A California assemblyman (a South San Francisco democrat) wants to allow 17-year olds to vote. Bad idea. We have a hard enough time with low-information voters. This will only increase their rolls. Callers agree that 17-year olds would not be mature enough. Even a 16-year old caller thinks his peers are not mentally ready.

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The trash issue. The city council voted fair and square to privatize it. The union was unhappy. So, they went to the people to force a vote. Although that is the way the system works, this idea of a special election is a bad idea.

Marina Magdaleno, the union spokesperson, joined us live in studio. She denies that this special election is the reason the city might be in financial jeopardy. She blames the city spending money it had no business spending.

A caller, who identified himself as a laid off sanitation worker, said when he worked, he would get paid for a 10-hour day, even if he actually worked seven. He felt as if he was scamming the customers.  Marina said the offered this as a concession to the city. She applauds her workers for being efficient and tops in their field.

As far as forcing the vote, Marina says it is there right to force a vote.

Callers were mixed, some diametrically opposed to what the trash union is doing, some in support. Some didn't like the union, but agreed with Marina that the city got themselves in this financial mess.

I appreciate Marina stopping by and staying as long as she did. We may not agree, but she had the guts to answer my questions. We invited Mayor Ashley Swearengin to join the show, but she refused, apparently under "lockdown" in budget meetings.

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The real hardball is right here bill@powertalk967.com