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Metro CEO: Uber-like 'curb-to-curb' service coming to LA soon

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LA Metro Willowbrook Station

The Willowbrook Station along LA Metro's green line. This station is located above ground between the lanes of the Century Freeway.; Credit: Jeffrey Beall via Flickr

KPCC Staff | AirTalk®

Metro CEO Phil Washington has said the agency is looking into launching a service that's similar to Uber, Lyft, and other popular car services used by millions of people.

Washington mentioned the service during his appearance on AirTalk on Wednesday.

“We also are looking at creating our own Uber-like service … using our vehicles, smaller vehicles, we’re calling this micro-transit," he said. "This will be a curb-to-curb type service. We’ll use our drivers … we’re looking to launch that very, very soon.”

While details such as pricing have yet to be worked out, Washington said Metro's plan for this service is to utilize smaller vehicles, such as vans. Metro would also partner with a private firm to use the technical data from a ... to help us to be able to make reservations and things like that using our vehicles.”

A lot has happened since AirTalk's last check-in with Washington.

Bus service is being targeted by transportation officials as cause for steadily dropping ridership. As reported by the L.A. Times, a survey of more than 2,000 former riders showed that commuters felt the buses didn’t know where they were going.

Now, research is being conducted by Metro to find new ways to improve routes and stops. Then, the “will they, won’t they” saga over the long-disputed 710 Freeway tunnel extension to the 210 finally ended in May, when the Metro Board pulled funding from the project, opting to instead spend $700 million on other transportation issues.

So how what does L.A.’s bus system overhaul look like? And what are some alternative routes to the 710 Freeway extension? Today, Washington is in studio to chat about all this and other local transportation news, including a newly launched bike sharing program in Pasadena. Have a question? Post in the comments below or join the conversation at 866-893-5722.

Check back for updates to this story.

Guest:

Phil Washington, CEO of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.


The New Yorker’s David Remnick on turning great magazine writing into great radio

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The Hollywood Reporter 35 Most Powerful People In Media 2017

David Remnick attends The Hollywood Reporter 35 Most Powerful People In Media 2017 at The Pool on April 13, 2017 in New York City. ; Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter

AirTalk®

When it comes to in-depth magazine writing, few American publications rival that what’s on the pages of the New Yorker.

The magazine’s longtime editor David Remnick is a multi-hyphenate. He not only writes and edits the magazine, he is also a prolific book author and a musician. Since 2015, Remnick took on another role as the host of the “New Yorker Radio Hour.”

Larry Mantle talks to Remnick about launching a radio version of the venerable magazine, and more.

Guest:

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker magazine since 1988 and a staff writer since 1992; he is the host of the “New Yorker Radio Hour,” which has joined KPCC’s weekend lineup, airing on Saturdays at 10:00 am

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

In the era of ‘peak TV,’ how do you decide what to watch?

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James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood in "Westworld" (2016). The show received 22 Emmy nominations Thursday, tying with "Saturday Night Live" for the most nods.
; Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO

AirTalk®

Emmy nominations are out Thursday, brightening the spotlight on some of TV’s heavyweights and newcomers.

A nod of recognition from the Television Academy is a boon for networks, granting additional buzz and viewership. But for many TV watchers, it also means adding to a seemingly never-ending list of binge-worthy shows, with too little time to get through them all.

There is simply too much television. So how do you wade through the endless options? How do you decide what to watch and what to skip? And what are your recommendations from this year’s pool of Emmy nominees?

Call in at 866-893-5722 and share your tips with us.

Oh, and... 

Guest:

Dominic Patten, chief TV critic and a senior editor at the entertainment news site, Deadline Hollywood, who's been following the Emmy nominations and the notable snubs

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Challenges of reforming Medi-Cal come to light as lawsuit accuses state system of discrimination

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Doctors Seek Higher Fees From Health Insurers

A doctor speaks to a patient as a sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure meter, lies on his desk on September 5, 2012.; Credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Arguing that doctors don’t get paid enough to see Medi-Cal patients and therefore won’t take them on, a group of beneficiaries are suing the state of California for violating the civil rights of Latinos, who make up about half of the people on Medi-Cal.

The lawsuit is not the first time this issue has been flagged. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, sent a letter to the federal government back in 2015 asking it to find that California was violating Latinos civil rights due to how difficult it is for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to access care. The state responded in 2016 and said that there were provisions in place to remedy situations where Medi-Cal beneficiaries are denied timely access.

