Bay Curious

One of San Francisco's purported “ghosts,” has a remarkable real-life story often left out of San Francisco's history books. Today we bring back an episode that first aired in 2018, about the remarkable, yet complicated life of Mary Ellen Pleasant. Additional Reading: Read the transcript for this episode Ghost of a Legend: How a San Francisco Civil Rights Icon Was Made a Monster Register for KQED...

In 2014, Californians passed Prop 47, a criminal justice reform measure aimed at sending fewer low-level offenders for drug and theft crimes to prison. Now, Californians are being asked if they want to roll back some of those reforms, and increase the penalties. KQED Politics Correspondent and co-host of Political Breakdown Marisa Lagos takes us through the history, data and arguments of this prop...

As our Prop Fest series continues, KQED Health Correspondent Lesley McClurg joins us to explain Prop. 35, which aims to improve Medi-Cal access by making an existing tax on health insurance companies permanent and restricting the allocation of funds to certain Medi-Cal providers. Additional Reading: Read a transcript of this episode Check out the KQED Voter Guide Sign up for our newsletter Enter o...

Today, we take a closer look at Prop 34, which takes aim at how revenues earned through a federal drug pricing program are spent by a very specific number of providers. On the surface it seems like a healthcare prop, but underneath it all is a proxy war over rent control. Reporter Aaron Schrank, who has been covering Prop 34 for NPR member station KCRW in Los Angeles, helps us understand what’s at...

For nearly 30 years, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act has limited how far local governments can take rent control policies. This year, Proposition 33 asks California voters if they'd like to remove those limits. While nothing happens overnight, if Prop 33 passes, it could open the door for cities to control rents on any type of housing – including single-family homes and newer apartments. KQED...

As you know, California is already an expensive state to live in. When you add up rent, gas, and groceries, things get expensive real fast. Proposition 32 proposes one way to help Californians keep up with the rising cost of everyday life: By raising the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour. But some worry, doing this will only make things even more expensive for everyone. KQED's Labor Corresponden...

In 1865, the U.S. ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude — except as punishment for convicted crimes. That exception has allowed dozens of states, including California, to force incarcerated people to work in prisons, whether they want to or not. Proposition 6 would add an amendment to the California Constitution that would ban forced la...

Bonds are a way for state and local governments raise money for projects—things like schools, infrastructure, or transportation. In part 4 of our Prop Fest series, a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay, we talk about Proposition 5. Prop 5 would lower the voting threshold to pass local bonds from two-thirds (66.67%) down to 55%—but only for bonds related to affordable housing and public i...

As Prop Fest continues we tackle Proposition 4, which asks voters to approve $10 billion in bonds to fund conservation and climate change related programs, including water, fire prevention and the protection of communities and lands. The Bay's Ericka Cruz Guevarra talks with KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero about what this prop means for you, the voter. Additional Reading: Read a transcript...

In the second installment of our Prop Fest series we'll dig into Prop 3, which would enshrine the right to marriage for all couples into California's constitution. While same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since 2013, there is a so-called 'zombie law' on the books limiting the definition of marriage to only being between a man and a woman. Scott Shafer, co-host of KQED's Political Breakd...

This is the first episode of our Prop Fest series, a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November ballot. California's Proposition 2 asks voters to authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K–12 public and charter schools, community colleges...

It looks sort of like a gigantic table...or a huge metal space dog...or maybe even an Imperial Walker from Star Wars. Whatever you imagine the Hunters Point Gantry Crane looks like, it certainly stands out—this massive structure on the edge of the bay on San Francisco's south side can be seen from three counties. But what is it doing there? This week, reporter Ezra David Romero investigates its or...

Listener Mark Isaak heard that from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro you can see the most land in every direction of any spot on Earth. But that the summit of Mount Diablo comes in second as the peak with the biggest view. Turns out, this is a widely-circulated factoid that goes back centuries. But is it true? In this episode from 2020, reporter Asal Ehsanipour scales the summit of this question to br...

