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November ballot measures, divorce after 65, LeBron James leaves the Lakers and more
A Los Angeles City Council meeting on April 2, 2025.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses November ballot measures, divorce after 65, L.A. city's streetlight budget after a failed vote to increase it, LeBron James leaving the Lakers and American ideals, for better or worse.
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The measures on (and off) your November ballot
The topic:
Statewide and local ballot measures are set for November. Two prominent Los Angeles measures got pulled at the last minute. We break down what you should know.
Locally: The L.A. city attorney drafted legal language for measures the City Council wants on the November ballot, but two aren’t expected to be finalized in time: a measure on noncitizen voting, and one expanding the council’s oversight over the LAPD.
Statewide: Proposition 40, known as the “billionaire’s tax,” will be on the ballot after negotiations between the governor and backers of the measure failed to remove it. If approved, the measure would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on the state’s roughly 200 billionaires.
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Also: Proposition 43 would raise the threshold for citizen-driven special tax ballot initiatives to pass, requiring a two-thirds majority instead of the simple majority currently required.
Guest:
- Jeremy B. White, reporter covering California politics for POLITICO
- Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs; he served 20 years as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, followed by 20 years as a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors
- Jon Fleischman, president and owner of Fleischman Consulting Group, which specializes in national, state and local political affairs; he’s former executive director of the California Republican Party
Divorce after 65
Did you divorce after 65?
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The topic:
Divorce after 50, or “gray divorce,” has become more common, in part due to longer life expectancy. It’s becoming more common for people even later in their mid-60s and on, but it’s often even more complicated.
The challenges: Divorce is difficult no matter the age, but splitting from a life-long partner later in life presents its own emotional challenges. Finances are enmeshed, identities are intertwined, and it can feel less worthwhile to start over again when there seems to be little time left.
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Join the conversation: If you have been through a divorce or split from a partner in your later years, we want to hear from you. What was your experience like? How did you come to the decision? Or, if you are an adult whose parents split up after 65, how did you process that change? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722. You can also email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Linda Hershman, LMFT and author of the book Gray Divorce: Everything You Need to Know About Later-Life Breakups
L.A. city streetlight budget increase vote fails
Los Angeles city property owners voted down a fee increase that sought to address a massive backlog of streetlight repairs.
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L.A. Mayor's Office
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The topic:
Los Angeles city property owners voted down a fee increase that sought to address a massive backlog of streetlight repairs. More than 80% of the votes cast rejected the idea.
Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property near streetlights pay on their county property tax bill. Changing the fee requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.
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The vote: In April, the city sent out ballots to 580,000 commercial, private and public parcels. Each property received one vote. The weight of each property’s vote depended on how much the owner would be asked to pay in an increased assessment. Of the votes cast, 80% rejected the idea of paying more in the yearly assessment. This was the first attempt to increase the fees.
Join the conversation: Are you a property owner in L.A.? Did you vote on this budget increase? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
With files from LAist
Guests:
- Kavish Harjai, LAist transportation correspondent
- Jack Humphreville, columnist for City Watch LA; he’s also a Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council representative to the Department of Water and Power Advocacy Committee
LeBron James’ tenure with the L.A. Lakers
L.A. Lakers player LeBron James during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2024.
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The topic:
After playing eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James has confirmed he plans to play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere.
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Storied Lakers legacy: James’ stint with the Lakers is the longest he has spent with any NBA team, leading the purple and gold to the 2020 NBA championship. He became the NBA’s all-time points leader while wearing a Lakers uniform and surpassed a slew of other records. He also became the first player in the league to have a son as a teammate — Bronny James.
What’s next: As the NBA’s Free Agency began last night, the Lakers are expected to be one of the busiest teams in the league this offseason as James’ departure frees up about $50 million in cap space to build a new team around Lakers star Luka Dončić.
Join the conversation: Many Laker fans, pundits, and sports analysts have conflicting opinions about James' impact during his time in Los Angeles. So, Laker Nation — we want to hear from you! How do you feel about LeBron’s last eight seasons with the Lakers? Do you think he was successful? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist
Guest:
- A Martinez, host of NPR's Morning Edition
What American ideals have (or haven’t) stood the test of time?
What American ideals do you think have stayed the same over the past 250 years?
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The topic:
As we look to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America this Saturday, many of us are reckoning with the nation’s complex yet undoubtedly consequential history. But, what American principle has stood the test of time?
The constitution: Although many edits, interpretations and applications have defined America’s constitution over the last 250 years — certain inalienable rights are cited as the foundation of our nation’s democracy.
Join the conversation: We want to hear from you! What American ideal do you think has prevailed (or hasn’t) through the last 250 years? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
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Today on AirTalk: Birthright citizenship, World Cup knockout rounds, Soccernomics, transgender athletes, student loans, and more. -
With KNX's shift last month back to AM radio only, we asked Southern Californians to share their memories of listening to the radio. -
Today on AirTalk: Interview with new LAUSD superintendent, new memoir on the use of the N-word, new CA laws, Comcast splits NBCUniversal, and SoCal 250 years ago.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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