for example, in richmond, california, there's a small city of 100,000 people, a progressive mayor and city council. and a community organizing group called acce is taking on wall street directly. in that city over half of the homeowners are underwater, their mortgages cost more than their homes are worth this is wall street's predatory practices crashing the economy. this has happened all over america. there are over 10 million american homeowners that are underwater. and in richmond, california, the mayor and the community are fighting back and saying, "we're not going to take this anymore." they've tried to get wall street banks to rewrite their mortgages so they can stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. and when wall street wouldn't do that, the city council said to the banks, "we're going to take these mortgages by eminent domain. we're going to buy them from you. if you don't want to sell them to us, we'll do it by eminent domain. and we're going to sell them back to the homeowners for about half the price, for the current market value." and of course wall street, the wells

we get our report from rob reynolds in richmond, california. >> reporter: it only took a few minutesamara's son to be poisoned by led. but the brain damage caused will haunt him for his entire life. >> we used an open flame torch to burn the lead paint off of the exterior of our home. my kids were instantly poisoned. >> reporter: he was just 7-month-old at the time. he is highly intelligence but has severe learning disabilities, cannot read or attend school. >> there is a lot of violent behavior. >> reporter: doctors have known for years that shred a severe neu neuro toxin in young children. >> even the lowest level of led may have an impact. there is no question it has an effect on the developing brain in mostly what they call the prefrontal area where you have judgment. >> reporter: his parents worry about his future. >> reporter: for avi we wonder is he going to be okay on his own? i don't know -- i hope he will be, but i don't know for sure. you look at the criminality link with led exposure and you definitely wonder about what is going to happen. >> reporter: the criminality lin

. >>> i'm rob reynolds in richmond, california with a report of the continuing problem >> how old areou? >> nine. >> how old were you when you first started working out here? >> seven. >> fault lines how children are hired by us agriculture to help put food on america's tables. >> in any other industry kids need to be 16 years old to be able to work. you don't see any of that in agriculture. >> they don't ask, "is she 12?". they just want their job done. >> how many of you get up before 5 o'clock in the morning? on inside story, we bring together unexpected voices closest to the story, invite hard-hitting debate and desenting views and always explore issues relevant to you. >>> for years we have heard reports about the risk of led poisoningest speshltly for children. there's a growing body of research indicates that led can chip away at that development. there is also increasing evidence that led toxicity can be tied to high crime. we get our report from rob california. >> reporter: it only took a few minutes for tamara's son to be poisoned by led. but the brain damage caused will hau

based at the world war ii park in richmond, california, and out of work for the past 16 days. we first caught up with ranger betty as she struggled with the shutdown. >> time for me is precious. my whole identity has become under that hat. >> reporter: but it's not just the hat. ranger betty, whose great-grandmother was born into slavery, lives to teach about the greatest mobilization of workers in u.s. history. women nicknamed rosie the riveters along with workers from the segregated south all coming together to build ships, sometimes launching one a day. >> this park gives us a chance and a way to go back and revisit that era that we moved through too fast to learn from. >> reporter: like lessons in working together that betty says could have come in handy in washington. >> have you ever in your 92 years seen anything like this? >> no. >> reporter: for more than two weeks, no one was allowed into the park, including surviving rosies here for a reunion last weekend. >> reporter: even the rosies. >> there was an explosion. >> reporter: but today ranger betty is back, welcoming

it's because in cities like richmond, california, and many other cities across the country, particularly committees of color about communities of all races and socioeconomic status is, many, many people in richmond, more than 50%, our underwater on their mortgage. what it means when you're underwater is it means you owe more on the principle of your mortgage -- yet been more than your home is worth. i spoke to someone in detroit, michigan, for example, that was 21 times underwater, which meant their house was about communicable worth something very low because the housing price plummeted and they owed 20 times more on their house and the house is currently worth. it's been well documented by a number of economic agencies, including the imf, the international monetary fund, one of the most conservative neoliberal capitalist organizations in the world, that when you're underwater on your mortgage you are more likely to go into default, and that widespread principal reduction reducing the amount owed would help us get out of this housing crisis. so the banks have been incredibly opposed to

