Sam Harnett
KQED Public Media
San Francisco, CA, United States
Contact Sam
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Past articles by Sam:
'Coming for You and Your Job': With Prop. 22, Are Grocery Staff Layoffs Just the Beginning?
Just two months after California voters passed Proposition 22, grocery giant Albertsons announced plans to replace many of its delivery employees in California with DoorDash contractors. → Read More
'Dashers,' 'Taskers' and Other Euphemisms Obscure Real Losses for Gig Workers
Made-up names help companies bolster the argument that the workers don't deserve employee benefits. → Read More
Can an App for the Blind Maintain its Feel-Good Social Network as it Expands?
More than 2 million people have volunteered for Be My Eyes, a video app that lets them remotely guide blind users. → Read More
Is Airbnb Gutting Bolinas? Local Turns Detective to Track Vacation Rentals
With services like Homeaway, VRBO and Airbnb, there are more short-term rentals than ever before. Bolinas resident Steve O’Neal says that's making it even harder for local families to find housing for themselves. → Read More
San Francisco Made Millions Selling Taxi Medallions. Now Drivers Are Paying the Price
Around 700 drivers bought medallions. They're defaulting every month. And no one is helping. → Read More
Tech, Labor and Newsom Search for Common Ground on the Future of Gig Workers
Uber and other big gig companies are lobbying lawmakers in Sacramento to loosen recently established rules on who can be considered an independent contractor. → Read More
Can Gavin Newsom Broker a Deal Between Gig Workers, Tech and Unions?
The debate over whether gig workers are employees or contractors has been a slow, messy conversation. Now, California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, is trying to help broker a deal between the two sides. But some drivers aren’t happy about where they think it's going. Guest: Sam Harnett, KQED Silicon Valley reporter The Bay wants to get to know you better. Take our survey and share your opinion… → Read More
Retailers Expand 'Amazonlike,' Same-Day Delivery Options to Bay Area
Amazon has capitalized on the belief that online shopping and futuristic, super-fast delivery will completely crush brick-and-mortar retail. → Read More
It's a Short Leash for Dog Walkers Trying to Make It in the Gig Economy
Longtime San Francisco dog walker Bill Peacock tried and failed at creating his own independent contractor model. Now, gig companies are cashing in. → Read More
The Life of a Bay Area On-Demand Super Commuter
San Francisco is a popular place for gig workers. But those who perform these services frequently can’t afford to live in the city, and often commute from more affordable places, like Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento. → Read More
Many S.F. Cabbies Are Losing One of the Last Places They Might Make a Buck
The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency voted to bar more than half of the city's cab drivers from picking up passengers at SFO. → Read More
String of Fires in Northern California May Worsen Poverty for Years to Come
Natural disasters have been shown to increase the poverty rate in counties by further impoverishing low-income survivors, and encouraging those with means to leave. → Read More
Mountain View Commemorates Lab of William Shockley, Acclaimed Physicist and Vocal Racist
Many regard the lab as the birthplace of Silicon Valley, where the first commercial silicon-based semiconductor device was created. But the person who started the lab has a much darker legacy. → Read More
In Wildfire-Hit Redding, Latino Family Offers Free Food — in Face of Racial Tensions
Redding is a predominately white city where racial tensions have been rising since 2016. But that isn't stopping the generosity of one Latino family. → Read More
How Does a Tortoise Flee a Wildfire? Slowly
As the Carr Fire encroached on their land near Redding, Ken and Kate faced a huge problem. How to flee with all 80 of their rescue tortoises. → Read More
The Latest Tech 'Disruption': Labor Organizing
Tech workers want more control over what their companies are building and how they are run. → Read More
In the Age of Streaming, Berkeley's Last Video Rental Store Closes Its Doors
After 38 years in business, owner Andy Katz is closing Five Star Video. Is something lost when everything's online? → Read More
How Facebook Wants to Improve Your News Feed in Time for the Midterm Elections
The team has to make subjective, qualitative judgments about the validity and quality of the news stories its users post. → Read More
Facebook, Uber and Wells Fargo Are All Apologizing in Nationally Televised Ads
Each company handles its major scandal, admission of its guilt and nuance of its promises in a different way. → Read More
Google Employees Quit in Protest Over Military Artificial Intelligence Program
About a dozen workers have resigned and more than 3,000 signed a petition over the company's partnership with the Department of Defense. → Read More