A construction worker installs a window in a new home at the Arbor Rose housing development in San Mateo, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Senate Bill 35, introduced by Sen. Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco), aims to streamline the housing approval process by cutting red tape for certain projects.

This would include bypassing environmental and planning reviews, as well as mandating higher construction worker pay.

News broke from Capital Public Radio earlier this week, reporting that California Gov. Jerry Brown reached a deal with legislative Democrats on the bill. The agreement includes approval for projects meeting certain zoning standards and other requirements including paying construction workers a prevailing wage.

Proponents of the bill have seen it as a step in the right direction and a faster, more productive solution to dealing with the state’s housing crisis. But critics argue that the bill aims to be a “one size fits all” solution to a state that’s too diverse for this plan. Gentrification has also been a concern among opponents.

So what can Angelenos expect if SB 35 goes through? Larry Mantle speaks to advocates on both sides for the full picture.

Guests:

Fred Sutton, director of Government Affairs at the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles; they’ve publicly supported the bill

1. California is in the depth of a housing crisis. Every report that have come out say we are hundreds of thousands unit short of providing adequate housing for our population. SB 35 simply says if cities are not meeting their housing goals in as specified in their regional housing needs assessment, they will be eligible for streamlining, if the objective criteria is met.

 2. The housing project must meet certain income levels where there's a shortage and meet all objecting in zoning, environmental codes.  We've seen over and over again that housing projects that have been delayed or repealed during the approval process. And this is to stop exactly that.

3. It took us decades to get into this mess, lawmakers have not been taking the right approach in dealing with our housing crisis. There's no silver bullet to this but this bill is the best solution so far to increase housing. 

Peter Cohen, co-director of the Council of Community Housing Organizations, a San Francisco-based coalition of affordable housing developers and tenant advocates.

1. The states does have an affordable housing crisis...If this was just about streamlining affordable housing across the state, I think you'd see a wide coalition of stakeholders and politicians getting behind this. But it's a bill mostly concentrated on streamlining market-priced, unaffordable housing. 

2. The complication is that California is a massive state. We have over 400 cities. And a one-size fits all bill like this really treat communities on the ground the same.  That could be as disruptive and negative as it could be beneficial in certain places. 

3. The principle of supply and demand depends on geography. Building high density housing in a gentrifying neighborhood doesn't really make the outlining suburban cities less expensive. It depends on where you build it and how that elasticity works. This may accelerate development in the gentrifying neighborhood that's already hot. 

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

Pro-immigration activists hold signs as they gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 18, 2016 in Washington, DC. ; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trump’s decision regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs is expected to arrive Friday, though it’s reported that the White House is now exploring whether the attorneys general asking for the decision by September 5 might extend their deadline.  

DACA allowed children brought to the U.S. illegally the opportunity to study and work without the risk of deportation. Now, almost 800,000 DACA recipients are in limbo, waiting for Trump’s decision, which may restrict new applicants or may nix DACA altogether.  

Today, we want to hear from DACA recipients. What have you been dealing with as you await the Trump administration’s decision? How will your life be affected? And do you have logistical legal questions about what this decision means for your future?

Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Jessica Hanson, attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, an immigrant rights organization

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

Los Angeles Police Department officers patrol on bicycles past a homeless man napping with cigarette in hand at his encampment on a downtown sidewalk in Los Angeles, California on June 7, 2017, a city facing a growing homeless population and less affordable housing.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

All week, KPCC is looking at the worsening housing crisis in Southern California, looking at the origin of the problem, where we stand, and the potential solutions.

Today, AirTalk opens up the phones to talk to Southern Californians who have experienced or are currently homeless.

The number of homeless people in Los Angeles County has gone up 23 percent from last year, according to the annual homeless census. Rising rents is a major culprit of the problem.

Guest:

Rina Palta, a correspondent for KPCC, covering homeless issues and the social safety net in Southern California

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

Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive officer of Expedia, Inc., attends the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 7, 2016 in Sun Valley, Idaho. ; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Uber has been mired in controversy in recent years.

With allegations of toxic company culture, poor leadership, and numerous lawsuits, the ride-share company hired a new CEO in order to fix its image. Over the weekend, former Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi accepted the new executive role, replacing his infamous predecessor Travis Kalanick.

From sexual harassment allegations to legal battles with investors, Khosrowshahi is confronted with the difficult task of dealing with the negative publicity and diminishing morale in and out of the company. Can this outsider turn around one of the most hated tech companies? What’s the next step for Kalanick?