it's an old shipyard in richmond, california.thousands of workers, many of them women, came together here to build the supply ships that helped win the second world war. they completed one ship in just over four days. there's some irony. you're telling the story of the greatest mobilization of workers in the country, and you can't go to work. >> that's right. that's right. >> reporter: betty reed soskin is a park ranger here. at 92 she's the oldest park ranger here at the national park. she's been furloughed. >> well, i'm here. i wanted to do my work. >> reporter: the rosie the riveter national park is all about work and working together. the women and men who built the ships came together largely from the segregated south. >> mississippi, louisiana, arkansas, and texas. a group of 98,000 black and white southerners who wouldn't be sharing drinking fountains for another 20 years back in their places of origin without the benefits of focus groups or organizations. they had to do it cold turkey. >> reporter: that history is persona

and believe it or not, it was located in richmond, california. [ ♪music ]

richmond california recently began a planned for essentials be to reclaim foreclosed houses then sold back at the reduced rate and there are people in the federal government trying to do this. but connecting the dots the holistic approach is there to understand how connected these issues are. in part at a cabinet level this is a totally ignored the issue. the labor secretary generally thinks of workplace violations. we have environmental but it could deal with major urban environmental issues but there are all kinds of things that could be done with data provided to of education department of a chieftain's but one to have somebody there coordinating and connecting the dots. >> i have heard the name rush limbaugh mentioned a few times today. but yet so one station that we have been the york to discuss issues like these come with the progressive community has come into use the rescues that almost went under maybe we will survive for maybe not. looked at the entire community both of 1% with all the capital and if we can to save the one channel on the radio where we can securely discuss i

i was here working in richmond, california. >> you were working during world war ii? >> i was working in the segregated union hall. >> so what do you tell people about that time? that's -- you're able to communicate with people that come to the park about what it was like to work there during world war ii? >> what i tell them is that ken burns and tom brokaw told a story of the battles of the fighting war, but that no one over these 70 years has told the story of the rest of america. roosevelt's great arsenal democracy, extraordinary, ordinary people who became the most lethal force from mass reduction that i guess the greatest mobilization since the building of the paramids, the great wall of china, that story has never really been told and what we get to do is go back and revisit that history and catch those lost conversations and untold stories that were left lingering. >> and i know you've become -- you're not just popular at the park. you've become popular across the nation. i hear you're doing the show in hollywood, how is that? >> that's today. that developed t

. >> a woman, she's from the west side, richmond, california. >> right. >> they had to do what they had to do. she didn't use that as a negative thing. >> what are you saying? >> i'm saying i'm tired of looking at your mess. okay. i'm tired of looking at your socks. i'm tired of looking at your books. terry mcmillan, tom clancy all over the place. pick a damn genre. >> whole life just people in the eye. thought white chain-link fence and a yard full of pit bulls. that's nice. >> what happened to rick, i love you. you're the wonl man for me. >> before you got to this point and you were doing television, you had some interesting theater. >> i still do. it's my first love. i was a theater major, went to howard university and majoring in drama. it's like, you're majoring in drama? yes, i am. >> aren't going to have no job. >> i'll go back and play. there's nothing like being live in front of the camera but being live on stage and getting that immediate reaction from the audience is wonderful. it's the best way to really tighten up your chops. i can do comedy. i can do drama, things like tha

