California Cities Research Articles

Types of Substance Use and Punitive Parenting: A Preliminary Exploration

Very little is known about how the type of substance use is comparatively related to a range of parenting behaviors. We conduct a preliminary examination to ascertain effects of substance type on physical abuse compared with other child discipline tactics with data from a telephone survey in 2009 of 3,023 parents in 50 cities in California. Kruskal-Wallis tests and hierarchical generalized linear models are conducted to determine the relationship between substance type and frequency of nonviolent discipline, corporal punishment, and child physical abuse. Type of drug used is differentially related to use of discipline strategies in multivariate models. Nonviolent discipline and corporal punishment show a dose–response relationship when a parent who reported using more substances also reported using both types of discipline more frequently. We suggest that addiction professionals should consider partnering with a specialist in child development or child welfare to conduct in-depth assessments of parenting strategies among the highest-risk groups, such as those with past-year alcohol use or a history of polysubstance use or methamphetamine use.

Head Start educators’ beliefs about bilingualism, dual language development, and bilingual education

ABSTRACT This study employed survey methodology to examine the beliefs of Head Start educators about bilingualism, dual language development, and bilingual education and explored relationships between demographic variables and beliefs. Participants came from two large cities in California, a state that until very recently had a restrictive language policy banning bilingual education. Results indicate that while participants exhibited overall favorable views of bilingualism, responses to several questions related to dual language development and bilingual education were more variable and reflect shifting ideologies regarding bilingualism. Participants who spoke more than one language, were born outside of the United States, and reported an ethnicity other than white, demonstrated more favorable views of bilingual education. Education and major, which have been identified as predictors of favorable beliefs about bilingualism in K-12 settings, were not related to the beliefs of Head Start educators in our sample. The exploration of beliefs about bilingualism and bilingual education is particularly timely given recent research and policy recommendations regarding the long term benefits of bilingualism and the Head Start performance standard requirement that teachers support the development of children’s home language and engage in teaching practices that support both bilingualism and biliteracy.

“We have to do a lot of healing”: LGBTQ migrant Latinas resisting and healing from systemic violence

Using narratives from oral histories of LGBTQ migrant Latinas in Los Angeles, California, and Mexico City, Mexico, this article argues that, despite experiences of oppression, the narrators practice resistance in their daily lives. The article first addresses how the narrators confront conditions of detainability and deportability, making survival a constant struggle. It then presents different ways in which the narrators engage in resistance, from survival to community building and activism. Finally, it argues that healing is a key factor in the narrators’ resistance—healing functions as both a tool for and outcome of resistance.

An index of fisheries closures due to harmful algal blooms and a framework for identifying vulnerable fishing communities on the U.S. West Coast

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a significant threat to coastal communities and their economies. They cause economic losses associated with lost fisheries landings and tourism revenue, food insecurity from loss of subsistence harvest activities, disruption of cultural practices, and loss of community identity and social interactions tied to coastal resource use. In 2015, an unprecedented bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia occurred along the U.S. West Coast, producing record high concentrations of the toxin domoic acid (DA). Widespread and prolonged fisheries closures resulted, including closures of the lucrative Dungeness crab fishery, generating an economic shock for fishery-dependent communities. To estimate the socioeconomic impacts of the closures and to compare the 2015 DA event with other events, an index was constructed that quantifies lost fishing opportunities due to toxic HABs for 17 fishing communities on the West Coast from 2005 through 2016. An examination of the HAB index shows that the 2015 DA event caused the longest duration and most geographically widespread fisheries closures on record. Communities most vulnerable to the closures of the Dungeness crab fishery were identified using indices of community social vulnerability and fishery dependence. Of the 17 fishing communities examined here, the communities of Crescent City, Fort Bragg and Moss Landing in California had the highest social vulnerability, were the most dependent on the Dungeness crab fishery, and were the most deprived of their Dungeness crab fishing opportunities; as such, these communities may have been the least resilient to the economic shock generated by the 2015 DA event.

How Is Exposure to Tobacco Outlets Within Activity Spaces Associated With Daily Tobacco Use Among Youth? A Mediation Analysis.