Port Costa is a tiny, funky town on the Carquinez Strait that looks and feels like a time capsule. We've received several questions about it over the years: Did its old hotel used to be a brothel? Is it haunted? Was Port Costa once a port, as the name suggests? This week, reporter Katherine Monahan heads to this relic of the old west to experience its eclectic charm and find out the answers. Addit...

Candy colored paint jobs, tons of artistic details, with bodies slammed almost to the ground or bouncing on hydraulics—lowriders definitely turn heads wherever they're cruising. Where exactly did this unique car culture get its start? This week, reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli takes us on a drive through lowrider history. Additional Reading: The Provocative, Rebellious and Flamboyant Origins of Lo...

If you've been anywhere along the California coast, you've seen it—ice plant. It's a low, spreading succulent with finger-like leaves and bright pink or yellow flowers. Given its prevalence on our shorelines, you might assume ice plant is meant to be there. But it's actually an invasive species that threatens native plants and wildlife. This week on the show, producer Pauline Bartolone digs into t...

California plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. But does the state have enough charging stations to support them? Today, some electric vehicle (EV) owners will tell you that charging an EV can be unreliable and stressful—especially if you are depending on public charging stations. Come 2035, the charging crunch could get much worse. This week on Bay Curious, reporter D...

It has been called "the world's oldest profession," but it's not one that's often discussed openly. Of course, we're talking about sex work. Attitudes about certain parts of the industry—from porn to strip clubs—have evolved over time, and so has the language used to discuss it. Even the term "sex work" is relatively new. This week, reporter Steven Rascón brings us the story of the woman who coine...

Before the rise of Silicon Valley, long before the 1906 quake, way before indigenous peoples settled in the Bay Area—actually way, WAY before humans even existed as a species—some fearsome creatures roamed this land. That's right, I'm talking about dinosaurs. This week we're reprising our 2017 episode from reporter Daniel Potter about what kinds of these "monstrous lizards" swam, stomped and flew...

While strolling through the beautiful Morcom Rose Garden, Bay Curious listener Julia Fogelson noticed something peculiar. All over the garden are signs banning a very specific item: glitter. So, what's with all the "NO GLITTER" signs? This week, reporter Christopher Beale takes us to the garden to figure out what sparked the sparkle ban. Additional Reading: Heading to Morcom Rose Garden? Better Le...

Gone are the days of the Old West with sheriffs sitting astride their horses and star shaped badges gleaming in the dusty sunshine. But the idea of police on horseback isn't a total relic. San Francisco, with the country's second oldest mounted police force, still has a few hooved officers left. This week on the show, producer Katrina Schwartz heads to the stables to meet this four-legged squad. A...

There are dozens of shipwrecks in and around San Francisco Bay. And Bay Curious listener Brian Teaff wonders: Is there treasure down there? In some ways yes, but it may not be the type of treasure you're imagining. Additional Reading Is There Treasure At The Bottom Of The Bay? Read episode transcript Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Your sup...

In the early 1960s, cities around the San Francisco Bay Area proposed plans to fill in the bay waters and expand. At the time, there was no regional agency looking at what all those projects together would do to the bay as whole. That's where three Berkeley women stepped in to save the bay. Additional Reading Read episode transcript EXHIBIT: Voices For the Environment: A Century of Bay Area Activi...

Which came first: the churches or the street named Brotherhood Way? That's what Bay Curious listener Noor Moughamian wants to know. She attends the KZV Armenian School located on the San Francisco street and has always wondered about the origin of the name. Additional Reading: Which Came First, San Francisco's Brotherhood Way Or The Churches On It? Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for...

Bay Curious listener Justin Hartung grew up here, and remembers the waters of the bay being more blue than they are today. He wonders: Is the bay getting greener? Bay Curious producer Amanda Font gives us the answer, and takes us into the science behind it. Additional Reading: Feel Like the SF Bay Used to Be Bluer? You're Not Imagining It Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsle...