AirTalk | 89.3 KPCC

Fed holds interest rates steady

AirTalk — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:57:01 -0700

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testified during a hearing before the Joint Economic Committee May 22, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Federal Reserve made a statement today to keep interest rates at record lows. The Fed has been buying $85 billion of Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds each month to support the U.S.’s struggling economy. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the central bank have hinted that the stimulus plan will be scaled back when the effects of the sequester cuts wane. The stimulus has helped to keep interest rates low and economists and investors say they expect the rates for Americans to increase after 30 years of declination that had eased consumer debt burdens.

What effect would a scaled back stimulus program have on the U.S. economy? Do rising interest rates signal that the economy is improving?

Guests:
Gail Marks Jarvis, national finance columnist and author of “Saving for Retirement Without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery” (FT Press, 2012)

Nela Richardson, Senior Finance analyst at "Bloomberg government"

Chief Charlie Beck discusses the big issues facing the LAPD

AirTalk — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:48:13 -0700

Chief of Police Charlie Beck attends the Rape Treatment Center's 2013 Chief's Conference at The California Endowment on May 14, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Rape Treatment

In the month since we last checked in with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, a federal judge lifted oversight of the department, which had been in place since 2001 following the Rampart corruption scandal, a symbolic gesture that tipped its hat to the LAPD’s strides in cleaning up its conduct. With a new mayor taking office on July 1, the Dorner report due to be discussed by the Police Commission on June 25th, and the Michelle Kane murder a hot topic in the media at the moment, there’s never a shortage of topics to chew over with the top dog at the LAPD.

Have a question for the Chief? Leave a comment or give us a call.

Guest:
Charlie Beck, Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police

Distracted Driving: Voice-activated technology more risky than cellphones, study says

AirTalk — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:46:10 -0700

A car with four different GPS devices.

The most desirable upgrade packages for new cars may be the most dangerous, according to auto safety experts. Voice-command programs in cars allow you to make calls, listen and respond to texts and emails, ask for directions and more. It was thought to be safer than using your hands to fumble through menus and buttons. However, safety experts for the American Automobile Association compared listening to the radio, talking on the phone and using voice-command technology. They found stunning results.

On a scale out of five, music or phone calls were rated a category "1" and "2" - minimal risk and moderate risk, respectively. Voice-activated technology used so much of your mental workload, researchers ranked it at a "3" - extensively risky. This is in sharp contrast to recent legislation passed in California.

Last year, AB 1536 (Miller) specifically okayed “hands-free, voice-operated texting while driving.” This year, a bill seeking to repeal 1536 died in committee (AB 313 - Frazier). Advances in the technology could nullify studies and legislation. WIRED transportation editor, Damon Lavrinc, expects voice-command in cars to improve significantly in the coming years.

What's your experience using voice-command technology?

Guests:
Justin McNaull, Director of State Relations, American Automobile Association

Damon Lavrinc, Transportation Editor, WIRED magazine

Should the US be engaging with the Taliban?

AirTalk — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:34:33 -0700

Afghan men on a motorcycle drive past Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers on guard outside Bagram military base, 50 kms north of Kabul on June 19, 2013. The Taliban killed four US troops in an attack on June 19.; Credit: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images

Peace talks between the US and the Taliban are set to resume Thursday after being suspended for more than a year. The talks will take place in Qatar and aim to avert civil war once combat troops from the U.S.-led coalition withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.

President Obama described the talks as "an important first step toward reconciliation, although it is a very early step." Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expected to follow up with his own talks with the Taliban a few days later.

The top US commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, said the only way to end the lengthy war was through a political solution but should the US be negotiating with the Taliban? Will there be any political repercussions? Will peace talks give more power and legitimacy to the Taliban? If the US doesn’t engage the Taliban, is there any chance of a peaceful withdrawal in 2014?

