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What city of Ontario must do to keep ONT in the air

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Ontario Airport Proposed - Conceptual view of a high-speed rail station at Ontario Airport in Ontario, California; Credit: NC3D via Flickr

Ontario International Airport will once again belong to the city from which it gets its namesake.

Local officials along with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan Wapner will announce a deal today that will effectively turn control of ONT back to the City of Ontario.

The City of Los Angeles got the airport from Ontario 30 years ago on the condition that it would make an effort to bring airlines to the airport. A sharp passenger dropoff between 2007 and 2011 brought about a lawsuit, with Ontario alleging that L.A. had poorly managed the airport, violated agreements, and was to blame for the decrease in business. L.A. World Airport officials deny those claims, saying the dropoff was due to the economic recession.

The tentative deal would require Ontario to reimburse LAWA for the money it invested in the facility, settle the lawsuit Ontario had filed to regain control of the airport, and provide job security for the airport’s nearly 200 employees.

How can the city of Ontario make ONT a thriving travel hub again? If Los Angeles was unable to be successful at running ONT, what does the city of Ontario plan to do differently?

Guests:

Liset Marquez, reporter for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. She covers the Foothills and L.A./Ontario International Airport.

Brett Snyder, airline industry expert and author/founder of "The Cranky Flier blog" and "The Cranky Concierge" air travel assistance service. He’s held many jobs in the airline industry, including in operations, sales, pricing, and planning


Could longer parental leave at Netflix actually mean less time off?

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How much time will Netflix employees take off if given free range on parental leave?

A mother and baby are out for a walk together. How much time will Netflix employees take off if given free range on parental leave?; Credit: ECohen via Flickr

Netflix announced an unlimited parental leave policy this week. It’s the latest in a niche tech industry trend towards redefining “time off.”

In Netflix’s case, an employee can practically set his/her work schedule when they become a new parent. Whether it’s vacation time, parental leave, or sick days, a very small number of companies are beginning to adopt policies that are underpinned by the Netflix ethos: treat employees like responsible adults.

Policies like this sound great, but some argue they create a culture where workers actually feel pressured to take less vacation or parental leave than they might if specific parameters were set.

What is the psychology behind these workplace policies? Do employees feel comfortable governing their own time away or do workers need the boundaries set for them? If you had unlimited vacation or parental leave time, would you take more that you would be allotted otherwise?  

Guest:

Ray Baumruk,  partner at the human capital and management consulting  firm Aon Hewitt where he works in its Next Practices and Employee Research business area consulting clients about things like vacation and leave policy

Countdown to tonight’s Republican debate in Cleveland

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US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS

The stage for the Republican presidential primary debate is seen at the Quicken Loans Arena on August 6, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

This evening is the debut of what will be a long-running series - the Republican Presidential candidates' debates.

Ten men will attempt to distinguish themselves in the crowded field, but they won't have much time to do it. None of them want to stand out for the wrong reasons, either. A serious gaffe could sink a campaign.

If you were advising a GOP candidate, what would you emphasize? What's the best way to appeal to the largest number of Republican voters?

For more analysis and to print out your GOP debate bingo card, click HERE.

Guests:

Ashley O’Connor, founding partner of Burning Glass Consulting, a firm that focuses on messaging to women voters, and managing Partner of Strategic Partners & Media, a Republican consulting firm.

Full disclosure: Her business partner Russ Schriefer is one of Governor Christie’s top advisors and Ashley works on the advertising for the campaign

Jason Roe, founding partner of Revolvis Consulting, a Republican political consulting firm with offices in San Diego, Sacramento, and Washington, DC.; he’ll be at tonight’s debate in Cleveland

Experts weigh in on Calif. senators' plan to bring homeless vets into West LA campus

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VA Secretary McDonald Holds Media Availability At VA Headquarters

U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald delivers a statement and answers reporters' questions outside of his department's headquarters February 24, 2015 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A proposal was introduced this morning by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) toward the goal of providing homeless veterans with housing at the West Los Angeles campus of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The two California Senators, along with Representative Ted Lieu, sent a letter to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees detailing their proposal.

