Wren Farrell
ReporterWren Farrell (he/him) is a writer, producer and journalist living in San Francisco. Originally from San Diego, he moved to the Bay Area in 2018, where he got his start in radio at KPFA. He graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2021 and then went on to work for a number of podcasts as an associate producer. In 2023 he joined the inaugural class of UC Berkeley’s California Local News Fellowship, which brought him back to KALW as a full-time emergency and disaster preparedness reporter. In his free time he likes biking, cooking and hanging out.
All Stories
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Immigrant and labor rights groups joined members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors at City Hall today to reaffirm the city’s commitment to protecting its immigrant population. -
A hearing was held in Oakland earlier today to determine whether or not State Farm General can implement an “emergency rate hike” on customers. -
San Francisco’s five-year financial plan was released on Monday. Local union leaders say the budget can be balanced without major cuts to services. -
CrosscurrentsToday is Transgender Day of Visibility. It’s a day to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of trans people, while also acknowledging the discrimination and challenges many still face.March was a particularly tense time for trans folks in San Francisco. Two local bathhouses — Imperial Spa in the Fillmore district, and Archimedes Banya in Hunters Point — were accused of enforcing anti-trans policies.After facing backlash online and potential protests, Imperial Spa quickly reversed their policy. But at Banya, it was a little more complicated. -
San Mateo County has released an online tool to help local residents assess their tsunami risk. -
Yesterday, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie signed an executive directive that lays out his plan to address homelessness, addiction, and government failure. -
On Monday, a spa in San Francisco seemed to reverse course on alleged discrimination against trans people. -
A Russian bathhouse in San Francisco’s Hunters Point neighborhood has adopted a controversial new policy on their men’s only and women’s only nights. -
Last night, the San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to approve Mayor Lurie’s decision to oust the city’s progressive police commissioner, Max Carter-Oberstone. -
A fire broke out in a seven-story residential building in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood yesterday afternoon.
News Updates
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An audit released yesterday revealed that a San Francisco housing nonprofit has been misusing taxpayer funds. -
Yesterday, San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston introduced a resolution urging the SF Housing Authority to take advantage of a federal program that could create more than three thousand affordable housing units. -
Starting today, SFMTA will begin overnight parking enforcement on Bernal Heights Boulevard, displacing a community of people living there in RV’s. -
On Tuesday night, the Antioch City Council voted to direct city staff to begin drafting a “just cause” eviction ordinance. -
Tonight, Antioch City Council will consider whether or not to draft a “just cause” eviction ordinance, strengthening tenant protections.
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Yesterday, dozens of city employees gathered in San Francisco to protest the passage of Proposition F. -
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved legislation to expand a program that relocates unhoused people out of the city. -
A plan to stabilize rent in Concord is on hold. -
Last night, San Francisco voters said yes to Proposition F, requiring drug screenings and treatment for some residents who receive cash assistance. -
Over the weekend, the San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent laid out his plan to close an unknown number of schools by 2025.
Crosscurrents
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CrosscurrentsMACRO was created to address some of the toughest problems facing Oakland, from addiction and mental health issues to homelessness. But, building trust takes time. -
CrosscurrentsMACRO was formed in 2022 as an alternative to cops for non-emergency, non-violent 911 calls. But deciding when they should be deployed hasnt been consistent. -
CrosscurrentsMACRO is Oakland’s non-police response team. They’ve been running since mid-2022, but how do they differ from police, firefighters, and paramedics?
