North Bay Report: Redistricting, Unions Under Fire, Looking Forward to the 2012 Election

Labor Unrest

Internal strife over the past decade has weakened and disrupted organized labor in California, but may also have set the stage for a new, more grass-roots driven workers' movement.

In his new book, The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor, Steve Early devotes considerable attention to the representation of healthcare workers, in California and elsewhere. He details the battle between the California Nurses Association and the SEIU, part of the context in which the long-running effort to unionize workers at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital took place. But ultimately, Early observes, neither of those larger unions supported the local organizing effort as it finally succeeded.

While he recognizes that the personalities and ambitions of certain leaders, contributed to the conflicts he writes about, Early contents that focusing solely on those aspects—as he says most of the mainstream media has—overlooks the genuine issues that were also an important part of the story.

Listen to the full report from KRCB's news director, Bruce Robinson.

Redistricting and the 2010 Census

California voters set the stage for some dramatic changes in our next statewide election, some of which will be felt very close to home here in Sonoma County.

There are no active politicians or past elected officials on the redistricting commission, but Sonoma State University Political Science· professor David McCuan notes that partisan considerations did, by law, go into its composition.

There's a good reason for redrawing all the electoral districts at the same time, explains McCuan. That allows State Senate seats and  Congressional districts to follow the same lines as much as possible. Similarly, the Assembly district boundaries often have a tricke-down effect on county supervisor districts.

Interested in this issue? Listen to more here, and follow Rohnert Park Patch this week while we release detailed analysis about the 2010 Census.

Great White Sharks in Northern California

For the first time, researchers have come up with an estimate of the number of great white sharks that circulate in the waters off the northern California coast. But there are not as many as you might think.

There are multiple reasons why great white sharks have not been studied as extensively as many other ocean-dwelling species, says U.C. Davis researcher Taylor Chapple. And yes, simple fear of the powerful predators is one of them.

These sharks are popularly known as "great" whites, but Chapple says that scientists prefer to drop the first adjective when talking about them.

Get the full story from KRCB here.

Campaign Advertising, Election 2012

Next year will be a busy one for California's political junkies. For everyone else, get ready for a new, long barrage of campaign advertising.

Not everyone is getting into the electoral action in 2012. Our California constitutional offices, governor and  the like,won't see their four-year terms run out until 2014. But Professor McCuan says some jockeying for position in those campaigns is already underway.

Listen to Robinson's full report at KRCB by clicking here.

Electric Cars

The first two electric automobiles from major makers are beginning to hit the streets in the Bay Area, with more to follow. But right now, consumer interest is outstripping production.

The Nissan Leaf comes in two variations, explains Ron Coury of North Bay Nissan in Petaluama. For a little more, buyers can choose a faster charging option, in anticipation of a network of charing stations that is only beginning to be built.

That model also features a small solar panel, Coury adds.

Deliveries of the electric Leaf are expected to accelerate once a new manufacturing facility in Tennessee begins production next year.

The dashboard of the Chevy Volt has a markedly different appearance to aid drivers in tracking how much battery capacity they have, and how far they can drive on it.

Listen to more here. 

Editor's note: This story was reported and produced by KRCB, and written for Rohnert Park Patch with the permission of KRCB News Director Bruce Robinson.