Millions for What? Inside California’s Secretive Earmark Process

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss Marin County’s Measure P, a parcel tax to increase access to childcare, and why school board races might actually be more important than you think. We also discuss the fate of the iconic Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate just south of Oakland. Some say the once grand mansion has taken a turn for the worse. Links: As Costs Crush Families, This Bay Area County Could Be Latest to Subsidize Childcare (KQED) Don’t Skip the School Board Races on Your Ballot. Here’s Why They Could Be Pivotal (KQED) Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion That Inspired Hollywood Nightmares (KQED) Why should you care about old houses? (East Bay Yesterday) Dunsmuir House: Past, Present, & Future (Oakland Public Library) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, Nancy Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress. Now she’s retiring, making way for a truly competitive race for California’s 11th Congressional District. Today, we talk about the candidates — San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and state Sen. Scott Wiener — and discuss how they differ on the big issues.  Links: KQED’s Voter Guide Prop Fest: A collaboration between The Bay and Bay Curious Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After hollowing out during the pandemic, San Francisco’s office vacancy rate is hovering at around 30%. Pair that volume of empty space with an escalating housing crisis, and it’s enough to make you wonder: Could you turn those empty offices into apartments? Today, we talk with two developers about what it actually takes to make these conversion projects a reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Golden State Valkyries prepare for Game 4 of the WNBA finals Saturday, KALW’s BOUNCE introduces us to the team’s star player, Gabby Williams. From her roots in Oakland to her leadership as an out, queer player, host Erin Lim tells us more about the forces that have shaped her into the player and person she is today. Links: BOUNCE: The Rise of Women’s Professional Sports Valkyries Fans Take Dream Loss in Stride, Prepare to Rally for Game 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal corruption trial against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao kicked off this month. Thao and her three codefendants — Andre Jones, David Doung, and Andy Doung — are facing conspiracy and bribery charges. Prosecutors allege that the group engaged in a quid pro quo to advance the Doungs’ companies in exchange for money and support for Thao’s 2022 mayoral campaign. KQED’s Alex Hall joins us to break it all down. Links: Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Is Going on Trial for Bribery: Here’s What You Need to Know Alex Hall’s continuing coverage of the Sheng Thao trial Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vast majority of commercial kitchens in California — some 85% — rely on gas to power their appliances. But scientists say that will have to change if the state hopes to reach its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Bay Area food franchise Flour + Water is one of many local shops leading the charge away from gas appliances. In today’s episode, KQED reporter Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman visits an electric pizza kitchen to help us understand the benefits of electrification and what’s preventing more kitchens from making the switch.  Links: Here’s What All-Electric Bay Area Restaurants Have Learned From Ditching Gas Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September, prescribed burns on Angel Island sent smoke and at-times dangerous air quality to residents around the Bay Area. While Air District officials want to improve controlled burns on the island, environmental managers say the recent burn was a win. Today, Bay Nature reporter Daniella Garcia-Loos Almeida takes us on a journey to Angel Island to see the burn area through the eyes of the environmental stewards behind it. Links: Smoke Aside, the Angel Island Fire Was a Win for the Island’s Wild Landscapes (Bay Nature) Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just last month, San Mateo County announced that they’d bought an apartment building to house teachers and school staff. It is just one recent example of local school districts working to tackle the affordability crisis with workforce housing. This episode first published April 20, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do martial artists, mime performers, and a farmers market have in common? They all received millions of dollars from the state budget this past summer. The money was earmarked for them, set aside as part of a longstanding and opaque budget process that CalMatters’ reporter Stella Yu has spent a long time trying to understand. Links: How a gym, a farmers market and MMA fighters landed millions in Newsom’s last budget (CalMatters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, requires state and local agencies to consider the environmental impact of public and private projects. Prop 45 would change CEQA by speeding up environmental reviews for certain projects such as housing, roads, bridges, and broadband centers. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Laura Klivans. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices