After warnings about cost and timeline, LA council backs $2.6-billion convention center expansion
The Los Angeles City Council approved a massive expansion of the downtown convention center Friday, setting aside concerns about the risks to future funding for basic city services. The project will connect the West and South halls of the sprawling facility and add an estimated 325,000 square feet of space in hopes of attracting new conventions — and new revenue — to Los Angeles. “Every year we lose tens of millions of dollars in economic opportunity to other cities with better facilities,” said Councilmember Traci Park. “We need to bring our city back to life and we don't have time to wait.” The project would bring to L.A. at least 500,000 additional visitors over the first 10 years, according to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo. It would generate an average of $120 million in direct revenue from events, parking and signage over 30 years, he said. It would produce more than $650 million dollars in indirect general fund tax revenue over 30 years from things like the hotel occupancy tax. But dire warnings came from Katy Yaroslavsky, who heads of the City Council’s Budget and Finance. She voted against the project. “This expansion is unrealistic, it's unaffordable and it's fiscally irresponsible,” Yaroslavsky told her colleagues. Under the plan, the city would have to pay out on average $89 million a year over 30 years for operating costs and debt service for the project. That number hits a high of $147 million in fiscal year 2031. Today on AirTalk, we take a look at the expansion plan and hear some of the concerns people have about the project. Joining us is Frank Stoltze, civics and democracy correspondent at LAist, Matt Szabo, the city administrative officer of Los Angeles, and Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles city councilmember representing its 7th district.
With files from LAist
A pair of AI bills seeking more regulation are on Gov. Newsom’s desk
It’s that time of the year again folks, when hundreds of bills move across Governor Newsom’s desk to meet their fate. Some will receive his signature and become the law of the land, others will be vetoed and never see the light of day again, and some are bound to be kicked down the legislative road to next year. A few of those bills are centered around AI regulations, with one requiring AI makers to test their products for “catastrophic risk.” Another bill would limit algorithms that set dynamic pricing. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss these bills is Khari Johnson, technology reporter for CalMatters.
What to know about executive functioning and the best practices to keep your effort levels high
Getting a necessary jumpstart before beginning a task can help out a lot, saving you time and helping keep your engagement levels at a good pace for the rest of the day. Inconsistency can put people in a difficult position, having to constantly re-kick yourself into doing a task. It can lead you to underperform at work, have a home that isn’t as clean as you’d like, or that you just aren’t up to hang out with friends by the end of a day. This all plays into what’s known as your executive functioning — the processes that the brain is equipped with to help with staying on top of your day-to-day tasks, on a mental and physical level. So how can we get better at getting better at doing stuff?. Joining us to explain the complexities of executive function is Ari Tuckman, psychologist and author of The ADHD Productivity Manual.
How DOGE funding cuts are impacting California’s medical system
Since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, cutting government spending has been a top priority. As the year comes to a close, the net effects of these cuts are starting to become more clear. In California, funding cuts to local health systems have meant a number of closures of nutrition programs, dental services, and other medical offerings. Joining AirTalk today for more on what funding cuts have meant for the golden state’s healthcare systems are health reporter for CalMatters Kristen Hwang, director of the OC Health Care Agency Dr. Veronica Kelley, and LA County Public Health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer.
Has wearable tech become mainstream? What Meta’s new AI-powered glasses tell us
Last week, Meta announced its latest take on wearable technology with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses — an AI forward eyewear that not only takes videos and photos, but includes a monocular display in the right lens that acts as an extension of your phone. The device is an upgrade to the Ray-Ban Meta eyewear that has sold millions of units, and has become popular among content creators over the last few years, leading many to wonder if tech-forward eyewear has finally been adopted by mainstream culture. If it is, what are the privacy concerns that can come with large-scale adoption? Joining us to discuss the current state of wearable technology and its future is Victoria Song, senior reviewer for The Verge. We also want to hear from you! Are you a user of wearable tech like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses? What has been your experience with the technology? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Parents: What was (or is) the best age for your kids?
The terrible twos, moody teen years, and the dreaded “tween” years — we often hear parents complain about their kids going through phases that suddenly make family life harder. But what about the best ages for kids? Do you wish you could travel back in time and hold your kids as babies again? Were you excited to finally have conversations with your kids when words actually started holding meaning for them, and never look back? What are experiences you wish you could revisit with your children? When did you and your kids get along the best? We want to hear what you think, give us a call at 866-893-5722, or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
