window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"news_12094885": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12094885",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12094885",
"found": true
},
"title": "2026 World AI Conference Opens In Shanghai",
"publishDate": 1786489937,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12094873,
"modified": 1786493705,
"caption": "A humanoid robot prepares a healthy meal during the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 17, 2026, in Shanghai, China. Numerous companies across the U.S. have already started rolling out humanoid robots.\r\n",
"credit": "Tang Yanjun/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/HumanoidRobotGetty.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12062228": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12062228",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12062228",
"found": true
},
"title": "20251029_STANFORDFILE--_GH-3-KQED",
"publishDate": 1761843202,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12066592,
"modified": 1765387792,
"caption": "Students walk and bike past the fountain outside Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025.",
"credit": "Gustavo Hernandez/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1600x900.jpg",
"width": 1600,
"height": 900,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12093545": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12093545",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12093545",
"found": true
},
"title": "260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed",
"publishDate": 1785538482,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785538502,
"caption": "Customers flock to the new Randy’s Donuts location in Santa Clara during a grand opening event on July 31, 2026.",
"credit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-17_qed.jpg",
"width": 1999,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12092781": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12092781",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12092781",
"found": true
},
"title": "260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED",
"publishDate": 1785194597,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785194631,
"caption": "People walk through Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on Monday, July 27, 2026.",
"credit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-08-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12092171": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12092171",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12092171",
"found": true
},
"title": "Under-16s Ban On Social Media Backed By The House of Lords",
"publishDate": 1784747348,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12091964,
"modified": 1784747424,
"caption": "A 14-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026, in Bath, England.",
"credit": "Anna Barclay/Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AIGetty.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12092226": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12092226",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12092226",
"found": true
},
"title": "260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED",
"publishDate": 1784757520,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784758847,
"caption": "Maleda Youth Soccer players cheer after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.",
"credit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12089664": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12089664",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12089664",
"found": true
},
"title": "260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED",
"publishDate": 1782947555,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12089303,
"modified": 1784678854,
"caption": "U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026.",
"credit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-02-BL-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12037916": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12037916",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12037916",
"found": true
},
"title": "Students walk on campus at San Jose State University on April 3, 2025.",
"publishDate": 1745863056,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1745863071,
"caption": "Students walk on campus at San Jose State University on April 3, 2025.",
"credit": "Gina Castro/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/20240403_SJSUFILE_GC-18-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12083768": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12083768",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12083768",
"found": true
},
"title": "260514-GILROY ICE-ADE-01-KQED",
"publishDate": 1778798125,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12083600,
"modified": 1778803915,
"caption": "Debbie Bradshaw (right) and Marilyn Kalpin (left) of Gilroy attend a rally in San José opposing a planned immigration detention center in Gilroy on May 14, 2026.",
"credit": "Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman/KQED",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-160x120.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 120,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-1536x1152.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1152,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260514-GILROY-ICE-ADE-01-KQED.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1500
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12090619": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12090619",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090619",
"found": true
},
"title": "Argentina v Egypt: Round of 16 - FIFA World Cup 2026",
"publishDate": 1783726298,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 12090613,
"modified": 1783729335,
"caption": "Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates winning during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. ",
"credit": "Koji Watanabe/Getty Images",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-1200x675.jpg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1-600x600.jpg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/MessiArgentinaGetty1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_11988609": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_11988609",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "11988609",
"found": true
},
"title": "060723_BART_AP_CM_01 copy",
"publishDate": 1717269692,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 11988608,
"modified": 1717269727,
"caption": "An eastbound Bay Area Rapid Transit train near Rockridge station on June 7, 2023 in Oakland. ",
"credit": "Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/060723_BART_AP_CM_01-copy.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"news_12090277": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "news_12090277",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090277",
"found": true
},
"title": "4 bobcat photo - a",
"publishDate": 1783548288,
"status": "inherit",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783550697,
"caption": "Two baby bobcats at the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga, California, on Monday, July 6, 2026.",
"credit": "Courtesy of Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA",
"altTag": null,
"description": null,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-160x149.jpeg",
"width": 160,
"height": 149,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-1536x1430.jpeg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1430,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-672x372.jpeg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-1038x576.jpeg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-wide": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-1200x675.jpeg",
"width": 1200,
"height": 675,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"npr-cds-square": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a-600x600.jpeg",
"width": 600,
"height": 600,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/4-bobcat-photo-a.jpeg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1862
}
},
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"ccabreralomeli": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11708",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11708",
"found": true
},
"name": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí",
"firstName": "Carlos",
"lastName": "Cabrera-Lomelí",
"slug": "ccabreralomeli",
"email": "ccabreralomeli@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news"
],
"title": "Community Reporter",
"bio": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí is a community reporter with KQED's digital engagement team. He also reports and co-produces for KQED's bilingual news hub KQED en Español. He grew up in San Francisco's Mission District and has previously worked with Univision, 48 Hills and REFORMA in Mexico City.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@LomeliCabrera",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "about",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "perspectives",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "elections",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"contributor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí | KQED",
"description": "Community Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c309be9665e484f887b818c89e273ecc673004f426f36b24d00a4d813a2e0518?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ccabreralomeli"
},
"adahlstromeckman": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11785",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11785",
"found": true
},
"name": "Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman",
"firstName": "Azul",
"lastName": "Dahlstrom-Eckman",
"slug": "adahlstromeckman",
"email": "adahlstrom-eckman@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "Reporter",
"bio": "Azul is a reporter for KQED focusing on transportation and features. He joined KQED in 2021 as an alumna of KALW's Audio Academy radio journalism training program.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "@zuliemann",
"bluesky": "@azul415.bsky.social",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman | KQED",
"description": "Reporter",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9cb750298435add7815a777f55bf1f46845c1386bb8452555c60a7b820b5aba3?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/adahlstromeckman"
},
"jgeha": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11906",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11906",
"found": true
},
"name": "Joseph Geha",
"firstName": "Joseph",
"lastName": "Geha",
"slug": "jgeha",
"email": "jgeha@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [
"news",
"science"
],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea84d2b6dd93d6369d453edf19dd583f117cd1759d2d9c9c92f9de77017354fe?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "liveblog",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Joseph Geha | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea84d2b6dd93d6369d453edf19dd583f117cd1759d2d9c9c92f9de77017354fe?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea84d2b6dd93d6369d453edf19dd583f117cd1759d2d9c9c92f9de77017354fe?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jgeha"
},
"aaliahmad": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "11986",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "11986",
"found": true
},
"name": "Ayah Ali-Ahmad",
"firstName": "Ayah",
"lastName": "Ali-Ahmad",
"slug": "aaliahmad",
"email": "aaliahmad@KQED.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1cf54f187a5e1064b2cfef3f3d2f1e4f93e453395d56912aca6382a6071ec3ed?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "ayahaliahmad",
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"subscriber"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Ayah Ali-Ahmad | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1cf54f187a5e1064b2cfef3f3d2f1e4f93e453395d56912aca6382a6071ec3ed?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1cf54f187a5e1064b2cfef3f3d2f1e4f93e453395d56912aca6382a6071ec3ed?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/aaliahmad"
},
"ejackson": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "12003",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "12003",
"found": true
},
"name": "Ella Jackson",
"firstName": "Ella",
"lastName": "Jackson",
"slug": "ejackson",
"email": "ejackson@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": false,
"staff_mastheads": [],
"title": "KQED Contributor",
"bio": null,
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c688edc62aec1dcae096e1475956d245f72bde99cff316455871c9b22a7205b?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": null,
"bluesky": null,
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"author"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Ella Jackson | KQED",
"description": "KQED Contributor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c688edc62aec1dcae096e1475956d245f72bde99cff316455871c9b22a7205b?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c688edc62aec1dcae096e1475956d245f72bde99cff316455871c9b22a7205b?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/ejackson"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"news_tag_south-bay": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21285",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21285",
"score": 7.0833073
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "South Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "South Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21302,
"slug": "south-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "South Bay",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "news",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 2
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/news?tag=south-bay",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 2
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"news_12094873": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12094873",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12094873",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1786543200000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "san-mateo-county-could-be-first-to-regulate-humanoid-robots-for-commercial-use",
"title": "San Mateo County Could Be First to Regulate Humanoid Robots for Commercial Use",
"publishDate": 1786543200,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San Mateo County Could Be First to Regulate Humanoid Robots for Commercial Use | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Robots have already joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065702/rise-in-robot-workers-leads-to-debate-over-future-of-workforce\">California’s workforce\u003c/a>. Disembodied arms prepare coffee for travelers at the San Francisco International Airport and Stonestown Mall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/waymo\">Driverless vehicles\u003c/a> chauffeur workers and tourists. Coolers on wheels roll and deliver meals in \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-to-develop-regulations-for-delivery-robots/\">San José\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though state law regulates autonomous vehicles, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on Tuesday that could make it the first to require companies to pay for permits before humanoid robots enter the workplace. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/ViewReport.ashx?M=R&N=TextL5&GID=659&ID=95091&GUID=LATEST&Title=Board+Memo\">resolution\u003c/a>, authored by Supervisor Ray Mueller, would direct county legal and administrative staff to draft a formal ordinance regulating the robots increasingly showing up in hospitality, logistics, customer service and emergency services. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California does not currently have a “comprehensive regulatory framework governing the commercial deployment and operation of humanoid robots,” the resolution states, and establishing this framework in advance will allow San Mateo to “encourage the responsible integration of emerging technologies.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1609\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg\" alt=\"The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\" class=\"wp-image-10734627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-400x335.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-800x670.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1440x1207.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1180x989.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-960x805.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller said he intended the resolution to establish a permitting process that could track the rollout of these robots and that the permitting data could help the county evaluate potential risks, like job displacement, fires and other safety issues. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Data like that is like gold to public agencies,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several companies across the country have already started rolling out humanoid robots as pilots. In San Francisco, residents hire humanoid robots from \u003ca href=\"https://www.tau-robotics.com/\">Tau Robotics\u003c/a> to clean their home or office for $30 an hour, but the cleaning is supervised by remote human operators according to the company website. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ken Goldberg, a robotics professor at UC Berkeley, said that while it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about legislation, the humanoid workforce is still a long way off from being genuinely useful. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Goldberg said that while people have been expecting humanoid robots since the ’60s, engineers are still at least 10 years away — if not more — from creating robots that can do practical tasks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’re good at walking, they’re good at backflips, but they’re very poor at motor skills,” Goldberg said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This gap exists, in part, because we do not have data to train these robots on, Goldberg said. The large language models powering artificial intelligence today were trained on 100,000 years of data, Goldberg \u003ca href=\"https://autolab.berkeley.edu/assets/publications/media/GOFE-Can-Close-the-100000-Year-Robot-Data-Gap-Science-Robotics-Aug-2025-scirobotics.aea7390.pdf\">wrote\u003c/a> in 2025. Conversely, the largest dataset available for humanoid robots is “on the order of one year of data.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While meaningful deployment may still be far away, Julie Lind, a representative of the San Mateo Labor Council, told KQED that she is already seeing pilot deployments for these humanoid robots in home cleaning, manufacturing, and warehouse work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Using these robots in restaurants, factories or stores, Lind said, “raises legitimate questions about accessibility, emergency response, fire and hazardous-material risks, and who is accountable when something goes wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller said the revenue from the permits would go to support the response to fires related to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078969/sf-legislation-aims-to-crack-down-on-uncertified-batteries-as-fires-grow-more-common\">lithium-ion batteries\u003c/a> — often used to power these new technologies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, firefighters’ union spokesperson Rich Seguine said that adding humanoid robots to homes and workplaces could contribute to an uptick in these fires in the county. Seguine said that these fires burn hotter and release more toxins than a typical fire and require specialized equipment to manage effectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller emphasized that the legislation is not intended to prohibit the technology or even put guardrails on it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the technology is implemented, we need to make sure that public agencies are able to properly adapt,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Robots have already joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065702/rise-in-robot-workers-leads-to-debate-over-future-of-workforce\">California’s workforce\u003c/a>. Disembodied arms prepare coffee for travelers at the San Francisco International Airport and Stonestown Mall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/waymo\">Driverless vehicles\u003c/a> chauffeur workers and tourists. Coolers on wheels roll and deliver meals in \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-to-develop-regulations-for-delivery-robots/\">San José\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Robots have already joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065702/rise-in-robot-workers-leads-to-debate-over-future-of-workforce\">California’s workforce\u003c/a>. Disembodied arms prepare coffee for travelers at the San Francisco International Airport and Stonestown Mall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/waymo\">Driverless vehicles\u003c/a> chauffeur workers and tourists. Coolers on wheels roll and deliver meals in \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-to-develop-regulations-for-delivery-robots/\">San José\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Though state law regulates autonomous vehicles, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on Tuesday that could make it the first to require companies to pay for permits before humanoid robots enter the workplace. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Though state law regulates autonomous vehicles, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on Tuesday that could make it the first to require companies to pay for permits before humanoid robots enter the workplace. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/ViewReport.ashx?M=R&N=TextL5&GID=659&ID=95091&GUID=LATEST&Title=Board+Memo\">resolution\u003c/a>, authored by Supervisor Ray Mueller, would direct county legal and administrative staff to draft a formal ordinance regulating the robots increasingly showing up in hospitality, logistics, customer service and emergency services. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/ViewReport.ashx?M=R&N=TextL5&GID=659&ID=95091&GUID=LATEST&Title=Board+Memo\">resolution\u003c/a>, authored by Supervisor Ray Mueller, would direct county legal and administrative staff to draft a formal ordinance regulating the robots increasingly showing up in hospitality, logistics, customer service and emergency services. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California does not currently have a “comprehensive regulatory framework governing the commercial deployment and operation of humanoid robots,” the resolution states, and establishing this framework in advance will allow San Mateo to “encourage the responsible integration of emerging technologies.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California does not currently have a “comprehensive regulatory framework governing the commercial deployment and operation of humanoid robots,” the resolution states, and establishing this framework in advance will allow San Mateo to “encourage the responsible integration of emerging technologies.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 10734627,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-400x335.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-800x670.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1440x1207.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1180x989.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-960x805.jpg 960w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg\" alt=\"The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\" class=\"wp-image-10734627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-400x335.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-800x670.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1440x1207.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1180x989.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-960x805.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg\" alt=\"The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\" class=\"wp-image-10734627\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mueller said he intended the resolution to establish a permitting process that could track the rollout of these robots and that the permitting data could help the county evaluate potential risks, like job displacement, fires and other safety issues. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mueller said he intended the resolution to establish a permitting process that could track the rollout of these robots and that the permitting data could help the county evaluate potential risks, like job displacement, fires and other safety issues. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Data like that is like gold to public agencies,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Data like that is like gold to public agencies,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Several companies across the country have already started rolling out humanoid robots as pilots. In San Francisco, residents hire humanoid robots from \u003ca href=\"https://www.tau-robotics.com/\">Tau Robotics\u003c/a> to clean their home or office for $30 an hour, but the cleaning is supervised by remote human operators according to the company website. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Several companies across the country have already started rolling out humanoid robots as pilots. In San Francisco, residents hire humanoid robots from \u003ca href=\"https://www.tau-robotics.com/\">Tau Robotics\u003c/a> to clean their home or office for $30 an hour, but the cleaning is supervised by remote human operators according to the company website. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ken Goldberg, a robotics professor at UC Berkeley, said that while it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about legislation, the humanoid workforce is still a long way off from being genuinely useful. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ken Goldberg, a robotics professor at UC Berkeley, said that while it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about legislation, the humanoid workforce is still a long way off from being genuinely useful. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Goldberg said that while people have been expecting humanoid robots since the ’60s, engineers are still at least 10 years away — if not more — from creating robots that can do practical tasks. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Goldberg said that while people have been expecting humanoid robots since the ’60s, engineers are still at least 10 years away — if not more — from creating robots that can do practical tasks. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12071615"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/Tesla-Optimus-Getty.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They’re good at walking, they’re good at backflips, but they’re very poor at motor skills,” Goldberg said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“They’re good at walking, they’re good at backflips, but they’re very poor at motor skills,” Goldberg said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This gap exists, in part, because we do not have data to train these robots on, Goldberg said. The large language models powering artificial intelligence today were trained on 100,000 years of data, Goldberg \u003ca href=\"https://autolab.berkeley.edu/assets/publications/media/GOFE-Can-Close-the-100000-Year-Robot-Data-Gap-Science-Robotics-Aug-2025-scirobotics.aea7390.pdf\">wrote\u003c/a> in 2025. Conversely, the largest dataset available for humanoid robots is “on the order of one year of data.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This gap exists, in part, because we do not have data to train these robots on, Goldberg said. The large language models powering artificial intelligence today were trained on 100,000 years of data, Goldberg \u003ca href=\"https://autolab.berkeley.edu/assets/publications/media/GOFE-Can-Close-the-100000-Year-Robot-Data-Gap-Science-Robotics-Aug-2025-scirobotics.aea7390.pdf\">wrote\u003c/a> in 2025. Conversely, the largest dataset available for humanoid robots is “on the order of one year of data.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While meaningful deployment may still be far away, Julie Lind, a representative of the San Mateo Labor Council, told KQED that she is already seeing pilot deployments for these humanoid robots in home cleaning, manufacturing, and warehouse work.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While meaningful deployment may still be far away, Julie Lind, a representative of the San Mateo Labor Council, told KQED that she is already seeing pilot deployments for these humanoid robots in home cleaning, manufacturing, and warehouse work.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Using these robots in restaurants, factories or stores, Lind said, “raises legitimate questions about accessibility, emergency response, fire and hazardous-material risks, and who is accountable when something goes wrong.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Using these robots in restaurants, factories or stores, Lind said, “raises legitimate questions about accessibility, emergency response, fire and hazardous-material risks, and who is accountable when something goes wrong.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mueller said the revenue from the permits would go to support the response to fires related to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078969/sf-legislation-aims-to-crack-down-on-uncertified-batteries-as-fires-grow-more-common\">lithium-ion batteries\u003c/a> — often used to power these new technologies. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mueller said the revenue from the permits would go to support the response to fires related to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078969/sf-legislation-aims-to-crack-down-on-uncertified-batteries-as-fires-grow-more-common\">lithium-ion batteries\u003c/a> — often used to power these new technologies. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, firefighters’ union spokesperson Rich Seguine said that adding humanoid robots to homes and workplaces could contribute to an uptick in these fires in the county. Seguine said that these fires burn hotter and release more toxins than a typical fire and require specialized equipment to manage effectively. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, firefighters’ union spokesperson Rich Seguine said that adding humanoid robots to homes and workplaces could contribute to an uptick in these fires in the county. Seguine said that these fires burn hotter and release more toxins than a typical fire and require specialized equipment to manage effectively. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mueller emphasized that the legislation is not intended to prohibit the technology or even put guardrails on it. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mueller emphasized that the legislation is not intended to prohibit the technology or even put guardrails on it. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As the technology is implemented, we need to make sure that public agencies are able to properly adapt,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“As the technology is implemented, we need to make sure that public agencies are able to properly adapt,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Researchers say that humanoid robots have a long way to go before they are officially ready for work. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1786552949,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 19,
"wordCount": 639
},
"headData": {
"title": "San Mateo County Could Be First to Regulate Humanoid Robots for Commercial Use | KQED",
"description": "Researchers say that humanoid robots have a long way to go before they are officially ready for work. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San Mateo County Could Be First to Regulate Humanoid Robots for Commercial Use",
"datePublished": "2026-08-12T07:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-12T09:42:29-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 248,
"slug": "technology",
"name": "Technology"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12094873",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12094873/san-mateo-county-could-be-first-to-regulate-humanoid-robots-for-commercial-use",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Robots have already joined \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065702/rise-in-robot-workers-leads-to-debate-over-future-of-workforce\">California’s workforce\u003c/a>. Disembodied arms prepare coffee for travelers at the San Francisco International Airport and Stonestown Mall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/waymo\">Driverless vehicles\u003c/a> chauffeur workers and tourists. Coolers on wheels roll and deliver meals in \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-to-develop-regulations-for-delivery-robots/\">San José\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though state law regulates autonomous vehicles, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on Tuesday that could make it the first to require companies to pay for permits before humanoid robots enter the workplace. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/ViewReport.ashx?M=R&N=TextL5&GID=659&ID=95091&GUID=LATEST&Title=Board+Memo\">resolution\u003c/a>, authored by Supervisor Ray Mueller, would direct county legal and administrative staff to draft a formal ordinance regulating the robots increasingly showing up in hospitality, logistics, customer service and emergency services. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California does not currently have a “comprehensive regulatory framework governing the commercial deployment and operation of humanoid robots,” the resolution states, and establishing this framework in advance will allow San Mateo to “encourage the responsible integration of emerging technologies.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1609\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg\" alt=\"The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo.\" class=\"wp-image-10734627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-400x335.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-800x670.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1440x1207.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-1180x989.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/10/PepperWithKids-960x805.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The humanoid robot Pepper chats with children at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller said he intended the resolution to establish a permitting process that could track the rollout of these robots and that the permitting data could help the county evaluate potential risks, like job displacement, fires and other safety issues. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Data like that is like gold to public agencies,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several companies across the country have already started rolling out humanoid robots as pilots. In San Francisco, residents hire humanoid robots from \u003ca href=\"https://www.tau-robotics.com/\">Tau Robotics\u003c/a> to clean their home or office for $30 an hour, but the cleaning is supervised by remote human operators according to the company website. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ken Goldberg, a robotics professor at UC Berkeley, said that while it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about legislation, the humanoid workforce is still a long way off from being genuinely useful. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Goldberg said that while people have been expecting humanoid robots since the ’60s, engineers are still at least 10 years away — if not more — from creating robots that can do practical tasks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’re good at walking, they’re good at backflips, but they’re very poor at motor skills,” Goldberg said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This gap exists, in part, because we do not have data to train these robots on, Goldberg said. The large language models powering artificial intelligence today were trained on 100,000 years of data, Goldberg \u003ca href=\"https://autolab.berkeley.edu/assets/publications/media/GOFE-Can-Close-the-100000-Year-Robot-Data-Gap-Science-Robotics-Aug-2025-scirobotics.aea7390.pdf\">wrote\u003c/a> in 2025. Conversely, the largest dataset available for humanoid robots is “on the order of one year of data.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While meaningful deployment may still be far away, Julie Lind, a representative of the San Mateo Labor Council, told KQED that she is already seeing pilot deployments for these humanoid robots in home cleaning, manufacturing, and warehouse work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Using these robots in restaurants, factories or stores, Lind said, “raises legitimate questions about accessibility, emergency response, fire and hazardous-material risks, and who is accountable when something goes wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller said the revenue from the permits would go to support the response to fires related to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12078969/sf-legislation-aims-to-crack-down-on-uncertified-batteries-as-fires-grow-more-common\">lithium-ion batteries\u003c/a> — often used to power these new technologies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, firefighters’ union spokesperson Rich Seguine said that adding humanoid robots to homes and workplaces could contribute to an uptick in these fires in the county. Seguine said that these fires burn hotter and release more toxins than a typical fire and require specialized equipment to manage effectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mueller emphasized that the legislation is not intended to prohibit the technology or even put guardrails on it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the technology is implemented, we need to make sure that public agencies are able to properly adapt,” Mueller said. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12094873/san-mateo-county-could-be-first-to-regulate-humanoid-robots-for-commercial-use",
"authors": [
"12003"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_248"
],
"tags": [
"news_1386",
"news_803",
"news_1259",
"news_21285",
"news_1631"
],
"featImg": "news_12094885",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12094101": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12094101",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12094101",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1786129748000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor",
"title": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor",
"publishDate": 1786129748,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport 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/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\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/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12076122,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 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/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12080233"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260402-FLOCK-SECURITY-CAMERA-FILE-MD-04_qed.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12067141,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Tâm Vũ/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-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\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 11984097,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The university joins a growing list of Bay Area jurisdictions rethinking the reach of data collection. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1786652530,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 26,
"wordCount": 985
},
"headData": {
"title": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor | KQED",
"description": "The university joins a growing list of Bay Area jurisdictions rethinking the reach of data collection. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor",
"datePublished": "2026-08-07T12:09:08-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-08-13T13:22:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 248,
"slug": "technology",
"name": "Technology"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12094101",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport 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/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\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/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12094101/stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor",
"authors": [
"11986"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_18540",
"news_8",
"news_248"
],
"tags": [
"news_36200",
"news_22844",
"news_20013",
"news_36201",
"news_1859",
"news_21285",
"news_178",
"news_1928"
],
"featImg": "news_12062228",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12093399": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12093399",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12093399",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1785536539000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "randys-donuts-opens-in-santa-clara-across-from-stans-donuts",
"title": "Randy’s Donuts Opens in Santa Clara, Across From Stan’s Donuts",