What are the challenges to reforming Medi-Cal? Even if this lawsuit is successful, what legislative and financial troubles would there be in terms of increasing reimbursements for doctors?

You can read the full complaint here.

Guests:

Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)

Doug Badger, senior fellow at the Galen Institute, a nonprofit public policy research organization on healthcare issues; he was a senior White House adviser to President George W. Bush on health-related issues

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

New revised health care bill and Trump’s visit to Paris

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French President Emmanuel Macron Receives President Donald Trump At Elysee Palace

US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives for a a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 13, 2017 in Paris, France. ; Credit: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

AirTalk®

A newly revised health care bill was unveiled Thursday by Senate Republicans.

GOP leaders hope the plan will repeal and replace Obamacare, and give a win to the White House. As reported by the New York Times revisions to the bill include keeping insurance costs down for consumers and retaining taxes on those with higher incomes. It would also give an additional $70 billion for states to reduce premiums and make for more affordable health care. 

In other news, President Trump is putting aside differences on climate change and immigration in a friendly visit to Paris. Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron, who’s been described as a political novice, will celebrate that country’s Bastille Day with Trump. The festivities will include a parade down the Champs Elysees. The meeting will give an opportunity for Trump and Macron to show political importance with little chance of controversy.

Following a press conference from Paris, Larry speaks to political analysts to talk about the new health care revisions and what would make a successful trip for Trump.

Guests:

Mike Dorning, White House editor for Bloomberg News; he has been following the story

Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh Consulting in San Francisco; he is a former adviser to California Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former White House staffer for Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush

Caroline Heldman, associate professor of politics at Occidental College and author of the forthcoming book, “Protest Politics in the Marketplace: Consumer Activism in the Corporate Age” (Cornell University Press, 2017)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

UC Regents might approve limited use of letters of recommendation – what’s their value?

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Stanford And Berkeley Rank Among Top 3 Universities In The World

People enter California Hall on the UC Berkeley campus on May 22, 2014 in Berkeley, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The UC Regents board is voting Thursday on whether to approve the limited use of letters of recommendation at UC campuses.

If approved, all UC schools would be able to ask no more than 15 percent of freshman applicants to submit letters, in cases where the school needs additional information to make its decision.

This proposal has sparked a debate about the value of letters of recommendation between UC Berkeley, which in the past has wanted to ask all students for letters, and UCLA, whose chairwoman of the Academic Senate said letters can be a burden to students.

Critics of letters of recommendation say they can disadvantage students in under-served neighborhoods who don’t have the same kind of access to teachers or counselors, but proponents say they’re a well-rounded indicator of a prospective student’s qualities.

Teachers, counselors, students – what do you think of letters of recommendation? Do they help or hinder the chances of prospective students? Do they create an unequal playing field or do they level it out?  

Guest:

Bruce Poch, Dean of Admission and Executive Director of College Counseling at Chadwick School, a private K-12 school in Palos Verdes Peninsula; he is also a former Dean of Admissions at Pomona College, where he read many applications and letters of recommendation

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A look at the politics of passing the revised Senate health care bill

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President Trump Invites All GOP Senators To White House For Health Care Bill Discussion

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) leaves after he spoke to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House.; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The new health care bill revision released by Senate Republicans yesterday is drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.

As reported by Reuters, the plan’s opposition from GOP leaders is largely due to its retention of taxes on the wealthy. Democrats’ longstanding disapproval remains with the proposal’s lack of health coverage. And all of this doesn’t look good for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is under the close watch of President Donald Trump who is looking for a win. Cuts to Medicaid in the proposal have been a point of concern among several senators including John McCain (R-AZ). And Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has announced an alternative plan. So what else is in the revised health care bill and what are the chances of it passing?

Guests:

Margot Sanger-Katz, health care correspondent for the New York Times; she has been following the story;  she tweets @sangerkatz

Scott Detrow, Congressional reporter for NPR; he also co-hosts the NPR Politics Podcast; he tweets @scottdetrow

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

City councilmember, Crenshaw stakeholder debate revamping Southwest LA shopping center

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Holiday Shoppers Look For Bargains On Black Friday

A shopper waits inside a Macy's store during Black Friday events on November 25, 2016.; Credit: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Residents of Los Angeles’ Crenshaw and Baldwin Hills communities are split over a proposal to update and revamp the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

This would include building and adding more than 900 new apartments and condos, a hotel, an office building, and an open-air shopping plaza (think The Grove or The Americana). As part of the proposal, the mall developer would have to make 10 percent specifically for people within a specific income range. Half of that ten percent would be reserved for families making 50 percent of median income in the area.

