California Underground Podcast: Discussing California Politics Through a Lens of Sanity California Underground

Tune in to our episode live from the 2024 CAGOP Convention floor in San Francisco.



Are you a Californian who feels like your views on politics in California are not popular? Do you feel like no one will agree with you? Feels like when you meet someone who does agree you are part of a secret underground club of people who think like you? Then join us on the California Underground Podcast to hear others who share your views and solutions to save our beautiful state. 



Check out our full site at www.californiaunderground.live



This episode was recorded on 5.18.24



*The California Underground Podcast is dedicated to discussing California politics from a place of sanity and rationality.*


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Summary

In this episode, Phil and Camille discuss the recent audit that revealed that $24 billion allocated for homelessness in California has gone missing. They highlight the lack of transparency and accountability in the state's approach to addressing homelessness. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness, the agency responsible for tracking and analyzing spending on homelessness services, has not analyzed any spending past 2021. The audit also found that San Jose and San Diego failed to account for their spending or measure the success of their programs. The hosts express frustration and call for accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars. In this conversation, Phil and Camille discuss the mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability in California's homeless programs. They highlight instances of fraud and wasteful spending, such as a shelter operator charging for work that was never done and a nonprofit falsifying invoices. They also discuss the failure of the Project Room Key program, which aimed to shelter homeless residents during the COVID-19 pandemic but had a high rate of people returning to homelessness. The conversation raises questions about the effectiveness of current approaches to addressing homelessness and the need for better tracking and accountability of funds.



Takeaways

The recent audit revealed that $24 billion allocated for homelessness in California is unaccounted for.

The California Interagency Council on Homelessness has not analyzed any spending past 2021, highlighting a lack of transparency and accountability.

San Jose and San Diego failed to account for their spending or measure the success of their homelessness programs.

The hosts express frustration and call for accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars. California's homeless programs suffer from mismanagement and lack of accountability, leading to fraud and wasteful spending.

The Project Room Key program, designed to shelter homeless residents during the pandemic, had a high rate of people returning to homelessness.

There is a need for better tracking and accountability of funds allocated to address homelessness in California.

The mismanagement of funds and lack of results raise questions about the effectiveness of current approaches to addressing homelessness.



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and GOP Convention

01:41 The Audit Results: $24 Billion Mismanagement

13:38 Did They Expect an Audit?

21:38 Frustration with the Testimony

27:49 No Sympathy for Inadequate Performance

30:02 Call for Streamlined Protocols

30:44 Lack of Data and Transparency

33:03 Government Spending on Homelessness

35:37 Humorous Solution to Homelessness

37:55 Arrogance of Bureaucrats

46:10 Wasteful Spending on Homeless Housing

49:16 Evaluation of Project Room Key

55:31 Fraud in Homeless Programs

01:00:32 Newsom's Budget Cuts

01:03:35 Need for Oversight and Transparency

01:05:04 CU Podcast Outro Video.mp4






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On this episode, we are joined by independent journalist, Anthony Cabassa, who was on the ground reporting live on the UCLA protests and their confrontation with the police. We further discuss his thoughts on why these protests are happening and whether they will continue into the summer.



Check out our full website at www.californiaunderground.live



Takeaways

Protests at UCLA were organized by college students demanding divestment from Israeli ties.

The encampments at UCLA had strict access control and were organized with tactics such as interlocking arms.

Motivations of the protesters varied, with some genuinely concerned about the conflict and others joining for social reasons.

There were concerns about the presence of agitators and professional protesters within the movement. Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses are strategic and well-organized.

Tactics such as umbrellas, leaf blowers, and masks serve specific purposes.

The left has a long history of organizing and mobilizing, giving them an advantage.

The right needs to become more active and organized to counter these movements.

The protests are likely to continue throughout the summer, with the aim of recruiting and shaping beliefs.