"publishDate": 1785536539,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Randy’s Donuts Opens in Santa Clara, Across From Stan’s Donuts | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A hot and fresh battle is cooking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/santa-clara\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People are calling it doughnut wars. Dueling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967902/eizels-bakery-pop-up-donuts-san-jose\">doughnuts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Randy’s Donuts, the famed doughnut shop started in Inglewood in Southern California and known for its iconic 32-foot doughnut-shaped rooftop sign, has expanded into Northern California, with a grand opening event held for its first Bay Area franchise on Friday in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071882/7-things-to-know-about-the-complicated-relationship-between-santa-clara-and-the-49ers\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mood was celebratory at Randy’s at 2595 Homestead Road, with hundreds of customers lining up in the early morning hours to partake in the festivities, which included some free samples, swag giveaways and music, under the shadow of an inflatable giant doughnut. \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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093476\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doughnuts are seen in the glass display case at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The bright orange shop is offering about 50 varieties of handmade doughnuts, including classic glazed raised, chocolate or maple Long Johns, and other spins such as mango Tajin and matcha tea, while some have toppings like Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, and s’mores. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ausaf Masud, one of three co-owners of the new franchise under a company called Sweet Rings LLC, said his partners hope to open about five total Randy’s locations across the Bay Area in due time, and the opening on Friday was a good start. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The line is across two blocks right now. I think we have 400 people right now waiting in the line,” Masud said. “It’s amazing to see the love.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it’s the location of Randy’s that has caused a yeast-like raising of eyebrows among armies of local doughnut eaters. It’s just across the street from Stan’s Donuts, a Santa Clara staple opened in 1959, still run by the family of the original founder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093478\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093478\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shawn Lemelle and his aunt Sheila Lemelle proudly display their Randy’s Donuts purchase during a grand opening event at the brand’s new location in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093473\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093473\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers flood the new Randy’s Donuts location in Santa Clara during a grand opening event on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The cash-only establishment also makes its doughnuts by hand, many of which are formed right in front of a large plate-glass window in view of customers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their most popular offering is a raised glazed, along with their rotating selection of buttermilk doughnuts and old-fashioneds. The shop offers counter service for those who have a little time to sit and enjoy a pillowy pastry and a coffee on site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The shop is regularly bustling, and often has a line that starts along the wall inside and wends its way down the shopping center sidewalk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On this particular Friday, a very popular day for the business typically, owner Julie Clark said the line was four to five times as long as usual. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s so heartwarming; it’s overwhelming, actually. And it just makes us so happy as a staff and as a business to see all the regulars, and we’ve seen so many today, as well as new people that we’re getting all the time,” Clark said. “It’s just been the biggest blessing. We are so fortunate.”\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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093472\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Julie Clark, the owner of Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara, poses for a photo in front of her shop and a long line of customers on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Clark said her shop’s menu is a bit smaller on purpose. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re old school. We stick to the classics,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some longtime customers of Stan’s showed up on Friday just to ensure the shop was busy on the day of Randy’s grand opening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>James Stewart lives nearby and said he comes to Stan’s about once a week, and has been a customer for about 40 years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s just kind of a more mom-and-pop shop. I think Randy’s choosing that location was strategic, so I’m here to support Stan’s,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said he hopes people will try out Stan’s and Randy’s to make a comparison. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Stan’s will win every time,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Masud, of Randy’s, insisted he wasn’t trying to start a doughnut standoff. He said he and his partners chose the location for the size of its kitchen, as they plan to make doughnuts for future locations at the Santa Clara shop, and its drive-thru, which is planned to open later this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Masud even said he and his family live in the area and have been fans of Stan’s before getting into the doughnut business themselves. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s nothing against anyone. It’s a business. You know, once in a while you do get competitors,” he said. “It’s just like Shell and Chevron having stations next to each other.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps no one was more excited than Avery St. Lawrence, who said she loves waking up early, waiting in lines and sweet things. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She just moved to Santa Clara a week ago from Michigan, and plans to attend \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084071/bay-areas-first-medical-school-in-over-100-years-could-open-in-2030\">Santa Clara University\u003c/a> School of Law soon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Friday morning, she waited in two long lines to try both Randy’s and Stan’s for the first time, and did a taste test. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This feels a lot fluffier,” she said outside of Stan’s, holding one of their glazed raised doughnuts. \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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Avery St. Lawrence makes doughnut decisions while ordering at her doughnut order during a grand opening event at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>One bite later: “This one is better. This one’s way better.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mark Kelegian, the CEO of Randy’s Donuts brand, said the company is not targeting Stan’s or its customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“No, that’s all manufactured. There’s no doughnut war,” he said. “The fact that there’s a doughnut shop across the street or a block away or two blocks away, there always is…There’s generally enough business for everyone.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said many people might initially find out about Randy’s because of its giant doughnut sign, which was prominently featured in the \u003cem>Iron Man 2\u003c/em> movie and other media, but they come back for the brand’s sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093543\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093543\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Stan’s Donuts employee forms doughnuts in the front window of the shop during a busy Friday morning in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093471\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093471\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rowena Chu and her son Zachary Bacher eat glazed doughnuts at the counter of crowded Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our doughnuts are unique, and we think they’re the best in the world,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some customers on Friday said there is room in their hearts for doughnuts from both operations, and were celebrating the increasing number of purveyors in town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just doughnuts,” Crystal Camarena, of Sunnyvale, said. “Be happy, eat doughnuts, all the doughnuts.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A hot and fresh battle is cooking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/santa-clara\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A hot and fresh battle is cooking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/santa-clara\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>People are calling it doughnut wars. Dueling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967902/eizels-bakery-pop-up-donuts-san-jose\">doughnuts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>People are calling it doughnut wars. Dueling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967902/eizels-bakery-pop-up-donuts-san-jose\">doughnuts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Randy’s Donuts, the famed doughnut shop started in Inglewood in Southern California and known for its iconic 32-foot doughnut-shaped rooftop sign, has expanded into Northern California, with a grand opening event held for its first Bay Area franchise on Friday in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071882/7-things-to-know-about-the-complicated-relationship-between-santa-clara-and-the-49ers\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Randy’s Donuts, the famed doughnut shop started in Inglewood in Southern California and known for its iconic 32-foot doughnut-shaped rooftop sign, has expanded into Northern California, with a grand opening event held for its first Bay Area franchise on Friday in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071882/7-things-to-know-about-the-complicated-relationship-between-santa-clara-and-the-49ers\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mood was celebratory at Randy’s at 2595 Homestead Road, with hundreds of customers lining up in the early morning hours to partake in the festivities, which included some free samples, swag giveaways and music, under the shadow of an inflatable giant doughnut. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The mood was celebratory at Randy’s at 2595 Homestead Road, with hundreds of customers lining up in the early morning hours to partake in the festivities, which included some free samples, swag giveaways and music, under the shadow of an inflatable giant doughnut. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093476,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"align": "center",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093476\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-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\">Doughnuts are seen in the glass display case at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093476\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doughnuts are seen in the glass display case at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bright orange shop is offering about 50 varieties of handmade doughnuts, including classic glazed raised, chocolate or maple Long Johns, and other spins such as mango Tajin and matcha tea, while some have toppings like Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, and s’mores. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The bright orange shop is offering about 50 varieties of handmade doughnuts, including classic glazed raised, chocolate or maple Long Johns, and other spins such as mango Tajin and matcha tea, while some have toppings like Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, and s’mores. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ausaf Masud, one of three co-owners of the new franchise under a company called Sweet Rings LLC, said his partners hope to open about five total Randy’s locations across the Bay Area in due time, and the opening on Friday was a good start. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ausaf Masud, one of three co-owners of the new franchise under a company called Sweet Rings LLC, said his partners hope to open about five total Randy’s locations across the Bay Area in due time, and the opening on Friday was a good start. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The line is across two blocks right now. I think we have 400 people right now waiting in the line,” Masud said. “It’s amazing to see the love.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The line is across two blocks right now. I think we have 400 people right now waiting in the line,” Masud said. “It’s amazing to see the love.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it’s the location of Randy’s that has caused a yeast-like raising of eyebrows among armies of local doughnut eaters. It’s just across the street from Stan’s Donuts, a Santa Clara staple opened in 1959, still run by the family of the original founder. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But it’s the location of Randy’s that has caused a yeast-like raising of eyebrows among armies of local doughnut eaters. It’s just across the street from Stan’s Donuts, a Santa Clara staple opened in 1959, still run by the family of the original founder. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/gallery",
"attrs": {
"linkTo": "none"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n\n\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093478,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093478\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shawn Lemelle and his aunt Sheila Lemelle proudly display their Randy’s Donuts purchase during a grand opening event at the brand’s new location in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093478\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shawn Lemelle and his aunt Sheila Lemelle proudly display their Randy’s Donuts purchase during a grand opening event at the brand’s new location in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093473,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093473\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers flood the new Randy’s Donuts location in Santa Clara during a grand opening event on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093473\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers flood the new Randy’s Donuts location in Santa Clara during a grand opening event on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The cash-only establishment also makes its doughnuts by hand, many of which are formed right in front of a large plate-glass window in view of customers. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The cash-only establishment also makes its doughnuts by hand, many of which are formed right in front of a large plate-glass window in view of customers. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their most popular offering is a raised glazed, along with their rotating selection of buttermilk doughnuts and old-fashioneds. The shop offers counter service for those who have a little time to sit and enjoy a pillowy pastry and a coffee on site. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Their most popular offering is a raised glazed, along with their rotating selection of buttermilk doughnuts and old-fashioneds. The shop offers counter service for those who have a little time to sit and enjoy a pillowy pastry and a coffee on site. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The shop is regularly bustling, and often has a line that starts along the wall inside and wends its way down the shopping center sidewalk. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The shop is regularly bustling, and often has a line that starts along the wall inside and wends its way down the shopping center sidewalk. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On this particular Friday, a very popular day for the business typically, owner Julie Clark said the line was four to five times as long as usual. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On this particular Friday, a very popular day for the business typically, owner Julie Clark said the line was four to five times as long as usual. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s so heartwarming; it’s overwhelming, actually. And it just makes us so happy as a staff and as a business to see all the regulars, and we’ve seen so many today, as well as new people that we’re getting all the time,” Clark said. “It’s just been the biggest blessing. We are so fortunate.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s so heartwarming; it’s overwhelming, actually. And it just makes us so happy as a staff and as a business to see all the regulars, and we’ve seen so many today, as well as new people that we’re getting all the time,” Clark said. “It’s just been the biggest blessing. We are so fortunate.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093472,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"align": "center",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093472\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-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\">Julie Clark, the owner of Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara, poses for a photo in front of her shop and a long line of customers on July 31, 2026.\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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093472\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Julie Clark, the owner of Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara, poses for a photo in front of her shop and a long line of customers on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Clark said her shop’s menu is a bit smaller on purpose. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Clark said her shop’s menu is a bit smaller on purpose. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re old school. We stick to the classics,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’re old school. We stick to the classics,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some longtime customers of Stan’s showed up on Friday just to ensure the shop was busy on the day of Randy’s grand opening. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some longtime customers of Stan’s showed up on Friday just to ensure the shop was busy on the day of Randy’s grand opening. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>James Stewart lives nearby and said he comes to Stan’s about once a week, and has been a customer for about 40 years. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>James Stewart lives nearby and said he comes to Stan’s about once a week, and has been a customer for about 40 years. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s just kind of a more mom-and-pop shop. I think Randy’s choosing that location was strategic, so I’m here to support Stan’s,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s just kind of a more mom-and-pop shop. I think Randy’s choosing that location was strategic, so I’m here to support Stan’s,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12093298"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/20250321_BALCLUTHA_DMB_00005-KQED.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said he hopes people will try out Stan’s and Randy’s to make a comparison. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He said he hopes people will try out Stan’s and Randy’s to make a comparison. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Stan’s will win every time,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Stan’s will win every time,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Masud, of Randy’s, insisted he wasn’t trying to start a doughnut standoff. He said he and his partners chose the location for the size of its kitchen, as they plan to make doughnuts for future locations at the Santa Clara shop, and its drive-thru, which is planned to open later this year. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Masud, of Randy’s, insisted he wasn’t trying to start a doughnut standoff. He said he and his partners chose the location for the size of its kitchen, as they plan to make doughnuts for future locations at the Santa Clara shop, and its drive-thru, which is planned to open later this year. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Masud even said he and his family live in the area and have been fans of Stan’s before getting into the doughnut business themselves. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Masud even said he and his family live in the area and have been fans of Stan’s before getting into the doughnut business themselves. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s nothing against anyone. It’s a business. You know, once in a while you do get competitors,” he said. “It’s just like Shell and Chevron having stations next to each other.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“There’s nothing against anyone. It’s a business. You know, once in a while you do get competitors,” he said. “It’s just like Shell and Chevron having stations next to each other.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perhaps no one was more excited than Avery St. Lawrence, who said she loves waking up early, waiting in lines and sweet things. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Perhaps no one was more excited than Avery St. Lawrence, who said she loves waking up early, waiting in lines and sweet things. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She just moved to Santa Clara a week ago from Michigan, and plans to attend \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084071/bay-areas-first-medical-school-in-over-100-years-could-open-in-2030\">Santa Clara University\u003c/a> School of Law soon. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>She just moved to Santa Clara a week ago from Michigan, and plans to attend \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084071/bay-areas-first-medical-school-in-over-100-years-could-open-in-2030\">Santa Clara University\u003c/a> School of Law soon. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Friday morning, she waited in two long lines to try both Randy’s and Stan’s for the first time, and did a taste test. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On Friday morning, she waited in two long lines to try both Randy’s and Stan’s for the first time, and did a taste test. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This feels a lot fluffier,” she said outside of Stan’s, holding one of their glazed raised doughnuts. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This feels a lot fluffier,” she said outside of Stan’s, holding one of their glazed raised doughnuts. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093475,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"align": "center",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-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\">Avery St. Lawrence makes doughnut decisions while ordering at her doughnut order during a grand opening event at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093475\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Avery St. Lawrence makes doughnut decisions while ordering at her doughnut order during a grand opening event at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One bite later: “This one is better. This one’s way better.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One bite later: “This one is better. This one’s way better.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mark Kelegian, the CEO of Randy’s Donuts brand, said the company is not targeting Stan’s or its customers.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mark Kelegian, the CEO of Randy’s Donuts brand, said the company is not targeting Stan’s or its customers.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“No, that’s all manufactured. There’s no doughnut war,” he said. “The fact that there’s a doughnut shop across the street or a block away or two blocks away, there always is…There’s generally enough business for everyone.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“No, that’s all manufactured. There’s no doughnut war,” he said. “The fact that there’s a doughnut shop across the street or a block away or two blocks away, there always is…There’s generally enough business for everyone.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He said many people might initially find out about Randy’s because of its giant doughnut sign, which was prominently featured in the \u003cem>Iron Man 2\u003c/em> movie and other media, but they come back for the brand’s sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He said many people might initially find out about Randy’s because of its giant doughnut sign, which was prominently featured in the \u003cem>Iron Man 2\u003c/em> movie and other media, but they come back for the brand’s sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/gallery",
"attrs": {
"linkTo": "none"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n\n\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093543,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093543\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Stan’s Donuts employee forms doughnuts in the front window of the shop during a busy Friday morning in Santa Clara on July 31, 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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093543\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Stan’s Donuts employee forms doughnuts in the front window of the shop during a busy Friday morning in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12093471,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093471\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rowena Chu and her son Zachary Bacher eat glazed doughnuts at the counter of crowded Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093471\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rowena Chu and her son Zachary Bacher eat glazed doughnuts at the counter of crowded Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our doughnuts are unique, and we think they’re the best in the world,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Our doughnuts are unique, and we think they’re the best in the world,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some customers on Friday said there is room in their hearts for doughnuts from both operations, and were celebrating the increasing number of purveyors in town. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some customers on Friday said there is room in their hearts for doughnuts from both operations, and were celebrating the increasing number of purveyors in town. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s just doughnuts,” Crystal Camarena, of Sunnyvale, said. “Be happy, eat doughnuts, all the doughnuts.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s just doughnuts,” Crystal Camarena, of Sunnyvale, said. “Be happy, eat doughnuts, all the doughnuts.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Randy’s Donuts, known for its original location in Southern California with a giant doughnut sign, opened its first Bay Area franchise Friday. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785541990,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 36,
"wordCount": 1278
},
"headData": {
"title": "Randy’s Donuts Opens in Santa Clara, Across From Stan’s Donuts | KQED",
"description": "Randy’s Donuts, known for its original location in Southern California with a giant doughnut sign, opened its first Bay Area franchise Friday. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Randy’s Donuts Opens in Santa Clara, Across From Stan’s Donuts",
"datePublished": "2026-07-31T15:22:19-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-31T16:53:10-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 24114,
"slug": "food",
"name": "Food"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12093399",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12093399/randys-donuts-opens-in-santa-clara-across-from-stans-donuts",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A hot and fresh battle is cooking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/santa-clara\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People are calling it doughnut wars. Dueling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13967902/eizels-bakery-pop-up-donuts-san-jose\">doughnuts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Randy’s Donuts, the famed doughnut shop started in Inglewood in Southern California and known for its iconic 32-foot doughnut-shaped rooftop sign, has expanded into Northern California, with a grand opening event held for its first Bay Area franchise on Friday in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071882/7-things-to-know-about-the-complicated-relationship-between-santa-clara-and-the-49ers\">Santa Clara\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mood was celebratory at Randy’s at 2595 Homestead Road, with hundreds of customers lining up in the early morning hours to partake in the festivities, which included some free samples, swag giveaways and music, under the shadow of an inflatable giant doughnut. \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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093476\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-7-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doughnuts are seen in the glass display case at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The bright orange shop is offering about 50 varieties of handmade doughnuts, including classic glazed raised, chocolate or maple Long Johns, and other spins such as mango Tajin and matcha tea, while some have toppings like Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, and s’mores. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ausaf Masud, one of three co-owners of the new franchise under a company called Sweet Rings LLC, said his partners hope to open about five total Randy’s locations across the Bay Area in due time, and the opening on Friday was a good start. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The line is across two blocks right now. I think we have 400 people right now waiting in the line,” Masud said. “It’s amazing to see the love.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it’s the location of Randy’s that has caused a yeast-like raising of eyebrows among armies of local doughnut eaters. It’s just across the street from Stan’s Donuts, a Santa Clara staple opened in 1959, still run by the family of the original founder. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093478\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093478\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-9-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shawn Lemelle and his aunt Sheila Lemelle proudly display their Randy’s Donuts purchase during a grand opening event at the brand’s new location in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093473\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093473\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers flood the new Randy’s Donuts location in Santa Clara during a grand opening event on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The cash-only establishment also makes its doughnuts by hand, many of which are formed right in front of a large plate-glass window in view of customers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their most popular offering is a raised glazed, along with their rotating selection of buttermilk doughnuts and old-fashioneds. The shop offers counter service for those who have a little time to sit and enjoy a pillowy pastry and a coffee on site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The shop is regularly bustling, and often has a line that starts along the wall inside and wends its way down the shopping center sidewalk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On this particular Friday, a very popular day for the business typically, owner Julie Clark said the line was four to five times as long as usual. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s so heartwarming; it’s overwhelming, actually. And it just makes us so happy as a staff and as a business to see all the regulars, and we’ve seen so many today, as well as new people that we’re getting all the time,” Clark said. “It’s just been the biggest blessing. We are so fortunate.”\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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093472\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Julie Clark, the owner of Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara, poses for a photo in front of her shop and a long line of customers on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Clark said her shop’s menu is a bit smaller on purpose. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re old school. We stick to the classics,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some longtime customers of Stan’s showed up on Friday just to ensure the shop was busy on the day of Randy’s grand opening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>James Stewart lives nearby and said he comes to Stan’s about once a week, and has been a customer for about 40 years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s just kind of a more mom-and-pop shop. I think Randy’s choosing that location was strategic, so I’m here to support Stan’s,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said he hopes people will try out Stan’s and Randy’s to make a comparison. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Stan’s will win every time,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Masud, of Randy’s, insisted he wasn’t trying to start a doughnut standoff. He said he and his partners chose the location for the size of its kitchen, as they plan to make doughnuts for future locations at the Santa Clara shop, and its drive-thru, which is planned to open later this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Masud even said he and his family live in the area and have been fans of Stan’s before getting into the doughnut business themselves. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s nothing against anyone. It’s a business. You know, once in a while you do get competitors,” he said. “It’s just like Shell and Chevron having stations next to each other.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps no one was more excited than Avery St. Lawrence, who said she loves waking up early, waiting in lines and sweet things. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She just moved to Santa Clara a week ago from Michigan, and plans to attend \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084071/bay-areas-first-medical-school-in-over-100-years-could-open-in-2030\">Santa Clara University\u003c/a> School of Law soon. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Friday morning, she waited in two long lines to try both Randy’s and Stan’s for the first time, and did a taste test. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This feels a lot fluffier,” she said outside of Stan’s, holding one of their glazed raised doughnuts. \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/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Avery St. Lawrence makes doughnut decisions while ordering at her doughnut order during a grand opening event at Randy’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>One bite later: “This one is better. This one’s way better.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mark Kelegian, the CEO of Randy’s Donuts brand, said the company is not targeting Stan’s or its customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“No, that’s all manufactured. There’s no doughnut war,” he said. “The fact that there’s a doughnut shop across the street or a block away or two blocks away, there always is…There’s generally enough business for everyone.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said many people might initially find out about Randy’s because of its giant doughnut sign, which was prominently featured in the \u003cem>Iron Man 2\u003c/em> movie and other media, but they come back for the brand’s sweet treats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093543\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093543\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-10_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Stan’s Donuts employee forms doughnuts in the front window of the shop during a busy Friday morning in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093471\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093471\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-RANDYSDONUTS-JG-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rowena Chu and her son Zachary Bacher eat glazed doughnuts at the counter of crowded Stan’s Donuts in Santa Clara on July 31, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our doughnuts are unique, and we think they’re the best in the world,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some customers on Friday said there is room in their hearts for doughnuts from both operations, and were celebrating the increasing number of purveyors in town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just doughnuts,” Crystal Camarena, of Sunnyvale, said. “Be happy, eat doughnuts, all the doughnuts.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12093399/randys-donuts-opens-in-santa-clara-across-from-stans-donuts",
"authors": [
"11906"
],
"categories": [
"news_29992",
"news_223",
"news_1758",
"news_24114",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_24312",
"news_27626",
"news_333",
"news_4",
"news_1749",
"news_21285"
],
"featImg": "news_12093545",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12092702": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12092702",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12092702",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1785247200000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "san-jose-asks-for-help-renaming-plaza-de-cesar-chavez",
"title": "San José Asks for Help Renaming Plaza de Cesar Chavez",
