it will reimburse to providers in the ELFA network. \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Early_Learning_For_All_Rates_FY_26-27_uwckwsW.pdf\">For the 2026-27 fiscal year\u003c/a>, which began July 1, families can save the following amounts in childcare per month for each child in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n"
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"items": [
"Infants (0 to 24 months): $3,027 per month",
"Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $2,306 per month",
"Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $2,115 per month"
],
"ordered": false,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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null,
"\n\n",
null,
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Infants (0 to 24 months): $3,027 per month\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Infants (0 to 24 months): $3,027 per month\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $2,306 per month\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $2,306 per month\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $2,115 per month\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $2,115 per month\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "50% tuition discount"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">50% tuition discount\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">50% tuition discount\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Families earning between 151% and 200% of the AMI (that’s up to $259,400 for a family of two, and up to $291,800 for a family of three) can apply for 50% off the reimbursement rates — but they must pay the rest of the tuition costs set by the provider and any extra hours of care or fees. Here’s how much families can save in childcare per month for children in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Families earning between 151% and 200% of the AMI (that’s up to $259,400 for a family of two, and up to $291,800 for a family of three) can apply for 50% off the reimbursement rates — but they must pay the rest of the tuition costs set by the provider and any extra hours of care or fees. Here’s how much families can save in childcare per month for children in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n"
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" Infants (0 to 24 months): $1,514 per month",
"Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $1,153 per month",
"Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $1,058 per month"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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null,
"\n\n",
null,
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli> Infants (0 to 24 months): $1,514 per month\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli> Infants (0 to 24 months): $1,514 per month\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $1,153 per month\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $1,153 per month\u003c/li>\n"
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{
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $1,058 per month\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $1,058 per month\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How is income eligibility determined?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is income eligibility determined?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is income eligibility determined?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The AMI is based on gross income, which is the amount you earn \u003cem>before \u003c/em>any taxes or other deductions are taken out of your paycheck. Families can submit tax documents from the previous year or their most recent pay stubs. Eligibility is determined based on the documentation provided and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/eligibility-for-free-or-low-cost-preschool-and-child-care\">the family’s household size\u003c/a>, said Jonathan Rubinsky, a spokesman for the Department of Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The AMI is based on gross income, which is the amount you earn \u003cem>before \u003c/em>any taxes or other deductions are taken out of your paycheck. Families can submit tax documents from the previous year or their most recent pay stubs. Eligibility is determined based on the documentation provided and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/eligibility-for-free-or-low-cost-preschool-and-child-care\">the family’s household size\u003c/a>, said Jonathan Rubinsky, a spokesman for the Department of Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How do I sign up for San Francisco childcare subsidies?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I sign up for San Francisco childcare subsidies?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I sign up for San Francisco childcare subsidies?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can sign up yourself on the \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service\">Department of Early Childhood’s online portal\u003c/a> — or you can contact these \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">three Childcare Resource and Referral agencies \u003c/a>who can help you apply. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can sign up yourself on the \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service\">Department of Early Childhood’s online portal\u003c/a> — or you can contact these \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">three Childcare Resource and Referral agencies \u003c/a>who can help you apply. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also contact a preschool or childcare program in the ELFA network and their staff will help you apply for the subsidy.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also contact a preschool or childcare program in the ELFA network and their staff will help you apply for the subsidy.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How do I choose among the hundreds of childcare programs and preschools in the ELFA network? ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I choose among the hundreds of childcare programs and preschools in the ELFA network? \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I choose among the hundreds of childcare programs and preschools in the ELFA network? \u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Families can browse through a \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service/search/list?near=San%20Francisco,%20CA\">centralized list\u003c/a> of childcare and preschool programs in the ELFA network to learn about their locations, hours, prices, available spaces and educational approaches, such as immersing children in specific languages or in a Montessori or play-based curriculum. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Families can browse through a \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service/search/list?near=San%20Francisco,%20CA\">centralized list\u003c/a> of childcare and preschool programs in the ELFA network to learn about their locations, hours, prices, available spaces and educational approaches, such as immersing children in specific languages or in a Montessori or play-based curriculum. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also click on the provider’s state license number to look up details of their health and safety records, state regulators’ inspections of their facilities, and any citations or complaints they received. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also click on the provider’s state license number to look up details of their health and safety records, state regulators’ inspections of their facilities, and any citations or complaints they received. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-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/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with long, black braids and a brown hoodie plays with a baby in a sunhat in the backyard on a sunny day.\" class=\"wp-image-11957186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-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 little over 50% of family childcare providers in California are 50 years old or older, yet less than a quarter of them have any retirement savings, according to research from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with long, black braids and a brown hoodie plays with a baby in a sunhat in the backyard on a sunny day.\" class=\"wp-image-11957186\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little over 50% of family childcare providers in California are 50 years old or older, yet less than a quarter of them have any retirement savings, according to research from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Programs based in the provider’s home and licensed to serve up to 14 children are categorized as “Family Child Care.” Larger programs with multiple classrooms and staff are categorized as “centers.” Some families prefer a home environment for their children, while others prefer larger centers — and you can request a tour of the facility to inform your decision. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Programs based in the provider’s home and licensed to serve up to 14 children are categorized as “Family Child Care.” Larger programs with multiple classrooms and staff are categorized as “centers.” Some families prefer a home environment for their children, while others prefer larger centers — and you can request a tour of the facility to inform your decision. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Parents of 4-year-olds can also opt for a school-based program called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11989955/what-to-expect-when-enrolling-your-child-in-transitional-kindergarten\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a>. The pre-kindergarten program is taught at San Francisco Unified School District elementary schools or early education centers.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Parents of 4-year-olds can also opt for a school-based program called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11989955/what-to-expect-when-enrolling-your-child-in-transitional-kindergarten\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a>. The pre-kindergarten program is taught at San Francisco Unified School District elementary schools or early education centers.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I really want to enroll my child in a certain program, but they don’t have any openings. What can I do?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I really want to enroll my child in a certain program, but they don’t have any openings. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I really want to enroll my child in a certain program, but they don’t have any openings. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some childcare homes or centers have waitlists because the demand for a space in their program is driven by parental choice, according to Meenoo Yashar, deputy director of early learning at the city’s Department of Early Childhood. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some childcare homes or centers have waitlists because the demand for a space in their program is driven by parental choice, according to Meenoo Yashar, deputy director of early learning at the city’s Department of Early Childhood. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She said parents can contact the provider to find out when they might have an opening and get on their waitlist. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She said parents can contact the provider to find out when they might have an opening and get on their waitlist. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What’s the quality of these programs?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the quality of these programs?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the quality of these programs?\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All of these programs meet the state’s minimum health and safety standards for licensed centers and family childcare homes. These include:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>All of these programs meet the state’s minimum health and safety standards for licensed centers and family childcare homes. These include:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To join the Early Learning For All network, they also must meet the Department of Early Childhood’s \u003ca href=\"https://provider.sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/Quality-Standard_Updated_6_8_26_ENG.pdf\">quality standards\u003c/a>, which are higher than state and federal requirements, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/ca-upk-mixed-delivery-systems-report\">analysis by the Learning Policy Institute\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yashar said those expectations include providing a “welcoming, culturally responsive environment” to parents, where there are multiple communication channels to tell them what’s going on in the classroom and how their children are developing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Providers in the ELFA network must also provide data regularly to the Department of Early Childhood. In return, they receive wage supplements for the teaching staff and funding to improve their facilities, including outdoor play areas. Teachers also receive professional development, coaching and access to mental health consultants. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Higher pay has helped stabilize staffing in a sector plagued by workplace burnout due to low wages and lack of support and benefits. Last year, a study by \u003ca href=\"https://cscce.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/state-of-ece-san-francisco-2025-updated-jan2026.pdf\">UC Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment\u003c/a> found that the turnover rate for teachers and assistant teachers in San Francisco was 17%, which is 23% to 35% lower than in other places in California.