Civic

At the top of the list of local ballot measures going before voters in November is Proposition A, billed as the “Health and Recovery Bond.” Several initiatives would be funded by this $487.5 million bond, including the development of behavioral health and substance abuse services, expansion of shelters and temporary housing, renovating or developing parks and repairs to infrastructure like roads. Reporter Kristi Coale helps unpack what's in the measure and takes a closer look at one of the projects that could get funding from it.

Proposition K on the November ballot represents an attempt to allow the city to create new low-rent housing units, like public housing but at the municipal level. Unlike other affordable housing being built in the city, these units would be created by the local government, not nonprofits or private developers. The city must obtain voter approval to build such housing because of an article in the California constitution. Laksh Bhasin, co-author of Proposition K, explains the details of the proposal, its scope and how it would be funded.

Tens of thousands of people are facing evacuation orders and threats to their safety as fires continue to blaze across the Western United States. These disastrous fires are one of the effects of climate change that scientists predicted, says climate activist Laura Neish, executive director of 350 Bay Area and 350 Bay Area Action. We discuss how to talk about climate change amid these disasters, and what can be done.

CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher explains what it means for California to have an "almost" all vote-by-mail election and what to expect from ballots, polling places, and vote tallying this November.

With an infusion of $25 billion to help the postal service weather the coronavirus pandemic still in limbo awaiting consideration by the Senate, local mail workers continue to work extended hours under difficult conditions to beat back delays in mail delivery. APWU Local 2 President Cindy Datangel says postal workers are also grappling with absences as coronavirus spreads to and among staff.

Nonprofits in the Bay Area are facing the challenge of carrying out their missions during a pandemic and maintaining their funding so they can continue to serve once the crisis has passed. Reporter George Koster has been chronicling those changes on this new show "Voices of the Community" which premiers on our station KSFP.

When you tune your radio to 102.5 on the FM dial, you might get public radio-style talk programming, or you might hear music from local artists. That's because there are two radio stations on this frequency, KSFP — Civic's radio home — and KXSF, a project of San Francisco Community Radio. San Francisco Public Press Publisher Lila LaHood talked with two KXSF DJs about the station partnership and keeping live community radio going strong during a pandemic.