Both supporters and detractors were out in full force at an L.A. City Planning Commission hearing on Thursday. Proponents say that in order to fight the giant that is online shopping, malls need to be a place where people can not just buy stuff, but live and work as well. But opponents worry that in addition to increased traffic, a development like this will send the neighborhoods in the directions of many other L.A. communities that have seen rampant gentrification that has priced out longtime residents of those neighborhoods.

Guests:

Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles Councilmember representing the 8th District, which encompasses parts of South Los Angeles and spans from Baldwin Hills to the border of Watts; he tweets @mhdcd8

Damien Goodmon, founder and executive director of the Crenshaw Subway Coalition; he tweets @damienISgoodmon

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.


Double-booked surgeons: What you need to know about the teaching hospital practice

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General Election - National Health Service

A surgeon and his theatre team perform key hole surgery to remove a gallbladder at at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 16, 2010 in Birmingham, England. ; Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Teaching hospitals around the country have been using a controversial booking method when scheduling surgeons.

As reported by Kaiser Health News, overlapping and concurrent surgery is a way for surgeons to perform procedures on more patients. Overlapping surgery refers to doctors working on two patients in different rooms during the same block of time. The doctor performs and decides what the “critical” part of the surgery is, while a resident in training does other parts of the procedure. Concurrent surgery, “or running two rooms” is when two surgeries are booked simultaneously and a senior attending surgeon gives trainees the responsibility of performing one part of the surgery, while the trainee completes another part. Concurrent surgery is rare and not covered by Medicaid.

While double-booking surgery isn’t new, many patients are unaware of the likelihood of their doctor not being present during parts of the their procedure. This is most common with cardiac, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery. Proponents of the practice say this gives doctors the opportunity to help more patients. But critics argue that patients should be able to choose whether their doctor stays with them throughout the procedure. Larry speaks to two surgeons today to get an inside look at the pros and cons of double-booking.

Guests:

Dr. James Rickert, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and and assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Indiana University Bloomington; he is president of The Society for Patient Centered Orthopedics, a patient care advocacy nonprofit

Emily Finlayson, M.D. M.S., associate professor of surgery and director at the Center for Surgery in Older Adults at UC San Francisco; she specializes in colorectal surgery

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Political affairs: Does a politician’s infidelity impact how you vote?

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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the Mendez Learning Center on Nov. 21, 2011, in Los Angeles.; Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for BGR

AirTalk®

The field of the 2018 California governor’s race is starting to get crowded.

Six people have declared their candidacy for next year’s contest to replace termed-out Governor Jerry Brown. Gavin Newsom, current Lieutenant Governor and former Mayor of San Francisco and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are both top contenders in the race. But they have more than just that in common: Both Newsom and Villaraigosa had suffered a high-profile extramarital affair while in office.

While the impact of their infidelity on the race is yet to be known, the Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend that the two Democrats have hired advisors with knowledge of the other person’s affair.

AirTalk wants to know: Would Newsom or Villaraigosa’s infidelity change how you vote in 2018? Call us at 866-893-5722.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Ahead of the vote, the environmental and fiscal impacts of extending CA’s cap-and-trade

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California Governor Jerry Brown speaks during an energy policy conference in Beijing on June 8, 2017.; Credit: FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Monday, the California Legislature will vote on whether to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program, due to expire in 2020, until 2030.

The package being voted on also includes a measure to reduce air pollution.

Governor Jerry Brown’s climate initiative is largely backed by industry, which has led to divided support among environmental groups, with some arguing that the plan is a practical way to fight climate change and others criticizing the measure for pandering to oil interests.

There’s also opposition from fiscal conservatives, who see increased regulations and taxes as a money-grab on behalf of Brown’s bullet train.

On the morning ahead of the vote, we discuss the environmental and fiscal impacts of the proposed cap-and-trade extension.

Guests:

Chris Busch, research director at San Francisco-based think tank Energy Innovation

Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Week in politics: Whether delay of GOP health care bill vote helps or hurts, plus the new poll that has Trump making history

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Senate Lawmakers Address The Media After Their Weekly Policy Luncheons

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (R) talks to reporters following the weekly GOP policy luncheon.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Healthcare is once again front and center this week as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’s delaying a vote on the bill until Arizona Senator John McCain returns to Congress following surgery.

