Sunday’s 6.0 earthquake in Northern California dealt a structural blow, with particular impact on Napa Valley. Also, as California’s legislature wraps up its biennial session, important bills are going through final processes towards passage. Then, at this Milken Institute Forum representatives from utilities, advocacy groups, and businesses will discuss the drought’s impact on towns and cities in the region.
Earthquake warnings and wine in Napa Valley
Sunday’s 6.0 earthquake in Northern California dealt a structural blow, with particular impact on Napa Valley. A warning from the Seismological Laboratory at UC Berkeley sent an alert about the temblor 10 seconds before the earthquake hit Napa Valley: the high-magnitude quake struck at 3:20am and left 89 people injured and 20,00 Napa residents without power.
Damage to structures in Northern California included the loss of winery reserves worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The quake raises questions about how early warning systems can be made most effective as well as how buildings can be repaired and retrofitted to better withstand big earthquakes. How do you prepare for a quake?
Guests:
Thomas Heaton, Professor of Geophysics and Professor of Civil Engineering Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory at CalTech
Andrew Adams, Reporter, Wines and Vines
Elizabeth Weise, Reporter, USA Today
What’s behind Sacramento’s 'gut and amend' season?
As California’s legislature wraps up its biennial session, important bills are going through final processes towards passage.
These logistical funnels are intended to deal with the fiscal aspects of legislature, but what really goes on is more complicated: the final stages of analysis become a battleground over policy in the bills. Some bills proceed with amendments not known to the public, while others have been put “on suspense” — effectively a death sentence.
Sacramento is flush with entirely new bills as well, and now provisions added to older legislature. What’s happening behind closed doors? Is the “gut and amend” process a way for politicians to tweak legislature with less transparency? How could this process change?
Guests:
Dan Walters, political columnist for the Sacramento Bee
Melanie Mason, covers state government and politics in Sacramento for the Los Angeles Times
BuyPartisan app reveals politics of your grocery shopping
A new smartphone app makes it easier for consumers to vote with their wallets. BuyPartisan, created by former Capitol Hill staffer Matthew Colbert, allows food shoppers to scan grocery store barcodes, then reveals political spending of the manufacturer and its corporate board members.
For example, a quick scan of Kashi Crunchy Granola Bars shows an overall average of 78.5 percent in Republican spending, 11.5 percent Democrat, and 10 percent "others." The data is compiled from the Center for Responsive Politics, the Sunlight Foundation and the National Institute on Money in State Politics. During an era that many analysts call “hyperpartisan,” the app might catch on quickly with constituents.
Would you use this app? Do you foresee any unintended consequences? Why stop at grocery store products - will it include magazines, furniture, clothing?
Guest:
Matthew Colbert, Founder of app developer Spend Consciously, which created the BuyPartisan app
Margaret Kimbrell, Executive Director, No Labels, a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to decreasing "hyper-partisanship."
The future of water in Southern California
As the state endures one of the worst droughts in recorded history, Southern California residents are looking for answers about the sustainability of the region’s water supplies. Farmers have felt the sting of below-average rainfall for years, but as the crisis worsens, urban and suburban areas are likely to suffer drastic change in their relationship with the vital liquid.
Wildfires and brown lawns may be increasingly common visual symptoms of drought, but unless the rains return to the Golden State (and stay awhile), Southern Californians can also expect to see food and water prices rise, battles over water rights intensify, and, likely, water use increasingly restricted. Will the drought bring about a new discussion of revising the current water pricing structure to reduce high consumption in residential areas? Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency and requested a 20 percent reduction in use, but some cities have gone even further. Sacramento and other cities have begun levying substantial fines on residents who violate new statutes dictating when lawns may be watered.
At this Milken Institute Forum, co-hosted with KPCC – Southern California Public Radio, representatives from utilities, advocacy groups, and businesses will discuss the drought’s impact on towns and cities in the region. Beyond examining the scope of the problem, these experts will debate the best municipal and statewide strategies to ensure our continued access to H2O.
Guests:
Patrick Cavanaugh, broadcaster with the California Ag Today Radio Network; managing editor of American Vineyard and California Dairy; editor of Vegetables West and Pacific Nut Producer magazines
Sanjay Gaur, Senior Manager, Raftelis Financial Consultants, a utility consulting firm.
Jeffrey Kightlinger, General Manager, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Jim McDaniel, Senior Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's (LADWP) Water System.
Kate Poole, Senior Attorney and Litigation Director for the Water Program, Natural Resources Defense Council.