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

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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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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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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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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 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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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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On Monday, Oakland will swear in Sheng Thao as the city’s new mayor and now one of the most prominent Hmong-American politicians in the country. Last November, she narrowly won the election against fellow-council member Loren Taylor by fewer than 700 votes and is getting ready to lead one of the largest cities in the Bay Area.

In a recent episode of Political Breakdown, hosts Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer spoke with Thao about her journey to the mayor’s seat and how her experiences as a daughter of Laotian refugees, a single mother and a person who experienced homelessness will shape her approach to the job.

This episode of the Political Breakdown podcast first aired on Dec. 29, 2022.

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Storms caused by back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled the Bay Area this week;, prompting evacuation orders, heavy flooding on roads and in rivers, and bringing down power for 100 thousand PG&E customers Thursday.

More atmospheric rivers are expected this weekend.

Guest: Ezra David Romero, climate reporter for KQED 

Links:

• How to Prepare for This Week's Atmospheric River Storm: Sandbags, Emergency Kits and More

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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The new mayor of the Bay Area’s biggest city started his new job this week, and he has to work fast. Matt Mahan’s first job is to address a winter storm hitting San Jose, which could bring floods and heavy rains.

What can we expect from Mahan in his first year in office? And what roadblocks could he face in accomplishing the goals he ran on? 

Guest: Guy Marzorati, Producer and Reporter for KQED’s Politics and Government Desk

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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It’s our last episode of the year! Today, host Ericka Cruz Guevarra, producer Maria Esquinca, and senior editor Alan Montecillo unpack 2022 and share their favorite episodes. We’ll have new episodes for you starting Jan. 4, 2023! 

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