A chat with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Our guest today is Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a longtime advocate for increased availability of mental healthcare. While a member of the state Assembly Steinberg authored Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, which has generated millions for mental healthcare in California. Steinberg was elected to the Senate in 2006 and became Pro Tem in 2008.  In 2015 he launched The Steinberg Institute, which has helped enact sweeping improvements in California mental health policy, including securing $2 billion to provide housing and care for homeless people living with mental illness (No Place Like Home).  He joined us today to discuss efforts to address California’s twin crises: homelessness and mental health, and this week’s Senate leadership transition.

1:56 SB 43 Implementation

6:12 Access to mental healthcare

8:24 Prop. 1

10:34 The sense of frustration

12:23 “in Sacramento, it’s starting to get better”

14:45 The disconnect

18:54 Any proposals to sort the mess?

20:34 workforce shortage

22:54 From Atkins to McGuire

27:05 The transition process

30:09 What’s next for Darrell Steinberg?

31:50 SPORTS!

36:40 Recognizing the need for mental health care

38:30 #WWCA

38:47 Family Man

42:43 Not eligible for rehire

44:47 “I’m OUT”