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If you’re getting better paid, hopefully you’re going to stay in your job,” Yashar said. A stable staff is a marker of quality, she said, because it allows children to strengthen relationships with their educator. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "San Francisco is the first U.S. city to offer a robust early childhood education program for children under 5. Here’s how families can opt into its Early Learning For All system. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of How We Get By, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem>full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069711/san-francisco-expands-child-care-subsidies-to-tackle-affordability-issues\">widening access to early childhood education\u003c/a> and care for children from birth to 5 years old — by offering families financial aid.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few years ago, the city began \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11948690/business-tax-provides-crucial-funding-for-early-childhood-education-and-care-in-san-francisco\">using revenue from a local business tax\u003c/a>, plus state and federal dollars, to fund free childcare and preschool for families with low and moderate incomes. Starting this summer, higher-income families can apply for a 50% tuition discount.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The expansion is expected to take some financial pressure off young families in the city as they grapple with the \u003ca href=\"https://tootris.com/edu/blog/parents/cost-of-child-care-in-california-by-city-age-and-type-of-care-provider/\">highest childcare costs in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But there’s a catch: financial aid is only available to families who enroll in any of the approximately 560 early learning programs participating in the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">Early Learning For All, also known as ELFA,\u003c/a> network. \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>Here’s what San Francisco families need to know about the system and how they can sign up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who qualifies for San Francisco’s financial aid for childcare?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free tuition\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Free tuition is available for families who live in San Francisco and earn up to\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>110% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. That means a single parent with a child, who makes up to $142,650 per year — or a couple with one child earning $160,500 per year — would qualify for free tuition.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full tuition credit\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families earning between 111% and 150% of the AMI (that’s up to $194,550 for a family of two, and up to $218,850 for a family of three) can get full tuition credit to pay for \u003cem>most \u003c/em>of the cost of childcare or preschool. The subsidy goes directly to the provider, but families might need to cover a co-pay and any extra hours of care.\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/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00137_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lyuba Shkolnik teaches children how to bake muffins at her in-home childcare business called Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, a branch of the city’s government, sets the rates it will reimburse to providers in the ELFA network. \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/Early_Learning_For_All_Rates_FY_26-27_uwckwsW.pdf\">For the 2026-27 fiscal year\u003c/a>, which began July 1, families can save the following amounts in childcare per month for each child in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Infants (0 to 24 months): $3,027 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $2,306 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $2,115 per month\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">50% tuition discount\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families earning between 151% and 200% of the AMI (that’s up to $259,400 for a family of two, and up to $291,800 for a family of three) can apply for 50% off the reimbursement rates — but they must pay the rest of the tuition costs set by the provider and any extra hours of care or fees. Here’s how much families can save in childcare per month for children in these age categories:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli> Infants (0 to 24 months): $1,514 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Toddlers (24 to 36 months): $1,153 per month\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): $1,058 per month\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is income eligibility determined?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The AMI is based on gross income, which is the amount you earn \u003cem>before \u003c/em>any taxes or other deductions are taken out of your paycheck. Families can submit tax documents from the previous year or their most recent pay stubs. Eligibility is determined based on the documentation provided and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/eligibility-for-free-or-low-cost-preschool-and-child-care\">the family’s household size\u003c/a>, said Jonathan Rubinsky, a spokesman for the Department of Early Childhood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I sign up for San Francisco childcare subsidies?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can sign up yourself on the \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service\">Department of Early Childhood’s online portal\u003c/a> — or you can contact these \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/early-learning-for-all\">three Childcare Resource and Referral agencies \u003c/a>who can help you apply. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also contact a preschool or childcare program in the ELFA network and their staff will help you apply for the subsidy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I choose among the hundreds of childcare programs and preschools in the ELFA network? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Families can browse through a \u003ca href=\"https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sfdec/service/search/list?near=San%20Francisco,%20CA\">centralized list\u003c/a> of childcare and preschool programs in the ELFA network to learn about their locations, hours, prices, available spaces and educational approaches, such as immersing children in specific languages or in a Montessori or play-based curriculum. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also click on the provider’s state license number to look up details of their health and safety records, state regulators’ inspections of their facilities, and any citations or complaints they received. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with long, black braids and a brown hoodie plays with a baby in a sunhat in the backyard on a sunny day.