Their plan would mainly give the VA power to lease space to nonprofit groups that work with veterans in Los Angeles County, specifically to address the issue of housing. Los Angeles has the largest population of homeless military veterans in the country.

This proposal is part of a larger package of bills the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committee will consider in September. It comes amidst a larger conversation in Southern California about how to revamp the VA’s West Los Angeles campus.

Here is the VA statement on the legislation:

We appreciate congressional support with this needed legislation and look forward to working closely with congress and other Veterans stakeholders on its implementation.  This legislation, if passed, will greatly enhance our ability to end Veteran homelessness in Greater Los Angeles.  Working collaboratively with our partners at all levels of government and the private sector is an important step to providing Veterans with the best care possible in the most timely way.

The Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015

Guests:

Martha Groves, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times who covers the Westside, which includes the West Los Angeles Department of Veteran Affairs campus. Her piece on the new proposal is in today's Los Angeles times.  She tweets @MarthaGroves

Gregory Scott, President and CEO of New Directions for Veterans, an organization that provides comprehensive services to thousands of veterans in LA County

Ready for my close up: The evolution of Los Angeles as a character in film and TV

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Southern California Spared From Savage Weekend Storms

Snow blankets the mountains behind the downtown skyline in the Greater Los Angeles Area January 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Los Angeles is often referred to as the most photographed city in the world.

It’s the birthplace and home of the film industry and its sprawling landscape, sunny weather, and diverse neighborhoods make it a near perfect backdrop for a movie or TV show.

Yet, maybe more so than any other city, Los Angeles plays a role in film and TV, and sometimes is even the star.

HBO’s original series ‘True Detective,’ features Los Angeles this way, using it not only as a backdrop for a gritty series about crime and corruption, but also as a character in the way the different counties, suburbs, and L.A. neighborhoods interact and coexist. Plenty of films throughout history have featured L.A. in a supporting or starring role...think L.A. Confidential, Double Indemnity, Blade Runner, or even The Big Lebowski.

How has Los Angeles evolved as a character over the course of film and TV history? What are some examples of movies or shows that have best utilized L.A. as a character? What makes L.A. better characterizations or personifications than other cities like New York, Chicago, or Miami?

Guests:

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and L.A. Times Community Paper Chain

Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA today

Kevin Ferguson, host and creator of Welcome To Vinci, a podcast exploring Southern California with the HBO original series ‘True Detective.’ He’s also a producer and reporter for KPCC’s ‘Off-Ramp’

Filmweek: 'Fantastic Four,' 'The Gift,' 'Shaun the Sheep Movie,' and more

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"Shaun The Sheep Movie" - European Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

Justin Fletcher attends the European premiere of "Shaun The Sheep Movie" at Vue Leicester Square on January 25, 2015 in London, England.; Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

It would not be a summer 2015 weekend without another superhero movie. Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Andy Klein, Claudia Puig, and Charles Solomon review this week's releases, including "Fantastic Four," the promising thriller "The Gift," the animated feature "Shaun the Sheep Movie," and more. TGI-Filmweek!

The Best Oscar Performances of All Time

Guest:

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and L.A. Times Community Paper Chain

Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA today

Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

One in 14 Metro riders has experienced sexual harassment, new survey finds

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A new survey released by Metro finds a slight decrease in the number of passengers that have experienced sexual harassment on buses and subways since last spring

Passengers board Metrolink subway trains during rush hour on June 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. A new survey released by Metro finds a slight decrease in the number of passengers that have experienced sexual harassment on buses and subways since last spring.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A new survey released by Metro finds a slight decrease in the number of passengers that have experienced sexual harassment on buses and subways since last spring, the last time riders were polled.

Still, almost one in 14 Metro passengers reported having been fondled or groped, and one in 10 has been subjected to indecent exposure.

The survey was conducted by Metro in May and June. Some 20,000 passengers took part in the the poll.

