Abuse allegations bring to light Catholic Church's secret files; Water officials meet to address Colorado River drought; What’s the future of LA’s marijuana dispensaries?; Santa Ana credit union helps unbanked Latinos create financial security; Getting to know Gov. Jerry Brown with The Atlantic's James Fallows; US agency aims to create more resilient rice, wheat crops, plus much more.
Abuse allegations bring to light Catholic Church's secret files
There's a new twist in the ongoing story of sex abuse in the Catholic Church. For centuries, the church has kept a secret archive of documents regarding matters of a sensitive nature. Now, as sexual abuse cases play out in the courts, the information in those files is coming to light.
Reporter Victoria Kim, who wrote about this for the Los Angeles Times, joins the show with more.
Water officials meet to address Colorado River drought
There's no shortage of bad news about the water supply here in the Southwest. The region has seen one of the driest seasons in recent history.
That drought is putting a big strain on the Colorado River, which supplies water to about 40 million people in seven different states. Federal officials have called a meeting today in San Diego to try to address the issue.
Jay Famiglietti, Director of the UC Center for Hydrologic Modelling at UC Irvine, joins the show to explain.
Getting to know Gov. Jerry Brown with The Atlantic's James Fallows
It's been two-and-a-half years now since Jerry Brown was sworn in as California Governor. Hard work and some good luck have combined to turn around the state's balance sheet from a serious deficit to a small surplus.
But California still faces a host of challenges, including over-crowded prisons, aging infrastructure, and a failing education system.
In this month's issue of The Atlantic Magazine, writer James Fallows takes a long look at Jerry Brown, and the state of the state he's governing. It's an interesting read, made more interesting by the fact that Fallows grew up in the Golden State.
James Fallows joins the show to talk about getting to know Gov. Jerry Brown, and Brown's legacy in California politics.
Interview Highlights:
On why he chose to write about Jerry Brown:
"One was that I've always identified myself as a Californian. I grew up in Redlands, that's where all my family was from. I'd worked as a speech writer for President Jimmy Carter at a time when Brown was running against him for political office. While living in Japan in the 1980s, I met briefly what was ex-Governor Brown there in his zen meditation stage. Most of all, it seemed that California's predicaments were a very useful model for America as a whole in this sense that every thing that's part of California's productive, private economy is the best in the world. But its government, as we all know, has been having terrible problems over the last couple of decades. That's sort of a model for America at large, so I went to see what Governor Brown in his second incarnation was able to do about it."
On how Brown's pursuits outside of politics set him apart as a politician:
"Most other politicians, either you feel as if you're putting coins into a jukebox, where you mention a certain issue and get the standard spiel there. Even the ones who are really gifted conversationalists, I'm thinking now of Bill Clinton, mainly whoever he's with, he's talking at. Whereas with Governor Brown...as old as he is and this secure as he is politically, to be relatively unafraid of saying whatever pops into his mind at any given moment. So that makes him interesting to talk with, and all of the different parts of his background; his time in the seminary when he was, for a couple of years, planning to be a Jesuit; his childhood growing up with his father as Governor Pat Brown, the ups and downs he's had in politics, you as if they're all coming together like different channels to form one mighty Mississippi (River) of political thought."
Why does he seem more happy than his first terms in the 1970s?:
"He said that it's more fun to be governor now because he just has almost 40 years more experience than he did. He claimed, somewhat, I think, disingenuously, that it was too easy the first time around. That the budget had a surplus, now that's obviously not the case. But you had the feeling of somebody who was more integrated and at peace with all the different parts of his life than may have been the case before. He became governor when he was 36 the first time, and it was in most of the news coverage then that there was a sense of Freudian tension. Was he setting himself apart from the big spending ways of his father, Governor Pat Brown…?"