Guest:

Sean O’Kane, tech reporter for The Verge; he tweets @sokane1

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

Workers toss a sign over the 110 freeway that was ruined in an early morning fire that destroyed a seven-story apartment building under construction on December 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 70 percent of construction firms are having a hard time finding skilled workers like carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers.

More than 1600 firms were surveyed across the country - 97 were from California. Most do public works, commercial, industrial and apartment construction (single-family home builders were not part of the survey). Seventy-five percent of the firms surveyed in the western part of the U.S. said they were struggling to fill construction positions, up from 71 percent in 2016. About 70 percent said they were still planning to grow their crews in the coming year to meet demand.

For more on this story from KPCC’s Andrea Bernstein, click here.

Guest:

Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America, who conducted the survey

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

A sold sign is posted in front of a home for sale on July 30, 2013 in San Francisco, California.; Credit: Getty Images

When California's crippling affordable housing crisis comes up, two problems that should surprise no one often emerge among the biggest hurdles to get past: funding and supply. In order to build up the supply, you've first got to have funding, which is the aim of one affordable housing bill that's part of a larger package currently making its way through the legislature.

Senate Bill 2, also known as the Building Homes and Jobs Act, would impose a fee ranging from $75 to $225 “to be paid at the time of the recording of every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded.”

That money would be deposited into a new fund the bill would create within the State Treasury, and a board comprised of members of both the public and private sectors would ultimately decide how those funds are spent. However, they are required to spend 20 percent of the money in the fund on affordable owner-occupied workforce housing and 10 percent for housing purposes related to agricultural workers and their families.

The bill is sponsored by San Diego Democratic Senator Toni Atkins and has received support across the state from housing advocacy groups, various chambers of commerce and a number of local governments. Here's what they see as the biggest upsides to the legislation:

1. Establishes a permanent, ongoing source of funding for affordable housing that will bring in $200-$300 million a year in revenue.

2. Has potential to leverage millions more in private funding as well as funding from local and state government.

3. Deployment of the funds through public-private partnership, as it is set up, will generate revenue and create jobs for local governments who use these funds to build affordable housing.

Despite receiving support from the California Association of Realtors, not all real estate professionals are on board with the bill. The California Mortgage Association and California Escrow Association both oppose the bill. Here's why:

1. SB 2 picks winners and losers in terms of who will pay. A working person facing foreclosure will have to pay the fee on those documents and if they decide to refinance their mortgage, they'll pay fees on those too. You've got a strange situation where working class people who are trying to keep their own house will pay the fee so someone else can have a house.

2. There are 600 documents in California that are eligible for recording, so it goes well beyond just refinancing.

3. We should be wary of any law that chills or discourages recording. 

The bill will need a ⅔ majority to pass the Assembly, and there is concern that some Democrats will be wary of voting in favor of the bill after having supported two other tax hikes this year – an increase on vehicle registration fees and the gas tax increase. As of Tuesday afternoon, SB 2 and the other bills in the package were still being discussed in the legislature, though the L.A. Times reported Monday that changes to SB 2 are expected. 

We reached out Senator Atkins as well as the bill’s co-sponsors, California Housing and the California Housing Consortium, but no one was able to accommodate our request.

For more on KPCC's coverage of the affordable housing crisis, click here.

Guests:

Ben Adler, capitol bureau chief for Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, who’s been following the negotiations over the housing bills; he tweets @adlerben

Jason Rhine, legislative representative for the League of California Cities, which supports SB 2

Mike Belote, contract lobbyist representing a variety of real estate interests, including the California Mortgage Association and California Escrow Association, which oppose SB 2

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

Passengers board Metrolink subway trains during rush hour on June 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

A recent New York Times piece by Conor Dougherty follows the commute of a middle-class woman who wakes up at 2:15am in her affordable Stockton home to take two trains and a bus to her job in San Francisco.

This example of a so-called “super commuter” is a familiar story to many in Los Angeles. With housing prices rising, Angelenos have to increasingly make trade-offs between finding an affordable living situation, often on the edges of L.A., and increased commute times to their jobs.

According to conventionalwisdom, the happiness gained from a shorter commute is worth having a smaller place. But for many in L.A., financial reality necessitates both a long commute and a small home, just to make ends meet.

We want to hear about how you handle these trade-offs. What roles do commute time and housing cost play in your decisions regarding where you live? How many hours a day do you spend in your car? What financial and emotional concessions have you made in order to afford housing in L.A.?

Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Conor Dougherty, San-Francisco based economics reporter at The New York Times who focuses on the West coast economy; his recent article for the New York Times is “A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 a.m.”

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

A shot of the station at the bottom of Angels Flight railway on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, its grand reopening after a four-year closure and nearly $5 million renovation.; Credit: Meghan McCarty Carino/KPCC

Angels Flight reopened Thursday morning following a four-year closure and a $5 million renovation.

The funky funicular is billed as "the shortest railway in the world,” and a one-way trip costs just $1.

KPCC's transportation reporter Megan McCarty Carino attended the grand re-opening of Angels Flight and had a chance to ride the rails Thursday morning. She called it a "symbol of old L.A.," one with "a storied history."

Meghan joins Larry to talk about the relaunch. And we want to hear your Angels Flight stories and memories. Call us at 866-893-5722.

Read Meghan’s story here.

Guest:

Meghan McCarty Carino, reporter covering commuting and mobility issues for KPCC; she tweets @meghamama

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

Freshly-laid eggs are collected for delivery to a local packing plant.; Credit: David Silverman/Getty Images

Earlier this week, animal rights activists filed an initiative that would ensure laying hens live cage-free.

Spearheaded by the Humane Society of United States, the initiative would require space to roam for farm chicken by 2022. Currently, about two-thirds of egg producing hens are confined in some form of cages in California. This initiative, if passed, could mean more costly eggs for consumers, opposition argues.

Host Larry Mantle sits down with Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of Human Society of United States, and Kenneth Klippen, National Association of Egg Farmer, on the future of egg production.

Guests:

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of Humane Society of United States

Ken Klippen, president of the National Association of Egg Farmers

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

Volunteers from The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) protest with banners and placards over a freeway in Los Angeles, California on August 28, 2017.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Today, President Donald Trump was expected to announce his decision regarding the program that would protect from children from deportation.

Put in place by President Barack Obama, DACA, or the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program, shields undocumented people who were brought to the U.S. illegally at a young age. As the current administration plans to terminate the program, advocacy groups are urging the White House to at least postpone the decision until terms are renegotiated.

DACA recipients, as well as businesses who employ them, will feel an immediate impact if the program is eliminated. Employers working with DACA recipients will be vulnerable to legal battles for hiring undocumented workers.

Host Larry Mantle checks in with immigration law experts as well as local advocacy groups on the future of “dreamers.”

Guests:

Leslie Berestein Rojas, KPCC’s immigration and emerging communities reporter; she joins us from the CHIRLA and UndocuMedia-organized “Rally to Defend DACA & TPS (Temporary Protected Status)” in Downtown LA; she tweets @Multi_American​

Michael Kaufman, staff attorney specializing in immigrants’ rights at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California

Claude Arnold, a consultant at Frontier Solutions, a crisis management firm based in LA; he is also a retired special agent in charge of U.S. ICE investigations at their LA office

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

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks on immigration at the Justice Department September 5, 2017 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

President’s Obama’s five-year-old protections for those illegally brought to the US as kids is being phased out.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced two hours ago that the DACA program will wind down in the next few months. That gives time for Congress to come up with an alternative. But will anything pass without a Presidential push?

See the Department of Homeland Security’s FAQ on the termination of DACA here.

AirTalk reached out to several Republican members of Congress from California for their reaction, but as of the airing of this segment we had not received a response from any of them.

Guests:

Lisa Mascaro, Congressional reporter for the Los Angeles Times

Lisa Garcia Bedolla, professor in the Graduate School of Education and director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley; she tweets @GarciaBedolla

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

Art Arthur, resident Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies

Michael Tan, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project

Adam Schiff, Democratic Congressman from the 28th U.S. Congressional District which includes Burbank, Glendale and West Hollywood; he tweets @AdamSchiffCA

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

A pupil sitting in a classroom at Enfield School, London on Sept. 6, 1978.; Credit: Evening Standard/Getty Images

When was the last time you scrolled through your social media feed? Less than a minute ago?

Manoush Zomorodi, host and managing editor of WNYC Studio’s podcast, “Note to Self,” explores the incessant need to stay technologically connected to help quell boredom in her new book, “Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self.” Zomorodi uses interviews with people from a variety of backgrounds to explain why boredom is conducive to sparking creativity and productivity.

Do you let yourself be bored or is there no time for it? Has scrolling through your social media taken the place of daydreaming? And do you find that there are benefits to spacing out?