"publishDate": 1785247200,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San José Asks for Help Renaming Plaza de Cesar Chavez | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>San José has opened a new ranked-choice survey so residents can help decide what to rename \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12019573/in-downtown-san-jose-two-christmas-trees-make-space-for-community-grief\">the downtown park and plaza\u003c/a> that has long been named for Cesar Chavez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The survey, available \u003ca href=\"https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923\">here\u003c/a>, is one of the last few steps in the city’s monthslong process to find a new name for the roughly 2-acre plaza at 194 South Market St., where many events, rallies and annual traditions like Christmas in the Park are held.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Efforts to engage the community and solicit new naming suggestions began earlier this year, shortly after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077159/east-san-jose-leaders-call-for-supporting-survivors-after-cesar-chavez-allegations\">allegations\u003c/a> broke that Chavez, a once revered labor rights figure, sexually abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers union.\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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092777\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “Plumed Serpent” statue depicting Quetzalcóatl is seen in Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their initial call for input through community listening sessions and an open period for submissions, city officials said they received more than 600 suggestions from residents and organizations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The extraordinary response from our community reflects how deeply San Joséans care about this historic gathering place,” Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “Residents shared an inspiring range of names and ideas, and now we’re inviting them to rank the finalists so we can move closer to a name that honors the plaza’s history, reflects our shared values and represents the community it serves.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After tossing out naming suggestions that didn’t meet the city’s previously established \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12757/636669904910330000\">criteria\u003c/a> for park names, and combing through the most popular choices, parks officials have whittled the list down to five options:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Farmworkers Plaza\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza de Quetzalcoatl\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza de San José \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza del Pueblo\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s survey allows participants to move the naming choices around to rank them in order from their first preference to last preference. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The survey opened on July 24 and will be open through Aug. 3, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ed Bautista, a spokesperson for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department, said the city will promote the survey through social media posts, mailing lists and signs at the park featuring a QR code directing people to the survey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re going to be counting on the community, and we know they’re going to jump in and be part of this process,” Bautista said in an interview. “And so we’re really excited by making sure that the community is involved and that we’ll get to a new name sometime in the fall.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, a South Bay nonprofit, said she appreciates the city’s immediate response to the allegations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Government isn’t always known to move super quick, but I think in this instance, they responded very quickly to the community’s calls to really acknowledge the harms that have transpired, but also that the legacy of the farmworker movement and the legacy and the history in this area, in particular in San José, also be considered,” she said in an interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s been a place of celebration, of community joy, of music, and really just celebrating the diversity that is San José,” Chavez-Lopez said about the park and plaza. \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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092778\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person rides an electric single-wheel board through a shady walkway at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She expects the legacy of the park as a valuable shared space in the city’s downtown to continue, now and after the renaming. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A name is a name, but at the end of the day, it’s about the memories and the community connections that are made in that place,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the close of the survey, city staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its Sept. 2 meeting, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision on the park’s new name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jamie Ortizen, of San José, was visiting the park on Monday with her family and a friend from out of town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After reviewing the five naming options, Ortizen said she likes Farmworkers Plaza. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It still has the spirit of what Cesar Chavez was fighting for. And they’re a huge part of the economy in California, and it’s important to honor them,” she 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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A stone stage platform at one end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is seen in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. The platform’s engraved lettering bearing Chavez’s name has been removed. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s always the effort of many people, of building a union or winning rights, and so actually honoring all of the farmworkers rather than just one person I think makes sense,” Oritzen said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The park and plaza are one of the most prominent places in the city named for Chavez, who at one time lived in East San José. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it is far from the only place in San José, with schools, libraries, and physical installations like the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San José State University honoring his name or likeness. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Community leaders and politicians have either renamed or begun work to rename dozens of parks, libraries, schools, monuments and streets \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077014/california-weighs-renaming-parks-streets-after-cesar-chavez-amid-abuse-allegations\">named for Chavez\u003c/a> around the state. \u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San José has opened a new ranked-choice survey so residents can help decide what to rename \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12019573/in-downtown-san-jose-two-christmas-trees-make-space-for-community-grief\">the downtown park and plaza\u003c/a> that has long been named for Cesar Chavez. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>San José has opened a new ranked-choice survey so residents can help decide what to rename \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12019573/in-downtown-san-jose-two-christmas-trees-make-space-for-community-grief\">the downtown park and plaza\u003c/a> that has long been named for Cesar Chavez. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The survey, available \u003ca href=\"https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923\">here\u003c/a>, is one of the last few steps in the city’s monthslong process to find a new name for the roughly 2-acre plaza at 194 South Market St., where many events, rallies and annual traditions like Christmas in the Park are held.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Efforts to engage the community and solicit new naming suggestions began earlier this year, shortly after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077159/east-san-jose-leaders-call-for-supporting-survivors-after-cesar-chavez-allegations\">allegations\u003c/a> broke that Chavez, a once revered labor rights figure, sexually abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers union.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The survey, available \u003ca href=\"https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923\">here\u003c/a>, is one of the last few steps in the city’s monthslong process to find a new name for the roughly 2-acre plaza at 194 South Market St., where many events, rallies and annual traditions like Christmas in the Park are held.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Efforts to engage the community and solicit new naming suggestions began earlier this year, shortly after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077159/east-san-jose-leaders-call-for-supporting-survivors-after-cesar-chavez-allegations\">allegations\u003c/a> broke that Chavez, a once revered labor rights figure, sexually abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers union.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092777,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092777\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “Plumed Serpent” statue depicting Quetzalcóatl is seen in Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092777\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “Plumed Serpent” statue depicting Quetzalcóatl is seen in Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In their initial call for input through community listening sessions and an open period for submissions, city officials said they received more than 600 suggestions from residents and organizations. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In their initial call for input through community listening sessions and an open period for submissions, city officials said they received more than 600 suggestions from residents and organizations. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The extraordinary response from our community reflects how deeply San Joséans care about this historic gathering place,” Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “Residents shared an inspiring range of names and ideas, and now we’re inviting them to rank the finalists so we can move closer to a name that honors the plaza’s history, reflects our shared values and represents the community it serves.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The extraordinary response from our community reflects how deeply San Joséans care about this historic gathering place,” Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “Residents shared an inspiring range of names and ideas, and now we’re inviting them to rank the finalists so we can move closer to a name that honors the plaza’s history, reflects our shared values and represents the community it serves.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After tossing out naming suggestions that didn’t meet the city’s previously established \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12757/636669904910330000\">criteria\u003c/a> for park names, and combing through the most popular choices, parks officials have whittled the list down to five options:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After tossing out naming suggestions that didn’t meet the city’s previously established \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12757/636669904910330000\">criteria\u003c/a> for park names, and combing through the most popular choices, parks officials have whittled the list down to five options:\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/list",
"attrs": {
"items": [
"Farmworkers Plaza",
"Plaza de Quetzalcoatl",
"Plaza de San José ",
"Plaza del Pueblo",
"Plaza Park"
]
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/ul>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Farmworkers Plaza\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Farmworkers Plaza\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Plaza de Quetzalcoatl\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Plaza de Quetzalcoatl\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Plaza de San José \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Plaza de San José \u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Plaza del Pueblo\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Plaza del Pueblo\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Plaza Park\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Plaza Park\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city’s survey allows participants to move the naming choices around to rank them in order from their first preference to last preference. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The city’s survey allows participants to move the naming choices around to rank them in order from their first preference to last preference. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The survey opened on July 24 and will be open through Aug. 3, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The survey opened on July 24 and will be open through Aug. 3, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12091408"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-16-KQED.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ed Bautista, a spokesperson for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department, said the city will promote the survey through social media posts, mailing lists and signs at the park featuring a QR code directing people to the survey.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ed Bautista, a spokesperson for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department, said the city will promote the survey through social media posts, mailing lists and signs at the park featuring a QR code directing people to the survey.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re going to be counting on the community, and we know they’re going to jump in and be part of this process,” Bautista said in an interview. “And so we’re really excited by making sure that the community is involved and that we’ll get to a new name sometime in the fall.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’re going to be counting on the community, and we know they’re going to jump in and be part of this process,” Bautista said in an interview. “And so we’re really excited by making sure that the community is involved and that we’ll get to a new name sometime in the fall.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, a South Bay nonprofit, said she appreciates the city’s immediate response to the allegations. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, a South Bay nonprofit, said she appreciates the city’s immediate response to the allegations. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Government isn’t always known to move super quick, but I think in this instance, they responded very quickly to the community’s calls to really acknowledge the harms that have transpired, but also that the legacy of the farmworker movement and the legacy and the history in this area, in particular in San José, also be considered,” she said in an interview. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Government isn’t always known to move super quick, but I think in this instance, they responded very quickly to the community’s calls to really acknowledge the harms that have transpired, but also that the legacy of the farmworker movement and the legacy and the history in this area, in particular in San José, also be considered,” she said in an interview. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s been a place of celebration, of community joy, of music, and really just celebrating the diversity that is San José,” Chavez-Lopez said about the park and plaza. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s been a place of celebration, of community joy, of music, and really just celebrating the diversity that is San José,” Chavez-Lopez said about the park and plaza. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092778,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092778\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person rides an electric single-wheel board through a shady walkway at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092778\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person rides an electric single-wheel board through a shady walkway at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She expects the legacy of the park as a valuable shared space in the city’s downtown to continue, now and after the renaming. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>She expects the legacy of the park as a valuable shared space in the city’s downtown to continue, now and after the renaming. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“A name is a name, but at the end of the day, it’s about the memories and the community connections that are made in that place,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“A name is a name, but at the end of the day, it’s about the memories and the community connections that are made in that place,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After the close of the survey, city staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its Sept. 2 meeting, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After the close of the survey, city staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its Sept. 2 meeting, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision on the park’s new name.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision on the park’s new name.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jamie Ortizen, of San José, was visiting the park on Monday with her family and a friend from out of town. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Jamie Ortizen, of San José, was visiting the park on Monday with her family and a friend from out of town. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After reviewing the five naming options, Ortizen said she likes Farmworkers Plaza. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After reviewing the five naming options, Ortizen said she likes Farmworkers Plaza. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It still has the spirit of what Cesar Chavez was fighting for. And they’re a huge part of the economy in California, and it’s important to honor them,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It still has the spirit of what Cesar Chavez was fighting for. And they’re a huge part of the economy in California, and it’s important to honor them,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092783,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Joseph Geha/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A stone stage platform at one end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is seen in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. The platform’s engraved lettering bearing Chavez’s name has been removed.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092783\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A stone stage platform at one end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is seen in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. The platform’s engraved lettering bearing Chavez’s name has been removed.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s always the effort of many people, of building a union or winning rights, and so actually honoring all of the farmworkers rather than just one person I think makes sense,” Oritzen said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s always the effort of many people, of building a union or winning rights, and so actually honoring all of the farmworkers rather than just one person I think makes sense,” Oritzen said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The park and plaza are one of the most prominent places in the city named for Chavez, who at one time lived in East San José. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The park and plaza are one of the most prominent places in the city named for Chavez, who at one time lived in East San José. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it is far from the only place in San José, with schools, libraries, and physical installations like the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San José State University honoring his name or likeness. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But it is far from the only place in San José, with schools, libraries, and physical installations like the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San José State University honoring his name or likeness. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Community leaders and politicians have either renamed or begun work to rename dozens of parks, libraries, schools, monuments and streets \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077014/california-weighs-renaming-parks-streets-after-cesar-chavez-amid-abuse-allegations\">named for Chavez\u003c/a> around the state. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Community leaders and politicians have either renamed or begun work to rename dozens of parks, libraries, schools, monuments and streets \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077014/california-weighs-renaming-parks-streets-after-cesar-chavez-amid-abuse-allegations\">named for Chavez\u003c/a> around the state. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "San José is asking residents to complete a ranked-choice survey to help rename a park and plaza long named for disgraced labor leader Cesar Chavez.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1785521809,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 25,
"wordCount": 987
},
"headData": {
"title": "San José Asks for Help Renaming Plaza de Cesar Chavez | KQED",
"description": "San José is asking residents to complete a ranked-choice survey to help rename a park and plaza long named for disgraced labor leader Cesar Chavez.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San José Asks for Help Renaming Plaza de Cesar Chavez",
"datePublished": "2026-07-28T07:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-31T11:16:49-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 28250,
"slug": "local",
"name": "Local"
},
"audioUrl": "https://traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/0af137ef-751e-4b19-a055-aaef00d2d578/ffca7e9f-6831-41c5-bcaf-aaef00f5a073/91d4d619-611f-4809-bcfa-b4980126ddd5/audio.mp3",
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12092702",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12092702/san-jose-asks-for-help-renaming-plaza-de-cesar-chavez",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San José has opened a new ranked-choice survey so residents can help decide what to rename \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12019573/in-downtown-san-jose-two-christmas-trees-make-space-for-community-grief\">the downtown park and plaza\u003c/a> that has long been named for Cesar Chavez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The survey, available \u003ca href=\"https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923\">here\u003c/a>, is one of the last few steps in the city’s monthslong process to find a new name for the roughly 2-acre plaza at 194 South Market St., where many events, rallies and annual traditions like Christmas in the Park are held.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Efforts to engage the community and solicit new naming suggestions began earlier this year, shortly after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077159/east-san-jose-leaders-call-for-supporting-survivors-after-cesar-chavez-allegations\">allegations\u003c/a> broke that Chavez, a once revered labor rights figure, sexually abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers union.\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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092777\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The “Plumed Serpent” statue depicting Quetzalcóatl is seen in Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In their initial call for input through community listening sessions and an open period for submissions, city officials said they received more than 600 suggestions from residents and organizations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The extraordinary response from our community reflects how deeply San Joséans care about this historic gathering place,” Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “Residents shared an inspiring range of names and ideas, and now we’re inviting them to rank the finalists so we can move closer to a name that honors the plaza’s history, reflects our shared values and represents the community it serves.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After tossing out naming suggestions that didn’t meet the city’s previously established \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12757/636669904910330000\">criteria\u003c/a> for park names, and combing through the most popular choices, parks officials have whittled the list down to five options:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Farmworkers Plaza\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza de Quetzalcoatl\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza de San José \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza del Pueblo\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Plaza Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s survey allows participants to move the naming choices around to rank them in order from their first preference to last preference. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The survey opened on July 24 and will be open through Aug. 3, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ed Bautista, a spokesperson for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department, said the city will promote the survey through social media posts, mailing lists and signs at the park featuring a QR code directing people to the survey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re going to be counting on the community, and we know they’re going to jump in and be part of this process,” Bautista said in an interview. “And so we’re really excited by making sure that the community is involved and that we’ll get to a new name sometime in the fall.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gabby Chavez-Lopez, executive director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, a South Bay nonprofit, said she appreciates the city’s immediate response to the allegations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Government isn’t always known to move super quick, but I think in this instance, they responded very quickly to the community’s calls to really acknowledge the harms that have transpired, but also that the legacy of the farmworker movement and the legacy and the history in this area, in particular in San José, also be considered,” she said in an interview. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s been a place of celebration, of community joy, of music, and really just celebrating the diversity that is San José,” Chavez-Lopez said about the park and plaza. \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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092778\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-03-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A person rides an electric single-wheel board through a shady walkway at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She expects the legacy of the park as a valuable shared space in the city’s downtown to continue, now and after the renaming. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A name is a name, but at the end of the day, it’s about the memories and the community connections that are made in that place,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the close of the survey, city staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its Sept. 2 meeting, according to the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision on the park’s new name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jamie Ortizen, of San José, was visiting the park on Monday with her family and a friend from out of town. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After reviewing the five naming options, Ortizen said she likes Farmworkers Plaza. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It still has the spirit of what Cesar Chavez was fighting for. And they’re a huge part of the economy in California, and it’s important to honor them,” she 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/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260727-PLAZACESAR-JG-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A stone stage platform at one end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is seen in downtown San José on July 27, 2026. The platform’s engraved lettering bearing Chavez’s name has been removed. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s always the effort of many people, of building a union or winning rights, and so actually honoring all of the farmworkers rather than just one person I think makes sense,” Oritzen said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The park and plaza are one of the most prominent places in the city named for Chavez, who at one time lived in East San José. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it is far from the only place in San José, with schools, libraries, and physical installations like the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San José State University honoring his name or likeness. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Community leaders and politicians have either renamed or begun work to rename dozens of parks, libraries, schools, monuments and streets \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077014/california-weighs-renaming-parks-streets-after-cesar-chavez-amid-abuse-allegations\">named for Chavez\u003c/a> around the state. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12092702/san-jose-asks-for-help-renaming-plaza-de-cesar-chavez",
"authors": [
"11906"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_885",
"news_32847",
"news_27626",
"news_18541",
"news_18188",
"news_21285"
],
"featImg": "news_12092781",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12091964": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12091964",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12091964",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1784822400000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "nearly-half-of-teens-report-seeing-ai-sexual-content-bay-area-leaders-want-to-shut-it-down",
"title": "Nearly Half of Teens Report Seeing AI Sexual Content. Bay Area Leaders Want to Shut It Down",
"publishDate": 1784822400,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Nearly Half of Teens Report Seeing AI Sexual Content. Bay Area Leaders Want to Shut It Down | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence have flooded kids’ screens. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area \u003c/a>lawmakers are racing to crack down on sites and apps that make this possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> from Common Sense Media, a leading nonprofit researching child safety online, found that 44% of teens have seen sexual content they believe to be AI-generated — and that nearly a quarter of those who’ve seen it say they’ve seen content of themselves or of their peers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, said the report confirms what lawmakers have been warning about for years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create fake images that are explicit images of real people, and too often young people are the victims,” Becker said on Tuesday. “It’s taken something that may have happened before — cyberbullying — and just put it on steroids.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study followed up on the organization’s 2023 report about online pornography’s impact on teens. Its authors surveyed 1,314 teens in the U.S. and held focus groups to contextualize the numbers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11862704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-536x402.jpg 536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Sen. Josh Becker speaks to reporters at the Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto on March 1, 2021. (Courtesy of Voler Strategic Advisors)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They found that 67% of teens feared being depicted in deepfakes — extremely realistic images, videos or audio clips showing something that never happened — without their consent. One teen surveyed in the report said that “everyone should have at least a small degree of worry because it’s so easy [to make it], so accessible, and it also feels pushed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts say that generative AI has made it easier than ever to create deepfakes. While big platforms generally have safety features to prevent making them sexually explicit, they do not \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c802ldjdklzo\">always\u003c/a> work, according to reporting from the BBC. Many users will turn instead to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">smaller, anonymous\u003c/a> apps and websites to generate the content.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“AI has made a severe form of sexual harassment easy enough for almost any kid with a phone to carry out,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kids can be targeted by deepfakes as early as elementary school, and especially in middle school and high school, said Emma Le, the head of operations at the Center for Gender Equitable AI, a youth-led organization addressing gender based harms caused by emerging technologies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Le said that most deepfakes target women and that they have “huge consequences on girls’ mental health,” causing some to leave school, experience depression and contemplate self-harm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More and more teens are scaling back their online activity to protect themselves from being deepfaked, according to Steyer. Le also said that deepfakes are linked to an increase in gender-based harassment that’s driving women and girls away from online platforms — a key public sphere for many. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Girls are withdrawing from the public eye,” Le said. “That’s going to have huge consequences in the future for women’s rights, women’s empowerment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Surveyed teens reported seeing this explicit AI content across platforms including, but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram and X. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While teens may see the content on big platforms, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said that small, often anonymous and sometimes international companies are the ones that produce so-called “nudify” tools — AI-driven apps and websites that allow users to make sexually explicit deepfakes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because you can’t determine which website or app generated an image, “victims often have no recourse,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once the images are distributed, you can’t control where they go,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Le emphasized that because the images cannot be completely scrubbed, victims of these crimes can worry about the images popping up again, especially if they have a job in the public eye. \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/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084574\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy holds an iPhone with various social media and messaging apps on Feb. 23, 2026. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lawmakers at every level are working to tackle this issue. Last year, Congress passed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146\">Take It Down Act\u003c/a> — prohibiting the nonconsensual publication of explicit images and requiring online platforms to establish reporting systems and remove the images promptly. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Becker said that California has been “leading the nation” with legislation updated “for this new AI age.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the past few years, the state passed laws banning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069808/california-investigates-elon-musks-ai-company-after-avalanche-of-complaints-about-sexual-content\">deepfake revenge porn\u003c/a> — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">AI-generated child porn\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Becker described legislating in this space as a “cat and mouse game” and said that lawmakers are “going to have to keep working to make sure our laws can keep up.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, Chiu is already using these laws to hold Silicon Valley companies to account. Last week, Chiu sent Google and Apple cease-and-desist letters asking them to take down 13 apps that were being used to target women and girls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It shouldn’t be on us to tell large technology companies that their app stores are being used to continue to victimize millions of women and girls around the globe,” Chiu said. “We are asking these companies to be proactive in preventing this abuse in the future.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Google spokesperson said that all five apps referenced in Chiu’s letter have been suspended. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When violations are reported to us, we investigate and take swift action, which in the case of these apps has included suspending hundreds of violating apps and restricting related search terms like ‘nudify’ on our store,” the company said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Apple said that “‘Nudification’ apps are against our App Review Guidelines and we aggressively work to identify and remove apps — as well as the developer accounts behind them — that attempt to evade our processes and policies.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Steyer urged more action from both the tech industry and from American lawmakers, but also emphasized the importance of talking to kids about this content. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As a parent or a grandparent, this is sort of your worst nightmare, but you gotta talk to your kids about it … because it’s real. The numbers speak for themselves,” Steyer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> contains advice for parents, schools and policymakers dealing with this content and these conversations.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence have flooded kids’ screens. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area \u003c/a>lawmakers are racing to crack down on sites and apps that make this possible. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence have flooded kids’ screens. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area \u003c/a>lawmakers are racing to crack down on sites and apps that make this possible. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> from Common Sense Media, a leading nonprofit researching child safety online, found that 44% of teens have seen sexual content they believe to be AI-generated — and that nearly a quarter of those who’ve seen it say they’ve seen content of themselves or of their peers.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> from Common Sense Media, a leading nonprofit researching child safety online, found that 44% of teens have seen sexual content they believe to be AI-generated — and that nearly a quarter of those who’ve seen it say they’ve seen content of themselves or of their peers.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, said the report confirms what lawmakers have been warning about for years. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, said the report confirms what lawmakers have been warning about for years. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create fake images that are explicit images of real people, and too often young people are the victims,” Becker said on Tuesday. “It’s taken something that may have happened before — cyberbullying — and just put it on steroids.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create fake images that are explicit images of real people, and too often young people are the victims,” Becker said on Tuesday. “It’s taken something that may have happened before — cyberbullying — and just put it on steroids.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The study followed up on the organization’s 2023 report about online pornography’s impact on teens. Its authors surveyed 1,314 teens in the U.S. and held focus groups to contextualize the numbers. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The study followed up on the organization’s 2023 report about online pornography’s impact on teens. Its authors surveyed 1,314 teens in the U.S. and held focus groups to contextualize the numbers. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 11862704,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Courtesy of Voler Strategic Advisors",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-536x402.jpg 536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut.jpg 1920w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11862704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-536x402.jpg 536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Sen. Josh Becker speaks to reporters at the Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto on March 1, 2021. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11862704\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Sen. Josh Becker speaks to reporters at the Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto on March 1, 2021. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They found that 67% of teens feared being depicted in deepfakes — extremely realistic images, videos or audio clips showing something that never happened — without their consent. One teen surveyed in the report said that “everyone should have at least a small degree of worry because it’s so easy [to make it], so accessible, and it also feels pushed.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>They found that 67% of teens feared being depicted in deepfakes — extremely realistic images, videos or audio clips showing something that never happened — without their consent. One teen surveyed in the report said that “everyone should have at least a small degree of worry because it’s so easy [to make it], so accessible, and it also feels pushed.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Experts say that generative AI has made it easier than ever to create deepfakes. While big platforms generally have safety features to prevent making them sexually explicit, they do not \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c802ldjdklzo\">always\u003c/a> work, according to reporting from the BBC. Many users will turn instead to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">smaller, anonymous\u003c/a> apps and websites to generate the content.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Experts say that generative AI has made it easier than ever to create deepfakes. While big platforms generally have safety features to prevent making them sexually explicit, they do not \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c802ldjdklzo\">always\u003c/a> work, according to reporting from the BBC. Many users will turn instead to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">smaller, anonymous\u003c/a> apps and websites to generate the content.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“AI has made a severe form of sexual harassment easy enough for almost any kid with a phone to carry out,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“AI has made a severe form of sexual harassment easy enough for almost any kid with a phone to carry out,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kids can be targeted by deepfakes as early as elementary school, and especially in middle school and high school, said Emma Le, the head of operations at the Center for Gender Equitable AI, a youth-led organization addressing gender based harms caused by emerging technologies. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Kids can be targeted by deepfakes as early as elementary school, and especially in middle school and high school, said Emma Le, the head of operations at the Center for Gender Equitable AI, a youth-led organization addressing gender based harms caused by emerging technologies. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12091358"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260716-GOOGLEUNION-14-BL-KQED.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Le said that most deepfakes target women and that they have “huge consequences on girls’ mental health,” causing some to leave school, experience depression and contemplate self-harm. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Le said that most deepfakes target women and that they have “huge consequences on girls’ mental health,” causing some to leave school, experience depression and contemplate self-harm. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More and more teens are scaling back their online activity to protect themselves from being deepfaked, according to Steyer. Le also said that deepfakes are linked to an increase in gender-based harassment that’s driving women and girls away from online platforms — a key public sphere for many. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>More and more teens are scaling back their online activity to protect themselves from being deepfaked, according to Steyer. Le also said that deepfakes are linked to an increase in gender-based harassment that’s driving women and girls away from online platforms — a key public sphere for many. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Girls are withdrawing from the public eye,” Le said. “That’s going to have huge consequences in the future for women’s rights, women’s empowerment.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Girls are withdrawing from the public eye,” Le said. “That’s going to have huge consequences in the future for women’s rights, women’s empowerment.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Surveyed teens reported seeing this explicit AI content across platforms including, but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram and X. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Surveyed teens reported seeing this explicit AI content across platforms including, but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram and X. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While teens may see the content on big platforms, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said that small, often anonymous and sometimes international companies are the ones that produce so-called “nudify” tools — AI-driven apps and websites that allow users to make sexually explicit deepfakes. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While teens may see the content on big platforms, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said that small, often anonymous and sometimes international companies are the ones that produce so-called “nudify” tools — AI-driven apps and websites that allow users to make sexually explicit deepfakes. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Because you can’t determine which website or app generated an image, “victims often have no recourse,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Because you can’t determine which website or app generated an image, “victims often have no recourse,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Once the images are distributed, you can’t control where they go,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Once the images are distributed, you can’t control where they go,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Le emphasized that because the images cannot be completely scrubbed, victims of these crimes can worry about the images popping up again, especially if they have a job in the public eye. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Le emphasized that because the images cannot be completely scrubbed, victims of these crimes can worry about the images popping up again, especially if they have a job in the public eye. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12084574,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Anna Barclay/Getty Images",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084574\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-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 14-year-old boy holds an iPhone with various social media and messaging apps on Feb. 23, 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/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084574\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy holds an iPhone with various social media and messaging apps on Feb. 23, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lawmakers at every level are working to tackle this issue. Last year, Congress passed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146\">Take It Down Act\u003c/a> — prohibiting the nonconsensual publication of explicit images and requiring online platforms to establish reporting systems and remove the images promptly. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Lawmakers at every level are working to tackle this issue. Last year, Congress passed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146\">Take It Down Act\u003c/a> — prohibiting the nonconsensual publication of explicit images and requiring online platforms to establish reporting systems and remove the images promptly. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Becker said that California has been “leading the nation” with legislation updated “for this new AI age.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Becker said that California has been “leading the nation” with legislation updated “for this new AI age.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over the past few years, the state passed laws banning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069808/california-investigates-elon-musks-ai-company-after-avalanche-of-complaints-about-sexual-content\">deepfake revenge porn\u003c/a> — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">AI-generated child porn\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Over the past few years, the state passed laws banning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069808/california-investigates-elon-musks-ai-company-after-avalanche-of-complaints-about-sexual-content\">deepfake revenge porn\u003c/a> — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">AI-generated child porn\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Becker described legislating in this space as a “cat and mouse game” and said that lawmakers are “going to have to keep working to make sure our laws can keep up.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Becker described legislating in this space as a “cat and mouse game” and said that lawmakers are “going to have to keep working to make sure our laws can keep up.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, Chiu is already using these laws to hold Silicon Valley companies to account. Last week, Chiu sent Google and Apple cease-and-desist letters asking them to take down 13 apps that were being used to target women and girls. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, Chiu is already using these laws to hold Silicon Valley companies to account. Last week, Chiu sent Google and Apple cease-and-desist letters asking them to take down 13 apps that were being used to target women and girls. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12087201"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CollegeGraduationGetty.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It shouldn’t be on us to tell large technology companies that their app stores are being used to continue to victimize millions of women and girls around the globe,” Chiu said. “We are asking these companies to be proactive in preventing this abuse in the future.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It shouldn’t be on us to tell large technology companies that their app stores are being used to continue to victimize millions of women and girls around the globe,” Chiu said. “We are asking these companies to be proactive in preventing this abuse in the future.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A Google spokesperson said that all five apps referenced in Chiu’s letter have been suspended. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A Google spokesperson said that all five apps referenced in Chiu’s letter have been suspended. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When violations are reported to us, we investigate and take swift action, which in the case of these apps has included suspending hundreds of violating apps and restricting related search terms like ‘nudify’ on our store,” the company said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“When violations are reported to us, we investigate and take swift action, which in the case of these apps has included suspending hundreds of violating apps and restricting related search terms like ‘nudify’ on our store,” the company said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Apple said that “‘Nudification’ apps are against our App Review Guidelines and we aggressively work to identify and remove apps — as well as the developer accounts behind them — that attempt to evade our processes and policies.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Apple said that “‘Nudification’ apps are against our App Review Guidelines and we aggressively work to identify and remove apps — as well as the developer accounts behind them — that attempt to evade our processes and policies.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Steyer urged more action from both the tech industry and from American lawmakers, but also emphasized the importance of talking to kids about this content. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Steyer urged more action from both the tech industry and from American lawmakers, but also emphasized the importance of talking to kids about this content. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As a parent or a grandparent, this is sort of your worst nightmare, but you gotta talk to your kids about it … because it’s real. The numbers speak for themselves,” Steyer said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“As a parent or a grandparent, this is sort of your worst nightmare, but you gotta talk to your kids about it … because it’s real. The numbers speak for themselves,” Steyer said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> contains advice for parents, schools and policymakers dealing with this content and these conversations.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> contains advice for parents, schools and policymakers dealing with this content and these conversations.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "One in five teens has either made sexually explicit content with AI or knows someone who has.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784833110,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 31,
"wordCount": 1110
},
"headData": {
"title": "Nearly Half of Teens Report Seeing AI Sexual Content. Bay Area Leaders Want to Shut It Down | KQED",
"description": "One in five teens has either made sexually explicit content with AI or knows someone who has.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Nearly Half of Teens Report Seeing AI Sexual Content. Bay Area Leaders Want to Shut It Down",
"datePublished": "2026-07-23T09:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-23T11:58:30-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 248,
"slug": "technology",
"name": "Technology"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12091964",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12091964/nearly-half-of-teens-report-seeing-ai-sexual-content-bay-area-leaders-want-to-shut-it-down",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Sexualized images generated by artificial intelligence have flooded kids’ screens. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area \u003c/a>lawmakers are racing to crack down on sites and apps that make this possible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A new \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> from Common Sense Media, a leading nonprofit researching child safety online, found that 44% of teens have seen sexual content they believe to be AI-generated — and that nearly a quarter of those who’ve seen it say they’ve seen content of themselves or of their peers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, said the report confirms what lawmakers have been warning about for years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to create fake images that are explicit images of real people, and too often young people are the victims,” Becker said on Tuesday. “It’s taken something that may have happened before — cyberbullying — and just put it on steroids.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study followed up on the organization’s 2023 report about online pornography’s impact on teens. Its authors surveyed 1,314 teens in the U.S. and held focus groups to contextualize the numbers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11862704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1832x1374.jpg 1832w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-632x474.jpg 632w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut-536x402.jpg 536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/03/RS47488_IMG_5843-qut.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Sen. Josh Becker speaks to reporters at the Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto on March 1, 2021. (Courtesy of Voler Strategic Advisors)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They found that 67% of teens feared being depicted in deepfakes — extremely realistic images, videos or audio clips showing something that never happened — without their consent. One teen surveyed in the report said that “everyone should have at least a small degree of worry because it’s so easy [to make it], so accessible, and it also feels pushed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts say that generative AI has made it easier than ever to create deepfakes. While big platforms generally have safety features to prevent making them sexually explicit, they do not \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c802ldjdklzo\">always\u003c/a> work, according to reporting from the BBC. Many users will turn instead to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">smaller, anonymous\u003c/a> apps and websites to generate the content.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“AI has made a severe form of sexual harassment easy enough for almost any kid with a phone to carry out,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kids can be targeted by deepfakes as early as elementary school, and especially in middle school and high school, said Emma Le, the head of operations at the Center for Gender Equitable AI, a youth-led organization addressing gender based harms caused by emerging technologies. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Le said that most deepfakes target women and that they have “huge consequences on girls’ mental health,” causing some to leave school, experience depression and contemplate self-harm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More and more teens are scaling back their online activity to protect themselves from being deepfaked, according to Steyer. Le also said that deepfakes are linked to an increase in gender-based harassment that’s driving women and girls away from online platforms — a key public sphere for many. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Girls are withdrawing from the public eye,” Le said. “That’s going to have huge consequences in the future for women’s rights, women’s empowerment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Surveyed teens reported seeing this explicit AI content across platforms including, but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram and X. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While teens may see the content on big platforms, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said that small, often anonymous and sometimes international companies are the ones that produce so-called “nudify” tools — AI-driven apps and websites that allow users to make sexually explicit deepfakes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because you can’t determine which website or app generated an image, “victims often have no recourse,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once the images are distributed, you can’t control where they go,” Chiu said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Le emphasized that because the images cannot be completely scrubbed, victims of these crimes can worry about the images popping up again, especially if they have a job in the public eye. \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/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084574\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/TeenagersMetaSocialMediaGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 14-year-old boy holds an iPhone with various social media and messaging apps on Feb. 23, 2026. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lawmakers at every level are working to tackle this issue. Last year, Congress passed the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146\">Take It Down Act\u003c/a> — prohibiting the nonconsensual publication of explicit images and requiring online platforms to establish reporting systems and remove the images promptly. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Becker said that California has been “leading the nation” with legislation updated “for this new AI age.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over the past few years, the state passed laws banning \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069808/california-investigates-elon-musks-ai-company-after-avalanche-of-complaints-about-sexual-content\">deepfake revenge porn\u003c/a> — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000310/san-francisco-takes-on-makers-ai-generated-deepfake-pornography-landmark-lawsuit\">AI-generated child porn\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Becker described legislating in this space as a “cat and mouse game” and said that lawmakers are “going to have to keep working to make sure our laws can keep up.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, Chiu is already using these laws to hold Silicon Valley companies to account. Last week, Chiu sent Google and Apple cease-and-desist letters asking them to take down 13 apps that were being used to target women and girls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It shouldn’t be on us to tell large technology companies that their app stores are being used to continue to victimize millions of women and girls around the globe,” Chiu said. “We are asking these companies to be proactive in preventing this abuse in the future.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Google spokesperson said that all five apps referenced in Chiu’s letter have been suspended. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When violations are reported to us, we investigate and take swift action, which in the case of these apps has included suspending hundreds of violating apps and restricting related search terms like ‘nudify’ on our store,” the company said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for Apple said that “‘Nudification’ apps are against our App Review Guidelines and we aggressively work to identify and remove apps — as well as the developer accounts behind them — that attempt to evade our processes and policies.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Steyer urged more action from both the tech industry and from American lawmakers, but also emphasized the importance of talking to kids about this content. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As a parent or a grandparent, this is sort of your worst nightmare, but you gotta talk to your kids about it … because it’s real. The numbers speak for themselves,” Steyer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/teens-and-explicit-deepfakes-in-the-age-of-ai\">report\u003c/a> contains advice for parents, schools and policymakers dealing with this content and these conversations.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12091964/nearly-half-of-teens-report-seeing-ai-sexual-content-bay-area-leaders-want-to-shut-it-down",
"authors": [
"12003"
],
"categories": [
"news_8",
"news_248"
],
"tags": [
"news_25184",
"news_34755",
"news_1386",
"news_18538",
"news_2043",
"news_20013",
"news_17762",
"news_34586",
"news_21285",
"news_1631",
"news_21121",
"news_20385"
],
"featImg": "news_12092171",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12091408": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12091408",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12091408",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1784815200000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "maleda-where-san-joses-brightest-soccer-stars-get-started",
"title": "Maleda — Where San José’s Brightest Soccer Stars Get Started",
"publishDate": 1784815200,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Maleda — Where San José’s Brightest Soccer Stars Get Started | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Cristiano Ronaldo takes the ball and pushes toward the opponent’s goal. He keeps it close and weaves past Lionel Messi. A few steps later, Messi again — in fact, there are quite a few Messis on this field. And even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091779/bay-area-soccer-fans-celebrate-spains-world-cup-win\">a couple of Lamine Yamals\u003c/a> running around, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s Saturday morning at Del Monte Park in San José, and hundreds of kids have come out for practice with Maleda Youth Soccer Club. Inspired by this summer’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a>, many wear the jerseys of their favorite players.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Siuuu!” Christian Brook, 10, shouted after practice, emulating Ronaldo’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4677663/explained-cristiano-ronaldos-siuuu-celebration\">iconic celebration\u003c/a>. His team may have lost its scrimmage, but that doesn’t dim his smile.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brook usually plays right wing and said that’s one of the reasons he likes Ronaldo, who excels in attacking positions. But when he plays defense, Brook thinks of another player — Naomi Girma, currently center back for England’s Women’s Super League club Chelsea FC and one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40751304/uswnt-hayes-girma-best-defender-ever-seen\">most talented defenders\u003c/a> for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"933\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-160x75.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-1536x716.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2048x955.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(L-R) Naomi Girma, #4 for the United States, celebrates after her team’s 1-0 victory against Colombia during a SheBelieves Cup match at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images) A young Naomi Girma, who has played soccer competitively since she was a child growing up in San José. (U.S. Soccer via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“She played here, just like us,” he said, adding that her family is Ethiopian, just like his. Dozens of other kids at practice immediately recognized Girma’s name and shouted with pride that the soccer superstar also hails from San José.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I started playing with Maleda,” Girma — who was unavailable for an interview for this story — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988410/naomi-girma-us-womens-soccer-star-returns-san-jose\">told KQED\u003c/a> a few months ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Girma’s father was one of the handful of South Bay immigrant parents who came together in 2004 to help start the club. “It was just for Ethiopian families to come together,” Girma said. “But I also had a lot of fun.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the 2026 Men’s World Cup takes its place in history, soccer fans now prepare for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. has won the tournament four times — the most of any nation — and Girma is a strong contender for the squad after a stellar performance in the last World Cup. In Maleda, families that saw her score her first goals are excited to cheer her on. And for some, Girma’s journey affirms one of the missions of the club: to help kids build a stronger sense of self through playing soccer and at the same time, learn more about their Ethiopian heritage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When our kids go to school, they are surrounded by many different cultures,” said Selome Alemayehu, the mother of two boys playing in Maleda. “But when they come here, they get the taste of Ethiopia. It’s important for them to also know where they came from, what their culture is, because they don’t see all these people Monday through Friday.”\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Goalkeeper Andreas Demke, 12, catches a ball as Imani Moten, 10, watches nearby during Maleda Youth Soccer practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Powered by the volunteer efforts of dozens of parents like Alemayehu, Maleda — which translates to “early morning” in Amharic — also provides an affordable entry to soccer, something experts say is necessary to help both women’s and men’s soccer in the U.S. grow stronger and develop the next generation of the sport’s superstars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to research from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, soccer is more popular than ever, with more than 25 million Americans playing the sport this year. But data from the U.S. Soccer Federation shows that among kids, participation drops dramatically by the time they become teenagers. Around 70% of children quit by age 14. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even though it’s hard for my kids to wake up for school, they’re the first ones waking up on Saturday morning,” Alemayehu said. “They rush me, instead of me rushing them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Especially my little one. He’s only 7, but he’s always saying he will be the next Maleda soccer player that’s going to be just like Naomi.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Being one’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s been more than 20 years since Maleda head coach Solomon Wolday came to California from Ethiopia, where he first fell in love with soccer as a boy, playing with other kids on his street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t take too much to get kids to get out and play,” he said. Like many of the other coaches on the field Saturday, Wolday is a volunteer and also a parent. All three of his daughters honed their soccer skills at Maleda.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092224\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Head Coach Solomon Wolday checks in with his players after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Children can join the club as soon as they turn 5 and learn the basics — dribbling, passes, different formations. “It’s not very competitive at that level,” Wolday said, adding that the main objective is to help kids learn about the values that come with soccer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They learn the value of hard work and teamwork,” he said. “It also shows them how to cope with losing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Maleda only practices on Saturdays from March to August and charges families a $200 registration fee per season, regardless of how many kids a family has playing in the club. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Travel and academy clubs in the Bay Area, which usually have a more rigorous practice schedule and travel across the state to play in different tournaments, often charge thousands of dollars per player each season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12092225\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092225\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players put their hands together after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12092223\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092223\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players sit in a circle after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The club’s accessibility helps families get and stay involved, said Meseret Gualle, who forms part of Maleda’s leadership team and first joined when her daughter started playing four years ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Anyone can join the team, but most families trace their roots to Ethiopia. “We Ethiopians have a lot of different ethnicities, languages, tribes,” she said. “This program brings all of that together.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has been home to a thriving Ethiopian community for more than 40 years. Many families who first moved to the region in the ’80s and ’90s were fleeing Ethiopia’s civil war and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13905230/zeni-ethiopian-restaurant-san-jose\">found economic opportunities\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley building the electronic components for personal computers during the first dot-com boom. Thousands of Ethiopian families now help shape the identity of cities like San José and Oakland. And Meseret pointed out that it’s here in the Bay Area where Ethiopia’s vast cultural diversity meets in one place.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abigail Kume, 10, puts her arm around Imani Moten, 10, during Maleda Youth Soccer practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Outside of what region you’re from, your religion or what language you speak, Maleda focuses on our kids,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are coaches who can talk to families in the language they’re most comfortable in, including Amharic, Oromo and Tigrinya. “We’re here for our heritage, culture, history and just being one,” Meseret said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as a community effort to provide a safe space for kids to play soccer and learn more about Ethiopian culture has become part of a bigger, cross-cultural push in the Bay Area to make soccer more accessible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The region’s first National Women’s Soccer League team was founded in 2023 by four legends of the sport — Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner — who were either born in San José or played in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as the U.S. prepares to both host and compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/16/united-states-womens-world-cup-2031-01002399\">2031 Women’s World Cup\u003c/a>, the country is looking for new ways to boost talent that’s historically been forced out of the sport because it’s too expensive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting everybody on the field\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss against Belgium, fans began debating what’s holding American soccer back from its full potential. Some \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7435754/2026/07/10/pay-to-play-us-youth-soccer-usmnt-world-cup/\">pointed\u003c/a> to the very high cost of joining youth teams — called “pay-to-play.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Young talented players whose families cannot pay thousands of dollars a year are left out of competitive clubs. The price of developing young soccer talent in many Latin American and European countries is a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092220\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">6- and 7-year-old Maleda Youth Soccer players practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pay-to-play is part of the problem — but not the full picture, said Simon Tobin, head coach of men’s soccer at San José State University. “How can we make a sport that doesn’t cost a lot to play more cost-effective?” he said. “You shouldn’t have under 10s and under 11s traveling a couple hundred miles to go play a game.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But spaces to play soccer at a competitive level in the Bay Area are limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, when officials announced that the city’s historic Kezar Stadium will be the home field next season for the new Major League Soccer Next Pro team Golden City FC, that got \u003ca href=\"https://next.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">pushback from San Francisco City FC\u003c/a> — the oldest supporter-owned soccer club in the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco City FC fans argued their team was being pushed out from where they’ve hosted games for the past decade. Tensions over who gets access to soccer fields \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/12/27/373284989/icymi-2014-soccer-field-standoff-highlights-gentrification-tension\">come up\u003c/a> decade after decade and are likely to become even more fraught as interest in the sport grows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, the U.S. can maintain its historic dominance of the sport by ensuring female players from low-income backgrounds have access to the sport, Tobis said, adding that if more facilities become available, there will be more opportunities for women and co-ed teams to develop across all competition levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Soccer Federation has also unveiled its own plan to prevent young players from leaving the sport, which includes millions of dollars \u003ca href=\"https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/02/us-soccer-awards-3-million-to-benefit-member-organizations-through-2024-innovate-to-grow-initiative\">in grants\u003c/a> to youth leagues nationwide, training more referees and promoting the game beyond the competitive club environment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The next stage for soccer is to embrace everybody that can play. Get to those that have been put off in the past by the sheer cost of it,” Tobis said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Del Monte Park in San José, Maleda only has two hours available on Saturdays for youth practice. Coach Semert Haile knows time is limited and keeps her players, kids ages 7 and 8, moving. She said she started playing at the same age when she was living in Ethiopia. \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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092219\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Club Coach Semert Haile throws a soccer ball into the air for her 6- and 7-year-old players during weekly practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And now as an adult living in San José, she’s always bringing new families into Maleda, so their kids can play soccer without blowing the budget.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s fun to play and learn with them. They have a pure heart,” she said between drills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The blazing San José sun doesn’t slow her down. She’s been coaching for more than a decade with Maleda and remembers when Girma and her family would come to practice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Look where Naomi is now,” she said. “I have a vision that many of these girls and boys will be even better than Naomi. That’s my hope. That’s my dream.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ogpenn\">Pendarvis Harshaw\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cristiano Ronaldo takes the ball and pushes toward the opponent’s goal. He keeps it close and weaves past Lionel Messi. A few steps later, Messi again — in fact, there are quite a few Messis on this field. And even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091779/bay-area-soccer-fans-celebrate-spains-world-cup-win\">a couple of Lamine Yamals\u003c/a> running around, too.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Cristiano Ronaldo takes the ball and pushes toward the opponent’s goal. He keeps it close and weaves past Lionel Messi. A few steps later, Messi again — in fact, there are quite a few Messis on this field. And even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091779/bay-area-soccer-fans-celebrate-spains-world-cup-win\">a couple of Lamine Yamals\u003c/a> running around, too.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s Saturday morning at Del Monte Park in San José, and hundreds of kids have come out for practice with Maleda Youth Soccer Club. Inspired by this summer’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a>, many wear the jerseys of their favorite players.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s Saturday morning at Del Monte Park in San José, and hundreds of kids have come out for practice with Maleda Youth Soccer Club. Inspired by this summer’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a>, many wear the jerseys of their favorite players.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Siuuu!” Christian Brook, 10, shouted after practice, emulating Ronaldo’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4677663/explained-cristiano-ronaldos-siuuu-celebration\">iconic celebration\u003c/a>. His team may have lost its scrimmage, but that doesn’t dim his smile.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Siuuu!” Christian Brook, 10, shouted after practice, emulating Ronaldo’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4677663/explained-cristiano-ronaldos-siuuu-celebration\">iconic celebration\u003c/a>. His team may have lost its scrimmage, but that doesn’t dim his smile.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Brook usually plays right wing and said that’s one of the reasons he likes Ronaldo, who excels in attacking positions. But when he plays defense, Brook thinks of another player — Naomi Girma, currently center back for England’s Women’s Super League club Chelsea FC and one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40751304/uswnt-hayes-girma-best-defender-ever-seen\">most talented defenders\u003c/a> for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Brook usually plays right wing and said that’s one of the reasons he likes Ronaldo, who excels in attacking positions. But when he plays defense, Brook thinks of another player — Naomi Girma, currently center back for England’s Women’s Super League club Chelsea FC and one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40751304/uswnt-hayes-girma-best-defender-ever-seen\">most talented defenders\u003c/a> for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092276,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-160x75.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-1536x716.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2048x955.jpg 2048w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-160x75.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-1536x716.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2048x955.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(L-R) Naomi Girma, #4 for the United States, celebrates after her team’s 1-0 victory against Colombia during a SheBelieves Cup match at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images) A young Naomi Girma, who has played soccer competitively since she was a child growing up in San José. (U.S. Soccer via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092276\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(L-R) Naomi Girma, #4 for the United States, celebrates after her team’s 1-0 victory against Colombia during a SheBelieves Cup match at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images) A young Naomi Girma, who has played soccer competitively since she was a child growing up in San José. (U.S. Soccer via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“She played here, just like us,” he said, adding that her family is Ethiopian, just like his. Dozens of other kids at practice immediately recognized Girma’s name and shouted with pride that the soccer superstar also hails from San José.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“She played here, just like us,” he said, adding that her family is Ethiopian, just like his. Dozens of other kids at practice immediately recognized Girma’s name and shouted with pride that the soccer superstar also hails from San José.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I started playing with Maleda,” Girma — who was unavailable for an interview for this story — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988410/naomi-girma-us-womens-soccer-star-returns-san-jose\">told KQED\u003c/a> a few months ago. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I started playing with Maleda,” Girma — who was unavailable for an interview for this story — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988410/naomi-girma-us-womens-soccer-star-returns-san-jose\">told KQED\u003c/a> a few months ago. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Girma’s father was one of the handful of South Bay immigrant parents who came together in 2004 to help start the club. “It was just for Ethiopian families to come together,” Girma said. “But I also had a lot of fun.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Girma’s father was one of the handful of South Bay immigrant parents who came together in 2004 to help start the club. “It was just for Ethiopian families to come together,” Girma said. “But I also had a lot of fun.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the 2026 Men’s World Cup takes its place in history, soccer fans now prepare for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. has won the tournament four times — the most of any nation — and Girma is a strong contender for the squad after a stellar performance in the last World Cup. In Maleda, families that saw her score her first goals are excited to cheer her on. And for some, Girma’s journey affirms one of the missions of the club: to help kids build a stronger sense of self through playing soccer and at the same time, learn more about their Ethiopian heritage.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>As the 2026 Men’s World Cup takes its place in history, soccer fans now prepare for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. has won the tournament four times — the most of any nation — and Girma is a strong contender for the squad after a stellar performance in the last World Cup. In Maleda, families that saw her score her first goals are excited to cheer her on. And for some, Girma’s journey affirms one of the missions of the club: to help kids build a stronger sense of self through playing soccer and at the same time, learn more about their Ethiopian heritage.