We investigated associations between exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces and daily tobacco use, and whether exposure to adults or peers using tobacco mediate these relationships. We used Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment data over 14 days from 85 youth aged 16-20 years in eight mid-sized California city areas. Tobacco outlet addresses and global positioning systems locations were geocoded and activity spaces were constructed by joining sequential points. We assessed daily number of tobacco outlets within 50 or 100 m of activity space polylines and number of minutes participants were within 50 or 100 m of tobacco outlets each day; daily use of tobacco; and whether participants saw (1) adults and (2) people their age (peers) using tobacco each day. Controlling for demographics, results of multilevel structural equation models showed no association between number of tobacco outlets within 50 m of polylines and tobacco use (probit regression coefficient: 0.01, p = .82). However, we found evidence of an indirect effect (p = .001) through daily exposure to peers using tobacco. Specifically, greater number of tobacco outlets within 50 m of polylines was positively associated with seeing peers use tobacco (probit regression coefficient: 0.10, p < .001). In turn, seeing peers use tobacco was positively associated with tobacco use on that day (probit regression coefficient: 2.23, p < .001). Similar results were found for number of tobacco outlets within 100 m of polylines. Exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces affects youth tobacco use through daily exposure to peers who use tobacco. Using real-time-ordered data, this article examines whether exposure to adults and peers using tobacco mediate associations between exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces and daily tobacco use among youth. Results suggest that exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces affects daily tobacco use through exposure to peers who use tobacco. These findings provide additional significant support for policy makers who are considering regulating the number and density of tobacco retailers and point to the importance of interventions focused on peer tobacco use and youths' daily environments to reduce tobacco use.

Native and non-native plants attract diverse bees to urban gardens in California

Bees visit native and non-native plant species for pollen and nectar resources in urban, agricultural, and wildland environments. Results of an extensive survey of bee-flower collection records from 10 California cities from 2005-2011 were used to examine host-plant records of native and non-native ornamental plants to diverse native and non-native bee species; five cities were from northern California and five were from southern California. A total of 7,659 bees and their floral host plants were examined. Of these, 179 were Apis mellifera and 7,390 were non-Apis. Only four other non-native species (all in Megachilidae) were recorded in the survey, and together they accounted for 402 individuals. These bees have been databased in preparation for deposition in the University of California-Berkeley Essig Museum of Entomology. We identified 229 bee species and 42 genera visiting native and non-native plant types in urban areas. Of the 229 species, 71 bee species were collected from only native plants; 52 were collected from only non-native host plants; and 106 were collected from both types of plants. Native bee species were common on native plants and non-native plants, but there were substantially more non-native bee species visiting non-native plants compared to native plants. Flowering periods in months were similar for both types of plants, but non-natives tended to flower later in the year. We propose that using native and non-native plants improves habitat gardening by increasing opportunities for attracting a richer diversity of bee species and for longer periods. Knowing basic bee-flower relationships in an area is key to planning a bee habitat garden with a variety of plant types, regardless of their geographic origin.

Sedimentary compared to tectonically-deformed serpentinites and tectonic serpentinite mélanges at outcrop to petrographic scales: Unambiguous and disputed examples from California

This paper compares features of unambiguous tectonic serpentinite mélanges (TSM) or serpentinite shear zones in the Coast Range ophiolite, Franciscan subduction complex, of coastal California and Sierra City Mélange of the northern Sierra Nevada of northeastern California with undisputed sedimentary serpentinite mélange (SSM) of the Great Valley Group (GVG) forearc basin deposits of coastal California, and with Franciscan serpentinite mélanges of disputed (sedimentary versus tectonic) origin. The GVG sedimentary serpentinite mélanges and disputed Franciscan serpentinite mélanges share strongly similar matrix textures and block-matrix relationships at scales from tens of meters or more to petrographic scale but differ significantly from serpentinite shear zones and TSM. This comparison suggests shared (non-diagnostic) and distinguishing features of TSM versus SSM. Internal bedding or foliation in blocks is oriented subparallel to mélange boundaries and matrix foliation for both TSM and SSM both may have strongly foliated matrix and both may feature localized shearing in matrix around block borders, especially if an SSM underwent significant post-depositional deformation. The same holds true for deformation and dismemberment of blocks, which is the block-forming and mixing mechanism in TSM but variably exhibited in SSM. In contrast only SSM have blocks or clasts whose internal foliation or bedding terminates abruptly along clast/block boundaries with a mismatch in mineralogy and/or lithology across such boundaries. Matrix foliation cuts blocks/clasts in TSM but not in SSM. SSM may show block/grain size grading but not TSM. SSM have exotic blocks and blocks may span a range of metamorphic grade, whereas TSM lack exotic blocks and blocks are isofacial.