Guests:
Michael Semple, Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School

Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Major League Baseball and Time Warner Cable are in some legal hot water

AirTalk — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:25:47 -0700

Seth Smith #15 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics for scoring in the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on June 18, 2013 in Arlington, Texas.; Credit: Rick Yeatts/Getty Images

The city of San Jose has filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball accusing them of improperly keeping the Oakland Athletics from moving to the city to shield the nearby San Francisco Giants from competition. The city of San Jose filed a complaint yesterday in federal court arguing that the city has lost millions of dollars in new sales tax revenue as a result of the "blatant conspiracy" to keep the A's from moving.

Meanwhile, Time Warner Cable is facing their own class-action lawsuit that alleges the cable provider's $11 billion deal to air Dodgers and Lakers games unfairly passes on the cost to customers without allowing them to opt out of subscribing to the games. The lawsuit claims TWC customers are required to pay an extra $4 to $5 a month - $40 - $50 a year - even if they're not interested in watching sports.

Do either of these cases have merit? Will the MLB be forced to let the A's to move to San Jose? Will TWC be forced to create an 'opt out' option for customers who aren't sports fans?

Guest:
Daniel Lazaroff, teaches law and economics at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and is director of the Loyola Sports Law Institute

Only children and ‘having it all’

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:02:14 -0700

Lauren Sandler's "One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy of Being One" discusses what Sandler sees as the myth of "only child syndrome."

Can you tell if someone is an only child? Are you a parent who had a second child for the sake of your firstborn? In Lauren Sandler’s new book, “One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy of Being One,” Sandler set out to prove that “only child syndrome” is a myth and such stereotypes don’t exist. As an only child and mother of one child herself, she wondered why society frowned upon having only one child.

Her new book cites international studies showing only children are not lonely and going to school provides sufficient companionship and social skills. Sandler argues that societal views need to shift. With a struggling economy, less financial stability, and more women with established careers, the American ideal of two children and a dog is not the happiness formula. Rather, with just one child and therefore fewer costs, Sandler believes parents really can “have it all.”

Is she right? What’s your experience as an only child? Are you a parent with only one child? What are your considerations about having more children?

Guest:

Lauren Sandler, author of “One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy of Being One;” reported and offered commentary for Time, The New York Times, and Slate.

Sacramento bill could limit access to public records

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:05:43 -0700

Image of Glendale City Hall.; Credit: Flickr/ T.Hoffarth

Under current law, local governments in California have ten days to respond to requests for public records. If the request is delayed or rejected, officials must explain why. However, that could change in a few days. Governor Brown is expected to sign the state budget this week, and within the budget is a change to the California Public Records Act (CRPA). It says Sacramento no longer has to fund a few core provisions of the CRPA. Local governments, including cities like Bell, will not be obligated to respond in a timely fashion to requests for information.

The Department of Finance says this does not change the fundamental right to access information, but it simply removes taxpayers' funding of certain aspects. Is this about the budget or about transparency?

For Julie Small's full story, click here.

Guests:
Brian Uhler, Assigned to Local Government Issues for the Legislative Analyst’s Office

Jim Ewert, General Counsel and Legislative Advocate, California Newspaper Publishers Association

The debate over the TCA’s 241 Toll Road extension, Round 2

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:55:37 -0700

From The Toll Roads website, the master plan for the 241 Toll Road.

Five years after the Transit Corridor Authority failed in its attempt to win approval to connect it's 241 Toll Road from the 91 Freeway in the Anaheim Hills to the Interstate 5 just south of San Clemente, the Orange County agency is back at it, announcing its intent to restart the project but with a different building schedule. Denied the ability to build the 15+ mile stretch in one go, the TCA has announced its intent to build a 4-mile segment of the 241, extending it toward its eventual goal of meeting up with I5.

Opponents of the 241, environmentalists and an engaged Southern Orange County surf community, defeated the TCA the first time on grounds that the final stretch of the 241 could negatively impact both the pristine nature of the northern sliver of Camp Pendleton the toll road would travel through as well as the waves at the legendary surf spot Trestles, which are fed by sediment that flows to the coast and could be impacted by the proposed design of the 241-5 connector. We're now in the period of public hearing and comment on the project, and organizations like the Surfrider Foundation are trying to muster opponents of the Toll Road to attend the Water Quality Control Board meeting tomorrow to voice their opinions.