cbs news, richmond, california. >> just one phrase sent on a cell phone helped save a man's life. how a text message made all the difference. >> running to show them you can get through obstacles. >> she's not your average marathon runner. how this bay area mom is proving her fighting spirit. >> good evening, everybody. it is going to pan out to be cooler tomorrow than what it was today. a chance of rain returns to the forecast we'll pinpoint that as the news continues. text. tim webb was riding to his b >>> a california motorcyclist who broke his back in a crash may have saved his own life with a single text. tim webb was riding to his job on wednesday when he says he swerved off the road to avoid an on-coming truck. despite broken bones and a severed spine, he was able to text his girlfriend, crash 911. >> i said you are in a crash? where are you? i kept texting and he didn't reply then you think the worst. >> webb followed up with a phone call leading rescuers to the crash site. he is paralyzed but thanks to his message he is alive. >>> a bay area mom has a message of hope and

john blackstone, cbs news, richmond, california. >> axelrod: and that's the cbs evening news for tonight. i'm jim axelrod in new york. good night. over and kills 2 workers dog maintenance on the tracks. is a tragedy of th >>> breaking news. a deadly accident on day 2 of the bart strike. a train runs over and kills two workers doing maintenance on the tracks. >> this is a tragedy of the greatest proportions for the bart family. >> yeah. i think that this could have been avoided. >> tonight, how it happened and how the tragedy could impact the ongoing labor dispute. kpix 5 news is next. ,,,,,,,, >>> your realtime captioner is mrs. linda m. macdonald >>> good evening, i'm ann notarangelo. we begin with breaking news in the east bay. a bart train has hit and killed two men on the tracks. this was

it's an old shipyard in richmond, california. >> full speed production was under way. >> reporter: in 1940s, thousands of workers, many of them women, came together here to build the supply ships that helped win the second world war. they completed one ship in just over four days. there's some irony. you're telling the story of the greatest mobilization of workers in this country, and you can't go to work. >> no, that's right. that's right. >> reporter: betty rerid soskin is a park ranger here. at 92, she is the oldest full-time ranger in the national park service. she has been furloughed. >> well, i'm here. i want to do my work. >> reporter: the rosy the riveter national park is all about work and working together. the women and men who built the ships came to california largely from the segregated south. >> mississippi, oklahomo, arkansas, louisiana, and texas, worked of 98,000 black and white southerners who wouldn't be sharing drinking fountains for 20 years back in their places of origin, without the benefit of focus group or diversity training. they had to do it cold turkey. >>

and believe it or not, it was located in richmond, california. [ ♪music ]

measuring levels of chemicals in people and environments, so one study she did was with also in richmond california to looking at the different levels of chemicals, diesel exhaust in richmond which you would expect to be very different, and she's going to help us see if we can build a study, so this was a great thing that you brought to our attention. >> i start to think about it over the years but especially working in an airport and now in an actively working diesel pump station. >> and it's not something you have any control over, and that's the same kind of fragmentation we're seeing at all levels, it's hard to make changes when jurisdictions move. >> but if i could get her contact information or something after the presentation, that would be great. >> okay, cool. >> i had two questions, one is you were just saying to use glass when you're cooking or microwave, what about -- i was told before that you could use plastic for the refrigerator or storage, are you saying avoid plastics all together for food storage, and then the second question is water bottles, say for instance i have a case of li

point isabel is a multiuse off leash recreation area in richmond california and part of the east bay regional park district system. i just want to say thank you for keeping the gg nra honest in its dealings with the city. it's a federal agency. we all have a stake in it and i would like to see that it continue to be available for the off leash recreation. thank you very much. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> my name is [inaudible]. i'm a dog owner and this is my dog moved to san francisco 2 years you. basically, everything has been said. by all the different people. i would like to [inaudible] walking off leash with my dog on ocean beach. that's where we're going. my dog had surgery and he needs to walk at his own pace. i did not have surgery but i also need to walk in my own pace. [inaudible] where i feel he saved an unsafe. if i couldn't go there with my dog it would be better for him and i think i would not go because being with your dog, when you need to walk, it gives you a positive motivation. i think it's the same for most senior people. yes, and also i feel safe walki

krten dalgren, nbc news, richmond, california. >> here's to ranger betty and all her colleagues.broadcast on a thursday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we, of course, hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. good night.

visitors wouldn't miss out on the national parks or rosy the riveter national historical park in richmond, california. it's also home to betty reid sosken who at 92 is the nation's oldest park ranger. >> betty, you said that because of your age this is your last decade, you can't afford to have anybody wasting your time. when you heard about this government shutdown, what does it mean to you? >> it mean that is when i've gotten to be 92 years old, that there comes along with that a sense of urgency, a sense that if i don't get it right this time, i don't have time to do it over. that gets applied to work that i enjoy. and having the shutdown is -- >> do you feel like they're wasting your time? >> yes, i do. >> does it make you feel like kind of the only adult in the room when you watch some of these politicians talking about this stuff on tv? >> yes. yes. that's true. i feel like -- and i think washington needs a lot more adults. >> what would you say to them if some of them were watching tonight? what do you want them to know? >> i'm not sure that i'm wise enough in what they're dealing with to be a

and believe it or not, it was located in richmond, california. [ ♪music ]

mulvaney, to try to get your position actually nailed down on richmond california's proposed use of eminent domain to seize performing mortgages. a number of times over the last year i have sent letters, and i know mr. miller and mr. campbell, my colleagues in the senate as well, have tried to get the administration to come out, to state your position on the proposed use of eminent domain to seize mortgages. and my question is, if you would make that statement? >> so i appreciate you asking this question again because i think it was the former times that i've gotten past it, it's the end of the question as opposed to beginning which makes it hard to give a full answer, but what i've been trying to say here is that we do believe that eminent domain authority in general is a local and state authority, and it needs to be -- >> will -- >> can i finish? they need to be able to make their decisions in this needs to be played out over time in terms of what impact, if any, it will ultimately have on lending. so i will -- >> hold on, hold on. the question that you need to answer, if you think it thr

the hearing is scheduled for october 31 in richmond. california, on our line for the uninsured, dave, good morning. good morning. is responsible for the federal website? host: the contractor is called cgi. amount fore largest the federal website. believe me, they're taking a lot of heat about it. the code is pretty sloppy and is not working so well. associatedy are not with a well-known defense contractor are they? not that that --guest: i know of. host: how much did they get? guest: i think something like $90 million. host: good morning. uninsured.yself am i am 35 years old. my income falls in a level where most people suggest this is a great man for you. i have zero interest in getting ,his affordable care act obamacare. i do not feel it is appropriate or justified to be fined for choosing not to purchase a product. it does not make any sense to me how we are in america and we are being forced to -- guest: i'm curious. why don't you want health insurance? i am 35. a very healthy. i have life insurance if anything goes catastrophically. a few yea

richmond storage facility. >> believe it or not there's more than 1 yellow convertible lamb borrow begin probably in northern californiapeople would call and give reports my attorney would hear about it. come to find out that he was driving it. >> wade also being tried on other more serious crimes. in 2011 prosecutors say he tried to murder a girl he was interested in. he could get 30 years in prison if convicted. >>> santa clara engineer facing 10 years in prison for threatening to kill a state lawmaker. everett fashion plead in order contest to charges for threats against state senator deen. pros ca cawtors say fashion was angry about feesh cracking down on weapons. plea part of deal that several charges were rusted or dismissed. >> coming up next on 7 news. prisons could go up significantly. la local lawmaker wants to battle obesity and the new proposal hard to swallow. >> plus hot sauce in hot water. one southern california city suing the makers of this. >> you may have noticed some facebook friends changing profile pictures to injure after? after? why that means they may not be soon, californians from to salinas t

