Proposition 63 - Show Me the Money

Not to put too fine a point on this, but I'll vote this story onto Current TV when you actually do the story. You apparently have the interviews in the can; instead of offering up a video pitch that's buttressed with pointless person-on-the-street interviews (I don't care that they think this is a worthwhile story, I think it's a worthwhile story), get to cracking and present your case. I think you'll find people here are very eager to see this story get to a larger public.

I guess there are two stories here....one in which California has yet to actually dole out the billion dollars that it is supposed to give to the homeless and the other is that the news media seems to think that this is not a worthwhile story.
I think two years and 12 million dollars to plan is excessive. If a proposition is going to be put before the people to raise our taxes, then whoever is putting that proposition together should already have a plan in place how that money will be used. The proposition committees should not use the actual tax money to figure out what they are going to spend it on.
Since we have deinstitutionalized the mental hospitals during the 60's nationally and during the 80's here in California, we have underfunded our mental health services. This was an atempt to right a wrong. It will someday right a wrong when they figure out how they are going to spend it.

I got the sense that this piece was vascillating between focusing on the failure to fulfill the proposition's promise and highlighting the media's failure to spotlight this abuse. All things being equal, I'd rather hear about what's gone wrong with the administration of this prop and what is and can be done to fix things, rather than getting all wrapped up in a media-covering-media thing. You're the answer to the failure of the other outlets. Let's hear the story.

Your absolutely right there is more that could be said here. I will work on giving you more information. I really appreciate the feedback. It is good to have intelligent, thought -provoking comments! Thanks

keep it up! Good work

The MHSA does not specifically speak to the issue of homelessness so you have stretched your premise to make it seem like all homeless are mentally ill. Additionally, the failure here seems to be that the counties who were supposed to apply for their grants from the fund, have not. So there are so many people too blame. The act was originally laid out quite comprehensively with a dazzling array of appointees to oversee...there is a big story here that you need to cultivate.

The story contains an important factual error. Rusty Selix is not affiliated with "The Department of Health and Human Services." Mr. Selix is Executive Director of the California Coalition for Mental Health, an advocacy organization.

Thank you for your correction. You are right he is the Executive Director of the Coalition of Mental Health. Although it is a slight error, it is not a fatal flaw as Felix is also one of the originators of Proposition 63. He believed that this money would help fund people with mental illness. It is unfortunate that this proposition is not doing what it was intended to do and that is help people.

Tracie,

Saw your note on my Living Iraq pod. Please leave me your e-mail address so I can write back.

Best,

Dan

For those of you that were interested in the music the band is Luce. Go to www.luceband.com and tell him Tracie sent you. Thanks

There IS a really good story here. But the way it's presented right now doesn't tell it to me.

Tell me the detailed background of Prop 63. Interview lawmakers or an activist why it's failing. Show me homeless people directly affected by it's failure. Lose your personal opinions and focus on the journalism (you introduce yourself as a journalist after all).

If presented correctly, your pod should give your opinions through the larger story, not slates and talking heads agreeing with you.

You need to dig deeper to prove your points to me, the viewer.

-zen

Very good story and I liked very much how you "asked for the sale" when you instructed us to vote this on. Have you been in marketing?

I too would like to see you speaking to some of the lawmakers who are NOT spending the money... or at the very least having them reject speaking to you.

On of my biggest beefs with the media of today is their blatant ignorance of issues that are impacting people HERE, because of people HERE. I think you're close to really nailing that point.

Get a person in position of authority whose not doing their job to explain to you why they are doing their job, them show them that you're not some airhead, on the payroll journalist from say FOX, CNN, NBC, etc.

I wish you all the best with this story. I hate when in a time of out of control spending, we see this kind of reprehensible mismanagement of people's money.

GL from me.
asm
Please click on my head and check out my latest pod, “small town climate change.”

In the 21 years I have lived in California i have yet to see a proposition that actually did what was promisted. Those in charge always seem to find a way to change a good thing into something bad.

Good video, looking forward to seeing more.

You're onto a good story, but it needs work -- and I'm not sure you understand the importance of Kaugust's correction. This is not a "slight" factual error. As journalists, we have a responsibility to correctly identify our sources so the audience can gauge for themselves the veracity of the information and the motivation/agenda of the speaker. A slight error would be calling Rusty Selix (I'm assuming your spelling in the Comments section was a typo) the deputy director instead of the executive director. But in the piece, you confused his advocacy organization with a part of the state government. That's a HUGE difference -- is Rusty representing the interests of the mentally ill or is he a state employee? I know I sound overly anal and nitpicky, but you opened the door by stating you're a journalist -- and we have to live by standards of accuracy and fairness.

I completely agree with DanPersons about the thrust of this story -- tackle Prop 63 and stay away from the media criticism. The man-on-the-street interviews are totally contrived, right down to the loaded questions you ask. The same curious and hard-edged mind that came up with this story idea (yours) should be angling for tougher interviews. Call up the state officials responsible for spending this money, get the legislators who publicly backed this Prop to weigh in, talk to the people who rallied against the Prop and see what they're saying now (Told you so? It's XYZ's fault?). Who's ultimately responsible for managing that money? Where does it go if it's not spent? Don't waste your time trying to get random nobodies to parrot your indignation at the lack of news coverage -- cover it yourself.

While you're doing more interviews with experts, maybe even a patient or doctor, dig up some useful facts for context. How much is spent on mental health in the state of California? How does the Prop 63 money compare? What kind of difference (in real lives) are we missing out on? How many individuals suffer from mental illnesses, how many more could be treated?

Cagey made a good point about conflating homelessness and mental illness. There's a high correlation between the two, but keep your ideas straight. I think you've latched onto a strong topic with lots of possibility. Push yourself to make this a tougher piece of journalism; you've got a good initial instinct.

I understand your points. They are full of insight and I am sure you are a journalist or at least you write like one. I have done thorough research on this and I am working on a second piece for those that want more information. I really appreciate the time you took to relay your wisdom.

Thank you for calling attention to this problem. Your story helped humanize the issue and I think it will have a growing influence on the public, especially when it reaches mainline media. Besides "greenlighting" your story, is there anything else that the public can do to push for these funds to be allocated to people who need help right now?

Excellent job and good luck with your continuing work on this important cause!

GL A great use of Current. More of this please. Let's get more stories mainstream Corporate media won't cover.

Check out Sister Beatrice Explores. She's got much to say the media doesn't want to cover.

Someday I am going to marry that girl!!!!

great story.

next one: explain the california ballot initiative. other states and the fed should implement this in our efforts to improve the democratic process.

Good subject Green Light!

<a href=" http://www.current.tv/watch/66917782?list=newVidsByProd...