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A Layoff Spree At Bay Area Tech Companies Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

You’ve seen the news by now: tech companies are laying people off in droves. Nearly 60,000 people have been laid off from Bay Area-based tech companies since November 2022, according to the latest estimates from Layoffs.fyi, a website that has tracked tech layoffs since the start of the pandemic.

Companies cite everything from the need to cut costs, to over-hiring during the pandemic, to fears of a looming recession. But what's really going on? And what does it mean for the tens of thousands of people who once worked in an industry that is famous for the perks, fancy offices, high pay, and stability?

Guest: Kevin Vu Nguyen, Bay Area journalist whose work has appeared in the SF Standard, the Sacramento Bee, and the Guardian

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Jehlen Herdman, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

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READ: Laid-Off Tech Workers Are Bracing for a Difficult Future, by Kevin V. Nguyen
LISTEN: A Frantic Job Hunt for H-1B Visa Holders in Tech, by Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Rachael Myrow, and Alan Montecillo

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Why Sewage Flooded the Bay Jan 30, 2023

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An estimated 62 million gallons of sewage — or about 94 Olympic-sized swimming pools — spilled into the San Francisco Bay during the storms in late December and January.

Those storms are now behind us, and officials say the water is now safe. But now is actually the perfect time to unpack what went wrong with our sewage system, and how we can better prepare our infrastructure for the next big storm.

Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED health correspondent

This episode was produced and edited by Alan Montecillo and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra.

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Oakland's Lunar New Year Parade Jan 27, 2023

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Organizers of Oakland’s Lunar New Year Parade hope it marks a new start for Chinatown and the city’s Asian communities. Over the past few years, the neighborhood has been hit hard by the pandemic and violent attacks on Asians.

Now, the mass shootings in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and East Oakland this past week have revived fears over safety. But Stewart Chen, who is involved in organizing the parade, hopes that the city and the Bay Area truly show up for Oakland Chinatown this Sunday — and that people keep coming back in the future.

Guest: Stewart Chen, board president of Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council

Oakland’s Lunar New Year Parade begins at 11:00 am at Wilma Chan Park on Sunday, Jan. 29. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Christina Chen at (510) 570-9155.

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7 Farmworkers Killed in Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting Jan 25, 2023

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7 people were killed and 1 injured in a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon. The suspect, 66-year old Chunli Zhao, is in police custody. County Sheriff Christina Corpus says all evidence points to a workplace dispute.

Half Moon Bay, known both as a tourist destination and an agricultural community, is still recovering from the impact of the massive storms in the past few weeks. Law enforcement say the victims were Latino and Asian, and that some were migrant workers.

This shooting happened on the heels of the Monterey Park mass shooting, where 11 people were killed in the mostly-Asian suburban community on Saturday night. And later on Monday, 1 person was killed and 7 injured in a mass shooting in Oakland.

Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED politics and government reporter/producer

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Half Moon Bay Strong Victims Fund

Episode Transcript

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Jehlen Herdman is our intern. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host.

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The Great Soaking is Over. What Now? Jan 23, 2023

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The sun is back, and it’s a huge relief. And while the state largely avoided widespread, catastrophic disaster, communities all over California were hit hard. Cities are estimating tens of millions of dollars in damage, and at least 21 people have died since Dec. 26.

Meanwhile, one silver lining: all this rain has put a meaningful dent in the drought. So, with the rain gone for now, what did we learn these past few weeks?

Guest: Dan Brekke, KQED editor and reporter

Episode Transcript

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This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, edited by Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Jehlen Herdman is our intern.

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Alameda County’s New DA Wants to Shake Things Up Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Pamela Price has been sworn in as Alameda County District Attorney. In the 2022 Election, Price won the seat with 53% of the vote, defeating her more tough-on-crime opponent, Terry Wiley.

She is the first Black woman ever elected to this position and promises to make a big shift in the office's approach to prosecution; Price’s campaign emphasized changing the system in favor of a more holistic approach to public safety.

What exactly are the new DA’s plans for criminal justice reform? And what roadblocks could she face in the process?

Guest: Annelise Finney, producer and reporter for KQED

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Correction: an earlier version of this episode included Walnut Creek as part of Alameda County. It is part of Contra Costa County.

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host. Jehlen Herdman is our intern.

Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts.

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‘You’re Taking On A Lot of Risk’: Rain and Recovery in the Santa Cruz Mountains Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

When the rain storms first started to hit Hannah Hagemann’s community in the Santa Cruz mountains, she was lucky enough to evacuate before landslides could block the only roads in and out of her neighborhood in Felton. Those left behind were left without electricity and internet for several days, virtually cutting the community off from the rest of the region.

Clean up from landslides, high winds and downed power lines are the immediate focus; But surviving another storm in this remote mountain community is going to take more systemic change.

Guest: Hannah Hagemann, weather and science editor for the San Francisco Chronicle

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This episode was produced by Adhiti Bandlamudi and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevarra

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Blues Town: Remembering Russell City Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Etta James, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker all played in Russell City, a once thriving blues town located in Hayward. The town was home to Black and Latino residents who couldn’t find a residence elsewhere due to redlining and other racist housing policies. The city of Hayward used eminent domain to take the land and by 1966, the town had been annexed and replaced by an industrial park that is still there. In 2021 the Hayward city council voted unanimously to issue a formal apology to the residents who were pushed out.

This episode first aired on Bay Curious Aug. 11, 2022.

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A ‘Rare’ Archive of Angela Davis’ Life On Display At OMCA Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

A rare showcase of archives and memorabilia from the life of Angela Davis is on display at the Oakland Museum of California. The exhibit includes photos, speeches and posters collected over the span of several years. The archive highlights Davis’ legacy and a fight for abolition and Black lives — one that is still relevant today.

Guest: Ariana Proehl, Culture Reporter for KQED

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Adhiti Bandlamudi. Ericka Cruz Guevarra is the host.

Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts.

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Rain and Eviction Loom Over Oakland’s Wood Street Encampment Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

California’s temperate weather is one reason why homelessness is so visible. But with climate change, warmer and wetter weather are making the emergency on the streets even more dire.

At what remains of the Wood Street encampment in West Oakland, people without shelter are experiencing flooding and a fight to stay warm amid a series of atmospheric rivers hitting the Bay Area in recent weeks. Residents of Wood Street say the services the city is offering doesn’t meet their needs.

But it’s not just the threat of another rainstorm looming over the encampment; the city has plans to evict those remaining at Wood Street once and for all.

Guest: Erin Baldassari, Housing Affordability Reporter for KQED

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