{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitol-weekly-podcast.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fa-chat-with-barts-homelessness-czar-ayR9QiTY","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"A Chat with BART's Homelessness Czar","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/7f78d020-0ec7-4ea0-b2e4-793f60bea526/2ef35241-e083-44eb-bf2e-93be3b3697f1/daniel-cooperman-02282023-mja-01.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/9931c072-3e9b-4037-aa5c-9abe45495945\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"A Chat with BART&apos;s Homelessness Czar\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (which everyone calls BART) is a the lifeline of the Bay Area: a heavy-rail public transit system that operates in five counties with 50 stations. Connecting the suburbs to urban cities through 131 miles of track, BART serves a wildly diverse customer base. \n\nOne of the groups most dependent on BART is the region's homeless population - and that dependence that became even more pronounced during the COVID pandemic. As part of a larger Action Plan, BART introduced its first Homeless Czar (technically, \"senior manager of social services\"), Daniel Cooperman in 2021.  Cooperman joined us to talk about the challenges and rewards of his very unique job, and explains why elevators figure so prominently in his duties.  Plus, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Politics."}