richmond storage facility. >> believe it or not there's more than 1 yellow convertible lamb borrow begin probably in northern californiaople would call and give reports my attorney would hear about it. come to find out that he was driving it. >> wade also being tried on other more serious crimes. in 2011 prosecutors say he tried to murder a girl he was interested in. he could get 30 years in prison if convicted. >>> santa clara engineer facing 10 years in prison for threatening to kill a state lawmaker. everett fashion plead in order contest to charges for threats against state senator deen. pros ca cawtors say fashion was angry about feesh cracking down on weapons. plea part of deal that several charges were rusted or dismissed. >> coming up next on 7 news. prisons could go up significantly. la local lawmaker wants to battle obesity and the new proposal hard to swallow. >> plus hot sauce in hot water. one southern california city suing the makers of this. >> you may have noticed some facebook friends changing profile pictures to injure after? why that means they may not be as smart ewelcome to covered california. now,

richmond storage facility. believe it believe it or not ts more than 1 yellow convertible lamb borrow begin probably in northern californiapeople would call and give reports my attorney would hear about it. come to find out that he was driving it. >> wade also being tried on other more serious crimes. in 2011 prosecutors say he tried to murder a girl he was interested in. he could get 30 years in prison if convicted. >>> santa clara engineer facing 10 years in prison for threatening to kill a state lawmaker. everett fashion plead in order contest to charges for threats against state senator deen. pros ca cawtors say fashion was angry about feesh cracking down on weapons. plea part of deal that several charges were rusted or>> coming >> coming up next on 7 news. prisons could go up significantly. la local lawmaker wants to battle obesity and the new proposal hard to swallow. >> plus hot sauce in h w water. one southern california city suing the makers of this. >> you may have noticed some facebook friends changing profile pictures to injure after? why that means they may not be into an easy dinner with crescent dogs. just

the hearing is scheduled for october 31 in richmond. californiaur line for the uninsured, dave, good morning. caller: good morning. i was curious who the contractor is responsible for the federal website? host: the contractor is called cgi. they got the largest amount for the federal website. believe me, they're taking a lot of heat about it. the code is pretty sloppy and is not working so well. caller: they are not associated with a well-known defense contractor, are they? guest: not that i know of. but i am not sure. host: how much did they get? guest: i think something like $90 million. out of a total $400 million website. host: good morning. caller: i myself am uninsured. i am 35 years old. my income falls in a level where most people suggest this is a great man for you. i have zero interest in getting this affordable care act, obamacare. i do not feel it is appropriate or justified to be fined for choosing not to purchase a product. it does not make any sense to me how we are in america and we are being forced to -- guest: i'm curious. why do

richmond. dave from california on our line for those who are insured. good morning. morning, i am good curious who the contractor is responsible for the federal website? got the largest part of the grant for the contract or work for the federal healthcare.gov website, and believe me, they are taking a lot of heat for it. the code looks pretty sloppy and it is not working so well. caller: not associated with a well-known defense contractor, are they? guest: i don't know, but i am not sure. i think they got somewhere -- somewhere upwards of $90 million to -- as part of a $400 million website. from jacksonville, florida. caller: real quick, i myself am uninsured. i am 35 years old. my income falls within a level that most people would say this is a great plan for you. i have absolutely zero interest in getting this affordable care obamacare. i really don't feel it is appropriate or even justified to for choosing not to purchase a product. it does not make any sense to me. we are in america and we are being forced to purchase a product. guest: why don't you want health i

el gobernador de california, jerry brown , hace que algunos profesionales hagan abortos en primer trimestre de gestación también más leyes de salud de la mujer . >> residentes de richmondco pero el banco no quiere y la ciudad hará expropiación . >> embargos continúan y protestaas se hacen esta ciudad tiene estrategia parque que bancos negocien pero la medida de la ciudad no ayuda . >> asociación se suma al banco . >> hablar para que venda los prestamos . >> comunidades están en crisis de vivienda y dueños tienen encargos por eso compran a precio bajo por reducción o uso de medida de eminem domain . >>p ara negociar poder reducir las casas de aquí , el banco ante medidas de la ciudad declara que dice . >> wells fargo apoya para estabilizar deudores pero tenemos problemas por dominio emimente no ayudara a las comunidades . >>p ero la ciudad no da marcha atrás . >> en una declaración alcaldesa, señalo . >> crisis continúa para mantener así las familias hacemos poder de autoridad para ir en el programa de reducción . >> pero mientras no hay solución algunos enfrentan el embargo . >> no resuelven nada pero me mandaron el forcloser . >> organizaciones dicen que harán activid