The question, however, is which side the delay in the vote will benefit more, as it gives Republicans more time to wrangle votes and Democrats more time to dissuade supporters.

After a much-scrutinized trip to France to meet with its newly-elected head of state and celebrate Bastille Day, President Trump was also back stateside this weekend taking in the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, which was held this year at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The trip abroad was both for Mr. Trump to get to know French President Emmanuel Macron and a chance for Macron to try and soften Trump’s position on climate change and talk about future U.S. involvement with the Paris climate accord.

Questions also continue to swirl about Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer last year as new information keeps surfacing. Mr. Trump’s lawyer made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows to defend the president’s son, saying there was nothing illegal about the meeting. Elsewhere within the Trump camp, there are also questions about the future of security clearance for Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows President Trump’s disapproval rating is the highest of any president six months into his term in office since modern polling began in the 1940s. It also shows nearly half of Americans (48 percent) think the country’s leadership role in the world has weakened since Trump’s election compared to 27 percent who say it’s strengthened.

Guests:

Jack Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College; he tweets @jpitney

John Iadarola, host and creator of ThinkTank, part of The Young Turks Network; he also serves as a weekly co-host for The Young Turks weekly live show; he tweets @johniadarola

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Immigration professionals weigh in on bill aiming to ban immigration consultant business in CA

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A line forms near the entrance of the Immigration

A line forms near the entrance of the Immigration and Naturalization Service office in Miami, 30 April 2001, as the midnight deadline approaches for illegal immigrants to apply for visas. ; Credit: RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Should immigration consultants be banned from operating in the state of California in order to stem immigration fraud?

This is the question at the heart of a new bill that’s making its way through the California legislature. AB 638, the immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2017, would essentially make the immigration consulting industry illegal and create both criminal and civil penalties for people who still practice.

Immigrants in California who need help with things like legal status renewal or applying for certain benefits will often go to an immigration consultant, who is not a full-fledged lawyer but is required to be vetted and bonded by the state. Immigration consultants can help people complete forms but can’t give legal advice. Consultants say they provide a necessary service and can do a number of the things an immigration attorney can do for less money and in less time.

Supporters say it will prevent some consultants with ulterior motives from taking financial and legal advantage of desperate immigrants who will do anything to stay in the U.S. Opponents say shutting down an entire industry is the wrong way to fight fraud and that banning the industry means the consultants who do honest work, the majority of the industry, would lose their livelihood.

Guests:

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA)

Ricardo Marquez, executive director of the National Association of Immigration Consultants

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Are you honest with friends, family and employers about depression?

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Are you open with your family and friends about depression?; Credit: ryan melaugh via Flickr Creative Commons

AirTalk®

Last week, writer Sherman Alexie wrote a deeply personal Facebook post recounting his current  struggle with depression and announcing that he was cancelling part of his book tour.

The tour is a promotion of Alexie’s latest book, "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," a memoir about his late mother. The tour, said Alexie, has been an experience of  “rebreaking my heart night after night. I have, to use recovery vocabulary, been retraumatizing myself.”

In the wake of Alexie’s honesty, we want to ask listeners with mental illness about how they’ve dealt with serious bouts of depression. Has the stigma surrounding mental health problems lessened?  Do you feel you can be as honest as Alexie with your family, friends and employers?

You can find mental health resources here.

Guest:

Danielle Keenan-Miller, Ph.D., assistant adjunct professor and director of the UCLA Psychology Clinic; she is a licensed clinical psychologist

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Are face scans at the airport coming our way?

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Biometric Hardware Firms Display Security Solutions

A man uses a portable iris recognition scanner during the Biometrics exhibition and conference in London. ; Credit: Ian Waldie/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Would you be okay with having your face scanned at the airport every time you took an international flight?

That's the scenario the Department of Homeland Security is pushing for as part of its effort to better track visa overstays and bolster security. Under the plan, anyone taking a flight out of the United States — U.S. citizens included — would have to submit to a face scan upon departure.

DHS says it would be an extension of a 2004 law that has allowed airports to collect fingerprint data and photos from foreign nationals entering the United States, and that subjecting U.S. citizens to the process would ensure that they match the identity on their passports. The department has also kicked off trials of the face scan program at airports in six U.S. cities — Boston, New York City, Washington D.C., Houston, Chicago and Atlanta — where passengers are free to opt out.

Privacy advocates argue it could lead to alarming levels of surveillance, and some have raised questions over the accuracy of facial recognition software.

Guests:

Matthew Feeney, policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a libertarian-leaning think tank in Washington, D.C.; he authored the Cato article, “DHS: Don’t Want Your Face Scanned? Don’t Travel!”; he tweets @M_Feeney

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at Center for Immigration Studies; she tweets @JessicaV_CIS

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.


With kibosh on ACA repeal and replace, what a full-on repeal looks like and how party leaders will respond

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GOP Senators Continue Work On Revised Health Care Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks to a meeting of Republican senators where a new version of their healthcare bill was scheduled to be released at the U.S. Capitol July 13, 2017 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

AirTalk®

Senate Republicans can’t agree on a replacement for the Affordable Care Act.

With last night’s word from two more GOP Senators that they’d vote no, leader Mitch McConnell admitted defeat. He says he’ll call for a straight repeal of ACA instead.

But that only opens a whole new series of questions. Would repeal pass? The New York Times’ Thomas Kaplan reports that a full ACA repeal would be dead on arrival in the Senate because Republicans Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Shelley Moore Capito (WV) have said they won’t vote for repeal without replacement. Other Republican Senators have hinted towards similar viewpoints.

If a full on repeal does pass, the question becomes what happens to individual health insurance markets, and what might that mean for the MediCal expansion in California. There are also the Democrats to consider. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said the door is open to bipartisan negotiation so long as Republicans are willing to work on repairing the existing health care law and abandon a few of their sticking points, like Medicaid cuts and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Guests:

Anna Edney, health policy reporter for Bloomberg News; she has been following the story and tweets @annaedney

Gerald Kominski, professor of health policy and management at UCLA and director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Lanhee Chen, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former policy director for the Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign; he tweets @lanheechen

Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies; he is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008 and tweets @RodStrategies

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Analyzing Trump’s wish list for renegotiating NAFTA

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President Donald Trump gestures during a Made in America product showcase event at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2017.; Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images

AirTalk®

On Monday, the Trump administration sent Congress an 18-page “Summary of Objectives for the NAFTA Renegotiation,” that put a heavy emphasis on reducing trade deficit with Mexico and Canada, one of Trump’s longstanding campaign promises.

The wish list also included eliminating unfair subsidies and giving the U.S. more control in terms of cracking down on cheap incoming products, as well as provisions about currency manipulation that may be more of a signal to China. Ideas regarding the environment and labor regulation, reminiscent of those in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that Trump pulled out of early in his presidency, were also included in the proposal.

What’s in NAFTA currently and what’s in Trump’s plan to renegotiate the trade agreement? Are these objectives, especially the focus on trade deficit, a departure from previous trade agreements? And how likely are these objectives to make it past the negotiating table?

Guests:

Megan Cassella, trade reporter for Politico; she tweets @mmcassella  

Bryan Riley, senior policy analyst in trade policy at Heritage

Matt Gold, adjunct professor of Law at Fordham University; former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for North America

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

LAPD Chief Beck talks about future of cadet program, plus a check-in on mid-year crime stats

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Ford Announces New Electrification Project With Los Angeles Police Department

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck speaks at the unveiling of two new Ford Fusion hybrid pursuit-rated Police Responder cars at Los Angeles Police Department headquarters on April 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

AirTalk®

We’re more than halfway through 2017, if you can believe that, and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck says crime in L.A. has plateaued – which he told the L.A. Times is a sign that cops are eating away at the gradual increase in crime in L.A.

As of the first of July, overall crime was up less than a percentage point when compared to July of last year, when it was up 6.6 percent from the previous year and 12.7 percent the year before that. So how is the Chief feeling about crime trends for the rest of the year?

The LAPD’s cadet program has been in the media spotlight for the last several weeks as well after two separate incidents, one involving an LAPD officer having sex with an underage cadet and another involving three cadets who stole a cruiser and police equipment. These incidents have led the Police Commission to request that Inspector General Alex Bustamante look into the program.

We’ll also talk to Chief Beck about his thoughts on legislative efforts to make California a ‘sanctuary state,’ ask him to weigh in on a LA County civil grand jury report on the risks of police pursuits, ask him about his trip to D.C. last week at the request of Senator Kamala Harris, and learn about the World Police and Fire Games, which Los Angeles will host for the first time ever next month.

