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.