Republicans and Latinos challenge the new redistricting at the ballot box. Generation vexed: Will the recession create a generation of young people without jobs, hope, or prospects? Is the economy bigger in Texas? Raising a child with an uncooperative ex-spouse.
Republicans and Latinos challenge the new redistricting at the ballot box
One day after a citizens’ commission released California’s new redistricting maps, two groups say they’re ready to knock out one of those maps. The critics claim plenty of reasons to feel upset.
State lawmakers used to draw the new district lines every 10 years. Actually, the party in charge of the legislature did the drawing, and senators and assembly members just rubber-stamped them. That was great for incumbents, but California voters didn’t think so. They created the Citizens Redistricting Commission in November 2008, and that commission has now released its district maps.
Republican leaders say they aren’t happy with the results. GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro criticized the process during an interview with KPCC’s AirTalk.
“Some of the participants in this clearly were biased," Del Beccaro said. "They were driving the commission. They failed to disclose their contacts and affiliations and when it came to the Senate lines, the worst of all of that came out.”
Del Becarro says panel members used inconsistent criteria to draw the lines which they say gives Democrats an unfair edge. GOP leaders plan to collect signatures for a referendum so voters can toss out the new Senate map. Some Latino groups don’t like that one, either.
Rosalind Gold is with the National Association of Latino Elected Appointed Officials. She also spoke on AirTalk.
““Unfortunately, we’re particularly concerned about the Senate map,” Gold said. "The Senate map weakens the voice of the Latino community in a couple of key areas in the state, particularly the San Fernando Valley and in Orange County.”
Gold says her group and others will look closer at the maps and consider legal challenges.
Not everyone is in sync with Republican and Latino activists on this issue. Some African American leaders say they’re happy with the commission’s efforts.
State Senator Curren Price represents the 26th District, which includes South LA.
“The African American seats that we currently have - that’s four in the Assembly, three in the Congress and two in the State Senate - those seats have been maintained. And it’s possible we may even have an opportunity to pick up another seat or two,” said Price.
Price says he doubts redistricting plan opponents will succeed in getting the referendum before voters. To do so, organizers need to gather more than half a million signatures over 90 days.
Guests:
Vince Barabba, Commissioner of the California Redistricting Commission
Dave Gilliard, Republican consultant; President of Gilliard Blanning & Associates Inc.
Rosalind Gold, Senior Director of Policy research and advocacy of the NALEO (National Association Lationo Elected and Appointed Officials) Educational Fund
Tom Del Beccaro, Chairman of the California Republican Party
Generation vexed: will the recession create a generation of young people without jobs, hope, or prospects?
Three-quarters of 18 to 29-year-olds responding to a recent poll said they will delay a major purchase or life decision because of the bad economy. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment is 9.1% for all U.S. workers but for 16 to 19-year-olds, it was 25% in July and for people 20 to 24, it was 14.6%. More young people are moving back in with their parents, slowing household formation and contributing to a lowered demand for homes. Some experts say the recession is taking a greater toll on young people and will influence their prospects and their attitudes about the future for decades to come. Paul Conway, president of the nonprofit Generation Opportunity, says that the economic slowdown has interrupted the lives of many young Americans who have had to put their dreams on hold. As a young adult, do you feel hamstrung by the recession? How does the depressing economic outlook affect your attitude about the future?
Guests:
Paola Giuliano, Assistant Professor of Economics at the UCLA Anderson School of Management
Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity
Is the economy big and bright – deep in the heart of Texas?
When Governor Rick Perry stepped onto the national stage Saturday as a presidential contender, so too did the state of the state of Texas. At first glance, the Texas economy looks to be a lone star compared to the rest of the country. Job numbers show Texas cities have excelled at creating jobs and sustaining them. The Milken Institute's "Best-Performing Cities" index has 11 Texas cities ranked in the top 25. And it's more than job growth the state boasts. Its debt is relatively low. Home prices are stable. The economy is growing -- especially in the energy sector and, needless to say, high oil prices equal big money for black-gold country. Is that only half the story though? Many Texans lack health insurance. The state also ranks highest for minimum-wage jobs per capita. And some economists argue any successes are just a matter of luck and population growth. What is really going on in the Texas economy? Is there a job boom? How has public policy influenced any growth? What role have taxes and regulation played?
Guests:
Bill Peacock, Vice President of Research & Planning and the Director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Daniel S. Hamermesh, Sue Killam Professor of Economics University of Texas at Austin
Raising a child with an uncooperative ex
For the past three decades, the divorce rate in U.S. has hovered around 50% so it’s safe to say that millions of American children have been affected by divorce. Raising a child in the aftermath of divorce can be extremely difficult but doing it with a former spouse who is unyielding and difficult poses particular challenges. In their book “Joint Custody with a Jerk” authors Julie Ross and Judy Corcoran examine practical solutions to problems inherent in raising a child with an uncooperative former spouse. Drawing on real life case studies, Ross and Corcoran suggest a variety of ways to mitigate the negative effects of infighting on the children of divorced parents. They propose tools and techniques specifically designed for cooperation rather than confrontation, such as choosing the right words, better timing, and less aggressive body language. Is your ex a jerk and how have you handled him or her? Is it possible to transform a toxic divorce into a harmonious one? How do you turn the blame and insults into positive productive communication?
Guests:
Julie Ross, co-author of Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, A Hands on, Practical Guide to Coping with A Difficult Ex-Spouse. Ross is the Executive Director of Parenting Horizons, an organization devoted to enriching children’s lives through parent and teacher education.
Judy Corcoran, co-author of Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, A Hands on, Practical Guide to Coping with A Difficult Ex-Spouse. Corcoran is a freelance writer and marketing copywriter at MagazineMarketers.com.