Special Episode recorded October 6, 2021 at Capitol Weekly's conference on California's Mental Health Crisis. This is Panel 3: Mental Health in the COVID Era

The CDC reports that many Americans, especially younger adults, minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers, are experiencing negative mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and other impacts as a result of the stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel will look at how we are addressing these concerns, and what remains to be done.

Moderated by author Dan Morain

Panelists: Jessica Cruz, National Association on Mental Illness; Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency; Paul Marcille, California Psychological Association; Tom Sopp, Long Beach Unified School District

We'll be posting the other programming from the day as individual episodes of the Capitol Weekly Podcast. We'll be back to our regular programming on the week of October 17.

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang

Special Episode: CA's Mental Health Crisis - PANEL 3

Agriculture is BIG business in California; More than half the fruits, nuts and vegetables sold in the US come from the Golden State. 

This summer, the legislature passed AB616, the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, a bill to expand options for organizing agricultural workers. Modeled on the 2016 Voter's Choice Act, the bill sailed through the legislature, despite being labeled a "job killer" by agribusiness interests.

To the surprise of many - including bill sponsors the United Farm Workers - Gov. Newsom vetoed the bill on September 22.  Undaunted, the UFW immediately rerouted an in-progress march on Sacramento to Napa's French Laundry, a dig at the Governor they had supported against Recall just the week before.

The defeat is the second major blow to the UFW this year: In June, the Supreme Court reversed decades of precedent in a ruling in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, finding that union organizers have no right of access to the premises of an agricultural employer for the purpose of meeting and talking with employees and soliciting their support. 

We are joined this episode by Giev Kashkooli, the political and legislative director for the UFW. Kashkooli spoke with John Howard and Tim Foster about these setbacks, and about the UFW's plans for the future.

And, as always, we tell you who had the Worst Week in California Pollitics.

Show Notes:

:40 What was AB616?
5:26 How do the elections work?
8:18 Newsom is usually aligned with Labor; What happened here?
10:04 After the veto
12:38 Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid
14:17 What's in the future for UFW?
19:41 Is AB616 coming back?
20:45 The #WorstWeekCA

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io
Produced by White Hot

What Next for the United Farm Workers?

With the Recall in the rearview mirror, California political junkies can now fixate on the next big election in the state: the race to replace Eric Garcetti as the mayor of Los Angeles. The contest has already drawn big names like Congresswoman Karen Bass and LA City Councilmember Kevin de Leon; Mark Ridley-Thomas had been rumored to be considering a run, but legal issues have put an end to that speculation. Our guest this episode is Professor Fernando Guerra, who teaches political science at Loyola Marymount University and founded the Center for the Study of Los Angeles in 1996. He joined us to talk about the mayoral contest, the Mark Ridley-Thomas situation and the significant changes Redistricting may bring to some Council Districts. All that, plus who had the #WorstWeek in CA politics.

Show Notes:

:50 Let's talk about the mayoral race
8:26 What are the main issues in the campaign?
8:18 Newsom is usually aligned with Labor; What happened here?
10:10 The Mark Ridley-Thomas Effect
14:13 How did you get interested in politics?
21:21 What happens on June 7?
26:04 The #WorstWeekCA

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io
Produced by White Hot

LA Politics Update: the Mayors Race, Redistricting and more, with Fernando Guerra

We are joined today by Bob Stern, one of the authors of the The Political Reform Act of 1974, and a former counsel for California's Fair Political Practices Commission.  We asked him about Behested Payments - donations made to a charity or public program at the request of an elected official.  The practice comes around for scrutiny by California's political media every so often... most recently when Governor Newsom drummed up over $200 million in donations from supporters during the pandemic.  

The practice isn't illegal, but strict reporting rules do apply. Elected officials are required to report behested donations of $5,000 or more. Behested payments were largely unknown when the The Political Reform Act was passed in 1974 - but have emerged as a big factor since campaign finance reforms were enacted. 

Plus, we look at a #WorstWeekCA for an LA City Councilmember - probably not the one you think.

Show Notes:

:38 Let's talk about Behested Payments
4:25 Money in politics: the conundrum
8:01 How do campaign contribution limits work?
13:00 How does our campaign finance system compare?
18:47 Is there interest in deeper campaign reform?
20:29 What's next step for dealing with pledged money in politics?
22:59 The #WorstWeekCA

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io
Produced by White Hot

Bob Stern on Behested Payments and more

We've got a two-fer episode today: first up, we speak with political data expert Paul Mitchell, who gives us an update on the status of California's new district maps.* Next we turn to Bruce and Lane Campbell, who run Capitol Enquiry, the publisher of GovBuddy and other indispensable tools for keeping track of legislative contact info. Bruce and Lane shared the company's origin story and gave us insight into the development of their unique product line.  

And of course we wrap it all up with the #WorstWeekCA.

*A caveat: we recorded this section on Friday and it may be moot by Monday.

Show Notes:

:15 Welcome, Paul Mitchell
:39 Is Davis really moving into Doug LaMalfa's district?
12:27 Welcome Bruce and Lane Campbell
12:59 The origin of Capitol Enquiry
25:03 The #WorstWeekCA

Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/

Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io
Produced by White Hot

California Redistricting Update - plus: The GovBuddy Story!

NOTICE: The Capitol Weekly Podcast is now hosted on SimpleCast - please find the new feed there.

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