Do you think the TCA should be allowed to build their 4-mile segment, which could help traffic congestion? Or is the TCA just trying to force their toll road through regardless of the opinions of the community?

Guests:
Paul Bopp, 241 Tesoro Extension Engineering Manager, Transit Corridor Authority

Joel Reynolds, Western Director, Natural Resources Defense Council

California teacher training programs fail miserably, according to new study

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:13:46 -0700

A math professor teaching a calculus class.; Credit: Barbara Kinney/Flickr

The National Council on Teacher Quality and the U.S. News and World Report published a new study today slamming teacher training programs in California as some of the worst in the nation. The reports singles out UCLA and Loyola Marymount University for having the most subpar programs among the more than 20 some California schools that were examined. UCLA’s elementary school teacher training program got a one-star rating and its high school program received 1 ½ stars. Both LMU and UCLA say that the report is flawed and question its methodology. USC did not participate in the study.

Is the study an accurate reflection of the state of teacher training? Teacher training degrees can cost up to $116,000 according to the study. Are they worth the price tag? What can be done to improve the quality of teacher training?

Guests:
Sandi Jacobs, Vice President of the National Council on Teacher Quality

Megan Franke, Chairwoman of the Department of Education at UCLA

After 40 years, does the Endangered Species Act actually work?

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:03:59 -0700

In "After the Grizzly: Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California", Peter S. Alagona discusses the Endangered Species Act.

This year marks the 40th year of the Endangered Species Act, signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1973. But how effective is this law? What actions have been taken to preserve endangered species, and how many people have been prosecuted for harming them? According to History and Environmental Studies assistant professor Peter S. Alagona, the Endangered Species Act has been more influential in California than any other state.

His new book, “After the Grizzly: Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California” traces the history of the grizzly bear and how its population has severely decreased. Alagona says that in the 19th century, there was actually 1 grizzly to every 11 people in California. However, it didn’t take long for grizzly numbers to dwindle down; and the last sighting was near Sequoia in 1924. California is also known for the endangered condor. When the California Condor isn’t accidentally mistaken for a Turkey Vulture and shot, it’s sometimes accidentally killed by wind farms.

How can these accidental killings be prevented? Also, the gray wolf population is rising and the federal government may take gray wolves off its endangered list. Would the species still survive?

Guest:

Peter S. Alagona, author of, “After the Grizzly: Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California;” Assistant Professor of History and Environmental Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara

Is obesity a disease?

AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:36:43 -0700

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children in the US ages 6-19 years are overweight or obese.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

At their annual meeting in Chicago today, delegates of the American Medical Association have officially endorsed recognizing obesity as a disease. Opponents to the labeling argue that obesity is a risk factor for health problems and a reflection of someone's eating habits and chosen lifestyle.

Proponents, however, say that obesity has underlying metabolic and hormonal causes and designating it a disease would encourage a more direct response in fighting this national epidemic. This is not just a philosophical debate; upgrading obesity to a disease has important financial implications for the health insurance industry and for employers.

Is obesity a disease or is it a result of lifestyle choices?

Guests:

Dr. Scott Kahan, Director of the National Center for Weight & Wellness in Washington D.C. He also teaches at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Paul Campos, Professor of Law at the University of Colorado and the author of “The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health” (Gotham, 2004)

Updated: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: 'I want to run for governor'

Larry Mantle with Frank Stoltze | AirTalk — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:30:24 -0700

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks during a luncheon at the National Press Club ON January 14, 2013 in Washington. Villaraigosa spoke about immigration reform, gun laws and other issues.; Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

After eight years in office, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is due to step down, but he may have his eye on higher office (more on that in a bit).