Trust as an ethical value in emerging technology governance: The case of drone regulation

We build on discussions of ethical values for the good society by foregrounding the potential role of emerging technologies in realizing the good society. Specifically, we look at the emergence of drones and the evolving regulation of their ownership and use. We present a qualitative, thematic analysis of city council meetings in 20 cities in southern California where drone regulation was discussed from 2014 to 2017. These results show the ethical themes that were operative in such discussions: privacy, safety, enforceability, crime, nuisance and professionality. Underlying most of these themes is trust. We discuss this concept with respect to the good society, and we suggest that trust may be more critical to emerging technologies than technologies in general. That is, trust in an emerging technology is required for it to be accepted and more fully integrated in society. Without trust, it is difficult for society to accept the technology.

Emergency Contraception Counseling in California Community Pharmacies: A Mystery Caller Study.

This study was conducted to determine which emergency contraception (EC) methods are offered by community pharmacists in response to patient calls. Female mystery callers called all community pharmacies in two California cities using standardized scripts. The callers inquired about options available to prevent pregnancy after sex and whether that method was available at the pharmacy, using follow-up probes if necessary. A total of 239 calls were completed in San Diego (n = 127, 53%) and San Francisco (n = 112, 47%). Pharmacists indicated availability at most sites (n = 220, 92%) with option(s) reported as levonorgestrel only (LNG; n = 211, 88.3%), both ulipristal acetate (UPA) and LNG (n = 4, 1.6%), UPA only (n = 1, 0.4%), or non-specific EC (n = 4, 1.7%). Nineteen pharmacies (7.9%) did not have EC available on the day of the call. Following additional probing, some pharmacists discussed UPA (n = 49, 20.5%) or the copper intrauterine device (n = 1, 0.4%) as EC options. LNG EC products were available same-day in 90.1% of pharmacies, whereas UPA was available same-day in 9.6% of pharmacies. The majority of pharmacies called in this study offered and stocked at least one EC option, but the focus of discussions was on LNG and matched what was in stock and available.

Equity in groupwork: the social process of creating justice in a science classroom

Over the last few decades, there has been an international focus on productive talk in science classrooms, requiring teachers to use more dialogic practices with their students. Studies promoting a dialogic approach propose that students have conversations in small, student-led groups. However, the literature in education and science education regarding groupwork has highlighted that students can struggle to work collaboratively without the proper supports and scaffolds–particularly with regards to equity (Webb, in Hmelo-Silver (ed) The international handbook of collaborative learning, Routledge, Abingdon, 2013). Equitable interactions during groupwork are linked to increased learning among all members during a group task (Cohen in Phi Delta Kappan 72(2):134–138, 1990). Thus, equity in quality and quantity of talk becomes the goal for groupwork. I argue that equity in group interactions requires justice that is socially constructed, including the flattening of social hierarchy. As such equitable groupwork has three key features: student voice, visibility (of all students), and student authority. Group interactions between middle and high school students from a suburban California city are used to highlight these features. Images from video-recorded data, event maps from student dialogue, and data from student interviews are used to examine the role of visibility, voice, and authority in creating equitable interactions in groupwork. Implications from this study point to equity as a process—a transformative social process where students use their words (reflection + action; Freire in Pedagogy of the oppressed, Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 2000) to shift inequities and increase communication in science. Equity as a process does not mean the absence of inequity but that students use their words to address inequity when it arises to transform the space. What, then, is the role of the teacher in allowing for this transformative work to take place among the students? What does it look like to organize this kind of classroom? What do students need to know in order to engage in such equitable practice or transformative work? I engage with questions such as these and conclude with a discussion of how teachers can create the classroom conditions necessary to cultivate productive and equitable talk in science classrooms.