\" class=\"wp-image-11957186\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS64819_015_KQED_EachOneTeachOneChildCare_04262023-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little over 50% of family childcare providers in California are 50 years old or older, yet less than a quarter of them have any retirement savings, according to research from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Programs based in the provider’s home and licensed to serve up to 14 children are categorized as “Family Child Care.” Larger programs with multiple classrooms and staff are categorized as “centers.” Some families prefer a home environment for their children, while others prefer larger centers — and you can request a tour of the facility to inform your decision. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents of 4-year-olds can also opt for a school-based program called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11989955/what-to-expect-when-enrolling-your-child-in-transitional-kindergarten\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a>. The pre-kindergarten program is taught at San Francisco Unified School District elementary schools or early education centers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I really want to enroll my child in a certain program, but they don’t have any openings. What can I do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some childcare homes or centers have waitlists because the demand for a space in their program is driven by parental choice, according to Meenoo Yashar, deputy director of early learning at the city’s Department of Early Childhood. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said parents can contact the provider to find out when they might have an opening and get on their waitlist. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s the quality of these programs?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of these programs meet the state’s minimum health and safety standards for licensed centers and family childcare homes. These include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Passing staff background checks\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Receiving staff training in pediatric CPR and First Aid\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Maintaining specific staff-to-child ratios\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Ensuring safe indoor and outdoor physical space\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To join the Early Learning For All network, they also must meet the Department of Early Childhood’s \u003ca href=\"https://provider.sfdec.org/wp-content/uploads/Quality-Standard_Updated_6_8_26_ENG.pdf\">quality standards\u003c/a>, which are higher than state and federal requirements, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/ca-upk-mixed-delivery-systems-report\">analysis by the Learning Policy Institute\u003c/a>. \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/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076655\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260130-sfchildcareaccess00146_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Victoria Golobordko walks a child at Daycare Bumblebee in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2026. San Francisco is expanding access to childcare by offering 50% discounts to middle- and upper-middle-income earners in an effort to tackle affordability issues in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Daycare Bumblebee is trying to get approval to enter the city’s Early Learning For All system. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yashar said those expectations include providing a “welcoming, culturally responsive environment” to parents, where there are multiple communication channels to tell them what’s going on in the classroom and how their children are developing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yashar said members must also provide a “rich learning environment with lots of opportunities for children to do exploratory play.” That means early educators are providing a variety of hands-on learning materials, and they’re also interacting meaningfully with children. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To join ELFA, educators get assessed on the way they engage with children, Yashar said. “Are they asking open-ended questions? Are there opportunities where children are talking to each other, or are they just being talked to?” she said. “We’re looking to see, are the teachers also helping the children understand what’s going to happen in their day?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Providers in the ELFA network must also provide data regularly to the Department of Early Childhood. In return, they receive wage supplements for the teaching staff and funding to improve their facilities, including outdoor play areas. Teachers also receive professional development, coaching and access to mental health consultants. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The department also covers tuition for educators who want to complete their degrees in early childhood education at local colleges. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This work has to do with optimizing brain development during a critical time, and so we want our educators to have access to higher education and understand the latest research and methodology for working with young kids,” Yashar said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Higher pay has helped stabilize staffing in a sector plagued by workplace burnout due to low wages and lack of support and benefits. Last year, a study by \u003ca href=\"https://cscce.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/state-of-ece-san-francisco-2025-updated-jan2026.pdf\">UC Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment\u003c/a> found that the turnover rate for teachers and assistant teachers in San Francisco was 17%, which is 23% to 35% lower than in other places in California.\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>“If you’re getting better paid, hopefully you’re going to stay in your job,” Yashar said. A stable staff is a marker of quality, she said, because it allows children to strengthen relationships with their educator. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-uses-new-speed-limit-law-to-help-kids-get-to-school-safely",
"title": "San Francisco Uses New Speed Limit Law to Help Kids Get to School Safely",
