Today on AirTalk, we continue our medical specialist AMA as LA County announces that this week will be critical as the virus hits a new milestone. We also talk with Supervisor Kathryn Barger on what's being done to help tenants and the homeless; chat with listeners about what new recipes they're trying at home; and more.
Supervisor Barger On Tenant Protections, Housing The Homeless And More
The L.A. City Council recently passed a ban on evictions but it's targeted at tenants who can show they were affected by COVID-19, including those financially affected.
Tenants seeking eviction protection would have to produce documentation such as medical bills or termination notices. This has advocates and some city officials pushing to extend eviction protections to all, saying renters — the majority of Angelenos — should be able to stay home and shield themselves and others from COVID-19.
Read more of this story on LAist.
We sit down with L.A. County supervisor Kathryn Barger to discuss what’s being done to protect renters, as well as efforts to house people who are homeless in Los Angeles County.
You can learn more about the use of hotels and motels for temporary housing by calling LAHSA's information hotline: 213-225-6581
With files from LAist.
Guest:
Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor representing the 5th district, which includes the Antelope, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys
COVID-19: A Critical Week In LA, Antibodies Study Looks Promising And More
On Monday afternoon, L.A. County reported 420 new cases and 15 new deaths, marking a rise in the mortality rate to 2.3%. There have now been more than 6,300 total confirmed cases here.
Meanwhile, the United States is among a number of countries experiencing large-scale epidemics. Italy, Spain, Germany, and now France are all reporting more confirmed cases than China, where the outbreak began late last year, but whose reported numbers have since greatly slowed.
L.A. County public health officials are calling this week “critical” as the virus hits a new milestone. They’re urging all residents to stay home and skip out on shopping all together if possible. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Garcetti is ramping up testing efforts. In his nightly address on the city's response to the pandemic, he announced that anyone in the city or county can now apply for a test to see if they have the coronavirus. That doesn't mean an applicant will be approved, but it does mean the restrictions have been loosened and that you won't be automatically disqualified just because you're not considered high risk, according to Garcetti. According to the L.A. Times, a pilot study conducted in China is showing promise that antibodies from recovered patients could help others infected with the virus. Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with an infectious disease expert to discuss the latest with COVID-19 who, as always, will answer your questions. What do you want to ask? Call us at: 866-893-5722.
You can apply for a test at coronavirus.la city.org.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here.
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva On LASD Response To COVID-19, Outbreak’s Impact On Crime Rates & More
First responders are among those on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that’s no different for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is tasked with not only law enforcement across Los Angeles County but also administration of the county jail. The man elected to oversee it all is Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who in his first term as L.A. County Sheriff has had to navigate a crisis the likes of which few, if any, of his predecessors have seen.
The good news for local law enforcement is that arrests and reports of crime are both down for LASD since the implementation of statewide “stay at home” orders. But the outbreak has not come without its challenges, like figuring out how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among inmates in the county jail while also protecting corrections officers and other jail staff in close contact with the inmate population. The Sheriff has also had to navigate a contentious relationship with the L.A. County Board of Supervisor -- last week, the supervisors voted to remove Villanueva as head of the county’s emergency operations center, a move they said was unrelated to his decision to keep gun shops open as essential businesses during the outbreak but that still raised questions about the timing and reasoning behind it.
Today on AirTalk, Sheriff Villanueva joins Larry Mantle to check-in on how LASD is responding to various challenges posed by COVID-19 and we’ll take your calls and questions for Sheriff Villanueva at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Sheriff; he tweets
Stuck At Home? How To DIY In The Kitchen And Cook Like A Pro With What You Already Have
If you’re someone who likes to cook, shopping for things you need to make meals has no doubt been a challenge during COVID-19.
Empty shelves where pantry staples like pasta, rice and flour would normally be, not to mention the long checkout lines and general stress that comes with a trip to the grocery store these days. And if you’re someone who doesn’t cook a lot, maybe you’ve been forced to reconsider it because you don’t want to go broke on takeout food or have concerns about a stranger preparing your supper. Either way, the result is both seasoned home cooks and novices alike rifling through pantries and fridges trying to figure out what can be made with staples and other stuff already on hand.
If you’ve been wondering how you can make your own pasta since there’s none at the store, or how you might make better use of dried beans and veggies when canned ones are in short supply on store shelves, this segment is for you! We’ll be joined by food writers and chefs Noelle Carter and Russ Parsons to talk about her tips and tricks for making the most out of the ingredients you might have around the house. Ask your questions and share tips of your own by calling 866-893-5722!
For more recipes and tips for cooking at home during COVID-19, visit Noelle’s blog and check out her featured recipes. You find even more in the food section at LAist, including classic L.A. recipes to make during coronavirus, a no-stress guide to grocery shopping and more.
Guests:
Noelle Carter, chef, food writer and culinary consultant for Noelle Carter Food, a website sharing recipes, cooking techniques and helpful kitchen tips for the home cook; she is the former director of the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen; she tweets
Russ Parsons, former food editor and columnist for The Los Angeles Times for more than 20 years; he is the author of two cookbooks: “How To Pick A Peach” and “How To Read A French Fry”; he tweets