CEQA and housing production: 2018 survey of California cities and counties

California is facing a severe housing shortage and needs to substantially increase housing production above current production levels to dampen soaring prices. Legislators have considered legal and policy changes to support increased production, including a range of incremental to sweeping changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding its application to housing projects. There has been limited empirical analysis of how CEQA affects housing production. This study, which seeks to build empirical data, presents results from a survey of California municipalities about the choices made to conduct CEQA environmental review for housing projects proposed between 2015 to 2017, including the use of several types of streamlining and exemptions. The survey, sent to all 541 of California’s cities and counties, yielded 46 responses (9% response rate). These participating jurisdictions accounted for 54% of all multi-family residential (5+ units) building permits issued between 2010 and 2017. Survey responses indicated the Streamlining/Exemptions category was the predominant category of environmental review followed by Mitigated Negative Declarations. Only 6% of projects were reviewed by Environmental Impact Reports. Respondents selected CEQA relatively infrequently among factors constraining new supply, with high development costs, neighborhood opposition, lack of sites, and lack of affordable housing funding as more common constraints to expanding supply.

Race, Representation, and Revenue: Reliance on Fines and Forfeitures in City Governments

Historically, revenue associated with things like traffic citations—termed fines and forfeitures—has made up an insignificant portion of city revenue. In recent years, however, cities are increasingly reliant on these revenues. This changed without fanfare, meaning there is little understanding of how or why it occurred. One potential explanation is budgetary, meaning cities rely more on fines due to increased fiscal stress or demand for public safety services. Alternatively, existing research demonstrates that race and representation are significant predictors of crime and punishment outcomes, including traffic citations. Using a stratified random sample of California cities, this study investigates which of these factors explain city reliance on revenue from fines and forfeitures. It finds that cities’ reliance on fines and forfeitures is not associated with budgetary need or public safety service provision, but is associated with the race of the population and the racial composition of law enforcement.

Local Parcel Taxes in California Cities and Counties: New Findings From a New Database

This paper presents findings from newly compiled data on parcel tax ballot measures in California counties, cities, and special districts. Unique in California, a parcel tax is commonly understood as a lump-sum tax applied to parcels of real property to finance local public services. Although parcel tax ballot measures have become more frequent, studies are rare on the scope and use of parcel taxes in local governments. To fill this gap, I collected and analyzed a comprehensive list of local parcel tax ballot measures in counties and cities from 1995 to 2017. Using the data, I describe how parcel taxes are designed and implemented in local governments and discusses avenues of future research.

Genome-wide divergence among invasive populations of Aedes aegypti in California

BackgroundIn the summer of 2013, Aedes aegypti Linnaeus was first detected in three cities in central California (Clovis, Madera and Menlo Park). It has now been detected in multiple locations in central and southern CA as far south as San Diego and Imperial Counties. A number of published reports suggest that CA populations have been established from multiple independent introductions.ResultsHere we report the first population genomics analyses of Ae. aegypti based on individual, field collected whole genome sequences. We analyzed 46 Ae. aegypti genomes to establish genetic relationships among populations from sites in California, Florida and South Africa. Based on 4.65 million high quality biallelic SNPs, we identified 3 major genetic clusters within California; one that includes all sample sites in the southern part of the state (South of Tehachapi mountain range) plus the town of Exeter in central California and two additional clusters in central California.ConclusionsA lack of concordance between mitochondrial and nuclear genealogies suggests that the three founding populations were polymorphic for two main mitochondrial haplotypes prior to being introduced to California. One of these has been lost in the Clovis populations, possibly by a founder effect. Genome-wide comparisons indicate extensive differentiation between genetic clusters. Our observations support recent introductions of Ae. aegypti into California from multiple, genetically diverged source populations. Our data reveal signs of hybridization among diverged populations within CA. Genetic markers identified in this study will be of great value in pursuing classical population genetic studies which require larger sample sizes.