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When our kids go to school, they are surrounded by many different cultures,” said Selome Alemayehu, the mother of two boys playing in Maleda. “But when they come here, they get the taste of Ethiopia. It’s important for them to also know where they came from, what their culture is, because they don’t see all these people Monday through Friday.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“When our kids go to school, they are surrounded by many different cultures,” said Selome Alemayehu, the mother of two boys playing in Maleda. “But when they come here, they get the taste of Ethiopia. It’s important for them to also know where they came from, what their culture is, because they don’t see all these people Monday through Friday.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092222,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-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\">Goalkeeper Andreas Demke, 12, catches a ball as Imani Moten, 10, watches nearby during Maleda Youth Soccer practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092222\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Goalkeeper Andreas Demke, 12, catches a ball as Imani Moten, 10, watches nearby during Maleda Youth Soccer practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Powered by the volunteer efforts of dozens of parents like Alemayehu, Maleda — which translates to “early morning” in Amharic — also provides an affordable entry to soccer, something experts say is necessary to help both women’s and men’s soccer in the U.S. grow stronger and develop the next generation of the sport’s superstars.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Powered by the volunteer efforts of dozens of parents like Alemayehu, Maleda — which translates to “early morning” in Amharic — also provides an affordable entry to soccer, something experts say is necessary to help both women’s and men’s soccer in the U.S. grow stronger and develop the next generation of the sport’s superstars.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to research from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, soccer is more popular than ever, with more than 25 million Americans playing the sport this year. But data from the U.S. Soccer Federation shows that among kids, participation drops dramatically by the time they become teenagers. Around 70% of children quit by age 14. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>According to research from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, soccer is more popular than ever, with more than 25 million Americans playing the sport this year. But data from the U.S. Soccer Federation shows that among kids, participation drops dramatically by the time they become teenagers. Around 70% of children quit by age 14. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Even though it’s hard for my kids to wake up for school, they’re the first ones waking up on Saturday morning,” Alemayehu said. “They rush me, instead of me rushing them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Even though it’s hard for my kids to wake up for school, they’re the first ones waking up on Saturday morning,” Alemayehu said. “They rush me, instead of me rushing them.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Especially my little one. He’s only 7, but he’s always saying he will be the next Maleda soccer player that’s going to be just like Naomi.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Especially my little one. He’s only 7, but he’s always saying he will be the next Maleda soccer player that’s going to be just like Naomi.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "‘Being one’",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Being one’\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Being one’\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s been more than 20 years since Maleda head coach Solomon Wolday came to California from Ethiopia, where he first fell in love with soccer as a boy, playing with other kids on his street.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s been more than 20 years since Maleda head coach Solomon Wolday came to California from Ethiopia, where he first fell in love with soccer as a boy, playing with other kids on his street.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t take too much to get kids to get out and play,” he said. Like many of the other coaches on the field Saturday, Wolday is a volunteer and also a parent. All three of his daughters honed their soccer skills at Maleda.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t take too much to get kids to get out and play,” he said. Like many of the other coaches on the field Saturday, Wolday is a volunteer and also a parent. All three of his daughters honed their soccer skills at Maleda.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092224,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092224\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-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\">Maleda Youth Soccer Head Coach Solomon Wolday checks in with his players after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092224\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Head Coach Solomon Wolday checks in with his players after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Children can join the club as soon as they turn 5 and learn the basics — dribbling, passes, different formations. “It’s not very competitive at that level,” Wolday said, adding that the main objective is to help kids learn about the values that come with soccer. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Children can join the club as soon as they turn 5 and learn the basics — dribbling, passes, different formations. “It’s not very competitive at that level,” Wolday said, adding that the main objective is to help kids learn about the values that come with soccer. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They learn the value of hard work and teamwork,” he said. “It also shows them how to cope with losing.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“They learn the value of hard work and teamwork,” he said. “It also shows them how to cope with losing.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Maleda only practices on Saturdays from March to August and charges families a $200 registration fee per season, regardless of how many kids a family has playing in the club. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Maleda only practices on Saturdays from March to August and charges families a $200 registration fee per season, regardless of how many kids a family has playing in the club. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Travel and academy clubs in the Bay Area, which usually have a more rigorous practice schedule and travel across the state to play in different tournaments, often charge thousands of dollars per player each season.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Travel and academy clubs in the Bay Area, which usually have a more rigorous practice schedule and travel across the state to play in different tournaments, often charge thousands of dollars per player each season.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/gallery",
"attrs": {
"linkTo": "none"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n\n\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092225,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092225\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players put their hands together after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092225\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players put their hands together after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092223,
"sizeSlug": "large",
"linkDestination": "none"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092223\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players sit in a circle after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092223\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players sit in a circle after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
]
}
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The club’s accessibility helps families get and stay involved, said Meseret Gualle, who forms part of Maleda’s leadership team and first joined when her daughter started playing four years ago. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The club’s accessibility helps families get and stay involved, said Meseret Gualle, who forms part of Maleda’s leadership team and first joined when her daughter started playing four years ago. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Anyone can join the team, but most families trace their roots to Ethiopia. “We Ethiopians have a lot of different ethnicities, languages, tribes,” she said. “This program brings all of that together.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Anyone can join the team, but most families trace their roots to Ethiopia. “We Ethiopians have a lot of different ethnicities, languages, tribes,” she said. “This program brings all of that together.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has been home to a thriving Ethiopian community for more than 40 years. Many families who first moved to the region in the ’80s and ’90s were fleeing Ethiopia’s civil war and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13905230/zeni-ethiopian-restaurant-san-jose\">found economic opportunities\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley building the electronic components for personal computers during the first dot-com boom. Thousands of Ethiopian families now help shape the identity of cities like San José and Oakland. And Meseret pointed out that it’s here in the Bay Area where Ethiopia’s vast cultural diversity meets in one place.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has been home to a thriving Ethiopian community for more than 40 years. Many families who first moved to the region in the ’80s and ’90s were fleeing Ethiopia’s civil war and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13905230/zeni-ethiopian-restaurant-san-jose\">found economic opportunities\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley building the electronic components for personal computers during the first dot-com boom. Thousands of Ethiopian families now help shape the identity of cities like San José and Oakland. And Meseret pointed out that it’s here in the Bay Area where Ethiopia’s vast cultural diversity meets in one place.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092221,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abigail Kume, 10, puts her arm around Imani Moten, 10, during Maleda Youth Soccer practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092221\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abigail Kume, 10, puts her arm around Imani Moten, 10, during Maleda Youth Soccer practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Outside of what region you’re from, your religion or what language you speak, Maleda focuses on our kids,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Outside of what region you’re from, your religion or what language you speak, Maleda focuses on our kids,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are coaches who can talk to families in the language they’re most comfortable in, including Amharic, Oromo and Tigrinya. “We’re here for our heritage, culture, history and just being one,” Meseret said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>There are coaches who can talk to families in the language they’re most comfortable in, including Amharic, Oromo and Tigrinya. “We’re here for our heritage, culture, history and just being one,” Meseret said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What began as a community effort to provide a safe space for kids to play soccer and learn more about Ethiopian culture has become part of a bigger, cross-cultural push in the Bay Area to make soccer more accessible. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>What began as a community effort to provide a safe space for kids to play soccer and learn more about Ethiopian culture has become part of a bigger, cross-cultural push in the Bay Area to make soccer more accessible. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The region’s first National Women’s Soccer League team was founded in 2023 by four legends of the sport — Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner — who were either born in San José or played in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The region’s first National Women’s Soccer League team was founded in 2023 by four legends of the sport — Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner — who were either born in San José or played in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And as the U.S. prepares to both host and compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/16/united-states-womens-world-cup-2031-01002399\">2031 Women’s World Cup\u003c/a>, the country is looking for new ways to boost talent that’s historically been forced out of the sport because it’s too expensive. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And as the U.S. prepares to both host and compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/16/united-states-womens-world-cup-2031-01002399\">2031 Women’s World Cup\u003c/a>, the country is looking for new ways to boost talent that’s historically been forced out of the sport because it’s too expensive. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Getting everybody on the field",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting everybody on the field\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting everybody on the field\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After the U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss against Belgium, fans began debating what’s holding American soccer back from its full potential. Some \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7435754/2026/07/10/pay-to-play-us-youth-soccer-usmnt-world-cup/\">pointed\u003c/a> to the very high cost of joining youth teams — called “pay-to-play.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>After the U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss against Belgium, fans began debating what’s holding American soccer back from its full potential. Some \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7435754/2026/07/10/pay-to-play-us-youth-soccer-usmnt-world-cup/\">pointed\u003c/a> to the very high cost of joining youth teams — called “pay-to-play.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Young talented players whose families cannot pay thousands of dollars a year are left out of competitive clubs. The price of developing young soccer talent in many Latin American and European countries is a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Young talented players whose families cannot pay thousands of dollars a year are left out of competitive clubs. The price of developing young soccer talent in many Latin American and European countries is a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092220,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092220\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-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\">6- and 7-year-old Maleda Youth Soccer players practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092220\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">6- and 7-year-old Maleda Youth Soccer players practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pay-to-play is part of the problem — but not the full picture, said Simon Tobin, head coach of men’s soccer at San José State University. “How can we make a sport that doesn’t cost a lot to play more cost-effective?” he said. “You shouldn’t have under 10s and under 11s traveling a couple hundred miles to go play a game.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Pay-to-play is part of the problem — but not the full picture, said Simon Tobin, head coach of men’s soccer at San José State University. “How can we make a sport that doesn’t cost a lot to play more cost-effective?” he said. “You shouldn’t have under 10s and under 11s traveling a couple hundred miles to go play a game.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But spaces to play soccer at a competitive level in the Bay Area are limited.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But spaces to play soccer at a competitive level in the Bay Area are limited.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, when officials announced that the city’s historic Kezar Stadium will be the home field next season for the new Major League Soccer Next Pro team Golden City FC, that got \u003ca href=\"https://next.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">pushback from San Francisco City FC\u003c/a> — the oldest supporter-owned soccer club in the country. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, when officials announced that the city’s historic Kezar Stadium will be the home field next season for the new Major League Soccer Next Pro team Golden City FC, that got \u003ca href=\"https://next.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">pushback from San Francisco City FC\u003c/a> — the oldest supporter-owned soccer club in the country. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco City FC fans argued their team was being pushed out from where they’ve hosted games for the past decade. Tensions over who gets access to soccer fields \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/12/27/373284989/icymi-2014-soccer-field-standoff-highlights-gentrification-tension\">come up\u003c/a> decade after decade and are likely to become even more fraught as interest in the sport grows.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>San Francisco City FC fans argued their team was being pushed out from where they’ve hosted games for the past decade. Tensions over who gets access to soccer fields \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/12/27/373284989/icymi-2014-soccer-field-standoff-highlights-gentrification-tension\">come up\u003c/a> decade after decade and are likely to become even more fraught as interest in the sport grows.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12091748"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-45-BL-KQED.jpg",
"heroImageLink": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/0-1.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, the U.S. can maintain its historic dominance of the sport by ensuring female players from low-income backgrounds have access to the sport, Tobis said, adding that if more facilities become available, there will be more opportunities for women and co-ed teams to develop across all competition levels.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, the U.S. can maintain its historic dominance of the sport by ensuring female players from low-income backgrounds have access to the sport, Tobis said, adding that if more facilities become available, there will be more opportunities for women and co-ed teams to develop across all competition levels.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. Soccer Federation has also unveiled its own plan to prevent young players from leaving the sport, which includes millions of dollars \u003ca href=\"https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/02/us-soccer-awards-3-million-to-benefit-member-organizations-through-2024-innovate-to-grow-initiative\">in grants\u003c/a> to youth leagues nationwide, training more referees and promoting the game beyond the competitive club environment.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The U.S. Soccer Federation has also unveiled its own plan to prevent young players from leaving the sport, which includes millions of dollars \u003ca href=\"https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/02/us-soccer-awards-3-million-to-benefit-member-organizations-through-2024-innovate-to-grow-initiative\">in grants\u003c/a> to youth leagues nationwide, training more referees and promoting the game beyond the competitive club environment.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The next stage for soccer is to embrace everybody that can play. Get to those that have been put off in the past by the sheer cost of it,” Tobis said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The next stage for soccer is to embrace everybody that can play. Get to those that have been put off in the past by the sheer cost of it,” Tobis said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Del Monte Park in San José, Maleda only has two hours available on Saturdays for youth practice. Coach Semert Haile knows time is limited and keeps her players, kids ages 7 and 8, moving. She said she started playing at the same age when she was living in Ethiopia. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At Del Monte Park in San José, Maleda only has two hours available on Saturdays for youth practice. Coach Semert Haile knows time is limited and keeps her players, kids ages 7 and 8, moving. She said she started playing at the same age when she was living in Ethiopia. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12092219,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Juliana Yamada/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092219\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Club Coach Semert Haile throws a soccer ball into the air for her 6- and 7-year-old players during weekly practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092219\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Club Coach Semert Haile throws a soccer ball into the air for her 6- and 7-year-old players during weekly practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And now as an adult living in San José, she’s always bringing new families into Maleda, so their kids can play soccer without blowing the budget.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And now as an adult living in San José, she’s always bringing new families into Maleda, so their kids can play soccer without blowing the budget.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s fun to play and learn with them. They have a pure heart,” she said between drills. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“It’s fun to play and learn with them. They have a pure heart,” she said between drills. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The blazing San José sun doesn’t slow her down. She’s been coaching for more than a decade with Maleda and remembers when Girma and her family would come to practice. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The blazing San José sun doesn’t slow her down. She’s been coaching for more than a decade with Maleda and remembers when Girma and her family would come to practice. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Look where Naomi is now,” she said. “I have a vision that many of these girls and boys will be even better than Naomi. That’s my hope. That’s my dream.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Look where Naomi is now,” she said. “I have a vision that many of these girls and boys will be even better than Naomi. That’s my hope. That’s my dream.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ogpenn\">Pendarvis Harshaw\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ogpenn\">Pendarvis Harshaw\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "San José’s Ethiopian community prepares to root for local hero Naomi Girma ahead of the Women’s World Cup next year. The same club that saw her start continues making soccer affordable to families who also want a place to bring their kids closer to their heritage.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784832778,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 44,
"wordCount": 2213
},
"headData": {
"title": "Maleda — Where San José’s Brightest Soccer Stars Get Started | KQED",
"description": "San José’s Ethiopian community prepares to root for local hero Naomi Girma ahead of the Women’s World Cup next year. The same club that saw her start continues making soccer affordable to families who also want a place to bring their kids closer to their heritage.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Maleda — Where San José’s Brightest Soccer Stars Get Started",
"datePublished": "2026-07-23T07:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-23T11:52:58-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"name": "Sports"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12091408",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12091408/maleda-where-san-joses-brightest-soccer-stars-get-started",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Cristiano Ronaldo takes the ball and pushes toward the opponent’s goal. He keeps it close and weaves past Lionel Messi. A few steps later, Messi again — in fact, there are quite a few Messis on this field. And even \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12091779/bay-area-soccer-fans-celebrate-spains-world-cup-win\">a couple of Lamine Yamals\u003c/a> running around, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s Saturday morning at Del Monte Park in San José, and hundreds of kids have come out for practice with Maleda Youth Soccer Club. Inspired by this summer’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a>, many wear the jerseys of their favorite players.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Siuuu!” Christian Brook, 10, shouted after practice, emulating Ronaldo’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4677663/explained-cristiano-ronaldos-siuuu-celebration\">iconic celebration\u003c/a>. His team may have lost its scrimmage, but that doesn’t dim his smile.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brook usually plays right wing and said that’s one of the reasons he likes Ronaldo, who excels in attacking positions. But when he plays defense, Brook thinks of another player — Naomi Girma, currently center back for England’s Women’s Super League club Chelsea FC and one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40751304/uswnt-hayes-girma-best-defender-ever-seen\">most talented defenders\u003c/a> for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"933\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2000x933.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-160x75.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-1536x716.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/NaomiGirma-diptych-2048x955.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(L-R) Naomi Girma, #4 for the United States, celebrates after her team’s 1-0 victory against Colombia during a SheBelieves Cup match at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images) A young Naomi Girma, who has played soccer competitively since she was a child growing up in San José. (U.S. Soccer via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“She played here, just like us,” he said, adding that her family is Ethiopian, just like his. Dozens of other kids at practice immediately recognized Girma’s name and shouted with pride that the soccer superstar also hails from San José.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I started playing with Maleda,” Girma — who was unavailable for an interview for this story — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988410/naomi-girma-us-womens-soccer-star-returns-san-jose\">told KQED\u003c/a> a few months ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Girma’s father was one of the handful of South Bay immigrant parents who came together in 2004 to help start the club. “It was just for Ethiopian families to come together,” Girma said. “But I also had a lot of fun.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the 2026 Men’s World Cup takes its place in history, soccer fans now prepare for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. has won the tournament four times — the most of any nation — and Girma is a strong contender for the squad after a stellar performance in the last World Cup. In Maleda, families that saw her score her first goals are excited to cheer her on. And for some, Girma’s journey affirms one of the missions of the club: to help kids build a stronger sense of self through playing soccer and at the same time, learn more about their Ethiopian heritage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When our kids go to school, they are surrounded by many different cultures,” said Selome Alemayehu, the mother of two boys playing in Maleda. “But when they come here, they get the taste of Ethiopia. It’s important for them to also know where they came from, what their culture is, because they don’t see all these people Monday through Friday.”\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092222\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-09-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Goalkeeper Andreas Demke, 12, catches a ball as Imani Moten, 10, watches nearby during Maleda Youth Soccer practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Powered by the volunteer efforts of dozens of parents like Alemayehu, Maleda — which translates to “early morning” in Amharic — also provides an affordable entry to soccer, something experts say is necessary to help both women’s and men’s soccer in the U.S. grow stronger and develop the next generation of the sport’s superstars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to research from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, soccer is more popular than ever, with more than 25 million Americans playing the sport this year. But data from the U.S. Soccer Federation shows that among kids, participation drops dramatically by the time they become teenagers. Around 70% of children quit by age 14. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even though it’s hard for my kids to wake up for school, they’re the first ones waking up on Saturday morning,” Alemayehu said. “They rush me, instead of me rushing them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Especially my little one. He’s only 7, but he’s always saying he will be the next Maleda soccer player that’s going to be just like Naomi.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Being one’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s been more than 20 years since Maleda head coach Solomon Wolday came to California from Ethiopia, where he first fell in love with soccer as a boy, playing with other kids on his street.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t take too much to get kids to get out and play,” he said. Like many of the other coaches on the field Saturday, Wolday is a volunteer and also a parent. All three of his daughters honed their soccer skills at Maleda.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092224\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-13-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Head Coach Solomon Wolday checks in with his players after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Children can join the club as soon as they turn 5 and learn the basics — dribbling, passes, different formations. “It’s not very competitive at that level,” Wolday said, adding that the main objective is to help kids learn about the values that come with soccer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They learn the value of hard work and teamwork,” he said. “It also shows them how to cope with losing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Maleda only practices on Saturdays from March to August and charges families a $200 registration fee per season, regardless of how many kids a family has playing in the club. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Travel and academy clubs in the Bay Area, which usually have a more rigorous practice schedule and travel across the state to play in different tournaments, often charge thousands of dollars per player each season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12092225\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092225\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-15-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players put their hands together after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12092223\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092223\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-12-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer players sit in a circle after practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The club’s accessibility helps families get and stay involved, said Meseret Gualle, who forms part of Maleda’s leadership team and first joined when her daughter started playing four years ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Anyone can join the team, but most families trace their roots to Ethiopia. “We Ethiopians have a lot of different ethnicities, languages, tribes,” she said. “This program brings all of that together.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has been home to a thriving Ethiopian community for more than 40 years. Many families who first moved to the region in the ’80s and ’90s were fleeing Ethiopia’s civil war and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13905230/zeni-ethiopian-restaurant-san-jose\">found economic opportunities\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley building the electronic components for personal computers during the first dot-com boom. Thousands of Ethiopian families now help shape the identity of cities like San José and Oakland. And Meseret pointed out that it’s here in the Bay Area where Ethiopia’s vast cultural diversity meets in one place.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092221\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-07-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abigail Kume, 10, puts her arm around Imani Moten, 10, during Maleda Youth Soccer practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Outside of what region you’re from, your religion or what language you speak, Maleda focuses on our kids,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are coaches who can talk to families in the language they’re most comfortable in, including Amharic, Oromo and Tigrinya. “We’re here for our heritage, culture, history and just being one,” Meseret said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as a community effort to provide a safe space for kids to play soccer and learn more about Ethiopian culture has become part of a bigger, cross-cultural push in the Bay Area to make soccer more accessible. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The region’s first National Women’s Soccer League team was founded in 2023 by four legends of the sport — Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner — who were either born in San José or played in the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as the U.S. prepares to both host and compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/16/united-states-womens-world-cup-2031-01002399\">2031 Women’s World Cup\u003c/a>, the country is looking for new ways to boost talent that’s historically been forced out of the sport because it’s too expensive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting everybody on the field\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the U.S. men’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss against Belgium, fans began debating what’s holding American soccer back from its full potential. Some \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7435754/2026/07/10/pay-to-play-us-youth-soccer-usmnt-world-cup/\">pointed\u003c/a> to the very high cost of joining youth teams — called “pay-to-play.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Young talented players whose families cannot pay thousands of dollars a year are left out of competitive clubs. The price of developing young soccer talent in many Latin American and European countries is a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.\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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092220\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-04-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">6- and 7-year-old Maleda Youth Soccer players practice together at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pay-to-play is part of the problem — but not the full picture, said Simon Tobin, head coach of men’s soccer at San José State University. “How can we make a sport that doesn’t cost a lot to play more cost-effective?” he said. “You shouldn’t have under 10s and under 11s traveling a couple hundred miles to go play a game.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But spaces to play soccer at a competitive level in the Bay Area are limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, when officials announced that the city’s historic Kezar Stadium will be the home field next season for the new Major League Soccer Next Pro team Golden City FC, that got \u003ca href=\"https://next.kqed.org/news/12084932/as-the-bay-area-prepares-for-world-cup-a-san-francisco-team-looks-for-a-way-forward\">pushback from San Francisco City FC\u003c/a> — the oldest supporter-owned soccer club in the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco City FC fans argued their team was being pushed out from where they’ve hosted games for the past decade. Tensions over who gets access to soccer fields \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/12/27/373284989/icymi-2014-soccer-field-standoff-highlights-gentrification-tension\">come up\u003c/a> decade after decade and are likely to become even more fraught as interest in the sport grows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, the U.S. can maintain its historic dominance of the sport by ensuring female players from low-income backgrounds have access to the sport, Tobis said, adding that if more facilities become available, there will be more opportunities for women and co-ed teams to develop across all competition levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Soccer Federation has also unveiled its own plan to prevent young players from leaving the sport, which includes millions of dollars \u003ca href=\"https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/02/us-soccer-awards-3-million-to-benefit-member-organizations-through-2024-innovate-to-grow-initiative\">in grants\u003c/a> to youth leagues nationwide, training more referees and promoting the game beyond the competitive club environment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The next stage for soccer is to embrace everybody that can play. Get to those that have been put off in the past by the sheer cost of it,” Tobis said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Del Monte Park in San José, Maleda only has two hours available on Saturdays for youth practice. Coach Semert Haile knows time is limited and keeps her players, kids ages 7 and 8, moving. She said she started playing at the same age when she was living in Ethiopia. \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/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12092219\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260718-MaledaYouthSoccer-JY-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maleda Youth Soccer Club Coach Semert Haile throws a soccer ball into the air for her 6- and 7-year-old players during weekly practice at Del Monte Park in San José, California, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Maleda Youth Soccer Club is primarily comprised of Ethiopian families. (Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And now as an adult living in San José, she’s always bringing new families into Maleda, so their kids can play soccer without blowing the budget.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s fun to play and learn with them. They have a pure heart,” she said between drills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The blazing San José sun doesn’t slow her down. She’s been coaching for more than a decade with Maleda and remembers when Girma and her family would come to practice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Look where Naomi is now,” she said. “I have a vision that many of these girls and boys will be even better than Naomi. That’s my hope. That’s my dream.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ogpenn\">Pendarvis Harshaw\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12091408/maleda-where-san-joses-brightest-soccer-stars-get-started",
"authors": [
"11708"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_10"
],
"tags": [
"news_32707",
"news_1386",
"news_27626",
"news_18541",
"news_1489",
"news_21285",
"news_34078",
"news_28623",
"news_25293",
"news_26093"
],
"featImg": "news_12092226",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12091975": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12091975",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12091975",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1784718000000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip",
"title": "VTA’s Record-Breaking World Cup Ridership Nets Just Around $1 Per Trip",
"publishDate": 1784718000,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "VTA’s Record-Breaking World Cup Ridership Nets Just Around $1 Per Trip | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \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/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\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/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \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/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12083439,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Tâm Vũ/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-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\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 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/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12091779"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260719-worldcupfinals-01103_TV_qed.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12091989,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Emilee Chinn/Getty Images",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. \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/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12091977,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Beth LaBerge/KQED",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 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/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "VTA has long relied on sales taxes, not fares, to fund its operations. San José’s Mayor says this should be a wake-up call for the agency to generate more money from fares. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784740822,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 20,