richmond down to oakland. in terms of rainfall it is taking the dryer storm track right down the center of california. we are locked out of pacific moisture. the possibilities of showers are here. but as you'll see in the futurecast we will be dry at 5:00 a.m. most of the shower chances are off to the north. through the afternoon a slight chance for the santa clara valley and the coastline and east bay. san jose so far for the water year, 178% of normal. so far .66 inch of rainfall. thursday, friday, and saturday we clear out, sunny skies, temperatures in the mid up toer 70s. but tomorrow, isolated shower chance. keep your eyes to the sky. might need the windshield wipers. >> and make sure you have a sweater. >> for sure. >> thank you, jeff. we'll be right back. >>> one of hollywood's biggest stars has type 2 diabetes. tom hanks revealed on national tv he was diagnosed with diabetes. he says he has been struggling with high blood sugar for the last 20 years. nearly 26 million americans have some type of diabetes. he said, quote, not to worry, his condition is controllable. >>> uc berkeley researchers

california city's plan to help out its troubled homeowners. the country's largest pension plan says it opposes the city's richmond's plan to use eminent domain to undercover mortgages. ♪ >>> and ross shimabuku is here with sports and some nba news. >> nba training camps have decided up and the knicks have decided to keep their head coach through the 2014 season. woodson is staying, but in cable the cubs decide to fire their manager. under that manager the cubbies are seven games under .500. gardenhire was on the hot seat. and jake locker had to be carted off of the field after he injured his hip on this nasty hip. the team believes he could be out for four to eight weeks. in the meantime brian fitzpatrick will be you starting quarterback. in baseball, john, the race and rangers are playing in a tiebreaker as we speak. the winner will take on the indians. >> all right. ross thank very much. bp is back in court. the accusations it is facing after the deep water disaster in the gulf. >>> i'm in lyons, colorado, people here are wondering what is going to happen here in the event of a government shutdown? i'll have more details coming up. that's all

richmond, don knapp, kpix 5. >>> tourists once again getting to see what the country is is made of. how some states reopened national landmarks despite the partial government shutdown. like californiaand human kindness during the government shutdown. help from two furloughed soldiers from someone who can barely afford it. >>> good saturday evening to you. temperatures in the mid to upper 50s. a little nip in the air. a little chilly. bundle up as you head out. tomorrow is a different story. the forecast after a break for you. ,, female announcer: female announcer: save up to 35% and through columbus day, get three years interest-free financing on tempur-pedic, at sleep train's inventory clearance sale. ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ to raise the debt ceiling fo year fai >>> high hopes for ending the federal government shutdown were dashed today when a test vote to raise the debt ceiling for a year failed. senate majority leader harry reed and minority leader mitch mcconnell are still talking. reed is hopeful that a deal can be reached within the next 48 hours. but no solution seems imminent. house speaker john boehner says president obama talks have stalled. he wants con

richmond and the iron triangle. chevron will also spend $5.5 million on school programs in math, science and technology. the money is on top of chevron's annual community investment of $5 million. >> a southern california real estate firm is teaching up with overseas investors to propose a massive sports and entertainment complex in oakland stretching from the coliseum to the estuary we have the latest on the lands for the massive sports entertainment complex. >> the oakland a pores are in -- a's are in the playoffs again. >> we pulled in a major investor the automaker says a team with deep pockets want to both life into coliseum city which many is considered a "pipe dream." >> no way, oakland and the a's go well together because people try to count us out every time and every time we surprise them. the owner of the a's has not changed his mind about leaving oakland for silicon valley. this project would entice him to say. the loyal a's fans things he wants more. >> one advantage is coliseum city is laid out on several acres of shoreline property owned by the city. >> it will generate thousands of new jobs and a lot more cash not city. >> the fans feel like they hit a home run, the third largest privat