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Topic of UCLA Protests

04:32 Understanding the Protests and Motivations

12:03 Access Control and Encampments at UCLA

23:16 Questioning the Organization and Presence of Agitators

27:49 Strategic Organization of Pro-Palestinian Protests

30:54 Purpose Behind Protest Tactics

31:37 Long History of Leftist Organizing

33:53 The Need for Right-Wing Activism

36:25 Continued Impact of Protests on College Campuses






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Summary

On this episode we discuss the recent case of Grants Pass v. Johnson that was heard in front of the Supreme Court recently regarding bans on camping in public spaces. We dive into previous court rulings, listen to some oral arguments, and discuss the potential impact the Supreme Court's ruling will have on homelessness in the near future.

Check out www.californiaunderground.live for more info about the podcast.

Takeaways

The Ninth Circuit's ruling on homelessness in the Martin v. City of Boise case has had a significant impact on the enforcement of camping bans in California, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, and Hawaii.

The petitioners in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case argue that the Ninth Circuit's ruling violates the Eighth Amendment, as it criminalizes the status of being homeless and imposes cruel and unusual punishments.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of public spaces and the enforcement of camping bans.

The arguments made by the petitioners raise concerns about the potential slippery slope of extending the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of the Eighth Amendment to other crimes and punishments. The case of Martin v. Boise examines the constitutionality of camping bans targeting homeless individuals in public spaces.

The liberal justices, particularly Justice Sotomayor, present arguments against criminalizing homelessness based on status and emphasize the need for compassion and alternatives to sleeping in public spaces.

Justice Barrett questions the distinction between status and conduct, suggesting that actions such as setting up a camp in a public park can be considered conduct subject to regulation.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case will have significant implications for cities' ability to enforce camping bans and the criminalization of homelessness.

The hosts speculate that the majority of the court will find that camping bans do not violate the Eighth Amendment and that the decision may overturn the Ninth Circuit's ruling in Martin v. Boise.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Updates

03:05 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness

06:22 New Merchandise and Upcoming Live Stream

21:30 The Arguments of the Petitioners

27:20 The Potential Consequences

28:22 Introduction and Background of the Case

29:24 The Similarities Between Martin v. Boise and Grants Pass

34:00 Analyzing the Arguments of Justice Sotomayor

45:53 Analyzing the Arguments of Justice Barrett

50:49 Discussion on the Potential Outcome of the Case

59:38 Final Thoughts and Future Episodes














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Summary

On this episode we are joined by Todd Madison of Transparent California. Transparent California is a public database that collects data on public employee compensation in the state of California. They collect almost 4 million records per year and have about 42 million records online. The data they collect reveals that over a million public employees in California make over $100,000 a year, with 100,000 people making over $250,000 a year and 4,000 making over $500,000 a year. The conversation discusses the high salaries and benefits of public employees in California, particularly in the education sector. It highlights the disconnect between public employee compensation and performance, as well as the unsustainable pension debt in the state.

Check out our whole site at www.californianunderground.live



Check out Transparent California at www.transparentcalifornia.com



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Transparent California

07:08 Expanding Data Collection Beyond Schools

27:12 The Unsustainable Pension Debt

34:40 The Importance of Transparency






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Summary

In this episode, Phil and his guest Jeffrey Clayton discuss rising crime rates in blue states, specifically focusing on California. They explore the role of bail in the criminal justice system and its impact on crime rates. They also discuss the effects of Proposition 47, which downgraded certain nonviolent property crimes and drug possession offenses to misdemeanors. The conversation highlights the importance of deterrence and the need to send a strong message that low-level offenses will not be tolerated. In this conversation, Jeff Clayton discusses the issues surrounding bail reform and its impact on crime rates. He highlights the need for discretion in the criminal justice system and the importance of enforcing the law. The conversation also touches on the role of district attorneys in prosecuting crimes and the significance of local elections. Jeff emphasizes the need for voters to pay attention to who their district attorney is and how their policies can affect crime rates. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the American Bail Coalition and their work in advocating for fair and effective bail policies.



Check out our full site at www.californiaunderground.live



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:52 The Connection Between Bail and Rising Crime Rates

11:47 The Effects of Abandoning Lower-Level Offenses

24:08 Pressure on Legislatures

30:23 Cities with Democratic Control in Red States

37:14 Attitudes Towards Theft and Corporate Entities






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