On not being a big spender like his father:
"He pointed out that his father in personal life was also quite careful with his money. He said that his father's own father had run some poker saloons in San Francisco, and died with no money at all. Pat Brown was presiding over California in the time of new freeways, new university branches, new everything. By the time Jerry Brown came back, the budget was in terrible crisis, the propositions had hamstringed the way that the state was able to get things done, and so the lifelong image he has had as a cheapskate has validated him in the state's eyes as somebody who will, although he's a Democrat and believes in some big projects for the state, not be blowing their money."
On Brown's lasting legacy:
"They will view it as being very fortunate him and the state that he had a second chance as governor. Because if he didn't, he would be seen as this oddball governor moonbeam and as the person who tried several times for the presidency and the Senate and didn't make it, and ended up as the mayor of Oakland. I think we see as much a human lesson as we see a governmental lesson, as somebody who had that rare thing: a clean second chance, and so far has been able to make the most of it."
California bullet train builder under scrutiny
California's bullet train agency could break ground on the first phase of the state's bullet train in just 6 weeks. But the company chosen to lead that project, Tutor Perini Corp., scored lowest in the preliminary assessments and is currently embroiled in lawsuits with the LA Metro over construction of the Red Line.
Those concerns have prompted the House subcommittee on rail to call a hearing this morning in Madera, CA, close to where the project is expected to break ground soon. The hearing will look at how the Rail Authority chose Tutor Perini over its competitors.
Critics worry that while Tutor Perini had the lowest bid, costs could still balloon once the project gets underway. Committee Chair, Congressman Jeff Denham had this to say on his way to the hearing:
"We want to ask those questions: why was it changed, why was this the best deal for voters and ultimately, is there a contingency in here, is there a cost-control mechanism that if there is a bunch of changed orders or the cost does go up, how does that cost get absorbed?"
Arrests of illegal would-be gun buyers is a low priority
Federal and state laws prohibit certain individuals from buying guns. Think fugitives or people with felony and some misdemeanor convictions. In fact, it's even a crime for them to apply to buy a gun.
But, as KPCC's Julie Small reports, enforcing that law has been a low priority.
iMarch moves immigration reform protests online
Back in 2007, hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities across the nation, demanding immigration reform. Last week, similar demonstrations took place online in form of the iMarch.
For 48 hours, protestors made their thoughts on immigration reform known through social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. With more on this new era of political action, we're joined by Jason Llorenz, a senior fellow at Rutgers School of Communications and Information.
State immigration bills threaten employers with closure
Congress is continuing its debate over immigration reform, but here in California, lawmakers are working to create legislation aimed at helping immigrants. Two of those bill threaten to shut down companies when employers intimidate immigrant workers.
The California Report's Central Valley Bureau Chief Sasha Khokha explains.
Santa Ana credit union helps unbanked Latinos create financial security
For many immigrants, achieving citizenship is one step in making America your home, but it takes more than legal documents to really plant roots in this country. To really settle into a new home you need things like a job, or a car, or a church.
It can also be something as simple as a bank account.
Tucked away at an unassuming strip mall in Santa Ana is Communidad Latina Credit Union, its first and only branch. Opened in 2007, it doesn't have the spacious lobby of the Chase Bank around the corner; It's just wide enough for three teller windows, a few chairs along the wall, and not much else.
But what is special about the credit union is its mission to serve the Latino population, who often don't use larger, mainstream banks.
While Los Angeles has a handful of banks dedicated to that community, Communidad Latina is a rare outpost in Santa Ana, where more than three-fourths of the city is Latino. Operations manager Vanessa Alonso says another thing makes the credit union stand out from other nearby banks.
"We can open a savings account where it doesn't require entering in [a taxpayer ID number] or a social security number," she said. "Which means that even people who are here unofficially can join Communidad Latina.
This practice isn't illegal, but most banks and credit unions require one of these from applicants as a policy. However, this credit union highlights that it doesn't require one as a way to show that everyone can have access to a financial institution.
"I feel that they get a sense of belonging," said Alonso. "Instead of having their cash stashed under a mattress, it seems like there's a lot more peace with them knowing that their funds are secured with an organization and with people they trust."
Santa Ana resident Maria Francisca Quinonce says that's why she came to the credit union for the first time with her husband and their son.
