In nearly every city and county this Election Day, voters in Northern California will have to decide whether to raise their own taxes or take on new debt. School and hospital districts want voters to approve bond measures to upgrade facilities. Cities want to hike parcel taxes to pay for police and other services. But the nation's and California's financial crises has placed every one of these measures in jeopardy.
Host: Cy Musiker
Guests:
• Larry Tramutola, political consultant

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California's giant pension funds are urging calm in the face of the violent financial storm shaking Wall Street. The California Public Employees Retirement Fund is the nation's largest, and at the end of September it had lost about $25 billion since 2007. The fund lost nearly $8 billion last Monday alone. How is CalPERS handling the crisis?
Host: Cy Musiker
Guests:
• Anne Casscells, managing director at Aetos Capital in Menlo Park

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In the face of continued drought in California, San Francisco wants its residents to start saving rainwater to use on their lawns and gardens. The city is spending $10,000 to subsidize 55 gallon rain drums, complete with mosquito nets and drainpipes that connect to a hose.
Host: Kelly Wilkinson
Guests:
• Tara Hui, early pioneer of rainwater harvesting

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