Stafford Hemmer
ReporterStafford is a native of Washington DC, but has called San Francisco home since 1994. He is a graduate of Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service) and he attended the Diplomatic Academy (Vienna, Austria). His work experience includes work at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Georgetown University, Bank of America, and GateCapital, LLC. However, he became a self-employed German-English translator/language services provider (LSP) in 2001. He served on the Board of the Northern California Translators Association and was frequent contributor to their newsletters and those of the American Translators Association (ATA). A listener of KALW since 1994, Stafford is an avid and dedicated volunteer for KALW’s 220 Live Events space. He was a competitive swimmer for 20+ years, and also enjoyed rowing, Muay thai, boxing, running, bodybuilding, and cycling. He is an active volunteer with the Castro Country Club and the Leather Cultural and Historic District.
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My MixtapeCage the Elephant's Shake Me Down is about focusing on resilience when change, loneliness, and growing up present a challenge. The lyrics and music touched San Francisco backpacker Taylor Schmidt and are part of her hiking ritual. -
My MixtapeRapper and performer Prof released "Ain't We Rich" on his 2020 album, Powderhorn Suites. The song touches on emotional intimacy, contentment, and mindfulness. Just what Paul Durand needed to hear at a critical point in his life. -
CrosscurrentsThe Harm Reduction Therapy Center provides substance users with access to services that help them stay safer and alive. But in 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie rolled out Breaking the Cycle, a directive that signals a change in San Francisco’s approach to harm reduction. Has it made a difference on the street? -
Mayor Lurie submitted his draft budget for Fiscal Years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 today to the SF Board of Supervisors for consideration and approval. -
My MixtapeFantasy by Earth, Wind, and Fire always brings to mind a magical memory from Chuck Loudon's college days - and a fantasy that came true! -
Farmers market shoppers, and the farmers who sell to them, may lose access to Market Match money by early 2027 if supplemental funding is not added to next year's state budget. -
Approximately 50 nurses rallied in support of a colleague in front of Kaiser’s Medical Campus in San Francisco on Monday. The healthcare provider is threatening to terminate a nurse if she cannot provide visa renewal paperwork by Thursday. -
My Mixtape"Just Like That" is Bonnie Raitt's song about a man looking for the mother of his heart donor. And this touches Amanda Newstetter in a very personal way. -
San Francisco recorded its first overdose death from two new street drugs, "cychlorphine" and "iso," also known as "tony." -
My MixtapeSan Francisco's very own Charles Lucero tells us about why Wake Up Everybody means so much to him to this day.