richmond. >> get calls all the time. i just saw your car on the freeway. blythe or not there's more than one yellow convertible lamborgini in california. people would call and get reports my attorney would hear bit. come to find out he was driving it. >>reporter: 19-year-old is also accused of more serious crime. in april 2011 the da office says he tried to murder a girl he was interested in. according to the investigation wade rode up on motorcycle and shot in her direction several times. she was not injured. wade was apparently upset because she was dating someone else. motorcycle several weapons and ammunition were also found at that storage facility. even though at the time of his arrest wade was a minor he was being tried as an adult. he faces 30 years to life in prison. in san rafael, abc 7 news. >> police in san jose have identified the woman accused of driving drunk causing traffic accident that killed her frien friend. authorities book 27-year-old monica johnson of campbell into jail on vehicular map slaughter and felony drunk driving charges. johnson is accused of being behind the wheel of this 2013 ford escape when it crashe

richmond. mcauliffe presses democrats to support the bill. and d the bill passes. terry mcauliffe. putting virginia fst. "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." >> breaking news out of california. at 6:30ict will be read pm.m.m. our time. the jury had to decide whether responsibility in michael jackson's death. >> some of keith's rounds player are coming to his defense while admitting his techniques are not abusive. stephen tschida has the details. we have learned prior to the suspension of the coach and assistant coach, they launched an internal investigation that one of the female ask players attempted suicide. rat headlinestics after a video of a coach at rep hers university led to his firing. before the start of the women's basketball season, georgetown university suspended coach keith brown and assistant coach tim valentine. definitely unfortunate. hopefully it is solved quickly. >> the investigation comes days after one of the players apparently attempted suicide. the players friends say she is home with her family and getting better. meanwhile, other players acknowledge the tech x can be harsh. say brown uses language that some might find offensive. i am pretty show eve

richmond and los angeles failed following lobbying by the beverage industry. the industry says the tax would unfairly affect poor communities. >>> from local ballot issues to the statewide issues, california's initiatives allow voters to make laws. you know that. many of those hot-button issues that we vote on, but are they good tools for making policy? and how many of us actually understand the initiatives we vote on? let's bring in nbc bay area's political analyst, larry gerston. good to see you. we have a legislator and governor but many people enjoy having the direct vote to pass laws, right? >> yes, scary how much, or how little they know about it. the voters adopted the idea in 1911 when the legislature was literally owned by the southern pacific railroad. it was no joke. fed up, they decided if the legislature wouldn't act on behalf of the people, by golly, they would. so if someone wants a new law, like you said, he or she has to gather signatures, 5% of the people who voted in the last gubernatorial election for a law, 8% for a constitutional amendment and wha-lah, you're on. >> we have more than 100 years of history with this. sounds simple enough. the format here. what's the fuss

richmond/san rafael bridge. >> this is not exactly music to anybody's ears, $500,000 missing from the coffers of a bay area sympathy. the account for the symphony of northern california missing $500,000 in operating funds. a spokesman says that's most if not all of the organization's assets. the board hopes that an audit will reveal where the money went and how they can get it back. despite the loss the symphony does not plan to change its concert season. several musicians and donors stepped in pledging nice money. >> facebook boss taking big steps to maintain privacy. he recently bought four houses surrounding him in palo alto. according to the "mercury news" he heard that a developer planned to buy the house next door to his home. the developer was going to advertise to possible buyers they would be neighbors. so zuckerberg bought the home and three others next to his property. he is now leasing the homes back to the original owners. it cost zuckerberg more than $30 million. >> he paid a premium. >> one of the homes i think was worth $7.3 but went for 14.1. >> you have deep pockets and billions, pocket change. still ahead, no b.a.r.t. strike but the threat is not o