Investigation into California’s Homeless Shelters | Republican Senate and Assembly Leaders | Bikeability of Sacramento Streets

A new investigation uncovers abuses in California homeless shelters. Also, Republican leaders at the State Capitol talk about legislative priorities. Finally, evaluating how safe Sacramento’s streets are for cyclists.

Investigation into California’s Homeless Shelters Despite spending roughly $1 billion on homeless shelters since 2018, fewer than one in four people actually move into a permanent home. A new investigation by CalMatters has uncovered scandals and abuse in many of California’s shelters for unhoused residents. Lauren Hepler is an investigative reporter for CalMatters and she joins us today to explain what’s happening inside some of these facilities.

CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom that partners with public media stations across the state.

Republican Senate and Assembly Leaders Democrats still hold a supermajority in the California Legislature, but there have been shifts in the Republican caucus. Three seats were flipped in the latest election, and state GOP lawmakers are growing more diverse. When breaking down both the Assembly and Senate, Republicans represent just under a third of each chamber. We’re going to sit down with the Republican leaders at the State Capitol. Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has been a state lawmaker for 15 years, with a district based in San Diego. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher was first elected in 2014, with a district based in Chico. They both join Insight to discuss their legislative priorities and how they are collaborating across the aisle to turn their bills into state laws. 

Bikeability of Sacramento Streets Sacramento pledged in 2017 to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2027, but the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths has been on the rise. Officials submitted a proposal to declare a state of emergency over the accidents last year, and the city has been adding new infrastructure - like bike lanes and buffering - to some of the risker streets in the city. CapRadio Communities Reporter Gerardo Zavala took a recent trip down Broadway as part of an ongoing series, and talks about what he observed on his bike.