Immigration Rights Activists in Oakland Announce Caravan to Bakersfield

Immigration rights activists used the entrance to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Francisco to announce a motorcade to protest immigration system injustices. Representatives from the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and other community groups will leave from Oakland's Glenn Dyer detention facility tomorrow. Around 75 activists from the Bay Area will travel to Mesa Verde, a detention center in Bakersfield. There, in collaboration with other organizers, a multi-racial community of activists will converge to “chant down the walls.”

Workers Testify at Wage Theft Forum in San Jose

Community and elected leaders joined San Jose workers at a "Fair Day's Pay" forum to spotlight wage theft. Santa Clara county has more wage theft claims than any other California labor region. Image: Ruth Silvertob, attorney at the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center

Immigrant Man’s Family Sues Fresno City and Police over Killing

The family of an immigrant farmworker killed by Fresno police last year filed a civil rights lawsuit on Tuesday against the city of Fresno and the police. Miguel Moreno Torres was shot 16 times by police as he was fighting with this brother. Police say he had a knife, some witnesses said he did not. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno by the law firm of James P. Segall-Gutierrez on behalf of Torres’ surviving wife and daughter. They seek monetary damages and a jury trial based on civil rights violations along with nine charges against the police, including wrongful death, unreasonable use of force and negligence. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Immigrant Health, Welfare, Aid in Dying Bills Pass Key Hurdle

A wave of bills dealing with immigrant rights, welfare and health care issues passed a final hurdle in the State Senate, clearing the way for votes in the full Senate next week. The measures include bills to expand health coverage for undocumented immigrants, hike California’s minimum wage, end a ban on financial assistance for children born in welfare families, and legalize physician aid in dying for terminally ill patients. The measures passed out of a key Senate fiscal committee Thursday. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Governor Brown Touts Local Control, Criticizes "Too Many Laws" from Legislature

Governor Jerry Brown spoke at a conference of the California State Association of Counties, promoting his concept of “subsidiarity,” pushing many decisions down to the most local level of government instead of regulating them at the state or federal level. He also joked of a court decision he says made him one of the few government officials who has a right to engage in conflicts of interest. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

While outrage at police conduct sweeps the nation many law makers are looking for a way to find trust between communities and law enforcement. The California assembly held a select committee hearing from police and community activists on a list of issues ranging from recruitment to community outreach programs. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Bay Area Immigrants in Legal Limbo After Appeals Court Decision

An estimated five million unauthorized immigrants in the US who qualify for an expanded deferred action program - announced last November by President Barack Obama - are living in a legal limbo as a challenge to President Obama’s executive actions on immigration winds through the federal court system.
Obama's executive actions, could spare from deportation as many as 5 million people - one and a half million of them in California.
The deferred action program would give temporary relief from deportation to parents of US-born children and other members of mixed-status families. A federal judge in Texas prevented the initiatives from taking effect earlier this year. The Obama administration appealed the injunction before the Fifth circuit in New Orleans last month. Attorneys on both sides are gearing up for the next round of oral arguments while families with mixed immigration status watch closely from the sidelines.
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a large population of undocumented immigrants from all over the world and in a series, Pacifica KPFA reporter Saadia Malik will be profiling some of the communities which would be affected by President Obama's executive actions. Today's report looks at the experiences of two Latino immigrants and the particular challenges they and families like them are facing.

Communities of Color Urge Policing Changes before Assembly Committee

An assembly committee on the status of boys and men of color held a hearing on community safety and justice issues, with testimony from activists and community groups calling for more spending on social programs instead of policing. The hearing comes in the wake of continued controversy over police use of force, including police killings of unarmed African American and Latino civilians in California and across the nation. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Solar Workers Rally for Net Metering

Solar workers are calling on the California Public Utilities Commission to continue supporting the fast-growing solar rooftop market in California, by preserving a program that lets solar customers’ electric meters run backwards when they produce more energy than they use. It’s a program called net metering, and the advocates are pushing back against utility industry proposals to end the program. Christopher Martinez reports from San Francisco.

Bay Bridge Broken Bolt Raises New Questions

Troubles on the new bay bridge eastern span continue, with new revelations that a steel rod anchoring the bridge tower to its foundation has fractured. Workers have removed the broken rod, which they will send to a lab for further testing. Bridge officials say the problem poses no safety risk, but it raises new questions about what caused this latest problem, and who will be liable for repair costs. Christopher Martinez reports from Oakland.