Guests:

Paul Gonzales, Senior Media Relations Officer, Metro

Genevieve Berrick, founder and site leader of Hollaback L.A., which brings attention to harassment of women in public spaces

Gaffes, zingers, drinking game: Bipartisan operatives weigh in on first GOP debate

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US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-DEBATE

Republican presidential candidates arrive on stage for the Republican presidential debate on August 6, 2015 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. ; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Early numbers suggest last night’s Republican debate wasn’t only the most-watched primary debate in history, but might have even garnered twice as large an audience as the record it broke.

And by most accounts, the debate did not disappoint. Despite promises to tone down his provocative rhetoric, Donald Trump showed up in true form, refusing to pledge he wouldn’t run as a third party candidate should he lose the Republican nomination, and shooting barbs back at debate moderator Megyn Kelly.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who had been jettisoned to the so-called “happy Hour” debate, made a primetime appearance and GOP insiders were overall impressed with Ohio governor John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, but public opinion was all over the place.

Who do you think came out on top? What did you think of the debate?

Guests:

Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist, Rodriguez Strategies; former senior Obama adviser in 2008. He tweets @RodStrategies

Robert G. de Posada, President of ONE Marketing & Research Inc., a public relations and communications firm in D.C. He is the founder of  the nonprofit, The Latino Coalition, and had served on the National Commission to Save and Strengthen Social Security under George W. Bush. He tweets @rdeposada


Don’t burn bridges: The how-to guide to leaving your job on good terms

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"I Quit"; Credit: Rocketace via Flickr

Gone are the days when workers would stay at one job until they retire. Career changes today are as common as job changes, given the changing demand of the economy.

A lot has been made about the importance of networking in a job search. While landing a new and better job is great, it’s equally important to know how to leave your old one.

Call us at 626 893 5722 to share your job-quitting stories – both good and bad ones.

Guest:

Liz Ryan, CEO and Founder of Human Workplace,  based in Boulder, Colorado. Liz is a former head of human resources at a Fortune 500 company

Watts Riots of 1965: Angelenos recount what lit up the powder keg

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National Guard And Fires In Watts Riots

Armed National Guardsmen march toward smoke on the horizon during the street fires of the Watts riots, Los Angeles, California, August 1965; Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

For younger Californians and new Californians who have little knowledge or understanding of what transpired 50 years ago, AirTalk hosts an historical primer on the riots.

What were the demographic and economic realities of the time? Why did a police stop of a young man spur six days of rioting over miles of LA that culminated in $200 million in fire damage alone? And, in the aftermath, how did it impact politics of Angelenos?

Joe Hicks and his young family were living in Watts at the time. What he experienced over those six days inspired him to become a civil rights advocate and spend his career focused on race relations.

Professor Lorn Foster of Pomona College was fresh out of high school and living with his family just outside the curfew zone. Larry speaks with Foster and Hicks to recount race relations at the time; a contentious chapter in LAPD history; and their personal experiences as the riots surged. 

If you were living in LA at the time, what are your memories and takeaways?

Guests:

Lorn Foster, Professor of American Government and Politics, Pomona College; Foster's current project is "Black Migration to Los Angeles, 1910-1950: the Role of the Black Church in Social Mobility;" Foster grew up in Los Angeles

Joe Hicks, Vice President of Community Advocates, Inc., a nonprofit organization that advocates innovative approaches to human relations and race relations in Los Angeles city and county; Hicks grew up in Watts

Should names, addresses of lawn rebate recipients in LA be disclosed for accountability?

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metropolitan water district

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Credit: Photo by Pete Morris via Flickr Creative Commons

The city of Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Water District disagree over whether the names and addresses of people and companies who received turf removal rebates from the MWD should be made public.

The skirmish points to a growing debate statewide about whether water-related data should be more transparent.

The Metropolitan Water District spent more than $340 million on its popular turf removal program. After initially withholding the information, Metropolitan told the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power it intended to release first and last names of applicants and recipients of turf rebates, as well as specific street addresses, in response to requests made under the California Public Records Act.

As a result, homeowners and businesses that have received rebate money could find their data made public within a week.