"It's because people like me feel more confident and secure to deposit here," says Quinonce.
However that kind of trust with people took time to build because many Latino immigrants are accustomed to living on cash, and have never used a bank before.
For example, according to a 2008 study, more than 90 percent of Americans have a bank account of some kind, but that number is less than 25 percent for Mexicans.
The CEO of Communidad Latina Credit Union Terry Agius says that doesn't necessarily change once they cross the border.
"Approximately 35-40 percent of the Latinos living here in Santa Ana either do not use a mainstream financial institution or if they do, they use it in a limited way," said Agius. When people first come to Communidad Latina, "It's not uncommon for them to come visit three times before they open an account. They want to get to know who we are, who we are as people."
Once they're through the door, people like operations manager Vanessa Alonso will take the time to educate them on the finer points of banking that immigrants may not know about.
"They don't really know how checking accounts operate or how to even write checks. So there have been times where we explain to them what they have to write here, and it has to be in English even though Spanish is their primary language," said Alonso.
Agius adds that many Latinos are also skeptical of banks because in Mexico and Central America, they have a reputation for high minimum balances and fees.
"Many of our members are from Mexico and other Latin American countries, and we just hear the fear of banking with those organizations."
So the credit union developed a policy of lower fees and interest rates. That's why Roberto Flores Vega counts himself among its 2,100 members.
"This is where I was able to establish my credit and I was able to get a car loan through them," said Vega. "Wells Fargo was offering a higher interest rate, but here it was much much lower."
And the credit union offers one other important lure: the financial tools people need to help their children succeed.
"We meet with parents sometimes who want to transfer their students from the college to a four-year university," said Terry Agius. "But they have to put a deposit of some kind down for whatever. Might be housing, or what have you. And parents don't have any plastic in their wallets. There's no debit card, there's no credit card, there's nothing, and school won't take cash."
So having that checking or savings account — something that's second-nature to many citizens — can be a big step for immigrants to make them feel more at home in America.
What’s the future of LA’s marijuana dispensaries?
A lot of medical marijuana activists are wondering what's next in Los Angeles. A week ago, voters approved a measure that dramatically limits the number of dispensaries in the city. That means hundreds of storefronts have to shut down.
KPCC's Frank Stoltze looks at what's next for marijuana industry in LA.
The sequester budget cuts: Southern California's needy begin to feel the effects
It's been about three months since lawmakers in Washington failed to reach agreement on a budget, which triggered tens of billions of dollars in federal spending cuts.
Supporters say the sequestration cuts were needed to lower the nation's soaring deficit, but opponents warned of dire consequences. So far, the effects have been muted for many in Southern California, but not for all.
Over the next few days, we're going to be hearing from people feeling the impact of the reduction in federal spending.
We begin with KPCC's Ben Bergman, who found the sequester is hurting some of Southern California's neediest residents.
GOP struggles to win over Silicon Valley tech leaders
Earlier this year, the GOP released a 98-page report on its shortcomings in last fall's election. One way in which Republicans said they hope to catch up with Democrats was by opening shop in Silicon Valley, but so far efforts on the digital front have been shaky at best.
Michelle Quinn, who covers Silicon Valley for POLITICO, joins the show with more.
Why California's sales-tax loophole should be closed
Under current California sales tax rules, your local sandwich shop can charge sales tax for your meatball sub, but not for your cold cut trio. Does that make sense?
No, says Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters in a recent column calling for California to revamp its outdated sales tax system. In particular, Walters focuses on a provision that exempted software purveyors who develop custom software for other companies from paying sales tax on that software.
For example, if Company A developed payroll software for Company B and charged them $5 million, they would not have to pay state and local sales tax on that sale because the product isn't considered "tangible personal property." However, software the average consumer buys off the shelf, being literally tangible, is subject to sales tax.