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"content": "\u003cp>Public school will be back in session in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> in a few days — and city leaders are introducing several strategies to make sure students get to class safely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency on Friday shared its plans to bolster safety for students’ commutes to school, including enforcing a 2025 state \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB382\">bill\u003c/a> that allows the agency to reduce the speed limit in school zones from 25 miles per hour to 15 or 20 when children are present.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> “Street safety is public safety, and there’s really no higher priority than keeping our school children safe in the city,” SFMTA spokesperson Madhu Unnikrishnan said on Friday. Unnikrishnan joined other city officials at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School to announce the news. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flynn Elementary, which sits on the border of the city’s Mission District, is among the first of San Francisco’s schools to see the speed limit on its surrounding streets reduced. The SFMTA said it is working to reduce speed limits at more than 230 public and private schools in the city by 2028.\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/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095419\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Daniel Lurie outlines street safety initiatives ahead of the new school year in front of Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School on Aug. 14, 2026. (Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the new speed limit law, leaders touted other measures meant to make streets safer, including the SFMTA’s crossing guard program, automated speed safety camera program and infrastructure changes like intersection daylighting and high-visibility crosswalks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The announcement comes as San Francisco continues its efforts to prevent traffic injuries and deaths in the city. Last year, Mayor Daniel Lurie launched the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-signs-street-safety-executive-directive-in-major-step-to-improve-public-safety-in-san-francisco\">Street Safety executive directive\u003c/a>, which aimed to increase coordination between city departments involved in transportation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The directive followed the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055304/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-looks-to-a-new-approach-to-traffic-safety\">Vision Zero initiative\u003c/a>, which aimed to reduce deaths to zero over a 10-year period. It ended in 2024, which marked the deadliest year for traffic collisions in the city since the initiative began, with 42 traffic fatalities on record.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far this year, the city has recorded 17 traffic fatalities, including an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095110/after-san-francisco-scooter-victim-identified-advocates-call-for-safer-market-street\">e-scooter rider\u003c/a> who was struck and killed last week by a driver on Market Street. A recent report by the SFMTA’s street safety committee \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/media/45487/download?inline\">shows\u003c/a> that while all injury collisions overall are trending down, severe injury collisions are trending up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Emberly Garibay, 11, a recent graduate of Flynn Elementary, lives nearby and has two siblings who still attend the school. She said that crossing Cesar Chavez Street’s four lanes of traffic to get to school can feel scary.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I don’t feel safe sometimes, because I feel like I’m going to get hit by a car, even when I’m with my family,” Garibay said. “ People are just going too fast, so I’m really excited that the speed limit is lowering.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite SFMTA’s structural budget deficit of over $300 million, the agency prioritized maintaining the same number of crossing guards as the previous year, according to Unnikrishnan. He said that the agency employs guards at 96 schools at about 174 corners around the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I keep the kids safe, and the kids are really sweet, and they smile when they see me, and it makes me really happy,” said Luzmery Betancur, who said she has been a crossing guard for 15 years. \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/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095420\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Crossing guards Luzmery Betancur and Jose Guillen help San Franciscans cross the street safely. (Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The time allotted for pedestrians to cross Cesar Chavez Street is about five seconds too short to get a large quantity of children across the street safely, according to Ryan Hazelton, director of the Mariposa Kids afterschool program at Flynn Elementary. Hazelton, who is also running for a seat on the San Francisco School Board, said the crossing guards play a crucial role in keeping them safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ They provide us with that security envelope that we need, and the parents feel really confident in our ability to get the kids from school to our off-site location because we have those crossing guards,” Hazelton said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco Police Department Chief Derrick Lew said the department plans to conduct “high visibility enforcement” around schools to make sure drivers are following speed limits. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ There will be zero tolerance for dangerous driving,” Lew said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lew also said the department will be conducting enforcement for violations involving e-bikes and e-scooters near schools, after recent collisions in the city involving the devices caused fatal and serious injuries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Christopher White, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said he thought Lew was reacting to a perception that e-bikes and e-scooters were unsafe, but said that impression “really isn’t true.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We need to be making it easier for people on e-bikes and e-scooters to get to school,” White said. “It’s important that we make sure that people are riding street-legal devices, but nonetheless, these are valid modes that aren’t a risk to people on the street.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As nearly 50,000 public school students head back to school on Monday, San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su is imploring drivers to slow down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There will be children and students walking around the streets,” Su said. “So just have a little extra patience, give yourself a little extra time.