The Bay

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Vallejo Reacts to Death of Unhoused Man in Trash Cleanup Mar 21, 2025

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On Christmas Eve, 58-year-old James Oakley was crushed to death during a Vallejo city-run trash cleanup, sparking shock and outrage among homeless residents and advocates. Three months after his death, the city of Vallejo has put a temporary pause on encampment sweeps.

Links:

Report: Unhoused Man Seen Alive Before Being Crushed During Vallejo Cleanup

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San José's District 3 Is Picking a New City Councilmember — and the Stakes Are High Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Voters in San José’s downtown, north side, Guadalupe-Washington, and Japantown neighborhoods are already casting ballots to fill an empty city council seat left open by former Councilmember Omar Torres, who resigned in November and faces child sex abuse charges. The future of downtown San José — and possibly Mayor Matt Mahan’s agenda — hangs in the balance.

Links:

San José District 3 Special Election: Who’s Running and How to Vote

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Ranked Choice Voting For...Best Karaoke Performance? Mar 17, 2025

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There's a competitive karaoke league in the East Bay that's about more than just singing. Every Monday at KaraOakland, teams perform songs on specific themes. Then, participants used ranked choice voting to pick the best performances — like Oakland voters will in the city's special election next month.

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Celebrating 1000 Episodes of The Bay Mar 14, 2025

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To celebrate 1000 episodes of the podcast, The Bay team took a little field trip. We reflect on the show, and listen to voicemails from listeners and colleagues.

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South Bay Transit Workers Go On Strike Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

On Monday, more than 1,500 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus drivers, light rail operators and other employees went on strike for the first time in the agency’s history after more than six months of failed negotiations over wages and other issues.

Links:

VTA Sues to End Historic South Bay Transit Workers' Strike
Send us a voice memo for our 1000th episode to thebay@kqed.org, or leave a voicemail at 415-710-9223!

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Layoffs Hit the Beloved National Park Service Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration has laid off more than a thousand National Park Service employees in the past few weeks as part of its broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce. KQED’s Sarah Mohamad talks about how these layoffs are affecting workers — and how your next visit to a national park might be a little different.

Links:

What You Should Know About Visiting National Parks Right Now

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The Bay Is Celebrating 1000 Episodes! Send Us a Voicemail Mar 08, 2025

Show notes

We’re celebrating 1000 episodes of The Bay with a very special episode and we want to hear from you! Tell us what you love about the show.

Leave us a voicemail at 415-710-9223, or send a voice memo to thebay@kqed.org. Tell us your name, your city, and how long you’ve been listening to The Bay.

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Why California’s Homeless Shelters Are a ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

An investigation by CalMatters found that homeless shelters are dangerous, chaotic, and ineffective at getting people into permanent housing. The lead reporter behind the investigation, Lauren Hepler, spoke with KQED’s Political Breakdown about what’s gone wrong.

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Check Out KQED's Newest Show, Close All Tabs Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop to the politics of memes, Close All Tabs covers it all.

How will AI change our jobs and lives? Is the government watching what I post? Is there life beyond TikTok? Host Morgan Sung pulls from experts, the audience, and history to add context to the trends and depth to the memes. And she’ll wrestle with as many browser tabs as it takes to explain the cultural moment we’re all collectively living.

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SF and Oakland Schools Brace for Layoffs Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Bay Area public schools are struggling, especially in Oakland and San Francisco. Both districts are among only a handful across California with negative budgets, and as a result recently voted to approve preliminary layoff notices for teachers, counselors, and other staff.

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Mel Velasquez, Jessica Kariisa, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

Links:

How Oakland and SF Ended Up Among 7 CA School Districts Who Can’t Pay Their Bills

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