Governor Brown Joins Leaders on Climate Change Agreement

Governor Jerry Brown has joined with leaders from 11 other states and provinces in North America and Europe to form a partnership to fight climate change. The 12 states that signed the agreement represent 100 million people with a GDP of $4.5 trillion, all hoping to put pressure on national governments before an international climate change forum in December. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Ahead of Chevron’s shareholder meeting in San Ramon on May 27th, Richmond City Council members along with the Richmond Progressive Alliance, environmental groups, and members of the Richmond community rallied around 100,000 plus petition signatures in support of a shareholder resolution that calls on Chevron to end its spending to influence elections. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Recent Polls indicate that Californians are likely to pass a ballot initiative to legalize Marijuana for recreational use in the 2016 November Election. Lt Governor Gavin Newsom and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy are holding a series of open forums on various issues to address public concern. One of those forum's was held in an impoverished part of Oakland to discuss Youth prevention and education. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Berkeley Releases Measure D Results

The city of Berkeley has released results based on its first month of earnings after the implementation of the tax on sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages. Scott Baba reports.

Immigrants Day Rally Urges New Pro-Immigrant Legislation

Several hundred immigrant rights activists gathered at the state capitol in Sacramento for the 19th Annual Immigrant Day. They’re pushing for legislation that would expand health care coverage to all Californians without regard to where they’re born, as well as other measures to help immigrants apply for citizenship and for relief from deportation under President Barak Obama’s recent executive orders. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Governor Brown's May Revise Budget Pleases Republicans, Disappoints Activists

Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his “May Revise” budget proposal Thursday at the state capitol, with more money for public schools and a new tax credit for low-income Californians. The spending plan would boost per-pupil spending by $3,000 above 2012 levels. Other new money would go to boost the state “rainy day” reserve fund by almost $2 billion. But despite a rosy revenue outlook that has grown by nearly $7 billion, Brown avoids new spending to restore past cuts to health and welfare programs. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

San Jose Tenant Activists Call for Stronger Rent Control

Tenant rights activists in San Jose want the city council to take prompt action to address the city’s housing crisis. They want the city to pass expanded tenant protections, including stronger rent control and a stronger anti-discrimination ordinance to protect tenants in subsidized rental units. Christopher Martinez reports from San Jose.

The Berkeley city council unanimously passed the only cell phone “right to know” ordinance in the country. The Law if it goes into effect will require that retailers display at the time of sale a warning that “If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is on and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to radio frequency radiation.” Critics say the warning does not go far enough to alert consumers of the potential health risks of cell phones, yet to avoid the fate that fell upon a similar law in San Fransisco the word choice has been limited to what the city believes it will be able to win in court. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Wall Street Landlords are Gouging Tenants, According to New Report

A new report says Wall Street landlords are squeezing tenants with high rents and unusually high costs for utilities like water and garbage, while the investor landlords are racking up massive profits. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Attempting to address what is being called a housing crisis, San Fransisco Mayor Ed Lee introduced a housing bond today that if approved by voters in november would be the largest the city has ever seen. Yet supervisor John Avalos says the Mayo's proposed bond is not sustainable, instead proposing a bond twice as large as the mayors. Pacifica's Mike Kohn reports.

Environmentalists Celebrate California Rivers Day

Activists gathered today at the state capitol to raise awareness for the plight of California's rivers. Scott Baba reports.

Juvenile Solitary Confinement Bill

San Francisco State Senator Mark Leno today urged support for a bill that would redefine solitary confinement and limit its use in state and county juvenile facilities. Ariana Nedelman reports.

Convicted C.I.A. Whistleblower Receives 42 Month Term

Former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for leaking classified information to a New York Times reporter about a bungled U.S. effort to undermine Iran's nuclear program. New York times reporter, James Risen, fought for years to avoid testifying in the case, saying he could not discuss his sources. He eventually appeared in court but answered only basic questions about his 2006 book, "State of War," in which he had described the operation in Iran. Supporters of whistleblowers contrast Sterling's conviction with that of former CIA director General Petraeus who leaked classified information to his biographer Paula Broadwell, with whom he was having an affair. Jesselyn Radack is with the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower organization. She told Pacifica Radio's Aileen Alfandary that Sterling's 42 month prison sentence was the least worst possible scenario.

Oakland Youth on Front Lines of Movement Against Police Brutality

In the wake of Michael Brown's death last August in Ferguson, Missouri at the hands of a police officer, protests erupted in the St. Louis suburb and soon spread across the country. Protesters were outraged by the shooting of the unarmed black teenager and what they called a glaring lack of accountability for the police officer, who pulled the trigger. But this was no isolated incident. One statistic that gained popularity during these protests conveyed the urgency of the struggle against police violence: every 28 hours a black person is killed in the United States by a law enforcement or private security officer. Since Brown's death, demonstrations against police brutality, mass incarceration, and racial injustice have swelled from New York to California. During that period, Oakland youth have been hard at work, developing strategies to change the ways police interact with their communities. KPFA's Andrew Klein has the story.