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095419\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-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\">Mayor Daniel Lurie outlines street safety initiatives ahead of the new school year in front of Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School on Aug. 14, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The announcement comes as San Francisco continues its efforts to prevent traffic injuries and deaths in the city. Last year, Mayor Daniel Lurie launched the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-signs-street-safety-executive-directive-in-major-step-to-improve-public-safety-in-san-francisco\">Street Safety executive directive\u003c/a>, which aimed to increase coordination between city departments involved in transportation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The directive followed the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055304/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-looks-to-a-new-approach-to-traffic-safety\">Vision Zero initiative\u003c/a>, which aimed to reduce deaths to zero over a 10-year period. It ended in 2024, which marked the deadliest year for traffic collisions in the city since the initiative began, with 42 traffic fatalities on record.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So far this year, the city has recorded 17 traffic fatalities, including an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095110/after-san-francisco-scooter-victim-identified-advocates-call-for-safer-market-street\">e-scooter rider\u003c/a> who was struck and killed last week by a driver on Market Street. A recent report by the SFMTA’s street safety committee \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/media/45487/download?inline\">shows\u003c/a> that while all injury collisions overall are trending down, severe injury collisions are trending up. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So far this year, the city has recorded 17 traffic fatalities, including an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095110/after-san-francisco-scooter-victim-identified-advocates-call-for-safer-market-street\">e-scooter rider\u003c/a> who was struck and killed last week by a driver on Market Street. A recent report by the SFMTA’s street safety committee \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/media/45487/download?inline\">shows\u003c/a> that while all injury collisions overall are trending down, severe injury collisions are trending up. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Emberly Garibay, 11, a recent graduate of Flynn Elementary, lives nearby and has two siblings who still attend the school. She said that crossing Cesar Chavez Street’s four lanes of traffic to get to school can feel scary.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Emberly Garibay, 11, a recent graduate of Flynn Elementary, lives nearby and has two siblings who still attend the school. She said that crossing Cesar Chavez Street’s four lanes of traffic to get to school can feel scary.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I don’t feel safe sometimes, because I feel like I’m going to get hit by a car, even when I’m with my family,” Garibay said. “ People are just going too fast, so I’m really excited that the speed limit is lowering.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ I don’t feel safe sometimes, because I feel like I’m going to get hit by a car, even when I’m with my family,” Garibay said. “ People are just going too fast, so I’m really excited that the speed limit is lowering.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite SFMTA’s structural budget deficit of over $300 million, the agency prioritized maintaining the same number of crossing guards as the previous year, according to Unnikrishnan. He said that the agency employs guards at 96 schools at about 174 corners around the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Despite SFMTA’s structural budget deficit of over $300 million, the agency prioritized maintaining the same number of crossing guards as the previous year, according to Unnikrishnan. He said that the agency employs guards at 96 schools at about 174 corners around the city. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I keep the kids safe, and the kids are really sweet, and they smile when they see me, and it makes me really happy,” said Luzmery Betancur, who said she has been a crossing guard for 15 years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I keep the kids safe, and the kids are really sweet, and they smile when they see me, and it makes me really happy,” said Luzmery Betancur, who said she has been a crossing guard for 15 years. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The time allotted for pedestrians to cross Cesar Chavez Street is about five seconds too short to get a large quantity of children across the street safely, according to Ryan Hazelton, director of the Mariposa Kids afterschool program at Flynn Elementary. Hazelton, who is also running for a seat on the San Francisco School Board, said the crossing guards play a crucial role in keeping them safe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The time allotted for pedestrians to cross Cesar Chavez Street is about five seconds too short to get a large quantity of children across the street safely, according to Ryan Hazelton, director of the Mariposa Kids afterschool program at Flynn Elementary. Hazelton, who is also running for a seat on the San Francisco School Board, said the crossing guards play a crucial role in keeping them safe.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ They provide us with that security envelope that we need, and the parents feel really confident in our ability to get the kids from school to our off-site location because we have those crossing guards,” Hazelton said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ They provide us with that security envelope that we need, and the parents feel really confident in our ability to get the kids from school to our off-site location because we have those crossing guards,” Hazelton said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco Police Department Chief Derrick Lew said the department plans to conduct “high visibility enforcement” around schools to make sure drivers are following speed limits. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ There will be zero tolerance for dangerous driving,” Lew said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lew also said the department will be conducting enforcement for violations involving e-bikes and e-scooters near schools, after recent collisions in the city involving the devices caused fatal and serious injuries. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Christopher White, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said he thought Lew was reacting to a perception that e-bikes and e-scooters were unsafe, but said that impression “really isn’t true.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Christopher White, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said he thought Lew was reacting to a perception that e-bikes and e-scooters were unsafe, but said that impression “really isn’t true.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ We need to be making it easier for people on e-bikes and e-scooters to get to school,” White said. “It’s important that we make sure that people are riding street-legal devices, but nonetheless, these are valid modes that aren’t a risk to people on the street.