Religious head covering, being perceived as foreigners, victimization, and adjustment among Sikh American adolescents.

Bullying victimization related to race or religion is a problem that permeates schools in the United States for minority students. One group of students that are at higher risk for victimization is Sikh American adolescents, which may result from them being stereotyped as foreigners. We used path analysis to examine the relationships among self-reports of (a) wearing religious head coverings, (b) being perceived as a foreigner, (c) victimization (i.e., physical, verbal, and relational), and (d) adjustment outcomes (i.e., self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and anxiety related to perceptions of school safety) by Sikh American adolescents. Survey data were collected from 199 Sikh American adolescents from 120 schools in 61 cities in California (54% male, mean age = 14.19 years, SD = 1.86). Results indicated that a large percentage (76.4%) of Sikh American adolescents reported at least one type of victimization during the school year, and victimization appeared to relate to race and religion for many students. Wearing a religious head covering related to Sikh American adolescents' perceptions that they were stereotyped as foreigners, which, in turn, related to verbal and relational victimization (indirect effect = 0.05 and 0.06) but not physical victimization. Being a male predicted more verbal victimization (β = 0.38). In addition, being perceived as a foreigner was related to higher victimization, which was also related to lower self-esteem and higher depressive and anxious symptoms (indirect effect = -0.05, 0.08, and 0.06, respectively). Implications for school psychologists to reduce victimization and improve school climate for Sikh American students are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Susceptibility Profile of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Montclair, California, to Commonly Used Pesticides, With Note on Resistance to Pyriproxyfen.

The peridomestic anthropophilic Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is originated from the wild zoophilic subspecies Aedes aegypti formosus in sub-Saharan Africa, and currently has a broad distribution in human-modified environments of the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In California, breeding populations were initially detected in 2013 in the cities of Fresno, Madera, and San Mateo, and now can be found in 188 cities of 12 counties in the state. Recent genetic studies suggest that this species invaded California on multiple occasions from several regions of the United States and northern Mexico prior to initial detection. As an invasive species and vector for numerous arboviruses, Ae. aegypti is a primary target of surveillance and control in California. In southern California city of Montclair, a population was identified in September 2015, from which a short-term colony was established in an insectary. The susceptibility of this field population to commonly used pesticides with various modes of action, including 15 formulations against larvae and four against adults, was determined, in reference to a susceptible laboratory colony of the same species. No resistance was shown to most pesticides tested. However, tolerance or reduced susceptibility to spinosad, spinetoram, diflubezuron, and fipronil was detected, and modest levels of resistance to pyriproxyfen (resistance ratio = 38.7-fold at IE50 and 81.5-fold at IE90) was observed. Results are discussed based on the field usage and modes of action of the pesticides tested. Strategic selection and application of pesticides against this population of Ae. aegypti in the urban environments should be taken into consideration.

Differences in citizen perceptions of interactions with police officers

The topic of this study is how different demographics and crime rates in police beats differ in their perceptions of interactions with police officers. The research questions for this study are: ‘Do citizens of a mid-sized city in California differ in their perceptions of interactions with police based on demographic?’ and ‘Do differences in neighbourhood crime rates affect different perceptions of the police?’ The participants in this study were 307 residents from households of an anonymous city in California, chosen through stratified random sampling. Mailed surveys were sent out to 1,500 households, with canvassing done several months later to increase response rate. The results of the study were determined using frequency distributions to determine the descriptive statistics of the study, Kruskal–Wallis H tests and Mann–Whitney U tests for determining differences in predictor variable groups, and crosstabs and Spearman’s Rho to determine any correlations between the predictor and outcome variables. The results show that, outside two weak correlations, demographics and crime rates do not cause differences in people’s perceptions of interactions with the police.

