Christmas is two days away, which means Santa Claus is pulling overtime. He’s at the mall taking photos and he’s project managing toy production. This story is all about the work of being Santa. So, if you’re listening with a child who’s expecting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick this year you may want to turn down the volume. KCRW’s Megan Jamerson brings us this story about a day in the life of a local Santa.

Christmas is two days away, which means Santa Claus is pulling overtime. He&rsquo;s at the mall taking photos and he&rsquo;s project managing toy production. This story is all about the work of being Santa. So, if you&rsquo;re listening with a child who&rsquo;s expecting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick this year you may want to turn down the volume. KCRW&rsquo;s Megan Jamerson brings us this story about a day in the life of a local Santa.

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KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories.

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A Day in the Life of a Local Santa

KQED newscast for Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM

KQED Newscast

Many Bay Area families with roots in Latin America serve tamales as part of their holiday spreads. The dish is labor-intensive so the tradition is typically for folks to gather and make enough to feed large groups. But for those who sell tamales this time of year ongoing economic pressures are taking a toll. KQED’s Blanca Torres has more.

 

Many Bay Area families with roots in Latin America serve tamales as part of their holiday spreads. The dish is labor-intensive so the tradition is typically for folks to gather and make enough to feed large groups. But for those who sell tamales this time of year ongoing economic pressures are taking a toll. KQED&rsquo;s Blanca Torres has more.
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Economic Pressures Take Toll on Holiday Tamale Selling

Downtown San Francisco is decked out for the holidays following a year-long campaign by city officials to revitalize the area. They say Union Square is rebounding following the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. But when it comes to one mall there, that’s a different story. KQED’s Sydney Johnson looked into that and she joins us.

Downtown San Francisco is decked out for the holidays following a year-long campaign by city officials to revitalize the area. They say Union Square is rebounding following the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. But when it comes to one mall there, that&rsquo;s a different story. KQED&rsquo;s Sydney Johnson looked into that and she joins us.

A Day in the Life of a Local Santa

KQED

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