0:08 – Wilfred Chan (@wilfredchan), contributing writer at the Nation and a founding member of leftist Hong Kong collective Lausan, talks about his new article for the Nation, “The Infinite Heartbreak of Loving Hong Kong.” China is expected to pass a new law criminalizing dissent in Hong Kong, an enormous setback for activists who have been demanding suffrage, an investigation into police violence, an end to the characterization of protests as “riots,” and amnesty for jailed activists. Chan talks about hopelessness and the danger for Hong Kong residents and advocates, as well as solidarity with mainland Chinese who are also advocating against state repression and disappearances.
0:34 – The Central California Food Bank operates in five counties and distributes food to over 70,000 families. Natalie Caples, its chief operations officer, talks about their work in a moment of skyrocketing need during the pandemic. Many of the food bank’s participants are farmworkers — who generate food for the rest of the United States but lack access to it themselves.
1:08 – Black clergy across the Bay Area have launched a campaign called #ItsLoveNotTheLaw to urge congregants to continue sheltering in place and worship safely at a distance from churches, to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Pastor Michael McBride, who also launched the national campaign “Masks for the People,” joins us.
1:20 – A trove of San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s text messages were made public by a records request, and they show her personally texting the SF chief of police to conduct homeless sweeps against specific unhoused individuals she sees around the city. At least one email suggests a sweep was made at the behest of a campaign donor. Tim Redmond, founder of 48 Hills (@48hills), discusses the revelations.
1:34 – Assemblymember Phil Ting (@PhilTing), chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, discusses Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise budget and how the state intends to approach its projected $54 billion shortfall. Ting is also sponsoring legislation that would create a statewide eviction moratorium, going further than Newsom’s actions for tenants.
Photo by Studio Incendo