Guest:

Manoush Zomorodi, host and managing editor of WNYC’s podcast “Note to Self” and author of “Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self”(St. Martin’s Press, 2017); she tweets @manoushz

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

This photo taken on August 7, 2017 shows a patient receiving fire cupping therapy at a hospital in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province.; Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Some people, especially here in Southern California, try to avoid prescription medication when possible.

They could be skeptical of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the pharmaceutical industry; they could be trying to live a more natural lifestyle. To this group, a treatment like IV hydrogen peroxide may seem more appealing than a pill.

Others turn to alternative medicine after getting frustrated with Western medicine. It's frustrating when your doctor doesn't have enough time to take care of you; it's frustrating when it feels like the doctor is writing you a prescription rather than addressing your underlying health problem.

Read KPCC health reporter Rebecca Plevin’s full story here.

AirTalk wants to hear from you. Have you used alternative medicine to treat a health issue? What was your experience like? Call 866-893-5722.

To check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health site on information about unconventional medicine, click here. 

Guest:

Rebecca Plevin, health reporter at KPCC; she tweets @rebeccaplevin

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

Ivan Ceja, 25 of Compton, became a DACA beneficiary in 2012, and is preparing himself for a life without papers again.; Credit: Josie Huang/KPCC

Over the past few days, we’ve heard from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients about their concerns about possibly being deported or losing their jobs.

Wednesday morning, we wanted to talk about how this plays out within families.

If you were brought to this country illegally, when did you find out? What was it like to hear the news? What did your parents say about your relative security or vulnerability as someone in the country illegally?

Lydia in Rancho Cucamonga called and shared her story about how she didn't learn of her status until her family was in the process of being deported.

Maribel called from downtown Los Angeles says her parents never told her about her status, and she only found out when she went to go get a job at age 16.

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

Immigrants and supporters march past the Metropolitan Detention Center as undocumented people jailed inside tap on the windows in opposition to the President Trump order end to DACA on September 5, 2017 in Los Angeles, United States. ; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

The fallout continues from yesterday’s announcement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that DACA is being phased out.

The Trump Administration claims President Obama had no legal authority to create DACA protections for children brought to the U.S. illegally. It’s asking Congress to deal with it. California’s State Attorney Xavier Becerra has vowed to file a lawsuit challenging DACA’s termination.

How would the court battle play out? AirTalk brings you the latest on the political and legal battle over DACA.

Guests:

Domenico Montanaro, lead political editor at NPR, who’s been following the story; he tweets @DomenicoNPR

Josh Blackman, an associate professor of Law at the South Texas College of Law who specializes in constitutional law; he is the author of “Unprecedented: The Constitutional Challenge to Obamacare” (Public Affairs, 2013); he tweets @JoshMBlackman 

Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, clinical law professor and director at the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Pennsylvania State University; she tweets @shobawadhia

Issie Lapowsky, senior writer for WIRED where she covers national affairs and politics; her latest piece is “The Feds Promised to Protect Dreamer Data. Now What?”; she tweets @issielapowsky

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

Police officers moor a boat that washed ashore on the Quai de la Darse in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French overseas island of Guadeloupe, after high winds from Hurricane Irma hit the island.; Credit: HELENE VALENZUELA/AFP/Getty Images

As Texans in the southeastern part of the state continue to dry out from Hurricane Harvey, residents of the Sunshine State are bracing for torrential rain and gale-force winds as another storm, one that some have described as ‘catastrophic’ and even ‘apocalyptic,’ appears to be plotting a course for landfall in Florida this weekend.

Irma is expected to hit Puerto Rico Wednesday afternoon before moving north toward the Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Cuba Thursday, then making its way toward the southern tip of Florida this weekend.

Mandatory evacuation orders for residents of the Florida Keys have been issued by Florida’s Governor, Rick Scott, who has also declared a statewide emergency. Miami’s mayor has yet to issue any orders for the city to evacuate but has said he could still issue one. Other counties are asking coastal residents and those in low-lying areas to leave now.

How are residents of Miami and beyond preparing? What are local officials expecting the extent of the damage to be?

We talk with a reporter on the ground in Florida for the latest on Irma.

Guest:

Nadege Green, reporter for NPR affiliate station WLRN in Miami; she tweets @NadegeGreen

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

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell addresses a news conference prior to the destruction of approximately 3,400 guns and other weapons at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' 22nd annual gun melt at Gerdau Steel Mill on July 6, 2015 in Rancho Cucamonga, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell drops by the AirTalk studio today for his quarterly interview to discuss the latest as summer winds down.