To read the rest of the story, click here

ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1520

Guests:

Molly Peterson, KPCC’s environment correspondent who’s been covering the story

John Kotler, professor of journalism at USC and a lawyer who practices media law. One of his areas of expertise is getting legal access to government records.

Joe Ramallo, Communications Director at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

Is Frank Gehry right for the LA River revitalization?

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LA County Passes Major Ban On Plastic Bags In Unincorporated Areas

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 17: Wildlife use the Los Angeles River looking for food on November 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed Prop 26, a ban on plastic grocery bags, in unincorporated areas of the county on Tuesday November 16. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images); Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Some critics are concerned Frank Gehry will turn the LA River into a vanity project.

The LA Times broke the news Friday that Gehry’s been working for about a year on a pro bono “master plan” to revitalize the river. Plans to restore the natural areas of the river have been in the works for years but a successful master plan for the 21st century hasn’t yet panned out.

Gehry is perhaps best known in LA for his design of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and for stand-alone landmark buildings throughout the world, which makes a master plan for a 51-mile river that runs through 14 cities and that will inevitably require some serious conservation considerations, a bit of a career outlier.

Friends of the LA River (FOLAR) worries Gehry's efforts could jeopardize a $1.3 billion plan approved by the Army Corps of Engineers last month to restore an 11-mile stretch of the river near Elysian Park. A spokesman for the city told the LA Times that Gehry’s plans, which are largely unknown at this point, would build on, not interfere, with existing plans. 

Read more about the LA River

Guests:

Christopher Hawthorne, architecture critic for the L.A. Times

Lewis McAdams, co-founder of Friends of the Los Angeles River

Stakeholders break down controversial proposed county health agency merger

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DCFS foster care

A meeting of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors; Credit: Karen Foshay/KPCC

Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services, Department of Mental Health, and Department of Public Health could all become a single entity if a proposal passes that would merge the three departments into one agency.

The proposal was first discussed at an L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting in January at the suggestion of Supervisor Michael Antonovich. He and Dr. Mitchell Katz, interim director of the L.A. County Health Services Department, say that merging the departments would streamline the process of providing care to patients, remove many of the bureaucratic aspects of the process, and ultimately cut costs for L.A. County.

Opponents, many of whom are mental health professionals or work with those who suffer from mental illness, worry that mental health might be put on a back burner in the new agency and that many of the programs and specialists that provide individualized care for specific mental illnesses would be victims of the restructuring process.

There’s also concern that with the new consolidated agency, directors of the mental health arm would have less of a say in the operation and administration of the department because, under the proposal, the heads of the three departments that merge would all report to a single agency head.

Do you agree with the proposal to merge these county health agencies? What is at stake for the groups directly affected? Will patient care be streamlined or complicated if the merger goes through?

Letter from Public Health Commission and Stakeholder Draft Transcript

Guests:

Dr. Mitchell Katz, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He has been pushing the proposal to merge the three health agencies.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, former Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the County Health Officer. He is Professor of Health Policy and Management, and Pediatrics at UCLA

Bruce Saltzer,  Executive Director of Association of Community Human Service Agencies

To clinch Olympics bid, LA promises to pay cost overrun

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US-SPECIAL OLYMPICS-OPENING CEREMONY

Fireworks explode over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremony, July 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is opening a bid for the 2024 Olympics; Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Mayor Eric Garcetti says the city is prepared to cover any cost overrun or revenue shortfall if Los Angeles is chosen to host the 2024 Olympics, as Los Angeles inches closer to becoming the U.S.’s nominee to host the event.

The projected cost for hosting the games is estimated at around $4 billion. Garcetti’s statement came during an interview with the Los Angeles Times’ editorial board on Monday.

The city’s chances at hosting the 2024 games were revived after Boston unexpectedly dropped out in July – whether Boston is willing to pay for budget overrun was allegedly a sticking point.

Should L.A. host the 2024 Olympics? Should the city be committed to footing the bill for budget overrun? Does it make economic sense?