Disability Service Providers Fight for a 10% Budget Increase

In San Francisco, the developmental disability community held a rally in an ongoing effort to compel state legislators to increase funding by 10% for disability services. Currently 265,000 families rely on services largely funded by the state. At the moment, many organizations are operating at a loss and rely on outside fund-raising in order to keep their doors open.

EPA Says Bakersfield Oil Train Terminal Violates Air Rules

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency this week cited a crude oil terminal near Bakersfield for 10 violations of the Clean Air Act. The agency declared the facility is a major source of air pollution that should have been subjected to closer scrutiny by the San Joaquin Valley Air Board. The EPA found the terminal is not operating with a valid permit, and that it has inadequate pollution control equipment. Emails between air officials and the terminal’s project manager reveal that air board officials helped the project to avoid public hearings. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.

Recycle workers in East Bay looking forward to $20/hour wages

The Oakland Warehouse workers union, Local 6 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, has adopted a unique strategy as they seek to improve the lives of recycling sorters in the East Bay. The strategy involves building a coalition of community groups including environmental and social justice organizations, then jointly lobbying city governments to raise residential trash pick-up rates so that the workers can be paid a living wage. The truck drivers who cruise the neighborhoods picking up the trash have long been covered by union contracts. But inside the giant sheds where recycling collections are sorted and repacked for sale to other users, wages have hovered right around the state minimum wage. The new union strategy has begun to show dramatic results for some of the lowest paid workers in the Bay area. Tom Herriman reports from Oakland.

Prop 13 Tax Law is Targetted by Community Activists

A coalition of unions, religious organizations, civil rights and other community groups is launching a campaign to change California’s Prop 13 property tax law. They say the law has built-in loopholes that let big corporations avoid paying their fair share of property taxes. Their proposal would bring in up to $9 billion a year the advocates say are needed for schools, roads, and other local services. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Governor Brown Tells Delta Tunnel Critics to Shut Up

Governor Jerry Brown says critics of his plan to build giant water tunnels across the bay delta should, in his words, “shut up.” Brown made his remarks in a keynote address to the Association of California Water Agencies in Sacramento. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE CORINTHIAN FOR PROFIT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SUDDENLY CLOSED RATHER THAN PAY A 30 MILLION DOLLAR FINE LEVIED AGAINST IT FOR MISREPRESENTING ITS JOB PLACEMENT RATES, MANY STUDENTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR INCOMPLETE EDUCATION AND STUDENT DEBT. WHILE SOME STUDENTS HAVE ORGANIZED WHAT THEY CALL A DEBT STRIKE IN REFUSAL TO PAY BACK THEIR STUDENT LOANS, BAY AREA CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER IS ENCOURAGING CORINTHIAN STUDENTS TO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND LET GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE DEBT CAUSED BY CORINTHIAN SCHOOLS.MIKE KOHN REPORTS

Urban Water Conservation Regulations Nearing Vote

The State Water Resources Control Board is poised to vote on emergency drought regulations calling for urban water conservation. The regulations aim at cutting water use by 25% statewide, with some regions facing cuts up to 36% below their 2013 water usage. Many local water districts and cities are asking for changes to reduce their conservation targets. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

HOMELESS MOTHER'S GATHERED ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL TODAY TO DEMAND HOUSING FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. AFTER A RALLY INCLUDING MOTHERS AND ADVOCATES THE CROWD ENTERED THE BUILDING DEMANDING THEIR CALL FOR A 6.5 MILLION INVESTMENTMENT IN FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS OVER TWO YEARS BE HEARD BY THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. CURTIS LARSON FILES THIS REPORT.

Lawmakers Consider Poverty among Women and Children

State lawmakers are looking at the persistent problem of poverty among California’s women and children. A state senate hearing heard about the magnitude of the problem, as well as possible solutions, including spending some of the state’s apparent budget surplus to restore past cuts to health and welfare programs. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.

Tensions Flare Between Police and Protesters at Baltimore Solidarity March in Oakland

Several hundred people took to the streets of Oakland on Friday night to stand in solidarity with protesters in Baltimore and demand an end to police violence. The march rounded out a packed schedule of May Day events, which saw thousands of people across the Bay Area and across the nation demonstrating for racial and economic justice. KPFA’s Andrew Klein has more.