Villaraigosa became the first Mexican-American to be elected in Los Angeles in more than 130 years. Highlights of Villaraigosa's mayoral tenure include the passage of the America Fast Forward bill — an initiative that allows Los Angeles to fast-track transportation projects — and his plan to wean the city off the use of coal completely by 2025.

Villaraigosa first ran for L.A. mayor in 2001 and was defeated in a runoff against James Hahn. Before he became mayor, Villaraigosa was a member of the California State Assembly, the Democratic leader of the Assembly, the Speaker of the California State Assembly and a member of the L.A. City Council.

Larry talks to Mayor Villaraigosa about what's next for the lifelong Angeleno.

For one, Villaraigosa made a definitive comment about his plans to run for California governor in the future:“You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will," said Villaraigosa. "I’m going to tell you something. I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for."

At least one political consultant told KPCC that he didn't expect Villaraigosa to run for governor against Gov. Jerry Brown, who is expected to stand for re-election next year.

"He's not going to run against Jerry Brown," said political consultant Mike Shimpock, whose firm has worked for Villaraigosa. "I don't think Brown is beatable."

A Field Poll released in February found Brown's approval ratings at the highest level since he was elected. About 57 percent of voters approved of his performance. Only 31 percent disapproved.

Brown, 75, remains in good health. He says he underwent successful radiation treatment for early stage prostate cancer in January.

"My health is great," he told reporters earlier this year.

Villaraigosa, 60, likely knows any insurgent campaign against a fellow Democrat who is popular would be difficult. It would also anger the party — something he wants to avoid ahead of a 2018 run. Money is another problem.

"It would be difficult to raise money against Brown," Shimpock said. Brown is also well known in California: He served as governor once before, from 1975-1983, and his fundraising roots run deep.

Even in 2018, Villaraigosa could face a strong Democratic field of candidates. State Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Controller John Chiang are all possible candidates.

Interview Highlights:

On whether he'll miss being mayor:

"I'm not going to miss the profile, but I am going to miss the people. There will never be a job ... . You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will, but I’m going to tell you something. I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for. The people of this town gave me a shot when a lot of folks thought it was an impossible dream. I have no regrets. ... There's a bit of sadness on some levels, I guess, and nostalgia, but it's about the people."

On advice that he's given to incoming Mayor Eric Garcetti:
"Eric and I have known each other now for 12 years as colleagues. He was actually on a community advisory committee for me when I was in the state legislature, so we go way, way back. Was part of an advisory council when I ran for mayor in 2001. The one thing I have said to him is, don't let the Monday morning quarterbacks stop you from being bold. You've got to set a high bar. This is a great city, we've got to measure up to that city, and I think he's prepared to do that."

On how his personal life has been covered by the media:
"I took responsibility for the breakup [of his marriage], and if there was anything that I regret was the way I handled it. But I took responsibility, I never pushed back when you asked the tough questions. I'm very proud of the fact that I'm closer to my kids today than I ever had been and that both live with their dad, that Corina and I have a great relationship and a great friendship. As far as the other relationships, I did push back on that. The day that I spearheaded the passage of America Fast Forward, ... the newspaper of record did not put it in the newspaper; what they put was my breakup with my ex-girlfriend. I took umbrage with that. A great newspaper ought to be printing things that people care about, issues that people care about. So my breakup of my marriage, I understand that; the other stuff, come on, a little much."

On his plans for the immediate future:
"I'll do anything that the mayor, the governor, the City of Los Angeles asks me to do on their behalf. If I can promote the town that I was born and raised in and that my grandpa came to 100 years ago, I'm going to do it. I'm moving to Venice. I love that part of the city, and it's always been a great supporter of mine. I'm going to probably affiliate with a university or think tank, maybe do a little public speaking, since I have turned down a lot of requests over the years. Then I want to do a listening tour. I think we all want to restore the California dream, and I want to figure out how to do it."

