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

On this episode we discuss what a special district is and what they do and how much money they take in. We also discuss the recent push to ban plastic bags in California and whether it makes a difference or not. Finally we discuss the Recall effort of Gavin Newsom and how they have collected no signatures but raised $1 million.



Check out our full website at www.californiaunderground.live



Takeaways

Special districts in California provide specialized services and are governed by a board of directors elected or appointed by voters.

The ban on plastic grocery bags has led to an increase in the use of paper bags, which has its own environmental impact.

The hosts emphasize the importance of local elections in determining the individuals who make decisions about special districts and their funding.

The environmental impact of different types of bags, including reusable bags, is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.

The hosts express skepticism about the effectiveness of banning plastic bags and highlight the potential drawbacks of such policies. During COVID, there was a ban on reusable bags due to concerns about the spread of the virus.

Reusable bags were found to be contaminated with bacteria, raising health concerns.

A proposed gender identity measure failed to qualify for the California ballot, sparking controversy.

The recall campaign against Governor Gavin Newsom has raised significant funds but has not collected any signatures, leading to questions about its purpose and effectiveness.



Chapters

00:00 Exploring Special Districts in California

14:46 The Impact of Plastic Bag Bans

41:00 COVID-Era Bans and Contamination

43:30 Gender Identity Measure Controversy

56:43 The Gavin Newsom Recall Campaign




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On this episode we discuss the conviction of Donald Trump in Manhattan. We discuss the ramifications of the conviction and whether it will hurt or help Donald Trump in his campaign for re-election to the Presidency.



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On this episode, we discuss Newsom's proposed budget for 2024-2025 and breakdown his "tricks" to keep the budget "balanced" without adding more to the deficit.



Check out our full website at www.californiaunderground.live



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap of California GOP Convention

02:03 Governor Newsom's Budget Proposal and State's Financial Problems

06:18 Newsom's Stance on Taxes and Reliance on Federal Money

14:31 Teachers' Anger over Budget Cuts

33:16 Gavin Newsom's budget proposal and potential budget emergency

40:10 The impact of COVID-19 on businesses in California

45:08 Newsom's tendency to blame local governments

49:21 Newsom's hand gestures and lack of coherence

59:37 The $100 billion surplus and budget negotiations

01:02:17 Final thoughts and call to action






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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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