A California bill that would’ve given the public access to body cam footage in CA has been nixed, but this week the LASD head of technology told KPCC of a plan to equip nearly 6,000 deputies with body cameras and permit the release of some footage.

In July the LASD put out a call for public input on drone use. Later that month, the majority of the LA County Sheriff Civilian Oversight commission said they disapprove of drone use. Community activists had been protesting law enforcement drone use earlier, citing the fear of mission creep and invasion of privacy.

Some of the CA State Sheriff’s Association has been in talks with Brown on amending a “sanctuary state” Senate Bill, that would keep local law enforcement from acting on federal immigration laws.

In the middle of the summer, a Los Angeles appeals court ruled that the Sheriff cannot give the names of problematic deputies to prosecutors, even if they’re involved in pending criminal cases and are on the list of potential witnesses. Sheriff McDonnell is appealing the decision.

The Office of the Inspector General released a report calling into question the LASD’s method of collecting data on violence in county jails, after the department had said that it couldn’t verify inmate assault statistics that had previously cited to the general’s office. The Sheriff put out a statement, saying before the report he had ordered a review of the custody data systems.

After the violence at a Berkeley rally over the weekend and with potential Charlottesville-related protests planned in LA, how is the department preparing for the challenges of crowd control? Plus, the LASD’s push for recruitment and more.

Guest:

Jim McDonnell, sheriff of Los Angeles County; he tweets from @LACoSheriff

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

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A new Stanford study reveals a unique mix of political philosophies held by Silicon Valley power brokers.

The study, “Wealthy Elites’ Policy Preferences and Economic Inequality: The Case of Technology Entrepreneurs,” was presented last week at the American Political Science Association’s annual meeting. Despite the popular belief, the study showed that millionaire and billionaire tech elites are not typically libertarians. They overwhelmingly favor tax increases on the wealthy and programs to redistribute income to the poor.

The one place where they hew to conservative beliefs: regulation, and the influence of labor unions. As Farhad Manjoo writes in the New York Times, it's difficult to think of any politician who shares that mix of principles. Silicon Valley may represent a new direction for existing parties or fertile ground for an independent party to tap this mindset.

So what does this mean for politics and the future of tech? How much influence will big tech company leaders have in the future? And what drives certain political leanings in Silicon Valley and not others?

Guests:

Neil Malhotra, professor of political economy at Stanford University; he co-authored the recent study “Wealthy Elites’ Policy Preferences and Economic Inequality: The Case of Technology Entrepreneurs”

Farhad Manjoo, “State of the Art” columnist for the New York Times’ Business Day; he authored the recent article, “Silicon Valley’s Politics: Liberal, With One Big Exception”

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

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (R) and US President Barack Obama wave to the crowd after a rally on the final night of the 2016 US presidential campaign at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 07, 2016.; Credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images

In “The Once and Future Liberal,” Columbia professor Mark Lilla argues that, in recent years, the Democratic Party has fallen under the trappings of identity politics.

The political left, wishing to protect a vulnerable group of Americans, has divided its base. Democrats focus on marginalized social movements instead of the grander vision of national development, costing them constituents and votes. But despite these setbacks, Lilla sees an opportunity for the party to re-group, reset and rebuild its political conversation.

Should Democrats move away from identity politics? And at what cost?

Guest:

Mark Lilla, professor of humanities at Columbia University and author of “The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics” (Harper, 2017)

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

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke (C) speaks to reporters during a news conference at Ellington Airport on September 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a $7.85 billion aid package for Harvey, with money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration.

As the package heads to the Senate, we’re taking a look at the Federal mechanisms in place that provide aid after disasters. Agencies like FEMA and the Small Business Administration play a big role, as well the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). There’s also the National Flood Insurance Program, which was nearly $25 billion in debt prior to Harvey. And in the case of disaster like Harvey and now Irma, there are also special appropriations that can be passed by Congress.

So what are the agencies involved in disaster relief and how are the funded? How was disaster relief distributed in the cases of Sandy and Katrina? And what can we expect going forward, as the Federal government works to provide aid, and funds for the aid, for the communities affected by Irma and Harvey?

Guests:

Gavin Smith, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Coastal Resilience Center of Excellence and a Professor of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina; he has been working with the state of North Carolina on Hurricane Matthew recovery, a Category 5 storm that hit the Carolinas and devastated Haiti and Cuba

Chad Berginnis, executive director of The Association of State Floodplain Managers based in Wisconsin; the organization focuses on flood management issues all across America and works with the federal government and agencies like HUD, The United States Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA

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