The Bay

Latest Episodes:

A Strike at Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

About 500 operators and technicians at Chevron’s Richmond refinery went on strike starting Monday. It’s the first labor strike at the plant in more than 40 years.

The union representing these workers says that Chevron hasn’t offered enough in the way of pay increases, benefit contributions, and worker safety. Chevron claims the union has asked for too much, and in the meantime has promised to keep the refinery running using non-union workers. This strike is also laying bare the tensions within the city of Richmond about Chevron’s role in the community.

Guest: Ted Goldberg, KQED supervising senior editor of news

Episode transcript

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Ericka Cruz Guevarra, and hosted by Alan Montecillo. Additional reporting by Maria Fernanda Bernal and Rachael Myrow.

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Paying for Gas as a Ride Service Driver Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

It’s no fun getting gas these days. The average price in many Bay Area counties reached $5.80 a gallon. And that's making it tough for people who drive for gig companies like Uber and Lyft, or who are taxi drivers.

Guest: Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, KQED reporter and producer

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Devin Katayama.

Episode transcript

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Many SF Teachers Haven't Been Getting Their Paychecks Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

From Monday to Thursday, a group of teachers staged a sit-in at the SF Unified School District building to protest the fact the district mishandled their paychecks. Some even went months without receiving the money that they're owed for their work.

The district says it is working to resolve this, and blamed the problems mainly on its new payroll system. But teachers and union members say the issues run much deeper.

Guest: Julia McEvoy, KQED senior editor

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo and Maria Esquinca, and hosted by Devin Katayama.

Episode transcript

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Finally, California's Unemployment System Adds More Language Support Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

For the last 2 years California’s unemployment system has been completely overwhelmed. One of the biggest issues: The lack of language access for people who don’t speak English or Spanish.

Now, the Employment Development Department — the agency that runs this system — is finally turning a corner. Late last month, EDD committed to adding critical multilingual support. But it wouldn't have happened without constant pressure from advocates, who point out that the agency has always been legally obligated to do this.

Guest: Mary Franklin Harvin, KQED reporter and producer for The California Report

Episode Transcript

If you're seeking help with unemployment insurance claims, you can call EDD's Unemployment Customer Service Center (open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday). English and Spanish: (800) 300-5616

Cantonese: (800) 547-3506
Mandarin: (866) 303-0706
Vietnamese: (800) 547-2058
California Relay Service (711): Provide the UI number — (800) 300-5616 — to the operator
TTY: (800) 815-9387

Links:

EDD Finally Adds More Multilingual Unemployment Support — After Advocates Mount Legal Challenge

How Barriers at EDD Keep Already Vulnerable Californians From Their Benefits

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Remembering the Atlanta Spa Shooting — And How We Move Forward Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

This week marks one year since a gunman killed 8 people in Atlanta, Georgia in a targeted attack against Asian massage parlors. 6 of those killed were Asian women.

Since that time, the fear and violence hasn’t gone away. A new study by the National Asian Pacific Women’s Forum found that 74% of Asian American and Pacific Islander women reported having personally experienced racism or discrimination in the last 12 months.

One year ago, Devin Katayama talked with local activist and organizer Hyejin Shim about how solutions must account for gender, socioeconomic and class differences in the Asian community if they’re going to truly work.

This episode was produced by Alan Montecillo, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Shaylyn Martos and hosted by Devin Katayama.

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Rightnowish: Self Love is a Communal Act Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

It's been an intense few weeks. And we believe that all of us deserve to take a break and take care of ourselves. So in the spirit of that, we’re going to play an episode to help keep us all going despite all that’s happening in the world.

In this episode of Rightnowish, host Pendarvis Harshaw speaks with AB Banks, in the first of a four-part series called Big Love. Banks works with the People’s Programs in Oakland, serving unhoused people through clinics and food donations. Banks is also deep in the practice of meditation, and recently launched a series of meditative videos called Mad Chill.

AB and Pendarvis talk about love as a communal act, confidence, and how self-love can be revolutionary.

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Students, Growth, and Housing at UC Berkeley Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

A group of homeowners sued over UC Berkeley's plans to increase enrollment, claiming that the university has not adequately studied the environmental impacts of a higher student population.

This legal battle has been going on for years, but in the last few weeks it's gotten national attention. That's because the courts recently ruled against the university, which is now required to cap enrollment levels. It's set off arguments in Berkeley and across the state about growth, housing, and more. And it may even lead to legislative changes as well.

Guest: Frances Dinkelspiel, reporter and co-founder of Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside

Episode Transcript

Links:

'The Racist Roots of Single-Family Zoning,' SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America, Oct. 5, 2020.
'A Big First Step: Bay Area Cities Are Rethinking Single-Family Zoning,' The Bay, Mar. 15, 2021.
'UC Berkeley finds a workaround to mandatory enrollment freeze,' Berkeleyside, Mar. 4, 2022.

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

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SF Students Are Still Pushing for a Reckoning With Sexual Abuse Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Since the summer of 2020, SFUSD has seen waves of protests against sexual harassment and assault. Students say a familiar pattern has emerged: survivors share experiences of sexual abuse on Instagram, more people pay attention and talk about it, and then the conversation dies down for a few months.

But the issue is still on many students' minds. And while some changes have been made — including some student-led efforts at accountability — many students feel that administrators and district officials haven't done enough.

Guest: Holly J. McDede, KQED reporter and producer

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevara.

Episode Transcript

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How the War in Ukraine is Affecting Former Soviet Immigrants Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the late 90s, she and her family immigrated to the Bay Area.

Growing up, Nastia’s community included Russians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Georgians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, and many other ethnic groups from the former Soviet Union.

Now, as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues, communities of immigrants from the former Soviet Union are speaking out, pulling together, and trying to support one another.

Episode Transcript

Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED arts and culture associate editor

Read Nastia’s column: For Many Former Soviet Immigrants, Russia’s War on Ukraine is Horrific
Related content from The Bay: Reacting to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

This episode was produced by Maria Esquinca and Alan Montecillo, and hosted by Ericka Cruz Guevara.

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For 15 Years, Valero’s Benicia Refinery Released Toxic Chemicals — And No One Knew Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

Valero’s Benicia oil refinery is one of the largest refineries in the state. And from 2003 to 2018, it secretly released excessive amounts of hazardous chemicals into the air before Bay Area regulators found out and investigated. Meanwhile, local officials and the broader community were only informed this year.

Guest: Ted Goldberg, KQED supervising senior editor for news

Episode Transcript

Links: