California Crises

Berkeley Schools Enrollment Policy, Court Says By Bob Egelko
A constant debate that we constantly face is whether discrimination in assigning school districts is just and appropriate. If so, to what extent is this discrimination appropriate. Recently a state appeals court ruled that Berkeley's inquiry of neighborhoods and students' backgrounds to assign certain kids to certain schools is not in violation of California's ban on racial preferences when it considers the makeup of students' neighborhoods in deciding where they will go to school. This is due to the fact that Berkeley Unified School District takes race, parents' incomes, and parents' education levels into account when creating school districts in order to achieve an integrated and heterogeneous school rather than a school dominated by one race. Their goal is to expose students to all cultures rather than allowing each neighborhood to continue to live in their own homogeneous bubble. The Berkeley School District argued that they are not discriminating against or giving preference to students but rather are trying to capture a larger group to increase diversity. Berkeley's policy uses racial classifications and neighborhood demographics rather than individuals' races, which would be in violation of this law. In relation to this debate, there is an issue posed by many whites that due to our nation's intense breakdown of segregation and a desire for cultural diversity, many whites are facing discrimination, especially in the education system. Many whites argue that they face increased obstacles when applying to schools because schools' desire for a diverse population discriminates against whites. Because of this desire for a diverse student body, many schools favor less accomplished minorities over high achieving or average whites to achieve the desired diversity factor. White applicants argue this is unfair because they deserve to be accepted more based on achievements, but the minority card is trumping standard evaluations for acceptance. This fact is evident in California's UC system where many more Asians and minority students are accepted. Many often joke, you must put your most remote ethnicity in order to get into these schools. However, this is just another question raised about schools abilities to access background information of their applicants and the possibility of discrimination based on this information in the education system.

Focus Shifts to Flow of Cash, Arms into Mexico By Carolyn Lochhead
A hot topic currently is the eruption of violence in Mexico due to the fight between the drug cartels and government. This had been especially prevalent during Spring Break season as many adults and parents have become concerned with college students' safety as they travel to Mexico for Spring Break. The main issue in relation to this eruption of violence is due to the drug cartels' abilities to smuggle weapons into Mexico from the United States. The Obama administration has taken an active role by switching US border policy from a focus of northbound illegal immigration to a focus on the flow of cash and weapons southbound that is allowing the violent eruption occurring in Mexico. Many are realizing that the people shipping machine guns to drug cartels are much more threatening than an illegal immigrant working on a farm or busing a table. This southbound flow of weapons and cash contributes to the violent uproar because 90% of arms have come from the US. The current economic recession that is leaving many Latin Americans unemployed paired with the Mexican government's active role in abolishing the drug market has contributed to violent reaction from the drug cartels. Many Mexican cities close to the border such as Tijuana are facing extreme violence and intimidation from the cartels. The drug cartels are controlling the market of the smuggling of humans across the border for a high price, which is giving many cartels increased power. In order to curb this violence, the US and Mexican governments need to increase their control of the border to prevent not only human smuggling, but the smuggling of weapons, drugs, and cash. Without the cooperation of both countries the drug cartels will be impossible to stop. I think Obama's focus on the southbound flow of goods is more important that Bush's focus on the northbound flow of illegal immigrants because in order to help stop illegal immigration we must first stop the cartels who are aiding the Mexicans in their attempts to cross the border into the US. Also, the violent environment the cartels have created pose a much greater threat than illegal immigrants. The US needs to first stop the cartels, then focus its efforts on illegal immigrants in the US to further its stability, especially in economic terms. However, I wonder how this drug cartel issue will end as Obama raises propositions about legalizing drugs, which would certainly increase the cartels' power. Although the legalization of drugs is a mere idea and no where near a legalized law, the possibility poses many new challenges in regards to the problems and violence due to the drug cartels. There are many positive signs that the US and Mexican governments' efforts have begun to curb the cartels power. However, their cooperation and strict regulation at the border is necessary.

Population Up in Every Bay Area County in 2008 By Tyche Hendricks
Population in every Bay Area county grew as California's population as a whole also grew at a modest pace. California's economy has been worsening steadily, however, many argue that the Bay Area is still performing better than other places. Even during 2006 to 2008. when the country was experiencing effects post dot com bust, the Bay Area was the state's job growth leader. Even though unemployment has been increasing steadily, the Bay Area still has the lowest unemployment rate in California. One main issue that the Bay Area has faced are housing prices. Housing prices have fallen, however, they still remain higher than elsewhere. In contrast to people's inability to buy houses in the Bay Area in the past, lower housing prices are allowing and forcing people to stay in the Bay Area. This is the only silver lining for current Bay Area residents in light of the current economic crisis. The population increase is due primarily to birthrate from many contributing factors. First, California's population is younger than the rest of the nation so more babies are being born. Also California's high population of immigrants contributes to a higher birthrate because immigrants are younger and often value large families. However, one issue has been raised in regards to the rising population. This portrayed in a debate in San Francisco. San Francisco argued that their population was higher than the Census Bureau's numbers so they ended up receiving more federal aid. This is necessary because as the California Budget crisis portrayed, the number of illegal immigrants has negatively affected the economy because as the population in California has grown and this number is recorded incorrectly due to illegal immigrants, the state often is underfunded. Overall California's population increase explains why California was facing such a state economic crisis during a nationwide recession. It was interesting that the Santa Clara Valley County had the largest increase because that is the county where my home is. While I was home over spring break, I could see the effects of the economic downturn especially in high end stores and districts, however, it didn't seem to be as dead as other locations throughout the US. For example, I had to go to the mall two times during my visit, once during a week day and once on the weekend. The weekday was not overwhelmingly crowded, however it was not dead. However, on the weekend the mall was bustling with people. This surprised me because I had seen and heard many family friends' concerns regarding their economic situations. However, the article's claim that the Bay Area was doing better off than elsewhere seemed to be true.