Capitalizing and Compensating: Older Adults’ Religious and Spiritual Uses of Technology

This study explores how older adults use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their spiritual and religious lives. How widespread is their use? What kinds of ICTS do they use and for what reasons? What impact do they have on their religious and spiritual lives? We explored these questions by collecting interviews with 90 older adults, average age 77, from six major Judeo-Christian faith traditions. The sample was developed from nominations by pastors, priests, and rabbis in three southern California cities. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed through abductive analysis. Many older adults in our sample reported using ICTs to assist their devotional lives—nine in ten of our participants provided examples, thus dispelling technology as merely a tool for the young to incorporate into their religious lives. An unexpected finding of the research was the wide variety of ICT usage mentioned by these elderly participants —over 15 distinct ones were mentioned. The reasons for using ICTs fell into two primary categories: compensating for age related changes and capitalizing on unique opportunities for growth in later life. The results demonstrate support for Carstensen’s Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory and have implications for practitioners working with older adults, such as social workers and clergy, as well as for marketers in industry.

Associations of Early Age of First Intoxication with Past Year Drinking Contexts and Problems

Background: Mechanisms underlying associations between early drinking and problems are largely unknown. Objectives: We investigated (a) associations between early age of first intoxication (≤15 years) and past year drinking in different contexts and (b) whether early age of first intoxication is differentially associated with problems in these contexts. Methods: We used survey data collected in 2013–2014 from 405 past-year adolescent drinkers in 24 midsized California cities. Data included demographics; drinking behaviors; age of first intoxication; frequency of being at and drinking at restaurants, bars/nightclubs, outdoor places, and home; and problems. We used multilevel logistic and negative binomial models to account for the clustering of adolescents within cities. Probabilities were corrected to maintain family-wise error rates. Results: Early age of first intoxication was associated with a 120% increase in the odds of drinking at outdoor settings (OR = 2.20, pc < .05). Early age of first intoxication was associated with increased numbers of problems related to drinking in restaurants (IRR = 5.72, pc < .001), outdoor settings (IRR = 3.40, pc < .001), and homes (IRR = 2.84, pc < .001). Later intoxication (≥16 years) was not significantly associated with increased drinking or problems in any of these contexts. Conclusions: Results suggest that underage drinkers who report early intoxication are more likely to drink at outdoor settings, but not other contexts. However, they may differentially experience drinking problems across contexts. To target youths who have experienced intoxication at an early age and to reduce problems, prevention interventions should focus on outdoor settings.

Young adults report increased pleasure from using e-cigarettes and smoking tobacco cigarettes when drinking alcohol

BackgroundCigarettes share a high rate of co-use with alcohol, particularly among young adults. Studies have demonstrated greater perceived pleasure from smoking cigarettes when drinking alcohol. However, little is known about co-use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and alcohol. The current study sought to compare extent of use and perceived pleasure from cigarettes and e-cigs when drinking alcohol. MethodsYoung adult bar patrons in California cities (San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) were recruited in 2015–16 using randomized time-location sampling. Participants completed cross-sectional surveys in bars, reporting the percent of cigarette smoking/e-cig use that occurred under the influence of alcohol, and reported if pleasure from smoking cigarettes/using e-cigs changed when drinking alcohol. Analyses are limited to participants reporting current (past 30-day) use of cigarettes, e-cigs, and alcohol (N = 269; M age = 24.1; 40.1% female, 36.1% Non-Hispanic White). ResultsParticipants reported a greater percentage of cigarette smoking compared to e-cig use under the influence of alcohol (cigarettes M = 63.6%; e-cigs M = 46.7%; p < .001). Participants also reported increased pleasure both from smoking cigarettes (M = 3.9; [compared to midpoint of scale 3 - “no change”] p < .001) and using e-cigs (M = 3.3; p < .001) when drinking alcohol. The increase in pleasure was more pronounced for cigarettes compared to e-cigs (p < .001). ConclusionsDrinking alcohol is associated with increases in perceived rewarding effects of both cigarettes and e-cigs and thus may increase their abuse liability. This effect may be stronger for cigarettes, which could be an important barrier to switching completely from smoking cigarettes to using e-cigs, or quitting both entirely.