University of California at San Diego
Professor of Political Science at the University of California at San Diego and Director of its Urban Studies and Planning Program; author of four books, including Paradise Plundered: Fiscal Crisis and Governance Failures in San Diego
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner Not Leaving Anytime Soon "Bob is stubborn and he likes to fight." That's what one political consultant says about San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. He's been accused by 16 women of unwelcome sexual advances; one has sued him in court. A unanimous City Council has demanded that he resign and a recall campaign is underway. But Filner promised to return to his office today after two weeks of therapy, ready to be "the best mayor I can be." Steven Erie is Professor of Political Science at the University of California at San Diego.
San Diego Plot Thickens as City Council Fights Mayor's Legal Fees Eight women have now come forward to report sexual harassment by San Diego's new, Democratic Mayor, Bob Filner. Both California's Democratic US Senators have called on him to resign, along with a host of other party officials and a unanimous city council. But he's still refusing to go — and he's in a spat with the council over who should pay for what he concedes is a "mess."
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner in Hot Water Bob Filner left Congress to win election last November as San Diego's first Democratic Mayor in 20 years. In Washington, the New York Times says he was known as "notoriously brash and cantankerous." Now, he's in a fight for his political life with one former supporter calling him, "tragically unsafe for any women to approach" and another saying, "he does not deserve to be mayor of this city any longer." Filner's apologized , but he's refused to quit. Steve Erie teaches political science at UC San Diego, where he's director of the Urban Studies Program. His books include Paradise Plundered : Fiscal Crisis and Governance Failures in San Diego.
Follow-up from the Power Outage in San Diego Last Thursday, the southwest US learned that the electrical power grid is a lot more fragile than anybody, including executives of major utilities, ever suspected. When a worker in Yuma, Arizona tried to replace a faulty transmission line, a blackout shot South into Mexico, North to Palm Springs and West all the way to San Diego, putting four million people in the dark for 12 hours or more. Professor Steve Erie directs the program on Urban Studies and Planning at UC San Diego. His latest book is Paradise Plundered : Fiscal Crisis and Governance Failures in San Diego.
The Fires Continue. Were We Adequately Prepared? President Bush has trumped Southern California’s emergency status with a declaration of major disaster. That means federal grants, temporary housing, unemployment assistance and low-interest business loans. Governor Schwarzenegger’s Office of Emergency Services has created 5 local assistance centers to help with insurance claims and housing assistance. They’ll also help fire victims replace lost records.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.