On his love for Los Angeles:
"I believe in this town. I will always be an Angeleno in that I will always fight to reaffirm what I believe to be true: that in this century, L.A. is to the world what New York was in the 20th century and London in the 19th. We're the gateway to a rising China and Asia; we're a gateway to a rising Mexico and Latin America. Our diversity, our port, our airport, our people will make us the preeminent city in the world. I believe that."

Guest:

Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles

Snowden leaks include international spying during G20 summit

AirTalk — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:58:45 -0700

Edward Snowden talked to The Guardian newspaper about how American surveillance systems work and why he decided to reveal NSA files to the public.; Credit: The Guardian

The G8 summit began today and Edward Snowden’s leaks have many world leaders concerned. According to The Guardian, Snowden has documents that show international spying during the 2009 G20 summit in London. During the summit, Britain’s GCHQ is accused of monitoring emails and phone calls of world leaders through internet cafes and key-logging programs. The NSA is also accused of spying on the then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. The Guardian reports that Britain spying on its allies was solely for “the more mundane purpose of securing an advantage in meetings.”

Who was targeted and why? What will happen at the G8 summit? How are British and American allies responding? What is Snowden’s motivation for disclosing this information?

Guests:
Michael C. Moynihan, Cultural News Editor at the Daily Beast

Jesselyn Radack, National Security & Human Rights Director, Government Accountability Project (GAP) - Founded in 1977, GAP is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization; Radack has represented high-profile whistleblowers, including former NSA official Thomas Drake in an espionage case

Iranian election: Moment of change or more of the same?

AirTalk — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:52:06 -0700

Iranian president-elect Hassan Rowhani speaks during a press conference in Tehran on June 17, 2013. Rowhani expressed hope that Iran can reach a new agreement with major powers over its disputed nuclear program, saying a deal should be reached through more transparency and mutual trust.; Credit: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images

The election of Hassan Rouhani as the new president of Iran, replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has journalists and Iran watchers the world over wondering which direction the new leader will steer his country in. The nation of 70-million plus plays a crucial role in world politics, and Rouhani will be required to grapple with wars on Iran’s borders, the country’s nuclear aspirations, and an economy in near meltdown, with over 40 percent of young people currently unemployed.

Rouhani has been described as “moderate and conservative,” but are those traits that will lead Iran into an era of peace and economic prosperity? Was this a referendum on Ahmadinejad, or were other factors at play? Will a new leader mean a new relationship with the region and the U.S.? Or will Rouhani support the status quo?

Guests:

Patrick McDonnell, the Los Angeles Times; Beirut Bureau Chief, joining us from Beirut

Siamak Kalhor, hosts a technology show on 670 AM Radio Iran in the San Gabriel Valley

Does prison overcrowding lead to prisoner radicalization?

AirTalk — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:40:51 -0700

In “The Spectacular Few: Prisoner Radicalization and the Evolving Terrorist Threat,” criminology professor and former prison warden Mark S. Hamm examines why prisoners can be radicalized.

How have terrorist attacks been carried out by men behind bars? In “The Spectacular Few: Prisoner Radicalization and the Evolving Terrorist Threat,” criminology professor and former prison warden Mark S. Hamm examines why prisoners can be radicalized.

Hamm’s book includes the story of Kevin James who was indicted for plotting to attack American military facilities. James began as a gang member on the street in South Central Los Angeles. While in prison, he joined the Nation of Islam, but he eventually founded an extremist group known as the Assembly of Authentic Islam (JIS). While in prison, he recruited several other inmates and planned an attack on a U.S. Army recruiting office four years after the September 11 attacks.

Although cases like Kevin James are rare, why are prisoners susceptible to being part of extremist groups? What is the current state of prison gangs? Does prison overcrowding mean less supervision and more potential for radicalization? What can be done to stop the “evolving terrorist threat”?

Guest:
Mark Hamm, author of “The Spectacular Few: Prisoner Radicalization and the Evolving Terrorist Threat”; professor of Criminology at Indiana State University and a senior research fellow at the Terrorism Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Hamm is also a former prison warden from Arizona