"wordCount": 908
},
"headData": {
"title": "VTA’s Record-Breaking World Cup Ridership Nets Just Around $1 Per Trip | KQED",
"description": "VTA has long relied on sales taxes, not fares, to fund its operations. San José’s Mayor says this should be a wake-up call for the agency to generate more money from fares. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "VTA’s Record-Breaking World Cup Ridership Nets Just Around $1 Per Trip",
"datePublished": "2026-07-22T04:00:00-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-22T10:20:22-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 1397,
"slug": "transportation",
"name": "Transportation"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12091975",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Despite record-breaking ridership shuttling passengers to recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> matches, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) netted only about $1 per passenger, according to new data shared by the agency. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officials announced last week that VTA transported nearly 230,000 passengers to and from Levi’s Stadium over the six matches that took place between mid-June and July 1, setting an all-time special event ridership record. But the estimated fare revenue was just over $238,000. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If all the fans taking those 230,000 trips paid a $2.50 single adult fare each time, VTA would have made an additional $336,000 — though that amount could have been diminished by senior and youth rider discounts, as well as free transfers, event promotions and other discounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED on Tuesday that “the agency needs to do better” in farebox recovery and fare enforcement. \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/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12083439\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260512-WORLDCUPFLAG-TV-01469-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mayor Matt Mahan gives his opening speech at the World Cup flag-raising ceremony at San José City Hall in San José on May 12, 2026. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I think this should be a wake-up call,” said Mahan, who has long been critical of VTA’s reliance on sales taxes, and not fares, to fund operations. “ The actual fare enforcement and the level of revenue collection could have and should have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The revenue figures, requested by KQED, come as voters in Santa Clara County and four other counties in the Bay Area will be asked to approve an additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">sales tax\u003c/a> this November, in order to fund operations at VTA and other major Bay Area transit agencies, as the agencies struggle to overcome pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is facing a nearly $900,000 budget deficit for the current fiscal year, which is projected to increase to $15 million by fiscal year 2027, and continue to worsen in the following years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november\">group opposed\u003c/a> to the proposed tax launched its own counter campaign earlier this month, on a platform that Bay Area transit agencies should cut costs and spend the taxpayer money they already have before asking for more. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ We are a public service, and we want to do whatever it takes to get people to where they need to go. That involves losing money sometimes,” said Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokesperson for VTA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA has long relied primarily on revenue from sales taxes to fund its operations. Sales tax revenues currently account for over 86% of its operating budget revenue, while fares account for just over 5%, according to the agency’s latest biennial \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/business-center/financial-investor-information#docaccess-16054ef2141c695ea60f614ff3470f474b1da1be4bfa5cbd538c8542b0880b7b\">budget\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ Unfortunately, fare recovery is not our big revenue, and we believe that we need to operate public transit anyway because it’s important enough to our community that they have repeatedly passed public tax measures to support it,” Hendler Ross said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mahan, who is also vice chairperson on the VTA Board of Directors, said beyond increasing fare enforcement, VTA should do a survey of fare collection enforcement and associated issues from other agencies around the country. Officials from BART have said installation of its next-generation \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate\">faregates\u003c/a>, completed last year, increased revenue by about $10 million annually through reduced fare evasion.\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/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091989\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/VTAWorldCupFares-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bus drives by FIFA World Cup signage on June 12, 2026, in San José. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>VTA is a proof-of-payment system, which relies on riders to pay when they board, and on random checks by fare inspectors to enforce fare policy. Mahan said BART’s model isn’t necessarily replicable for the VTA’s light rail and buses, but the agency could improve fare collection by making paying for transit quicker, more intuitive and reliable. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ I strongly push back on the logic that because we have public revenues, we shouldn’t take farebox recovery and revenue generation seriously,” Mahan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He added he thought it was also important to keep fares at a “reasonable level,” in order to keep them less expensive than the cost of owning a car in Santa Clara County. \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/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091977\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WorldCupUSALevis-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. national men’s team soccer fans walk toward the San Francisco Bay Area stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hendler Ross said VTA currently employs just six fare inspectors and has had a shortage of fare inspectors for “a long time.” She said the agency is currently training 10 transit security officers, whose responsibilities include checking fares, and plans to hire an additional nine to 10 officers sometime later this fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The proposed transit tax heading to the November ballot would help VTA offer better, more frequent service, she said, adding it would also help the “greater good.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ If I never drive on Highway 280, I’m still paying taxes that keep that road working,” she said. “You never know when someone’s gonna need to hop on public transit. So we’re talking about supporting the greater good, and that’s what this country has always been built on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12091975/vtas-record-breaking-world-cup-ridership-nets-just-around-1-per-trip",
"authors": [
"11785"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_1397"
],
"tags": [
"news_1386",
"news_27626",
"news_1764",
"news_1533",
"news_18188",
"news_21285",
"news_34078",
"news_20517",
"news_20675",
"news_6464"
],
"featImg": "news_12089664",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12090911": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12090911",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090911",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1784059501000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "san-jose-state-grad-student-charged-for-hateful-and-threatening-message",
"title": "San José State Grad Student Charged for ‘Hateful and Threatening’ Message",
"publishDate": 1784059501,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "San José State Grad Student Charged for ‘Hateful and Threatening’ Message | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Federal prosecutors have charged a San José State University graduate student for allegedly posting a “hateful and threatening” message in a school bathroom last fall, and have linked him to a string of other similar postings and graffiti scrawls at the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Authorities say Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San José, wrote on a piece of paper “!Warning! Mass Bomb Next Week,” as well as “Kill all Muslims and [Chinese people],” while using a slur to describe Chinese people. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The page was placed in a plastic cover sheet and taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus before it was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The page also had swastikas drawn on it, “MAGA 2028,” and “Kill Zohran,” in an apparent reference to then-New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, along with the sentence, “This is a white nation.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another message on the wall of the bathroom was found at the same time, also calling for the killing of Muslims and Chinese people, as well as Jewish and Mexican people, and added possible dates of violence with the words, “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1124\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007557\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1920x1079.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José State University’s Washington Square Hall located in downtown San José. (Sundry Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California alleged Fang’s fingerprint was found on the paper, which serves as the basis for one charge of spreading false information and hoaxes that indicated a bombing would take place. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The incidents of graffiti containing threats of violence, along with antisemitic, Islamophobic, racial and other discriminatory slurs against members of our campus community, caused real fear and harmed every member of the San José State Spartan community,” Michelle Smith McDonald, a spokesperson for the school, said in an emailed statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our Jewish and Muslim students, faculty and staff experienced these hateful acts in deeply personal ways,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fang was a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing a master’s degree in data science. Smith McDonald said Fang is currently banned from campus, but could not share information about his academic status due to student privacy laws. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was arrested last week and is being held in federal custody. He appeared in federal court in San José on July 10 and July 13, and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, an FBI special agent said the school’s police department has recorded more than twenty “similar hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus” from Oct. 24, 2024 through May 14 of this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives and shooting,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On several occasions after the discovery of these messages, the SJSU President’s Office “put out alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place,” and “SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Fang is currently only charged for one of these instances, investigations from the FBI and campus police appear to be closely tying Fang to many of the other messages. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fang, authorities said, was logged through his campus key card as being in buildings days before threatening messages were found in them on 16 different occasions, out of 18 times such messages were found in places requiring key card access. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also reported a graffiti incident to campus police on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The FBI and SJSU IT department also installed surveillance cameras outside of some campus restrooms in March. Following the installation of the cameras, four more threatening or hateful messages were discovered on campus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In three of those instances, Fang was seen “entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where the messages were written up to a day before their discovery,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview with campus police on May 20, Fang agreed he was in the buildings where these incidents took place, but told officers “he did not know anything about how the graffiti got there or who was doing it,” the affidavit said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Federal prosecutors have charged a San José State University graduate student for allegedly posting a “hateful and threatening” message in a school bathroom last fall, and have linked him to a string of other similar postings and graffiti scrawls at the campus.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Federal prosecutors have charged a San José State University graduate student for allegedly posting a “hateful and threatening” message in a school bathroom last fall, and have linked him to a string of other similar postings and graffiti scrawls at the campus.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Authorities say Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San José, wrote on a piece of paper “!Warning! Mass Bomb Next Week,” as well as “Kill all Muslims and [Chinese people],” while using a slur to describe Chinese people. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Authorities say Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San José, wrote on a piece of paper “!Warning! Mass Bomb Next Week,” as well as “Kill all Muslims and [Chinese people],” while using a slur to describe Chinese people. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The page was placed in a plastic cover sheet and taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus before it was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The page was placed in a plastic cover sheet and taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus before it was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The page also had swastikas drawn on it, “MAGA 2028,” and “Kill Zohran,” in an apparent reference to then-New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, along with the sentence, “This is a white nation.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The page also had swastikas drawn on it, “MAGA 2028,” and “Kill Zohran,” in an apparent reference to then-New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, along with the sentence, “This is a white nation.” \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Another message on the wall of the bathroom was found at the same time, also calling for the killing of Muslims and Chinese people, as well as Jewish and Mexican people, and added possible dates of violence with the words, “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Another message on the wall of the bathroom was found at the same time, also calling for the killing of Muslims and Chinese people, as well as Jewish and Mexican people, and added possible dates of violence with the words, “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12007557,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"imageCredit": "Sundry Photography/Getty Images",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1920x1079.jpg 1920w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007557\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1920x1079.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José State University’s Washington Square Hall located in downtown San José. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007557\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José State University’s Washington Square Hall located in downtown San José. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California alleged Fang’s fingerprint was found on the paper, which serves as the basis for one charge of spreading false information and hoaxes that indicated a bombing would take place. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California alleged Fang’s fingerprint was found on the paper, which serves as the basis for one charge of spreading false information and hoaxes that indicated a bombing would take place. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The incidents of graffiti containing threats of violence, along with antisemitic, Islamophobic, racial and other discriminatory slurs against members of our campus community, caused real fear and harmed every member of the San José State Spartan community,” Michelle Smith McDonald, a spokesperson for the school, said in an emailed statement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The incidents of graffiti containing threats of violence, along with antisemitic, Islamophobic, racial and other discriminatory slurs against members of our campus community, caused real fear and harmed every member of the San José State Spartan community,” Michelle Smith McDonald, a spokesperson for the school, said in an emailed statement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our Jewish and Muslim students, faculty and staff experienced these hateful acts in deeply personal ways,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Our Jewish and Muslim students, faculty and staff experienced these hateful acts in deeply personal ways,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fang was a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing a master’s degree in data science. Smith McDonald said Fang is currently banned from campus, but could not share information about his academic status due to student privacy laws. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Fang was a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing a master’s degree in data science. Smith McDonald said Fang is currently banned from campus, but could not share information about his academic status due to student privacy laws. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He was arrested last week and is being held in federal custody. He appeared in federal court in San José on July 10 and July 13, and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He was arrested last week and is being held in federal custody. He appeared in federal court in San José on July 10 and July 13, and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, an FBI special agent said the school’s police department has recorded more than twenty “similar hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus” from Oct. 24, 2024 through May 14 of this year. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, an FBI special agent said the school’s police department has recorded more than twenty “similar hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus” from Oct. 24, 2024 through May 14 of this year. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12088425"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives and shooting,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives and shooting,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On several occasions after the discovery of these messages, the SJSU President’s Office “put out alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place,” and “SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On several occasions after the discovery of these messages, the SJSU President’s Office “put out alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place,” and “SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Fang is currently only charged for one of these instances, investigations from the FBI and campus police appear to be closely tying Fang to many of the other messages. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While Fang is currently only charged for one of these instances, investigations from the FBI and campus police appear to be closely tying Fang to many of the other messages. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fang, authorities said, was logged through his campus key card as being in buildings days before threatening messages were found in them on 16 different occasions, out of 18 times such messages were found in places requiring key card access. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Fang, authorities said, was logged through his campus key card as being in buildings days before threatening messages were found in them on 16 different occasions, out of 18 times such messages were found in places requiring key card access. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He also reported a graffiti incident to campus police on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He also reported a graffiti incident to campus police on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The FBI and SJSU IT department also installed surveillance cameras outside of some campus restrooms in March. Following the installation of the cameras, four more threatening or hateful messages were discovered on campus. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The FBI and SJSU IT department also installed surveillance cameras outside of some campus restrooms in March. Following the installation of the cameras, four more threatening or hateful messages were discovered on campus. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In three of those instances, Fang was seen “entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where the messages were written up to a day before their discovery,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In three of those instances, Fang was seen “entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where the messages were written up to a day before their discovery,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "floatright"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an interview with campus police on May 20, Fang agreed he was in the buildings where these incidents took place, but told officers “he did not know anything about how the graffiti got there or who was doing it,” the affidavit said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In an interview with campus police on May 20, Fang agreed he was in the buildings where these incidents took place, but told officers “he did not know anything about how the graffiti got there or who was doing it,” the affidavit said.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "Authorities have charged a San José State graduate student for allegedly posting a hateful and threatening message in a campus bathroom. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784060401,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 21,
"wordCount": 817
},
"headData": {
"title": "San José State Grad Student Charged for ‘Hateful and Threatening’ Message | KQED",
"description": "Authorities have charged a San José State graduate student for allegedly posting a hateful and threatening message in a campus bathroom. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "San José State Grad Student Charged for ‘Hateful and Threatening’ Message",
"datePublished": "2026-07-14T13:05:01-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-14T13:20:01-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 34167,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"name": "Criminal Justice"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12090911",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12090911/san-jose-state-grad-student-charged-for-hateful-and-threatening-message",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Federal prosecutors have charged a San José State University graduate student for allegedly posting a “hateful and threatening” message in a school bathroom last fall, and have linked him to a string of other similar postings and graffiti scrawls at the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Authorities say Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San José, wrote on a piece of paper “!Warning! Mass Bomb Next Week,” as well as “Kill all Muslims and [Chinese people],” while using a slur to describe Chinese people. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The page was placed in a plastic cover sheet and taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus before it was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The page also had swastikas drawn on it, “MAGA 2028,” and “Kill Zohran,” in an apparent reference to then-New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, along with the sentence, “This is a white nation.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Another message on the wall of the bathroom was found at the same time, also calling for the killing of Muslims and Chinese people, as well as Jewish and Mexican people, and added possible dates of violence with the words, “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1124\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007557\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1020x573.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/SanJoseStateUniversityGetty1-1920x1079.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San José State University’s Washington Square Hall located in downtown San José. (Sundry Photography/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California alleged Fang’s fingerprint was found on the paper, which serves as the basis for one charge of spreading false information and hoaxes that indicated a bombing would take place. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The incidents of graffiti containing threats of violence, along with antisemitic, Islamophobic, racial and other discriminatory slurs against members of our campus community, caused real fear and harmed every member of the San José State Spartan community,” Michelle Smith McDonald, a spokesperson for the school, said in an emailed statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our Jewish and Muslim students, faculty and staff experienced these hateful acts in deeply personal ways,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fang was a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing a master’s degree in data science. Smith McDonald said Fang is currently banned from campus, but could not share information about his academic status due to student privacy laws. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was arrested last week and is being held in federal custody. He appeared in federal court in San José on July 10 and July 13, and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, an FBI special agent said the school’s police department has recorded more than twenty “similar hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus” from Oct. 24, 2024 through May 14 of this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives and shooting,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On several occasions after the discovery of these messages, the SJSU President’s Office “put out alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place,” and “SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Fang is currently only charged for one of these instances, investigations from the FBI and campus police appear to be closely tying Fang to many of the other messages. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fang, authorities said, was logged through his campus key card as being in buildings days before threatening messages were found in them on 16 different occasions, out of 18 times such messages were found in places requiring key card access. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also reported a graffiti incident to campus police on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The FBI and SJSU IT department also installed surveillance cameras outside of some campus restrooms in March. Following the installation of the cameras, four more threatening or hateful messages were discovered on campus. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In three of those instances, Fang was seen “entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where the messages were written up to a day before their discovery,” the affidavit said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview with campus police on May 20, Fang agreed he was in the buildings where these incidents took place, but told officers “he did not know anything about how the graffiti got there or who was doing it,” the affidavit said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12090911/san-jose-state-grad-student-charged-for-hateful-and-threatening-message",
"authors": [
"11906"
],
"categories": [
"news_34167",
"news_6188",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_4082",
"news_21479",
"news_18541",
"news_1405",
"news_5711",
"news_1394",
"news_21285"
],
"featImg": "news_12037916",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12090807": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12090807",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090807",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783986986000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "ice-will-pause-construction-on-controversial-south-bay-detention-facility",
"title": "ICE Will Pause Construction on Controversial South Bay Detention Facility",
"publishDate": 1783986986,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "ICE Will Pause Construction on Controversial South Bay Detention Facility | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Construction will pause on a controversial planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083600/santa-clara-county-leaders-say-theyll-fight-planned-ice-facility-in-gilroy\">immigration detention facility\u003c/a> outside Gilroy in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal government has agreed to hold off on construction of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility being developed just east of central Gilroy through Sept. 9. The voluntary stoppage is part of a scheduling compromise with attorneys for Santa Clara County and the Attorney General’s office, officials announced Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office and the county have sued ICE, and that lawsuit will continue despite the temporary stoppage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This pause in the construction, demolition and development at the site of the challenged ICE facility is a significant step toward protecting our people, our communities and our environment while the case remains ongoing,” Bonta said in a joint statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The county and the state are suing ICE over what they call the illegal development of a detention facility at 7240 Holsclaw Road, aiming to block it in the short- and long-term. They claim it violates environmental law and also intergovernmental cooperation laws, as they allege the federal government began working on it in secret, without notifying local or state officials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The proposal generated immediate pushback from community members and local elected leaders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The initial lawsuit was filed on June 10, and later that month, the coalition also filed a request for a preliminary injunction, asking a judge to halt the project immediately. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The hearing for that request was set for October, and the federal government would have had to file its formal opposition statements to the court by Monday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the agreement with the county and state, attorneys for ICE will get more time to respond to the request for the preliminary injunction, but the hearing for the request would be moved up to Sept. 8, according to court filings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal judge in the case, Eumi K. Lee, signed off on the agreement on Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our lawsuit lays out the many ways the federal government and private property owner violated the law when they charged ahead with this project in secrecy,” Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti said in the statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’re pleased that the defendants have agreed to halt construction in advance of the court’s hearing on our request for a preliminary injunction,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Construction will pause on a controversial planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083600/santa-clara-county-leaders-say-theyll-fight-planned-ice-facility-in-gilroy\">immigration detention facility\u003c/a> outside Gilroy in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Construction will pause on a controversial planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083600/santa-clara-county-leaders-say-theyll-fight-planned-ice-facility-in-gilroy\">immigration detention facility\u003c/a> outside Gilroy in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The federal government has agreed to hold off on construction of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility being developed just east of central Gilroy through Sept. 9. The voluntary stoppage is part of a scheduling compromise with attorneys for Santa Clara County and the Attorney General’s office, officials announced Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The federal government has agreed to hold off on construction of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility being developed just east of central Gilroy through Sept. 9. The voluntary stoppage is part of a scheduling compromise with attorneys for Santa Clara County and the Attorney General’s office, officials announced Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office and the county have sued ICE, and that lawsuit will continue despite the temporary stoppage.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office and the county have sued ICE, and that lawsuit will continue despite the temporary stoppage.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This pause in the construction, demolition and development at the site of the challenged ICE facility is a significant step toward protecting our people, our communities and our environment while the case remains ongoing,” Bonta said in a joint statement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“This pause in the construction, demolition and development at the site of the challenged ICE facility is a significant step toward protecting our people, our communities and our environment while the case remains ongoing,” Bonta said in a joint statement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The county and the state are suing ICE over what they call the illegal development of a detention facility at 7240 Holsclaw Road, aiming to block it in the short- and long-term. They claim it violates environmental law and also intergovernmental cooperation laws, as they allege the federal government began working on it in secret, without notifying local or state officials. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The county and the state are suing ICE over what they call the illegal development of a detention facility at 7240 Holsclaw Road, aiming to block it in the short- and long-term. They claim it violates environmental law and also intergovernmental cooperation laws, as they allege the federal government began working on it in secret, without notifying local or state officials. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad",
"attrs": {
"format": "fullwidth"
},
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The proposal generated immediate pushback from community members and local elected leaders.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The proposal generated immediate pushback from community members and local elected leaders.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
"attrs": {
"postIds": [
"news_12089974"
],
"label": "Related Articles",
"maxPosts": 1,
"showImages": false,
"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/092225-CalCity-Detention-MV-CM-13.jpeg"
},
"innerHTML": "",
"innerContent": [],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The initial lawsuit was filed on June 10, and later that month, the coalition also filed a request for a preliminary injunction, asking a judge to halt the project immediately. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The initial lawsuit was filed on June 10, and later that month, the coalition also filed a request for a preliminary injunction, asking a judge to halt the project immediately. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The hearing for that request was set for October, and the federal government would have had to file its formal opposition statements to the court by Monday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The hearing for that request was set for October, and the federal government would have had to file its formal opposition statements to the court by Monday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the agreement with the county and state, attorneys for ICE will get more time to respond to the request for the preliminary injunction, but the hearing for the request would be moved up to Sept. 8, according to court filings. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In the agreement with the county and state, attorneys for ICE will get more time to respond to the request for the preliminary injunction, but the hearing for the request would be moved up to Sept. 8, according to court filings. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The federal judge in the case, Eumi K. Lee, signed off on the agreement on Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The federal judge in the case, Eumi K. Lee, signed off on the agreement on Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our lawsuit lays out the many ways the federal government and private property owner violated the law when they charged ahead with this project in secrecy,” Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti said in the statement. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Our lawsuit lays out the many ways the federal government and private property owner violated the law when they charged ahead with this project in secrecy,” Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti said in the statement. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’re pleased that the defendants have agreed to halt construction in advance of the court’s hearing on our request for a preliminary injunction,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’re pleased that the defendants have agreed to halt construction in advance of the court’s hearing on our request for a preliminary injunction,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
}
],
"excerpt": "The federal government will pause construction on a controversial planned immigration detention facility in South Santa Clara County. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1784062700,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 15,
"wordCount": 428
},
"headData": {
"title": "ICE Will Pause Construction on Controversial South Bay Detention Facility | KQED",
"description": "The federal government will pause construction on a controversial planned immigration detention facility in South Santa Clara County. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "ICE Will Pause Construction on Controversial South Bay Detention Facility",
"datePublished": "2026-07-13T16:56:26-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-14T13:58:20-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 8,
"slug": "news",
"name": "News"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12090807",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12090807/ice-will-pause-construction-on-controversial-south-bay-detention-facility",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Construction will pause on a controversial planned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083600/santa-clara-county-leaders-say-theyll-fight-planned-ice-facility-in-gilroy\">immigration detention facility\u003c/a> outside Gilroy in Santa Clara County. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal government has agreed to hold off on construction of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility being developed just east of central Gilroy through Sept. 9. The voluntary stoppage is part of a scheduling compromise with attorneys for Santa Clara County and the Attorney General’s office, officials announced Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office and the county have sued ICE, and that lawsuit will continue despite the temporary stoppage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This pause in the construction, demolition and development at the site of the challenged ICE facility is a significant step toward protecting our people, our communities and our environment while the case remains ongoing,” Bonta said in a joint statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The county and the state are suing ICE over what they call the illegal development of a detention facility at 7240 Holsclaw Road, aiming to block it in the short- and long-term. They claim it violates environmental law and also intergovernmental cooperation laws, as they allege the federal government began working on it in secret, without notifying local or state officials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The proposal generated immediate pushback from community members and local elected leaders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The initial lawsuit was filed on June 10, and later that month, the coalition also filed a request for a preliminary injunction, asking a judge to halt the project immediately. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The hearing for that request was set for October, and the federal government would have had to file its formal opposition statements to the court by Monday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the agreement with the county and state, attorneys for ICE will get more time to respond to the request for the preliminary injunction, but the hearing for the request would be moved up to Sept. 8, according to court filings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The federal judge in the case, Eumi K. Lee, signed off on the agreement on Monday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our lawsuit lays out the many ways the federal government and private property owner violated the law when they charged ahead with this project in secrecy,” Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti said in the statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’re pleased that the defendants have agreed to halt construction in advance of the court’s hearing on our request for a preliminary injunction,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12090807/ice-will-pause-construction-on-controversial-south-bay-detention-facility",
