The Roundup

"The Senate is expected to vote as early as this week on a bill bestowing the new power to the agency that oversees development and public access along the state's 1,100-mile coastline."

"The bill was approved by the Assembly in May on a 42 to 32 vote and cleared a Senate committee last week, but the measure faces opposition from business groups that believe the commission already wields too much clout."

People are paying more for health care this year than last and many say it's tough to afford the coverage.

From The Field Poll: "Half of the state’s voters (50%) say they are now paying more for health care than they were last year. The same proportion (50%) describes health care costs as being difficult to afford. Uninsured voters, low income residents, voters insured through Medi-Cal or through the individual market and those with children in their household are more likely than others to report difficulties in paying for their health care costs."

"The survey also updated California voters’ overall views of the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. The poll finds 81% of voters saying Medicare is important to them and their families, and 58% say this about Medi-Cal. The latter proportion is up seven points from 51% who reported this in 2011."

"When asked to evaluate the success of Medicare in meeting its goals, eight in ten California voters (79%) believe the program has been successful. When asked a similar question about Medi-Cal, two in three voters (64%) term it a success. Views about this extend across party lines, with majorities of both Democrats and Republicans concurring that each program has been successful in meeting its goals."

When it comes to pension fund earnings, the issue of "excess" may have been construed in such a way to cloud the real value.

From Calpension's Ed Mendel: "In its starkest outline: When pension fund earnings are above the target, it’s a surplus or windfall that can be distributed to employees and employers. When earnings are below the target, it’s a shortfall that must be paid by taxpayers."

"The notion that pension fund investment earnings, now often expected to cover about two-thirds of pension costs in the future, could be regarded as “excess” or “surplus” can seem out of step with the times."

"Growing costs of under-funded pensions are taking money from other programs. Optimistic earnings forecasts are said to hide crushing debt. And the long-term viability of public pensions is questioned as similar private-sector benefits disappear."

In the public's eye, BART's union-mangement dispute typically focuses on workers' salaries, but, hey, those managers aren't doinbg too badly themselves.

From Kevin Fagan in the Chronicle: "BART's general manager pulls down hefty pay, $323,000 a year. So do her deputy managers, with annual takes of about $200,000 apiece."

"Like BART's unionized workers, the agency's top managers earn compensation packages that are not quite at the top among transit systems nationwide - but they're not far from it."

"Pay levels for union and nonunion BART employees have been at the center of summer-long contract talks that have already broken down once, leading to a 4 1/2-day strike last month. Another walkout could happen if the two sides can't reach a deal before a 60-day cooling-off period ends at midnight Oct. 10."

The soap-opera in San Diego starring Mayor Bob Filner is still playing to a full house, with more allegations of sexual impropriety and even a downtown rally.

From Tony Perry in the LAT: "The 70-year-old Democrat has given no indication that he plans to quit — despite an avalanche of negative media coverage, numerous calls by political and business leaders that he resign and accusations by 16 women that he had made unwelcome sexual advances."

"Bob is stubborn, and he likes to fight," said political consultant Chris Crotty, who thinks the issue will drag on for some time."

"Just when Filner will return at City Hall is unknown."

And now, in a respite from the vagaries of politics, we open our "Anchors Aweigh" file to find the tale of the master ship builder who made his flotilla from matchsticks.