The Bay

Prop 44: Health Clinic Spending Requirements

There are about 2,000 community clinics providing health care in California, serving low-income and underinsured patients and funded partially by our tax dollars. But on

Prop 43: Local Tax Voter Threshold

Right now in California, if citizens put a tax measure on the ballot for local government services, it requires a simple majority — 50% plus 1 — to pass. Prop 43 would r

Prop 42: Bans New Taxes on Financial Assets

Prop 42 is another ballot measure designed to compete with Prop 40, the billionaire wealth tax. If passed, California would ban new taxes on financial assets like retirem

Prop 41: Require Audits of New Special Taxes

As happens so often in California, there are initiatives on your ballot that are competing with other initiatives on your ballot. Prop 41, which would require audits of n

Prop 40: One-Time Wealth Tax on Billionaires

Proposition 40 is a one-time 5% wealth tax on California's billionaires. If passed, 90% of the revenue would go to healthcare, while the other 10% would help fund public

Prop 39: Requires Voters Show ID to Cast A Ballot

In California, you have to show identification when you register to vote, but not when you cast your ballot. Prop 39, which is supported by California Republicans and o

Prop 38: Immunology Research Bond

Immunotherapy is individualized treatment designed to harness a patients’ immune system to fight disease. Vaccines are considered part of immunology, but it also includes

Prop 37: Creates Middle-Income Homebuying Program

It's pretty standard to pay a 20% down payment in order to buy a house. But in California, where the median price of a single-family home is $980,000, that's a tall order

Prop 5: Statewide Recall Reform

In 2021, California voters were asked whether or not to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom from office. But there was also a second question on the ballot: Who should replace the g

Prop 4: Allows Public Financing for Political Campaigns

If you want to get elected in this state, it's no secret that you'll need to raise money — in some cases, a lot of money. This could put candidates who don't come from we

Prop 3: Taxes on High-Income Earners

California has a progressive income tax system: the more you make, the more you pay in taxes. For years, voters have approved certain tax rates for high-income earners.

Prop 2: The Rainy Day Fund

In 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown persuaded voters to strengthen California's Rainy Day Fund — a pot of money set aside to help the state save when times are good, while paying d

Prop 1: Affordable Housing Bond

For the next 2 weeks, we and our friends with Bay Curious are bringing you Prop Fest, your deep-dive audio guide voting smart on the 14(!) statewide ballot measures in th

What if Transit Ballot Measures Fail? Plus, Solar Panels Built Over Irrigation Canals and a Valkyries Playoff Preview

In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss a new report that found traffic delays could double if voters reject two public transit-related ballot measu

Introducing ‘The Speaker’: A New Limited-Run Podcast from KQED

Nancy Pelosi is many things: Trailblazer. Lightning rod. First woman Speaker of the House. Mom of five. To some, she’s an out-of-touch elitist, to others, a champion for

How the Trump Administration Is Using SFO as a ‘De Facto Detention Center’

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration arrests at airports in recent months, including at San Francisco International Airport.  According to reporting by the

At This San Quentin Program, Perpetrators of Gun Violence Are Part of the Solution

Why does gun violence happen? Arms Down, a program inside the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, formerly San Quentin State Prison, asks the people behind the gun. It’s a

Desperate Tenants in SF Face Scams, Substandard Rentals

San Francisco’s AI boom is making the rental market more competitive than ever. Prospective tenants face intense pressure to stand out, leaving them susceptible to substa

As AI Booms, Daniel Lurie Declares ‘Rent Emergency’ in San Francisco

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has declared a ‘rent emergency’ in San Francisco amid a boom in the AI industry. In the first part of The Bay’s series about the AI-fuele

How One Teacher is Reckoning With Cesar Chavez’s Legacy in the Classroom

Since sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez came to light last spring, city leaders quickly decided to rename parks and take down statues of the labor leader. Con