"authors": [
"11906"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_1169",
"news_8",
"news_13"
],
"tags": [
"news_35701",
"news_1323",
"news_27626",
"news_25066",
"news_22215",
"news_20202",
"news_17968",
"news_18188",
"news_21285",
"news_20529"
],
"featImg": "news_12083768",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12090613": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12090613",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090613",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783951241000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "how-much-did-speculation-impact-world-ticket-prices",
"title": "How Much Did Speculation Impact World Cup Ticket Prices?",
"publishDate": 1783951241,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "How Much Did Speculation Impact World Cup Ticket Prices? | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>A week before the U.S. men’s national soccer team \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">faced off against\u003c/a> Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, dozens of seats in the highest section of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\"> Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> were going for between $3,000 and $4,000 across different resale sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A day before the match, however, prices dropped significantly. Seats in the same back rows were offered for less than $2,000. The cost to see the most dominant USMNT in a generation had cratered in a matter of days — why? The answer has to do with speculators, third-party sales and FIFA’s complicated ticket-selling rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides treating fans to magnificent performances by some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/22/nx-s1-5866649/2026-world-cup-fifa-lionel-messi-argentina-scoring-record\">sport’s greatest stars\u003c/a>, this year’s FIFA World Cup drew plenty of controversy over the cost of going to see a game. Months before the tournament began, tickets for some matches were already \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">more expensive\u003c/a> than going to the Super Bowl. Fans who wanted to save money and buy a ticket as early as possible had to navigate an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/world-cup-tickets-fifa-prices\">incredibly complicated process\u003c/a> on FIFA’s official ticketing platform, where prices also shifted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836514/2026-world-cup-fifa-ticket-prices\">based on demand\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the tournament drew closer, some fans skipped FIFA’s platform entirely. A month before the June 25 Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium, Marin County resident Lei Cai said the official site was no longer offering tickets for the game. “I wanted to buy a ticket directly from FIFA, but when that wasn’t possible, our only option was resale sites,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who bought tickets on resale websites — including Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek — were required to pay the vendor first on the site, and then claim their ticket on the FIFA platform. Cai paid for two tickets on StubHub, she said, but when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087142\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After calling StubHub multiple times for weeks, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available to her. Only after KQED contacted StubHub requesting comment on Cai’s situation did StubHub reach out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cai is not alone. Soccer fans nationwide who paid for tickets on resale sites have been left empty-handed\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\"> by vendors\u003c/a> — sometimes even hours before the game. Some economists and consumer advocates say that what happened to fans like Cai — along with the dramatic swings in prices, like what happened ahead of the U.S. game against Bosnia — shows there are major flaws in how the ticketing system works for major sporting events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers have helped ricochet ticket prices for major musical events like Taylor Swift’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-eras-tour-fans-biggest-ticket-scalper/\">Eras Tour\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oasis-reunion-tickets-controversy-explained-1235094425/\">comeback of Oasis\u003c/a>. But the market set up by FIFA and resale sites for this year’s soccer tournament may have helped speculation get a lot worse this time around — where very enthusiastic fans all over North America have already spent millions of dollars and shattered the tournament’s all-time attendance record.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An age-old problem\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tickets for big cultural and athletic events easily attract the attention of speculators because they’re what economists call “perishable goods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of going to a bakery. A loaf of bread freshly baked that morning may be sold at $10. The bakery may also offer bread baked the previous day, but at a much lower price. But you most certainly won’t see bread baked a week or a month before — that’s no longer good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The same thing is true for game tickets,” said Steve Tadelis, professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, who has studied online ticket markets for years. “They’re worth practically zero after the game begins.” (In the case of the World Cup, that’s true an hour before the game begins. According to FIFA rules, if someone doesn’t claim their ticket an hour before a match begins, they can no longer use it to get into the stadium.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s knockout stage can be especially attractive for speculators, Tadelis said. Speculators may have bought tickets for quarter-final or semi-final matches when fans had no confirmed information about which teams were advancing, but can then offer tickets at much higher prices if they see a popular team advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while speculators may have good instincts on how soccer fans may behave, they can still make mistakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A seller may hope to sell a ticket for $3,000 a few weeks before a knockout-round game, assuming that enthusiasm among soccer lovers will keep growing with time. But the match is now just a couple of days away, and no one has snatched up the ticket. “They may be happy now to get a thousand or maybe even a few hundred dollars, because now they’re really worried that they’re going to be stuck with that ticket,” Tadelis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There may be early excitement that overshoots the real demand,” he said. “Sellers will panic and try to all sell at the same time. And then prices are going to plummet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many USMNT fans were hyped that their team advanced to the knockout stage, their enthusiasm perhaps didn’t match the prices that resale vendors were offering. The bubble quickly burst.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who moves the market?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Price data alone, however, can’t confirm that a market has been entirely taken over by speculation, Tadelis said. Fans may learn new information that changes their feelings about their team — a star player previously blocked from playing \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883791/fifas-red-card-reversal-fair-play-or-political-interference\">by a penalty\u003c/a> suddenly gets the green light to come back, perhaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re looking for real clues — are people actually buying and picking up tickets, or are the same tickets getting resold over and over?” he said, adding that the latter case would suggest speculation. But if prices spike and then sellers suddenly cancel on buyers — like what happened to Cai from Marin County — “that’s another red flag that probably these are speculative sellers that never had the tickets to begin with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089714\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089714 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans fill the stands at the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Vendors “ghosting” ticket buyers has become a serious problem, said Scott Friedman, co-founder of the consulting group Ticket Talk Network, based in Cleveland, Ohio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he’s talked to people from all over the globe who’ve saved up thousands of dollars to travel to a game hosted in North America, but once here, they don’t get anything from the vendor online and usually no replacement from sites like StubHub. “As a marketplace for the biggest live events, if a seller doesn’t fill that order, you’ve got to fill it,” he said. “It’s just a common courtesy to the fan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>StubHub previously told KQED in a statement that the ticketing problems fans have experienced this World Cup “are largely transfer problems, not ticket problems.”[aside postID=news_12076503 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IMG_1406.jpg']The company said that FIFA’s ticketing system, including a new app launched right before the tournament began, “has had significant performance issues that have affected transfers across all resale platforms.” According to StubHub’s rules for sellers, it’s OK for someone “to list tickets you own but don’t have in your possession yet … as long as you’re absolutely certain you will have them on the date you give us when listing the tickets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA, for its part, told KQED it has “no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms,” and it rejects “any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of its ticketing infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reining in speculation will require transparency from both FIFA and resale sites, Tadelis said. This means consumers should have access to information “like recent prices, how much inventory there is to really help people understand what’s going on in the market,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA offered tickets through staggered releases, where consumers in the initial stages did not even know which teams were playing in any of the games — or even in which rows they would be sitting. Tadelis pointed out that the official FIFA resale platform also charged fees to both buyers and sellers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These create real opportunities to bet on price swings, and that’s especially true when fans can’t tell how much inventory FIFA is still holding back,” he said. “That opacity is what’s turning buying a ticket into basically a forecasting exercise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for consumer advocates like Friedman, that also means having lawmakers require that resale sites confirm vendors actually have the tickets they’re offering. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or any live event that happens,” he said. “When you buy a ticket, it needs to be delivered instantly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "Soccer fans saw a very volatile ticket market for this year’s World Cup. Some experts are pointing to speculators, FIFA’s ticketing system and resale sites.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783953354,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 28,
"wordCount": 1702
},
"headData": {
"title": "How Much Did Speculation Impact World Cup Ticket Prices? | KQED",
"description": "Soccer fans saw a very volatile ticket market for this year’s World Cup. Some experts are pointing to speculators, FIFA’s ticketing system and resale sites.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "How Much Did Speculation Impact World Cup Ticket Prices?",
"datePublished": "2026-07-13T07:00:41-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-13T07:35:54-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"name": "Sports"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12090613",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12090613/how-much-did-speculation-impact-world-ticket-prices",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A week before the U.S. men’s national soccer team \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088896/world-cup-tickets-us-mens-national-soccer-team-bay-area-july-1-bosnia-herzegovina-levis-stadium\">faced off against\u003c/a> Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, dozens of seats in the highest section of\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/levis-stadium\"> Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> were going for between $3,000 and $4,000 across different resale sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A day before the match, however, prices dropped significantly. Seats in the same back rows were offered for less than $2,000. The cost to see the most dominant USMNT in a generation had cratered in a matter of days — why? The answer has to do with speculators, third-party sales and FIFA’s complicated ticket-selling rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides treating fans to magnificent performances by some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/06/22/nx-s1-5866649/2026-world-cup-fifa-lionel-messi-argentina-scoring-record\">sport’s greatest stars\u003c/a>, this year’s FIFA World Cup drew plenty of controversy over the cost of going to see a game. Months before the tournament began, tickets for some matches were already \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/colombia-portugal-world-cup-6c1f318b\">more expensive\u003c/a> than going to the Super Bowl. Fans who wanted to save money and buy a ticket as early as possible had to navigate an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/world-cup-tickets-fifa-prices\">incredibly complicated process\u003c/a> on FIFA’s official ticketing platform, where prices also shifted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836514/2026-world-cup-fifa-ticket-prices\">based on demand\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the tournament drew closer, some fans skipped FIFA’s platform entirely. A month before the June 25 Australia vs. Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium, Marin County resident Lei Cai said the official site was no longer offering tickets for the game. “I wanted to buy a ticket directly from FIFA, but when that wasn’t possible, our only option was resale sites,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those who bought tickets on resale websites — including Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek — were required to pay the vendor first on the site, and then claim their ticket on the FIFA platform. Cai paid for two tickets on StubHub, she said, but when she logged into the FIFA portal, “that’s when I found out there’s no tickets to claim.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087142\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087142\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260610-BayAreaStadiumTour-51-BL_KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, temporarily renamed from Levi’s Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Santa Clara on June 10, 2026, where six tournament matches will be played. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>After calling StubHub multiple times for weeks, she was eventually informed by the company that the person who listed the seats online never actually made the tickets available to her. Only after KQED contacted StubHub requesting comment on Cai’s situation did StubHub reach out to her directly to offer two new, free tickets to the same match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cai is not alone. Soccer fans nationwide who paid for tickets on resale sites have been left empty-handed\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-ticket-problems-stubhub-fifa-21c31f5cc33012e7f4619d4bff3b44a1\"> by vendors\u003c/a> — sometimes even hours before the game. Some economists and consumer advocates say that what happened to fans like Cai — along with the dramatic swings in prices, like what happened ahead of the U.S. game against Bosnia — shows there are major flaws in how the ticketing system works for major sporting events.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scalpers have helped ricochet ticket prices for major musical events like Taylor Swift’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-eras-tour-fans-biggest-ticket-scalper/\">Eras Tour\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oasis-reunion-tickets-controversy-explained-1235094425/\">comeback of Oasis\u003c/a>. But the market set up by FIFA and resale sites for this year’s soccer tournament may have helped speculation get a lot worse this time around — where very enthusiastic fans all over North America have already spent millions of dollars and shattered the tournament’s all-time attendance record.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>An age-old problem\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tickets for big cultural and athletic events easily attract the attention of speculators because they’re what economists call “perishable goods.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of going to a bakery. A loaf of bread freshly baked that morning may be sold at $10. The bakery may also offer bread baked the previous day, but at a much lower price. But you most certainly won’t see bread baked a week or a month before — that’s no longer good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The same thing is true for game tickets,” said Steve Tadelis, professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, who has studied online ticket markets for years. “They’re worth practically zero after the game begins.” (In the case of the World Cup, that’s true an hour before the game begins. According to FIFA rules, if someone doesn’t claim their ticket an hour before a match begins, they can no longer use it to get into the stadium.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089715\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-41-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans leave the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The World Cup’s knockout stage can be especially attractive for speculators, Tadelis said. Speculators may have bought tickets for quarter-final or semi-final matches when fans had no confirmed information about which teams were advancing, but can then offer tickets at much higher prices if they see a popular team advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while speculators may have good instincts on how soccer fans may behave, they can still make mistakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A seller may hope to sell a ticket for $3,000 a few weeks before a knockout-round game, assuming that enthusiasm among soccer lovers will keep growing with time. But the match is now just a couple of days away, and no one has snatched up the ticket. “They may be happy now to get a thousand or maybe even a few hundred dollars, because now they’re really worried that they’re going to be stuck with that ticket,” Tadelis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There may be early excitement that overshoots the real demand,” he said. “Sellers will panic and try to all sell at the same time. And then prices are going to plummet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While many USMNT fans were hyped that their team advanced to the knockout stage, their enthusiasm perhaps didn’t match the prices that resale vendors were offering. The bubble quickly burst.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who moves the market?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Price data alone, however, can’t confirm that a market has been entirely taken over by speculation, Tadelis said. Fans may learn new information that changes their feelings about their team — a star player previously blocked from playing \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/nx-s1-5883791/fifas-red-card-reversal-fair-play-or-political-interference\">by a penalty\u003c/a> suddenly gets the green light to come back, perhaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re looking for real clues — are people actually buying and picking up tickets, or are the same tickets getting resold over and over?” he said, adding that the latter case would suggest speculation. But if prices spike and then sellers suddenly cancel on buyers — like what happened to Cai from Marin County — “that’s another red flag that probably these are speculative sellers that never had the tickets to begin with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089714\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12089714 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260701-WORLDCUPUSALEVIS-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans fill the stands at the FIFA World Cup game between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Vendors “ghosting” ticket buyers has become a serious problem, said Scott Friedman, co-founder of the consulting group Ticket Talk Network, based in Cleveland, Ohio.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said he’s talked to people from all over the globe who’ve saved up thousands of dollars to travel to a game hosted in North America, but once here, they don’t get anything from the vendor online and usually no replacement from sites like StubHub. “As a marketplace for the biggest live events, if a seller doesn’t fill that order, you’ve got to fill it,” he said. “It’s just a common courtesy to the fan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>StubHub previously told KQED in a statement that the ticketing problems fans have experienced this World Cup “are largely transfer problems, not ticket problems.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12076503",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IMG_1406.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The company said that FIFA’s ticketing system, including a new app launched right before the tournament began, “has had significant performance issues that have affected transfers across all resale platforms.” According to StubHub’s rules for sellers, it’s OK for someone “to list tickets you own but don’t have in your possession yet … as long as you’re absolutely certain you will have them on the date you give us when listing the tickets.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA, for its part, told KQED it has “no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on third-party platforms,” and it rejects “any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of its ticketing infrastructure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reining in speculation will require transparency from both FIFA and resale sites, Tadelis said. This means consumers should have access to information “like recent prices, how much inventory there is to really help people understand what’s going on in the market,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FIFA offered tickets through staggered releases, where consumers in the initial stages did not even know which teams were playing in any of the games — or even in which rows they would be sitting. Tadelis pointed out that the official FIFA resale platform also charged fees to both buyers and sellers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These create real opportunities to bet on price swings, and that’s especially true when fans can’t tell how much inventory FIFA is still holding back,” he said. “That opacity is what’s turning buying a ticket into basically a forecasting exercise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for consumer advocates like Friedman, that also means having lawmakers require that resale sites confirm vendors actually have the tickets they’re offering. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or any live event that happens,” he said. “When you buy a ticket, it needs to be delivered instantly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12090613/how-much-did-speculation-impact-world-ticket-prices",
"authors": [
"11708"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_10"
],
"tags": [
"news_27626",
"news_36837",
"news_5379",
"news_1749",
"news_18188",
"news_1489",
"news_21285",
"news_34078",
"news_6464"
],
"featImg": "news_12090619",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12090212": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12090212",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090212",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783634167000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november",
"title": "Opposition Group Says Bay Area Transit Doesn't Deserve More Money This November",
"publishDate": 1783634167,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Opposition Group Says Bay Area Transit Doesn’t Deserve More Money This November | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Transit leaders have warned voters in five \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> counties for months that if they fail to pass a regional sales tax measure on November’s ballot, BART, Muni and other agencies will have to dramatically cut service, spiking the cost of living and commute times for many in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://transitaccountability.com/index.html\">campaign\u003c/a> launched by the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association on Wednesday wants voters to reject that proposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There are a lot of other alternatives that should be looked at first, rather than just continually coming back and asking the voters to approve more taxes,” said Tom Rubin, a member of the governing board for the campaign called the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The opposition committee pointed to the over $6 billion in taxes, tolls and government grants that they said major Bay Area transit agencies received in fiscal year 2024-25 and said the agencies should instead reallocate existing funding rather than asking taxpayers for more. By pausing funding for major capital projects, including BART Silicon Valley Phase II, California High Speed Rail and Caltrain’s downtown San Francisco expansion, the committee said transit agencies could fully fund operations in the near term and put a slimmed-down tax proposal to fund transit in front of voters in the 2028 election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Let’s stop spending huge amounts of money on planning and constructing very stupid mega projects without a purpose and use that money for other purposes, such as operating what we have now,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1989px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034008\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1920x1287.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area Rapid Transit commuters stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the sales tax measure, known as the Connect Bay Area Act, have pushed back and questioned the feasibility of the committee’s plan. Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the campaign, said the committee’s arguments were “not grounded in reality.” Most of the money for those capital projects is from either federal or state sources that “simply can’t be used for operating costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s nice to pretend transit funding works like that, but it doesn’t,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ethan Elkind, the director of the climate program at UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, who is not involved in the campaign, called the committee’s proposal “incredibly misleading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ In some cases, there are matching funds provided from the state and local level for these federal dollars, but it’s not clear where the matching funds are coming from, and in many cases, those have restrictions as well,” Elkind said.[aside postID=news_12084841 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260123-signaturekickoff00181_TV_qed.jpg']If approved by voters, the Connect Bay Area Act would generate around $1 billion annually for 14 years to support BART, AC Transit, Muni and Caltrain, along with other agencies. It would impose a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those agencies are facing critical budget deficits due to pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership, and all have warned of immense cuts to service unless the Connect Bay Area Act passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a false alarm. If we do not hit a sustainable funding source by this election, stations will close, lines will shut down, and the Bay Area will become less affordable for workers, families, and seniors,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rubin and supporters of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit also said the agencies should look inward to their own expenses, and suggested they could save money by reducing overtime pay, evaluating contracts with labor unions and automating BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The committee’s website lists the highest-paid transit employees in 2024, namely, a BART Senior Police Officer who took home more than $661,000 in total pay and benefits, including over $272,500 in overtime pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These are just people who know how to use the system and get an incredible amount of overtime and other special pay,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-1536x984.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Oakland Airport Connector train pulls into the Coliseum BART station in Oakland, California, on Friday, March 18, 2016. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While there are real negative examples of what some might consider to be excessively paid employees at transit agencies, Elkind said, “We’re talking about pennies compared to the scale of the need here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2027 is $376 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ You’re not going to fully fund BART by making sure a police officer is docked a few hundred thousand dollars in pay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rubin said the committee is currently self-funded by its own members. He acknowledged that they are heavily outspent by the Connect Bay Area campaign, whose top funders include the company Salesforce and tech CEO Chris Larsen. The Connect Bay Area campaign is also endorsed by a broad coalition of local labor unions, business groups and elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "The Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit says transit agencies should reallocate funding from other projects before seeking additional money from taxpayers. ",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783635613,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 20,
"wordCount": 882
},
"headData": {
"title": "Opposition Group Says Bay Area Transit Doesn't Deserve More Money This November | KQED",
"description": "The Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit says transit agencies should reallocate funding from other projects before seeking additional money from taxpayers. ",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Opposition Group Says Bay Area Transit Doesn't Deserve More Money This November",
"datePublished": "2026-07-09T14:56:07-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-09T15:20:13-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 1397,
"slug": "transportation",
"name": "Transportation"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12090212",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Transit leaders have warned voters in five \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> counties for months that if they fail to pass a regional sales tax measure on November’s ballot, BART, Muni and other agencies will have to dramatically cut service, spiking the cost of living and commute times for many in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://transitaccountability.com/index.html\">campaign\u003c/a> launched by the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association on Wednesday wants voters to reject that proposition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There are a lot of other alternatives that should be looked at first, rather than just continually coming back and asking the voters to approve more taxes,” said Tom Rubin, a member of the governing board for the campaign called the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The opposition committee pointed to the over $6 billion in taxes, tolls and government grants that they said major Bay Area transit agencies received in fiscal year 2024-25 and said the agencies should instead reallocate existing funding rather than asking taxpayers for more. By pausing funding for major capital projects, including BART Silicon Valley Phase II, California High Speed Rail and Caltrain’s downtown San Francisco expansion, the committee said transit agencies could fully fund operations in the near term and put a slimmed-down tax proposal to fund transit in front of voters in the 2028 election.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Let’s stop spending huge amounts of money on planning and constructing very stupid mega projects without a purpose and use that money for other purposes, such as operating what we have now,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12034008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1989px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12034008\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1989\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed.jpg 1989w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1536x1029.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/bartnostrike20130804_qed-1920x1287.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1989px) 100vw, 1989px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area Rapid Transit commuters stand on the platform as a train pulls into the Powell Street station in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Proponents of the sales tax measure, known as the Connect Bay Area Act, have pushed back and questioned the feasibility of the committee’s plan. Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the campaign, said the committee’s arguments were “not grounded in reality.” Most of the money for those capital projects is from either federal or state sources that “simply can’t be used for operating costs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s nice to pretend transit funding works like that, but it doesn’t,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ethan Elkind, the director of the climate program at UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, who is not involved in the campaign, called the committee’s proposal “incredibly misleading.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ In some cases, there are matching funds provided from the state and local level for these federal dollars, but it’s not clear where the matching funds are coming from, and in many cases, those have restrictions as well,” Elkind said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "aside",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"postid": "news_12084841",
"hero": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260123-signaturekickoff00181_TV_qed.jpg",
"label": ""
},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If approved by voters, the Connect Bay Area Act would generate around $1 billion annually for 14 years to support BART, AC Transit, Muni and Caltrain, along with other agencies. It would impose a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those agencies are facing critical budget deficits due to pandemic-related drops in revenue and ridership, and all have warned of immense cuts to service unless the Connect Bay Area Act passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a false alarm. If we do not hit a sustainable funding source by this election, stations will close, lines will shut down, and the Bay Area will become less affordable for workers, families, and seniors,” Cretan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Rubin and supporters of the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit also said the agencies should look inward to their own expenses, and suggested they could save money by reducing overtime pay, evaluating contracts with labor unions and automating BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The committee’s website lists the highest-paid transit employees in 2024, namely, a BART Senior Police Officer who took home more than $661,000 in total pay and benefits, including over $272,500 in overtime pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ These are just people who know how to use the system and get an incredible amount of overtime and other special pay,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1268\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-1408502613-1536x984.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Oakland Airport Connector train pulls into the Coliseum BART station in Oakland, California, on Friday, March 18, 2016. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While there are real negative examples of what some might consider to be excessively paid employees at transit agencies, Elkind said, “We’re talking about pennies compared to the scale of the need here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2027 is $376 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ You’re not going to fully fund BART by making sure a police officer is docked a few hundred thousand dollars in pay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rubin said the committee is currently self-funded by its own members. He acknowledged that they are heavily outspent by the Connect Bay Area campaign, whose top funders include the company Salesforce and tech CEO Chris Larsen. The Connect Bay Area campaign is also endorsed by a broad coalition of local labor unions, business groups and elected officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12090212/opposition-group-says-bay-area-transit-doesnt-deserve-more-money-this-november",
"authors": [
"11785"
],
"categories": [
"news_28250",
"news_8",
"news_1397"
],
"tags": [
"news_37056",
"news_269",
"news_1386",
"news_18352",
"news_38",
"news_21285",
"news_2684",
"news_20517",
"news_20147"
],
"featImg": "news_11988609",
"label": "news"
},
"news_12090256": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "news_12090256",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "12090256",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1783548927000
]
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "abandoned-bobcat-kittens-find-a-temporary-home-at-saratoga-wildlife-care-center",
"title": "Abandoned Bobcat Kittens Find a Temporary Home at Saratoga Wildlife Care Center",
"publishDate": 1783548927,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "Abandoned Bobcat Kittens Find a Temporary Home at Saratoga Wildlife Care Center | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>Found alone and crying, four young \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/animals\">bobcats\u003c/a> now have a temporary home at the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The four bobcats were discovered miles apart, according to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Two came from Kern County after their mother “suffered an unfortunate fall,” one was found crying in Concord, and the last — underweight and burdened by parasites — was discovered in Carmel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ashley Kinney, the wildlife rehabilitation department manager at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, said that the four of them coming in at once was perfect for the cats and would help them grow into all their natural behaviors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the bobcats first arrived at the care center, Kinney said, the priority was removing fleas and ticks, treating for parasites and feeding them a natural meat diet. She said staff generally maintain a hands-off approach to make sure the cats stay “fully wild.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They have a large enclosure where they’re conditioning, they’re building muscle, they’re learning how to pounce on things,” Kinney said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re very curious. We give them enrichment to keep their little bobcat brains going strong,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12090273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12090273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bobcat at the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga, California, on Monday, July 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you see abandoned kittens in your neighborhood, Kinney recommends calling your local wildlife facility, which will walk you through a few questions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to over-rescue anything, so we always ask important questions: like how long has it been vocalizing? What are the circumstances? Have you seen mom?” Kinney said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The four kittens will be released back into the wild in October, according to the shelter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until then, they will spend their days among the trees, developing their bobcat skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/rachael-myrow\">Rachael Myrow\u003c/a> contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [],
