Perata Locks Out Moderate Dems; Shortage of Probation Officers in California; Mismanagement of California's Mental Health System; Separate Bedrooms; Still Water Saints
Perata Locks Out Moderate Dems
State Senate leader Don Perata ordered three Democratic senators briefly locked out of their Capitol offices today in retaliation for attending a fund-raising event for the Assembly's business-friendly Moderate Caucus. Perata was upset that senators Ron Calderon of Monterey Park, Lou Correa of Anaheim and Gloria Negrete McLeod of Chino met with a caucus that has helped derail bills opposed by business organizations. Legislative aides say the three senators did not intend to join the caucus or extend its reach into the Senate. Guest host Jon Beaupre talks with Capitol Weekly Editor Anthony York about Perata's unconventional disciplinary action.
Shortage of Probation Officers in California
Yesterday the Chief Probation Officers of California held a news conference highlighting a "probation crisis in California," and calling on the Legislature to support the $50 million appropriation for probation services in the Governor's proposed 2007-2008 State Budget. There are currently about fourteen-hundred probation officers monitoring 300,000 probationers in California. Jon Beaupre speaks with Karen Prank of the Chief Probation Officers of California.
Mismanagement of California's Mental Health System
California's Dept. of Mental Health is apparently $300 million in the red. A series of accounting blunders caused the deficit in the program that provides mental health services to children. Jon and his guests discuss what can be done about the financial shortfall and the affect it could have on mental health services in California. Joining the conversation are H.D. Palmer, Deputy Director of external affairs for the California State Department of Finance, Dr. Marvin J. Southard of the County of Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health, Senator Elaine Alquist, Chairwoman of the Senate Budget Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services and Nicette Short of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services.
Separate Bedrooms
What's behind the trend in couples sleeping in separate bedrooms? A recent survey by the National Assoc. of Home Builders predicts that more than 60 percent of custom homes will have dual master bedrooms by 2015. Jon opens the phones for our listeners to weigh in on the reasons so many couples choose to sleep alone.
Still Water Saints
Jon Beaupre talks with Alex Espinoza about Still Water Saints (Random House), his debut novel that paints an almost psychedelic portrait of a mythical Southern California town where a Curandera uses traditional beliefs to counter modern ailments.