"It turns out that there are a couple of court decisions that indicate that maybe the off the shelf software may not be taxable after all because the thing called the "transfer of technology" is not taxable," said Walters. "The governor wants the legislature to pass a bill saying 'yes indeed we can continue to tax off the shelf software,' but he doesn't want to do anything about the tax emption for custom software. I think that's unfair and it's illogical and if that's a loophole it should be closed."
Walters says that only taxing tangible items is outdated. In particular how cold food is not taxable, groceries are not taxable, but hot food is. Also, if you buy cold and hot food together, your whole purchase is taxable.
"The craziest thing happened a few years ago when the movie industry went to the board of equalization and said they shouldn't have to collect tax on popcorn because popcorn may ave been hot when the customer bought it at the counter, but by the time the customer got back into the theatre and sat down, the popcorn was cold and therefore should not be taxed," said Walters.
Walters says the nature of the economy may change over time, but tax laws rarely change.
"What we deeply need in California is tax reform. We need to rationalize the tax system, and not just the sales tax system but the income tax system as well," said Walters. "We have the worst possible taxation system: we have narrow bases of taxation both income and sales tax and very high rates, we should have broader bases and lower rates but no we go with this crazy system and it gets crazier every year. There's always a new exemption built in so they just build up over time until you have this crazy quilt of tax laws that make absolutely no sense."
US agency aims to create more resilient rice, wheat crops
The US Agency for International Development recently announced a new project designed to combat world hunger.
The agency announced that they would support research to develop wheat and rice seeds that were resistant to extreme heat and high levels of salt. Both heat and the salt content in soil and water can have a dramatic affect on the output of crop yields, but many are skeptical that the project will yield actionable results.
Dr. Sahara Moon Chapotin, Research Division Chief at USAID Bureau for Food Security, joins the show to explain how this new crop will work.
BuzzFeed and CNN partner on new YouTube channel
Buzzfeed has become a reliable source for one's daily fix of cat memes and celebrities' viral videos, but a new partnership with CNN will give the social content sharing site a new web of possibilities.
BuzzFeed announced that it will be launching a new "CNN BuzzFeed" Youtube channel targeted at giving news to the 18 to 34 demographic. The deal will give BuzzFeed access to CNN's video archive, opening countless doors for creativity with BuzzFeed's popular news mash-ups. The first video on the CNNBuzzfeed account featured a compilation of the greatest rescue moments.
Another investment on the side of BuzzFeed will be create a new social video studio, located in Los Angeles, rather than CNN's home of Atlanta.
"There aren't many places on the planet that have the creative talent that Los Angeles has," said Ze Frank, the executive vice president of video at BuzzFeed. "In our production company, we don't have specialization of labor, we don't have an editing room, a writing room, or a director set. We have run-and-gun people who can do the job from beginning to end, which I think is really important in experimentation."
BuzzFeed launched in 2006, and consists of posts usually containing an image, video, or link. The site is most popular among "Millennials," a generation consisting of a majority of the current work face, and hopes the role of CNN makes the site's content newsworthy in an easily accessible format.
"There's a lot of that content hasn't been optimized for shareability," Frank said. "I think there's a greater role for news, (and) for political events in young people's lives. I think of it as a broad challenge of reformatting this content towards network-native behavior, whether that's in the younger demographic or older demographic."
Frank also hopes that BuzzFeed can utilize CNN's archives in order spread content beyond the television, and onto tablets, phones, and other mobile devices.
"There's so much amazing content sitting in the archives from CNN which has to deal with our history, which has to do with humanity broadly, that has not yet really been optimized for the web, for the networks, and for growth," he said.
BuzzFeed President & COO Jon Steinberg told the Wall Street Journal that BuzzFeed will invest a low "eight-digit sum" in the next two years to fund the new video platform.
For some Americans, retirement in Costa Rica is ideal
The US government says up to 50,000 Americans live in Costa Rica. Many of them are Baby Boomers flocking to tropical beaches to retire. They're drawn to Costa Rica's biodiversity, political stability, and its cheap healthcare.
From the Fronteras Desk, Peter O'Dowd reports on one Phoenix man who is making the move, and what he's giving up to get there.