Which Way, L.A.?

What Happens to Welfare-to-Work without Jobs?

Welfare reform was designed for good times, but what happens in a recession? In just four years, welfare-to-work programs have provided jobs for almost a million Californians who didn't have them before. In a growing service economy, they've often been jobs that didn't require much skill. But with the current recession, many of those low and unskilled employees are the first to be laid off. What do they do now? We ask a welfare-to-work single mother who's hours have been cut in half, an LA County social service officer, and an economist-turned-research scientist at USC's Marshall School of Business. Reporter's Notebook: Santa Clarita Will Recycle Diapers - Santa Clarita has a problem. California requires that cities halve the amount of trash they send to landfills. Unable to make the deadline, the bedroom community could face steep fines. So it embarked on a pilot project that's a first for the nation. Mayor Frank Ferry has more on the recycling effort that has other communities turning up their noses.