The Image and Influence of California's Organized Labor
In many ways organized labor is the most the powerful political force here in deeply Democratic California. But the bitter Bay Area transit strike that ended this week revealed a few cracks in the armor. As the second BART strike in four months unfolded, commuters were frustrated and furious -- at both sides. Some blamed the transit agency for disrespecting the workers and for hiring an outside negotiator despised by the unions. But public anger seemed especially aimed at the workers, who some saw as greedy. So what do we learn from this very public transit strike? And what does it say, if anything, about the image and influence of unions in California? Scott Shafer and The California Report's Sacramento bureau chief Scott Detrow have more.
State Political Watchdog Leaves for D.C.
California's top political watchdog is leaving her post this week and heading to Washington, and she's going out with a real bang. Ann Ravel, chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission, announced on Thursday a record $1 million settlement against two out-of-town groups that secretly funneled millions of dollars into last year's election. The money went to campaigns opposing tax hikes and organized labor. Host Scott Shafer talks to Ann Ravel as she leaves Sacramento to serve as President Obama's appointee to the Federal Election Commission.
Pop Music Review: Sparks 'New Music for Amnesiacs'
Since the 1970s, the Los Angeles band Sparks has swept through a succession of musical trends and genres, while seeing its own inventively quirky brand of pop described as an influence by icons ranging from Kurt Cobain to Def Leppard -- even Sir Paul McCartney. The California Report's pop music critic Steve Hochman has a review of "New Music for Amnesiacs," a new box set highlighting the band's long career.
The History of Coachella's Iconic Dates
If you drive South East of Palm Springs through the Eastern Coachella Valley, it's easy to get a little overwhelmed by the date palm trees. They reach as tall as 70 feet, and they're everywhere, filling thousands of acres. Dates aren't native to the Coachella Valley, but they gave this region an identity and became a top crop. Reporter Lisa Morehouse visited last spring, and got curious about the history of dates, and about the "palmeros," or palm workers, who tend them.