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ We need to be making it easier for people on e-bikes and e-scooters to get to school,” White said. “It’s important that we make sure that people are riding street-legal devices, but nonetheless, these are valid modes that aren’t a risk to people on the street.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As nearly 50,000 public school students head back to school on Monday, San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su is imploring drivers to slow down. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ There will be children and students walking around the streets,” Su said. “So just have a little extra patience, give yourself a little extra time.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new law lets the city reduce speed limits in school zones to 15 or 20 miles per hour, as public schools are set to resume instruction on Monday.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Public school will be back in session in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> in a few days — and city leaders are introducing several strategies to make sure students get to class safely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency on Friday shared its plans to bolster safety for students’ commutes to school, including enforcing a 2025 state \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB382\">bill\u003c/a> that allows the agency to reduce the speed limit in school zones from 25 miles per hour to 15 or 20 when children are present.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp> “Street safety is public safety, and there’s really no higher priority than keeping our school children safe in the city,” SFMTA spokesperson Madhu Unnikrishnan said on Friday. Unnikrishnan joined other city officials at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School to announce the news. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flynn Elementary, which sits on the border of the city’s Mission District, is among the first of San Francisco’s schools to see the speed limit on its surrounding streets reduced. The SFMTA said it is working to reduce speed limits at more than 230 public and private schools in the city by 2028.\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/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095419\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-02-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Daniel Lurie outlines street safety initiatives ahead of the new school year in front of Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School on Aug. 14, 2026. (Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the new speed limit law, leaders touted other measures meant to make streets safer, including the SFMTA’s crossing guard program, automated speed safety camera program and infrastructure changes like intersection daylighting and high-visibility crosswalks.\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 announcement comes as San Francisco continues its efforts to prevent traffic injuries and deaths in the city. Last year, Mayor Daniel Lurie launched the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-signs-street-safety-executive-directive-in-major-step-to-improve-public-safety-in-san-francisco\">Street Safety executive directive\u003c/a>, which aimed to increase coordination between city departments involved in transportation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The directive followed the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055304/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-looks-to-a-new-approach-to-traffic-safety\">Vision Zero initiative\u003c/a>, which aimed to reduce deaths to zero over a 10-year period. It ended in 2024, which marked the deadliest year for traffic collisions in the city since the initiative began, with 42 traffic fatalities on record.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far this year, the city has recorded 17 traffic fatalities, including an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095110/after-san-francisco-scooter-victim-identified-advocates-call-for-safer-market-street\">e-scooter rider\u003c/a> who was struck and killed last week by a driver on Market Street. A recent report by the SFMTA’s street safety committee \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/media/45487/download?inline\">shows\u003c/a> that while all injury collisions overall are trending down, severe injury collisions are trending up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Emberly Garibay, 11, a recent graduate of Flynn Elementary, lives nearby and has two siblings who still attend the school. She said that crossing Cesar Chavez Street’s four lanes of traffic to get to school can feel scary.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I don’t feel safe sometimes, because I feel like I’m going to get hit by a car, even when I’m with my family,” Garibay said. “ People are just going too fast, so I’m really excited that the speed limit is lowering.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite SFMTA’s structural budget deficit of over $300 million, the agency prioritized maintaining the same number of crossing guards as the previous year, according to Unnikrishnan. He said that the agency employs guards at 96 schools at about 174 corners around the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I keep the kids safe, and the kids are really sweet, and they smile when they see me, and it makes me really happy,” said Luzmery Betancur, who said she has been a crossing guard for 15 years. \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/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095420\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260814-SF-Street-Safety-ADE-03-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Crossing guards Luzmery Betancur and Jose Guillen help San Franciscans cross the street safely. (Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The time allotted for pedestrians to cross Cesar Chavez Street is about five seconds too short to get a large quantity of children across the street safely, according to Ryan Hazelton, director of the Mariposa Kids afterschool program at Flynn Elementary. Hazelton, who is also running for a seat on the San Francisco School Board, said the crossing guards play a crucial role in keeping them safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ They provide us with that security envelope that we need, and the parents feel really confident in our ability to get the kids from school to our off-site location because we have those crossing guards,” Hazelton said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco Police Department Chief Derrick Lew said the department plans to conduct “high visibility enforcement” around schools to make sure drivers are following speed limits. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ There will be zero tolerance for dangerous driving,” Lew said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lew also said the department will be conducting enforcement for violations involving e-bikes and e-scooters near schools, after recent collisions in the city involving the devices caused fatal and serious injuries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Christopher White, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said he thought Lew was reacting to a perception that e-bikes and e-scooters were unsafe, but said that impression “really isn’t true.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We need to be making it easier for people on e-bikes and e-scooters to get to school,” White said. “It’s important that we make sure that people are riding street-legal devices, but nonetheless, these are valid modes that aren’t a risk to people on the street.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As nearly 50,000 public school students head back to school on Monday, San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su is imploring drivers to slow down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There will be children and students walking around the streets,” Su said. “So just have a little extra patience, give yourself a little extra time.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-giants\">San Francisco Giants\u003c/a> will host the 2028 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, bringing yet another major sporting event to the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mayor Daniel Lurie and the league announced Friday that baseball’s biggest summer showcase will be played at Oracle Park for the first time in more than 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re thrilled to welcome the Midsummer Classic to San Francisco, the ultimate celebration of Major League Baseball and one of our game’s greatest annual traditions,” the Giants said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our organization, our city, and the incredible passion of our fans on baseball’s biggest summer stage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025, in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The annual contest will feature the top players in Major League Baseball on July 12, 2028 — days before the 2028 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, where baseball returns for the first time since 2020. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the Giants would be selected to host the year’s All-Star Game had reportedly been tied to whether MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 games.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Historically, the league has not allowed its stars to compete in the Olympics due to concerns about disrupting a packed summer schedule and injury risk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/sf-frontrunner-2028-all-star-game-mlb-opts-la-20770751.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a> reported in July that MLB was considering the West Coast stadium so that its players could more easily travel to and from Los Angeles for the summer games. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Friday’s decision comes before any official call on MLB’s Olympic participation, but it seems to point to the league trying to make the schedule possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This will be the second All-Star Game at Oracle Park and the fourth the Giants have hosted in San Francisco. Both the 1961 and 1984 games were held at Candlestick Park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the main event, Oracle Park will host the All-Star Futures Game, featuring top minor league players, and the Home Run Derby. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With its passionate fanbase, world-class ballpark, and rich baseball history, San Francisco will be an outstanding host for All-Star Week, which culminates in one of Major League Baseball’s best traditions, the Midsummer Classic,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing the excitement of All-Star Week and the celebration of baseball to the Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco-giants\">San Francisco Giants\u003c/a> will host the 2028 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, bringing yet another major sporting event to the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mayor Daniel Lurie and the league announced Friday that baseball’s biggest summer showcase will be played at Oracle Park for the first time in more than 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re thrilled to welcome the Midsummer Classic to San Francisco, the ultimate celebration of Major League Baseball and one of our game’s greatest annual traditions,” the Giants said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our organization, our city, and the incredible passion of our fans on baseball’s biggest summer stage.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12090146\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2208881091-1536x1037.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after Yastrzemski hit a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025, in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The annual contest will feature the top players in Major League Baseball on July 12, 2028 — days before the 2028 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, where baseball returns for the first time since 2020. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Whether the Giants would be selected to host the year’s All-Star Game had reportedly been tied to whether MLB players would be allowed to participate in the 2028 games.\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>Historically, the league has not allowed its stars to compete in the Olympics due to concerns about disrupting a packed summer schedule and injury risk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/sf-frontrunner-2028-all-star-game-mlb-opts-la-20770751.php\">\u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a> reported in July that MLB was considering the West Coast stadium so that its players could more easily travel to and from Los Angeles for the summer games. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Friday’s decision comes before any official call on MLB’s Olympic participation, but it seems to point to the league trying to make the schedule possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This will be the second All-Star Game at Oracle Park and the fourth the Giants have hosted in San Francisco. Both the 1961 and 1984 games were held at Candlestick Park. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to the main event, Oracle Park will host the All-Star Futures Game, featuring top minor league players, and the Home Run Derby. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With its passionate fanbase, world-class ballpark, and rich baseball history, San Francisco will be an outstanding host for All-Star Week, which culminates in one of Major League Baseball’s best traditions, the Midsummer Classic,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing the excitement of All-Star Week and the celebration of baseball to the Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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