San Bernardino Prepares to File for Bankruptcy
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The City of San Bernardino is about to join Stockton and Mammoth Lakes in bankruptcy court. Critics say that's easier than passing sustainable budgets and making tough decisions about what to pay employees, including police officers and fire fighters. How will their decisions affect other cities in a state with financial problems that are deeper and deeper? Also, the elected Sheriff and District Attorney aren't talking about allegations they're running a system of "injustice" in Los Angeles County. We hear about a lawsuit by the ACLU. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, healthcare and election year politics.
Banner image: Joe Wolf/flickr
Main Topic
Are California Cities on the Ropes? ()
The San Bernardino City Council met last night to talk about financial problems and bankruptcy was on the agenda, but nobody expected what actually happened. By a vote of 4-to-2 the council voted to seek protection from the city's creditors. Mayor Patrick Morris said the only alternative to bankruptcy would be "draconian cuts to all city services," even police and fire. They couldn't make the payroll. San Bernardino joins Mammoth Lakes and Stockton as California's third bankrupt city in just the past few weeks.
Guests:
- Phil Willon: Los Angeles Times, @LATimesWillon
- Cate Long: Reuters, @cate_long
- Peter Navarro: University of California, Irvine
Reporter's Notebook
ACLU Suit Charges Cooley with Withholding Evidence ()
The elected Sheriff and District Attorney of Los Angeles County are being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union, charged with concealing information about misconduct by law enforcement officers — specifically Sheriff Lee Baca's deputies in County jails. A state bar complaint has been filed against the DA, Steve Cooley. The ACLU's Mark Rosenbaum says, "We have a system of injustice for all criminal defendants."
Guests:
- Mark Rosenbaum: ACLU of Southern California, @ACLU_SoCal
Main Topic
The House Votes to Repeal 'Obamacare' ()
Today -- for the 33rd time -- House Republicans are voting to repeal President Obama's healthcare law, frequently referred to as "Obamacare," with the Democratic Senate expected to ignore it altogether. In the aftermath of the US Supreme Court decision, is it good politics to debate the issue all over again?
Guests:
- Chris Frates: National Journal, @influencealley
- Frank Newport: Gallup Poll, @galluppoll
- Mary Agnes Carey: Kaiser Health News, @maryagnescarey
- John Dorschner: Miami Herald, @miamihealthcare
- Carol Ostrom: Seattle Times, @costrom
Links:
- House Speaker Boehner on the Supreme Court ruling strengthening House resolve to repeal ACA
- Frates on the 'message' behind the House's repeated attempts to repeal the ACA
- Gallup on impact of healthcare law on economy
- Carey on the ongoing challenges to the ACA
- Dorschner on Florida's potential loss of billions by rejecting healthcare reform
- Ostrom on unsustainable healthcare costs that could force a government-run alternative
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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