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Civic is the flagship audio program from the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit news institution, covering important local issues and the unique experiences of living and working in San Francisco... more
January 30, 2020The FBI arrested a top city employee. What does this mean for S.F.?The FBI this week arrested Mohammed Nuru, now on administrative leave from his position as director of the Department of Public Works, on corruption charges and other charges relating to failing to keep the investigation secret. Joe Eskenazi, managing editor and a columnist at Mission Local, explains why Nuru’s alleged behavior likely isn't the sole focus of this investigation – and how this same behavior is part of a pattern in San Francisco....more30minPlay
January 29, 2020Why taxi workers are calling for the release of ride-hailing safety dataThe San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance has joined several legislators in calling for the California Public Utilities Commission to allow at least some public access to ride-hailing safety data, which are kept hidden. Safety data about taxis is available to the public through records requests. Mark Gruberg, a taxi driver and a member of the Taxi Workers Alliance’s executive board, explains how this disparity affects taxi workers and why the alliance is calling for action....more30minPlay
January 28, 2020Open Door Legal expands, envisioning a future of universal access to legal aidIn some countries, legal representation in civil cases is a right. Not so in the U.S., which means low-income people facing a civil legal proceeding may not be able to afford an attorney. One organization looking to change that is Open Door Legal. With the help of a million-dollar city grant, the nonprofit has just cut the ribbon on two new locations in the Excelsior and Western Addition. Director Adrian Tirtanadi lays out the organization's history and vision....more30minPlay
January 27, 2020What's New & What's Next for 1/27/20In What's New & What's Next, the Civic team offers a roundup of San Francisco news and a look at what's ahead on the city's calendar. This week: San Francisco all but ends cash bail, mental health advocates deliver a letter to the Department of Public Health, Supervisors will vote on banning gas in new buildings, and Muni service changes and car-free Market Street will take effect this week....more5minPlay
January 25, 2020How to vote in the presidential primaryRead the CalMatters explainer here....more30minPlay
January 23, 2020Why one Bay Area county is floating a UBI program for foster youthWhen foster youth age out of the foster care system, they can find themselves in difficult housing and financial situations. Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese explains the reasoning behind his proposal for a pilot program in which the county would give each youth transitioning out of foster care $1,000 a month....more30minPlay
January 23, 2020What do tent counts really tell us? Plus: Documenting the experiences of vehicle dwellersBrian Howey reported on the complications of assessing homelessness by counting tents for the San Francisco Public Press and explains what the numbers do and don’t show. Yesica Prado, a multimedia journalist and a Catchlight fellow for the Public Press, is producing photo essays for the Public Press that document the experiences of vehicle dwellers in San Francisco and Berkeley, and shares how city policies affect those who shelter in their cars or RVs....more30minPlay
January 22, 2020Legislators react to report showing ride-hailing safety data is kept hiddenRead the Public Press story here, and Seth's follow-up here....more30minPlay
January 21, 2020What one city's response to homelessness says about a CA crisisThe city of Redding, California, made headlines late last year when its then-mayor proposed legislation to force people to enter a shelter facility and only allow them to leave on certain conditions, like sobriety. Independent journalist Evelyn Nieves has covered homelessness extensively and has been reporting in depth on Redding’s response to homelessness, and how it parallels trends around the region and the state....more30minPlay
January 20, 2020What's New & What's Next for 01/20/20In What's New & What's Next, the Civic team offers a roundup of San Francisco news and a look at what's ahead on the city's calendar. This week: Changes in the District Attorney's office, a city supervisor announces her retirement and a candidate announces a run to replace her, and advocates plan an anti-war protest....more5minPlay