"excerpt": "After losing their mothers, four bobcat kittens are learning to hunt, climb and survive.",
"status": "publish",
"parent": 0,
"modified": 1783550733,
"stats": {
"hasAudio": false,
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"paragraphCount": 13,
"wordCount": 322
},
"headData": {
"title": "Abandoned Bobcat Kittens Find a Temporary Home at Saratoga Wildlife Care Center | KQED",
"description": "After losing their mothers, four bobcat kittens are learning to hunt, climb and survive.",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogDescription": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"twDescription": "",
"twImgId": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "Abandoned Bobcat Kittens Find a Temporary Home at Saratoga Wildlife Care Center",
"datePublished": "2026-07-08T15:15:27-07:00",
"dateModified": "2026-07-08T15:45:33-07:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"isAccessibleForFree": "True",
"publisher": {
"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.kqed.org/#organization",
"name": "KQED",
"logo": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"url": "https://www.kqed.org",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.facebook.com/KQED",
"https://twitter.com/KQED",
"https://www.instagram.com/kqed/",
"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqedofficial",
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/kqed",
"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeC0IOo7i1P_61zVUWbJ4nw"
]
}
}
},
"primaryCategory": {
"termId": 31795,
"slug": "california",
"name": "California"
},
"sticky": false,
"nprStoryId": "kqed-12090256",
"templateType": "standard",
"featuredImageType": "standard",
"excludeFromSiteSearch": "Include",
"articleAge": "0",
"path": "/news/12090256/abandoned-bobcat-kittens-find-a-temporary-home-at-saratoga-wildlife-care-center",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Found alone and crying, four young \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/animals\">bobcats\u003c/a> now have a temporary home at the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The four bobcats were discovered miles apart, according to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Two came from Kern County after their mother “suffered an unfortunate fall,” one was found crying in Concord, and the last — underweight and burdened by parasites — was discovered in Carmel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ashley Kinney, the wildlife rehabilitation department manager at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, said that the four of them coming in at once was perfect for the cats and would help them grow into all their natural behaviors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the bobcats first arrived at the care center, Kinney said, the priority was removing fleas and ticks, treating for parasites and feeding them a natural meat diet. She said staff generally maintain a hands-off approach to make sure the cats stay “fully wild.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They have a large enclosure where they’re conditioning, they’re building muscle, they’re learning how to pounce on things,” Kinney said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re very curious. We give them enrichment to keep their little bobcat brains going strong,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12090273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12090273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/8-bobcat-photo-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bobcat at the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga, California, on Monday, July 6, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you see abandoned kittens in your neighborhood, Kinney recommends calling your local wildlife facility, which will walk you through a few questions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want to over-rescue anything, so we always ask important questions: like how long has it been vocalizing? What are the circumstances? Have you seen mom?” Kinney said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The four kittens will be released back into the wild in October, according to the shelter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until then, they will spend their days among the trees, developing their bobcat skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/rachael-myrow\">Rachael Myrow\u003c/a> contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/news/12090256/abandoned-bobcat-kittens-find-a-temporary-home-at-saratoga-wildlife-care-center",
"authors": [
"12003"
],
"categories": [
"news_31795",
"news_34165",
"news_19906",
"news_28250",
"news_8"
],
"tags": [
"news_18132",
"news_1386",
"news_18053",
"news_27626",
"news_1259",
"news_21285",
"news_1421"
],
"featImg": "news_12090277",
"label": "news"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/news?tag=south-bay": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 12,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 319,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"news_12094873",
"news_12094101",
"news_12093399",
"news_12092702",
"news_12091964",
"news_12091408",
"news_12091975",
"news_12090911",
"news_12090807",
"news_12090613",
"news_12090212",
"news_12090256"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news_tag_south-bay": {
"isLoading": true
},
"news_21285": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21285",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21285",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "South Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "South Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21302,
"slug": "south-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/south-bay"
},
"news_28250": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28250",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28250",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28267,
"slug": "local",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/local"
},
"news_8": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_8",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "8",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 8,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/news"
},
"news_248": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_248",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "248",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Technology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Technology Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 256,
"slug": "technology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/technology"
},
"news_1386": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1386",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1386",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1398,
"slug": "bay-area",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area"
},
"news_803": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_803",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "803",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Palo Alto",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Palo Alto Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 813,
"slug": "palo-alto",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/palo-alto"
},
"news_1259": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1259",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1259",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Peninsula",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Peninsula Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1271,
"slug": "peninsula",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/peninsula"
},
"news_1631": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1631",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1631",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Technology",
"slug": "technology",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Technology | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 1643,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/technology"
},
"news_33733": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33733",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33733",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "News Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33750,
"slug": "news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/news"
},
"news_33731": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33731",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33731",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "South Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "South Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33748,
"slug": "south-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/south-bay"
},
"news_33732": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33732",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33732",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Technology",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Technology Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33749,
"slug": "technology",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/technology"
},
"news_31795": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_31795",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "31795",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31812,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/california"
},
"news_18540": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18540",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18540",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Education",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Education Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2595,
"slug": "education",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/education"
},
"news_36200": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36200",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36200",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "automated license plate readers",
"slug": "automated-license-plate-readers",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "automated license plate readers | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36217,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/automated-license-plate-readers"
},
"news_22844": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22844",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22844",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Data Privacy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Data Privacy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22861,
"slug": "data-privacy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/data-privacy"
},
"news_20013": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20013",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20013",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "education",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "education Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20030,
"slug": "education",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/education"
},
"news_36201": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36201",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36201",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Flock Safety",
"slug": "flock-safety",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Flock Safety | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36218,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/flock-safety"
},
"news_1859": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1859",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1859",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "privacy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "privacy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1874,
"slug": "privacy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/privacy"
},
"news_178": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_178",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "178",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Stanford",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Stanford Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 185,
"slug": "stanford",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/stanford"
},
"news_1928": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1928",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1928",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Stanford University",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Stanford University Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1943,
"slug": "stanford-university",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/stanford-university"
},
"news_33746": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33746",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33746",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Education",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Education Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33763,
"slug": "education",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/education"
},
"news_29992": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_29992",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "29992",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 30009,
"slug": "arts",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/arts"
},
"news_223": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_223",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "223",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Arts and Culture",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Arts and Culture Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 231,
"slug": "arts-and-culture",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/arts-and-culture"
},
"news_1758": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1758",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1758",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Economy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": "Full coverage of the economy",
"title": "Economy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2648,
"slug": "economy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/economy"
},
"news_24114": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_24114",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "24114",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 24131,
"slug": "food",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/food"
},
"news_24312": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_24312",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "24312",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Bay Area Food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Bay Area Food Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 24329,
"slug": "bay-area-food",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bay-area-food"
},
"news_27626": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_27626",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "27626",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "featured-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "featured-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 27643,
"slug": "featured-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/featured-news"
},
"news_333": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_333",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "333",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 341,
"slug": "food",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/food"
},
"news_4": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "los angeles",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "los angeles Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 4,
"slug": "los-angeles",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/los-angeles"
},
"news_1749": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1749",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1749",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Santa Clara",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Santa Clara Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1761,
"slug": "santa-clara",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/santa-clara"
},
"news_33738": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33738",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33738",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33755,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/california"
},
"news_33735": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33735",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33735",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Food and Drink",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Food and Drink Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33752,
"slug": "food-and-drink",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/food-and-drink"
},
"news_885": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_885",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "885",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Cesar Chavez",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Cesar Chavez Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 895,
"slug": "cesar-chavez",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/cesar-chavez"
},
"news_32847": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32847",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32847",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "downtown",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "downtown Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32864,
"slug": "downtown",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/downtown"
},
"news_18541": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18541",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18541",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Jose",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Jose Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 91,
"slug": "san-jose",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-jose"
},
"news_18188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Santa Clara County",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Santa Clara County Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18222,
"slug": "santa-clara-county",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/santa-clara-county"
},
"news_25184": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25184",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25184",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "AI",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "AI Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25201,
"slug": "ai",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/ai"
},
"news_34755": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34755",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34755",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "artificial intelligence",
"slug": "artificial-intelligence",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "artificial intelligence | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34772,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/artificial-intelligence"
},
"news_18538": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18538",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18538",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "California",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "California Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 31,
"slug": "california",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/california"
},
"news_2043": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2043",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2043",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "children",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "children Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2058,
"slug": "children",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/children"
},
"news_17762": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17762",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17762",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "kids",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "kids Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17796,
"slug": "kids",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/kids"
},
"news_34586": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34586",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34586",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Silicon Valley",
"slug": "silicon-valley",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Silicon Valley | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34603,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/silicon-valley"
},
"news_21121": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21121",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21121",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Teenagers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Teenagers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21138,
"slug": "teenagers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/teenagers"
},
"news_20385": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20385",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20385",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "teens",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "teens Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20402,
"slug": "teens",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/teens"
},
"news_10": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_10",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "10",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 10,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/sports"
},
"news_32707": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_32707",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "32707",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "audience-news",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "audience-news Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 32724,
"slug": "audience-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/audience-news"
},
"news_1489": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1489",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1489",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "soccer",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "soccer Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1501,
"slug": "soccer",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/soccer"
},
"news_34078": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34078",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34078",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 34095,
"slug": "sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sports"
},
"news_28623": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_28623",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "28623",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's soccer",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's soccer Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 28640,
"slug": "womens-soccer",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-soccer"
},
"news_25293": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25293",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25293",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "women's sports",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "women's sports Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25310,
"slug": "womens-sports",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-sports"
},
"news_26093": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_26093",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "26093",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "women's world cup",
"slug": "womens-world-cup",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "women's world cup | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null,
"metaRobotsNoIndex": "noindex"
},
"ttid": 26110,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/womens-world-cup"
},
"news_1397": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1397",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1397",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1409,
"slug": "transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/transportation"
},
"news_1764": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1764",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1764",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public transit",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public transit Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1777,
"slug": "public-transit",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-transit"
},
"news_1533": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1533",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1533",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "public transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "public transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1545,
"slug": "public-transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/public-transportation"
},
"news_20517": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20517",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20517",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "transportation",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "transportation Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20534,
"slug": "transportation",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/transportation"
},
"news_20675": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20675",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20675",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "VTA",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "VTA Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20692,
"slug": "vta",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/vta"
},
"news_6464": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6464",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6464",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "World Cup",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "World Cup Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6488,
"slug": "world-cup",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/world-cup"
},
"news_33740": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33740",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33740",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Events",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Events Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33757,
"slug": "events",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/events"
},
"news_34167": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34167",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34167",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34184,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/criminal-justice"
},
"news_6188": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_6188",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "6188",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Law and Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Law and Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 6212,
"slug": "law-and-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/law-and-justice"
},
"news_4082": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_4082",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "4082",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "bomb threat",
"slug": "bomb-threat",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "bomb threat | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 4101,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bomb-threat"
},
"news_21479": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_21479",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "21479",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "District Attorney",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "District Attorney Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 21496,
"slug": "district-attorney",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/district-attorney"
},
"news_1405": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1405",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1405",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Jose State",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Jose State Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1417,
"slug": "san-jose-state",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-jose-state"
},
"news_5711": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_5711",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "5711",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Jose State University",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Jose State University Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5735,
"slug": "san-jose-state-university",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-jose-state-university"
},
"news_1394": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1394",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1394",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "SJSU",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "SJSU Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1406,
"slug": "sjsu",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/sjsu"
},
"news_33745": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33745",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33745",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Criminal Justice",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Criminal Justice Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33762,
"slug": "criminal-justice",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/criminal-justice"
},
"news_1169": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1169",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1169",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1180,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/immigration"
},
"news_13": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_13",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "13",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 13,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/politics"
},
"news_35701": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_35701",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "35701",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "detention facilities",
"slug": "detention-facilities",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "detention facilities | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 35718,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/detention-facilities"
},
"news_1323": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1323",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1323",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Donald Trump",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Donald Trump Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1335,
"slug": "donald-trump",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/donald-trump"
},
"news_25066": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_25066",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "25066",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Gilroy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Gilroy Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 25083,
"slug": "gilroy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/gilroy"
},
"news_22215": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_22215",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "22215",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigrant detention centers",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigrant detention centers Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 22232,
"slug": "immigrant-detention-centers",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigrant-detention-centers"
},
"news_20202": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20202",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20202",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20219,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/immigration"
},
"news_17968": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_17968",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "17968",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Politics",
"slug": "politics",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Politics | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 18002,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/politics"
},
"news_20529": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20529",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20529",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20546,
"slug": "u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement"
},
"news_33748": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33748",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33748",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Immigration",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Immigration Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33765,
"slug": "immigration",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/immigration"
},
"news_36837": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_36837",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "36837",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "FIFA",
"slug": "fifa",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "FIFA | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 36854,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/fifa"
},
"news_5379": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_5379",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "5379",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Levi's Stadium",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Levi's Stadium Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 5402,
"slug": "levis-stadium",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/levis-stadium"
},
"news_33749": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33749",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33749",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Entertainment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Entertainment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33766,
"slug": "entertainment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/entertainment"
},
"news_37056": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_37056",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "37056",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "ballot measure",
"slug": "ballot-measure",
"taxonomy": "tag",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "ballot measure | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 37073,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/ballot-measure"
},
"news_269": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_269",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "269",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "BART",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "BART Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 277,
"slug": "bart",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/bart"
},
"news_18352": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18352",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18352",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "East Bay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "East Bay Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18386,
"slug": "east-bay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/east-bay"
},
"news_38": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_38",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "38",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 58,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/san-francisco"
},
"news_2684": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_2684",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "2684",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "transit",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "transit Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 2701,
"slug": "transit",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/transit"
},
"news_20147": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_20147",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "20147",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "voters",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "voters Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 20164,
"slug": "voters",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/voters"
},
"news_33734": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33734",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33734",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Local Politics",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Local Politics Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33751,
"slug": "local-politics",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/local-politics"
},
"news_33729": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33729",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33729",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "San Francisco",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "San Francisco Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33746,
"slug": "san-francisco",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/san-francisco"
},
"news_34165": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_34165",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "34165",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"name": "Climate",
"slug": "climate",
"taxonomy": "category",
"description": null,
"featImg": null,
"headData": {
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"description": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"twDescription": null,
"twImgId": null
},
"ttid": 34182,
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/climate"
},
"news_19906": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_19906",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "19906",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Environment",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Environment Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 19923,
"slug": "environment",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/category/environment"
},
"news_18132": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18132",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18132",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "animals",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "animals Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18166,
"slug": "animals",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/animals"
},
"news_18053": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_18053",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "18053",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Concord",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Concord Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 18087,
"slug": "concord",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/concord"
},
"news_1421": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_1421",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "1421",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "wildlife",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "wildlife Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1433,
"slug": "wildlife",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/tag/wildlife"
},
"news_33750": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33750",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33750",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Climate",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Climate Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33767,
"slug": "climate",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/climate"
},
"news_33744": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "news_33744",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "news",
"id": "33744",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Peninsula",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "interest",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Peninsula Archives | KQED News",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 33761,
"slug": "peninsula",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/news/interest/peninsula"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
}
}
