KQED is taking its live public affairs radio program Forum back into the community. The second Forum on the Road broadcast in the North Bay will be Wednesday, June 22, from 9-11am, at the Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
“In an effort to make our presence better-known throughout the North Bay and to address North Bay issues and relevant topics there, we went to Sonoma State University in April for a live broadcast,” explained host Michael Krasny. “Now, for the first time, we will broadcast live from Marin County.”
The program’s first hour will discuss the progress and potential of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train. Local voters approved a sales tax in 2008 to fund a 70-mile line from Cloverdale to Larkspur, yet the new service —scheduled to launch later this year between Sonoma and San Rafael — only accounts for about half that distance. The project was scaled back when funding collapsed after the 2009 economic downturn and North County residents remain concerned that the train will never reach Cloverdale. It's also unclear if and when the approved bike and pedestrian lanes will be completed.
The second hour will examine the question of how to cope with homelessness in one of the state’s wealthiest counties. Marin has been struggling to deal with its substantial homeless population, and San Rafael is at the heart of the county’s effort. According to the Marin Independent Journal, San Rafael’s homeless population is larger on a per capita basis than that of San Francisco. Amid growing community concerns and tensions, the city hopes to acquire a new 20,000-square-foot facility to help the homeless.
Those interested in joining the conversation can reserve free tickets online: https://forumsanrafael.eventbrite.com