We’ll finish covering the last of ballot propositions: 20 and 27 both of which focus on redistricting. And, Meg Whitman’s relationship with Latinos suffers further in the wake of revelations concerning her undocumented maid. Plus, the Big Draw LA happening throughout October promotes arts education in Los Angeles, and a new art exhibit about Skid Row. Plus our Friday feature: Rethink Reviews with Jonathan Kim.

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A recent NBC investigation into farmers markets in Southern California found serious instances of fraud. Several farmers who claimed they were selling produce they themselves had locally grown were found to be buying wholesale conventionally grown produce from as far away as Mexico and selling them at markets in and around LA. In place of farms, the investigative team of reporters found, in some cases, nothing more than dirt patches. Additionally, some claims that produce is pesticide-free or free of sprays were found to be false. The idea that eating locally grown, organic or pesticide-free food is better for our collective health and the health of the planet has caught on like wildfire. In Southern California, there are over 100 certified farmers markets that operate weekly and about 300 farmers …

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The California budget is over three months late, and there is no end in site to the stalemate in Sacramento. A November proposition may offer some relief. Proposition 25 seeks to make California the 48th state where only a simple majority vote of approval is needed to pass the annual budget. Currently, California’s budget must be approved by 2/3 of all legislators, a super majority vote that is very difficult to achieve. Passing the budget late has become routine, creating a near constant state of emergency. The cost of a late budget is in the millions. Supporters of Prop. 25 say that last year’s impasse forced the state to issue 450,000 IOUs, which then cost taxpayers $8 million in interest alone. In addition to the financial toll, late budgets can …

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The nation’s largest federation of unions, the AFL-CIO, has begun a major campaign in preparation for November’s mid-term elections. In an obvious counter to the Tea Party movement, millions of union members around the country are receiving fliers in the mail mobilizing them to march in Washington DC for jobs this weekend. But is this enough to turn the tide of unemployment and end corporate bailouts and subsidies? Certainly it is not enough to change the pro-corporate, pro-war agenda of the Democrats themselves. My next guest, Ted Rall, a prominent political commentator and cartoonist has a new book out called The Anti-American Manifesto. In it, he attempts to inspire Americans to revolt. Literally – by taking up arms. Comparing the coming collapse of the American state to the end …

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Glen Ford is a writer and radio commentator and the Executive Editor of The Black Agenda Report. This week’s commentary is on Democrats and Privatizing Education.

Visit www.blackagendareport.com for more information.

We’ll cover the last of the propositions on November’s ballot: 22 and 25, both focusing on the state budget woes. And, a new investigation by NBC reveals disturbing fraud at local farmers markets. We’ll speak with a market manager and a local farmer. Plus, acclaimed political cartoonist and writer Ted Rall calls for revolution in his new book The Anti-American Manifesto. And this week’s Black Agenda Report.

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The homes of several peace and justice activists in Midwestern cities were searched by the FBI last Friday, prompting accusations against the federal agency of muzzling dissent. Two homes in Chicago and six in Minneapolis were searched. Some activists from Milwaukee, Wisconsin reported receiving phone calls from FBI agents but were not searched. The search warrants used by the federal agents cites laws that prohibit Americans from providing material aid to terrorist groups. The agents sought evidence connected to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Lebanese military group Hezbollah. All three foreign groups are classified as “terrorist organizations” by the State Department. Some of the activists whose residences were targeted are affiliated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. The Milwaukee …

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The US Census Bureau released its 2009 American Community Survey yesterday revealing that the Great Recession hurt many aspects of American life from employment and family incomes, to marriage rates, health insurance, and home ownership. Household income fell in 34 out of 50 states, and more than half of all Americans were affected, with the income gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans widening dramatically. Most impacted however, were young people, people of color, and those with a high school diploma or less. Here in Los Angeles County, the poverty rate jumped to 16.1% in 2009, up from 15.2% in 2008. Broken down by racial groups, the poverty rate for Latinos is the highest, at 21.9%, followed by 19.7% for African Americans. Asians suffer from a 10.5% poverty rate with Whites having …

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Taxes are always a hot topic, spurring heated debates and even the up-start TEA party. Three tax related propositions will be on California’s ballot in November: Propositions 21, 24, and 26. Prop 24, called the Tax Fairness Act, targets three recently enacted corporate tax loopholes. In 2008 and 2009 the California legislature approved 1.3 billion dollars in tax cuts that benefit less than 2% of California’s businesses. One tax cut gave businesses more flexibility in how they calculated their tax rate. Another allowed more opportunities to claim a tax refund from previous years based on the losses of the current year. And the third allowed different companies operating under the same management to share tax credits. Prop. 24 supporters say the corporations that benefit from these tax cuts laid-off 100,000 employees …

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In the new play, Detained in the Desert, a young Latina woman and an anti-immigrant radio host in Arizona each become entangled by the consequences of harsh immigration legislation. Detained in the Desert was written by Josephina Lopez, who co-wrote the screenplay for the hit film, Real Women Have Curves. Lopez emigrated to the United States from Mexico at the age of 5, and spent years living in fear of being deported. In 1987 she was a beneficiary of the Simpson-Rodino Amnesty bill, which legalized thousands of undocumented immigrants. Her new play is a satirical drama inspired by Arizona’s controversial immigration policy, SB 1070. Detained in the Desert opens this Friday, October 1st and runs for 12 performances at CASA 0101 in Boyle Heights. It is directed by Hector …