The LA Mayor’s race field is set — is it anyone’s game?
Just hours before the noon deadline to file papers to run for L.A. mayor was approaching on Saturday, the field of challengers to Mayor Karen Bass became much clearer. L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman has entered the mayoral race as the field of high-profile candidates has thinned in recent days and weeks. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath made her much-anticipated announcement that she will not run for mayor, ending months of speculation. Days ago, former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner dropped out after the death of his daughter. With other challengers, including current Mayor Karen Bass, community organizer Rae Huang, and TV Star Spencer Pratt, on the docket for this summer’s primary election, we take a look at what’s at stake for the city’s executive office. Joining us to talk about the latest news is Noah Goldberg, city hall reporter for the LA Times, and Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and an authority on the modern history of Los Angeles.. We also want to hear from you! What do you want to see from your next mayor? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist
Older drivers are more prone to driving mistakes — should we limit their driving?
Car crashes make the local news daily, but when the crash involves an elderly driver, that distinction is bound to be in the headline. Last week, a sedan driven by a 92-year-old woman rammed into a grocery store on Westwood Boulevard after hitting a bicyclist and losing control of the car, with multiple fatalities. Additional people were injured. While we can't be certain age was a contributing factor in this accident, the statistics suggest it could be. According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, people 70 and older have a higher average fatal crash rate per mile traveled than all other age groups, save for 16 to 19-year-olds. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from listeners: how old is too old to drive? Are you an aging driver worried about being forced off the road by the DMV? Or are you worried about an aging family member? How do you know if bad driving is the result of age as opposed to a normal mistake? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
As the Winter Olympics continue, a look ahead to LA28’s
The coming Olympic Games in Los Angeles have been under a harsh spotlight, as LA28 head Casey Wasserman faces calls to resign over his recently released racy emails with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and chatter around ICE agents operating at the Winter Games. Now, a community organization is reiterating calls on Los Angeles elected officials to seriously consider canceling the Olympics altogether. As several City Council members and other prominent L.A. politicians call for Wasserman to step down, the report urges public officials to put cancellation on the table — even if only as a bargaining chip to win concessions for the city of L.A. With us to go over the latest on the Olympic Games coming to LA is our very own Libby Rainey, LAist reporter who’s been following the city’s prep for the 2028 Olympic Games.
With files from LAist
SoCal History: Route 66, “The Mother Road,” turns one hundred
This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the “Mother Road,” aka Route 66 which stretches from Santa Monica all the way to Chicago. The road is one of the original highways in the US highway system and has been the topic of countless books – “The Grapes of Wrath” anyone?” – songs – “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” – and even movies – “Cars.” Today on AirTalk we’re celebrating Route 66 and looking ahead to some centennial events with Michael Wallis, author of the book “Route 66: The Mother Road,” Ken Busby, Executive Director of the Route 66 Alliance and Beth Murray, president of the California Historic Route 66 Association. Do you have favorite memories of driving Route 66? We want to hear from you. Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