Guest:

Charlie Beck, Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on the 2018 gubernatorial race and his plans for California

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The Saban Free Clinic's Gala Honoring ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee And Bob Broder - Inside

California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom on stage at the The Saban Free Clinic's Gala Honoring ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee And Bob Broder at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 19, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.; Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

AirTalk®

It’s still early in the California gubernatorial race for 2018. But the state’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has consistently lead with nearly $3.6 million in fundraising from January to June 2017, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Newsom has held political office since 1997, and gained notoriety as a member on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He then became mayor of that city before taking a seat as lieutenant governor in 2010 under Jerry Brown.

A Democrat, the focus of Newsom’s campaign has included climate change issues, touting his membership of the State Lands Commission, which controls parts of state shorelines. But controversy has erupted over a bill that would limit the height of waterfront developments in San Francisco, putting Newsom in a tight spot with those wanting to build on public land. On the issue of gun control, Newsom has publicly opposed the National Rifle Association, most recently regarding an NRA video which the Lt. Governor said villainizes political opponents of the group’s interests.

Larry spoke with Newsom Wednesday about these issues and his plans for the state:

Interview highlights:

On performing the first marriages for same-sex couples in San Francisco in 2004:

We challenged the law. It's always the right time to do the right thing. You don't run the 90 yard dash on civil rights. I'm not one of those politicians that has much respect, candidly, for people that know what the right thing to do is and are unwilling to do it. We wanted to challenge the law, we wanted to put a human face on it. And the idea was Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin had been together close to half a century and they were willing to be that first couple to get married. And the idea was not just to file a brief against Proposition 22 in the state of California but to put on trial the life of this extraordinary couple. They were, for me, the manifestation of faith, love, devotion, constancy, what marriage is all about.

On the governor's role in regulating Airbnb:

The governor has a profound role in organizing new thinking as it relates to the dramatic change to the plumbing of the world. We had this great debate in this country in the last presidential cycle, this populist debate. On the left Bernie Sanders, wherever Trump is on the right, both exploiting the issue, the populist issue of globalization. But no one talked about technology. And with all due respect to globalization, it's a small part of the bigger picture and that is technological disruption. And that substantively, the issue of technology and globalization detonating at the same time is front and center in my thinking, front and center in terms of what I'm trying to advance in terms of new approaches as governor.

On California's ability to provide universal healthcare:

As mayor of San Francisco, we provided universal health care, regardless of pre-existing conditions, ability to pay, and controversially but I say proudly, regardless of your immigration status. San Francisco has the only county-level universal healthcare plan in the nation and we have a specific tangible proposal to bring that to the rest of the state of California.

On the bullet train project: 

We have a real question mark around this proposal which I initially was again a very passionate champion of whether or not we can fulfill the original vision to get it through the Tehachapi and the San Gabriel mountains, bring it down to southern California, ultimately not just L.A. but San Diego. I’ve questioned the business plan and the financing because of the significant changes from the original proposal, so yes I want to see this vision manifested and realized, but... I have an open ended question of how we ultimately fulfill the original vision.

To see all our past interviews with the 2018 gubernatorial candidates, click here.

Guest:

Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California; he is running for governor of California in 2018

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Fans, naming rights experts react to Dodgers soliciting deals for naming rights to field

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Division Series - New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game One

A general view during player introductions before game one of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on October 9, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

AirTalk®

The Los Angeles Dodgers have called Chavez Ravine home for almost the entirety of their time here since moving from Brooklyn.

And ever since they started playing in Dodger Stadium in 1962, the home of Big Blue has been called just that – Dodger Stadium. Fast forward 55 years, and now the team is looking to change that.

On Tuesday, Dodgers President Stan Kasten announced that the naming rights to the field at Dodger Stadium would be up for grabs and that the team was seeking $12 million in exchange for them. He noted that the Dodger Stadium name is not for sale, so whoever does decide to buy the rights would end up with (Insert Sponsor Name Here) Field at Dodger Stadium. Kasten says he’s not worried about sullying the name of a historic stadium with a naming rights deal, but not all fans may feel the same way. There’s also the issue of whether it’s worth it for a sponsor to spend money on a naming rights deal when most people will probably never refer to the corporate name on the field when describing the actual venue that is Dodger Stadium.

Do you support the team selling the naming rights to the field or do you think it would tarnish the history of an iconic ballpark? What do you see as the return on investment for a potential sponsor, if you see one at all?

Guest:

Bob Wagner, executive vice president of business operations at Sports One Marketing in Lake Forest, CA; former senior vice president & chief marketing officer for the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club

Michael Leeds, professor and chair of the economics department at Temple University

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

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