Tere Almaguer, an environmental justice organizer with PODER, talked with “Civic” about how the group has adapted to years of inconsistent rainfall. Almaguer said California’s exceptional drought conditions have already had visible effects on the farm, like flowering plants that grew shorter and bloomed later this year than previously. Hummingbird Farm will also be experimenting with an alternative water source: Drawing water from the air.
Category: “Civic” Podcast
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Arts & Culture, Community, LGBTQ+, Media
In ‘No Straight Lines,’ We Meet Groundbreaking Queer Comic Artists
In the new documentary “No Straight Lines,” artists who took serious risks by outing themselves and creating comics about the experiences and lives of LGBT Americans look back on their work and its impacts. Director Vivian Kleiman, a Peabody Award winning filmmaker, producer, director and writer, talked with “Civic” about how these artists shaped the underground comics scene and some of the film’s more poignant moments.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Media, Open Government
After Journalist Arrests, State Legislation Aims to Protect Reporter Access to Protests
Freedom of information advocates and journalists have criticized a number of instances in which law enforcement officers arrested, detained or even injured reporters at work covering protests in California. In response, state Sen. Mike McGuire authored SB 98, which aims to codify journalists’ right to access demonstrations.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Community, Health, Homelessness, Public Safety
SF Team of Specialists Responds to People in Crisis on the Street
Members of San Francisco’s Street Crisis Response Team show up to situations when someone is experiencing a mental health or substance-related crisis, as an alternative to police response, which can escalate such situations.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Climate Change, Environment, Utilities
Water Efficiency Is Energy Efficiency, Too, Expert Says
Laura Feinstein, sustainability and resilience policy director at the urban think tank SPUR, explained the difficult choice between attempting to create separate drinking and nonpotable water systems, or developing robust wastewater recycling systems.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Arts & Culture, Community
Return of the Roxie: SF Nonprofit Cinema Cautiously Reopens
With vaccination rates on the rise and lockdown restrictions lifting, audiences are returning to indoor venues. For community cinemas like the Roxie Theater, reopening is emotional. The Roxie’s executive director Lex Sloan told “Civic” that limited seating for recent screenings sold out quickly, filling her with hope that cinephiles are eager to return in person.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Bay Area, Transportation
BART Emerges From Pandemic Slowdown
Ridership on BART is slowly returning at about 20% of pre-pandemic levels. Starting next week the transit agency will begin adding trains with a return to a near normal train schedule by August 30. “Civic” learns more about BART’s plans, ongoing budget problems, new trains, the homeless and how BART is prepared for a mass shooting like the one at a light rail yard in San Jose last month.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Community, Government & Politics, Politics
Organizing Around Hong Kong Democracy Protests From Afar
Demonstrators in Hong Kong have been demanding more democratic freedoms, as well as an inquiry into police use of force and the release of detained protesters. As millions have taken to the streets and participated in other actions, clashes between police and protesters have turned violent. Here in the Bay Area, people from Hong Kong have been paying close attention, organizing solidarity actions and strategizing about how to stay involved from afar.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Environment, Government & Politics, Utilities
SF Water Use Efficient, but State Restrictions Would be Challenging, Official Says
San Francisco’s residential water use is among the lowest among large cities in California, said Steven Ritchie, assistant general manager for water for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Ritchie joined “Civic” to explain how the city sources and uses its water, and why it is fighting state restrictions on the use of Tuolumne River water.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Climate Change, Environment, Health, Land use, Parks & Open Space
SF Ranks High on Parks Access, but Communities of Color Have Less Space
According to a ranking from the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, all San Francisco residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, but residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 56% less park space per capita than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white.