Guests:

David Wharton, sports writer at the Los Angeles Times. His piece in the paper today looks at the economics of L.A. hosting the 2024 Olympics. He tweets @LATimesWharton

Andrew Zimbalist, Professor of Economics at Smith College and author of the new book, “Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup” (Brookings Institution Press, 2015)

Of all the gin joints: KPCC-ers, Angelenos on the best dive bars in LA

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Angelenos on the best dive bars in L.A.

Angelenos on the best dive bars in L.A.; Credit: Megan Westerby via Flickr

Fancy $20 cocktails and newfangled mixologists have their utility in the world.

But when it comes to a no-frills gimlet or a straight whiskey on the rocks, the place to go is the humble dive bar. You know the kind -- where the drinks are stiff, the waiters are salty, and the regulars all look like characters from a Charles Bukowski novel.

Call us at  866-893-5722 to tell us about your favorite dive in Los Angeles County and beyond!

The Best Oscar Performances of All Time

Guest:

Kat Odell, Editor at Eater LA’s Drinks section. She was a cast member on the Bravo reality TV show, “Eat, Drink, Love” in 2013. She tweets @kat_odell


Do you even read, bro? Author and professor makes case for ‘difficult fiction’

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Library study

CIRCA 1950s: Man sitting at library table, scratching head, with large book open in front of him; Credit: H. Armstrong Roberts/Retrofile/Getty Images

From the time we start to pick up books and read, we are reading mostly fiction. Many books traditionally assigned in middle and high school curriculum are fiction as well.

But in 2015, you’re probably more likely to pick up your smartphone or tablet than you are an actual book. Maybe you’re picking it up in order to read a book. Either way, where fictional literature was once the preferred method of absorbing knowledge, it has been replaced by the visual arts in the digital age....think things like videos, photos, Tweets, which are shorter, flashier, and less complex to digest.

It’s no secret that reading complex literature takes time and effort in order to glean what the author’s message was. Many likely ask themselves why they’d spend their time trying to find the meaning of a novel when they could read non-fiction and have it explained without metaphors or figures of speech.

In her article “The Virtues of Difficult Fiction,” author Joanna Scott writes, “Careful reading is difficult because it demands continuous learning. We have to work to learn new methods of reading in response to new methods of writing. But who wants to spend precious free hours figuring out a Gaddis novel when they could be relaxing with Netflix?”

Do you still read fiction for pleasure? If so, why? Do you find fiction difficult to read? Are there certain rewards gained from reading fiction that can’t be gained from the visual arts? What is fiction’s place in a largely digital world?

Guest:

Joanna Scott, fiction author whose novels include “Follow Me,” “The Manikin,” and “Arrogance.” Her piece “The Virtues of Difficult Fiction” was featured in an August edition of ‘The Nation.’ Joanna is also the Roswell Smith Burrows Professor of English at the University of Rochester in upstate New York

Why breakfast might NOT be the most important meal of the day

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Stack 'Em High

circa 1960: Child actor Johnny Crawford looks forward to eating a pile of pancakes in an International House of Pancakes, a chain of eateries in the USA started in 1958 by Californian brothers Al and Jerome Lapin; Credit: Keystone Features/Getty Images

“Eat your breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day”-- it’s conventional wisdom, not to mention a pillar of U.S. Dietary Guideline policy.

But a closer look at the science behind those Dietary Guidelines reveals some pretty shaky evidence.

The Guidelines are important because they influence the menus of school lunches and other federally subsidized program and because in a time where obesity is still widespread, many parents look to them for sound eating advice.

It’s especially bad timing also, because the credibility of the committee’s nutritional recommendations have been shaken in the last year by watershed moments, like the dropping of a longstanding warning about dietary cholesterol, contradictory studies about the dangers of salt and saturated fat.

So, how important is breakfast? And should the U.S. Dietary Guidelines be dictating policy in areas where the science is still theoretical?

Guests:

Peter Whoriskey, staff writer for The Washington Post handling investigations of financial and economic topics and recently looked into studies about the nutritional benefits of breakfast

Linda Van Horn, professor of nutrition and preventive medicine at Northwestern University; she sat on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) that considered the issue and was appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Radical changes coming to wireless and cell phone purchasing in 2015

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Verizon customers will no longer be offered a traditional contract option when they want a new phone or a new plan

A Verizon wireless store is seen on May 12, 2015 in Coral Gables, Florida. Later this week, Verizon customers will no longer be offered a traditional contract option when they want a new phone or a new plan.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Later this week, Verizon customers will no longer be offered a traditional contract option when they want a new phone or a new plan.

News that the wireless provider will sell phones and plans separately is part of a trend started by T-Mobile and followed by AT&T, as well. As the Washington Post reports, a sea change in pricing is indicative of how the wireless business actually works (hint: it's called the wireless business, not the cellphone business).

The companies will focus more on selling data packages and while they will offer payment plans for new phones, iPhone buyers will see prices go from a couple of hundred dollars with a 2-year contract to $600-plus.

How will these changes impact consumer behavior?

Guest:

Brian Fung, Technology Reporter, The Washington Post

The Sanders Effect: Why more and more Democrats are feeling the ‘Bern’

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A photo of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Credit: via BernieSanders.com

While the news media continues to play “Guess what Donald Trump said this time?” Bernie Sanders has quietly been climbing the Democratic polls in the background.

Real Clear Politics’ average of all the polls still has him 25 percentage points behind Hillary Clinton, but the movement for and support behind the crazy-haired, sometimes crotchety Vermont Senator has been climbing slowly since last year.

A self-proclaimed socialist, Sanders has gained more than 16 percentage points since October of last year, more than any other Democratic candidate, and has been the most interesting in an otherwise unsurprising Democratic field.

Monday night, Sanders spoke at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and stuck to his platform, discussing economic reform and income inequality in front of a crowd of more than 27,000. He also spoke about immigration, and had an immigrants rights activist speak on the issue as well.

For many Democrats for whom Hillary Clinton is too moderate, Sanders is a refreshing  change from mainstream liberals.

What is ‘The Sanders Effect?’ That is to say, why is such an unorthodox candidate so popular among Democrats? What do you think has contributed to his rise in the polls? Does he stand a realistic chance of competing with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination?

Guest:

Matt Dickinson, professor of political science at Middlebury College and author of the blog "Presidential Power"

City, county leaders’ moves on transportation, incarceration mark paradigm shift for region

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bicycles bikes downtown los angeles ciclavia

Bicyclists riding near Downtown Los Angeles as part of CicLAvia; Credit: Photo by Joshua Livingston via Flickr Creative Commons

Yesterday Los Angeles County Supervisors and LA City Councilmembers made big bets on a dramatically different future for transportation and incarceration.

The city council is betting that making it harder for you to drive 20 years from now will push you into bike riding or taking the bus. The Supervisors are betting community mental health services will keep people out of jail.

Both are gambles. Both mark big philosophical shifts regional thinking.

They were votes in complete contradiction to traditional responses to population growth. They were votes for theories -- that might work and be revolutionary.

But it's also possible the theories don't hold up amidst the size and complexity of Los Angeles. It's possible Angelenos’ quality of life suffers with worse traffic and that jails overcrowd and repeat offenders get out early due to a lack of jail space.

The Council voted to approve the Mobility 2035 Plan. It calls for sweeping changes to the way public streets are used for transportation in Los Angeles, eliminating car lanes on a number of the city's busiest streets. In their place, will be lanes for bikes or express buses.

The bet is that enough people will give up on driving to reduce traffic. If it works, a bright future. If it bombs, the Board of Supervisors could be debating spending money to correct it.

Mobility Plan 2035: An Element of the General Plan (May 28, 2015 Draft - as approved by City Planning Commission)

Guests:

Meghan McCarty, KPCC commuting and mobility reporter

Tamika Butler, executive director of the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition

Jay Beeber, executive director of Safer Streets L.A., and a research fellow with the Reason Foundation

Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and adjunct faculty at USC Annenberg School

Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA

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