Dead Reckoning

You've probably heard about Jim Jones, the People's Temple, and the infamous mass killing at Jonestown, but did you know that all of this kicked off in San Francisco? That Jim Jones was deeply entangled with city leadership, participating in corruption and cover-ups? It's … not great! Join Courtney and Beth for the real story of People's Temple: How they settled in San Francisco, placed their cronies at every level of government, and co-opted the civil rights and social justice movements of the era to their own nefarious ends. Beth also tells us how the tragedy and controversies live on through ongoing issues with the victims' burial monument in Oakland. Show Notes Jonestown Archive at SDSU A Thousand Lives by Julia Scheeres Season of the Witch by David Talbot Last Podcast on the Left: Jonestown Latest on Buck Kamphausen's legal situation: https://www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-businessman-faces-new-fines-for-funeral-home-businesses/ Corruption in San Francisco Agencies: In the Department of Public Works In the Department of Building Inspection In the PUC On the Planning Commission

Long before we had protracted, bad-faith government arguments over the political football of welfare, food, and medical aid, we had ALMSHOUSES. If you were poor, sick, or hungry in the United States, this is where you went for help. Were they great? Probably not! Were they better than the workhouses in England that sold your body after you died? Yes! Join Courtney and Beth to learn about the Almshouse in San Francisco, which opened in the 1850s and is now a skilled nursing facility. We trace the origins of indoor and outdoor poor relief in the US, talk about what the women of the Almshouse were up to, and speculate wildly on whether people are buried on the property. Show Notes Laguna Honda - architectural review that includes history Encyclopedia Britannica article On Social Services Almshouse Women Book - In the Shadow of the Poorhouse by Michael Katz Social Welfare History Project KEDITS on Substack - modern labor economy analysis