UpFront

Volcanologist on the Hunga Tonga eruption; Over 100 prisoners object to proposed settlement in Babu v. Alameda County; Jane Kim is newly-hired as Executive Director of the California Working Families Party; Plus Oakland’s progressive tax to fund city services

The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption recorded on 15 January 2022 by Japan’s Himawari-8 weather satellite. | Image by Japan Meteorological Agency is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

On today’s show:

0:08 – We discuss the spectacular and devastating Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption with Jackie Caplan-Auerbach (@geophysichick) seismologist, volcanologist, and professor of Geology at Western Washington University.

@nlgsf

0:33 – A court hearing in the Babu v. Alameda County case takes place this afternoon. Link to participate here. The hearing will determine approval of a settlement that over 100 Santa Rita Jail prisoners have objected to. Yolanda Huang, a longtime civil rights attorney who represents clients fighting institutionalized racism and abuses in the justice system; José Bernal (@Jose_Bernal415), Organizing Director at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; and Jefferey Bornstein, a partner at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, representing the plaintiffs in the case join us to discuss.

1:08 – Jane Kim, newly-hired Executive Director of the California Working Families Party (@CA_WFP), former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors joins us to discuss her new job. Kim also served as National Regional and California Political Director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.

1:20 – Christina Aanestad brings us this report on the Oakland teachers’ sickout this week and student-led solidarity walkouts taking place across the district.

1:33 – We discuss a progressive Oakland city business tax proposal with District 2 Councilmember and Council President Nikki Fortunado Bas (@nikki4oakland); Felipe Cuevas, Oakland resident, heavy equipment mechanic with the City of Oakland, and President of SEIU Local 1021 (@seiu1021) City of Oakland chapter; and Zac Unger, President of Oakland Firefighters / IAFF Local 55 (@OaklandFFs).